No School Until at least May 11th!!!!

What?? Yes, no school for us until May the 11th, thanks to the swine flu that is popping up in our area. Uggggg!!!! My school district decided last night to shut down, along with two neighboring school districts to quarantine the schools. We had 33 kids out on Monday and then 22 out yesterday (not all for the flu, it was either other things, their parents were scared or they were having flu-like symptoms). They are recommending that people don't go out where they will be around 20 or more people. Fun stuff (not really)! Now, we are just waiting to hear if we will have to make up all of these lovely days...so sad that it is SO close to the end of the school year. I'd honestly much rather be teaching the next nine days...as long as there wasn't any illness going around because I really don't want to get sick either! I suppose my house will be sparkling clean by May 11th!!!

Let's Go Astros!!!

Last weekend, we went to visit my mom and she got us tickets to the Astros game! It was a really good game...even though they lost in the 11th inning! They played the Brewers in one long game, hanging on until the very end. I will say though, they are just not the same without good ol' Craig Biggio!!! Our favorite Astro is now Lance Berkman.

Here are some pictures from the game...

Thanks Mom for a fun weekend!!!

Weekend

We had such a nice weekend this weekend! Who doesn't love the weekends anyway, right?! Friday night we went out to eat with our good friends Andrea and Emilio and their sweet, baby girl went as well. She was SO good and so much fun just to watch...don't babies just make you smile?! So Sweet!

Saturday, hubby and I went to Valerie and Brandon's so the boys could make hamburger meat out of their deer meat from this season. They made so much hamburger meat, it was crazy! We won't have to buy any ground meat for a very long time! While the boys did that, Valerie and I snuck away to do some shopping and we stopped on the way home for appetizers and a margarita...fun stuff!

Sunday, the weather was just perfect! A few of hubby's friends called and invited us to go out on the boat, so we did just that! The weather was amazing and it was so relaxing! When we got home, we cooked out and had dinner with my dad.

The weather was just about perfect here again today...too bad we can't stretch out those weekends!!!! Have a great week!

What's for dinner???

This is what we had on Monday night: Creamy Chicken Casserole!

Here is the recipe!

3 Cups chopped, cooked chicken

1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1(8oz) carton of sour cream (I get the light kind to be a little more healthy!)

1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

1 1/2 cups crushed round butter crackers

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Combine the first 4 ingredients and pour into a greased casserole dish. Crush crackers and sprinkle over mixture. Melt the butter and dizzle on top. Bake uncovered at 350 for about 30 minutes. This is So yummy!!!! (and easy too!)

Here is what we had last night for dinner: Chinese Pepper Steak

Here is the recipe!

1 pound round steak, cut into strips

3 Tbsp. shortning

Pepper

1 Can condensed onion soup

1/2 soup can of water

1/2 cup chopped can tomatoes

2 tsp. soy sauce

1 large green pepper, cut into strips

3 Tbs. flour

In a skillet, brown steak in shortning; pour off fat and sprinkle with pepper. Add soup, water, tomatoes, soy sauce, and green pepper. Cover; cook over low hat for 30 minutes or until tender. Stir every now and then. Mix flour with 2 Tbs. of wather until smooth; gradually stir into sauce. Cook, stirring until thickened. Serve over rice!

Let's Rodeo!

This weekend, my brother and sister in law came down and we all went to the rodeo. My parents have a booth down there, so we went, wondered around, ate a lot and had a good time with everyone!

Us at my parent's booth!

Eric and Heather

Brooks & Dunn, can't you tell?? We had really good seats!

They have fried what???!!

Mom got a fried Twinkie!!

Cody and I had fried Oreos!

Mmmmmm....

Welcome Ty Morgan!

Our good friends Morgan and Lindsay welcomed their baby boy last night, Ty and his mommy are doing well. We are going to visit them tonight and we can't wait to meet him! Congratulations Morgan and Lindsay!!! We are so happy for you guys and wish you all the best!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy TeReSa...!!!!

This weekend we had a surprise 50th b-day party for my mother in law...I think we pulled it off pretty good, I'd say she was surprised! ...Happy Birthday!!!!!

M&M's

My mom is so thoughtfull!!! She ordered these adorable M&M's for me to give to my class for their Valentine's day party! The kids LOVED them and just thought they were "so cool!" Check them out...Thanks mom!!!




Aren't they cute??!!

It's Rodeo Time!

Hubby got rodeo tickets from work for Valentine's Day! The Rodeo was GREAT, the seats were AWESOME...the show, not so much!!!! We have decided that Billy Ray Cyrus is just gross!!!! He's totally one of those "old" guys who is stuck in a midlife crisis, trying too hard to be "cool." I don't think we've ever laughed so hard in a concert before! He had to be on something, he was so spastic with his moves and he even had to be directed to which way the stage was when the truck brought him out! The crowd thinned out pretty fast once he sang the first few songs and he ended with oh yes, The Achey Breaky Heart!!!!! Classic! (I could go on forever!!!)

So how was your Valentine's? I hope it was sweet! We had a good one, now we are off to work on our fence and enjoy the rest of our long weekend! We hope you had a happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Wholegrain Jam Squares

I have friends from time to time ask me for some of the recipes that I make regularly...usually what they see me eating for leftovers at lunch! Today I was asked for this recipe, so I thought I might start posting a recipe here and there, every so often...so here we go! This is my mom's recipe, she used to make these for use when we were little! (She is the BEST cook, the things that the bakes/cooks are always so yummy!!!!) These are yummy for a quick breakfast or a snack!

Wholegrain Jam Squares:

2 cups uncooked quick oats (oatmeal)
1 3/4 cups flour
1 Cup butter or margarine
1 Cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 Cup jam (I like strawberry, but you can use any kind. I also just use a whole small sized jar.)


Combine all ingredients except the jam in a large bowl. Beat at low speed until mixture is crumbly.

Reserve 2 cups of the mixture and press the remaining onto the bottom of a greased 13x9 pan. Spread jam evenly onto the base. Sprinkle with reserved mixture.

Bake in a preheated 400 oven for 25-30 minutes or until just golden brown.

Cool then cut into squares and enjoy! :-)

HaPpY BiRtHdAy MOM!!!

We went to visit my parents this weekend for my mom's birthday. We had a good time shopping, eating out and going to the movies. We went and saw Gran Torino...pretty good! We, along with my brother and sister-in-law gave my parents a gas grill for Christmas. Hubby helped get it put together and then we grilled steaks for a late lunch on Sunday. It was nice just being home for a few days, but the weekend went by way too fast!

We actually ended up getting new bedroom furniture this weekend...yay!!!! It will be delivered on Saturday and I can't wait! ...now I just have to figure out how to get rid of the current stuff we have!

She is here!!!

Our friends, Andrea and Emilio had their baby girl today! Mallory arrived at 4:53PM and weighed in at 7lbs 2oz! We can't wait to go and meet her...I really can't wait to hold her! Both the baby and the new, proud parents are doing well! I hope to be able to post some pictures of her in the next few days....

Fast weekend!

This weekend went by way too fast! We went to eat with our friends Andrea and Emilio on Friday...We are anxiously awaiting for the arrival of baby Mallory! Andrea could have her any day now!!!

We went to our friend's Morgan and Lindsey's couples shower for their baby Ty this weekend. We had a great time catching up with friends. We can't wait to meet baby Ty!!!! He will be here just in time for spring break! We couldn't tell who was more excited the mommy or the daddy to be!

Now...it's Monday and I'm ready for Friday! Sad, right?!

Cedar, Cedar, Go AWAY!!!

Well, it is cedar season here and boy am I feeling it! I hate this time of the year! Thankfully, I really don't have any other allergies to gripe about, I just have to stick out the stuffy nose, sneezing and watery/itchy eyes etc. out for about the next month! Fun stuff!

Today has just been one of those day where I am just annoyed! We learned today at school that from now on, when a child gets head lice, we have to keep them in our rooms!!! Tell me that is not nuts! Yes, that is right, we're supposed to send them to the nurse to get their hair cleaned out and washed (poor nurse for having to do that fun job!) and then back to our rooms they go! I am kind of panicking now because, I've had the outbreak of all outbreaks in my room this year...now they get to stay in my room!!!! Do these "bright" people up at the higher levels not realize that once a child has them, they are highly contagious and their house also must be treated?? So, we'll get rid of them for the moment at school, they'll go home, get them again and share some more the following day at school! Oh my gosh! I am praying that I don't get it, just hearing that news today made me itchy all over!!!!

Other than that, things here seem to be going well! We hope that all is well with you and your family!

Holiday Updates!

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! We have been busy spending time with our families and enjoying a little time off. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my side of the family and this past weekend we spent with hubby's side of the family. This week, we'll have our Christmas with my brother and his wife.

This past weekend while spending time with hubby's family, we went hunting and I, yes, I was able to shoot my first buck! It was a ten pointer and I was so nervous yet excited at the same time. Never would I have thought that I would have ever been able to shoot a gun, much less hunt an animal! Below, you can see pictures of my buck!

We wish you and your families a very happy, healthy and safe 2009!

My First Buck!

Christmas Pictures!

I love this Picture!

Our friends Andrea and Emilio

(And baby Mallory, due in January!!!)

After we took these fun pics, we went and saw our friend play. He has a band...The Kyle Wayne Kutscher Band! Good job Saturday night, you guys!

P90X

So, we quit our membership to the gym a few months ago now because we simply were not going. We have seen the infomercials for the P90X fitness program on TV and decided to order it. We are now on day four and boy can we feel it! (My stomach hurt so bad the other day, I could hardly suck it in!!!) This program has the best workouts ever! We're getting so much more out of it than we ever did at the gym...and we're at home! They're tough workouts, I won't lie about that but, boy I can't wait to see how it works in the next few months!!!!

Family Pictures!

Here are some pictures we took over the Thanksgiving holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! I know, I personally am thankful just to have a break, right about now! It's just that time!!! We are looking forward to spending time with our families over the holiday!

A Weekend at the Ranch

Congratulations Eric and Heather!

Our Painted Pumpkins!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Things have been so busy here lately!!! Seems as though there is always something! Between my brother's wedding, keeping up with school and TLU, it's been crazy! I can't believe Halloween has already come and gone! What a Halloween we had...with the stomach bug! I think everyone has had that darn thing! No fun!

We spent last weekend at the ranch, which that was nice just to get out. I will have to post a few pictures from our weekend at the ranch so you can all see the new addition at the ranch (he's a temporary visitor!), a pony, "Rusty." He is SO cute!!!

This weekend, I am going to the Nutcracker Market and I SO can't wait!!!! Then, I have our last game at TLU...yea!!!!!!! I can't wait for football season to be over for them, they are TERRIBLE!

How many days until the Thanksgiving holidays??? It sure is time for a break!!!!

Fall is Here!

Fall is here and I am soo excited about the cooler weather coming...hopefully soon! Speaking of coming soon, my brother's wedding will be here VERY soon!!!! I can't wait to see how everything turns out. I picked up my dress last weekend when we went up for a shower. They got some good stuff! Just a few more weeks to go now!

My brother and his fiance have a new addition to their family, her name is Molly and she is SO cute! She is a miniature boston terrier. Check out these pictures...(I think I need one of these, although my mom found a teacup version online, I bet those are REALLY cute as well!)