A to Z Challenge "B"

I had a post all typed out about baking. I scrubbed it.

Today's word is......because. I've found myself using this word all too much lately.

I didn't exercise because....
I didn't eat enough vegetables or fruits because.....
I ate too much because...
I stayed up too late because......
I didn't get to that because.....

It seems to be my most used word lately. I need to find a new favorite word.

Have you been overusing any words lately? Maybe a better question would be.....what excuses have you been making lately?

A to Z Challenge "A"

A is for A to Z Blog Challenge

So I came across the A to Z Blog Challenge a couple of months ago via a blog I read.  It seemed intriguing and I mulled it over for a while.  I really want to be more active on my blog, and I thought maybe this would be a way to do it.  But then reality set in, and I thought to myself "Can I really be committed to blogging that much in one month?"

The premise is to write something that coincides with every letter of the alphabet, beginning with A on April 1st and ending with Z on April 30th.  With the exception of April 1st, Sundays are excluded in posting.  I have come up with a tentative list of blogging ideas for each letter of the alphabet.  I am not sure if I will be able to finish it.  I have procrastinated and I don't have very many posts written, and the beginning of the month is going to be hectic.

I have read on Blogging from A to Z that some people are able to write all of their posts around a central theme. My hat is off to those who do.  Wow!  Maybe as I become more proficient at writing, I could do something like this.  I teach 1st grade, though, therefore I feel like my writing is often like that of a first grader! I guess I have chosen to write about my family, my likes, interests, and maybe some dislikes. Is that a theme?

So, in closing, if you are one of my regular blog readers (I think I have a couple, hi Mom!  Hi Nancy!) thanks for reading and I hope to open myself up to you some this month.  If you are new to my little old blog, welcome!  I hope you will visit again soon.

Now I am off to figure out "B"

Busy and Sick

I apologize for my absence over the last month.  I have been busy with a big project, busy with work, and sick.  I spent the better part of a month fighting a cold and ended up with an impacted sinus.  I have never felt pain of that magnitude.  I never want to feel it again.  Ever!!!!

I am currently making my first wedding cake!!! I am so excited.  I hope it turns out as beautiful as I am envisioning.  And I hope the bride loves it.  We shall see this weekend.

So much to do so little time.  I am off for now, however I will be back this weekend to begin a challenge I have set forth to complete.

Stay tuned.

Wow! I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted. Sure, we've been busy, but not overwhelmed. Maybe I should blame it on the weather. It's been beautiful and springlike here for most of January so we've spent a lot of time outside and at the park. Wheeler loves to be outside and we try to encourage this.

What else have we been up to? Well John started another semester of school, this time with MTSU. That's been a lot of work for him. I have still been working. While I love teaching, all the other beuracratic junk is wearing on me. I've also decided to start a little venture, something for me and something I love doing. There will be more about that later.

Since it is actually cold out today, we've decided to stay home and relax. I'm going to try a few new recipes.

I hope you've all had a fabulous January and that February treats you well. I will be back soon.

Things I Never Saw Myself Doing

As I'm making my laundry detergent and fabric softener this afternoon, I'm thinking to myself "I never dreamed I'd be doing this!". And it's true. If you'd have told me when I was in high school that I would be one of those moms who like making laundry detergent and using cloth diapers, I would have laughed at you. I would have said.......God had someone invent commercial laundry detergent and disposable diapers for a reason.

We didn't start out using cloth diapers with Wheeler. I really thought our sitter wouldn't have wanted us to do so, but when he was 13 months old, and I knew John would be getting laid off, again, soon, I asked her if she would mind. Come to find out she'd used cloth on her own children. The when we had to look for a daycare, we found one that didn't mind the cloth! The cloth diapers started out as a money saving venture, but it turned into an obsession. Cloth diapers are just CUTE on baby bum!

I'm not sure what brought about making our own laundry detergent. I was talking to my sister about it one day, and come to find out she had been thinking about it as well, I started about a year and a half ago, and I'm still using the same batch of ingredients. (of course we didn't use the homemade detergent on the cloth diapers, for you cloth mamas!). It is super simple to make, and I've had no trouble with it taking everyday stuff out of clothes. I've also made homemade fabric softener and love it. We tried our hand at homemade dishwasher detergent, and well, I don't know if it was the recipe or my clunky dishwasher, but it wouldn't dissolve, so we nixed that one.

Those who know me well know I love a good deal. I guess this is one reason I like to do the above, as well as coupon, but it is all definitely not something I thought I would be this into.

A Boy and His Box

When I got my camera last week, Wheeler took hold of the box it came in!

I had to include this one, he had an "edgie" as he calls it!

LOVE this one!

And this one!

He and Daddy made it into a robot.

Robot Wheeler

I loved watching Wheeler play with the box the camera came in last week.  He didn't really try to grab the camera, he went for the box! He's still playing with it, too.

New Year's Eve 2011

This weekend was a very special weekend in our family.  We added many new family memberswhen my mom married Alan Andrews on New Year's Eve.  It was truly a wonderful night filled with many blessings.

Mom, Alan, Kelli, Bruce, and me.

They got married at Music Road Hotel in Pigeon Forge, and the hotel did a WONDERFUL job setting up the hall and with the catering.  It was beautiful.

The delicious carrot cake made by Susie's Pretty Petals.

This chocolate cake was scrumptious.

Cody sang beautifully.

My beautiful sissy and I.

I don't have many pictures of thre ceremony.  John was sitting to the side of the stage and he actually used the camera to video rather than take pictures (I still need to look at the video and see if I can do anything with it.)


But, the best part was the party!  We still know how to throw one.

Dancing

Fun

Family

Cousins

More family

Love

Beauty 

Line Dancing

The YMCA

The Chicken Dance

More Chicken Dance

Ringing in the new year

Happy 2012!

Friends

The aftermath!

We had the best DJ ever.  He not only ran sound for the ceremony, but he kept the party moving til after one in the morning!  His name is Brian, that's all I remember, but if you need a DJ I can get you the info.

And while I said the best part was the party, I must reflect, and take back that statement.  The best part is seeing my mom happy.  She has met someone who has brought life back to her.

And while he could never take the place of my daddy, he sure is good to ALL of us, we love him, and I truly believe my dad is smiling down on us all today.