Christmas!

Ok, here goes:

First we went to Houston. I got new boots and a great outdoor ice chest from my dad and stepmom. Ryan got tons of hunting stuff. I think I was most excited to give the gift to my parents though. They had an ancient, I mean ancient, TV. 20ish years old to be exact. So all my siblings and I went in together and got them a new 40 inch lcd tv with a new tv stand. They were so surprised.

Next, we came back up to Dallas to do Christmas with Ryan's family. We got some great gifts and I really really love being with his family. They're so close and I want my future children to be in a family like that :)

Lastly, we went to Port Aransas (the BEACH!!!) for a trip with my mom, stepdad, sister, and Ryan's parents. It was awesome! I freaking love purses and my mom and sister gave me 4, yes 4! amazingly cute and beautiful purses! I'm in love. The beach was a little too cold for my tastes but it was still a good trip. I think we'll make this a yearly thing.


I feel so loved.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday and how am I spending it? Alone. I went Christmas shopping and I'm wrapping presents. That's it.

Pity party at the Slicker house tonight. Come by if you'd like to join. I have chocolate :)

I feel loved :D

Today was the last day before Christmas (ooooh exscuuuuuse me, Hoooliday Break) and I completely expected my students to be crazy and they were so well behaved! I am so proud! They also got me some great gifts. One made me a card and you can really tell he put some serious effort into it! He's not the type at all to do that. Gifts like that make my heart melt. I also got lots and lots of chocolate :) Oh! And a student gave me a scarf. She bedazzled it and put a cute button on it. I love it when they put in personal touches, it shows that they really care.

I love my job! Not because of the presents (they're a perk, I can't lie) but because I get to see these kids do thoughtful and kind things everyday. I get to see 'toughguys' write their favorite teachers letters and tell them how much they enjoy their classes. I get to see them at their best. Yes, I sometimes see their worst but seeing their best completely makes up for it!

Background

I firgured out how to change the background. I feel like a rockstar!

Warning! Lots of random below!!

I only have 4 more hours with my students for this semester! Woohoo! Don't get me wrong, I love all my students and I love my job but I'm seriously ready for a break! Tomorrow is a half-day (kiddos leave at 12:30) and I just hope they can just hold themselves together for that short amount of time.

My mom and youngest sister are coming up to stay with me this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it. We're going to get together with my oldest sister and my nephew and who knows what else???

So, I'm really disappointed with SYTYCD this season. I don't know why exactly. The dancing has been good, it's just that I haven't developed a 'relationship' with any of the dancers. No one has given an emotional performance really. Lame.

Christmas present list: The joys of a big family

Family I need to buy presents for:

1. Ryan - husband
2. Mom
3. Johnny - stepdad
4. Dad
5. Ginia - stepmom
6. Amanda - sister
7. Orrie - brother-in-law
8. Jonnie Lynne - sister
9. Bubba - brother
10. Sarah - sister
11. Ethan - nephew
12. Meemaw - grandma
13. Rusty - father-in-law
14. Sharon - mother-in-law
15. Stephanie - sister-in-law
16. Adam - brother-in-law
17. Madison - niece
18. Karen - Ryan's aunt (we drew her name)
19. Lauren - Ryan's cousin (we drew her name)
20. Kristen - Ryan's cousin (we drew her name)
21. Michael - Ryan's cousin (we drew his name)
22. Another person on my side of the family (we haven't drawn names yet)

Friends:

1. Secret Santa at work
2. Secret Santa for group of friends
3. Jessica
4. Holly (I just happened across a wonderful gift that I had to get!)



And I'm responsible for picking out and purchasing most of this. Oh and I am responsible for wrapping ALL of this. Wonderful. I'm going to be broke after Christmas. Maybe I should ask for gift cards to grocery stores so I can feed us after December bills come in.

For the record, I have completed seven of these so far.

Girls trip and Thanksgiving

So Holly and I went to San Antonio for a girls trip and I had a complete blast! We stopped on the way down in San Marcos at the outlet mall and it was fan-freakin-tastic. We got some awesome deals! Anyway, we got down to the hotel in SA and parking was horrible. I ended up having parallel park in a loading zone (in Ryan's big ass truck) but we eventually got into a spot. After we got settled in, we walked down the river walk (the wrong way at first) to downtown and had mexican food. It was delish. Then we went stalking, which is super fun by the way. We stalked several people and got completely lost in the process. We eventually found our way back to our hotel and crashed.
The next day we went to the zoo. I freaking LOVE the zoo. There were hippos! We also went shopping. That night for dinner we walked to downtown again and ate at the Rainforest Cafe. Fun experience! I had never eaten there before. We then tried to walk home and got so so so so sooooo lost. We had to whip out Holly's phone with gps to get home. When we FINALLY saw our hotel we were so excited and hauled butt to get back. We're pretty sure some people were following us a couple times but thankfully we knew their tricks after learning them while we were the stalkers. HA.
On the third day we went to The Alamo, the Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe it or Not and to the Witte Museum. I think we went to all of these this day, one of them could have been on day two. Now I'm second guessing myself. Anyway, at Ripley's there's this tunnel that looks like its spinning and you're supposed to walk through it. Um, yea. I almost fell over. I had to seriously hold onto the rails. Hilarious. We walked through about 4 times each. So. Much. Fun. At the museum, there's a children's science museum. That and the tunnel were probably my favorite parts. Then that night we bought matching HOT pink converse and ate at Saltgrass (mashed potatos = Heaven) and did NOT get lost for the first time! We were so proud. All in all a great trip! I've never had so much fun getting lost with someone before!

Thanksgiving.
My grandma called me fat (not a biological grandparent). Not exactly those words, but still the same message. One of my aunts gave us a sob story trying to get everyone to feel sorry for her like every year. We haven't fallen for her tricks in years. Same grandma mentioned before drank too much and nearly face planted on the way out of the house going down the steps. My parents fed my dog lots of table food and he now knows hot to beg (thanks, by the way). But best of all, my mom taught me how to make some of the candy that she makes every year. I feel so special to have been taught this. She even made me a copy of my great-grandma's recipe cards to take home. I had a good time catching up with my youngest sister and cousins and Ryan got to hang out with my uncle and some cousins that he really likes. Overall a good Thanksgiving! I'm very thankful for all my blessings in life! (even cranky grandmothers)

While the boys are away...

Ryan and Gunner are gone huntin' this week. They left this afternoon and will be back Wednesday. I'm all alone (and there's no one here besiiiide me) and it's dark and stormy outside. I don't have a husband or dog to protect me so what do I do? I decide to watch back to back episodes of Criminal Minds. Great show, however not a great show to watch alone when you're house is kind out in the boondocks and you're a big wimp. Great job, Angie. Now I won't be able to sleep. C.R.A.P. I do this sometimes when Ryan is working (nights) but then I have the dog and I'm okay. He sleeps in bed with me and I know he would let me know if something wasn't right. But now I'm here all alone, watching scary shows because I'm dumb and can't turn them off now because I'm hooked.

On a better note, I took my mom to World Market today and I think I created a monster. She had never been and it's pretty much my favorite place to shop so we went. I think I like the monster I created (says in evil voice). Now I'll have more excuses to go. Muuuaaahaha.

I almost solved a Rubik's Cube today.And by almost, I mean everything but these two pieces. They're even in the right spots, just not turned the right way. I REFUSE TO TAKE THE STICKERS OFF but I also don't know how to solve it. I threw away the solution manual that came with it because I didn't want to be tempted to use it. I just don't know what to do. If I turn it upside down and turn it around then it looks complete but I know it's not and it's going to eat away at me until it's fixed or I start over. I'm so dissappointed in myself. Dang Rubik's Cube.

My to do list.

My to do list: (some of these are short term and some are long term goals)


1. Clean the house
2. Clean my car
3. Eat healthier
4. Drop about a billion dress sizes before SIL's wedding in June
5. Move the living room furniture around
6. Make something new for dinner that I've never made before
7. Become a mom
8. Get another puppy
9. Be more patient with Ryan
10. Get a new vehicle
11. Fix up the back yard
12. Put more money towards savings
13. Try to reconnect with 'lost' friends
14. Go on more dates with Ryan
15. Make more friends
16. Try to stay out of drama at work
17. Go to church more often
18. Be a better friend
19. Try to be nice, even when I don't want to be
20. KEEP UP WITH BLOGGING

Lots of random below.

Today I had the hiccups almost all-freaking-day. From about 10:30 until almost 3:30. I felt like I was going to die.

I was also having hot flashes all day. Today sucked in that aspect.

Now, on to more positive things:
1. I love my husband!
2. I'm going to Houston this weekend for Ryan's cousin's wedding (did I use too many apostrophes?)
3. I have a sweet puppy sleeping at my feet right now.
4. I ate delicious sushi tonight.
5. I also had a delicious snow-cone for dessert.
6. I'm wearing jeans to work tomorrow and the next (and I did today too :))

I love my job. My kids (students) crack me up everyday. Even when I'm having a terrible day, there's always one that can say or do something to put a smile on my face. Whether it's making an unexpected A or a cheesy joke, they really do brighten my day.

I really really really want to see the movie "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock. Now I just need to find someone to go with me...

Oh.emm.gee.

Hilarious! <--go watch that. I would have peed my pants.

I miss my husband. He's never home. He leaves for work before I get home and gets home after I leave. He's also been gone every week during his 'weekend' (mon-weds) for the past month or so doing boy things; hunting, fishing, more hunting. It'll start slowing down after Thanksgiving (hopefully) and then I'll finally have him back.

Tonight I made lasagna and while it was cooking I ate some string cheese and cashews and now I'm not hungry. I have an entire lasagna going uneaten. Ryan's not even here to eat 3/4 of it! I'll have to freeze it I suppose.

I can't WAIT until Thanksgiving break! Holly and I are going to San Antonio for a nerds, I mean girls weekend. We're going to The Alamo, shopping on The Riverwalk, possibly to Sea World and to a Science/History Museum. Getting excited!!

Nerds R Us

Today was the first UIL meet of the season! That's right ladies and gentlemen, I am the math coach at school. I am training others to be nerdy like me :) One day we'll take over the world. In the mean time, we're just going to meet after meet in hopes of winning some medals. While we didn't win any medals this meet, my students did great! It was their first competition ever and most made scores good enough to qualify them for state! They don't actually qualify until January but things look very promising! I'm so proud of all of them!

Now I'm just taking things easy, waiting for trick-or-treaters! I can't wait to see all the cute costumes!

Grow Up

Why must people create drama at work? Yes, let's make up stories and tattle to the bosses about your make believe world so you can get attention and stir up trouble. Too bad you didn't get the attention you wanted! Instead of getting other people in trouble like you set out to do, you got a taste of your own medicine. Kinda bitter, isn't it? Why do you want to make things awkward for tomorrow? Why do you want to make no one want to sit with you at lunch? You work with a bunch of women. Do you think they're all going to just shrug it off and forgive you immediately?? You were one of my better friends at work but I just can't keep up with this or support this kind of stuff. You're turning into a toxic friend and it hurts me that I'm losing you as a friend but I WILL NO STOOP TO YOUR LEVEL. I will not act more immature than the children we teach. Grow up.


I'm done complaining now.

Tomorrow's Friday!

Tomorrow is Friday! This means lots of things; 1. I get to wear jeans tomorrow, 2. I get to stay up late tomorrow and sleep in the next day, 3. It'll be the start of my 4 (yes 4!) day weekend and 5. I'm going to get a massage tomorrow afternoon! Hoooooray! I love wearing jeans to work because jeans also mean I get to wear comfy shoes. I love staying up late because Ryan's not here and I get scared at night (I'm a wimp, I know). It's going to be a 4 day weekend for me because I'm going to Houston to go to the SYTYCD Tour with my Jessica Lynn! And oh my goodness, I love massages. I have a gift certificate and I'm spoiling myself tomorrow.

On a side note, I'm being serenaded by my dog's snoring right now.

Bad, bad, bad.

I'm a bad blogger. I really need to try to keep up with this!

In exactly one week I'll be at the So You Think You Can Dance show in Houston! I am so so so so so freaking excited! Our seats are incredible (7th row I think) and it's all I could think about at work today! Ahhh! I can't wait. I have the best best friend in the world for getting me this ticket and taking me with her! I lub her. Now, what do I wear???

This is going to be a loooooong week.

Breakfast in bed.

Ryan served me breakfast in bed this morning :)


That is all.

Weekends

Weekends are so boring. Ryan sleeps all day and most of my friends have things like children to attend to or actually have lives and go out on weekends. I instead spend my weekends, catching up on all the shows I missed during the week, on the internet, and I occassionally throw in the random cleaning/laundry session. I take Gunner on walks and read books, I cook things that can be frozen and then eaten on a later date but I am so incredibly bored. I know some people would kill for all this and I'll probably miss it someday but right now it sucks. All I have to talk to is my dog and he just looks at me like I'm crazy (no comments on that one please :D). I wish Ryan didn't work nights so I could see him more often or so we could have fun on the weekends. He works Thurs-Sun. On the days he works, he sleeps until 3:30pm, leaves at 4:30pm (I don't get home from work until 5 at the earliest) and doesn't get home until 7-7:30am (I leave at 7:15). I'm just lonely on the weekends. Buuut, all this completely pays off come summer time. I get to see him tons more! So I guess it's a trade off. Enough complaining now, I need to go switch the laundry anyway.

13 hour work day

I was at work for 13 hours today. Yay? I'm pooped. But I am super excited that tomorrow is Friday aaaand Holly is coming in this weekend! This weekend I'm also decorating for Halloween. This is my first year to have trick-or-treaters and I'm pumped! I'm sure I'll be completely over it after the first couple of times I have to get up for the door but I don't care. I have a house in a good neighborhood where kids can go outside after dark and it's ok! YAY Halloween!!

Technology: A love/hate relationship

I am writing tonight from my ancient laptop that took me about 20 minutes to turn on and get fully functioning. Why, you might ask? Because our other laptop is being difficult today. It won't turn on without going straight into safe mode. It keeps telling me that it's because of the recently installed hardware and that it needs to be uninstalled. Well, first off, there isn't any newly installed hardware and secondly, I tried uninstalling everything that's been installed on that computer in the last 3 months and it still didn't fix the problem completely. I can now get the computer to start normally but it freezes within a minute or two. I keep trying to run the antivirus crap but the computer keeps freezing so I can't get all the way through and then I have to restart the computer and start all over. AAAAAAND I'm pretty sure Ryan will blame me b/c he says I'm the only one who uses it (but that's a lie!) I only use it for going online and I only go to safe sights. I've visited 2 (yes, I know the exact number) new sites in the past month and this just started happening today. He uses it too, just not daily.
So here I am typing from ole reliable. Her monitor is starting to detach from her keyboard, she doesn't scroll beautifully anymore and it takes her about 20 minutes to wake up and will sometimes fall asleep at inconvenient times but she's there when I need her. I've had this laptop for 6 years now. That's what? 84 in computer years?

Angry

It was almost 7 months ago that one of my best friends was killed in a terrible accident. I still think about her all the time. I'm still angry about the circumstances of her death and I just don't understand really.

She was an only child and a much better person than I'll ever be. She was beautiful inside and out and her parents have been left with nothing but her memories. She was smart and organized and was going to be a CPA. She was going to be a wonderful wife and mother but she never got the chance because of someone else's stupid mistake.

I miss you Lindsay.

Sleep

So, I'm having a slight bout with insomnia. Every now and then, I just have these phases where I don't really sleep. I want to sleep, try to sleep, and I'm very sleepy but I just can't sleep. By the time I realize that it's going to be one of "those nights" it's too late to take anything to help me sleep b/c I don't want to sleep all day tomorrow. I also don't believe in taking any sort of sleep aid long term. I'll take them maybe 2 or 3 days in a row but that's it. And only over the counter stuff, prescription stuff like that scares me. Anywho, I am now going to try to find something on TV...

The first one!

I think I might be jumping on the blogging bandwagon...