Pictures as promised...

So...here are a few photographs from the Memorial Day trip to Arkansas to visit the sister and her family...

After we got there, my sister wanted to go visit a place that had a "Natural Bridge"...so away we went. Arkansas is FULL of hills...and on the way to the "Natural Bridge" those hills showed up in full force. As we were going down a very steep hill, the car decided to not want the brakes to work...fine timing I know...

Me and the sister on the randomly placed picnic tables in the "park"


Me and the sister and Aileigh in front of a cave (which only went back about 5 feet...maybe). We could never get a picture with Aileigh looking at the camera, she was too worried about the bugs.


This wagon wheel was in front of the "park" so how about some good 'ole fashioned fun!


A little peaking out from behind the trees action...
My mom thought this was the GREATEST picture ever. We were in Conway, AR...home of Kris Allen, American Idol winner. We went to eat at the Waffle House...I guess when in Rome...and they had this on the window...my mom then found it very entertaining that the window stated "We love Kris" and then my brother-in-law (Allen) was also in the picture...

Outside our hotel in Clinton, AR...Aileigh insisted that my father (her poppa) and me take a picture with her...we can't disappoint the niece.

Ailiegh in her Rangers shirt with her favorite dog...Daisy.

An attempt to get a picture in front of the ballpark in the Rangers shirt holding up a #1...Aileigh couldn't quite get just one finger up.


My momma and niece kind of in front of the ballpark.

Aileigh standing in front of the new Cowboys stadium...

Make over...

So I have decided that it is time for a blog make over. Nothing to terribly drastic, just a little somthing to make me happy!!! The old one was nice, but felt very dark and winter to me. The new one is very happy and springy/summery (those are probablly not words, but work with me). Hope you enjoy it. I will post some pictures very soon of my adventure to Arkansas with my parents to visit the sister. Hope all of you are well...I know I will be come 4:30!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suprise...

Do you ever feel like things that are happening can't be real? The last week or so, there have been events that have been happening, and not so much in my life but in the lives of those around me. These events almost feel like at some point someone should bust out with "April Fools!!!!!". Except that day was 21 days ago. None of the events are bad by any means, but just unexpected to say the least.

26...

So I came up with another thing to add to the random things list...

My friends and I were talking at lunch the other day and this item came up in discussion, and I didn't realized that it was strange until they informed me of the fact. And then they told me that I needed to blog about it, so here it is.

26. I MUST wear a watch to bed. And I have a specialized watch that I wear to bed.

Now let me explain myself...
If you are not aware of the fact, I have horrible vision. I honestly can not see the big E on the eye chart without some form of corrective lenses. So when I was in college, I would go to sleep and wake up and have no idea what time it was, because I could not see the alarm clock. So I started wearing a watch to bed so I would know what time it was at all times. Now, the watch that I wear to bed has to have special features, it must be a sport watch with a digital output (at 2:15 a.m. I don't want to be worried with trying to read the hands of a clock) and it must have a light on it. If there is not a light on it, how am I supposed to see the time at 2:15 a.m.? --Unless it is the month of December and my neighbor has the obnoxious Christmas lights on his house, which is a whole other issue.

My 25...

I have been tagged to tell 25 random things about me by Angie. I have done it on facebook, but there are so many random things about me I thought I would do it again. So here goes nothing...

1. I have an obsession with daises. My dog is named daisy, my favorite perfume is daisy, there is at least one daisy in every room in my house, and I intend on having daisies for the flower in my wedding when I one day get married.
2. I HATE shaving my legs. I jokingly (is that a word) called the weddings I was in at the end of the year the "I shaved my whole leg for this events of the year".
3. I rarely finish the last of anything (face wash, shampoo, milk, etc.) I don't know what it is, but I just can't make myself finish the last of it.
4. I am a procrastinator (I don't have my B.S. degree for nothing!)
5. In my 28 (almost 29) years of life, I have only live in 7 different houses/apartments.
6. I strongly dislike cooking...it seems like such a waste to me to cook for only one person.
7. I have a slight obsession with reality shows.
8. My favorite number is 7.
9. My closet is organized by style and color (maybe this comes from several years working in retail)
10. My current vehicle is only the 4th vehicle that I have driven since I started driving.
11. I have only been in 2 wrecks in my life (the first one caused the need for vehicle number 2).
12. I have only received one ticket in my life, and that was from the first wreck (I ran a stop sign). I have been pulled over about 5 times, but have only received verbal warnings...I guess I just smiled at them nicely or something.
13. I love my family...my parents are the greatest!
14. I have only been to the principals office once in my life, and it was a mistake.
15. I love the t.v. show the office and not so secretly want to marry Jim.
16. I also have some pretty amazing friends!!! I don't know where I would be without them...actually I do, at home alone.
17. I have only been in 6 weddings, but have been the maid of honor in 4 of those 6...I know it probably seems like more, but only 6.
18. My favorite actress is probably Jennifer Garner.
19. I have a lot of movies that I would call my favorites, but the one that I could watch over and over again and not get tired of it is probably the wedding singer.
20. Jimmy Fallon is one of the funniest people I have seen in a long time...I loved him in Fever Pitch!
21. I would love to visit every major league stadium one day...right now I have one down, The Ballpark in Arlington.
22. If I could have any job in the world, I would want to be a wedding coordinator or event planner, but be the behind the scenes person.
23. I am somewhat crafty...I like to think I am craftier than I probably really am.
24. My favorite seasons are early spring and early fall...the weather is perfect, and I can wear my jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops with a light weight hoodie. PERFECTION!!!!
25. If I am eating anything with color (m&m's, skittles, chex mix, etc.) I eat it by color...my least favorite first and my favorite last.

The Bachelor...

As I have already mention, I have an unnatural obsession with reality shows. And I will say that it has only grown worse. Recently I have become entertained by the reality show "The Bachelor". However, it is with some apprehension that I admit that I am entertained by "The Bachelor". Here is why...

1. Have we really come to a point in society that girls are so desperate to find "Mr. Right" that they will go on national television with 25 other girls and all "date" the same guy?

2. Really ladies...do you really think that a guy is going to be interested in you if you prove over and over again that you are just as shallow as the stereotype may prove?

3. Last night on "The Bachelor" during a one-on-one conversation with Jason, one of the girls revealed to him that she had a breast reduction (first of all you don't know the guy why would that be in the conversation at all?). But after she told him that, his immediate response was "Why?"---seriously! I know that guys can be shallow, but do you really have to prove it?

4. Most girls would be offended if they found out that a guy they were dating or even interested in was talking to or heaven forbid making out with another girl, but on this show somehow all "reality" is lost and the girls are alright with the situation.

5. Girls would actually go on a show and attempt to find true love based on only surface knowledge of a guy. And then once they meet him are "in love" with him. They then allow themselves to be led on by the man (I will not use the term gentleman, because that my friends he is not) and lead themselves to believe that they are the only one...and are truly heartbroken when they do not receive a rose. I mean really aren't there enough disappointments in life in and of itself that we really don't need to set ourselves up for disappointment?

I think that is enough of my soapbox for now...

I will say that last night on "The Bachelor" was probably one of the best conversations ever...

Jason (aka "the Bachelor") to Natalie during the one-on-one date: "Is there anything else I should know about you?

Natalie: "I like bears..."

Jason: "Like panda and koala bears?"

Natalie: "I mean I had a bear named fuzzy when I was little that made the local paper because I left it at a store"

***Side note: She did not get a rose...so ladies, please note: on a first date, don't tell a guy that you like bears...

But more than actually watching the show, I truly enjoy the time I get to spend with my dear friends...that time is priceless, and really some of the best quotes come from this time...
for example:

"I like my men younger...I mean...with lower voices" -Spring while watching American Idol
"Are we going to pass any gas (lots of laughter)...stations?" -Spring while driving
"We are just going to do a little Minnesota laundry..." -Fox 4 news caster

Moments...

Just a warning, today's entry is kinda serious...

Today was a day that will go down in the history books. Today is a day that we all can tell our kids, grandkids, etc. that we were a part of. Today we watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama live at school. And this is when I realized that we all have a part in history.

I shared this with my class today...

I told them that I hoped that each and every one of them would realize how special today is in our nation's history. I don't care if you are democrat, republican, or something else, it is still history. There are very few days in your lifetime that will have such an impact on history and that will be remembered in such a way.

I told my students that many of them could ask their parents or grandparents where they were the day that Kennedy was shot and they could tell you exactly where they were and how they felt. I also mentioned 9/11. Many of the students in my class were 4 or 5 when that momentous day occurred, so they know that it happened and they have a memory of it (vaguely) but many of them don't share the emotions that so many of us do. I remember when 9/11 happened that I was in college and it was a Tuesday. I did not have class until 9:30 that day. I was sleeping and my roommates came and woke me up and told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. To be totally honest, I didn't believe her. I brushed it off and went back to sleep. I then later realized that it was real. I remember the emotions that I felt that day, anger, bitterness, confusion, etc.

In our lifetimes there are very few days that we have the opportunity to experience events that will later be in the pages of the history books. So as I told my students, I hope that you take the opportunity and cherish every minute of today and allow yourself to feel whatever it is that you feel.

I also hope that you don't just remember to say a prayer for our nation and it's leadership today, but everyday. I will tell you, being President is not a job that I will be campaigning for anytime soon (and by anytime soon I mean never)!!!!!!!!!!!