Absolutely not! I've been thinking about what to blog this week, and there is NOTHING! Why? Because all I do is school, home, school, sleep, wake up, school again! This has been a great year with my students. But, I must say it has been nonstop pressure and overwhelming from week one!

Although I DO actually have a life (at times), I do not feel like it at all! So...as far as my blog goes. I'll show you what I've been doing.

Mrs. Johnson's class has been busy and about the business of learning! We blog about it too on our blog: www.johnsonsfrogs.blogspot.com


We all look happy when we take pictures, but you never know what happens right before the flash! Ha! Seriously...I have not had any major issues with any of my students precious angels.

We have done tons of math! We have worked on place value with standard form, expanded form, and word form. We have compared and ordered numbers and added and subtracted with and without regrouping. All of this was done with up to six-digit numbers.

We have also reviewed multiplication. We learned about multiples and factors.

I can't even tell you what all we've done in reading and language!

We have reviewed parts of a sentence and the types of sentences. We have added descriptive details. Verbs have way too many parts! Let's see: linking verbs, helping verbs, verb tense, past perfect tense verbs, main verbs....

We have been reading for major AR points!

We played with Mr. Potato Head (mainly just because I needed a fun break! Ha!) to introduce prefixes and suffixes.

We sequenced events in a story using clue words, verb tense, dates, etc.

We matched subjects and verbs according to correct subject-verb agreement.

Of course, we had a dance for the students whose parents joined PTA.

But, more importantly. We TESTED!!!! Thus, the pressure!

Thank you, Lord, for my job! And thank you, thank you for the WEEKEND!

Anyone else done all this lately?

True Maroon

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!?!?! I am! I've been ready for quite some time now. Football season is one of my favorite times of the year, so I've been counting down until Saturday's game. After a 6 mile run (Russ only!), we were on our way to see the Dawgs play!

Russ was pretty excited about his purchase for the game! Ha!

We arrived in Starkvegas around noon with drinks and Greek pasta salad (always requested) and enjoyed the game day festivities. My parents traveled to Starkville Friday night and set up the tents. Russ and I were the last ones to arrive. OMG...the food!!! TONS! We immediately filled a plate or two and joined the rest of the crew watching other games on the satellite and watching passers-by.

Daddy in his "recliner" that Russ and I gave him last year for Father's Day

This was the opening game, and we were playing JSU. Being such a historical game, the crowd was incredible! People were everywhere! It took us about 45 minutes once on campus to get to our tailgate...and that was two hours prior to game time! Coach Mullen called the theme "True Maroon" asking everyone to wear maroon and make some noise!

So we did!

Even down to maroon nail polish!

I do realize it would look better with a tan. But, Russ assured me that the colors are marroon and WHITE, so I was totally appropriate. Thanks Russ!

Rhonda and me

Sherra and her brother's family enjoying family time at the tailgate

Lee and Russ

Sisters

Mama taking a break as the fans pass us as they pile into the stadium

Our lot is very close to the stadium (right across from Dorman), so we were able to enjoy the sights of both State and JSU fans as they walk by.

The beginning of the game was SO exciting!! The fans were going crazy as the team came out, the band was playing, and the cowbells were ringing. At least until the team filed back into the locker room because of lightning. It started pouring rain! Now, I know I've told you this before. But, the Smiths are loyal fans. We simply sat through the storm. We are there: rain, sun, sleet, or snow! Thirty minutes later, the teams came back out ready to play. Soaked to the bone, we stood to cheer our Dawgs on.

Don't worry. We were prepared with ponchos...or, I should say DADDY was prepared and provided us all with a poncho! Thanks Daddy!

Russ and me enjoying the rain!

Mama and Daddy

Some, however, were NOT prepared and had to find other ways to stay semi-dry.

A Papa John's pizza box - very creative!

And, then, what we had all been waiting for. The Sonic Boom from JSU! The entire stadium was on their feet cheering and ringing cowbells as we watched them perform. It reminded me of watching the movie, Drum Line.

The Sonic Boom

I was a little worried at the beginning, but after halftime the Dawgs came out to kill! And that's what we did! State pulled off a 45-7 victory over Jackson State. It was a great game, and I can't wait for the next home game!

The final score on our new gigantic Jumbotron

Go Dawgs!

After the game, we "sloshed" over to visit Jimbo and Rachael for a bit while they celebrated Jimbo and Rachael's brother's birthdays. We also visited with Marcee too.

Me and Rachael

Then it was back to the tailgate for more food and fellowship! Dustin came by after the game too. When I asked if he had brought his date a poncho, he informed me that the students cheered the loudest when it started raining. They were loving it! But, he also said when it stopped, it smelled of mildew for the rest of the game! Yuck!

The Smithites

While we all ate AGAIN, we waited for the traffic to die down before leaving. So, we had more visitors who were doing the same thing.

Jean and Dustin solving the world's problems! Ha!

Jennifer and me discussing all the "drama" of senior year!

Russ had to work this morning, so we were the first to say "Goodbye!" But, only until next time! You gotta love college football!

JSU Country

As most of you know, I teach in the heart of "JSU Country." So it should be no surprise that the excitement was up this week as JSU prepared to play State for the first time in history. Of course, being outnumbered at school, a few of us have been given a hard time. Lots of teasing and "play bets" on who would win. So, Friday, our principal gave us permission to sport our team attire - JSU or State. Friday morning I came into our area of the building to hearing "We Will Rock You" playing from my fellow JSU colleague. I did what any loyal State fan would do! I ran to my room and blared the MSU fight song from my classroom all morning. Every new visitor would have a nice treat upon entering! It was quite fun! And the kids loved it! Of course, when I talked about Mississippi State, they had absolutely no idea what I was talking about! Most have never even heard of it before!

Teaching in JSU Country is not always easy! Ha!

It's Almost Fall Ya'll!

So, I already told you about our shopping spree to Kirkland's last weekend. Well, I bought my share too! I added my new purchases to the fall decor I already had, and I came out with beautiful fall decor! My favorite yet! I'll take you on a tour.

Welcome to my home!

Both the door arrangement and welcome mat came from Kirkland's. I just love it!

My super-cute mantle! Both arrangements are from Kirkland's, and the rest is leftover from last year's decorations.

At the bottom of mantle - cute pumpkins from last year. I can't remember where I found these.

Piano - All from Hobby Lobby

I did my best rendition of Kristin's centerpiece she did for Mama. I used a few different things - some new and some from last year. I think it turned out okay. All on the Jackson Square Tray from Southern Living at HOME.

Now, I also added a few fun touches around other parts of the house. Cute, I think!

Guest bathroom - hurricane from Southern Living at HOME, contents from Pier One, and the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin soap from Bath and Body Works of course! I also have Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Wallflowers throughout the main parts of my home. Smells heavenly!

Sweet touch on the nightstand in guest bedroom. The container is one of a set of three from Southern Living at HOME.

Love my little touch near the kitchen sink under the window. Again, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin soap (you must get some!) and another container of the set of three from Southern Living at HOME.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Of course the most exciting piece of fall decor at the Johnson home is our BULLDOG flag! Go Dawgs! See you at the tailgate Saturday. MSU vs. JSU!

Birthday Wishes and Hometown Dreams

Well, it's been a week since my last post! Strange, I know. I've had a little setback with a terrible sinus infection and vertigo. I'm off work today to recover, and I thought this was a great time to update everyone on the week.

Russ and I went home last weekend as one last visit before Russ starts the dreaded "House Medicine Rotation." It just so happened that we celebrated Lee's 23rd birthday too! Russ and I informed him that he is officially "getting old." We reassured him that we were certainly older by our comments beginning with, "I remember when I was 23..." Oh dear! Anyway, we cooked out Saturday night on Daddy's new grill in honor of Leeroy. Lee's mom came in town with cake to celebrate with us.

Daddy and Dude enjoying the pleasant weather and "supervising" the cook!

Look at those monstrous steaks! They were HUGE...and DELISH! Great job Russ!

The birthday boy had the honor of carrying those ginormous steaks inside.

We had a lovely steak dinner complete with Rhonda's yummy green beans, and Mama's sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, and salad. Then it was time for....

The cake!

A gigantic strawberry cake! Woo hoo!

Kristin cutting the cake as we all hold out our plates.

The pieces were already scored and they were huge! That didn't bother me one bit!

However, Mama and Kristin are now on this "wedding diet" and enjoyed their sugar free Jello cup. I was just appalled! Until I learned that Mama had lost 20 pounds this month.

Yummy puddin'!

Lee opened his gifts, which mainly contained gift cards to various places. What do you get a 23 year old who has everything?

My card sang Brad Paisley's Mud on the Tires. I thought it appropriate since Lee has taken us TWICE to see Brad Paisley.

I forgot to mention that Saturday afternoon while the boys watched TV, napped, studied, and whatever else, the girls went on a shopping spree at Kirkland's. Their fall decor is just too cute. Mama bought several things, at mine and Kristin's insistence, to decorate her home. Mama and I put some up Sunday before we left town.

Cute pumpkins - the light up one is Mama's favorite. She picked that out herself!

I just thought this was a cute way to decorate her new table.

Kristin put together her adorable centerpiece.

And, this is everyone's favorite! There was only one left and Mama snatched it!

We had a great weekend, and we are salivating over this coming up weekend when college football begins! Yay!