Just breathe

I honestly feel like I can breathe again. This semester is finally over. Did I fare as well as I would have liked? No. Am I over it? Yes.

Somewhere between the bleeding book report and the "Ms. Moudy, you have disappointed me," my give a flip ran out. Sitting on empty. As my mother would say, the carburetor was drained.

(Brief side note....Shortly after my mother married my step-father, he bought a brand new riding lawn mower. Since it was the first lawn mower we had owned, I thought it would be so exciting to cut the grass. It was, but then the lawn mower ran out of gas. My step-father being gone, my mother came to fill it back up, but when I tried to crank it, it went to smoking and a sputtering until it died. Then, she starts fussing at me because I had "drained the carburetor" by running the mower out of gas. Oh, really? You're right. It had nothing to do with her putting diesel fuel in the mower. I'll probably bring this up at Christmas, too. Love this story.)

Anyway, I am just so glad that I have a few weeks off to just breathe. To not have homework. To not have to read anything. To not have to write anything (well, other than the blog).

Speaking of blogging, you know I got 50 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly. Probably won't get to use them. Little won't cooperate. Husband's fuse is entirely to short to attempt something as challenging as a Christmas card picture.

I don't get it. Husband can sit in a deer stand in below-freezing temperatures and wait patiently on a deer. But we attempt three pictures, and he is sweating, fuming, and ready to hulk out of his shirt. Just breathe, honey.

Second attempt at Christmas pictures will be in the deer stand.

Shutterfly

I am supporting Shutterfly this year for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, some of their cards still have "Merry Christmas" on them. I just remember last year I had such a difficult time finding cards in the store that still say "Merry Christmas." I refuse to buy Christmas cards that do not say "Christmas." Okay, I am getting off of my soap box. Another reason I am supporting Shutterfly is the cards are absolutely beautiful. So stunning. I cannot wait to order. And lastly, their prices are reasonable in this tough economy. I mean, you can pick out pricier ones, but there are plenty of choices for those of us on a budget. And how can I not talk about the clarity of the pictures and color of the cards? Gorgeous!

I am attaching links to look at the holiday cards and gifts. Oh, my! I am going to have a hard time choosing. I need your help.

Look at these:

Calendars

Tree

Star

What are you still doing here? Hope over to Shutterfly.com and get in on some really great Christmas cards!!

The day is looking up

So, after my spontaneous combustion today, I am miraculously back from the emotional rollercoaster called "A Near D on Your Paper" and the long wait in line at the "I'm Going to Need Another Red Pen to Grade This One" Store.

Just wanted to share this deal with my fellow bloggers.

Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards to bloggers. All you have to do is sign up.

http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

Enjoy!!

BOOM!

Spontaneous combustion just occurred.

Halloween

I have been meaning to post a picture of Meredith at Halloween. Since I have a free moment, wouldn't you know I do not have my camera with me. Therefore, I had to steal this one from Husband's Facebook page.

Although it is not a very lady-like pose, you can get the idea.




This little pig went to Trunk or Treat.

This little pig had too much candy.

This little pig had fun.

This little pig won a cupcake at Danny Burrell's benefit.

This little pig went "wee, wee, wee" the entire time her parents tried to dress her.


That's right. She arrived at Trunk or Treat only partially dressed. So who dressed her?





Pocahontas did.

Mediocre

You ever had feelings of being "just average"? You ever been so high on yourself(but not in a snoody, condescending kinda way) that in an instant you were brought back down to other's perceptions of you?

So, I am taking some online courses. Let me just say if you have never taken an online course before, here are the pros and cons you need to understand.

Pros:

1. Allows you to work on your own time, in between work and home.
2. You can be "in class" in your PJs, no make-up on, looking a hot mess, and no one knows.
3. It's all computer work.

Cons:
1. Allows you to work on your own time, which is never since you work and have a home.
2. There is no classroom setting. You know, the one where you walk in and within the first five minutes, you realize it is going to be a long semester. Nope, none of that.
3. It's all computer work. A. lot. of. computer. work.

Now, back to the meat of it.

So, I'm taking some online courses. I will admit that I make really good grades.

That is, until now.

I have this instructor who is eating my grits. Burns me up every chance he gets.

Got a "C" at midterm. Made a 78 on a book report. (Has anyone done a book report since Where the Red Fern Grows? Just sayin.)

Just submitted another paper for him. I put, no lie, probably 10 times more effort into it.

If you hear reports of spontaneous combustion, then you will know how I fared.

Standby......

Requests

Apparently some of you have been missing me. I have had several requests for an update.

To be honest, I found it extremely flattering that some of you are sitting on the edge of your seat to know life as I live it, especially since I blog stalk so many. So thank you, thank you for sharing this journey with me.

The delay in me posting anything is that we went on "cation." And you mothers know that vacation is a three-week process.
Week 1- packing. (It may snow at the beach, and therefore, I need to be prepared.)
Week 2- vacation. (Well, it's only somewhat of a vacation for mommy. With a full kitchen and laundry room, I still believe I need to be doing something.)
Week 3- recovery. (If you have a toddler that is routine and sleeps by themselves in their own bed, then I need not explain this one.)

So here are some pictures that may tide you over until my next post (which may be at the end of semester, yuck!).




At the zoo



While she was supposed to be sitting down eating



She shoveled so much sand



This was taken right before the tantrum when we had to leave and take a nap.



Now, this was taken at home, but isn't it adorable??



On the way home, talking to everyone who had missed her.




Our first Build-A-Bear experience. We made a dog named Curly.



Oreos! Yummy!!



Eating "munch" at Lambert's



Too worn out to even set her balloon down. Needless to say, when she did let it go, Mommy let it escape the vehicle, and the rest of the trip was a covert operation to cover up the balloon escape.