Baby Katie is Here!

Congrats to Mary "Smiles" and Steve Lawson! Their beautiful baby girl, Katherine Elizabeth "Katie" is here! She is gorgeous! And my gracious she has so much beautiful hair! I was so excited that I got to hold her on her birthday, March 8th! Mom and Dad both looked great and were ready for their little girl to arrive right on time. God bless to the new family!

Dogs Dogs Everywhere!

Well our doggie family has been loving hanging out together lately. Enjoy the photo of Angel and Belle sharing a bed (they have 3 in the house but the both have to be together). And Brownie has finally gotten use to hanging out in his house...we had to place it on the front porch for now, I am sure it will be making it to the back porch.

Isaac's 100 Project

Anyone that knows me knows I love a project...especially when I have glitter and hot glue. Isaac had a project where he had to use 100 of something to create a project for school. We thought of mini marshmellows (which I thought would be more of) but my goodness there is at least 300 to 400 in one bag! First Isaac thought of making a snowman but after looking at how many marshmellows we had I tried to get Isaac to brainstorm some more cool ideas...then it hit me...a Krispy Kreme Doughnut - it was awesome! Robert and I helped Isaac finish and then we made a trip to KK to pick up a box to place his super cool project in! Another win for the craft box!

Our Kitchen mini-remodel

Well ever since I saw the tile add to our backsplash (which we paid extra for) I really didn't care for it. Since this past summer we looked at other alternatives that we could use instead. I looked at other tile, thought about the faux metal title sheets, but then saw a beadboard backsplash in a magazine. I then saw a do it yourself show that did one as well and I was sold. Robert found this great product made from PVC materials, no need to paint and it wipes clean, and yes I have had to do so already. Thank you Robert for all your hard work, I love it! PS - I finally finished painting the laundry room and add the Bella Mint green to the kitchen as well. My next painting project, our room and the living room...that I will wait until spring to take on :)

Smiley's Baby Shower

Saturday, January 16th Sky and I held a baby shower for Mary "Smiley". She is looking great and very excited for a baby girl to join their beautiful family! Sky is so crafty...she made the diaper cake, awesome! Such a wonderful day...yummy treats and a wonderful time to celebrate the little miracle to come :) Congratulations Lawsons!

Belle Working Out!

Well Biggest Loser watch out! Belle is my fitness trainer :) Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I have been busy finishing items for Christmas lately! Christmas cards have been sent, I have wrapped along the way, and next making snacks! Belle has enjoyed having Angel here with her for the last few weeks, a much calmer dog :) This weekend we were able to attend the LRBC Christmas Play, again the kids and young leaders did an amazing job! My nephews played parts in the play again this year; its so amazing to think back to the many parts they have played in the plays growing up and how much I look forward to seeing the play each year. Jordan played "Tex" a Christmas ornament and Joshua as Joseph. And of course the traditional end of the play was with the song I remember singing at the end of our plays growing up; "We Wish you a Merry Christmas!" and of course with the traditional arm swing! Its GREAT!

Well I will be sure to take a photo of my tree to post soon.

Take care everyone and I hope you all have a very Merry CHRISTmas! Take this time to send those special notes to family and friends, take lots of photos of the kids, and enjoy every minute that our Lord and Savior has blessed us with.

Thanksgiving Time!

I love Thanksgiving...today I was at Harris Teeter, picking up sale items and checking my list twice and my coupon book as well. I love double/triple coupons time. Best deal are the yeast rolls, BOGO. And I have picked up a ham for our house and to take to Reidsville. My goal before Wednesday - to finally paint the laundry room. I just bought the paint in July :) but I did have the paint shook up again this weekend and I am going to get off the computer and begin to tape up the room...and what a taping job, there are 5 doors in that room (back door, bathroom door, two closets, and door leading the dinning room) - yikes! Hopefully I will have photos to share soon!

Take care everyone! Jerri

November 3rd

Well its official, I have turned to a new decade, 30! I woke up Tuesday morning to Belle jumping on me and knowing I had a few things to do around the house before I could head out the door. For one, Belle's cage needed cleaning since I had stayed out for supper the night before with some wonderful friends to have my last meal as a twenty-something. At 6:30 am Rhonda called to wish me a Happy Birthday, followed by messages from Sky and Wayne Jr. Knowing if I called anyone back before I headed out the house, I hurried to get ready and jump in the car, then Donna & Jordan called followed by Mom (celebrating the 30th anniversary of her having her last girl). As well as text messages from friends wishing me a happy day. School was a wonderful day and I received a wonderful surprise from Sky - beautiful flowers. Coming home I was met by Robert with my favorite doughnuts - cream filled and sprinkles and a nice present all wrapped up. We went and had supper and realized that 30 was just like the day before. We also had another exciting event happen this week - we purchased a new vehicle. I am sure I will have pictures up as soon as I feel like it, you see today (Friday) I was feeling fine and all of a sudden around 10:30 am I started to have a horrible headache, well by 1:20 I was throwing up in the trash can in front of my horrified 6th grade class. After being made to go home but I left as instructed to do so but did worry for that long drive home. A nice nap and taking plenty of meds that I was finally able to keep down along with some chicken soup for chicfila (thanks Bradley) I am feeling much better. So I will post pictures of my flowers and new vehicle soon.
Take care everyone,
Jerri

Happy Fall!

Hello all!
Well we have had a busy week with our 2nd anniversary on Tuesday (October 20th) and of course its the end of the grading period so I have been busy working on those final marks. Of course I had to find some time to decorate. I love my witch's hat wreath, it was super easy to make - love my hot glue gun. And my spooky tablescape was just pulling out items from my Halloween box.
Happy Fall everyone! Jerri

Happy October!

So has I said earlier I just LOVE the fall! I woke up this morning, took Belle to her outside pin for some exercise and thought its jacket weather! I can't wait for the leaves to change; since I am sweeping them off the back porch daily.
Our new home improvement project (see trips to Lowes in our future) is a new backsplash! So yes our house is only 1 year old, yes I did pick out all of the finishings, and yes I am just like my sister, I have changed my mind already! So first I thought we should try tile, then after watching some DIY shows, too much messiness! Then I thought I would like the antique tin look, I even brought one sheet to try out, I wasn't sold on the color and now sure how it would look around the windows in the kitchen and over the buffet area. Then it hit me, beadboard! Its different, would work with the design of the kitchen and I could paint it white with a kitchen paint and use molding around the windows and base of the counter tops. My project goal: in a few weeks since some of the tile is missing when we had some work in the kitchen done (one of our cabinets was not level). I guess I need to plan to put that can of paint on the walls that I picked up in July...another trip to Lowes is in store, that can is going to need shaking again :)
Note to everyone - Don't forget the Dixie Classic starts this weekend in WS! My favorite all time candy apples will be there: Miss Debbie's, make sure to check them out! I can't wait for some Pig races and all the great exhibits. Have a wonderful rest of the week family & friends!
Jerri

Oh Belle! and ready for fall!

Well I thought that I had mastered the potty training...guess not, Belle is reverting back to her old ways...so she is spending more time in the tube now-a-days! She spends most of her time when I am home under my feet and in the mornings under the bed (hiding!) So I am getting smart to Belle's ways, I now leave the leash on her in the mornings after she goes out and she never gets under the bed to far so I can always pull her out by finding the end of the leash...yes it is too funny every morning to call Belle and see the leash move from under the bed...silly Belle!
Well I couldn't help myself I have started to pull out my fall decor and I am trying to keep myself from putting out my halloween decorations...and you know my eyes were on those Christmas boxes in my closet as well :) Only a few weeks until the Dixie Classic fair (I can't wait for that candy apple - see the links at the bottom of my blog for my favorite apples at the fair) Then only around of month and Robert and I will be celebrating our second anniversary in October and my 30th birthday a few weeks later. Why am I in the mood for fall, well last weekend my sister and sister in law starting planning our Thanksgiving meal - whose bring/making what and how much fun we all have when we see the entire family, packed around the table, kitchen and at least a few extra rooms but it is the best time to be with your family. I wish everyone a happy fall :)

Labor Day Weekend 09!

Well I can tell I am back in school as I am so tired when I get home everyday. Back to long days and Belle in her crate for most of the time. Although she has been doing a great job she has had some set backs the end of last week and today :( I have the same number of classes as last year but our schedule has lengthen and time is precious throughout the day, so the bag with work to grade or to plan for has grown in size. I haven't completed my painting projects yet but I still have hope for them. New projects to complete, the painting of the laundry room, organizing the workout room, and the new back splash in the kitchen.
This weekend we headed to the lake to visit with Mom and Dad Atkins. We woke up on Saturday morning and packed quickly (I just didn't get to it on Friday night) and headed out with the trailer around 8am. We stopped by Reidsville to drop off the trailer and headed on to Danville and stopped for a biscuit, then onto Clarksville, VA. We got down to the lake and had a great time visiting with family and enjoying the water. Robert had the best time riding the jet ski and wants to learn to knee board next. Our plan was to stay with Mom and Dad until lunch time on Sunday, but my 3 hour nap threw us off and Robert decided he wanted to play on the water a little more. So we headed to Walmart in South Boston to pick up an air mattress; mine has a whole in it...they never last long enough, long story short - we ended up on the futon inside, the back is a little sore after that. But it was a great time and we headed back around 3pm on Monday afternoon - we have around a 2 hour and 45minute drive from the house.
Then I couldn't resist - I started pulling out the fall decor - no Halloween yet but I am sure it will come out soon. We hated missing Isaac's football game this weekend but we are looking forward to see him play as well as Jamison play soccer this year.

Back in School

Where did the summer go? It felt like June, July and now August have just gone by too quickly. We have survived the first four days of school and my classes are packed to capacity. This week again my room is HOT...the heat is blowing in my room, yes it is driving me crazy but I was promised that it would be working next week (Let's all hope!) We have all received our info on preventing flu and I have been keeping my students on our clean up chore chart...aka...kapers! I have new books to plan out lessons this weekend and I see many fun ideas in store - I hope!
Well Robert, I and Jamison are off to get doughnuts and bowl - I just hope supper comes first :) Tomorrow we have Isaac's first football game and Melissa's birthday. We will also be heading to Brooke's 16th Birthday, where the ELVIS impersonator will be there....love it! Have a great weekend everyone!

Pilot Mountain - Day Trip

A few weeks ago we took Isaac and Jamison to Pilot Mountain for the afternoon. I love this picture I was able to capture!