Dinner with the Family

Well, I have survived my dinner I had for my side of the family on December 21st. I had my brother, sister (you see above), my mother, and her boyfriend along with my kids and husband. It went really well. It seemed that everyone had a good time and we ate a lot. The turkey we ate was the one that Wesley won at the Turkey shoot. He was very proud of this turkey so he had to have his picture with it.

This was the first whole turkey that my husband and I have cooked. I think that it turned out really well. He has been watching Alton Brown so he has learned a lot about cooking most anything. Anyway, we had a great day and it was fun to spend some time with them. I don't normally get to very much so it was fun to catch up. Here are some pictures of my table and of the kids that morning before church.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday!

~Heather

Cookie Swap

OK, I just got home from a Tacky Christmas Sweater cookie swap. This is Amy Fuller with me and we became friends while her husband was the music minister at my church. I love Amy Fuller and I aspire to be her. She has the best spirit and wonderful heart along with this natural instinct about shopping, decorating, and crafting that I just want to have. But anyway, she has this cookie swap every year and all the girls get together to have a good time and chit chat and eat good cookies. This year I made homemade Oreo's. They taste almost just like an Oreo and they are a hit with my family. (I will add the recipe at the bottom of this post) I look forward to this swap each year just because it is a special time with good friends and a relaxing time during the holiday season. Since Amy has moved churches and houses two years ago so now we have new girls that join us. They all are fun and it is a wonderful time to see them. It is so funny to see each of our personalities and how they fit into each others lives. Amy is my voice of reason and the one I go to with any issue (including decorating dilemma), Jenny is the hilarious one. I just smile when I am with her, she exudes fun. Nancy (who didn't :( get to go this year) she is also the voice of reason and wonderful confidant. She helps me with problems in my life and gives me advice. This is just a couple of the ladies that attend the cookie swap and I could go on and on about them and how much they mean to me but I don't have the time.
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year's. As Jennifer (from the cookie swap and SmellingCoffee.com) says (paraphrased) "We get so busy with the 'season' we tend to forget the 'reason'" So as we get closer and closer to Christmas day try to remember that it isn't about Santa and gifts, it is about celebrating the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Recipe for Homemade Oreo's
Cookie Wafers:
1 (18.25) box Dark Fudge Cake Mix
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons shortening

Cream Filling:
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup shortening (no substitution)
3 tablespoons hot water

Preheat oven to 325. Blend all ingredients; then knead with your hands until it is pliable like dough. Form dough into 3/4 inch balls and press flat (1/2 inch apart on greased cookie sheets). A bottom of a glass works nice to make them flat. Bake 4 to 6 minutes or until cookies are crunchy. Let cookies cool on cookie sheets.
Combine filling ingredients and mix well. Form into balls about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter, again using your hands. Sandwich one filling in the center of two cookies and carefully press down until the filling spreads almost to the edge. Make 2 dozen cookies (4 dozen wafers)

An end to a good thing...

Today was the last class for this semester. I am quite excited to have completed the hardest semester and made it through with straight A's. During class, we had a class party and ate really good food and had a really good time. I realized something today, I have made some of the best friends of my life. No one understands the trials that I have gone through better than these women. Yes we all have had our disagreements but we have come out of this victorious and have almost accomplished the a great goal of all of our lives. Next semester we will only see each other on Monday nights from 4:30-7:30 instead of seeing each other about 12 hours a week. We have all grown so close and work so well together that it is going to be a new experience to not have that support every other day to bounce problems off of each other, get advice, and just to socialize together. I pray each day for these ladies and I hope they do for me too.

This picture below are the ladies that I sit at a table with and are my closest friends at school. They each are wonderful and I couldn't have gotten through this with out them. On the right, is Jennie, the literacy genius, if you ever need anything to do with reading or writing call her. Next is Tracy, the organized one, she has great skills and she is the one I would call on to me sort out problems. Then Tammy, the hilarious one, she could make me laugh and laugh, oh and the best story teller of any one I know. (Me) Tracey, the creative one, I am amazed with her each time she completes an assignment of how fun and creative she can make them. By the way if you need a tee pee call her she has one. I am not sure how I fit in to all of them but it is a great group and I know that we all will keep in touch after this journey of school is done.

Thanks for reading--onto Christmas and making this holiday a great one for my family. ~Heather

New Happenings

The past month has been a blur. But I have had to take to my sewing machine to have some down time. I made these shirts for gifts. I just have to share them you because this right now gives me joy and puts me in the Christmas spirit. I wish I could give everyone on my list something that I have made but I don't think everyone would appreciate that. So I have to limit it to children and not even my own because they are too big to want to wear something that I did. School is coming to an end for the semester and I am extremely glad. I need some time to sit in my pj's all day and not do anything or write a lesson plan. I have to rest during this break because student teaching is going to stress me out and be rewarding all at the same time.

Well that is all for now but if you need a shirt for anything just let me know!

Thanks for reading

Heather

*I am adding a couple new things to the post that I have completed since I wrote this.

Halloween

Well Halloween has come and gone. We had a great time. We went trick or treating at our normal spots. The kids had fun and got some candy. They didn't get a ton of candy and I am glad about that. We don't need it and their teeth don't need it.

Now we are on the down swing to Christmas. Everywhere already has out all their decorations and I am sure the stores will be decorated with trees and garland soon. It makes me happy to see those things, but I do love Thanksgiving and it doesn't get the justice due. It is a great holiday and gives you time to reflect on the blessings you have. So I try my best not to focus on Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving so that I can thank God for what He has done for me this year.

This year the day after Thanksgiving my husband, grandfather, and kids are going hunting until Sunday. So the kids have asked to come home and it be Christmas; I have a lot of work ahead of me. I hope to have John get down the big stuff before he leaves.

Well with all that said, have a great Thanksgiving season and remember to give thanks to all the blessings you have had this year.

Freaked Out

OK...I am sitting here at my desk hoping that the fear is going to subside soon. I don't think that it is. I am so afraid that I am not ready to student teach or teach my own class. Do I know enough, can I be effective, will the kids like me or respect me? I am just so confused and not knowing where to go.
We have to do a online portfolio. This is the craziest thing in the whole world. We have been given this program and somewhat explained how to use it. So I am doing all that I can and continue to ask questions to the teachers who are supposed to be there to help and they can't or won't. I am not so sure anymore. I guess you could say I am frustrated and just a little depressed. So all that said I would appreciate any prayers you could send up for me.
Thank you for everything in advance and just know that I am maybe a little crazy but eventually it will all calm down.
Thanks for reading
~Heather

The newest happenings...

Well, September has been eventful. First off, Wesley turned 10 on the fifth. I feel really old now. I have a 10 year old! I think back to when he was born and I couldn't see this point in our lives then ,but now looking forward I only have the biggest hopes and dreams for him.






Above is 3 days after birth.




On the right is at his birthday party.


We decided to get away for the weekend because we hadn't taken a summer trip, so it just worked out that it was for Wesley's birthday. We went to Gatlinburg. It was a great trip. We had a lot of fun. The kids went on their first hike in the mountains and got to shop around with the money they got at Wesley's birthday. (Yes Andrew gets presents from my parents on Wesley's birthday, don't ask....) We had great weather and it was relaxing knowing that I could leave all my school work at home and enjoy my children and husband.

Now onto school. It is really crazy. I have to complete 45 hours of observation or time in a classroom this semester. Those hours are divided between three different classrooms. It is going to be a great experience but a lot of work. I am looking forward to getting my student teaching placement which should be told to me by October 1st. But before all of that I have to apply for student teaching, finish a portfolio, and then interview for student teaching. My stomach turns just thinking about it all. I just keep telling myself it is just another step closer to graduation.

Well that is about all for now, thanks for reading!

~Heather



PS. I love this photo of my husband. I just wanted to share it. Look at him he has lost about 50 pounds since our Disney trip in December.

test results

I wanted to share with everyone the results I just received from my doctor. All tests came back normal. So the next step is to confer with my ob/gyn to determine the next step.
For all you that I haven't spoken to recently, I had an endometrical biopsy last Thursday. They were checking for pre or cancerous cells.
This is a huge weight off of my shoulders because of the schedule I have to carry this semester and next. I have a lot going on with school and trying to keep my grades up. If I had, had to have surgery then I do believe I would have been behind.
Thank you to the ones who knew for the encouraging thoughts and prayers!
~Heather

Look what I have done!

I have had some free time since the boys went back to school. I have always wanted to be able to make bags. I have tried and tried regular patterns, but it never turns out. So the wonderful internet gave me a simple step by step explanation for these simple bags. I can make these in about one hour. I am so excited that I am making them and not having a reason to. I wanted to share them with you. I hope to get more fabric this weekend and make a fall one.

(the polka dot one is not the same pattern as the other two)

Thanks for reading!

OH if you want a pillowcase dress or a bag let me know. I am thinking about starting small and making a few here and there.

~Heather

Back to School!!

Ok, today is the first half day of school for my kids. They were very excited, I was too. Last night we had open house to find out who the kids teachers are for fourth grade and second grade. Wesley got Jessica Medlin and his resource teacher is Dianne Henry. They both are very nice and seem to want to help Wesley. Ms. Medlin is young, probably younger than me. He has never had a "new" teacher, so this will be an experience. Andrew got Mrs. Jennifer Franklin. This is who I wanted him to get. Hands down she is one of the best teachers at Greenbrier Elementary. He has several of his friends in his class. The one he is most excited about is his best buddy Luke.

So my prayer for this year is that we have a productive year and that they learn a lot.

Results from Ultrasound

I got my results today. The ovary is still enlarged but the follicles seem normal. So at this point all we can do is wait. I have to schedule another ultrasound in 3 months to see if it has grown. If the ovary is larger then we will discuss removal. So we are still in a little bit of limbo but to know that my doctor cares enough not to wait 6 to 9 months before another recheck makes me feel that he really does care. My previous doctor wouldn't have cared enough. So God put me in Dr. Barnes' capable hands. He knew that Dr. Barnes truly cares about his patients. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for reading and listening

~Heather

PS I have made a couple new things so here are the pictures.

CT Scan and prayers

I had a CT Scan on Tuesday. I went today to get the results from the scan. OK, let me go back, in 2005 I had a very large ovarian cyst removed. It ended up being the size of a basketball and it was cancerous. I have been seeing an oncologist since 2005. I have scans each year and they have always come back normal. The scan I just had Tuesday came back showing that my left ovary was enlarged. (They removed my right ovary and tube during the surgery in 2005) The doctor wasn't for sure if the ovary was enlarged because of the normal cycle or if a new mass is starting. I have to go back for an ultra sound on Tuesday. The doctor is hopeful and I have to think so too. Although anytime there is a possibly that the cancer could come back even though the type of cyst I had rarely returns after removal. But that thought is always in the back of my mind. I just wanted to ask for thoughts and prayers. I know that if there is a cyst that God will take care of me and I have to put my total faith into that.
Thanks for reading and listening!
Heather

Fishing at Mimi's

We went this weekend to my mother's lake campsites. They have three campers right on Kentucky Lake. They have several boats and jet skis. We arrived Saturday by lunch and by 1:00 pm we were on the lake. We took out their "nice" boat. We took at scenic ride around the lake and then back to a swimming hole. The kids had never swam in a lake until this weekend. My mother's boyfriend jumped in first and we coaxed the kids in. They had a lot of fun!!! (of course I forgot my camera for the boat ride, it always happens) We stayed out a couple of hours and came back to shore for the kids to fish some before dinner.

We went to dinner at a small restaurant near the lake. The food was good. We got back to the campsite and the kids fished again until the wind and rain came in. We were then stuck in our camper until morning.

We got up around 7:00 and got ready for breakfast. We went to the same restaurant, good again. It was very over cast so we couldn't go back out on the boat and it was very chilly. The kids fished yet again. Then we decided to pack the van and come home.

Overall a good weekend. Would we go back, yeah. We wouldn't stay over night though.

Pillowcase dresses

I have started making some dresses. I love doing this. It is a great release for me. When everything is going crazy, I have a release into something creative. I haven't decided to sell these yet, but I have had several people ask me to. I also made myself a bag last night to see if I could do it. It turned out really cute. If you have any interest please let me know!!!

Thanks for looking and reading!

The Fourth of July

The fourth was a change this year for our family. Normally we spend the day with John's family. We didn't this year. We went to the parade in Greenbrier, then to my mom's (as usually), but after that we had to decide how to spend the rest of the day. We decided to cook at home and then go to Springfield's fireworks. Our family had never been to their fireworks display so we really had no idea of what to expect.
We arrived at Travis Price Park way to early, but we walked around and looked at all the games and food that was there. We then walked up the hill to find the perfect spot for watching the fireworks. We had to go back to the van to get our blanket so we rode the hay ride back to the parking lot. When we got there the dark clouds were rolling in. We decided to stay around the car to wait out the impending rain. Which I am so glad that we did, it absolutely poored for about 30 minutes. I can't imagine if we had been in our spot for the fireworks (it was a long way from the car). We started talking with the men that were working the parking areas and they said that where we were was a great spot for seeing the fireworks. So we decided to move the van and stay there in case of more bad weather.
Where we stayed was a great place for fireworks and people watching. We had a great time and the fireworks were great. I think next we will go early and grill out at their picnic tables and make a day of it. It was a long day but we made it.
The most interesting part of the day was after we made it home. Our neighbors decided to shoot off fire crackers and bottle rockets at 10:30 pm. They were still going strong at midnight. We couldn't sleep because it sounded like they were in our front yard. So I called the police. They do this every year and we were fed up. The police came they finally shut up. I hope they have learned their lesson. But we will see next year!

Summer School

OK, I know that I have to have these classes this summer, but why do they have to be so complicated. Two of my teachers it is very straight forward, post by Thursday and finish quiz by Sunday. The other teacher is not that straight forward. He has us posting at odd times and maybe more than once a week. I understand all of his posts but the other work that goes along with these posts are ridiculous. I spend at least 2 hours a day on work from his class and if there is something extra due then around 5 hours a day. I don't spend that much time on my regular semester classes. I know that all this is complaints but I just have to get it off my chest. All I keep thinking is get to August 3rd that is when the summer semester ends. All of this is just getting me closer to Graduating. I have to keep that in mind so that I just don't give up. Hopefully this time next year I will be getting my classroom ready for my first year of teaching. Thanks for reading
~Heather

Our Family (up to now)

Well, I have been noticing other friends having a blogspot and I thought I would start one. I will make a very long story short as I can and tell you about us up to now. John and I married in March 1998. Wesley was born on September 5, 1998 and then Andrew on February 23, 2001. We bought our house in April 2000 in Greenbrier, TN. The kids attend Greenbrier Elementary and John works at Lowe's Millwork in White House. I do not work, but I go to school most every day. I am finishing my teaching degree. I will graduate with my Bachelors degree in May 2009. I am very excited and just can't wait. So that is it in a nutshell. But I thought this would be a great place to let everyone know how one of the most exciting years is about unfold. I hope to post each month or when a special event happens and I just can't wait.

Thanks for reading!!!!