Valentine Flashback

My last post of the trailer in the snow at Lake Ouachita reminded me of our first Valentine's Day together 7 years ago. Valentine's Day was on a Saturday and Dustin took me to the horse races for the weekend. We only got to see 2 races before the snow started coming down. We were worried about getting back to the trailer safely, so we headed out early. Instead of going out to eat that night as planned, we stopped to get some steaks at Don's Meat Market and were content with the idea of being snowed in by ourselves in our own little winter wonderland. 

A few hours later, however, we were sharing our winter wonderland with the Van Buren cheerleading squad, their super pregnant sponsor, and a couple of moms. How did this happen? Welllll....Dustin's brother-in-law Jerry's sister, Kelly, cheered for VB and they had state competition that day in Hot Springs. The roads were so bad on their way home that they decided to find the nearest hotel and ride out the snowstorm. Everyone else on the roads had the same idea though, so they were out of luck. Jerry's mom, Rhonda, started calling Jerry, knowing Corky had a trailer at Ouachita, wondering if there was anyway they could get into it to stay the night. 

Luckily, we were there. If we hadn't been, they couldn't have gotten into the trailer. They no doubt felt bad to crash our romantic weekend getaway, but truly had no other choice. It takes a couple of steep hills to get to the Collyge's trailer, and there was no way they were going to be able to drive those hills in the near foot of snowfall that had fallen. So Dustin and I put on our boots and heaviest coats to start the 1/2 mile hilly trek to go get them. We knew they had a really pregnant lady with them, and  would need help walking in the hilly snow. Dustin ended up walking behind her, hands basically on her back the whole way, making sure she didn't fall.

We spent the rest of the night talking cheerleading stories. Being a cheer vet myself, I was in heaven. It was like I was 17 again and I was so in my element. I loved every minute of it. Dustin on the other hand, didn't act bummed, but it probably wasn't what he had in mind!

A couple of weeks later we got a Valentine card and restaurant gift-card in the mail from the squad. It was so cute! Even though it wasn't the "weekend to remember" we had in mind, it definitely was a weekend to remember!

So sad to say that I wasn't a picture taker back then. I don't even think I had a camera. We have no photos to document the experience, but will remember it forever!

Baby Shower, Babysitting, and Blizzards, Oh My!

Mary Kate and her mama threw Amber a great diaper shower this weekend! Amber got enough diapers to last her quite awhile! Here's he all-belly mother-to-be with all of the women in the family.

Mimi, Amber, Debbie, Morgan, Emilee, Nicole, and me

My present for Miss Braelyn

Momo and Emilee

After the shower, Amber wanted to take some preggo photos. Here are some of my favs.

After the shower we headed over to Tenkiller to see Mom and Johnny. Tiffany's grandfather was not doing well, so mom picked up Addi from the sitter to keep her for the weekend. Unfortunately, Tiffany's grandfather passed away. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

What a beautiful little girl...she was showered with Valentine candy, chocolates, cupcakes, and cookies all weekend. But only after she ate her dinner, Mom! Promise!

See? Dinner. Promise. She wasn't feeding it to Holly. 

Licking the icing off of a cupcake. AFTER dinner. The PJs prove it.

Riding with Uncle Dust and Aunt Carly back to Mama and Daddy's. Yes, those are M&Ms, but she ate pancakes that morning. 

On our way home from Fort Smith, we drove through Mt. Ida to stop and check on the trailer for Corky. He had an unusually high electric bill. Coupled with a newsletter that warned of winter break-ins, Corky was slightly paranoid that we might have a hobo camping out at the trailer. Like any loving father would, he sent us into harm's way to check it out.

But....we ran into an unexpected blizzard on the way there! Doesn't this look safe?!

Pictures don't do it justice. It was so white!

Magical Snow Fairy

I use to watch The Weather Channel every morning. It was the first thing I did every morning...turn the channel to 32...but somewhere along the line I quit cold turkey. Ever since, I have no idea what the weather will bring each day. My philosophy is to go off the weather from the day before, but that's not a very reliable strategy now, is it?

So imagine my surprise when I got a text message from the district this morning that school was cancelled due to snow! I had NO clue. It was the perfect Monday morning surprise. Usually you hear people talking and talking days before bad weather hits, but I didn't have a clue. I told Dustin it was like a magical snow fairy came and dusted the town while we were asleep. I say things as if I'm 7 year old like that quite often.

We're starting to accumulate a few inches. It's turned to rain for the time being.

Our street

Our backyard view

I met another famous young adult author this weekend, Kimberly Willis Holt. She's written a National Book Award winner, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. That one is my least favorite of hers though, actually. She has also written Keeper of the Night, which I had her autograph for me.  She is just an ordinary person, an ordinary mom, living in Texas, who happens to write award winning books! She was so gracious and down-to-earth...and so cute!

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!