SNOW DAY!

Today, something very unexpected happened!  The weathermen have been saying it for a few days, but no one believes the weathermen around here anymore, at least not when it comes to. . .

SNOW!

Now some of my friends who live in or have visited other parts of the country probably think we're all silly down here...we get a couple inches of snow, and we all freak out!  But when you grow up and never see it like this, it's amazing.  It's beautiful.  And fortunately, we don't experience it enough for it to become a nuisance. 

It started this morning while I was doing car duty at school.  That's right...I had duty. Outside.  While it was sleeting and snowing and oh-so-cold.  I thought it would be awful, but it was actually really fun to watch the kids faces as they got out of their cars, seeing something that many of them have never seen before.  At least not like this!

My fourth graders were out of their minds all day.  My classroom doesn't have windows, which turned out to be a blessing today, but any time they got a peek outside, they lost it!  Finally, around 10:30, I took them outside.  They loved it. 

They dismissed school early because, well, Central Texans don't really know how to drive in snow, and I'm sure everyone figured the snow would be more enjoyable from the safety of their own yard. 

I am one of the few that will admit that driving in this kind of weather scares me.  My wonderful husband knew I was worried, and he came to my school, cleaned off and started my car, and waited almost an hour for me to dismiss my kids.

(Side note, Parents:  PLEASE pick up your kids on time.  Especially on a SNOW day when I can't wait to get home to my boys!)

We went and picked Mason up from Alisha's and came home for a nice long nap.  Then we got all bundled up

And we ventured outside for some snow fun!

Mason wasn't sure what to think of the snowflakes falling on his face...

He may have been wondering why we got him all bundled up just for this...

But I'm certain

that if he has the opportunity...

he will grow to love snow days...

just like his Daddy. 

Marvelous Monday!

And why, you ask, is it a marvelous Monday?  I don't really know!  Nothing huge has happened, I just feel like today is one of those days that is just flowing! 

• Mason slept until 5:00 this morning, took a bottle and went right back to sleep.  It's AMAZING how much better one feels with adequate sleep!
• My hair didn't do the funky flip out thing when I fixed it this morning.  AND I've gotten tons of complements on my new do.  Call me vain but I LOVE that people notice!
• My dear husband made me LOL, literally (that's right, I said LOL).  When asked how Mason's diaper rash looked this morning, he replied (through text) that it looked "partially baboonified."  Now mind you, it is not at all funny that my precious boy has such a terrible diaper rash, but I love that my husband can turn it around and make me giggle!
• My first class was unusually calm...strange how one less student can make that happen!
• I learned a new way to teach elapsed time to my 4th graders, and I think they got it!
• Leftover homemade mac & cheese for lunch, need I say more?
• Cupcakes in the teacher's lounge and juuuuust enough iced tea left for me!
• And best of all...in TWO hours I get to leave this place and go see my baby boy and my baby daddy! 

Oh my goodness...did I really just say baby daddy?  I wonder what they put in those cupcakes...

Hair Cut!!

No silly, not Mason!  I won't cut those beautiful blond locks until his daddy makes me! 

It was Mama who got a hair cut!  It has been SOOO long since my last hair cut (August!) and it felt so good to be pampered for a few minutes.  I just have to say that Becky at Sanjazl's is my hero!!  I wish she would come to my house every morning to fix my hair!

Anyway, here's my before picture:

And here's the after!

And I always feel amazingly photogenic for a few hours after Becky works her magic, so here are some pictures of me and Mason goofing around!

What is up with that tongue?!?

I think my uvula is showing.

Uh oh!

There's that tongue again!

Thank you Becky for making me feel pretty!

Cute Cousins!

Mason's BFF and favorite cousin is Miss Tennie Belle.  She is one of the cutest darn things ever (second only to my bouncing [crawling, almost walking] bundle of joy.)  =)  She is very photogenic and is so very adorable.  I am certain that she will spend much of her young life tormenting little Mason, but I'm sure he will always be the perfect gentleman in return.  (Insert sarcasm font.)  I do hope that they are always good friends and I am so glad that they have each other to grow up with!

The oh-so-affectionate headbutt.  (It really is affectionate, and very cute!)

Mason is getting kisses...he looks reeeaal excited about it too, dontcha think?

"See Tennie, what you do is stick your finger nail in it real hard, and it makes the coolest sound!"

"Uh...Mason...you're on my FOOT!"

Ahhh, I heart babies.  <3

Happy Valentine's Day

Roses and candy are nothing compared to my Valentine's Day present.  Who could ask for anything more?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Bad Mommy Moment #6,188

I let my kid play with plastic bags:

They make the coolest sound, and they taste pretty good too...

And Bad Mommy Moment #6,189:

I let my kid chew on sneakers.

He has alllll these toys (and many more)

But all he wants is a nice, rubbery tennis shoe. 

There are worse things, right?

2010 Handbook

I got this in an email today and thought it was great!  These are definitely some words to remember!

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less food that is manufactured in plants..

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes’ walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come..

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

40. Tell the ones you love how you feel.