In With the New

Ok. Here is an updated look. Apparently some people were tired of seeing my very cute Christmas blog complete with Christmas header, background and music. Just for those few die hard readers, I've refreshed the look.



No, I don't have any adorable pictures of my adorable son to post. I am happy to say that we've had a pretty calm January. Thank goodness. It's the calmest month of the year, and I've been trying to hang on to it and enjoy it. It's pretty calm at school and on the homefront. Trust me, February kicks off the histeria that lasts all the way until December when I can finally look forward to my calm January. We literally spent most of the week cooped up in the house either from bad weather or from being sick. Fortunately, Noah and I enjoyed a nice Tuesday snuggled up together on the couch in our pajamas (no, we never changed out of our pjs) due to the inclement weather day. We cuddled, watched Polar Express, shared popcorn and hot chocolate and then read books, colored, played and cuddled some more. It was a nice day. On Wednesday, I woke up again at 5:40 fully expecting to have to go to work because even if we had a late start teachers have to arrive at normal time. Someone please explain that one. Anyway, I woke up, got ready and realized that my throat was REALLY hurting, and I wasn't feeling well at all. I checked the news around 6:30 to see if we were starting late (not that it mattered, I still had to be there by 8:00), and to my complete shock, school was canceled again. In my six years as a teacher, we've never had two bad weather days especially in a row. Well, lucky for me we were off, unlucky for me, I felt HORRIBLE. My throat just kept getting worse all day until I was almost in tears (ok, sometimes I was in tears) because it hurt so stinkin' bad to perform a completely unavoidable bodily function - to swallow! My tonsils were so swollen they were completely touching my epiglotis, and my voice sounded foreign. Upon a trip to the walk-in clinic, where they could hardly understand anything I was saying, I found out I had strep throat. She told me she was going to give me a prescription for the strep and my sinus infection and then because I was in so much pain, I teared up a little (ok I started crying - but just a little) and said that I had only had one glass of water in the last 24 hours because it hurt so bad to swallow. Then, she said, "oh sweetie, well then lets get you a shot to completely numb the pain." Well, that 's what I'm talkin' about. Why did I have to cry in order to get the shot because I had clearly told her I was in agony before, and she could see my tonsils were taking up my entire throat. This will probably totally gross you out, but my tonsils looked like cottage cheese. I was in PAIN. Well, I left the clinic after having two shots and two prescriptions. After a several hour long nap, I woke up feeling much better. After a bath and some chores around the house, I felt like a new woman. So, I ended up missing three days of work this week (2 inclement weather and 1 sick) and was so far behind today. I think I managed to get to a pretty good spot though, and now everyone stop and pray that Noah won't get strep. Remember we shared popcorn, hot chocolate and of course lots of hugs and kisses the day before. Ok. You've been updated on my extremely exciting week, and now I'm heading for bed.

By the way, the time that it has on all my posts in not correct. It it actually 11:30 right now. So, I have no idea why is says it's 8:28. I've tried to fix it, but can't figure it out. Anybody have any ideas?

Austin's 4th Birthday

Our friend Austin had his 4th birthday celebration today. Noah enjoyed getting to play with Austin's toys, eat cake and ride on a 4-wheeler for the first time. Thanks for inviting us Austin!

Noah and the birthday boy



Noah having fun on the drums

Austin opening up presents

Austin and his mommy, Robyn

Austin getting ready for cake

yummy cake



My child seems to leave every birthday party with his mouth stained blue. In Noah's opinion, that's a sign of a good party!


Brrrrrr! We braved the very chilly weather for a few minutes to enjoy a 4-wheeler ride.

Marco and Noah ready to cruise!

Noah's first ride on a 4-wheeler caught on tape

Play-Doh Fun

When Maya and Papa were in town last weekend, they enjoyed playing with Noah and goofing off with the Play-Doh.

Noah loves playing with Play-Doh.

Noah and Maya were being pretty silly and decided to put their Play-Doh rings on their noses. You never know what these two will come up with!

Noah's nose ring

Movie Night

We took Noah to the movie theatre for an extra special treat with his friends Maddie & Bella. We saw the movie The Tale of Despereaux. The kids did great during the movie. Noah has never watched a movie that long before so we didn't know how he would do, but he sat quietly on his cute little booster seat and munched away on "copcorn." My baby is getting way too big!

Maddie and Noah

They were so excited about the movie! Well, I guess I should say that Maddie was excited about the movie, and Noah was excited about the popcorn!

"I want copcorn please!"

The three amigos

Maddie, Noah and Bella

All ready! Aren't they cute in their little booster seats?


whatever floats your boat cutie!

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Noah and Maddie ran around chasing each other with their cool 3-D glasses on while the grown-ups visited.

New Year's Eve

Our life group leaders and good friends, the McMillon's, had our life group over to their home for a New Year's Eve celebration. The kids ran around like crazy with handy eye-level acess to the sweets and Cheetoes and provided background music? with laughter and occasional squeals and screams.

Noah found the Cheetoes

Truett and Noah working on improving Maddie's room. They thought it was way too neat!

The stuffed animal explosion. Can you make out the kids?

Noah running around like a crazy man! At least he had a helmet on.

Surprise Visit from California

We had a very special treat this week. My Aunt Wayla, cousin Michelle and her girls, Kiahna & Aliyah, came into town for several days. They live in California and we rarely ever get to see them. My grandmother Walton and brother, Richard, also came to town this week, so we had a wonderful family reunion with them. They are all so sweet and Kiahna & Aliyah are absolutely precious. Noah has never seen them before, but they all took to each other immediately and had a great time playing with each other. The girls especially liked Marco who had a blast playing on his Wii with them.

Noah, Grandmommy & Aliyah

Aunt Wayla and her grandbaby, Kiahna

Kiahna & Noah

Mom, Aunt Wayla & Grandmother

Michelle, Marco, Noah, Kiahna & Richard

Marco and Richard taught them how to play Heck. They had never played before, and it is a family tradition around here.

Kiahna, Noah & Aliyah

Even my grandmother got in on the Wii action!

Christmas in Oklahoma

Friday evening, we headed to Oklahoma to celebrate the holidays with Marco's family. His Aguita (grandmother) and Aunt Gracie were in town also, so it was a special treat.

Noah playing the guitar and doing lead vocals with Robert on the drums

He was such a performer!

Here is Noah rockin' out on his custom-built stage. Look closely, and you can see his name lit up in lights at the top. Noah's Maya and Papa think he's bound for Branson!

my little rock star

Marco playing with his new big boy toy the Wii.

Noah playing with his Aunt Gracie



Noah cuddling with Aunt Gracie

Christmas with my Family

After our Christmas morning celebration with just the three of us, we went over to Mom and Dad's house for Christmas. Then, on Friday, we had our Christmas celebration with both sides of my family.Noah horsing around with Uncle Richard

Noah on his new horse. Now he can be a cowboy in style!

There's a funny story about the horse. Mom bought it awhile back and has been hiding it in a room until Christmas. Apparently, Mom and Noah headed into that room one day without Mom thinking about the horse being in there. Mom saw it immediately though and thought she had swooped it up and hid it before Noah saw it. Weeks later, Noah and I are in the store and Noah tells me "Mommy, I have a horse." I said, "You do?" Noah said, "Yeah, he's at Grandmimi's house." I responded with, "No, baby. You don't have a horse at Grandmommy's house." Then he said, "Yeah, he's hiding." So, mom was busted and apparently, he did see the horse before Grandmommy swooped it up, and of course, when we arrived on Christmas day, he ran straight to it saying "my horse!"

Grandmommy and Noah

Noah helped Grandmommy pass out the presents.

Cheese!

Dad
Uncle Richard, Noah and I decorated a gingerbread house. Uncle Richard's eyes got as big as saucers when I just handed Noah the icing to start squeezing everywhere. Uncle Richard is a gingerbread house enthusiast (sp?), so I think he was invisioning something else, but we had fun anyway. Don't worry Uncle Richard. Noah will be a pro just like you someday!

What a goofball!


Chillin' with his new horse

Noah with his Great Grandmommy Dorthey

and Great Grandmommy Walton

My Aunt Suzy, Mom and Grandmother Dorthey