Merry Christmas

OK, So I am a blog slacker. Happy to report several things have happened in the last few months. First and foremost, I quit playing the piano for the church I was playing for. It was very unexpected but I think God was looking out for us.

Second, We have been sick (Emma and I). We both had sinus infections the first time. Then I had to have surgery the week of Thanksgiving and now I am sick again with another sinus infection.

Third, I finished the semester of grad school with A's in both classes. Whew! I was sweating the A in Educational Research. That class was crazy hard. So, only 1 more semester to go and then I am DONE!

Fourth, I have had time to reflect and do some things throughout this Christmas season that I have always wanted to do. I hope to post some Christmas pictures in the next few days! We had them made and they were really good but I am not sure we will do that experience next year. I am looking for someone to do some creative stuff. Although, that usually costs a lot of money! LOL!

I think that gets it all in a nutshell without a great amount of detail. Look for pictures in the next few day!

Merry Christmas!

Yoplait Giveaway

I recently was with a friend who told me about the blog that Melissa T. had started. She told me that it was awesome, and it is! However, I soon learned that I went to high school with Melissa and would love to thank her for helping me save MONEY and have a little bit of fun along the way. This month she is giving away an awesome prize pack that I want to win!!!! She is giving away a breast cancer jewlery case with a breast cancer awareness bracelet and a coupon for a free pack of Yoplait yogurt. Check out her blog at www.couponsandcoffee.blogspot.com and look. It's awesome! Plus she's doing a great job of promoting breast cancer. Go Melissa!

Breast Cancer Awareness

Well, it's that time of the year again where we are promoting National Breast Cancer Awareness. I love the month of October for lots of reasons and this is definately apart of it. Every year I walk in the Race for the Cure and am excited to do it again this year. I am walking as a part of Jan's Fans team along with some other friends. I have never met Jan but am excited to do that on Saturday. She is currently being treated for breast cancer but is simply too weak to make the walk so she is going to send us on our way. Go Jan!!!!!! Kick Breast Cancer in the BUTT! I think the best thing we can do is spread the word and do monthly exams and follow the steps. Who knows maybe one day we will find a cure and won't that be the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 year Portraits

On Thursday we went and had pictures made for Emma's second birthday. It is always interesting to me that you can go one time and get great shots and then go another time and get bad shots depending on the photographer. Well that's what happened. Terrible photographer bad pictures. However, we did manage to get a few good ones. Thought I would share with everyone.

Family Reunion 101

It's great to have family in! We hung out with the family from out of town all week last week. Monday-Thursday. We had a great time! It was really fun to have other family our age with kids close in age. Boo and Lynn came in and brought Brianna with them and we could not have been happier. Monday night we ate spagetti at the cabin with everyone. Tuesday we spent all day with the family at Dollywood. That morning was a rough start because we had Kristin and Tim with us but as usual some issue arose and well it put us 1 hour behind. Then we ate chicken and ribs with everyone on Tuesday along with our families favorite "Board Games." Well, Wednesday was do as you wish day. So, Boo,Lynn, Brianna, Emma and I decided to do some shopping at Five Oaks. We got some awesome deals. Emma has a brand new wardrobe for next summer so come May of next year it will be like Christmas. Heeeeeee. We did buy the girls matching outfits and they looked so cute. I taught Lynn how to make hairbows so then we decided to buy them matching outfits. Then I had to attend church that evening. Friday evening we had dinner with Boo and Lynn and of course we ate my favorite "MEXICAN"! It was great to see family and we can't wait until September when we see them again. Unfortunately, the Roll Tide but we will forgive them for that!!!!! LOL! Here are pictures of Emma and Bri-Bri in matching outfits after dinner!

WHOOHOO!

Steve and both have been working on our master's degrees. Steve actually was 1 year ahead of me and graduated in May but lacked the certification for being a principal. So, we both decided that we would take the test before the state of Tennessee changed the test. (the test we took was supposed to be easier than the new version). So, on June 13 we both spent 6 hours taking the test not including drive time 40 minutes 1 way to get there and and 40 minutes back home or the 45 minute lunch break that we received. We were actually the dividing line between 2 groups so we took the same test just in different rooms. We then had to wait 4 weeks for the test results. Well, on Tuesday of this week we both found out that we PASSED the test!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never want to have to do that again! LOL! Now all that is happening is we are waiting for that precious license to come from the State Department of Education and glory be to the good Lord we are licensed!!!!!!!!!! Now, all I have to do is complete 4 more classes and I will have a Master's degree. :)

Smores?

We were at the lake house and decided that since we were burning brush that we would take advantage of the opportunity so we made smores. It was Emma's first time eatting a smore. I am not so sure she liked it but at least we tried it!

Steve Graduates!

Steve graduated from Carson Newman College with his Master's in Educational Leadership early in May. We are so proud of him! Here is a picture of Emma and Steve.

Emma Turns 2!

Since Steve and I had to take the administrator's licensure exam on June 13 (6 hour test) we decided when we were finished that we would take Emma somewhere special for her birthday and spend the rest of the evening with her. So, we took her to CHUCKIE CHEESE! What an experience for us as parents. She had a great time and after we played there we went for ice cream at Bruster's. Emma and I shared a chocolate cup and of course Steve ate his usual gigantic cone. LOL!

Emma's Birthday Party!

Emma turned 2 on June 13! We celebrated by having a small party at Trentville UMC in June 19. We had a great time and Emma loved opening all of her presents. We had all of our family present and two of Emma's friends showed up to help her celebrate. We are so glad they did because they made the party.

Pickels

We ate at O'Charley's Tuesday night after Steve's 4th and 5th grade program. Emma picked a pickel up off of my plate and was going to eat it. However, she decided to first play with it. It was so funny to us that her daddy took a picture. Pickels are the new thing at our house. She loves to run around saying, "Mommy, I like pickels!" I love these moments!

I hope everyone enjoys this photo of Emma!