Wordless Wednesday

God's Glory

It's Ok Thursday

You know if this were a regular work week then I would be excited for Thursday - because it means it would be that much closer to Friday which means the weekend is upon us - BUT since I am on summer vaca - every day closer to Friday and the weekend means another step closer to summer vaca ending - and you know what that means? Back to work I go! Boo Hiss!

However - it IS Thursday - so can't stop time from marchin' on.

So...
It's Ok that my summer vacation is more than half over - it is what it is.


It's Ok that today is my last day of "just me" because my hubby is taking the next week off and it starts tomorrow. 

It's Ok that we have no special plans - since we have already spent our summer budget money - we will just have to enjoy our "togetherness" at home.

It's Ok that I am already a week past time getting my highlights and my roots are standing out like a sore thumb, I am just too lazy right now to get it taken care of.

It's Ok that I am going to have to get dressed and put on make up just to go to the pharmacy today. 

It's Ok that I still haven't gotten the hang of Instagram - but I still love it.

High 5 For FRIDAY

OMGosh - it is Friday and we are traveling 500 miles today - with a 5 year old - again...(taking my 2 grandangels and mom back home after their 2 week vaca with us here in Texas) Seriously - she is incredibly good in the vehicle - better than me, actually! lol

Lots of High 5's for the week but I will keep it to 5 - Linking up with Lauren From My Grey Desk.

1. Even though it rained every single day this week - we still had good times and the girls NEVER complained.

2. I taught Brooklyn a song that I can play on my guitar (Country Roads)

3. I taught Brooklyn how to make a pillow using my sewing machine.

4. Brooklyn and I went to see Katy Perry: Part of Me (3D) and both of us really liked it.

5. We all went to see the new Amazing Spiderman movie - it was actually my first one to see and I really enjoyed it. Lots of action!!

The icing on the cake for the week will happen over the weekend when I get to see my Tucker Boo and daughter/son in law. Can't wait!

Moody Gardens - Our Fun Day - In Photos

We had a really great day at Moody Gardens. Some of the highlights: Bodies Revealed Exhibit, Rainforest Exhibit, a ride on The Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, 3D Tornado Alley, 4D Wizard of Oz and Aquarium Exhibit.

Hubby holding a Starfish before the guide told us "you can't do that!"

A turtle in sick bay

Getting ready to board the Colonel Paddlewheel boat

This is a nice leisure ride - they give a little Galveston history. It wasn't too hot once we were moving, but they do have a/c inside.

Taken while on the boat

On the boat

and My Bradley again - still on the boat

Bodies Revealed - an exhibit of the human body - all systems. Very neat!

...and a little creepy at the same time.

The female body

The male body

I don't know why every single male body was complete and the one and only female body didn't have arms or legs...hmmmm that figures, huh?

Feeding time in the Rainforest

Gorgeous colors on these birds

This one was huge and he just walked up to us. There was a lady with a long dress on with the same colors in the dress as this bird and he was very interested in her!

The butterflies were beautiful. They would just land on you like you were a big flower!

4 D Experience - 18 minute sensory experience with Wizard of Oz. I loved this! you feel wind, rain, a few light jabs in the back - I jumped a couple of times. There were smells, too - but not sure what they were  - it was fun, tho.

With our 4D glasses - waiting for it to start.

The we watched a 45 minute 3D presentation of Tornado Alley on the IMAX screen, which was pretty cool.



These are the last of my horrible pictures - today we bought a Nikon Coolpix - too bad I didn't have it for this day!

Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY! 

High Five For Friday

I am a wee bit late on my first High Five For Friday post, but that's ok!

I had such a funtastic week - it will be hard to narrow it down to my high 5! It was Spring Break -I was in Arkansas all week - but here goes!

1. Being with 4 of my grandangels....Alayna(12) Brooklyn (10) Lilypie (5) and Tucker (16 months)

2. Spending time with my daughter.

3. Shopping, playing dominoes and exercising with my mom

4. Teaching my grandangels how to make potato cakes and making a HUGE mess!

5. Spending 2 nights with my son and daughter in law.

Spring Break, Baby!

Wooooo Hoooooooo -Today is my final working day before Spring Break! I can barely contain myself! I have so much to do today to get ready to be off for a whole week - and then I have 3 days to get ready to be gone for 5 days!

My To Do List for today:

*Register 2 new students first thing this morning when school starts. This includes getting all their information in the computer, an e-mail out to all their teachers, cafeteria, get a locker issued, front office, nurse and technology and then request records online from their previous schools.

*I have to make labels for 6 different areas - setting them up is the hard part - running reports to get the information for each one in the program I use at work.

*Honor Roll certificates - 130 kids made the honor roll this 4th six weeks so I have the certificates created and printed - now to sort each one to where that student is 5th period so they can be given to them today.


*I have to get teachers to fix "holes" in their gradebooks. I have a whole stack of "need to be fixed" stuff and that means getting with the individual teacher to explain what needs to be done.

and most important!

*Do a water change on my 20 gallon aquarium, give them a 7 day feeder - make sure they are ready to make it without me for the whole week.

Of course these are my Must Do's - then there will be 100 interruptions along the way - :-)

My To Do List before Leaving for ARKANSAS:

*take care of 5 aquariums and prepare them for being away for 5 days.

*Pack a ton of stuff - I always have a lot of things to take with me to Arkansas every trip since I see every one every 3 months - I am always buying things I see that I know someone would like or could use. However, I am flying to Arkansas Tuesday and then my hubby is driving in Saturday and we will drive home Sunday. That means HE has to bring all of this stuff with him so I do have to have it all lined up in the foyer and ready to go or he will not know what in the world to do! (men!)
I have a 10 gallon aquarium and accessories to take for Brooklyn - all the dresses and tops I have been making for the girls, clothes I have been picking up for Tucker for summer, a huge bag of clothes for Lily that  were given to me by a friend, nice dress shirts for my son that my husband never wears, craft projects I made for everyone, Lily's Tinkerbell pillow I made, there are more things - the closet in the spare bedroom is always stacked with stuff.


*my hair trimmed and highlights


*mani/pedi


*Miles groomed


*Pack MY bags - trying to get everything I need into one large suitcase and then have my carry on bag as well. I learned a long time ago - my make up and medications go with me on the plane! After having luggage lost twice on trips like this, I will never leave my essentials at the mercy of whoever gets their hands on those bags in the luggage area! I hate that all my clothes could end up in never neverland, but I can chance that.


*Write out instructions for hubby while I am away from Tuesday - Friday. He will be feeding my fish, snails and shrimp for me. Each tank has specific instructions. I have plenty of faith in him, but since I can be a little bit of a control freak - I want it done to the letter.


*Get all of Miles things in order - he wears bellybands and since he will not have me to come home to every day for lunch, I am sure he will have accidents and so I will have all his bellybands padded and ready for a new one each day. I will have his bag packed with his treats and food, extra leash in the car, so all Brad will have to do is pick up his bag and bed and toss them in the car on his way out Saturday morning


I am sure there are a lot more I could add - but I am tired now just thinking about all of this so I am going to turn off my brain for awhile.

Yea - I NEED Spring Break!

Reflections of 2011

This year certainly flew by, didn't it?  I have to say it has really been a blessed year for me and my family.

I have 2 spectacular events of 2011 to share that I feel God was certainly in the midst of. 

 In March my grandson had his cranio surgery to allow room for his brain to grown as he was born without a soft spot. He came through the cranio surgery with flying colors and God took the liberty of healing him so quickly that even the doctors were surprised how fast his head shaped up and he could do away with the helmet after  only 1 month! We just helped celebrate his first birthday and he is now taking several steps at a time and is just about the most adorable baby ever!

In April  my hometown in Arkansas was hit with a devastating tornado and my son lost his home as well did many other people in the community. The miracle of it all was that my son, daughter in law and 3 granddaughters left their doublewide just in time to seek shelter in my parent's church basement. As my son sat watching the weather he had a strong urge to leave and I am so thankful they did! Had they stayed like they had every storm before, they most likely would not be here today.  Sad to say there were 4 deaths in their subdivision. The people of the community came together and supported one another in a way that was nothing short of amazing. My sons family received donations, monies, and physical help from all over. Thankfully they had great insurance. They now have a brand new beautiful double wide and we are all so thankful that they are here today to be able to tell their story.

Living in Texas for the past 13 years, it is a rarity to have any of my family here - other than my mom and 2 of my granddaughters staying 2 weeks every summer - we do most of the traveling to Arkansas to see every one. This year was a wonderful exception! My daughter, her husband and baby visited for the 4th of July weekend! Although too short of a visit - it was beyond wonderful. We were able to babysit while they attended a ballgame, I took him to have his pictures made, we played in the pool. It was great!
A very unexpected surprise was my son taking a job here in Houston for 3 months and he stayed with us part of that time. Once he hired help he stayed in an extended stay hotel but was still over every week, we went out to eat weekly and he and I even went to the movies together. It was a bonding time that I never thought I would get again. It totally changed our relationship as it had been years since we had any mother/son time. I loved every minute of it and was sad when it ended, but I know he was ready to get back to his little family.

One of the fun things of 2011 is I began a new hobby. I am now an Aquarist! I have "multiple tank syndrome". Ha!!  What started off with a Betta in a vase has turned in to 5 tanks total (so far...lol) They range from 5 gallons to 55 gallons. It has even carried over to the workplace as I have a 20 gallon there as well. I have gotten into breeding now and am having pretty good luck with selling the fry. I have mollies, platys, danios, cats, guppys, rasboras, and oh yes, I still have a betta. I am moving on to raising/breeding red cherry shrimp and mystery snails now. It is a big job but it is such a rewarding experience.

I am so thankful for all the blessings of 2011 and look forward to 2012 and pray that God continues to give us good health, financial blessings and helps me to grow closer to Him.

Happy New Year & God Bless!!