Stupid Kansas...

I just finished watching the MU/KU game and all I have to say is "Stupid Kansas!" They know we are supposed to win, but they had to show off to make us feel bad. Stupid Kansas!

Anyway, Jeff and I are officially crazy. We decided to wake up at 4:30 in the morning yesterday to venture out to the local Wal-Mart for some good deals. First of all, I guess we woke up at 4:20am because the clock is 10 minutes fast. Here was our list at Wal-Mart, little digital camera to fit into my purse for $69--check and pick one up for my mom. Those things went like HOTCAKES! Once it was 5am, all you heard around the store was WHOOSH times 10 because people were snatching up everything! One guy who was standing by me with a cart actually hit me with his cart to get me out of the way so he could move on to his conquests! Then, it was off f to find Jeff because he was looking to find an HP laptop. Didn't ever find it, but we found out that just because it is in the circular, doesn't mean the store will have the product. So...after standing in lines around the store for a bit, we left for Sears. At Sears, we found so more gifts for family and then it was home.

We actually made it home before the kids were up, but as anyone knows, you can't go back to sleep, so I stayed up and Jeff laid down. The kids were up a little bit later and we played until we headed home last night.

This morning, the kids and I ran errands around town while Jeff and his brother went to the MU/KU game. Stupid Kansas, but what a fantastic game! So exciting! Now the kids are asleep and I am enjoying some quiet time. I do want everyone to know that I didn't even clean while the kids are sleeping. I am doing what I want! Life is good!

Ahhhhh.....

Oh, to be done with work this week! It feels so nice! That means all I have to do tomorrow is run to Macy's and look for a nicer winter coat. When we were this evening, they had coats 50% off plus another 15% with your Macy's card. Must go early tomorrow to find a coat. Good deals...I love good deals! After I run to Macy's, it is off to Target to find Ainsley a stocking holder and Jack a camera for Christmas. Then it is back home to finish laundry, pack bags, load car, pick up kids, wait for daddy to get off work and off to Rolla for a yummy Thanksgiving dinner!

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Today at Jack's school, they made pumpkin pie, cookies, and bread. Then they shared with their mommies and daddies. Jack and I shared a piece of pumpkin pie and he also had a pumpkin cookie. We had so much fun together sharing pie.

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Ainsley had a field trip today too! She visited the Shatto Dairy Farm. Sounds like she had a fun time looking at the cows and milk!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!

We did it! We began putting up our Christmas decorations. We started the day with a visit to Target and Hobby Lobby to look for some new decorations. We wanted to put out some greenery out front and a new wreath. Luckily, we found everything we wanted at Hobby Lobby. Jack and Ainsley also got their new ornaments this morning. Jack insisted on a candy cane ornament. We finally found one at Hobby Lobby that was a single ornament. Ainsley got her new baby of 2008 ornament, which we found at Target. Oh so cute!

Here's a picture of the stocking I ordered for my mom to make Ainsley. Unfortunately, it will not be ready in time for Christmas, so we will have to improvise this year, but hers is so cute! I can't wait for it to be complete!

Finally, Jack helped us tonight be feeding Ainsley her baby food. He just took over for us tonight. It was really cute! As for Ainsley, she will not stop climbing!! She climbs the stairs all the time and climbing on everything she can find! She is finally crawling on her hands and knees, so she thinks she is big time special. Of course, we all think she is big time special. I can't imagine my life without my kids! I also can't wait for this holiday season! It's going to be amazing!

The Ultimate Gift

This past summer, I was checking my work email in anticipation for school when I ran across lesson plans that incorporate movies into school. These lessons are amazing because they are already complete--teacher notes, handouts, movie times. One of the lessons I ran across was from the movie, The Ultimate Gift. I hadn't heard of this movie, but it intrigued me. I read the lesson plans, all 30 pages, and found it to be amazing. Then I began to ask myself, why hadn't I heard of this movie. I mean, c'mon now, I read People magazine religously.

Anyway, I printed off this movie less plan and decided I really needed to watch the movie. Around the first week of school, one of my students got ahold of this packet and told me her family watched this movie. She kept telling me how wonderful this movie was and how I really needed to watch it. It finally became a weekly question. So, I found out there was a book too, so I check it out at the library. I couldn't put it down. What a wonderful message. You have all these gifts to to give people, how will you use them. The book is about a young man discovering these gifts.

So, I told my student I read the book. Again, she kept telling me I needed to watch the movie. So last night, Jeff and I watched the movie. Okay, the movie was quite different, but equally as wonderful. I loved it! I recommend anyone to watch the movie and challenge people to use their gifts for a great good! Don't watch this movie if you aren't in the mood for a serious message. Watch it because you need to be inspired in your life. Watch it because you are curious about what you can give to the world. Watch it it because you need to be reminded what a wonderful life you have.

My Big Girl!

I can't believe it...my baby girl climbed the stairs last night. She started at the bottom of 4 stairs and I walked away and found her at the top! She is amazing! Of course, tonight, she was tired and kept falling down and hitting her head! Poor baby! Amazing girl. I will try to get pictures soon of her climbing!

A Weekend of Cleaning

We finally have a weekend at home, where we aren't running around the city, just staying home and enjoying home. So, of course, I decided to CLEAN! Ever since I went back to work, I just haven't been able to keep up with some of the everday house stuff. NOT ANY MORE! I spent the afternoon cleaning up the kitchen and the side room where I keep all of my cookbooks. Today I will clean up the kids' room, the pantry, and the laundry room. I think I will ask Jeff to clean the basement bedroom, so my parents can actually stay down there this week. Jeff is leaving for DC for a couple of days for a conference, so they will be up to help.

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Here are my favorite Halloween pictures from 2008. Enjoy because I know we had lots of fun!

Election Day!

Here it is election day and I'm so nervous about the outcome. First, my husband is a saint. He waited 2 hours this morning to vote! Fortunately, I only waited 10 minutes, however, other lines were just horribly long! I will say that I feel confidant in my vote this year, probably for the first time I felt confidant about my vote and I chose the right candidate. This election finally excited me about the whole election process. Keep your fingers crossed...Let's hope the right man wins and changes our country!