HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Happy Halloween!

Love, Laura ("Little Red Riding Hood") and Max (my "little devil" who totally needs a hair cut and refused to cooperate for this picture!). :)

beautiful weather, a 5K run, and our little disco dancer...

How beautiful was the weather this weekend?? I loved it. I wish it always felt like fall.

Kris, Rob, and I ran in the 5K Run for Education on Saturday. I enjoy running in this race, obviously because I like running, but also because the proceeds go towards the Starkville School District. This year it was sponsored by the Women's Clinic, so that was even more reason for Kristen and me to want to participate.

Here are a couple of pics taken after the race (that's why I look so great! Ha!)

There was also a one mile walk/run after the race, so we were able to take Henry for a little stroll to enjoy the fantastic weather.
For all of you who may be wondering what little Henry is going to be for Halloween, HERE YOU GO! He tried on his Disco Dancer costume for us, and began dancing. It was absolutely HILARIOUS!!! I totally had to share.

Time to start another week! How many more days until Thanksgiving break???

SUGARLAND '08!

Click collage to enlarge. Can you tell that I'm obsessed with Scrapblog?

I enjoy going to concerts. Not only do I love the live music, but I also find it quite entertaining to check out people's outfits-especially at a country concert. You really never know what you might find. I definitely saw a fantastic perm-femullet. Yes friends. It was curly in sort of a crimp-like way, and really long. I love a good mullet. You will also see girls (of all ages and sizes) wearing skirts that barely cover their you-know-whats. Apparently the 40 degree weather means nothing to them. It's always particularly distracting (although I'll shamefully admit that it's entertaining too!) to sit behind a couple and watch them have drink after drink after drink. I become embarrassed for the guy as he starts making totally unneccessary and innappropriate comments. I also seem to be the lucky one directly behind this guy (as I was last night). I'm also not particularly fond of PDA, which, unfortunately is somewhat common at these types of concerts. I'm sure you know my feelings towards this topic...hold hands if you'd like, but please PLEASE spare us all from a make out session for everyone to see. Ugh.

ANYWAY- Sugarland was fabulous as expected. Heather and I drove to Tupelo where we sat with another teacher friend, Melanie and her husband. Our tickets were really good (as you can probably tell from my pics).

Katey and Kane were there too. I was going to try to find them on my own, but that I wouldn't stand a chance in such a large crowd. Before the concert even started, I ran into them (that was right after they got to meet Jennifer Nettles. Yep. That's right. I don't want to talk about it). Our seats were fairly close to each other so we actually got to see them a couple more times. She has such a cute little belly. :)

Sure I'm tired today. It was a huge deal to get me out that late--especially on a school night! I can't function and I have fallen asleep different times while teaching today. But alas, the day is nearly over and I can go home and nap.

Was it worth the pain that I feel today? Absolutely.

However....

I am runnning in a 5k in the morning. Let's just hope I'm rested by then or it will NOT be pretty.....

Stay tuned.

TONIGHT! YESSSSSSSS!

My friend Heather and I are heading to Tupelo tonight to see my girl in concert! Who's jealous?I CAN'T WAIT!

Just call me Little Red Riding Hood...

The costume party was so very fun. I actually enjoyed being Little Red Riding Hood. I'm glad Mandy was able to pull through with a costume for me! :)

The group picture is a little dark, but hopefully you can tell what some of the other costumes were. I have very creative teacher friends!
(click on picture to enlarge)

More blogging to come later.
Happy Monday to you all!

the verdict is in...

Thanks to all who voiced your opinion and casted your vote on my Halloween costume. The Bunko party is tonight, and I will be going as Little Red Riding Hood. I think it's very fitting that I be L.R.R.H since I am somewhat known as one of the "calm, innocent" members of the Bunko group. Looking forward to dressing up tonight! I will post pics soon!

stamp shortage?

This really happened to me.

After school yesterday, I went to the post office to buy a book of stamps.

Here is how my conversation went with the post office lady (P.O.L.).

me: "Hi! I would like to buy a book of stamps please."

POL: "We don't have any."

me: "OOOOOK. Could I please just have one stamp?"

POL: "We don't have ANY stamps."

me: (thinking this was some kind of sick joke) "Are you serious? You don't even have one stamp just lying around here somewhere? All I really need right now is ONE."

POL: "No. (she was not smiling) There are none."

me: "Hmmm...OK then. I've never heard of a stamp shortage before."

The POL did not think that was funny.

I couldn't help but think about the time I went to Subway to get a sandwich. When I ordered, the Subway guy replied with: "I'm sorry. We're out of bread."

I didn't know what to say really.

How could I forget?

It was brought to my attention that I failed to post pics from my fabulous outing with my teacher friends last Thursday. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

I have found it very important to spend time with my teacher friends outside of school. We vent and totally understand each other. We went to Tipico last week. Believe it or not, it was NOT my idea to go there. Did I complain? Absolutely not.

Anyway, here are some pics from our time together!

Top: Me and Heather

Middle: Hope, me, and Jessica

Bottom, Catherine (we'll miss her!), Hope, me, Jessica, and Heather

a rough day followed by a BULLDOG WIN!

I am rewinding a few days to fill you in. You may care nothing about what I have to say, but I find this as sort of a stress relief for me. So, if you choose to skip over this, at least it's making me feel better right?

Friday was a BAD DAY. That's all I can say about it. I'm always tired on Fridays (who isn't?), but on top of my tiredness, I was sad and in a bad mood. I hate those kind of days. Have you ever noticed that when you feel all of these emotions at once, it feels like the whole world is against you? Obviously that's dumb for me to think and it's totally untrue, but that's what was going through my mind on Friday. If you're a regular reader, you've followed the journey of my life for almost 2 years, and you've seen that I've had LOTS of highs, but I've also had extreme lows too. It's all part of growing up and learning, I know, but it's still HARD. Everyone faces hard times, and I've had my share of them. Some of them are total learning experiences, and in the end, I'm able to thank God that they happened. Others hurt so badly that I wonder if I'll EVER see the reasoning. Sure, I know God has a plan for me (I've said that about a million times on this blog), but I'm just so impatient. While I've enjoyed my singlehood for these past several years, I'm ready for a change. I'm sad. I'm lonely. I want to know WHEN.

I'm often reminded of a verse that I read daily (I keep it on my bedside table). It's a simple reminder that God knows what He's doing, and His plan for my life is so much better than anything I can imagine. I've posted about this verse before, but it's too good not to mention again.

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."
-Habakkuk 2:3

I'm a major blog reader, and I know that so many of you are experiencing difficult times right now. If so, take that verse to heart. It continues to help me get through the hardest of times.

You know the saying "There is a rainbow behind every dark cloud"? I believe it. After the day I had Friday (which by the way, was really after a long, tough, week!), I needed a happy weekend. It couldn't have been better. Kristen, Rob, and Henry were here for the game. Not only was there nice weather, good food, fun times with the fam, but there was also a VICTORY involved! Yep, believe it or not, my dear bulldogs defeated undefeated Vanderbilt! It was fabulous. Here are some pictures.

precious

Kristen and her not-so-little one anymore

Me and Emily before the game. Kristen and Emily's sister, Laura, met up with some of their college friends and tailgated together. Emily and I decided to tag along with them a little before the game. :)

Me and Kris.

Me and Henry (who was not cooperating too well with the picture taking).

Seriously...what would we do without our weekends?

re: "Does this mean I'm old?"

A couple of 2nd graders were wearing slap bracelets at school this morning! THEY'RE MAKING A COME BACK! It made me so happy to see little girls slapping bracelets on their wrists.

It's the little things in life that make me happy really.

I had a great weekend--pictures to come soon!! I PROMISE!!

Does this mean I'm old?

I got this from a friend today. I've seen it before, and it makes me smile everytime. Enjoy!

You Know You Grew Up In the 80's if:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.

2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton

3. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom

4. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"

5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.

6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.

8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

9. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)

10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.

11. You know the profound meaning of " WAX ON , WAX OFF"

12. You wanted to be a Goonie.

13. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)

14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.

15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

16. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.

17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.

18. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.

19. You thought your childhood friends would never l eave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.

21. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.

22. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?" 23. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"

24. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.

25. You have ever played with a Skip-It.

26. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.

27. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

28. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.

29. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.

30. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"

31. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.

32. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

33. You just sang those words to yourself.

34. You s till sing "We are the World"

35. You tight rolled your jeans.

36. You owned a bannana clip.

37. You remember "Where's the Beef?"

38. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

39. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!