What's Up Wednesday

I haven't blogged in multiple years, but I've thought about it many times.  I've even written some in my head. That counts right? So I'm going to see how this goes. I started reading Sheaffer's blog and buying 90% of the clothes she suggests which led me to Shay's blog which led me back to here. So I'm going to try and write and if I get it done, link it up. 

What's up on this humpity hump day?!

1. We're eating on the Daniel Fast still.  

The first week was hard. But I was so pumped it got me through. Basically we eat like Daniel did when King Nbicenisser took him for 21 days. No meat, no dairy, no sugar, no flour and only water to drink. I feel great! But I really miss coffee, and Hadley is selling girl scout cookies. 

Steel Cut Oats & Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

Vegan Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Vegan Cuban Bowl

NOT Hurt's Donuts

2. What I'm Reminiscing About

Warmer days. Like yesterday. Today is COLD. It seems like seasons have shifted. Our summer is now july to almost october. Fall is middle of October or november to January and winter starts at the end of January and lasts till end of march when its supposed to be SPRING! But I got to wear my favorite red coat that makes me think of Paris, so that's a plus. 

3. What I'm Loving

I love This is Us. 

It is my Parenthood replacement. I know lots that love it, like it and can't tolerate it. I cathartic cry, or "happy cry" as my girls say.  almost every week and it warms my heart. 

4. What we've been up to

Hadley was terrified of selling her girl scout cookies. After a single facebook shout out we sold ALL our cookies! We restocked but didn't get enough so we are already planning our 3rd reorder.  She still gets nervous talking at first, but if there is one thing that kid knows its cookies! Plus she loves visiting people so delivering cookies is the highlight of girl scouts she said! 

5. What I've been dreading

The senate hearings, especially Elizabeth DeVos for Education Secretary. I've been tweeting senators and listening to CNN and reading the news too much. I've now post-it noted on my computers "God grant me the ability to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." I also read a good facebook post about changing our prayers from get me out of this or take this away to please God MAKE IT COUNT. 

6. What I'm working on

Every year I rearrange the books in the library. Why? I'm a masochist. I don't know. Last year it was re-dewing nonfiction AND making a display shelf in the middle of the columns like book people. This year it's genrefying! You know how the books at Barnes and Noble are grouped by mystery, romance, etc? soon they will be like that here instead of all fiction together. I've gotten realistic fiction done! aren't they pretty? 

Realistic Fiction section

And I'm moving dystopian today and pulling Sci-fi tomorrow and scanning them. 

Dystopian

But I didn't think through my book cart situation so now I'm low on available carts... Let the book tower stacking begin! 

Soon to be filled with dystopian and sci-fi!

7. What I'm excited about

My beautiful sister in law Tracy (who is so freaking hilarious and awesome) recently got married to her freaking hilarious and awesome soul mate Dave on a beautiful island in paradise! In a couple weeks we get to go to Amarillo to celebrate them and see tons of family we never get to see! We can't wait!!! 

 

8. What I'm watching/reading

I'm reading Irena's Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo. It's about a young woman during WW2 in Poland who saved thousands of Jewish children by relocating them out of the ghetto and hiding them with other families. Its a difficult read (like most holocaust books are now that I have children, but amazing). 

I'm also reading Bringing Up Girls by the great Dr. James Dobson. I read about it on Mix Match Momma's blog and Lord knows I need all the help with these two yahoo's at home that I can get! 

9. What I'm listening to

I'm trying not to listen to CNN in the car because I'm getting a little obsessed. (see number 5). But Since I have Hadley and Harper and they ALWAYS "Want to be the DJ" we are never listening to what I want to. We have on repeat Hamilton soundtrack, Trolls soundtrack, Radio Disney or Kidz Bop, Be Jealous. 

10. What I'm Wearing

My closet or room is never clean enough to post outfit pictures like all the "real" bloggers HA! But I got some fabulous stuff at J Crew outlet this weekend. 

Light Indigo Shirtdress

This is the BEST denim dress! I wore it with black leggings and black boots but I can't wait to wear it with my Tom ankle booties or some cute sneakers that I haven't bought. It says its $72 but everything at the outlet is always 40-50% off instore PLUS if you have you teacher ID you get an extra 20% off. 

Long sleeves striped boatneck t-shirt

I also got this top and I LOVE it!! It's the Long sleeved boatneck and I may go get other colors. It's so thick and is the perfect length. They showed it with this paisley skirt but it was way too much pattern for me. 

11. What I'm doing this weekend

This weekend we have our church's daddy daughter dance. We skip the Frisco one since its usually insane and it's always been the best decision.  Saturday Hadley has a birthday party and I'm working out. The girls like to be HOME on the weekends. In their PJ's, on the trampoline, being lazy or playing but home or possibly a trip to Sugar's house. 

12.  What I'm looking forward to next month

February 24th is our 10th wedding anniversary! We are celebrating by taking a long weekend to Charleston! We had the hardest time deciding where to go! Do we go to New York?  That's our go-to trip place, but it's so cold in february. Do we go to the beach? I let my passport expire... I've always heard lots of good things about Charleston and since we booked it, it's all over the TV and news! We've made out hotel and dinner reservations already. Not to plot out what we are going to see and do! I can't wait. And what to wear???

13. What else is new?  

Since I blogged last, tons but I wouldn't even know where to begin. So we'll leave it at that. 

A is for Actor

This week Hadley's class us talking about the letter A.  Their homework for the week was to be Actors  and do a performance for an Audience on Friday instead of usual show and tell.  She could prepare a story, a song, a dance or whatever.  She told me she wanted to read her favorite book: The Little Red Hen. 

She loves this story.  Sugar gave her one of the little Golden Books of it for Christmas and she looked at it and squealed- I love this story! I asked her what it was and she gave me the "duh mom" look and said the little wed hen! I was shocked and said uhhhh can you read??? She laughed and said no silly but we read this at school. 

We currently have 3 copies of The Little Red Hen and all are different.  She chose the red cover to read today. Sadly no parents could attend the performance (probably best) but her teacher sent me these pictures.  She gets a little shy and nervous when talking in front of her class apparently.  I haven't seen this side of her but her teacher assures me it's there.  I'm guessing that is why her face is red, sweet Hads.

Insomniacs

It's not secret my kids hate to sleep. It shouldn't be a secret- I complain about it enough. Harps usually easy, Had isn't. At all. Thanks to a nutritionist we have some herbal fall asleep fast remedies but I'm still up 2-3 times a night with her. Tonight she went out like a light before 8! Harp was down at 7:56 fast. Sure enough an hour after Harps bedtime she started crying. I left her cry a while but have in to rock her.

That's how I ended up here, inside a crib, patting a 1.5 yr old who keeps mocking me. She makes woof woof noises every couple min then SHH!'s me! UGH.

Cutris Culwell Day

December 19, 2012 was Curtis Culwell Day! We went to a reception and retirement ceremony at none other than the Curtis Culwell Center.

Or as Sugar calls it (slowly and southern) The C. C. C.

It was so nice to hear what we already knew about my Dad. He is a great educator who cares for the future of education and readily fights for it in Austin.  He isn't intimidated by Rick Perry powerful people who haven't given enough attention, money or interest to public education. He has been recognized by many public officials over the past couple months and even by The March of Dimes for his contributions.  Since Lauren and I were born premature he has always felt very strongly about their organization and has made his school districts aware of their fundraising needs. Beucase of his leadership GISD was a top donating district!

I know he is going to do great things in Austin but I am beyond sad he is moving. Sugar is holding out for now, but not sure how long she can make it in Garland without him.

The girls were excited to get dressed up last night and go to Big's party at "Biggie's Big Top!" Their favorite part was playing on the stage with a microphone...



7 day forecast

So I'm guessing thanks to the Mayans we aren't having a White Christmas? His means we should open presents Thursday!!

She-Ra fail

Hadley is having a She-Ra Princess of Power birthday party! And of course she wanted a She-Ra costume. I got her gold sequin boots, gold leggings and a She-Ra t-shirt think she would be pumped. Instead I got "mom, She-Ra does not wear leggings" so I thought I'd paint a t-shirt to look like the REAL dress. Yet again my creativity mixed with lack of artistic talent and topped with half-ass-mess led to the worst dress ever.

Quote- Galileo

Snowmageddon

I KNEW what to expect. I KNEW that with it being in the 70's yesterday even if it was COLD and SNOWY it wouldn't stick. HOWEVER, the last time a snow was casually mentioned and laughed off we missed a week of school. So I irrationally help out hope. I went to sleep after 2 episodes of Homeland and the tweets of snow falling in panhandle...

I woke up to the news and "we will keep you up to date with school closures and delays" and I thought YES!!!

As I tuned in further I heard "At this time there are NO schools that have delayed or snowed" and I thought oh well...

I saw in the last moments pre-dawn a white yard and was so happy. I told Hadley that we could play in the snow before school. They ate and dressed most pleasantly and we went out side in the 28 degree wind and saw the "white" in the yard was pretty much the dead grass... Had was determined to make snow angles anyway until she realized how cold it actually was...

I think our house was down wind becuase we had MUCH less than the neighbors but still.... If it were December 25th I'd TOTALLY count it as a white Christmas!

CHEESE!!!

Got school pics back today. Here is a collage of all the different pictures. Poor Harper is unamused making the same duh face in every picture. The September pictures were worse. This round at least Hadley smiled!

Suzanne's Birthday

Today is my Best Friend's Birthday! We don't see each other too often but we text almost daily.  We've come a long way dahling!

Suz and I met in the hallway of the dorm our sophomore year while waiting on bid night.  We were so nervous and shocked we lived down the hall and were both going to be siggies but hadn't met. It was an instant bond and she was my support when I was always in trouble during pledge stuff, ironing my awful yellow skirt for me and helping me remember all the crap they make you memorize.  I had the worst haircut of my life that semester too and she supported me from the hall as I locked myself in my room crying.  We'd take the danger ranger everywhere because she didn't drive and when my little miss Daisey did drive, things didn't end well (Texaco carwash...)

There were many life events that warrant their own posts but are not entirely all "public record".

To give a brief timeline Suz moved to south Texas and I to Dallas. We went through the "dark ages" and didn't talk for a year or so. Nothing happened, we just got busy living our lives.  We reconnected miraculously on St Patty's day on Greenville Ave and picked up right where we left off.  The year that followed was tough and trying but thanks to a couple road trips we both made it through. Now we have children and are married pretending we are actually adults.  I would have never guess our lives could turn out this good and I'm so glad your my friend.

It's been a WILD ride and I truly believe we were wrong when we thought we'd hit "our prime" in that old house on EN 12th.  You are more fabulous now than you have ever been and I love you more than my luggage!

Happy 25th Birthday Suzie!!! (yes 25, neither of us majored in math so there)

shout out to the truffle shuffle...

Readers are Leaders

It was recently said to me- that since I'm a librarian I'm the "Queen of all nerds". I'm pretty sure it was not intended as a complement, but I choose to take it as one.  After all, doesn't everyone want to be a Queen?

I absolutely, undoubtedly love my job.

I was so unsure and hesitant to make the switch from classroom teacher to librarian for many reasons. One being I loved my students and the relationship I got to have with them.  Teachers get to know students very well and they come by day after day, year after year just to check in and tell you about their lives.  Secondly my content was familiar, and fun! I taught geography for 9 years and I knew it like the back of my hand. There is a comfort and security in "knowing" what you are doing even if the other attributes (kids, problems, IEP's, activities) change year to year. It didn't help that I taught with my really REALLY good friends.  It doesn't feel like work when you see your friends every 90 minutes and get to eat with them everyday.

But change is inevitable. 

My job is about 5 miles from the new house and the girls new school is literally next door to my school. My principal is fabulous and so far people seem to like me.  The constant feeling of "what have I done now" is totally gone!

When I think about the changes the last 6 months there is no doubt in my mind that God has been at work here.  I was sad to leave my students, teacher friends and my subject but the library is truly where I'm meant to be.  I get lonely sometimes because I am not "friendly" with any teachers yet and I know know many students. But I am learning their names and from repeated interactions forming a different bond. 

The best part of my job is the books.  My new friends are in print. It's silly but true. I've been a reader for a long time but now its a new level, much to Jared's chagrin. 

(As a non reader he thinks paying for books is silly)

My Pap always said "it doesn't matter what happens with your school work, as long as you read- you will be fine." I remember him talking about when he went to college and could read in the dorm as long as he wanted.  He would see the sun start to come up and think oh man, i did it again.  Much different than many of my nights that ended at dawn....

On some slow weeks I read about 5 books from the library, and I'm still WAY behind on my YA-Lit (young adult literature).  I've thrown in some regular adult books lately and my favorite is Gabriel's Inferno. It's a love story written by a man, and no Fabio is not topless on a horse on the cover with his flowing blond hair.  I expected it to be 50 Shades-esque but was pleasantly surprised.  I loved 50 shades, but this was a love story minus the dirty.  There was maybe 2% of the entire book that made me blush and no kinky weirdness.  The writing was much better too! It quoted a lot of literature (Both characters are Dante specialist) and was very intelligent.  Julia in the book is the Beatrice/light and Gabriel is Dante/dark.  Their "forbidden love (que Fabio)" is the storyline of the first two books and it draws you in to why Julia is "broken and sad" and how Gabriel the "fallen, dark angel" wants to save her.  This is my favorite line from the book:

"Why not think that sometimes-just sometimes- you can overcome evil with silence? And let people hear their hatefulness in their own ears, without distracting. Maybe goodness is enough to expose evil for what it really is, sometimes. Rather than trying to stop evil with more evil. "



If you need me I'll be hiding behind my nook :)

Here is the book trailer from youtube

Attempted Pictures

Thought the tree would be a cool back ground. Neither H or H were impressed...

My sweet Hoppsy

I guarantee she did something and was saying "Ha!HA! Mommy! That's (chuckle chuckle) so funny" The kid thinks I'm a comedian. Rightfully so.

Had comforting Harps "Its ok, sister- Mommy will loose interest soon. Its called ADD"

I forgot shoes for Harps and she DID NOT like her new boots.

"What's so funny Hopper!"

""Let me tell you something little sister, while you kick back and relax..."

This picture of Hadley looks like me when I was little and this is Harps new thing to laugh and shrug her shoulders. its the cutest thing ever!

I'm sure they were singing.

Had's "she-ra" gold sequined boots reflecting on Harps face

Pretty girl

Gobble Gobble

We had a FAN-TAB-U-LOUS Thanksgiving!

I had all week off so the girls went to school Monday and Tuesday so I could play, nap and shop do laundry and clean the house.

We left early EARLY Wednesday morning and the girls were napless troopers until the last hour.  Then it was a free for all and I was singing and dancing to entertain them all while Jared drove with his earphones in (ahem) at. the. speed. limit.  Not a flash over.  We did see one car that got pulled over twice and I was silently glad that I was not driving but in charge of child care. 

As soon as we got there Hadley found a bat and softball and became "the coach" and gave everyone very specific instructions on what to do and when do it it. She even allowed herself to bat. Mommy insisted on being the audience...

Early Thursday morning Jared and I ran in the Turkey Trot 5k. Why does that 1st mile seems SOOOO LOOONG. I walked more than I should have but the previous evening choice of hydration was to blame. 41 minutes for 3.1 miles is not great but the EXACT time as the last 5k.

I wanted to take pictures for Christmas cards and it could have gone better.  much better. That will be the next post. After a delicious turkey meal we rested and relaxed.

Tracey and I got up Friday morning and went to CrossFit instead of crazy shopping.  It was probably crazier than walmart at 12:30am. DANG! THAT CRAP IS HARD. I never want to experience a burpee again.  Once I recovered, Hadley wanted to see where the race was and go to a park so we went and fed the ducks.

Which of course ended up being "feed the Hoppa"

I took a risk and went to Old Navy Saturday at 7:30am and had the place to myself! Friday evening Target for diapers was a different story and exhausting for all...

Grandma got a puppy and while I'm still unsure of the name, Hadley was convinced his name was Boomer.  Jared was so proud.

Sadly we left Sunday and didn't prepare Hadley that we did have to go home eventually and she was devastated.  Yet, they both slept off and on and we made it home in time to fry fish with Papa and Grammy.