2012 Review

   I can not believe how fast 2012 went.   It was fun to go back and see some of the highlights of the year........ There were also some low points that happened in the world.


January -

   Ashley and I went to a Princess Tea at our church.  My cousin Shannon made the dress.

   
  February -

   Ashley and I saw Pinkalicious at Parkland.

   
      * I took 56 Franklin students on a fan bus for a sectional 7th grade boys basketball game.

      *  Kaitlyn and Kyle got engaged.  Ashley going to pass out bubbles at their wedding this summer....

          


   March -

      *  I turned 40......

      *  Shaka Smart did not come to Illinois to coach basketball.
          Right now we are pretty happy with Groce.

     * Went to Nashville for the OVC tournament to cheer on my Murray State Racers.  Went with my collage roommates.

                                               

 April -

    *  Kerry and Nick came to visit

          
    * Ashley played park district soccer

      
  * Ashley rode her first horse

    
 *  My sister-in law was appointed to the school board

     
       *  I run the half marathon and the 5K in the Illinois Marathon.
       *  Ashley ran in the Kids youth run.
 
May -

    *  We had Adult Prom -

 

 

      *  Abby had her baby shower

 

             

     * For Mothers Day we had a picnic in the park.

          

     June -

      *  Taught safety in summer school in Central High School with no air conditioning.

      *  Went to Holiday World

             

      July -

      *  Celebrated 4th of July in Rantoul.  With the 4th of July Race..

       
              *  Loved going to the Urbana Markets on Saturdays.
              *  Read 1000 Gifts for our summer bible study.
              *  Tragedy in Aurora Colo.  at the movie theater.

   August -

      *  Ashley started her last year of Pre-K

               
     * I started my 16th year of teaching middle school and 10th year of coaching XC.

     *  I went to Women of Faith in Indy.

     * Another season of tailgating for Illinois football games

             
       *  August 24th celebrated Ashley Gotcha Day!!!!!

  September -

     * Did a Beth Moore James bible study on Wed nights.  Ashley started another 607.

     * Ashley started Dance - Half tap and half ballet.

     * More tailgating -

            

     October -

       *  Ashley turned 5
       *  Ashley spent a week in the hospital....

           
      * Ashley was Super Girl for Halloween

          
      *  I saw Jill Savage from Hearts and Home with my life group ladies.

      * Megan made it to State in XC....

             

     November -
       
       *  Went to Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park for Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

        * My blog celebrated 200 posts!!!!!!

 

 

      * President Obama was reelected.

 

 

    December -

 

       * Went with my mom to see The Story Tour.

 

       *  Went to the Missouri/Illinois Game

 

       *   Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School

 

        *  Celebrated Christmas with Ashley and my family

 

       

 

   I can not wait for 2013!!!!!!!

             

Chesterbrook Christmas Program

   I am a little behind on our Christmas postings.....  It's such a whirl wind getting ready for Christmas.  This year we did not get done with school till the Friday the 21st.......  I was feeling a little overwhelmed......

  On Thursday night Ashley had her Chesterbrook Christmas program....  I was a little sad it was the same night as our Franklin Christmas party....  My mom had bunco and missed the program.  It was too cold for my dad to come out.  It did ice and weather was terrible that night.  Except the program was so worth going to Ashley sang her heart out.  I could not imagine skipping it....

  Too start we went to Monical's for pizza with a few of her classmates before the program.

This is at Monicals before the concert.  Ashley is not wearing that dress to the concert I just did not want to risk pizza on her dress...

She thinks the world of her classmates.....

Ashley is the 2nd on the end with the red tutu and white top.  I was so excited that Kenzie Kakes Bowtique made her dress for the program.

 

 



 

This is the entire class - my nephew is the 6th from the end on the right side.  He has the red sweater vest on and his right arm is pointed out....  Not sure why they would put Ashley and Sebastian on opposite ends......... :)

 

 

They also had a special visitor at the program....  Ashley was so excited.....  She really loved Santa this year.  Loved sitting on his lap this year always looking so proud.  How much love she has in her heart just brings tears to my eyes.....  I am so lucky to be her mother!!!!!

 

 

I was excited that Brittany could go with us to the program.  This picture was taken the night before....  We went to Meatheads to celebrate Brittany's 15th birthday......

 





Monkey's Joe's

Today we spent the day at  Monkey Joe’s.  A  play area of wall-to-wall bouncing fun features inflatable slides, jumps, and obstacle courses.

Ashley loved it and did not want to leave.  She wants to go every Monday......  We will be back..........

   We are having the best Winter break!!!!!!!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

 

 

I am linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!  This time of the year I have lots to be thankful for.......



I am Loving - that we had a wonderful Christmas at my mom's and dad's.  Ashley is one special little girl.......

I am Loving - that Saturday I got to go to a heated rivalry steeped in tradition, warm holiday spirit and loud, passionate fans holding the hottest tickets in town make the annual Bud Light Braggin’ Rights Game presented by State Farm Insurance the highlight of the basketball season.  The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Missouri Tigers celebrate the 32nd anniversary of what has become one of the best rivalries in all of college basketball.

I am Loving - today I get to go with my mom for some after Christmas shopping..........

I am Loving - that I am on winter break until Jan 7th.......  I don't see students till Jan 8th..........

I am Loving - that at school we are starting a fun fitness activity to see if our school can run 3000 miles.  We start Jan 1st....  Sure hope this is a motivator for me......

2012 Christmas Card

  

Today I am linking up with Kelly show us Your Christmas Card.  Also linking up with Faith and Courtney.  Join in the fun!!!

I love sending out Christmas cards........  I love getting Christmas cards.....  I love Kelly idea about summer mail..........

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!!!! 

HOPE

  I cried today dropping off Ashley - not because I was scared but because I was able to drop Ashley off at school today.  I can not imagine what those families are going threw.  I can remember days when Ashley was in the foster system not being able to get up or wanting to get up because of the not knowing of what was ahead.

Also I found myself this weekend wanting to go out and buy Ashley a brand new dress and shoes and bow for Christmas program she was in on Sunday at Church.  I just wanted it to be perfect.  I had already bought her a brand new dress and bow and she had new tights to wear.  I just wanted it to be perfect.  In the back of my mind was this could change at any minute...  Then at church they said think about those parents that were not able to put their little ones in the new dress that they had for the special program.

 I saw on twitter this weekend -

 Student to  God -  Why did you let this happen at our school?

 God to  Student - I am not allowed in your school.

I said wow I never thought about it like that.  I believe God is with me everday at school.  I also have to believe that this could happen anywhere and at any school.  Part of me is terriefied about Ashley going to Kindergarten next year. 

The way our schools are set up you are put in a lottery you put three schools down and hopefully you get 1 of your 3 schools out of 11. I have to believe that I will get the best school for Ashley.   

This is just so hard to believe something like this would  happen.... right in the middle of Christmas...  except their is no time I would ever want this to happen.  I hope Ashley or I never see or hear about this happening again in our life time.......

What I Am Loving Wednesday

I am Loving - that today at school we started skating.  That means Christmas break is coming....

I am Loving - that University of Illinois men's basketball team is off to a great start!!!!!!

I am Loving - that my Christmas cards from Tiny Prints shipped this week.  This is not the one I picked for this year.  Except maybe next year.....

 

 



I am Loving - that last night we Ashley and I were able to go my parents for dinner.  It was nice just to be able to hang out with them during the week.  Just remember my family at Christmas...  My grandmother died on Christmas and my uncle died three days before Thanksgiving.  This was years ago but every Holiday
seems like it was yesterday.  Also my dad health is not the best........

I am Loving - this little girl I do not know what I would do without her!!!!!

I hope everyone is having a blessed week....  If you have a prayer request you would like our life group to pray about.  Please let me know....  We would love to lift you up in prayer......

What I Am Loving Wednesday

I am Loving -  Friday night went with my mom to see The Story Tour a  musical journey from Genesis to Revelation. Featuring a full choir and orchestra with Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall, Jeremy Camp, Natalie Grant, Matthew West, Nichole Nordeman, Selah, Rawsrvnt and renowned author and pastor, Randy-aFrazee.


I am Loving - that Ashley is so excited about Christmas.. Skinny our elf on the shelf is so magical.

I am Loving - that after Friday we will only have 2 more weeks till Chrismas Break........

I am Loving - Dec 12th we start skating in PE at school.

Appetizers - Show us Your Life

 

 

I am linking up with Kelly Show us Your Life  today we are sharing Appetizers.  I am sharing Buffalo Chicken Dip I also like meatballs in the crock pot that my mom always makes.

 

Buffalo Chicken Dip

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

 

3 chicken breast - cooked and diced

15 oz. jar bleu cheese dressing

1 8 oz. package cream cheese - softened

12.oz  bottle hot pepper sauce

12 oz package shredded cheddar cheese

Celery sticks

Tortilla chips

 

Combine chicken, cream cheese, bleu cheese dressing, and hot pepper sauce in a large bowl until mixed well.  Spread into a lightly greased 3 quart casserole dish.  Top with the shredded cheddar.  Bake until bubbly and heated through - about 20 minutes.  Serve with celery sticks and tortilla chips.

 

I have also made this in the crock pot.

 



 

Thanksgiving 2012

    This Thanksgiving we left on Wednesday for Indianapolis for
Caribbean Cover Indoor Waterpark.  It was a great time. We went to the Park Wed night when we arrived. We also spent all day Thursday there.  The water park is in the hotel.
   We just stayed at the hotel the entire time.  They had many different restaurants. Except they were not serving Turkey :(.  With the package deal everyone received a free breakfast.  It was just so relaxing.  I can not wait to go back. 

    Kyle and Sebastian enjoying the lazy river.  Sebastian just was   42" so he went down the big slides.  We could not get Ashley to go down the slides.  She told us before we got there she would not be going down any big slides. She kept to her word.

Ashley loved the water! She got her money worth at the Water Park. On Thursday she stayed at the park from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

                             Sebastian also said he would come back.

     This is Raphael trying to hide that he brought his game system along.  I told him that was good thinking.  He told me Grandpa gave him the idea....  Raphael could be found in the arcade or up in the room playing his PS3.  Raphael and Grandpa hung together.

This is my favorite picture of the trip.  The grand kids with Grandma playing on her nook.  Grandma loves them to death!!  We are so lucky to have her in our lives.

There was one thing that happened on the trip that was not the best. Thursday morning the lifeguards were drinking lots of "water" in cups when they first opened..  My mom saw the supervisor going around collecting their cups and drinking from them.  Then  the supervisor getting on them.  They had alcohol in their drinks.  I guess they were planning on having a good Thanksgiving working.

Then Friday morning before we left - I was able to get these - I am always reading that my blog friends love them.  I would have to agree!!!!!

I guess I am lucky that we do not have a Chick-fil-A store.  We have one at our Union on U of I campus but its hard to get to.  I would love one with a playground!!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!  I am so blessed!!!  I just hope that my heart is thankful all year round.