Just have to brag...I have the cutest nieces ever!

...and the best sister-in-laws who send me pictures all the time! Keep 'em coming!

Emilee

She's getting SO big! Look at those lovable widdle cheeks! I haven't seen this little girl since Christmas and can't wait to hold her again. She's the best baby. Nicole and Jerry somehow got lucky again.

Addi

Addi went to see her first movie not too long ago, and she loved it! Good thing...because this family loves to watch movies. When the lights went down and the screen came on, she asked Tiff, "Where are we?" and when Tiff told her, she said "I love the movies." 

melt.my.heart.

Morgan

This little spit-fire is ready to be a big sister. I predict she'll be a protective, lovable big sis (is there any other kind?). She's very concerned with mom's belly these days!

I know I'm not the best at keeping up with people in my life. I'm just not the kind of person to regularly pick up the phone for small talk. But I am so lucky that my 3 sister-in-laws are always texting or emailing me pics. You all are the best and it puts a smile on my face every time I see these girls' pretty faces! 

Can't wait to meet our fourth niece, Braelyn Grace, in March! 

Embarassing Moment

Soo...those of you who know me know I hate, hate public speaking. Put me in front of a crowd (or a camera for that matter) and I break out in massive hives and start sweating. I despise the feeling that everyone's eyes are on me. It just makes me extremely uncomfortable. (odd that I am not at all uncomfortable with a job where I stand in front of a classroom all day, huh? Kids don't bother me so much).

Well....we had a last minute honor roll assembly. On Sunday night, I typed out my certificates at home, no big deal. Well....I happened to put the wrong last name on one of my student's certificates....and I read the wrong name at the assembly...out loud of coarse, because I'm so nervous in front of crowds that I'm just going through the motions and reading exactly what's on the certificates. AND it's my homeroom mother's child, of course. I immediately see my class' reaction and have to fumble up an excuse for what I did, but at the moment...the longest 4 seconds of my life, I'm really just hoping that I will remember this child's real last name. (I did, miracle!) BUT....not before I mumble something to the effect of "my best friend since I was little is named Grayson Taylor" to get myself off the hook. Is that true???? Noooooo. Why did I say it? I mumble and prattle on when I'm nervous. Don't judge me! I'm not so sure it was believable, but I'm over it now. I'm okay.

I know the child's last name like the back of my hand, and I'm not just saying that to make myself feel better. I really do. I talk to his mom almost everyday, but here's the problem. The only Grayson I've known my entire life is one of my friend's husbands, Grayson Taylor. And to say we are friends sounds like we're best friends. Not exactly - she's a friend I met through a friend - so I don't talk about them so much, so when I do, I always say her husband's first and last name, because we wouldn't just say his first name because we don't ever talk about him! So naturally, when I say the name Grayson, Taylor immediately follows...it's a habit! 

Well....this kid's name is not Grayson Taylor. Although I'm sure when the real Grayson Taylor was in fourth grade, he probably made honor roll. And I have a certificate for him in case his teacher never made him one. 

Deep breath....it all ended up okay...He didn't seemed nearly as phased by it as I was, go figure.

My Goofy Honor Roll Kiddos

While I'm talking school business, I'll tell you about my class this weekend. I got to meet a famous children's author, Roland Smith. He's has some of the most popular young adult action/adventure books out there and I love his style. I listened to him speak Friday night and Saturday at Harding University. He is one of the funniest people I've ever heard speak. He definitely didn't put me to sleep, which is always a good thing.

Me hitting Roland up for some autographed books for my kids

Oh, How I have waited for this day

This is not just any entryway table. Don't let its simplicity fool you. This is the replacement table for the I love it - gotta have it - wanted it since this summer - its the last one - Dustin's a procrastinator - its discontinued - table. Did you get all of that? 

I love this table too, not as much as I loved the other, but I do love this table. After taking this picture, I've since hung up our wedding photograph. I wanted to reframe it in a larger, thicker frame, but the frame I want at Hobby Lobby is a little pricey...so I'm gonna have to save up some deniro for that. I also need something to put between the lamps...maybe a decorative platter or bowl...any ideas???

So what, I'm a little late?

Happy New Year!

We headed to the great state of Missouri for New Years Eve, which also happened to be my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. We had a great time at Uncle David's as usual and it was great to see all of the fam. We headed back to AR to watch the bowl game on Saturday at Luke and Tiff's. They had some buddies over and and since the piggies won, everyone had a great time! Way to win one for us Tejada! Thatta boy!

Me, Mom, and Luke

It's impossible to get a picture of these two with their eyes open at the same time sober, much less after some cham-pag-ne.

Uncle David's Basement Bar

Grandpa, Grandma, and Addi

My cousin Ryan and Addi

Addi wanted me to get a picture of her with her puppies.

All of the men at Luke and Tiff's

Hope everyone is getting a safe, happy, healthy start to their new year! We can't wait to see what excitement 2010 holds for us!

Help!

I know most people who read my blog do not blog themselves...but seriously people, I need some help. I inserted this pretty new banner and wanted a picture in the little blue frame. So...after I downloaded the pretty new banner, I couldn't do anything with it in iPhoto, so I copied it to Word. I went to "format">"fill">"picture">"choose a picture"...which sounds perfect, right? Nooooo....it has to not fit in the picture frame. So for the last 3 hours I've tried cropping the photo, resizing and resizing and resizing the photo, setting it to tile mode....nothing is working. I'd also like to put our blog title onto it, and that's a whole other story....let's just say textboxes don't work and you can't just "add text" to the photo. There HAS to be an easier way! 

UGH!!! Can you feel my frustration through the computer screen?

So unless you people help me figure this out, you'll just be looking at my teeth and one side of Dustin's face. Deal with THAT!

Christmas with the Collyges

The unpacking is finished, the house back in order, and the decorations are back in their tubs (9 tubs and a Christmas tree box to be exact). I'll be swiffering glitter until next Christmas I'm sure...I can't believe it's all over! It comes and goes quicker every year. Here's a recap of our holiday.

I headed to Fayetteville on Wednesday to have Christmas with my buddy Hayley. We always exchange gifts and do some after Christmas shopping...which normally gets ugly. This year though, we met before Christmas so my wallet was saved. We didn't get a picture : ( but we had a great time as always. 

We spent Christmas morning with Dustin's family. Corky and Debbie went all out with the snacky lunch, my favorite Christmas meal. There were dips, chili, stuffed mushrooms, cheeseballs, and shrimp gallore...plus my favorite peanut butter balls. We ate ourselves sick. Here are some pics from Christmas morning. Isn't that a great pic of the tree?

Emilee, Morgan, Drew

Me and the best baby ever...I told everyone if they wanted to hold her they would have to pry her from my cold, lifeless fingers.

MoMo and her new baby doll

Dustin's gift from Amber and John

Dustin always get the best hog stuff

Early Christmas evening, we headed to the lake to have Christmas with mom and Johnny. As yall know, we had a beautiful white Christmas, so we tried to head out before it got too dark and everything refroze. We made it to the bottom of Snake Creek, but had to be picked up on the mule because the mountain was in no shape to be driving on. It was a bitterly cold ride on the mule, even with me hiding under 3 blankets...and Rudy, who travels really well in cars, was pretty flipped out by the loud ride up the hill.

Mom and Johnny got a Wii for Christmas, so we played for hours on Saturday. It was one of those weird days where time doesn't exist and you feel like you just woke up when it's time to go back to bed. Dustin was a Wii pro showing all of us up. BTW, who know bowling was a work out? My arms, abs, and behind were pretty sore the next day!

I won the best Addi gift prize for the "barbie in the water" as Addi calls it. I kind of planted this seed back at Thanksgiving and she didn't let go of the idea, so I just had to find a "barbie in the water".

Addi wanted to play in the "snowmans" 

Me and Addicakes

What idiots want to drive without a windshield in this weather? Us!

Before we headed back Sunday, we got to at least see some of my Fort friends when we went to eat at Rolando's. We missed the annual seniorita Christmas because it fell the same night we were doing Christmas at mom's. The good news is Christie's bachelorette party is coming up in February, so I should get to see the girls then. Yea!

Thank you to our family for all of the wonderful Christmas gifts! Thank you friends and family for sending Christmas cards our way. I love getting Christmas cards and always enjoy seeing everyone's pictures!  I hope you had a very merry holiday!

Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours!