Bunco

Bunco was at my house Monday night and boy was it fun! We hadn't played since June so we were long overdue! Here are some pics!

This is our group (we had 2 missing):

These were the winners for the evening (go Brin--she was kissing her scarecrow):

Here are us teacher buds (Kim, me, Kristy, Holli):

And me--I rolled 4, yes, my favorite number---4 Buncos! I was so proud--I didn't win, but didn't care. I'm just proud of my 4! hee hee!

Gotta go. I'm ready for bed. I'm exhausted and my voice is almost gone--being a music teacher is wonderful, but wears on my voice so much--and our band has a gig on Saturday so I NEED my voice! Gonna get in the clean sheets, curl up with my sick puppy (that's for a later post), my hubby, and Prison Break, Season 2.

Let the sun shine!

Praise the Lord for the sunshine! I have missed it greatly this week! My car just got a nice bath and looks so much better! Now if I could just get our lawn guy to come....I can barely find Oliver in the grass!

Rock the River was good last weekend. I didn't feel good at all, but we had a good time. Our band plays this week at the youth-wide "Saw You At The Pole" Rally. It is the evening of See You At The Pole (duh).

This next weekend starts the month of Saturday choir competitions. My next 3 out of 5 Saturdays are booked with taking kids to all-region competitions. I love to see my students compete and do well, but it just wears me out. I think I'm ready to just teach all elementary music or all high school choir, but not both. After doing it for 9 years, I'm tired!!!!!!!! And OLD!!!

Bunco is next week at my house! Pictures to come!

Not much else exciting going on here....just taking it one day at a time. Sorry for the boring blog updates. Can't think of much else to write about. Time for a nap!

Why does this always happen?

We leave in 2 hours for Rock the River in Fort Smith. Our band, Muzzleloader, plays at 3:30 today. I've been looking forward to this for months and we've practiced a lot this past week. BUT, I am sick. I've been sneezing a lot, but it hadn't turned in to anything. It hit about halftime of the junior high football game we were at on Thursday night. We left the game and I went home and sacked out. Yesterday I felt horrible all day at school. I took Aleve Cold & Sinus, Zyrtec, ZiCam allergy nose spray, drank Vitamin C immunity builder stuff, and took ZiCam tablets. Woke up this morning to a sneeze that I thought would blow my face off. I've never seen so much snot!!!!!!!! (yes, graphic---sorry)

Anytime in the fall when I have something important on the calendar, I get sick. Two years ago our band was playing at a 4 day rally and I got strep throat and could only sing the last night. Last year I got a massive sinus infection right before a huge day-long choir competition I had to take students to. This year we have this concert today and I am sick. Thankfully I only have to play keys---I do sing on one song, but I think I can make it. This REALLY frustrates me, but I don't know how to fix it!!!!!!! If you read this, would you say a prayer for me today about this? I would really appreciate it.

In other news, my dog did this to our carpet this week:

My husband has been feeling bad leaving Oliver in his cage when he goes to work during the day so he bought a $100 iron dog gate that he bolted to the frame between the kitchen and living room. Then on the other side of the kitchen we put up a baby gate. This picture is of the carpet in the hallway---the baby gate was right past this spot. Oliver was left alone for 1 hour and accomplished this. I was so frustrated when I got home. I've been wanting new carpet, but don't have the money for it now! (the current carpet is 5 years old)

So now we have a dog who obviously HAS to stay in his cage when we're gone, a $100 gate that is of no use to us now, and a torn up carpet. And Bunco is at my house in 2 weeks. Guess I'll be investing in a nice little rug to go there. (sigh)

Gotta go get ready! At least I'll get my Peppermint Mocha from Starbuck's when we get to Ft. Smith! Maybe that'll help me feel better.

Have a great weekend!

Story of the week

I've got another cute kindergarten story---they really say the funniest things that just make me laugh! There is a hispanic girl in one of the classes who speaks NO English! NONE! I've been trying to speak Spanish to her a little (I remember some from high school), but she is really shy. In music class she just sits and stares--no participation whatsoever. So this week I remembered I have a song that says the months of the year in Spanish and I told the class we were going to sing a song for her so she could participate. This cute little boy says so seriously, "I can't do Spanish. I'm not Spanish. I'm country folk." I cracked up!

Oliver went back to the vet this week. He has another bacterial infection--this time in his ears. That makes the 3rd bacterial infection in 4 months. He is on 2 antibiotics once again. The vet said he has a very weak immune system. So what the heck am I supposed to do about that? I'm wondering if my hubby and I are just being too overprotective and thinking he is more human than dog. We don't want him to be sick though. AAHHH!!!!

Tomorrow for 30 minutes at school we are having DEAR--Drop Everything And Read. I'm kinda excited about this. The high school kids are reading like crazy right now and so we are going to have DEAR a couple times a week, but the teachers have to participate too. I am going to try to get going in "The Shack". This book really helped my husband after our chemical pregnancy last year, but I am worried my emotions will get out of hand at school. Hopefully not.

My husband and the lead singer of our band are going to be on Spirit FM 106.3 out of Fort Smith tomorrow morning at 8:05. They are going to talk about our band, Muzzleloader, and hopefully play a song or two off our album. A lot of the bands are going to be on live tomorrow since Rock the River is next week. Very exciting!

Three day weekend coming up! Hallelujah!

Tuckered out!

Oliver, hubby, & I have been taking walks each night around our neighborhood. The weather has been wonderful & it is so relaxing to take a walk out in the fresh air! Here is what Oliver does as soon as we get back home:


It cracks me up how he lays like this! He doesn't even get a drink first--he just sprawls out on the floor so he can cool his belly off!


We've had a great weekend! Hubby & I have ate out, watched movies, & rested! I couldn't seem to wake up on Saturday. I got up at 8:30, but was back asleep on the couch by 9:30 & didn't get up until 12:30. I feel like I'm in school routine again, but still can't seem to get caught up on my sleep! Of course, some of it could be that my legs & feet are so tired & sore by the end of the week! (yes, I'm still frustrated about not wearing my dang flip-flops) My principal at high school asked me on Thursday if it was 'casual Thursday'--I had on cuffed khaki capri's, an American Eagle striped polo shirt, & white Skechers. I guess he was talking about my shoes--I told him my feet were killing me & he needed to come see how much I dance/jump/move at elementary doing music! I also said I'd been wearing cutesy flats & if I couldn't wear flip-flops, I at least had to wear tennis shoes one day so my feet don't fall off my legs! He laughed & then said he was just teasing me. So why did he bring it up then? Whatever.

Gotta go! We're taking Oliver up on the mountain to the state park to walk & explore! The temp is 78--gorgeous day!

Have a great week!

Kindergarten cuties

So today I had one of the kindergarten classes for music for the first time. I love the first day with them because they just stare at me wide-eyed! I really ham it up and try to keep every bit of their attention for 40 minutes!

Today I was going around the room meeting each student and I would SING "My name is Mrs. B, what is your name?" They would have to respond by singing, "My name is .......". I love to hear their angel-like voices at this age! I got to a cute little blonde boy and sang my line and then waited. Nothing. So I sang it again and waited. Nothing. I said, "What's wrong? Why won't you sing your name to me?" He responded with a shy face, "I don't know how to sing". OH MY! Melted my heart! I said, "Well, that's why you're here!" Then I encouraged him one more time and in the sweetest little voice he sang, "My name is Curtis". I gave him a big hug! It made my day!

Weekend Recap

It was a good weekend, but went by too fast. Friday night we ate out and then rented movies. I was asleep by 10:30--30 minutes in to the 1st movie. I just can't keep my eyes open on Friday nights! Good thing football season is starting--surely I won't fall asleep in the bleachers!

Saturday afternoon our band had a photo shoot. I spent a lot of time asking, "Smile or don't smile?" We have to try and look cool, you know? :)

Saturday evening we went to a friends house for a get-together. There were 8 other couples there--all close friends. We took Oliver--kinda felt a little silly at first sitting around the table and us having our dog in our lap. (Every couple there has children.) But then I realized that I just need to accept my life where I am right now and not worry about being the "odd one out". NONE of my friends make me feel like that at all and I'm so thankful for the love and care they give. (and they all seem to love Oliver!) Someone shared how we put ice and bottled water in Oliver's water bowl and everyone was laughing (yes, our dog is quite spoiled)! I said, "Now you know how well our kids will be treated when we finally have some!" I am thankful we have Oliver at this point in our lives. It's amazing how much a DOG can help fill a void. He is our baby and we love him so much! Jeremiah said the other night, "Oliver is one of the best things that has ever happened to us". I agree!

Gotta go! Off to a friends house for pizza and some Wii fun!