Her Hillbilly Highness

Thankful Thursday is happening at Sonya's blog which is Truth 4 The Journey.

Here are the 5 things I am thankful for on this Thursday.

1. I am thankful that Alan got a great job up here and we are not struggling like we were in Texas. He is so happy and is also thankful to be working for such a great company. I love that he is appreciated as the intelligent man that he is and is not being taken for granted.

2. I am thankful that my kids are in a great school and are truly taken care of. Riley has a shadow so he can go to "normal" classes and Kylie has a very loving but stern teacher that knows exactly how to handle her. We can also go through the carpool lane before and after school like other families do. Yea!!

3. I am SO thankful that Riley's autism is not as bad as I have seen and read about. I wouldn't say we were lucky to have a child with autism but it could be so much worse. I am just glad that he knows who his mommy, daddy, sister and grandparents are. The rest will come in time.

4. I am thankful for my family back in Texas and Alan's family here in Arkansas. They are all so supportive of us and we feel the love. I am glad that they are all healthy and hopefully we will spend the holidays with them.

5. I am thankful for the love of my life. My Alan. We will celebrate 10 years together this November with a nice Mexican vacay and I will savor every minute with him. He has been my rock during difficult times and my comedian when I needed a laugh. He is (and I quote) "the bread to my butter." I couldn't imagine life without him and the kids and I don't ever want to!

So, that's my 5 for today. I am so blessed and I thank God for all that I have.

So, my professor is really cool! She is fun and she likes to kayak and I think she pitches for the other team but that's okay because she really keeps my interest and I just know that I am going to learn a lot from her. Plus there are only like 15 of us in there so we will get special attention. Plus, plus I have her for my friday class too. So, she will probably get really sick of me always shouting out the correct answer. sure I will....

Everything we do is on the computer and to add insult, we don't use mac's. When is the world going to realize that it is such a better place with mac's? I can use my mac to do everything I need to do and never have to go to the computer lab which is sweet! But, when Professor "A" was telling us how to do things, she always added, "And if you have a mac, you are ON your OWN!" Great. But, I downloaded everything with ease today and it will be fine.

On top of it all, I just found out that I am the Homeroom Mother for Kylie's class. I really like her teacher and the Homeroom Coordinators have been very helpful. We are having a big fundraising carnival on Friday and my job was to find parent volunteers from our class. Um, that was a little challenging. There were some mom's who willingly volunteered and I am excited about meeting them.

So, yeah, I am busy but I like it. My days as a stay at home mom are over and so I am ready to go out into the world, make some money, and meet some great people along the way. Positivity sounds so much better.......

So, Kylie has been saying that she wanted to see Julie & Julia and I thought she would be totally bored! She does love to cook and she loves the idea of blogging and she knows that mommy likes both of these things, so she was game. Plus she REALLY likes Meryl Streep and Amy Adams! This kid knows her movie stars! I had heard that there was no nudity and minimal words in the movie, so I decided to take her. I am guessing that she is going to be my Plus One until I decide to make some friends here. If I ever decide that. ha!



We went to Red Lobster which was Kylie's choice and then walked around the outside mall until the movie started. Kylie happened to spot a Build A Bear and we strolled into the store. She said, "How about we just look!" Well, a $10 bear and a $6 shirt that said, "Love, Hugs, & Peace" later, we were off to see the movie.

I have this sickness. Are you ready? Whenever I get to a movie early and have a good seat right smack dab in the middle, I always feel guilty when the movie starts getting crowded. Like, there are spaces all around us and I see people come in late and start pointing at our row, I always want to "help" them out and offer to move closer to other people around us, giving up our buffer seats. Why would I try to help people? Huh? It's clear that if they want us to move down, they would ask us, right? I dunno. I swear, if they came up to me and asked me to move to the front row so they could all sit together- I would probably do it. Don't ask me why!

The first 2 hours are going to be a special All Star Challenge with past designers in which they will probably have a winner at the end of the special. Then, Season 6 starts with a whole new batch of new designers who think very highly of themselves on a whole new channel- Lifetime.

Then, a new show called Models of the Runway premiers. I am a huge fan of any kind of model show. I'm probably fascinated because I have known my whole life that modeling is just not an option in my future. Being 5'2 with a stocky build- uh, it USED to be muscular, is just not what Michael Kors or Dolce and Gabbana are looking for.

Anyways, I can't wait! Big Brother will have to be tivo'd because this is way more important. Heidi and Tim are callin' me!

The one show that I look forward to watching every summer when nothing else is on is Big Brother! I love gettin' all involved in the household mess and rooting for my fave player to win. I will never forget Kaysar! If you know who Kaysar is, you can keep up with me in BB trivia. I definitely read the spoiler sites and know what's happening in the house pretty much after it happens. Like Chima getting kicked out of the house. Juicy!

Anyway, my eldest child has also learned to love Big Brother. She only watches the CBS version and thank goodness they bleep out all the words she doesn't need to hear. But she really likes knowing all the players and asks questions about who they are and what they do outside of the house.

While we were watching it tonight, Kylie explained to us that she saw on Joker's Updates (a spoiler site) that Chima got kicked out of the house for throwing her microphone into the jacuzzi. First of all, we were shocked that she started that sentence with, "I saw on Joker's Updates" and secondly we were shocked that she knew what a jacuzzi was.

However, we were able to talk to her about playing with integrity and honor and not being a bad sport. Some of the house guests are not getting their way and acting really awful. I think Kylie sees that it's not okay to act that way when you're not winning. Hopefully she remembers this lesson the next time that she is put in a situation like that. Who knew that you could teach someone a lesson from a Big Brother episode? Please don't judge me! :)

She also updated her blog and Alan and I thought it was hilarious. Weird, but hilarious! Here is her take on tonight's episode.

As for me, I will be painting Kylie's hutch today. I have already finished her dresser, desk and chair. I decided that she is going to have black furniture with her already hot pink room. You should have seen the white furniture. It has been through the ringer! I must say that it looks more modern and FABULOUS now, though!! And, I found out the the spray paint was much easier than rolling on black paint. It did streak and I had to finish it off with a roll, but I had a fun time doing it and Kylie loves it!

This dresser used to be white and dingy and then I painted stripes on it. Then I painted it pink and white (without sanding it) and it was bumpy and had chips all over it.

During the sanding process- see the stripes. Ugh!

This was my desk that I got my Freshman year in high school. The weekend after I got it some people came over to our house for a get-together and a big 'ole coach sat in my chair and it broke! My mom and I found this chair especially for Kylie at a vintage market for not much money at all. Look at the old fashioned handles on the drawers of the desk! Alan had a hard time getting them off for me. He kept asking, "Now, are you SURE you want me to take these off?" ha! Men!

Here is the hutch. Kylie wrote ALL over this desk and hutch and then told me that she did it when she was in Kindergarten. Like that made it okay! I am going to sand and paint it today.

I just love how the desk and chair came out. I did use spray paint for the chair but for the desk, I started out with the roller. I figured out that the drawers did better with the spray paint but needed that roll of paint to finish it off and make it look smooth. The hutch goes on top of the desk when I finish painting it. I also put this hot pink fabric on the chair. Thanks, Hobby Lobby!

The dresser looks a lot better but the spray paint left all kinds of streaks. So, today I have to take off the handles and roll paint over the drawers so it will look as smooth as the desk. Those drawer pulls look pink but they are brushed silver.

These streaks are driving me crazy!! Will the painting ever be done? I will post pics after I finish today! Yea!

We had a great second week at school. I had been parking and walking the kids to their classes until Riley's teachers told me to start dropping him off in the car lane in the morning. Instead of one car at a time, they have about 10 cars in two lanes stop and let all the kids out at the same time, then the next group of 20 cars and so on... Riley's teacher is there to guide him to his class and I don't feel rushed thinking that the car behind me is saying, "Come on! Quit taking so long!"

I was supposed to start this on Monday morning but a little voice in my head said to walk them to class. I wasn't ready to give them up- they were so sweet that morning. BUT then, while walking to Riley's class, Riley took a detour. He detoured us right to the OT/PT room where there was a HUGE fan! He had found a fan at the school and was so happy about it! I couldn't get him out of the room! I finally found his teacher and she said, "They were supposed to get rid of that fan!" (Everyone is lookin' out for us!)

SO, that little story was the reason that I drop them off in the carpool line and don't look back! Now I can wear pajamas to take them to school. Just kidding- I am starting school and a job. I guess I am going to have to bathe before 11am. Those good times are SO over!

On the flip side, I have to arrive at 2:15 to be one of the first 20 people in line to get the kids. Yes, I sit there for ONE hour! I guess that will be study time! Riley's class is right in the back by the pick up line and they bring him out to me and tell me his day so I feel like I need to be there for that. Kylie gets scared if I am not in the first or second turn and thinks that something has happened to me so I am guilted by that! I am hearing that once traditional school starts the buses will pick up half of these kids so maybe I can get there at 2:30-2:45. I do get excited when I see their little faces come running up to the car! :)

So, I have mentioned that all I need to renew my Arkansas teaching certificate is 6 credit hours, right? Well, I went to the local community college and signed up for a web design class. I felt a little silly being almost 40 and signing up with teenagers but luckily I am young at heart and maybe this time around I can be the know it all in the class and actually answer questions when called on! ha! I'm gonna do it, too!

My only dilemma is do I sign up for another class and just get it all over with in one semester? If I do, I will take Photoshop (score!) and not be able to sub on two days instead of one. Also, if there is a position that opens up in the spring, I will have all my ducks in a row.

I went to my Substitute Teacher meeting this week and am getting excited about being active in the school again. The last time I subbed was in Wylie and I was pregnant with Kylie. (ha! that rhymes!) I wasn't trying to get a job through subbing so it wasn't that pleasant. This time I hope to charm the teachers and principal and get the job of my dreams by next fall. If I had only checked this out last fall when we moved here I could have taken those 6 hours that I needed in the spring and found a job for this fall. Live and learn! I have also heard that it is difficult to get a job here unless you know someone. One person told me that she couldn't even get a sub job here and she is a teacher one town over. So, I feel blessed to have gotten picked. Plus, I had EXCELLENT references! :)

In the meeting there was, of course, one BIG know it all! She kept interrupting the coordinator and giving us tips.....argh! I wanted to roll my eyes and crack up but I didn't know anyone well enough to show them my true colors just yet. That's what my blog is for!! To let the people know that there are still people out there that annoy the crap out of me and to please not interrupt the coordinator of a meeting to give your two cents. Unless you work there. I'm just sayin'!

1st Day of 1st Grade

Kylie and Mrs. Vantine (2nd half of 1st Grade)

So, bright and early at 4:30 am, Riley wakes us up by turning on the lights and coming to get me. "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Come here. Help, please!" I focused my sleepy eyes and got up and followed him to his room where he pointed and told me, "Mommy's bed!" That means "get in bed with me, mommy!" So I did. He was so excited that he could hardly contain himself.

After breakfast I took pictures and then it was off to find a parking spot somewhere within two miles of the school. Cause you know, everyone takes off and walks their kids in to their class on the first day! We walked Riley into his room and left him knowing that he has an awesome teacher and he was going to do fine.

Kylie, on the other hand let us know that she was a little nervous but that she would be okay. I left her in her room sitting at her desk and she was surrounded by at least 3 other girls. One of the girls was also named Kylie. She looked to be at least 14 and I would guess that she was going to be as tall as Shaq when she gets older.

Alan and I went to pay the cafeteria for her lunch when I had an urge to go check on Kylie again. When I did, she was fighting back tears. I called her out in the hall and she said that she would be okay and she was just shy and a little nervous. I gave her a pep talk and sent her back to class. Her teacher came out to talk to me and said that she would keep an eye on her and not to worry. I told Alan that if she came out of school today with a smile- I wouldn't worry anymore. I just feel for her! It's so hard to make friends if you are shy and especially if this is your third school and you are only in 2nd grade! She always ends up making friends and they think she is so sweet, which she is....to them. Just not to Riley. And sometimes me and Alan. I digress.

So, Alan and I went and worked out at the gym and then ran some errands, got cleaned up, and had a wonderful lunch. We stayed on our diet and are proud of ourselves. 'Cause we could have had mexican food or something good. Then we stopped by and saw Megan and Choo, who just moved in this weekend. We are so happy that they are close and can't wait to do fun things with them!

We finally went through the pick up lane to pick up the kids and it was a nightmare! I know we sat there for 45 minutes. I forget about that first week in the car lane every year. We finally got the kids and they both had a great day! Kylie met some friends like I knew she would and Riley- just listen to this:

Riley is the only NEW student in his specialized class so he is getting extra special attention. He also has a "normal" 1st grade teacher. We haven't gotten to meet her yet because we found out at the end of meet the teacher the other night and couldn't find her, but we hear that she is so excited to have Riley come to her class! I told Alan that either she was very good with kids who have autism or was very green to this whole thing called autism and really didn't know what she was in for. Nevertheless, Riley went to art and music with his 1st grade class accompanied by a shadow (a specialized teacher) and did great! He also went to recess with his class. His specialized teacher also told us that she did lots of activities with him during the day. She is a ball of energy and so accommodating to Riley's needs.

We feel so blessed to have the kids in such a great school and can't wait to see what this year brings!

Today was our last Friday of Freedom until school starts on Monday. We went to Meet The Teacher night on Thursday night and were very pleased with both kids' teachers. Riley's teacher is going to be GREAT!! I have heard so many good things about her- I could go on all day! Kylie's teacher is stern and we can tell that she is not going to let anything get by her. This year is definitely the end of the sweet teacher streak for Kylie. Actually, we are excited because this is just what Kylie needs, this and something to help her focus!

Like a good Mommy and blogger I did NOT take pictures this year. I have no idea why and I doubt I will take them with their teacher on the first day of school. So, I am guessing that if I go to Open House in a couple of months, that's my only shot.

We are really looking forward to Monday. There will be no tears shed because I have done this before. Alan is going to go with us and then it's date day for mommy and daddy! We figured that we would go to Fayetteville and grab some lunch around the campus. I love going back to the campus with Alan. He is such a proud little Razorback.

Here's to a great weekend and then back on schedule! Hurray!