My cousin loves me....

Kathryn tagged me...she's family so I have, I mean, get to do it! :)

8 Things

8 Things I'm looking forward to:

Hanging out with friends at Aaron's softball game tonight
Sleeping in tomorrow
Susie's softball game-she loves her team!
VBS
Going on a summer trip with friends...come on Jason, get planning!
Taking Susie to Kindergarten Storytime (she is just so excited!)
NOT cooking on Sunday!
Being able to swim this summer!!


8 Things I did yesterday:

Got 3 kids up, dressed and ready for school
Took a shower (hey, you asked)
Volunteered at Grace's school-Playground duty is fun!!
Picked up the the kids from school
Went to Grace's softball game...she rocked!
Folded some clothes
Jumped on the trampoline with the kids
Watched a really stupid movie with Aaron (Adam Sandler...Don't Mess with Zohan...ugg!)

8 Things I wish I could do:

Go and visit friends in Florida (it's been tooo long)
Take the kids to Disney (but NOT in the summer!)
Lay on a white, sandy and sunny beach
Play the piano
Learn to knit
Travel, travel, travel
Keep up with the laundry (we are good today, but tomorrow I will be behind again!! :) )
Read more than I do....


8 TV Shows I watch:

24
American Idol
Heroes
LOST
Brothers and Sisters
Grey's Anatomy
Private Practice
ER-oh, I miss you already!


8 People I tag:
I don't know....hmmm...
Deanna
Jenn Mall
Mrs. Brownstone
Danna
Shellie
Dyane
My mom (just put it in the comments, mom)
Kipi

Love ya'll...Happy weekend...I'm going outside to watch a softball game!!!

5 things tag...

Kipi and Michelle tagged me so I thought that I would do this...I know I have done this in a e-mail, but I went and back tracked though my blog and can't find it. So, here goes my tag.

What was happening in my life 10 years ago:-
1. I was finishing up teaching first grade in St. Petersburg, FL
2. Aaron had just proposed
3. I was planning a wedding in Arkansas, but living in Florida
4. Aaron was getting ready to graduate from the University of Florida
5. I was so excited about getting married in August!!! :)

5 things on my to-do list today
1. Finish the laundry-this is a nice distraction
2. Take a shower
3. Pick up Susie at school
4. Cook dinner
5. Get Grace ready for her VBS audition and softball game

5 snacks I enjoy:-
1. Honeycomb cereal
2. Sonic Coke with easy ice (I know, it may not be a snack to you, but it is to me!)
3. I really can't think of anymore because I just don't snack...Actually, I don't buy snacks so that I don't eat them...does that make sense?
4.
5.

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:-
1. Pay off our house
2. Pay off the church building fund! Can't wait until we get to move into the "new " part!!
3. Travel with the family (the WHOLE family...Nana, Papa, DD, Gramps...all of ya'll!!)
4. Work at Camp all summer!
5. Fund lots of missionaries and go and visit them! (My grandparents are missionaries so it's in the blood!)

5 bad habits-
1. Putting things off....the laundry is waiting...
2. Sonic, Sonic, Sonic
3. My messy side of the bedroom
4. Spending too much time on the computer...like now.
5. did I say Sonic Cokes?

5 places I’ve lived:- I'm only doing 5 of the 10 places...

1. Searcy, Arkansas
2. Tallahassee, Florida
3. Duncan, Oklahoma
4. McAllen, Texas
5. Palmer, Alaska

5 jobs I’ve had:-
1. Worked in the Education-Curriculum Lab at Harding all 4 years...loved it!!
2. Counselor/Lifeguard at Florida Bible Camp for many many summers...the best!
3. First Grade Teacher
4. Second Grade Teacher
5. Wife and Mother...my very favorite job EVER!! Cute boss and wonderful benefits! :)

5 people I want to know more about; a.k.a. tag!-

Mrs. Brownstone
Jill
Shana
Jenn Mall
JenniJ

My ten things

My good friend, Mrs. Brownstone over at X-box wife, has started a new thing. It's a wonderful thing and I hope I can remember and find time to do it each week. Every Tuesday she writes about the 10 things that she is thankful for that have already happened that day. That way we recognize and are thankful for the small things in life. Go on over to her blog and read her reasons why she started this today!!

My Ten Things for Tuesday
1. Grace hasn't thrown up one time today!!

2. I have every piece of the laundry done and it's only 2:00!!

3. I have been blessed with wonderful friends that call to check up on my sick little one and my sanity, daily!!

4. Parker and Grace both are sleeping.

5. Susannah had a great day at school and got to ride home with one of her best buddies.

6. I took a shower and it felt GREAT!!

7. Aaron got to play basketball at lunch today. That makes his day and I know he loves his lunch hour game when he gets to go.

8. The taxes are finished and the refund is on it's way!

9. My house is clean.

10. The sun is shining and I'm going to jump on the trampoline with Susie before the other two wake up!!

Do this today on your blog and link up to Mrs. Brownstone's blog! It will make your day better!!

End of year review....

Received this meme from my cousin, Kathryn. Her blog looks soo cool....

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
I really can't think of anything...oh, we went to the SEC championship football game in Atlanta. I would love to go back if the Vols or the Razorbacks make it that far again.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
We moved into a new town and a new house so I wanted to have everything unpacked in 2 weeks and I did it in less than 10 days!! I also resolved to loose all my baby weight from Parker in 2007 and lost every pound and a few more. It makes a difference when you get on a good workout schedule and have a fun workout partner....let's get back to the gym soon, Jill!!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I have had lots of friends this year....after all, my baby (so to speak) is only 18 months old!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No one in our immediate family.

5. What countries did you visit?
Not with 3 kids, no way!

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I have NO idea! I would like to have more visits from family and friends....we love company!!

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan. 2007, We moved to Ft. Worth and Grace started a new school and we have a great church family!
May 2007, Aaron came home from being in Houston for 2 months. We missed him soo much!
June 2007, Parker turned one and we had a house full of company!
August 2007, The whole family flew to Seattle to see Aaron's parents. We had a great visit and took the kids camping and hiking.
October 2007, Give away day at our church. So many people were helped and it felt great helping them!
In general, I loved 2007....we have made great friends and have a wonderful church family, all in one year! Great blessings all around!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Putting together Aaron's surprise birthday trip to Atlanta without him knowing and Grace not telling!! Aaron says that I change more diapers than anyone, but I so know that is NOT true....I'm just trying to raise sweet babies.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failure? YIKES...I really don't like that word....I don't like it that I haven't reached out more to newer families at our church, but with teaching the 5&6 grade class I just don't feel like I am always in the loop with the new people. I'm going to make it a point to do better this next year. It is never fun to be the new person.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Aaron bought me a Tassimo coffee machine system and I LOVE it! I use it everyday!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Grace! She read all of the Battle of the Books lists and made the team!!! The Competition is in one month, can't wait!! Grace also memorized all of her memory verses and recited them with the rest of her class in front of the church family. They all did so great.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Wal-Mart, doesn't everyones? Well and just general moving expenses

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Grace making her Battle of the books team, Parker walking, our family trips, Susannah starting school and Christmas.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
I have no idea....Probably the High School Musical 2 Soundtrack....I know every word and so do my girls. Isn't that just crazy?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) happier b) much thinner c) a little richer-I'm always richer with my sweet family around.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sleeping! But we are getting better...Parker and the girls all sleep though the night and it is WONDERFUL!
I wish we could have more people over to get to know them better. When we start our small groups at church (Next week!) that will change for sure!!!!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Complaining, griping...I'm trying to get better, I promise!!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my parent's house in Arkansas, we are driving home tomorrow after church.

21. What was your favorite TV program?
Heros

24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year?
Nope

25. What was the best book you read?
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows (I didn't get to read much this year....It took me forever to even finish this one....when you are the mom of three, you fall asleep when your head hits the pillow!)

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My greatest? Aaron is really good at the guitar and the kids love to dance when he plays, that is about it!

27. What did you want and get?
My Tassimo!

28. What did you want and not get?
A new pair of brown boots. Don't worry, I'm going shopping with Jill when we get home...those boots are mine!!

Now I tag Jill, Reagan, Beckie, Tammie, Steph, Jen Mall, Jason, Shelley and Jill P...Oh, goodness, and anyone else who is reading this!!!

A little History lesson...

My friend, Jen, tagged me (yes, another tag, but this one is more than just little answers) to do this small history lesson...I've seen it on several blogs so I'm glad that Jen tagged me. Also, I have to say that I LOVE living in this part of the country that people come to for work, family or just vacation. I have gotten to see Jen and Laura (on the same day!) who were some of my club sisters at Harding and Jen was one of my campers from a long time ago at Florida Bible camp. The next week, one of Aaron's good friends from High School, Susan, and her cute little girl, Reagan came to spend the night. It was so great to see their smiling faces after so many years! And then, not 2 days later, my friend, Beatriz, came on a business trip and got to come over and have dinner with us! Beatriz and I went to HUF (Harding University in Florence, Italy) together in 1994 and we hadn't really seen each other since!! It has been a great few weeks of reunions!!

Now, on with my little history....

30 years ago...I was just 3 years old having a great time with my little brother Jeremy. We were always into some type of trouble, but what brothers and sisters aren't at that age? We spent many hours at my mom and dad's photography studio. We had our own playroom with toys and a TV so that our mom could get stuff done during the day. We really didn't like it when brides came to get their bridal portraits done, though...because they would get to use our playroom for their dressing room. SOOO, of course we would have to clean it up and what kid really likes to clean? I really don't remember much about being 3. I do remember my dad's office in the Admin building at Harding in the PR office. We spent many hours there...

20 years ago...I was13 and in the 7th grade at Southwest Middle School. We thought we were so cool because we were the big kids in the school. In Searcy, you go to Jr. High after middle school (8th and 9th grade) and High School is 10th-12th grade. So, I hung out with my school friends, mainly Rebekah Lowe, who has been my best friend since the womb, basically. I was born on the day she was due. So, I'm 2 weeks older...we loved school then. I was on the basketball team and I really liked that...I wanted to be like the "popular kids" and wear guess jeans and that year for Christmas, my parents got me a pair of guess jeans and a guess t-shirt. I thought I was too cool for school. I also remember being in the highest reading class and I was on the newspaper staff (that was a big deal then...) I remember crying when we were reading "Where the Red Fern Grows", although, I can't remember what grade exactly that was, I just remember it was at SWMS. Oh, to be a 7th grader...I also got contacts that year and that was a HUGE deal for me because I have to wear really think and ugly glasses! Oh, thank you Dr. Camp for teaching me about contacts and how to put them in the right way!!! :) :)

10 years ago...I was teaching first grade in St. Petersburg, Florida. I knew I wanted to marry Aaron, I was just waiting on him to figure that out, too!! :) We got engaged a few months later, I just really wanted it to happen at Christmas. Instead, we got a puppy. Oh well, life does go on and we did get married that summer. I loved living in St. Pete. I had a great class of kids that loved me even though I had not a clue what I was doing in that classroom. I spent almost every weekend in Gainesville (Florida, 2 hours from St. Pete) because Aaron was in his senior year at the University of Florida. There was a great family from church in Gainesville that would let me stay at their house and come and go as I wanted to...I love the Suggs, they soooo took care of me when I was a crazy and in love first year teacher and needed some extra TLC!! I had another family that I taught with the mom and their daughter was in my class (and in our wedding) that just loved me like I was their own and I'm soooo thankful for Carol and Frank or I really don't think I would have eaten that year...I was teaching at a private christian school and made, not kidding here...$13, 000 before taxes, and I had a new car and an apartment that I had to pay for...I was really just eating peanut butter and jelly and that was about it...for a treat, I would buy some off-brand Kool-Aid and that rocked!!

Now, I am just thankful that God loves me, despite me and my many faults. He keeps on loving me and that is why I am His child. I love my family so very much. Aaron puts up with more that I can even tell you!! I love that man to pieces, really, I do. My kids are the joy in my life (so is Aaron)...they keep me laughing and smiling all the time. Not that we don't have our frustration, but more smiles than tears and I love that!!! Life is great and I love it. I love my friends that we have made in the 5 million moves that we have made with Aaron's job. I have loved each and every place that we have lived because they have shaped me and made me a part of who I am. I am just so thankful. Thankful for life and thankful for my family and friends lives.

Now, I tag Mrs. Brownstone, Tammie, Reagan, Beckie, Mrs. TP and Dyane. I want to read some great stories from my friends, for real...(that other tag below was funny, but I want to hear some good stuff!) Love ya'll!!!!

I was tagged by my friend, Mrs. Brownstone last week and now that I have a minute or two and I'm responding to her tag!!


MY ROCK STAR NAME (first pet and current car):
Fritz Tahoe...oh, that sounds so very silly, you can tell I would not be a very popular rock star!

MY WANNABE NAME (favorite ice cream flavor and favorite cookie):
Chocolate Vanilla Wafer...I know, plain, plain, plain...yadda, yadda, yadda....

MY "FLY GIRL" NAME (first initial of first name and first three letters of last name):
J-Gre...Yes, very fly indeed...:)

MY DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color and favorite animal):
Yellow moose...It sounds like a very scared detective, doesn't it?

MY SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name and the city where you were born):
Jenn Searcy

MY STAR WARS NAME (first 3 letters of your last name and first 2 letters of your first name):
Greje...look out Darth Vader, I am so coming for you...I always loved Han Solo when I was little...

MY SUPERHERO NAME ("The" and second favorite color and favorite drink):
The Red Coke...Oh, didn't even notice that red is the official color for Coca Cola!

MY -cough,cough- ENTERTAINER -cough,cough- NAME (name of your favorite perfume/cologne and favorite candy):
???? Butterfinger...Okay, I do not own one bottle of perfume and I'm 33. Is that just not horrible? Yes, Jess, scold me now. I also don't even know the name of a current perfume, unless you count "Red Door" and I only remember that because it is from Steel Magnolias. Sad, sad, maybe I should ask for some perfume for christmas....

MY WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (mother's and father's middle names):
Jane Lyn...That isn't too bad....

Now I am tagging Shellie, The Real Total Package, Tammie, Beckie and Reagan

tagged....

Okay, I have been tagged by Reagan. Here are my 7 random facts as they randomly pop into my head.

1. I think it is so completely silly that when you work out and lift weights as part of a whole wellness program that you gain weight. I know, muscle weighs more than fat...yadda yadda yadda...It is just really disheartening that I stepped on the scale for the first time in 6 weeks and I have gained 2 pounds after working out so hard in the gym. Stupid weights, I totally blame you.

2. My kids are the funniest people that I know. I know, I am so biased, but really, they are so very funny and tell you the COMPLETE truth and ya'll know what I mean.

3. I love going home to Searcy. My whole family now is back there, except for me, and I love going home to see everyone. November can't come soon enough!!

4. I am a coke addict. There is nothing better to me the the burn that you feel when you take the first drink. Sonic is my first choice, but we have been on a spending freeze so I am really missing my treat of the day. Hopefully Aaron will get a raise and I can enjoy my cokes from sonic again, soon!!!

5. I have decided that I have the best friends. Aaron is my BEST friend. He loves me for me and I still can't believe that I found him (or he found me!) I have the best friends here in Texas at church, I have met wonderful friends in every city we have lived in (and that is ALOT of places) and I have super blogging friends who all support and encourage me. I really don't know what I would do without all my great friends, for real!!!

6. I really hate folding clothes. I have had the same pile of clothes in our bedroom for 3 days and I just don't want to fold them. Yes, I will do it today, but not because I want to,but because I need to find my socks without going through the pile again...sigh.

7. I love to eat. I know, we all love to eat, but I LOVE to eat, which is why I must go to the gym 4 times a week. We had Papa Murphy's pizza on Monday night (only 5.99 for a large!!) and I really could have eaten the whole thing. I only stopped eating because I had eaten more pieces than Aaron. Yikes!!

Okay, I'm tagging..........no one, I could hardly find time to do this one myself!! I'm off to get the kids and myself dressed to go to Ladies Bible class and hopefully enjoy a fun lunch with all of my great girlfriends from church!! If you want to do the tag, be my guest!!! :)

Update to tag...

Okay, it seems I have forgotten some things (Parker is going to be the smartest of the 3 children in our family because he took all of my brain cells when he was born!!) I have been reminded that the first real concert was Whitesnake and Tesla. The reason I was reminded was that Aaron was at the same concert....pretty cool...the guy I was going to marry was at the same concert, the same club, the same town and same spring break, but we didn't meet until years later. It also turns out that our high schools played each other in basketball and baseball...Aaron also came to Spring Sing at Harding 2 of the years that I was in it and remembered both of our shows (we did win, after all, so it WAS memorable), yet we still didn't meet until 1997, in Florida, at church. Neat.
Oh, and I went to LOTS of concerts growing up, but going to them on Harding's campus with your parents doesn't really count for me because we went to everything on campus...Kenny Rodgers, The Statler Brothers, The Oak Ridge Boys, the dude in the silver pyramid that played the keyboard (Michael Iceburg or something was his name)...if it was country in the 80's, we heard it!! We were those kids whose parents dropped them off every Friday night at the Benson auditorium for the movies with their friends...of course that is also when it was FREE! Oh to be a kid growing up on a college campus...great fun and always lots of stuff to do!!

Okay, I'm done but I forgot to tag Dyane, I know she has so much time with all of Jeff's family in town and all!! We are enjoying VBS at church this week...staying busy and getting ready for our visit to DD and Gramps house coming up really quick!!

Tagged again...

My friend, Dallas, tagged me so here goes....

Firsts and lasts:

First Memory - That is sooo hard. When your dad is a photographer, almost everything is documented with a photo so it is hard to remember what is a real memory or if I just remember the pictures....but I do remember going to lots of Harding basketball games when I was little (and every other HU sport) with my dad and sitting at the officials table. I would eat massive amounts of popcorn. I also attended many, I repeat, many weddings as the child of a photographer...they all run together now.

First Real Kiss - Travis Flowers...I was a freshman in high school and it was inbetween classes. Now that I think about him it makes my skin crawl...he was so gross!

First Love - Wheeler Clemons in the 10th grade. We ended up being good friends after he dated every other girl in the school.

First concert - Spring Break in the 10th grade we went and snuck into "Club LaVila" in Panama City Beach. There was Whitesnake and some other big hair band....it was awesome!! By the way, I was at the beach for the week with a friend in their condo, my parents were in Tallahassee and would have killed me for going to that place, but they weren't in charge (in person, anyway)

First thought in the morning - There sure are a lot of stairs in this house and I really need to work out so that it does not hurt when I go up to get Parker at 7 AM when he wakes up!

First Best Friend - Rebekah "Lizardbreath" Lowe...We were born 2 weeks apart. I was born on her due date and have been friends ever since!

Last food you ate - A chocolate chip cookie last night before bed. Now I'm drinking a cup of coffee...

Last CD purchased - I can't remember buying any CD's lately...We use Itunes, alot. My dad did give the girls an old Amy Grant CD (it was my fav. tape when I was little) and they love it!

Last good book you read - Wicked- The life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West, By Gregory Maguire

Last time you cried - Last week I think...I can't remember...

Last "I love you" said - To my sister on the phone just a minute ago!

Last funny thing you did - I make faces at Parker all the time and of course I think that I am way funnier (is that a word?) than everyone else thinks that I am....he he he....I did fall right on my rear end at church last week and it was quite funny, I must say. I just hope I didn't flash any old people!! :)

Okay, I now tag...Laura, Amber and Reagan...Jill, you need to actually publish your blog and then I can tag you, too!!

Tagged

I have been tagged to provide you with seven random facts about myself or weird habits. At the end of the post, look to see who has been tagged to write your own facts/habits on your blog.

1. I take Grace to school in my Pajama's everyday. I also wear my glasses while doing this so I'm sure the teachers think I'm such a slacker, but I really don't want to get 3 children and myself dressed that early when I really don't have to...just don't ask me to get out of the car!

2. I try to sneak in a nap on my work out days. Yes, I know they say working out gives you more energy...No, I don't think so...lately all it has done is make me hurt and be tired! Of course, that just may be all the heavy weights that Jill and I have been lifting! I don't remember the last time I actually got to nap, but I have tried several times in the past 2 months since Aaron has been gone!

3. I love to watch the beginning of Sesame Street. There is a little dancing part that they do right after Matt Laurer says, "You'll never know who you'll meet on Sesame Street" and then they do this little song about using your imagination...it's my favorite. Parker is a great dancing partner, the little cutie!

4. My Tassimo coffee machine is my favorite addiction. After I get done dancing with Parker to the Imagination song, I hightail it over to my machine and pick out a flavor for the morning. Yum.

5. The people at Sonic know my name. Yes, that is bad. I love to get a large coke in the afternoons. I have been better since I started working out...I've gone 4 days this week with out a coke, but this afternoon I will get one before Grace's softball game, for sure.

6. I love to talk. I know that this is no surprise to ya'll, but I love my friends and talking (and listening and blogging) is like therapy to me.

7. One of the best compliments I have ever received also felt like a little insult...a girl at Wal-Mart said, "You know how to do this because you are a mom...." How did she know I was mom? My kids were not with me....do I have "mom hair" , wear, "mom jeans" or do I look "mom age?"....like I said, it was a complete compliment and then I thought about it....I do love being a mom, but sometimes I just still "feel" like I'm 21 and not 32....and then I realize, wow, I am a mom and I'm a GREAT one with awesome kids...yes, I'm a mom.

Okay, there you have it...I'm going to tag Laura, Reagan, Jamie,Ant, Dyane and Amber....