Monday February 22, 2010

Catch day.... on the blog!!
February 12-22nd...

What more can I say!
Jubilation!!! Over-joyed! Ecstatic!!
At last the boys got their SNOW DAY!
February 12th-
The winter break got extended by one day due to this wacky snow event here in GA!
It was amazing!
They predict and talk about it and get the kids all pumped and it usually fizzles and we never see it like this.
BUT!!!! Finally- at last.
They were right on. We had a little over 5 inches! It was puffy, fluffy white snow. Perfect for snow balls and snowmen. Postcard perfect pictures too!

The Valentine Dance was suppose to be on Friday night... and HAYDEN had already committed to going. Well... I said I would pay him $100.00 bucks if he went... so he finally said he would!
Then- it snowed like crazy and it had to be canceled. He was actually disappointed.

Snoopy LOVED the snow too.

Teyler eating the snow... :o

Snow person with BOOBS!?!?

Saturday- February 13, 2010
I woke up kinda early and went out and took some wonderful shots of the snow...
It was gorgeous!

This little guy was just staring me down when I was out in the back yard. He was SO precious.
It really made me feel close to Daddy too. I just looked up and this little bird had been sitting there the whole time watching me.
Very sweet!

Tre' and I still made our Saturday morning run to Dunk'n Doughnuts. It is our 'date' thing now...
(not sure if my hips are enjoying it that much!!)
We stopped by the church for me to take a few pictures. The sun was out full force by mid-morning. So the fluffy stuff was melting pretty quick!

A precious weekend and the WINTER BREAK ahead of us.
PERFECTION!
Happy Valentines Day!

~angie

Thursday February 11, 2010

Look at that... A PILE-O-SHOES!!!
This is the post where the shoes gather day to day... Kind of like a horses during the wild west days. While the cowboys drank at the local tavern- the horses waited out front. These shoes do the same each day. It is funny-
The SHOE closet is 2 steps away... but NEVER do they make it there on their own. For some reason-they wait for ME to park them there.
Some days- it is okay with me that they spend so much time at the kitchen column... but there are other days- that I think it could be the final straw that puts me in the padded cell.
I had to snap a shot of that scene- because one day... Those shoes will not be there. The little feet that fill those shoes are growing up- and one day they will leave and take their feet and shoes with them...
I don't have time to get sappy this morning.
I have to get a shower and get to Michael's craft store.
I am doing a Valentine's Day craft with Avery's class- and HAAhaaa! I haven't even bought the supplies. But- hey- I have the idea and that is all that counts! Right?

Ohh- btw..........
Yesterday evening... Thankfully Tre' was home. Avery had a sudden migraine come on around 5:40. I was in the midst of a marathon of piano students. So we had to listen to his screaming and yelling upstairs.... but at least Tre' was there to deal with it.
FINALLY- he fell asleep around 6:30. He slept it off for an hour and woke up feeling much better.
PRAISE THE LORD!
WE have to find out what is causing these things. It is torture for him... and US!!!
poor baby!
Ok-
off to get ready...busy day!
(I will try not to stumble over the shoes at the column...)
angie

Wednesday February 10, 2010

Little Red bird...or are you a cardinal? I was digging through the ga-gillion pictures on my computer and external hard drive. This little bird was just there... and I decided to use him for today.
Not sure why-?
Red- It is February.
February is Valentine's...
Hummmm? I guess I am pushing it?
I know---
It is because of my mood-
my 'moody' mood today AND yesterday.
I haven't felt all that great actually.
Sinus head-ache yesterday was painful.

I just haven't felt myself. SO much is on my mind and my heart. I can't explain it-shake it or fix it. Because that what I am! a FIXER...
When I can't fix something- I get frustrated and defeated.
As I pressed through the afternoon yesterday I began to think of WHY I am feeling so down.
This list starting popping into my head.

All of these things that are bothering me! What can I do to make them NOT bother me or change them? SO here it goes...

One of the biggest frustrations is the house.
The hellish laundry issue! IT is never done, or even in the process of feeling caught up.
Major stress there.

The BOYS!
Getting to bed-getting up-homework-chores( or the lack there of!!!) Attitudes-tardiness to school... ( shall I continue!?!) Ungratefulness, lunches, dinners, all meal times.--their health, their 'social' issues... Are they even seeing all that Tre' and I do for them?... What about what Granmomma does for them? Do they see that too?
I am SICK of the stress of worrying about Avery and his head-ache issues. Is he going to have one today? Will he have one of those devil-ish fits? It has certainly given me a bad vibe with him.
IT HAS TO CHANGE!

Teaching/working
My student load at home is manageable. I still feel tons of stress when the house is a mess when parents come in... I hate living like that worrying that people judge me by the way the house looks. I can't let go of the image thing when it comes to the living space. I have in my head that it should look like a magazine lay-out ALL DAY... everyday! AND if it can't look like that... well why should I try? IT is just overwhelming...
The load at CCS is over-booked... some of that isn't my fault! I can't get parents to do their job and send books as expected... but that is the nature of it I suppose.
My lesson plans are out of whack-which creates a lot of stress trying to help those struggling with certain concepts. It is just this catch 22 all of the time.

I can't focus on one issue to help the next issue so round and round I go in a circle that only pulls me down and makes me sad... depressed ... and defeated.

I have in my head that next week during the break I will find this miraculous amount of energy to tackle it all.
Clean out my room... ( ha... my room! What about Hayden's and Teyler's and AVERY's!!!! the basement... the garage....)
It all needs to be done... NOt to mention my van! (OMG!!!)
I just know where to get this energy...? I want to just slip away to sunny patch on a patio somewhere and just close my eyes. Sleep-sit...and sleep some more...
That is bad- huh?
It is honest at least...

I have these expectations of myself- and I am NEVER can live up them. I realize and KNOW that they are unrealistic... AND I KNOW I can't be everything to everyone. I KNOW in my heart all I have to be is a child of God. He loves me despite my chaos and confusion. Being STILL and listening to his call is WAY more important than getting the dishes and laundry in tip top shape...
BUT! how do I get a clean slate...?
How can I find some peace in all of this?
What can I do to fix the issues with the boys?
That is big question..
????
The big fat question that I have to answer....
or at least come up with a plan...
so- to deal with it all guess what I will do?
I am searching the internet looking for a Valentine craft to do with the Avery's class tomorrow...
sounds like a plan... huh?
angie

Tuesday February 9, 2010

I have my obsession with the Peanuts Gang!
I found this at Kroger yesterday! It is just adorable.
I have plans for the quips and quotes on the inside!
The main floor bathroom is my plan! Cute black and white prints of the 'gang' and sweet quotes all framed up. It will be sweet.
That is ONE of my planned projects for next week! (remember...? winter break!!!) WHOO HOO!

Ohh- this is something else that I found yesterday at Kroger...
Well not Keith himself! but he was in the Country Music Magazine!
I had to include him in today's post. :D

Monday was actually not too hectic for my piano student load. Yet again- Tiara cancelled. We are going on 3 weeks of nothing but cancels from her. I am growing weary!
I did find out some sad news about one of my sweet kids.
Ethan Betsil will be moving March 1st!
They are going to Charleston, SC! I won't get to see the new baby girl! Tammie is due on March 18th! ( teyler's bday!!!)
It made me cry last night thinking about them moving. I really enjoy him. He is a great kid and I have shared a lot with Tammie since she lost her Mom suddenly to cancer. It was nice being able to share things with her. I will be sad to see them go.
The good news- her Dad lives here still- so she said they would be making frequent visits to see him. And- she told me she would call often to keep in touch.

In the conversation- she said something interesting.
She is a teacher at Union Grove High School. She seems quite fine with this move for their family. Her husband got a promotion- and that is what is taking them there. She is very excited about the new town they are going to.
It made me think about myself. Would I be that excited to move from here? Have I just settled for living in McDonough, Ga? If I were more adventurous would things be better for us?
I don't know.
Tammie said that most of the people she works with have no motivation except to be a teacher in the same school, in the same room at the same desk for 30 years. They do not see past that.
Is that me?
Have I held us back because I have only seen things in a 'box' and not stepped outside of it?
I don't know...
but it certainly has made me look at things differently since last night.

We did Pasta Night- but I mixed it up. I made a MEX-chicken dish with rice. It was yummy. Actually quite good with my left over salsa from Sunday. :)

I have much to do today- again...
I am determined to get my walk in this morning- so I am OFF to put on work-out pants and shoes and strap up with Leslie Sansone. yipppeee.... :/

angie~

Monday!! February 8, 2010

The sun?! What? No rain today? How can that be?....
At last Sunday morning the sun was starting to rise and shine!
Beautiful...and Amazing!
I am thankful and grateful for the warmth of the sunrise and the hope that it will not rain for a few days. :)
The weekend was nice.
Mason spent the night Friday. The boys played and goofed off. Their favorite thing to do.
Becky and I had Mexican with Tre' Friday night.
Becky and I then headed to Heather's house to make some final plans for showers and such for Becky. We have a few more things left to plan- but it is all coming together.
Clay's actual last day in service was this past Friday. He is officially done.
Becky will be going to pick him up and start the travel home from California this Thursday.
It is hard to believe he will be home soon.

I started feeling pretty crummy Friday night- stuffy... and runny at the same time. YUCK!
Saturday I was mostly miserable- but I was alright with some cold meds. I have had many sick piano students the past 2 weeks so I am sure I caught something from them. Joy!
We piddled around the house Saturday and then took the boys to Chevy's for lunch. That was awesome! The steak sandwich was fabulous.
Then we went down to this new coffee shop- Doug's Mug's in Locust Grove. Chef Sam was doing a cake tasting and auction for A Friend's House. IT was fun.
We came home and watched the Bud shoot out and did nothing productive! I was still feeling pretty icky.

Sunday was the Super Bowl. I had big plans for the day- Avery was up most of the night complaining like Avery does... :? I didn't make it to church to say the least.
I ran to Target to get Avery meds and he just screamed his lovin' head off. Teyler thought he should call 911--- omg.
He didn't .... but ? Finally- Avery started feeling better and I was able to make home-made SALSA!
YUMMM! It was great.
We had Kellie and her crew coming over for the GAME! Becky came too.
I picked up a few pizza's and Shanes. I made my famous Chocolate Cake and it was fun night.
The Saints won- ( i really didn't care who won-.... I just wanted a good game!)
It was... Until the last quarter and the Saints took advantage of a few Colt's errors.
It was fun to get together! :)

NOW on to a new week.
The week before the break!
I have SO much planned for next week. I have to get this house in order and cleaned.
I can't take it another day!
So- besides a few little trips here and there- I really have plans for the kids to help with the house. I am SURE they will be thrilled with that.

I must begin to clear off my desk. It is a disaster for sure... and the kitchen certainly looks like a bomb went off! LOL!! no really it does! :(
angie

message from the Snoop!!
"hmmm... You lookin' at me? Cuz if you are lookin' at me there might be a problem lady!
Get busy- and clean this house Woman!"

February 5, 2010

Yes- You guessed it!
Rain again! Rain always it seems.
I dreamed about rain last night.
I dreamed we were looking for a boat to get in. Maybe not the ark- but we were looking something to float in.
I am very glad that it IS FRIDAY!
I dreamed all night-and I never really felt like I slept any... so when I got up I thought it was Thursday again.
I don't like being confused when I wake up- That was a good confusion though... It is NOT Thursday again. I had enough of that day already! SO-- let us move on to FRIDAY!
Rain or not! We are moving on.
I do have a lighter load today with students- so that is good.
PHEW!
I must get this boat in gear- and get going.
Super BOWL weekend...
Colts vs the Saints!
WHOO HOO!
angie~

Thursday February 4, 2010

Clue #1

#2

Well- #3...
You guessed it!
RAIN!!! Again.... MORE RAIN!!
how can it be???
The weather people say 3 more inches in the next 2 days. :/ HOW can it be?
Ohh-well. I will try to find JOY even in the rain, the cold and damp.
Somehow-we will get through it.
Usually I don't mind it that much- I like a rainy day just as much as a sunny day- but it seems we have had an usual amount of gloomy weather the past year or so.
I will try to keep this tune in my head all day-
"The SUN will come out tomorrow... Bet 'chur bottom dollar that TOMORROW ( or the next ..or the next!!!) THERE will be SUNNNNNNNN!"
maybe... :?

Avery's has an obesession... Imagine that. He asked Tre' to buy him his OWN key for the front door. He then had to have a key ring. LIKE Tre's.... The mammoth hook thingy that goes on his belt loop. OHH MY! And of course the new key HAD to have a handy light on it. Avery is crazy.
He has taken it to school all week. I think Ms. Paino has had to take it up several times too.
Funny...

Hayden is doing good- He still is complaining about his shoulder. He fell in January at the Student Center after we had that ice-snow event. I might need to take him to the doctor....?

Teyler is trying my patience with GETTING UP on time in the a.m.!!! He he is making me lose my mind for sure! UHHHG! He will be 17 next month!!! HOW IS IT SO!!?!?!
ok-
I best hit-
Meeting Amy J. for lunch soon.
Gotta get ready!
Making French Dips for dinner. I need to get them cooking!
~angie :)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Picture is from Avery's Birthday December 2009.
We were at Longhorn's.

There are days that I feel like the biggest failure to the boys and Tre'. ( well- and Snoopy too!)
Come to think of it- there probably isn't a day that goes by that I DON'T feel like a total disaster in every area.
Between housework-meal planning(or the lack there of...) piano students, homework...--- I feel at times I just want to scream.
I feel like I never have time to do things that I adore. Things that light my passion for creating.
I am not sure what I have to do to get this back in my life- but my goal for the month of February is to set a plan in motion.
I have so many things that I want to do around the house- I can't do anything extra because of the 'daily' duties are just overwhelming.
I have to get a handle on it all. Because at the moment it certainly has me and I am losing the battle for sure!
I will start with my time management. The biggest losing battle of my day. I wasted 3 hours yesterday running around picking up lunches for the kids and dropping them off at school.
I don't mind doing that once in a while....
but!!!!
it is ridiculous!
Hopefully, Avery will eat his Sketti-o's that I sent today. He is the most challenging one of the bunch when it comes to lunch. So- their lunch time is my project for this week.
Learning to be a planner- is not just a part of my make-up. I have always been a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. I love being laid back- and not up-tight. BUT!!!! That has gone a little too far- I have to find a happy medium.
So-
The project begins...
Finding myself- in more ways than one!
I love the boys and Tre' SO MUCH!
I have to do this for them too. I am not me when I can't create, design and make something. It is ME!
Angie :)
and I LIKE THAT about ME!
thanks Lord- for your blessings!
I am blessed & grateful beyond measure!

Friday January 29, 2010

Community Christian Talent SHOW
January 2010

WE did it!
Another year- another talent show.
It went well. The kids did a great job. There were several that were amazing!
I am glad that we were tougher on the auditions and stuff this year. Last year was TOUGH!
It was hard on me- for sure... but this year we cracked down on the kids and had strict deadlines and it seemed to help tremendously!
We had a great crowd there. Not sure how much money we raised for the Chorus Department, but I will find out soon. It was a wonderful experience no matter how much money
we brought in.

After the show I met Heather, Rhonda, Reggie and Becky! We had dinner at the Chinese place
to celebrate Becky's Birthday! :) She is the big 30!!!!
We had a great time!
:)
Tre' made it home from his trip to Savannah Friday around lunch.
Teyler went down to celebrate James' birthday for the weekend- So he was excited to get
out of the house for a while! Poor Hayden was sad he wasn't invited, but Tre' took him out for dinner at IHOP and bought him a new XBox 360 game. Avery spent the evening with Mason playing and laughing. So-It was a busy evening and quite nice!
Glad that the weekend came- and put an end to the week. It was busy!
moving on to month of LOVE! :)
angie

February 1, 2010

Kellie's Big 4 0!!!

Saturday we got together at Leslie & Matt's house w/Kelly & Monroe, Kelli & Matt, Jason & Linda and Tre' and myself. We surprised Kellie for her birthday. She was surprised! It was fun.

It was sad that Sherrie and Wayne weren't there... but ya' know? They pretty much wrote us off back at Christmas and we have to move on. I have tried all I can to mend the fences and help them see I love them and so does Kellie- but they are digging their heels in and not budging. IT is out of my hands!

We hung out at the party for the evening- and then came home and crashed! I had done a boat load of laundry all day Saturday-( which there are still many baskets of wet clothes waiting for the dryer!!) uhhhg!

I will tackle those in a few minutes... :)

I always have such hope on Sunday nights- that Monday and the new week to come are a clean slate after the hectic week before...
Then reality sets in and I am again in the midst of chaos and confusion trying to get ALL of the my students in- keep laundry caught up- try to prepare meals for us, clean the house.... and somewhere in there organize the upstairs area... :*(.....
I am going to try super hard today to get a schedule for this week- and stick to it. yea... right!

At least the Talent Show is over-
so that helps with the stress load! I just have to get a grip on my lesson planning and I think it will be manageable... we shall pray!

I best hit it! Lots to do!
A new month! A new week! :) :D =)
The quest to lost 15 pounds this month begins! Walk dvd's and Pilates! This will be my plan!
Let's see how far I can get by March 1!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my personal challenge!!!!! I gotta do it!
I CAN NOT BE IN BECKY'S WEDDING LOOKING LIKE A COW!!!
I will be mortified!
off to lace up---- and W A L K !!! :) or :/

~angie