What a week! Wednesday we had 5 teachers call in sick, Thursday we had 10 kids and 3 teachers call in sick (not including the kids who were sick and didn't call), and Friday I sent 7 more kids home (not including the ones who were already out). I think by the end of the day we had about half the kids at school. We had everything floating thru the halls....strep, pinkeye, lice, a stomach bug, fever. Oh and did I forget to mention that our director was out for the week so it all fell on me. I'm just hoping that everyone gets it all out of their system over the weekend. I have lysol-ed my office every five minutes this week. I WILL NOT get sick!

On to happier news. Last weekend was our church's ladies retreat. It was pretty fun. I stayed in a room with my friend from work and her daughter who is going to ACU. Big mistake. We ended up staying up until 3 in the morning. I haven't been up that late in years (without a sick kid or baby that is). But the best thing is this picture I took in the lobby's restroom. I don't know if you can really tell but try to look where the water hits the sink -- or more exactly, where it can't possibly hit the sink. I had to turn the water on the get the picture so it made a bit of a mess. Now who else would take a picture of a faucet in the womens bathroom? It's an aggie sink!

Rain? Someday?

So is everyone enjoying the new year? I have been back to work for 4 days and it sure is nice to get some rest. I spent most of the break CLEANING my house. I pulled out everything from both kid's rooms and packed up the old toys to put in a garage sale this summer. It was a huge job. Also cleaned closets, drawers, cabinets, under beds, etc, etc. So now my house is clean and organized (let's see how long that lasts). After all that, work seems pretty easy.

Today Alyssa cheered at her first basketball game. The girls had a great time. We didn't watch the cheerleaders very much...the kindergarten players were way too much fun to watch instead. They would "guard" each other (even if they didn't have the ball) by doing what looked like a funky dance thing. They would forget to dribble, and just run down the court, with the coaches yelling, "Dribble, dribble!" Some would look at the coach before doing anything and some would just take the ball and go....the wrong way down the court. My favorite was the little girl who wanted to pass the ball but her teammate wasn't paying attention so she tapped him on the shoulder, stepped back into place, and then handed him the ball. It was really cute. Ally is cheering next week for the same age group, I think, and then we start doing the older kids. Most of my pictures didn't come out very well this week but I wanted to post some anyway.

I have to get ready for Blake's birthday on Monday. So far he has nothing. No presents from us, no cake, nothing. And Ally has Brownies that night so we don't even get to do dinner. Poor thing. (speaking of Brownies...it's cookie time!) I told him I would get him exactly what he got me for my birthday last year......hey, I'm done shopping. Oh, tacky! We can't even celebrate next weekend. I'm going to our church's ladies retreat and leaving him with both kids! Of course we realized today that meant that he is going to have to do Ally's hair next week before the game. And get Andrew dressed. Please, if anyone sees my children next weekend, don't laugh.

Gotta go bathe the kids. Fun fun!!

Okay, here is a picture of the bags. For those of you not in Texas, I have found this great little outlet store that sells purses, bags, luggage and jewelry -- REALLY cheap. These "shopping bags" were $1.95 (one was $3.95--we splurged). We are using them as new church bags and the kids love them. Alyssa's is the blue whale one, Andrew's is the animal faces, the other two are mine (I'm going to use one as a bible class bag and one to bring to work--have to carry my action figures you know.) They have all different styles but when they are out, they're out. Anyone want to go shopping with me?? I take orders.

I do have one funny story to tell. If you didn't know, we have signed up Alyssa for cheerleading thru Sharla's church. They have a Christian-based basketball league and this year they added cheer for the girls. They have had two practices and she seems to like it a lot. We plan on getting some advise from Aunt Sharla this weekend. Anyway, last night the girls were learning a new cheer. Something about "Basket, Basket, We want two" or something to that effect. So the little girls are chanting and working on the arm and foot movements (funny all by itself) when one of the girls raises her hand and says, "I know the movements but I don't get it." Coach looks confused. Girl repeats statement. We finally figure out that she doesn't understand why they are saying "we want two". After the coach gives them a short "rules of basketball" lesson, about 4 of the little girls start nodding their heads and saying, "ohhhhhhh". Apparently basketball is not these girls forte. It was really cute.

Yea! It's almost Christmas! Since this is a busy time of year and I have lots to do (life if so hard with two weeks off of work), I think I'll just post pictures today from Andrew's Christmas party and our trip to see Santa with my children not wanting their picture taken. Can you find my little star? He's the fourth from the right -- looking glum because he couldn't find me in the audience.

Something Borrowed

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.
---Author Unknown

I Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Welcome to my Monday

All right, in case there is any doubt in your mind that I live in a sit-com, let me give you the run down on my morning.

Blake managed to fix the garage door opener last weekend so now I don't have to raise the door by hand (yea!). I usually wait to open the door until Andrew is in the car so it won't scare him but today I was in a bit of a hurry and thought that he was past the garage door and about to get in the car so I pushed the button on my way into the garage. Oops. Andrew was NOT on his side of the car but instead was directly behind the car. Don't know how this happened but the garage door caught his backpack on the way up so there goes my son UP into the air dangling from his backpack. I drop everything, including my purse, my work bag, my lunch, my earrings, his coat, my coat...., and run to Andrew while screaming at Alyssa to stop the door. I grab Andrew by the legs to keep him from falling after I realize that he is not hurt and it's not his body that is caught. Alyssa is yelling that she doesn't know how to stop the door but finally manages to push the right button. Andrew is screaming bloody murder while dangling from his backpack that is dangling from the raised garage door. We finally managed to get the door down and my son detatched. I'm laughing hysterically, Andrew is crying, and Alyssa is shaking. Got everyone calmed down and loaded in the car. So now Andrew is telling everyone that he got to go for a ride on the garage door. You couldn't make this stuff up!!

Bethlehem

The town of Waxahachie puts on this neat thing called "Bethlehem Revisited" (or something like that). They have about a block that they turn into old Bethlehem where you have to enter the city gates, look at the different "stores", follow the wisemen past the inn and try to find baby Jesus in the manger. You can just wander around for a while and go where you want. We went last year and really liked it so we tried it again. Still really good but it was alot more crowded this year. But at least it wasn't too cold. The kids loved it! Everyone stays in character so even when you ask them a question, if it doesn't have to do with Bethlehem, they don't know what you're talking about. The soldiers were afraid it might rain since they kept seeing "lighting" flashes go off. It was really fun. I think we have an annual tradition.

Wow it's been a while since I posted. Time just slips by. So tell me, when did I get old enough to have a 9 year old? We celebrated her birthday over Thanksgiving since she wanted a sleep-over and no one was going out of town. Worked out pretty well except I forgot about her cake until the morning of her party. Poor thing.

As I'm sure you have heard by now, IT'S COLD HERE! Our school let out at noon on Wednesday and they cancelled school today. I had such great plans for the extra day off but ended up getting nothing really done. All I wanted to do was sit under a blanket and read. Was pretty enjoyable though. Blake didn't go in today either. He decided to work at home and not fight the ice. Roads were pretty clear down here by 10 a.m. Ally seemed upset when we mentioned that things were clearing up. She thought that if the weather got better than she would have to go to school for the day. That may not have been a bad idea. I think by noon everyone was bored silly but there was no way we were going out in 12 degree weather! So we just spent the day watching the dumb newspeople standing outside telling us how cold it was. Idiots.

So now you are all caught up with the Brannons. I know, I know. How do we live with all this excitement?!?

The Circus!

Well the Brannon family had a late night last night. We were livin' it up at the circus! The Shrine Circus was in town this week and since we haven't gone in about 5 years, we decided that it would be a good family night. It started at 7 so we left the house at 5:30 (ran a little late...suprise suprise) to give us time to eat and get to Fort Worth. Or rather get to Fort Worth and then eat.

Half way there my husband asks, "So do you know where we are going?". Ummmm, no. I thought you looked it up when you got the tickets. Nope. He was just going to try to remember how to get there from when we went the last time (note: THAT WAS 5 YEARS AGO!). Needless to say, we got lost. We found the right main street but apparently Fort Worth has an issue with actually posting directional signs on cross streets. We only passed it twice before we figured out where it was.

Since we were running late (and had not eaten yet) we dropped Blake off at Will Call and I went to go try to find a parking space along with half the population of the Metroplex. I was a little nervous about this (lots of cars and not really a great driver in the dark...can't see). So I turned down the main street and was going to circle the block but there were too many cars in the turn lane so I just turned down the street right across from the arena. Figured we could just walk a while. Anyway, about half a block down was a TEENY TINY parking space. Good thing: I don't have an SUV. Bad thing: it was a parallel parking space....the only part of the driving test I flunked and would probably still flunk today. (Memory flash of me and dad in the red station wagon practicing in Meeker's parking lot.) But guess what?!?! I did it. And I only had to go back and forth less than a dozen times! Of course the car parked behind me had no room to get out but since when is that my problem? Kidding....he had room to back up. I wouldn't be that mean. When we got to the arena (less than a two minute walk), with me still on a parking high, all Blake could say was that it took us a while. He just has no appreciation for the joy of the "Good Parking Space".

We got to our seats with time to spare (10 whole minutes). Blake went to go get us something to eat since we still hadn't had dinner. He came back 5 minutes later with a coke. Hmmmmm. Something seems wrong...perhaps the nachos and hot dogs are in his pockets. Try again...the coke was $3 and he "wasn't going to pay those prices". Luckily the kids were not starving. (Before you call CPS on me, I actually had food in my purse...eeeewwww. No really, Andrew likes to eat some breakfast and snacks at my office sometimes and I got tired of the granola bars and fruit snacks in my desk so that morning I had put them in my purse to take home and forgot about them. Good thing.) What a healthy meal for two growing children. I really don't think they minded. They both were too busy staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the performers. The tigers were first so that sucked them both right in. It was almost more fun to watch the kids then to watch the circus.

Andrew decided about half way thru that he wanted to go home and that he HATED the clowns. He laughed at what they did at first but during one of the skits there was a loud bang and from then on, he didn't like clowns. They were loud. For those of you who don't know, my little boy hates loud noises, from vacuum cleaners to fire drills, he just can't stand them. Oh, guess what the final act is? The Human Cannonball. That was fun. His head was buried in my chest with both his hands covering his ears and my hands on top of his. But if you ask him today, he will tell you that his favorite part was the clowns. Hmmmm.

Ally liked the "pretty girls" the best. She didn't really care what they did as long as they had the glittery outfits and long hair. Come to think of it, Blake liked them the best too. Wait a second.....

All in all, a pretty good night. Didn't get home til after 11:00 so, needless to say, both kids fell asleep on the drive home.

Snack Wrap-up

Just to let you know, snack when okay today. The only problem is that Thursdays snack mom already brought her snack and she choose apples. Now in what universe does apple begin with "L". Some moms are just no fun.

I'd like to thank my (insane) family for all the wonderful suggestions. I think you people had way too much fun with this. FYI--I'm bringing snack again in December--more fun! Okay, now that all the "L" madness is over, it's time to move on. Not that there is much to move on to. Pretty slow week at school so far. The phones were knocked out on Sunday and they were just turned back on this morning. Try running a school with no phone service. Not very easy to try to reach parents but it did make for a quiet day without the constant ringing.

See the neat table and chair? Let's just say that someone who works at a school that just had an auction saw this sitting in her office everyday after the person who bid on it decided they didn't want it. Not that this person has any need for a cute table and 4 chairs but some things are just too hard to pass up. I'm sure this fictitious person got a great deal on the cute table and chairs. Let's just say that this certain person is having to hide the cute table and chairs since a certain husband just won't understand the need for such a cute table and chairs. This certain person sure is sneaky! "Merry Christmas, honey. Have a cute table and chairs". Hmmm, may have to work on that. (Too cryptic or did everyone follow that?)

What would I do without my dear family's help?!? You all have come up with the best suggestions. Lima beans? Liver? Lobster? What, no lard? Smarty pants. Yesterday I wandered the grocery store isles, up and down, looking for anything "L"ish. I'm sure I scared some people off with my constant muttering, "Llllllll, hmmmm, lllllllll." Anyway, after deciding on lemon bars and not finding any, I managed to find some Lemon Creme Cookies. Boring, I know but it will work. I wonder if any of the other mothers put this much effort into a pre-school snack?

Help!

Okay, instead of just e-mailing my family, I'm going to post this question. This next Tuesday, I'm in charge of snack for Andrew's class. They like the snack to match the letter of the week. They can get pretty creative though. Last time I brought snack, the letter was N but I forgot so I brought fruit snacks. Luckily they were Nemo fruit snacks so it worked. Well this time the letter is L. So far Blake has thought of lettuce and I thought of lemons. Neither one sounds very appealing to 4 year olds, I'm sure. Any suggestions out there? If not the poor children may get Lemon Lettuce Wraps. Mmmmmmmm.

Our Exciting Evening

Today was one of those "try to cram as much stuff into a few hours as humanly possible" days. I almost got everything done off my list -- all but two. Not bad. I was suppose to run by Sharla's church to get Alyssa fitted for her cheer uniform but I found out they may not have all the sizes until tomorrow. So I don't think that counts as not an errand not done. Right?

Anyway, after the kids and I got home from the library, we were all sitting in the living room chatting (okay, Blake was watching poker on TV--blah) and we started to smell something burning. I hadn't started dinner yet so it wasn't the stove (first thought). Could it be the air-conditioner? (No comment about having to turn that thing on in November....so wrong!) Could it be from outside? Where, oh where is this awful smell coming from???? "Hmmmm", says Michelle, "Is it the cat?" Hey! Guess what?! My cat smells like......not smoke......not something burning.......oh, no.......yes, he smells like skunk! Remember our cute little visitors who were living under our driveway. Well apparently, they are still there. We hadn't seen them in a while so we assumed they had left. Nope! I don't think he got a direct hit because he doesn't make your eyes water but he does have a definite odor to him. Can you give a cat a tomato juice bath? And if you can, do I have any volunteers? Dumb cat. Needless to say, he is sleeping in the garage tonight and is NOT leaving the house for the next few days until he learns that skunks are foes, not friends.

So enjoy a good laugh at our expense again. I am signing off now since Max has decided that he likes me and is laying on my mouse cord. Gag....choke.....gag......uuggghhh. Dumb cat.

I'm A Thief!

I "borrowed" this from a blog I read everyday that is written by a wonderful girl I knew at ACU, Sarah Stirman. Enjoy.


I probably don't like you today. You're either too cheerful or too grouchy. I think you're either too self-centered or too nosy. You were driving too fast or too slow. You don't do your share or you make the rest of us look bad. You either refused to talk to me or you interrupted my solitude. You add to the mess or you criticize my housekeeping skills by helping me clean.Chances are, I don't like you today. Don't take it personally -- I don't like myself too much today, either. But today is almost over (GLORY!) Tomorrow morning I will thank God for the promise of a new day, the coolness of a new season, and the never-ending well of His grace and mercy.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassionsnever fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."Lamentations 3:22,23

Happy Halloween (a little late)

Hmmmm. Which one is my Blue Power Ranger? Cute, huh?!

Why I have not been posting....

1. This working thing is getting really old and draining.

2. Blake has been sick since he got back from Chicago.

3. Andrew has been sick for two weeks.

4. After constant hand washing to try to avoid being sick, my husband (between sneezes) kissed me goodbye in the morning and now I've been sick for two weeks.

5. Halloween. Candy, carnivals, pumpkin carving, candy, trick or treating, trunk or treating, candy, costumes, candy, candy, candy!!!

6. Being the good mom that I am, I sent my child to school with PINKEYE!!! Aaauuuuugggghhh. Not a bad case and after one day home and on special eyedrops (now that's another fun-filled story) he'll be back at school tomorrow.

7. The newness of blogging seems to have worn off. And not just for me mind you....I've been reading all those blogs out there that wait two weeks between postings...you know who you are. Okay so I'm not reading that many, but I glance at them every once in a while.

8. Do you realize that it's November already? How many weeks til Thanksgiving? Til Alyssa's birthday? Til Christmas? Stop the world, I want to get off!!!

9. I'm getting really old and my bedtime keeps getting earlier and earlier. So on that note, goodnight!

I'm Back!!

So, did you think that I fell off the face of the earth? Came pretty close to it but luckily I pulled back at the last second. Actually, Blake has been out of town for a week (just got back in on Friday night). And I didn't even turn the computer on for the entire week. It was kinda nice. The kids and I ate "fun" dinners and got to have mom and kid time (we even did the movie night with a BIG bowl of popcorn). Of course I didn't sleep for the entire week. Why is it that I can't sleep without someone beside me? When did I turn into a big old chicken? I burned out the back porch light because I left it all all night, every night...and the front porch light too. I was probably announcing to the world that I was home alone and scared but it did make me feel better and I was able to get a few hours of sleep. Friday, I slept like a rock and was sound asleep by 10. Blake is never allowed to leave for that long again!!

We are all getting ready for Halloween. I'm going to have a vampiress and a Power Ranger this year. Oh for the days when I got to pick my children's costumes. We have 2 carnivals/trunk or treats to go to on Sunday but we are still looking for something for Saturday. Remember the days of just one night of treat-or-treating door to door. Not anymore. Now we have to get as much use out of the costumes as possible. Sharla's church puts on a fun carnival so we will go there on Sunday night. Oops....no church for us. Is that an excused absence? Technically, we will be at a church. Hhhmmmm.

Well, Mom left yesterday and, I assume, is now home safe and sound. I wish her trip could have been longer but I'll take what I can get. Anyway, now that I'm not running up to Sharla's everyday and getting home at 9, I can blog again. But not today. I'm tired.

Well I had to take my first official day off from work yesterday. Andrew managed to get a fever on Sunday. Rules is: no pre-school until they are fever-free for 24 hours. I was really tempted to take him anyway (hoping it wouldn't be too bad on Monday morning) but I decided to actually follow the rules seeing as I work there and, besides, my honest little boy would probably tell them, "I have a fever but my mommy gave me medicine this morning". Honesty can be way over-rated. He seems to be better now though. The fever came on suddenly on Sunday while we were at the store and ran until Monday morning. Then just went away. No other symptoms or anything. I guess I should be grateful it wasn't worse. But I still hated calling into work. I always feel like they think I'm just "playing hookie".

Blake couldn't work from home that day either. He had to go to a mandatory seminar on "Giving Presentations". Of course in two weeks, he will be going to Chicago for a week (wish me luck with that single parent thing) to give a seminar on "Giving Presentations". Hhhmmmmm. Now that is just way too logical. I am so not looking forward to this trip (but then neither is he). The longest trip he's taken has been two days. How am I suppose to sleep for a full week? I hear every single noise when he's gone. Fun fun.

" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " ( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( ) Okay, I feel better now. I just realized that I keep using quotes and parentheses. How annoying. So on that note, I'm off to get the kids ready for bed. Night all. THREE DAYS TIL MOM GETS HERE!!!