The March Scrapperie Kit

Scrapperie's March kit is up for Pre-Order!!!  You won't want to miss out on this!!!  Pictured above is the "Essentials" kit.  But there is also "Trimmings" and "Extras" to order as well.  But if you want it all, then go for the "Pièce de Résistance".

I can't wait to get my kit and create things for the Design Team!!!!!!!

Girl Scout Cookies

Lookie what I have!!!

yep, 7 boxes of cookies...  Mmmmm!!

And what's funny, is I have about 10 or more boxes coming from my brother.  HOLY COW, craziness I tell ya.  I won't be Girl Scout cookie hungry for awhile.  LOL  What's cool, is that I get to try out the cookies from the other baker.  The only cookies I've ever eaten are from ABC Smart Cookie.  But the baker of the cookies from my brother is Little Brownie Bakers.  So I'll get to try some of the different varities.  :)  Yep, I'm excited!!!

Oh my goodness!!  Last Wednesday Saira brought home a Library book to read on her own for the first time.  She's been going to the Library and getting books all year but this time she's getting the little reader books.  It's an AR book and today she's going to test on it.  I can't wait to see how she does.  She's growing up so fast, cause now she's a reader. 

Her first book, "The Yellow Boat", by Margaret Hillert.

Bow to Royalty

I knew this, but today I was just reminded that I am 29th in line of King Henry II.  My grandmother and great aunt are 27th, my mom is 28th, I'm 29th and my kids are 30th.  Neat huh? 

....so bow...

LOL

Oh so Pretty!!

Friday I subbed for Pre-K.  That class is the one I sub most for.  But it was also the Valentine's Parties for all the kids.  Except for my class.  They had theirs on Thursday because the teacher knew she wasn't going to be there that day.  Sometime around 9:30ish I guess, the secretary buzzed in and asked me to come to the office.  I walk in and roses all over the place.  She pointed to mine and said those are for you....  I opened the card, already knowing who they were from...lol ;)  And told them they were from Chad.  She said, "awwww, he's still sweet as ever."

I took the roses to my class and all the little kids Oooo'ed and Ahhhh'ed over them.  ;)

The next day, on Valentine's day he took me out to eat and got me 2 pairs of pants and 2 shirts.  :)  He's such a Sweetie!!!!!! 

A disaster and some lazy time

Last weekend, Jan. 30th, 31st and Feb. 1st I was in Galveston on a Scrapbooking retreat. Ohhhh, it was heaven. I think I enjoyed myself more this time than last time in August. It gave me the first opprutunity to go to Galveston to see how it looked since the Hurricane. I was so suprised. It didn't look near as bad as I expected. Infact, the Sea Wall was up and running. People were all gathered on the beaches (even though it was COOOOOLD!) It was even prettier than it ever has been in many many years. I was impressed. Galveston has done a supurb job at restoring itself. Two cheers to them!!

Anyways, I had a terrific time with all my scrappy buddies. Had some very good food, the house was neat, the bedding was way to comfy and the massage was what I needed. All the subbing last month had me all worn out. I was desperate for a massage!! I was able to get 14 pages done, and I finally took photos of the layouts so I can share with you. I'll do that later on after this post.

So lets move on....

Monday and Tuesday I worked. Wednesday I was suppose to go in at 10:30. But instead, my water heater decided I didn't need to do that. I had taken the kids to school that morning. And when I got back, I sat down to watch tv, because I haven't done that in months. I had LOTS to catch up on. Around 9:15ish I guess, I heard this banging cracking type of a sound. And it came from my laundry room. And then I heard water. I thought that was rather weird since no water was running anywhere in the house. So I get up and I really hear the water running..... from the water heater. OMG!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!! OMG!!!!!! Panic mode kicked in. LOL I rushed and grabbed a screwdriver to take off the wall panel where the water heater hides...lol And YEP, WATER was EVERYWHERE already. It was starting to leak out into the hall and my sons room.....but not the laundry room. It was leaking out at the walls. So I got my dad on the phone cause there was no shutoff valve. The stupid retards that put it in didn't put a shut off valve. Thanks mister!! I talked with him for a minute and decided to call the city to shut off the water, cause I couldn't get the knob to turn at the main shut off on the house. So they came ASAP, Thank you city of Daisetta. They FINALLLLLLY did something quick and prompt for the first time that I've lived here and I've lived here for almost 12 years. They responded to my phone call within like 1 or 2 minutes. I was shocked. In the mean time Chad's on his way home from work. When he got here, we went to Lowes and bought a new water heater and a shopvac. I spent the day sucking up water and draining the water heater. Thank goodness it wasn't too bad in the hall and Ryan's room. We finally got the water heater put in around 7pm. And boy howdy, it gets HOT! I'm thinking Chad is going to have to lower the temp...lol

So Thursday I was called in to sub, but I still needed to work on the carpets some more. I did it a couple of times and did the lazy thing for the day. WOW, that was great. I needed it so bad. Did the same thing on Friday. :)

Saturday was Ryan's Advanced Green belt test for TaeKwonDo! He did awesome!! Thursday is the award ceremony this week.

No work today, but I work Wednesday and Friday. I wasn't thinking when the Secretary called earlier, but Friday is the kids Valentine's day parties. But I think I'll be able to pull off going to their rooms to help with the parties. I'm sure the teachers aid for that class will help me out for sure. ....she loves me! ;)

So that's that.

Pics coming in a few....

Still Busy as ever and TERRIFIC NEWS

My goodness, I'm so amazed at how busy my life has been since I signed up to sub in October. Out of 18 1/2 school days last month I worked 11 1/2. And so far, the first 3 school days of this month I'll be working all 3. LOL But enough of all that...LOL

Last weekend I went on another wonderful Scrapbook Retreat. This time it was held in Galveston at the Galveston's Red Victorian. The owner of this home is amazing, she served lots of delicious meals and provided a great area for scrapping. I can't wait to go back there. It also provided me the first opprotunity see Galveston since Hurricane Ike came through. They have come a long way, I was impressed with all the restorations.

I will be taking photos of my layouts as soon as I get the chance, I promise. I'm excited to share my 14 layouts. :)

And now.... :) ....I saved the best for last!!

The Scrapperie was looking for it's new Design Team. ....and I will be one of the Guest Designers with the Tres Chic Girls this go around!! I'm so ecstatic over the news!!

And right now, Scrapperie is having there Fantastic February going on. It's always tons and tons of fun!!! There will be challenge after challenge for you to do. As well as games and classes. You'll earn points for all the things you do. The more points you get the more chances you'll have to win from the Fantastic February Prize Pool Drawing. Which consists of gift certificates to the boutique, tons of mini kits, mini-albums, acrylic albums, stamps sets (with inks) cardstock packs, cards kits, Essentials, Extras and Trimmings monthly kits- and someone can even win a Pièce de Résistance kit! If you join in, please mention that I sent you. I hope to see you there!! :)

Still busy

Thank you for the nudge Ali. 
The first week back to school I worked Mon-Thursday.  That Thursday I finally subbed for the 5th/6th grade.  I said ever since I started that I would not sub for them.  I wanted to stick with the little kids at the campus.  Well then the next monday, the 12th I had to sub for them again.  And then Thursday and Friday I was subbing for Kindergarten.  I've totally decided I'd rather be out there with the 5th/6th graders.  They listen...LOL  And they crack me up.  They all call me Mrs. D.  LOL  One kid called me Mrs. Ups.  ...you know because my last name is Downs.... Ups and Downs.  He gave me a big laugh.
When we go back tomorrow I'll be back with that Kindergarten class from Thursday and Friday.  And then Wednesday I should be back out with the 5th/6th grade again.  ...seeeee, busy busy. 
I've tried so hard to take the time to scrap or make a card and it just isn't happening.  I've even got LOTS of yummy kits from the Scrapperie to play with.  And one is on it's way.  Perhaps my mojo will be totally back after I get back from the Retreat at the end of the month.  I can't wait for it!!!

Super Great

So far, my new year has been GREAT!!  :)  It's been a rather lazy one too.  One more day though, until the kids go back to school.  I've enjoyed the Christmas break.  ...sleeping in and staying up super late.  I don't look forward to going back.  I'm pretty sure I won't be called in to work on Monday.  I would think all the teachers will be there.  ;)  But maybe I'll have some calls sometime next week.

Happy 2009

Happy New Year!!
everyone!!

Be safe! And have a rockin' time!!

Such a Suprise!!

I had the biggest suprise this evening!!
To start off, Chad wasn't able to get my Christmas present for me before Christmas.  He had hurt himself at work and severally sprang his ankle.  He wasn't able to go shopping.  I was suppose to be getting a new computer desk...lol...not that the one I have is all that old.  But I need to revamp my scraproom.  It's been bothering him really bad that he hasn't been able to get me anything yet.....  and therefore he suprised me BIG time today.

He came home from work, I met him at the door when he walked in.  And he gave me a big ol' hug as he put his Nomax on the floor.  He ran off to the bathroom and told me to go grab his Nomax and check out the "hole" that needed to be sewn up...."before I got mad about it."  LOL  Cause he knows I don't like to sew up his holes...LOL  So I actually went to check it out.  Grabbed the Nomax and it seemed a little akaward, like heavier.  So I moved the Nomax out of the way and there was a gift bag underneath....A pretty pink T-Mobile gift bag.  OMG, he toally suprised me!  I grabbed the bag, pulled out the tissue and OMG OMG, there was a Behold box in there.  He upgraded me....  2 or 3 months early too.  My mouth flew open and I was in total shock.  I think he was picking around the corner at me as I was opening it all.  He was proud of himself. 

I'm in total love with my new phone!!!!!!!!!

And how was yours?

So how was everyone's Christmas?

Mine was wonderful! My family came over to my house for the first time. Normally, we'd always go over to my Great Aunts house. But this year my aunt has a kitten and we were afraid the kitten would tear down the tree...LOL

My husband had the suprise of his life. He got exactly what he asked for. All he wanted was new rims for his 4-Wheeler. So my mom bought one, my great aunt bought one and I bought two. I went to the bike shop earlier this week and bought them and had them print out some tickets for me to put in 3 boxes. I weighed them down with bags of candy and he was totally suprised! It was priceless!! I think that made my Christmas for sure.

So the next day, Friday, he goes back to the bike shop to have them mounted. ;) He gets home and I take a picture of him on his bike. He's the happiest guy in the world right now!!

Finally, Finally... pics of the Tree

Last night I finally took pics of the tree. I asked Ryan if they turned out good enough to share and he approved. It took me all of the Thanksgiving weekend to do the tree because I had a REALLY REALLY bad burn on my right index finger from cooking the turkey. So here you go. :)

Ahhh, Christmas!

I'm so excited!  It's Christmas season time again.  Every Thanksgiving night I pull out the tree and decorations and have at it.  Chad thinks I'm crazy because he says it's not December yet.  But to me, Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas Season begins. 

I'll have pics for you soon.  :)

BTW, it's Black Friday and you WON'T catch me out there doing any shopping.  NOOOOO WAY!!!  That day scares me...LOL

Happy Thanksgiving

Hopefully you all ate well and are stuffed like turkeys after your meal.  ;)

This Thanksgiving, it was my first time ever to cook the whole meal for my family, and Chad's family too.  Usually it's my aunt, or me and my aunt.  But this time...I did the WHOLE thing.  And I have war wounds to go with it.  LOL  I was putting the turkey in the oven roaster and then I was buttering him up and seasoning him all up and noticed his little wing needed to be tucked in better...  WOOPS, I got severly burned.  It was bad, and this was at 3:30am.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

It's Official

The teachers have now dubbed me as one of them!!  LOL  I keep forgetting to grab the attendace sheet first thing in the mornings.  So I went back after grabbing my coffee to get the sheet and some teachers were in the media room where the teachers boxes are at, plus the coffee...LOL  And I told them I was losing my mind and slipping now.  They asked why.  And I told them because I keep forgetting to grab the attendance sheet.  They all said, "ohhhh no no no, you aren't slipping, you are becoming one of us now.  You are normal. LOL"

Shewwww, so glad I'm not slipping on the job...LOL

Pumpkin Carving

This year Ryan wasn't feelin' it. He said, NOPE, don't wanna. LOL He's not really fond of the pumpkin carving. It pretty much grosses him out. ;)

So it was just me and Saira and this is what we made.....

Out with the old....

...in with the new!!!

Last weekend, on Nov. 1st I took my first paycheck over to BestBuy. :) I purchased a brand new camera. I've had my old one for a few years now, since Feb. 17, 2006. It's a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-S600.

And my new one is a Canon PowerShot SD870 IS.

I am really loving my new camera, and Chad is enjoying his new camera...LOL...my old one. ;) I'll post some pics later on from my new camera.

Craziness

This update goes out to a special request from a dear friend.....  ;)  ...you know who you are!!  ;)

LOL

From previous posts, I'm sure ya'll know I've been up at the Elementary subbing.  Last week was busy busy.  I subbed 1/2 a day for Pre-K.  Those little kiddos are the best, I love them dearly!!  Then I was called in to sub for the Music teacher.  That was interesting...LOL  We didn't do any singing and such.  I'm the cool sub...LOL  We colored and watched a movie...HEHE!!!  Then....  ohhhh then....LOL  I was asked that afternoon to sub for one of the 2nd grade teachers.  Infact, she was Ryan's 2nd grade teacher last year.  ....OH MY!!!  I had 2 boys that were something.  I sub for them again tomorrow.  And they will be seperated for sure... ;)  Mean Mrs. Downs is gonna have to show her face tomorrow.  This teacher has TWO ADHD boys sitting together.  I mean, I'm no smart cookie or anything, but ummm, is that a good thing to do???  LOL  These boys took ALLLLLLL day to get their work done because they were goofing off all day long.  But to add to that wild and crazy day with them, the Elementary went to the High School for the homecoming "Pepper-Rally".  I can't get Saira to say Pep-Rally to save my life...LOL  It's too cute though.  Thank God though, I got to drive myself over to the High School instead of riding on the bus with the kids.  It wasn't that bad though, really.  We actually had a fun day together.  I know they will be all excited to see me tomorrow.  All the kids are getting to where they are wondering if Mrs. Downs is going to sub for them now.  Awww, they are sooo cute!

So a few weeks ago, I had a SU! card making party here at the house.  We made 2 Halloween cards and a thank you card.  :)  But first I want to show you a Halloween card I made on the 5th along with a few other cards.

They were all made for challenges for National Card Making Day.  :)

And now here are the cards I made from my SU! card party.

More to come in a little bit....from Croptoberfest last weekend.

New Job

Yep, I now have a job.  LOL  Never thought those words would EVER come out of my mouth...LOL  I'm still in shock.  But yep....I'm working now.  Thursday I started.  I don't know if I mentioned back in August when I was going to the local college to get my Substitute Teaching Certificate.  But I got it.  And I finally started working on Thursday.  Was called back for the same teacher on Friday.  And then on Monday I subbed for a different teacher. 

My first Subbing job was for Pre-K.  I was scared to death...LOL  But we had a most wonderful day.  They loved me and I love them.  So like I said I subbed again for them on Friday.  But Monday I did the Kindergarten Computer lab.  oh my, that was the most boringest day ever...LOL  Tuesday I had a break.  And today is a local holiday.  :)