Her Hillbilly Highness

Tomorrow we start back to school. UGH! I don't wanna go back just yet but I know that my body and mind will feel better once I get back. Plus, I miss my sweet friends! The big ones and the little ones!  I know Riles is ready to get back and I think Kylie feels the same way I do.

The only thing that's keeping me going is the fact that I only have TWO weeks left! It's really bittersweet but I knew it would end sometime since it's not my class. I'm not sure if I will go back at the end of February and teach until the end of the year or not. I'm hoping to but it's not my decision. I'm also hoping there will be a job for me next year as well. Time will tell. :)

Right now Alan and I are focusing on eating cleaner and working out. He has already started (2 days!) but I am still in lazy mode. I will get after it soon enough to be in a small t-shirt and Daisy Dukes by the time June rolls around. Please, please, please God, let that happen!!!

So, back to INSANITY in the morning (the workout, not my class) and to the daily grind. Of course, Riley will still be on the job, day or night. You know who to call if you're in trouble.

Here are a few things that I'm loving this year:


Watching the kids LOVE their fishies, Sally and Remy. Named by Kylie, of course!


My tri-set rings that Alan got for me. I may make a note that I haven't gotten to wear any jewelry/outfits yet since I have been sitting/working at home for a week and a half. I'm really excited about going to church on Sunday and back to work on Monday so I can dress up again!!



Cutting my t-shirts Miranda Lambert style. We went to her concert this summer and her t-shirt was sexy and cut up. My friend Wendi leaned over to me and said that she was going to cut up all her t-shirts when she got home. I laughed and laughed at that one. Now I'm doing it!


He's $40 at Hobby Lobby but hopefully will be 1/2 off pretty soon and then I'm gonna NAB him!!

Well, instead of making the Christmas Tree Cake Pops that she had intended to make, Kylie just wanted to decorate the cake and not spend "all that time" on the cake pops. So I let her. Mother of the Year- right here!

Here is her cake:



Yeah. She and Riles have devoured it and it's now time to get out and exercise since they are all hopped up on sugar. We are SO not gonna be ready for school to start on Monday! ha!

This is whats on the agenda today. I would love to be curled up on the couch with one of the new books I got or even be watching Pitch Perfect or Ted, but I am cleaning out all the dust from 2012. The tree is down, the stockings are packed up, and I have swept and mopped all the rooms that I could. Baseboards were even cleaned. Go me!

I'm anxiously awaiting my Erin Condren calendar so that I can start writing in it and counting down the days until we go to Disney World- 156!!! That means Alan and I have got to get our butt in gear and lose some weight before June!! In my mind, I am going to become a runner- I've always wanted to! But we will see how that goes tomorrow morning. I'm gonna need LOTS of prayers!


Last Christmas act of the year- finish making these babies! Kylie and I started them a couple of days ago but sleepovers, family Christmas, and NYE got in the way. Hoping they turn out like our other cake pops did the other night!


Cake pops are SOOOOO much easier with this cute little machine that Ninni and Bobo got us for Christmas!

I can't believe that it's already 2013!! I'm sooooooo old! Can't wait for the new year. I am hoping that it will be a great year for us! It could be the year that I get a FULL time teaching job, we own our very own house since 2009, and Riley could make enormous strides in communication. Most of all, I am praying that everyone stays healthy and happy another year. We have an amazing God and our faith will carry us through this year.

So, we wanted to take advantage of our time in Texas and take the kids to the Gaylord to see ICE with Madagascar characters. We already knew that Kylie liked it because the girls went one year but we didn't know how Riley would act. He absolutely LOVES the cold so I figured he might have a good time. It's always a guess with that one but when it works out, it's sooooooo sweet!

So we made reservations for Sunday at 3:30- right in the middle of the Cowboys game. Oooops! My poor dad never gets to watch a whole game anymore. But I was so glad that my parents wanted to come with. They are troopers!!

We all had scarfs, mittens, and hats and set off to ICE. It was super crowded in there and once Riles saw the Panda inner-tube ice slide, he started backing up saying, "no!" Six Flags really scarred him for life! We reassured him that we were just going to look at Madagascar characters, we were only going to walk, and it would be very cold! He trusted me and took my hand. Love that!



Kylie is pointing at the 'ballana' for his mouth. It's an old joke. :)


They had an ice slide that Riley said he wanted to go down. He went down the smaller one twice and Kylie and Alan went down the big one a couple of times.


Riley wanted all the characters after. My parents got him the zebra and we got him the giraffe. He seemed happy with that.


Cute pic of Kylie in front of the cool tree. Poor Riles is still learning to smile naturally. ha!




Riley wearing my hat in the car.


Poppy took Riley's characters away when we got back. It was a REALLY fun trip!!