Oliver likes music! My husband plays guitar, but O doesn't really pay attention to that. Well, last night, Jer started playing the piano and Oliver stopped chewing on his toy, sat up, and started cocking his head from side to side. It was so cute. So we put O up on the piano bench and tried to get him to hit the keys with his paws, but nope....not yet. That would sure be a cool thing though-we're gonna keep working on it! :)

I can't believe it is almost July! Summer goes by way too fast! July is teacher workshop month for me...I have 5 workshops to go to. Blah! Thankfully 4 of them are music related so at least I will sit through 6 hours per day of info in my field.

Time for a treat......

Peanut butter 'n chocolate, here I come!

total randomness

I love summertime because I love being out of school and love being in the sunshine/water, but dang, it's hot!!!!!!!!!


We took Oliver to the river yesterday. Now, I am a city girl, and am not much for swimming in a river with rocks and fish, etc., but it wasn't too bad. I didn't really swim, just sat in the water with hubby and Oliver. As soon as we put Oliver in the water, he started to dog paddle! It was so cute! (I forgot my camera) He wanted to be let loose to swim on his own, but my husband, being the protective Daddy, wouldn't let him go.


Ok, side note---I am amazed at the attention Oliver gets everywhere we go. He has now received treats at 2 bank drive thru's, the Donut Palace every Saturday morning, and Chic-Fila. I had no idea drive thru's kept a steady supply of dog biscuits!


Question for all you dog owners out there-do you refer to yourself as Mommy and Daddy to your puppy? I do, but my husband refers to me as Suzy, which is what our nieces and nephews call me. Sometimes I feel weird saying Mommy and Daddy, but dang it, I'm raising him. What do you do?


Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this dog? :)


He started training classes last week and the trainer said he was way advanced for a dog his age--he knew everything she tried to teach him at lesson 1. I wanted her to compare him to other dogs his age and my husband started laughing and said we weren't at parent-teacher conferences. :)


So how many of you play Bunco? I am so into this dice game! (maybe cuz there's no skill involved!) A bunch of teachers from my school and then some from other schools near us have a group and we play once a month. This month about half our group traveled an hour and a half away to REGIONAL BUNCO! Yes, there were different groups from all over--around 50 women. It was a luau theme and so much fun! Here are some pics I stole off of Kim's site! This is 7 of our 16 members. (I'm 2nd from the right)

Here's me and my good buddy Holli:

If you are in a bunco group, do you have a theme each month when you play? So far we've done Tailgate Bunco, Pajama Bunco, Valentines Bunco, Go for Green Bunco, Easter/Spring Bunco, and Coffee and Chocolate Night Bunco. This next month we are playing at my house again, but my friend Kim is hosting it--it's either gonna be another Luau Bunco or Flip-Flop Bunco. Fill me in on some of your themes...we're starting to run out!

One last thing--our worship band has a new website with a new cd. Go to http://www.muzzleloadermusic.com/ to check us out!

Have a great rest of the weekend! Stay cool!

Our first puppy!

Some of my friends want me to blog (although I'm a HORRIBLE blogger---I still read a lot of ya'lls posts) about the newest addition to our family. His name is Oliver and he is our pride and joy. We got him when he was 8 weeks old and he is now almost 15 weeks. Jeremiah and I have never had an animal in the 10 1/2 years of our marriage (except for a short stint the first year with a cat--yuck). Krysta and Kara kept telling me a dog would help me and be a way I could "mother" something while we wait for our time to have children. Jeremiah and I rented the movie "Hotel for Dogs" and saw a little boston terrier named Georgia in the movie. We looked at each other in bed and said, "Let's get one of those dogs!" I told my friend Kara (who mothers 3 boxers) and she found a Boston Terrier kennel online and we put a deposit on a puppy the next day and drove 6 hours to get him 2 days later. He is a purebred Boston Terrier and his parents live there. I was so excited when I got his little family tree papers in the mail!

I had no idea how much my husband and I would love this dog!!!!!!! He goes everywhere with us and sleeps in the middle of our bed with his head on one of our pillows. I know a lot of people are shocked by this since I'm such a clean freak, but he is clean too! We bathe him, brush his teeth, clean his ears, and even wipe him after he goes to the bathroom! He starts training/obedience classes this weekend!

Here he is:

Here he is in the bed the other day. He loves to put his paw around me when he sleeps. Precious! My husband caught the picture and I love it---I was sound asleep!

I am enjoying being out of school for the summer. I get a new music classroom at the elementary school this next year and then a new room at the high school the next year. We have lots of building projects going on! I am just so happy that music is important enough to the district to give me 2 new rooms! My new elementary classroom is 1200 square feet! I will post pics as soon as I get it decorated!

Not much else going on. I work at an office supply store in the morning in the summer and then usually go to the pool in the afternoon. Probably not gonna take a vacation this summer--I'm kinda sad about that, but we have lots of other expenses to take care of this summer and we just can't leave Oliver for a few days! :)

If you read this, please say a prayer for us on the infertility front. We've got some decisions to make soon and I just want the Lord to lead us and for us to feel peace whatever happens.

Blessings...............................

It's been awhile!

Hey everyone! No, I have not fallen off the planet. I'm still here and kicking! Thanks to those of you for checking up on me. I have just not wanted to blog and when I've actually had the time, I just don't have the desire to write, and when I have the desire, I don't have the time!

November and December were hard months for me. A lot happened and I struggled greatly with depression. My husband was temporarily laid off the end of September---he is a children's case manager and Medicaid in Arkansas was going through a lot of changes and his company was switching hands. He finally went back to work in January for the mental health company he used to work for for 5 years. My husband has never been without work and this was such a hard season for both of us. The Lord provided financially and it was not a burden. I can look back now and be thankful--I didn't feel thankful at the time!

I almost lost my dad around this same time also. He had triple bypass surgery that failed (he was allergic to the medicine they used in his bypasses) and then had blood crushing his heart and had another emergency open heart surgery. My family lives in California and this was such a hard time with me being here. My siblings told me I should come and they felt that my dad seeing his baby girl would help. The school where I work, plus other loving people took up a donation and paid for me and my husband to go to California to see my dad. It was such a blessing and he began doing better while I was there. We went the week before Christmas. He got to come home on New Year's after being in the hospital for 6 weeks. He has really had to change some things, but is doing much better.

I think these two things, combined with still not being over our IVF-chemical pregnancy in May just really hit me hard and I just didn't feel like whining on here. (even though I KNOW you would listen--or read real fast!)

Things are better now and somewhat back to normal. My husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in January and we spent a weekend away at Mount Magazine (beautiful and very romantic).

School is going well--I'm ready for summer and warm weather! I have been struggling with my sinuses/allergies. Something is bloomin' this week and is driving my poor nose crazy!

I got to meet a fellow blogger---that was an exciting thing! Sarah and I met in Russellville 2 Fridays ago! Check out her blog for our pic! (sorry, I don't know how to link it)

This week so far has been a week of remembering---last year at this time, we were on a Caribbean cruise with 2 other couples and we were having the time of our life! Every couple hours I will stop what I'm doing and remember what my husband and I were doing at this time last year on the cruise. Such awesome memories. I'm ready to go again! I highly recommend going on a cruise with friends!

Nothing new for us in the area of children. I wish I could type and say we are finally having a baby, but nope. Some days I really get angry and struggle with all this still, and other days I just try to block it out of my mind. My husband reminded me again last night (as my emotions got the best of me) that we are a family and are happy--a baby does not make our life perfect. That is so hard to grasp, but I am trying. We are planning on another round of IVF this summer, provided the insurance will pay for it this time. We just don't want to pay for it again without any help.

Just one more day of school for me this week. Thursday and Friday I am going to the state band/choir convention in Hot Springs! I am so looking forward to relaxing and visiting with friends for 2 days! Saturday my hubby and I are going to visit my college buddy and her husband in Fayetteville! We are getting pedicures, shopping, eating, and hoping to catch some good bands on Dixon Street!

Thanks for not giving up on me and my blog. I still read yours---i know I wasn't posting or commenting, but I was and am still reading! Hopefully I won't wait another 3 months to post again! Blessings to all of you!

More Birthday Fun!

Monday was a great day! Jennifer, Mika, Eden, and I went to Fort Smith and ate at Red Lobster and shopped at the mall and of course went to Starbuck's. It was a good girl's day out. Here are some pics:

Yesterday was my actual birthday.....a good day, but kind of depressing. I am just not ready to be 30. I can't do anything to stop it, but am just not ready to enter a new decade! I guess it is hard because I imagined myself a mommy by the age of 30, but obviously that is not the case. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to give you a future and a hope".

Jennifer Mc. and her family came down and took me to lunch and that was the highlight of my day yesterday!

I got a very cool surprise today at school....right before my senior high choir class, my 3 senior girls met me outside my door and started singing Happy Birthday to me (they weren't at school yesterday). Then they handed me a card with a gift certificate for a 1 hour massage. WOW! I have never had a massage before. I was so excited. They said, "We just want you to know we love you". I cried. So sweet. I've had these girls in choir since 7th grade--I love my seniors every year---they are so special! I have got balloons and frappucinos from my choir for my birthday before, but never a massage! Whoo hoo!

I am eating dinner tomorrow night with two of my good buddies from high school--they are taking me out for my birthday! That should complete my birthday week! I guess if we party all week for every birthday like we have for this one, maybe the 30's won't be so bad! :)

Birthday Weekend!

Tuesday is my 30th birthday. I can't believe I am almost 30! I don't want to turn 30--my husband says it's just another number (he is 33). I always dreamed I would have a child or two by the age of 30....obviously God had another plan in mind.


Last night my mother-in-law planned a birthday dinner out of town at a new italian restaurant in the town my husband and I went to college in--Arkadelphia. My mom-in-law and father-in-law and my hubby and I and my husband's brother and his daughter Sophie (see previous post) made the hour and a half drive together. My brother-in-laws wife and youngest daughter was in Branson Christmas shopping and we missed them. We met my bestest friend from college, Kelly, and her daughter at the restaurant. She teaches kindergarten and 1st grade music in Arkadoo. It was a great evening visiting and mainly trying to keep the two little ones happy! Here are some pics:

Kelly and I:

Kelly and her daughter Michaelina


My awesome mother and father-in-law

(above) My brother-in-law telling a funny story to my husband (this is normal)

Sophie and I

I have no pics from last night of my husband and I on my camera--they are on his Mom's, so I will post them later!

Today my hubby and I went out of town after church to eat for my birthday at my favorite restaurant--Olive Garden! It was so yummy--I had chicken parmigiana and bellini tea and then we split the torte di chocolate for dessert. I think I could eat at Olive Garden everyday! We hit the mall next and I got some Victoria's Secret Pink lotion and some black New Balance shoes. My mother-in-law got me an American Eagle gift card (my fav store) and I already spent the gift card and then my husband bought me clothes too there. I got a great purse from my brother-in-law and sis-in-law and my friend Kelly got me another Vera Bradley bag (I love those too!).

Tomorrow I am heading out of town one more time (I live in the middle of nowhere and we are out of school for 'Deer Day') with my two closest friends here. We are shopping and eating out for my birthday---we always have a super time together when we can get away! I am so thankful for all my friends and family who I can share this special (but somewhat dreaded) day with. My husband asked me today how it felt to be 30 and I told him I didn't know yet because I have 2 more days of being 29!

By the way, fellow bloggers, I love reading your blogs and feel so close to so many of you---I do only get on blogger about once a week so if I don't comment you regularly, it's not because I'm not reading---I just might not have the time right then, but know that I am enjoying reading and trying to stay caught up!

And a special thanks to Kelly's Korner for starting the prayer blog---what an encouragement! I admire her so much for having such a heart for those of us still struggling and can truly see the Love of Christ and His love for people displayed in her life. Thanks Kelly!

Blessings to all of you!

I survived the choir competition! I didn't get home until 9:00 p.m. though---these days are so long! I don't have to go again for 3 Saturdays, so I'm pretty stoked about that!

My husband told me today I was going to take another day off of school this week and him and I are going out of town to eat at Olive Garden or TGIFriday's (our 2 favorites--we don't have any large chain restaurants in our small town). We really need some quality time together. Life is just too stressful right now and it's taking its toll on me. In a way I hate to miss school again, but my friend Kara keeps reminding me "that's why you have personal/sick days!" I keep thinking I need to save my days so someday when I have a baby I will have lots of time built up. I took 18 days off last year with the IVF and also the cruise we went on (and a bad case of strep). Oh well, I think my sanity right now is more important than being at school! If my subs only knew how to play the piano or even turn the cd player on! :)

As much as I talk on here about how much I struggle with my issue of becoming a mommy, I have never discussed the blessings we do have in our life. We have 10 nieces and nephews between both sides and they are all so important and such a sparkle in our life! They range in age from 10 years to 7 months...we actually have three that are under the age of 1! I am so thankful for these kiddos.....they love us so much and we love them more than I could ever express! I am honored to be their aunt and to be a part of their lives! Here is Sophie and I at her 3rd birthday party last month. She is such a sweetie and makes my husband and I roll with laughter. She stood with me today during worship at church and I couldn't stop gazing at her and thanking the Lord for her. She calls my husband "Muncle Baby" and it is precious. I call him Baby, so she got that from me, but then added the 'uncle', but it comes out 'muncle'. My husband beams when she calls him that in public! Anyways, I know at this time in our life, I need to be settled in the season we are in and be thankful for what we do have and know there is more to come. Sophie's Mommy encourages me a lot with "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion!"