It's Spring Inside My House

For Christmas I was given a bulb kit from my baby brother, Tucker. Now....just a little background information on me.....I can't keep anything alive. By anything of course I mean, plants. Not to worry, Miss Gracie is going on 3 years now...I've done a great job of remembering to feed her everyday. She ain't gonna starve! I just always seem to "forget" that I have plants that I need to water. Walt has called me numerous times while he has been away to remind me to water the plants or to turn the sprinklers on. I'm horrible at it. Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to have a green thumb...maybe it's that whole green thing from the previous post...I don't know, but I try really hard and I am just not successful. So....when I opened up my present from my sweet 5th grade brother I held in a lot of emotions. I was thinking: What do I do? I have to plant this gift. I can't let these 3 bulbs DIE! If I let these 3 bulbs DIE it is almost like I am ungrateful of the gift that I have been given. At this point in the unwrapping process I started to get all sweaty and I was thinking: put a smile on your face.... let him know you are so grateful for the gift. Tell mom thank you ....cause you know she is the one that purchased this. Oh dear... do they know my secret? Do they know that I can't plant worth a flip and they are testing me?? So, I knew what I had to do... I HAD to be successful with this new project in front of me. I came home and I remember I read the instructions frantically because I did not want to mess up. For two weeks the bulbs had to stay in a dark, cool place. I placed them in the 3rd bedroom closet. I am not joking when I say that I wrote on my planner to "check plants" every day for 2 weeks. Let's be honest...there were a couple of days when I forgot and I was in a complete panic when I went to check on them, but they survived. Finally, two weeks passed and I brought my 3 bulbs out into the light... I really was going to break out into the "Halleljuah Chorus" when I realized that I was not a failure. So, I placed my sweet flowers by the kitchen window and let nature take it's course. Of course, I remembered to water them everyday. I can't even being to tell you the satisifaction, joy, pride, and accomplishment that I felt when my flowers started budding. It was such a fun surprise for me to wake up every morning and see what my flowers had done overnight! So, for now... I have beautiful flowers looking at me in the morning, when I get home from school and before I go to bed. I know that the wind chill tonight is 9 degrees, but inside my house it's nice and warm and looking at my flowers reminds me that it will be spring soon....and it reminds me that my sweet brother (and mother)must have known I could grow those flowers... he (and mom) had more faith in me than I did.

Look at my flowers budding!!

Such beautiful petals!I did it!!
Believe me... I'm thinking the same thing you are...did I just post about flowers? Yes.. I sure did!

1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Honest Abe

I was "tagged" by The Spicer Family and I was just told that I needed to talk about honesty...so let's see how this goes:

1. I am completely obsessed with the color green I didn't realize this until one of my friends pointed out to me that I wear green at least once a week. Ever since that day I've decided that I could never part with green...I've even painted most of my house this color.
2. I hated coffee until November of this year. Walt always wanted me to love coffee, so I gave in and once I had more than three cups, I was hooked. Now, I must admit I put a lot of cream and sugar in my coffee, but it's coffee.

3. I love the fact that I have become closer to my siblings over the years. We've always been close...but the saying is true...that the older you get, the closer to your siblings you become.

4. I believe in love at first sight. I knew from the first moment that I met Walt that I was supposed to be with him forever...and I did everything in my power to make that happen.

5. I already have my names picked out for my children. I know I don't even have kids yet, but Walt and I have already decided on all the names. 3 boys names and 3 girls names...and we have them in order.

6. If I had to choose between wearing makeup and being all pretty, or putting on a pair of Sofee shorts and never wearing make up again for the rest of my life, I would choose the second option. I hate getting dressed up.

7. I always bring my straightener to the hair salon. While my hair stylist is great at cutting my hair, I have always felt that I can do a better job of styling it.

8. I only applied to one college when I was in highschool. I always wanted to be a Baylor Bear. I sent my application in, in September of my senior year. By October, I already knew where I was going to college.

That was pretty fun! I'm going to stop at 8 because that is how many DeLayne did.

On another note....our weekend was fun, but low key.

Walt and I went to dinner on Friday night with one of our favorite married couples...the Green's.

See??? I told you I love GREEN!! We went and ate at India Palace. I have only had Indian food three times, but I tell you...I'm hooked. I seriously think I could have Indian food every day for the rest of my life... it is quite amazing.

After dinner... we went to a small bar to hear a band play. A random table behind us decided to give us the "Tulsa Firefighter Calendar." I was disappointed when I went to school this morning and Emily did NOT have hers hanging up in her 3rd grade classroom. ha!
Saturday, Walt and I had Valentine's dinner together and then on Sunday we went to church and watched the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, I dropped Walt off at the airport this morning at 6 a.m. Good thing I went to school to get my mind off things....hope you all had a great Monday!

Me and Emily after dinner

The guys love it when we take pictures of them... can't you tell?

Emily and I with our fabulous calendars.

Just had to throw this picture in....on Sunday when Walt and I were putting together our Super Bowl snacks, this was what she was doing....she sat like this the entire time and just watched us. If you look closely, you can see her tongue is sticking out!!

Don't eat the yellow snow.....

Miss Gracie finally made her debut yesterday...she finally ventured out in the snow. We had this nice beautiful white lawn and then all of a sudden she stopped and did this: Can you see that?!? She definitely made the snow yellow!

Look at her adorable little trail. I don't think there could be anything cuter than this:

She definitely looks like she owns the runway here:

Well, the snow and ice are finally melting away and we will FINALLY be back to school tomorrow. As I am typing this it sounds as if someone is stomping on my roof because the ice is breaking away quickly and melting. I'm not gripping about staying home for 3 days this week, but when you are "stuck" inside your house, (maybe because I'm a Texas girl and don't know how to drive, maybe because I live on a hill....pick whichever excuse you want) you start to get a little restless after 72 hours plus of staying inside the house.
I do have a little bit of mixed emotions right now though. On Monday Walt leaves to go to Kenai, Alaska for a month. (Well according to Walt 25 days doesn't technically count as a month.) I'm sad of course that he is leaving....who wouldn't want Walt at home all the time? I mean seriously, who wouldn't miss this face kissing them every night before going to bed?

I am NOT jealous of him though. Sure he will get to see beautiful scenery, but the weather will be COLD!
So... why the mixed emotions you ask? (I know you were thinking that.) Yes, I am sad that Walt is leaving, but I am also OH SO EXCITED... SEE?? Why the excitement? Oh, nothing big really. Just the small fact that MY BEST FRIEND IS COMING TO SEE ME IN A WEEK!!Oh yes... it will be great! A reunion actually. We haven't seen each other since she got married on May 5th of 2007! That's right...almost TWO YEARS! Not to worry... it won't be that weird, awkward reunion. Katie and I talk almost everyday and this is much needed reunion. Good 'ole Katie has never been to the the fabulous state of Oklahoma...I've warned her though. Told her she might need to pack more than she thinks, cause once she gets here she is not ever going to want to leave. (do you sense the sarcasm?) I do have some great things planned though, and I can't wait to see this face:Oh goodness, I've missed it so much! I just want to KISS IT!
So...that's the reason why I have mixed emotions. Sad that Walter is leaving, but happy that when he does leave I will be spending some good quality girl time with no one other than my college roomie, maid of honor, best friend...oh the list goes on.
So Walt... I'm going to give you some advice that I learned from Gracie. When you are in Alaska, I know the snow will look pretty and you'll want to do this:

Or you might even get brave and want to do this:

But... take caution...and look to see if there is YELLOW snow. Gracie didn't mind doing her thing outside...so be careful and don't eat the yellow snow. We will miss you.

I'll get you my pretty!!

I think I am writing this post because I have been locked inside my house for more than 24 hours, because even I can't believe that I decided to write about this:
I used to be under the assumption that only witches had warts. Yes you read that correctly, WARTS. I'm 26, and never in my life have I had any kind of wart. Well, that is up until 2 months ago. Walt and I went home for Thanksgiving and I kept telling him there was something in my foot. After hours of prodding it with a safety pin, (sanitary, I know) we could not find anything inside my foot...but I knew that something was there. So, when I went back to school I went to the nurse's office and let her take a look at it. Once again, she couldn't find anything, and yes I let her get after my foot with a safety pin also. By the time I went home for Christmas I was hurting. Of course the moment I mentioned this to my Nana, she knew exactly what it was. "Meredith, you have a plantar's wart....from wearing those high heels. Just put some of this on and it will bring it to the surface." Well, I don't know if Nana was right about the fact that I got the wart from wearing high heels, but she was right that the medicine she gave me would in fact, bring the wart to the surface. Well ladies and gentlemen, that was over a MONTH ago. My wart is still here. Walt and I have gone to the store and purchased the "freeze-away" kit, I've purchased the medicated discs, NOTHING seems to be working. It's so bad that I only wear flats. Let me tell you something....I only own THREE pair of flats, so my poor students have seen their (used to be hip) teacher in three flats since January 5th. I try to alternate....if that makes you feel any better. Anyway... I can hardly work out my foot hurts so bad, so I've made the decision to go and get the wart frozen off... oh wait... to go and get the TWO warts frozen off. Yes, I said it... TWO! That's right... it spread... disgusting. So from now on you can just call me the Wicked Warty Witch! Any suggestions on how to make it stop hurting?????(If you are eating right now, you might want to put your food down, because the pictures are pretty nasty.)

On another note... yes, we had ice, sleet and snow. It started snowing yesterday around 3 and didn't let up until 6 so this was good because it is much easier to drive. Walt actually went into work today and I have a feeling that I will be back at work tomorrow. Thank goodness!! I'm ready to see my precious sweeties!! They had a project due on Tuesday, so I can't wait to see what they will turn in for me! Here are some pictures of the ice...obviously you can tell that Miss Gracie is definitely a "warmer weather" dog. She must take after her grandmother!

This is ice on the streets

Our little trees

Miss Gracie is wanting to kill me right about now...

first the jacket, and then taking her out in the ice.

We must have some pretty strong trees...they have survived the ice

two years in a row.

While I was out of school I had 4 blogs that I needed to get done. I just wanted to share so you could see that I have, in fact, been productive.

Mike, Sarah and Dodger Zipser

The soon to be Ashley and Preston Bass

Kinsey, Brent and Tucker Weegar

Kelly Schulz

Ice Ice Baby

Another bad weather day....I know what you are thinking....you're jealous. Well, DON'T be! You won't be jealous of me come June when some of you are out for summer and I am still in school. Think about it...you'll be out for summer vacation...wearing your shorts, getting a tan, not thinking about school. Here I am STUCK inside my house, we have about a half an inch of ice on the ground, we can't leave, it's freezing, and the sleet is just coming down like cats and dogs right now. (If you were a student in my class, you would then proceed to tell me that my last sentence was in fact, an idiom.) So...like I said, don't be jealous...be thankful that summer is only 145 days away.
So clearly I have some free time on my hands and I need to post pictures from this past weekend. We were in Daingerfield for Preston and Ashley's showers. Ashley had a "girl" shower on Saturday day, and Preston had his "Honey-Do" couple shower on Saturday night. Everything was beautiful. I love going to all the Daingerfield showers because it just reminds me even more how lucky I am. I married into the most wonderful family and anytime I am in Daingerfield someone reminds me of this and I feel so completely blessed. It was a great weekend....I think I had it better off than the bride and groom to be! I got to eat great food, mingle with amazing people, see some pretty cool gifts, but THANK GOODNESS I am not the one writing ALL those thank you cards! I remember that time in my life....and Yes, I WAS THANKFUL, but I am going to be honest and say that I am glad that isn't me right now! Although, I would probably get them all done today and tomorrow, seeing as though we don't have school.

Ashley's gifts set out on display

Some more of Ashley's gifts set out on displayAshley with her hostesses at the afternoon showerPreston and Ashley at their "Honey-Do" shower...hence the honeydew melonAshley helping P-Bass open some of his giftsOh yes! I had the best job!! I got to write everything down! I was in heaven!!

Tucker wanted to help I think at this point, I was asking "who gave you this really cool present?"
How fun!! Sue and Matt came up for the event!
2 weekends in a row?!? I was spoiled!

Tucker loves his sisters!

Me with the Bride to Be...and my future sis!

This picture brings back great memories

2 of the most important and handsome men in my life!! I've got the best

husband and father!!

My main man

The soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Preston Bass

All of the Bass'....excuse the red eye remover on Walt's eye.

I think it went a little crazy and made his eye TOO dark

The girls!!

Walt, Pookie (Cousin Andrew) and McKamy

The Groom and his Best Man

Now, the next pictures are the pictures that I took this morning.... anybody up for a little ice skating? I don't think you really need ice skates, just grab some shoes and I am sure that you can go for a little spin around my neighborhood. This isn't snow...this is ice. I've calculated it... in the past 2 and a half years that I have been working in Oklahoma, I have been out of school 17 times for bad weather....SEVENTEEN! Who would have ever thought 4 hours North of Dallas there would be such drastic weather...Not ME!