Christmas is coming!

Well, we had the first Christmas program this year at church..the boys did very well.  Eric had his first showing of piano playing, as he played "Away in a Manger" for the prelude with some other kids.  He did great!  They both sang and had a line in the program.  They looked so handsome and grown up in their new shirt and ties.  Eric has his school program tomorrow night!

Mom, dad, Allen and Myrna came over to see it.  Salazar's were visiting Troy for the weekend, but they will be here for Eric's program...including Aunt Christy, who made it home from Alaska with Ava and Ady on Dec. 8.  After church we had lunch at my house...Eric's bday was Friday and Dad's was today, so we celebrated both. 

We will get done on Wed this week.  one regular day tomorrow and 2 semester tests days and vacation!  I can't wait.  Kelly went to work tonight so he will be home Thursday to start the holidays.  I will go trucking with him next Sun/Mon and then we head to get Jack and Pres on Tues-Sun.  Most of my shopping is done, just have to finish wrapping and call it quits.  Seemed like a lot of work this year, but most of my shopping had to be done at night after school, that makes it a little challenging!

Eric turned 9 on Friday, as I said.  He got new golf clubs, Bronco lounge pants, Bronco golf balls and golf hat, fleece jacket, Nike sweatshirt and Wii game.  He was pretty happy!  Alic had the flu on Friday, so he and I spent the afternoon at home...good time for me to catch up on some work and Christmas cards...they are finally in the mail!!!!

Well, that's about it...Merry Christmas everyone! May your holidays be blessed with happiness!!!

Relaxing, productive snow day!

Well, Dec. 11 and here is our first HUGE storm of the year!  I do not remember it being this bad for years!  The snow drift on my deck was at my thigh by noon.  I ventured out to the grocery store and practically lost myself in the blowing snow.  We probably have 5-6 inches already.  Kelly blew out the drive once already, but froze doing it, so another round tomorrow and I chould be good to go. 
I am having my secretaries, elementary principal and business manager over tomorrow night for a holiday soup supper, so I decided to make some candy pretzels and quick sugar cookies for the boys to decorate.  We are having vegetable beef, chili and homemade chicken noodle soup and ice cream sandwich dessert.  I can't wait!  I cleaned this morning, wrapped some presents this afternoon and now just relaxing in my chair, shopping online, and catching up on my friends' blogs.
Tonight Kelly and I are headed to a Christmas party here in town...yes, it is still on!  It is a formal event, so I bought a new (on sale) dress and can't wait...sounds to be great fun with great people.  I will post pics later!  My final goal this weekend is to get my Christmas cards out.  I have had them ready for weeks, but boy am I draggin' my feet on addressing them!!! uuugghhhh.  Such work! LOL
Well, if you are snowed in, hope you are enjoying it as much as I am...until another time, take care!

JOSH KELLY/ERIC CHURCH/MIRANDA LAMBERT=KELLY's BDAY SURPRISE!!!

Well my surprise turned out great for Kel.  He was clueless about his bday present I was surprising him with, and loved every minute of it.  We met our friends Tash and Cory in SFalls and headed to Brookings for the concert.  Our tickets were in the pit...which made the surprise even better...and we were in touching distance of the performers.  We LOVED LOVED LOVED the concert.  Eric Church is a nut and Miranda is awesome.  HIGHLY recommend seeing them any time!!!

His bday is actually the 26th...he will be 28 this year.  STILL a young pup!

I'm 5!!!!!! ( or Alic is...)

Well my little man had his first friend bday party!  He was SUPER SUPER excited to do this!  He picked four of his friends from daycare and our general friends and invited them.  We went last Saturday and headed up to Brandon, SD to the Pizza Ranch.  He had really wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese, but mom had her reservations. :)  We heard that the Brandon PR had a fun house next door and just as good as Chuck E Cheese, and better pizza!!!  So we picked up the munchkins around 10:30 and headed up.  We ate and had a little ice cream and they were dying to go play.  We went and bout our token card and went to town.  For about 2 hours they played and played and played.
We ran out of money and steam around 2:15 and went home.  We brought them to my place so Alic could open presents.  Again, fun time.  He got some cute stuff and was a happy camper.  I hauled them all home around 4 pm and Alic crashed for a while.  He had fun and was so happy...I can't believe how big he has gotten.  I am so proud of my little man.

Halloween time!

Well it is that time of year again.  Above you can see my "scary" boys!  My nephew Owen (Ryan's son) had a sleepover with us and joined us trick or treating Saturday night in Rock Valley.  They had a great time together!

Fall is slipping by fast.  The end of the first quarter came and went.  Fall sports are sadly over.  Our girls vb team lost in the first round, and our boys fb team lost to Harlan on Monday night.  What a fun season...my favorite of them all!  Ready for a little r & r in this house though! As I sit here and type, I just emailed off a xmas list to one of the grandmas, am looking at the inch of dust on my furniture, and thinking of the school work I should accomplish yet tonight...or maybe go to bed! :)

Boys are great.  Eric got all A's at school on the report card, and is doing super. He is currently just finishing subtracting numbers in the 100's and now moving on to multiplying!  Crazy!!! Alic also got superb remarks from his teacher and is really showing his growth on writing his name, cutting and learning the letters.  Alic got to go to the Pizza Ranch today for a field trip and tomorrow gets to wear his pajamas to school for a pajama party...(it's P week!).

Kelly has been running his butt off as usual...he broke down last week for two days, but is running strong this week.  He is looking forward to getting his boys for the week of Thanksgiving...me too..miss the little guys!!!

Get those xmas lists ready everyone...it'll be here before we know it!

Pumpkin Carving Party!

This weekend we got to go to one of our friends' house for a pumpkin carving party! SOOO FUN! Tons of food, laughs, and cool designs were had by all. The boys loved it, even though Kelly and I did the majority of the work. All in all about 12 pumpkins were carved, all with different and cool designs. Here are our end results...the witch took about 45 minutes! It was fun just to relax and do something out of the ordinary. All is well here...first sport seasons are winding down, and the end of the first qtr is Tuesday! Where has the time gone? The boys are super excited as we got our cement in the back poured and now have our basketball court and hoop up. It keeps them plenty busy and full of fun. Happy fall all!!

Been Busy!

Here's some random pics of people at school. The first pic is of my secretary and I. I tell you...classy lady with 30+ years experience. I am old enough to be her daughter and we laugh about that. She has become a best friend to me and is priceless in my life. Her experience, honesty, trust, and friendship make me better everyday. She is truly THE BEST!!! This pic is of Don and I. He is the elem principal and a best friend of mine. Amazing is the best word to describe Don. You will never meet anyone else like him. He is so supportive and fully of ideas and energy like no other. We all know and love Don for his humor and zest of life...but more than anything he is my lifeline day in and day out. There isn't a day I don't turn to him for advice, leadership, mentoring, or a good hug. He's AWESOME! These are pics of the boys with their teachers. They both love, love, love them. Alic learned to write his name this week. He is so proud of himself (and mommy's proud too)! He has a little girl 'friend' in class! She sits at his table with them and they play together at recess. Silly!!! Eric is reading up a storm and loves playing fball at recess with the buds. He is now in a flag football league on Saturday mornings. He doesn't miss a beat...such a neat kid. (Mom is proud again!!!) Work is great. Still extremely busy. Homecoming is next week and we are gearing up for that. Pretty soon it is midterm already. I just can't believe it's going so fast again, but I'm loving every minute yet and am not complaining one bit! No new teachers this year, so just great to have a well 'groomed' group to work with day in and day out. They love kids and it shows. Have a great rest of the week all!

First Day of School

Well, I have two little boys that absolutely love school. Eric is in hog heaven with his teacher, Mr. Swanson. Mr. Swanson is our head basketball coach who has won two state back to back titles. He has all Eric's friends...I think it was planned to be a role model for this talented group of young boys. He is an awesome teacher and mentor for all of them. Eric's desk has a Vikings sticker on it...his 2nd favorite team, so he's a happy camper for 3rd grade! Alic is in heaven! First day went super...they worked briefly on the routines of what they should do. He starts at 12:15 and is done by 3. Friday they got to go out for recess!!! Let me tell you, that is ALL I heard about since he got out Thursday until he went back on Friday. Also how there is a party on the 100th day of school, and the 180th day. TOO FUNNY! It'll be sooo fun to see him grow. Eric is such a natural at things...and Alic takes a little more get up and go to catch on, so I'm excited for this new venture. I had a great first two days. It is so nice to be back in the swing of things again, and what an awesome feeling to be in my 2nd year and over the first year jitters. Things just flowed so much easier. Kids are pushing buttons already, but I try to send them a very clear message first and foremost so they learn their lessons. Anyway...next Friday starts the football season, and the Monday after that volleyball. The fun begins with running night after night to games!!! I just pray for another super year...thinking of my friends in Stuart getting to start next week in their new school. HOW FUN! :)

The countdown is on...

I haven't blog in forever again...lazy and busy. My countdown is on for school to start. The teachers start on Monday and kids on Thursday. WHERE DID THE SUMMER GO!?!?! I have been working pretty regularly the last two weeks. I think I am ready. Very different from last year...this year I feel I'm forgetting stuff! Boys are great. Alic is on his countdown to the first day. Eric will start 3rd grade and play flag fb this fall. He's super excited, as his teacher is our boys bb coach...who won 2 back to back state titles. He will be an AWESOME role model for Eric. Alic will start preschool with my friend Melissa Moser. HE will go from 12:15-3 everyday. He is SOOOOO excited! We have all the school supplies and he got his backpack ready. He is very excited about the first day outfit Grandpa Lux helped him pick out! :) I am ready for year two..feel much more comfortable this year, that is for sure. We've been busy staying a week @ Okoboji with Kelly's fam. I went to DM for a conference for administrators. The boys spent some fun time with Aunt Robin and Grandma and all the cousins. I am looking forward to seeing my brother and sis in law from Denver who will be here Aug 29 for a visit. Haven't seen them in 5 years! Sooo, on to another year. I love it here, the boys love it here and we are happier than ever. Have a good one everybody!

Summer Fun

The 4th has come and gone and once

again it was a great time by all. We were

lucky enough to spend time in Okoboji

with our good friends Paula and Gabe and

Paula's sister, Christin, at their trailer on

East Lake. We spent all day Saturday on the lake...

even though it was quite windy! Kelly got pretty fried

but we really had fun. Here are a few of our classic pics we captured to remember the weekend:

The top pic is Alic enjoying some fireworks. We went

to my brother Neil's Monday night to sit on the deck and

enjoy Sioux Center's display that night. They each took a

friend along to have some fun.

The week ahead brings me my first week off at home to enjoy

some r & r and catch up on my soaps! I have a little cleaning to do,

it's Eric's last week of rec and baseball games. He'll finish up

basketball next the following week too. Summer is just

flying by it seems. We have enjoyed every minute of it

but are dreading how fast school will be back upon us!

Vegas Vacation in Review

Well, our first vacation is come and gone. What an awesome time Kel and I had in Vegas! It started out in Sioux Falls on the 17th with the Sugarland concert...a complete blast. Then onto Vegas on the 18th til the 27th. We did so many amazing and fun things. I added a few pics for you to get the idea. We went flitelining, rode a ride at the top of the Stratosphere, went to the top of the Eifle Tower at the Paris, saw the water show at the Bellagio, hung out at the pool, ate too much, and finally saw GARTH BROOKS!!! It was such a blast and fun time to get to get away with Kelly for 10 days. WE DID NOT GET MARRIED OR ENGAGED...for the 10,000 of you that asked and wondered! :) Our trip went from short in the first thoughts of it, to long as Kelly wanted to go to the Great West Truck Show, which is how we started the week. It was fun, and saw some cool trucks. Our second one this summer so far! I'm such a truckers wife already! LOL We stayed at the Monte Carlo hotel at first, then switched to the Wynn at the end of the week for Garth. I felt like a queen there!!! My summer has been busy with work through June, Eric's bb games twice a week, weddings, and truck shows! :) The boys are doing great and loving summer. Eric is in summer rec Monday through Thursday and does bb then. He is also on a basketball league on Monday nights and they play in SCity at the Y. He loves it! Alic is following big bro around on his bike and scooter, trying to keep up. Our July will be a little slower. I will only go in a day a week to work. Eric is done with rec after the 4th. We have my brothers 40th and another wedding reception, a weekend with the Roders at a park, then first week of August brings Okoboji with Kelly's fam, and a conference in DM for me with the elementary principal....then SCHOOL AGAIN! Hope you are all doing great!

It's been a while...

I am finally taking the time to blog because

my friend Paula is fed up with me taking so

long and she requested a new one! :) So,

I have been pretty busy the last couple months

finishing up the year. After Easter Kelly and I had

prom...it was really neat and fun! Then we went to

a wedding at Okoboji w/the Salazar's...great to see

Troy and Rachael. May came pretty quick and we have

been LOVING the weather outside. Eric is finishing up

his 2nd grade year and will get to go on a swimming field trip

this week for meeting his AR reading goal. I wrapped up

graduation on May 18 and the year is over in 5 days. I can't

believe it! I had SUCH an AWESOME year!!!! I really can't say

enough about it, how well it went, how much I love my job and

the students and my teachers and rest of the staff. We love our

house and enjoying the deck and back yard. I am really just

LOVING life right now! We have a VERY busy summer planned.

About every weekend is full with weddings, semi-truck shows (thank

you Kelly!), and vacation! Eric will have summer rec in the mornings

and Alic will go to the sitter all day. I will work most the month

of June and a day a week in July. Kelly and I are headed to Vegas in

June. We get to see Sugarland in SFalls, then heading out west for

a week to a truck show and see Garth Brooks!!! We will head back right

before the 4th, relax a bit and spend a couple weekends with Kelly's

family at Scharnberg Park and Okoboji. I can already tell it won't

be long enough because it will fly by! But I am really looking forward

to all the fun. Hoping some Stuart friends will make it up this way this

summer to visit. We will also get Jack and Pres a month in July, which

will be fun...it's been a while since they've been here!

Soooo, best things that have happened since the last blog summed up: sold my house in Stuart, finished the year w/out any drama and successfully, and have lost 25 pounds and am ready for summer fun!

Spring is here!

Well, haven't blogged in quite a while...I guess I don't really feel anything exciting has been going on! We have just been enjoying getting to relax at home finally at night and not rushing around. The year is quickly coming to a close, and the pressures of end of the year are here! There is a lot to get wrapped up and finished, but thank goodness I'll be working on and off all summer to get that done too. We hosted Easter at my house this year. What a great feeling to finally have all my family come to MY house for once! I used to be the one traveling 3 hours to get home, and now 45 minutes and everyone is here. :) We had a GREAT day. The weather was tremendous. Kelly and I made the mashed potatoes and prime rib...the rest brought food. We hid Rocket colored Easter eggs in the back yard...here are some shots: We sat on the deck all afternoon and just enjoyed each others company. Mom and dad had just got back from Texas so it was AWESOME for us all to be together again! The boys are loving being outside again and enjoying the yard and their scooters. Thank goodness the weather is finally turning. Kelly has been doing great. Working on his truck a lot to keep it looking hott! :) Put a wood floor in, new seat, and just got it all buffed up and shiny for spring. We are getting excited to go to Sugarland in June and I just bought him tickets to Garth Brooks in Vegas in June too! So we will have a mini vacation out there this summer and just try to get a way a bit. Sorry for being so behind...I'll try to be better! :)

A FANTASTIC WEEK!

ROCKETS ARE NUMBER ONE!!!

We spent most of last week down in Des Moines

at Wells Fargo Arena cheering on our Rockets to a

state championship!!! What an awesome thing to be

part of that ride with the team, students and fans.

Eric and Alic were in hog heaven. We played last Monday,

Thursday and then Friday night. Three of the players ended

up on the all-tournament team, one of them got the Pizza

Ranch MVP of the game, and another player won the IA

Bankers Assoc. scholarship given after the game. I am a little

biased, but my students are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That added three more days to the end of our year, but we still

get out on May 27...not bad! :) We will be using what little

vacation they were going to have at Easter to make up a few

days.

Eric and Alic are doing great. They had their year checkups today

and Eric weighs 84.6 pounds and is 4'6" and Alic is 42.6 pounds

and is 3'7". Bout and inch and 40 pounds difference! hahahahaha.

This week is a busy one trying to get back to normal. We will

have our swing show this weekend...I'm excited to see it as they

say it is really neat!

Kelly stayed busy this weekend putting a wood floor and new seat

in his truck. It was a lot of work, but really turned out nice. He's

proud of it...just ask him! :)

This weekend brings Jack and Pres back for the week. Another busy

time, but as usual, we are looking forward to seeing them again...

especially since it's getting nice!

So, the snow is almost gone, and I'm looking forward to grilling

on the deck soon...another perk of the house that I haven't

gotten to enjoy yet!!!

Have a great week all!

Back to state Rockets!

What a great end to a busy week! We enjoyed having

Jackson and Preston here a few days to celebrate

Jack's 5th bday. Kelly decorated the house with

streamers and balloons, it was quite a site! We

had Kelly's fam here to have spaghetti and cake

and spoil Jack.

Saturday brough Katie's baby shower in Sanborn.

It turned out really nice and we had a great

turnout and plenty of food! Payton was a trooper

and met a lot of new friends!

Saturday night brought the substate final game in Sioux

Center with the Rockets taking on friends and foes

Boyden-Hull. I haven't been that nervous for something

in a long time. We are teammates for football and baseball

and arch enemies in basketball. A very weird feeling let

me tell you! Our guys did great, and we ended up

winning 63-55 and will head to Des Moines Monday

to play at Wells Fargo against Council Bluffs St. Alberts at

12:15...if you want to root for someone, we'd appreciate

your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week all!

My little boys...

Here is an uploaded pic of my boys from tonight...

I now have to tell eric to bend over so I can

fit him in the picture with Alic...getting so tall!!!

We went to Sheldon and had supper with the

Salazar's as I had to pick Alic up from them.

He stayed there since Tues. night.

The babysitter was gone this week as

she's the cheerleading

coach and took our cheerleaders to the state wrestling tourney.

He came home with cupcakes and muffins...think he had a good time?

So last weekend we spent Saturday at Kelly's folks as he

went out snowmobiling all day. The boys had fun 'decorating'

Myrna's cast and watching movies. Monday brought

another snowday! :( And then a 2 hr late start on Tuesday,

so another screwed up week! Wednesday sent myself and

our AD to the state wrestling tourney in DM. We

were early enough I got to stop in Stuart and see some

old friends at school! :) Then on to Jordan Creek and

I got my new white soft n comfy north face jacket!!!!

(Kelly had got me one for xmas, but accidently got me a girls...lol)

Then the AD and I ate at Cheesecake factory...mmmm!

Then off to the tourney...so proud of our 3 wrestlers.

They were all done wrestling by Thursday, and the

DM Register and CH 13 news did an AWESOME article/piece

on our sophmore wrestler who doesn't have legs.

Very proud of my students! Eric and I got to bond the rest of the week...

just like old times with just him around. We went to Subway

Thursday night before the boys first district game.

They won by almost 40 points. We are defending state 1A champs...

so hopefully this is the start to a long ride! We play next

week Tues, Thurs and Sat to go to state. Would love to get to go,

as means I get to stop in Stuart again!!...and Jordan Creek!

hahahahahahahaha. This weekend will be slow...fine with me..I'm tired!

The next week brings Kelly's boys and sis (and new baby Payton!)

on Wed. Then celebrating Jack's bday next Friday and

Katie's baby shower next Saturday...whew!

lazy week...

I haven't updated my site b/c I really have nothing

new to tell you all! Boring huh? Mom and

dad are living it up in Texas, even though it's been a

little colder than normal, it's better than here. We snuck

out of the last snow storm and are happy about that. Boys are

happy and doing well.

Biggest excitement was me turning 35 last Friday. Makes

me sick...here I come 40, 50...60!!!!AUUUUGGHHH!!!!

Had a nice day...got flowers from Kelly and Peases, then

Kelly and I went out to Sioux Center to the Ridge golf

course for supper, then spent all day in Sioux City shopping,

eating, and movie....so that doubled as Valentines for me....

we had a great time!!!! Oh...and I got an IPod touch from him

and the boys...then got a new blackberry for myself!!!!

At work we are already 1/2 through the 3rd qtr...seems

unreal. I'm slowly meeting more and more neighbors..they

are all so very nice.

I think I sold my house too!! I got an offer and accepted it...

just waiting on the people to sell their house, or auction

it off by March 1. Great news and can't wait to quit paying

on a place I don't live in anymore!

well...Happy Valentines all....LOVE YOU!

Newest addition to the House

This pic....even though you can't see it the best, is the newest addition my house! Click on the pic to see bigger. (Suprise mom!....your copies are here for you when you return!!!) It is beautiful and just needs a frame. We got it done here in town...they do a super job. Nothing new this week...except ANOTHER snow day! :( OLD MAN WINTER......GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only hope we go tomorrow. We will now be busy with make-up games again. And we aren't even to February! The boys are good. Enjoy the time to stay home on snow days...they got a used xbox from their babysitters son, so that seems to consume them now. We got naps and are happy bout that, so we will have some extra energy for the week ahead. Kelly got stuck in the storm at Newell, which is good he stopped there as it just got worse. He will spend the night there and take off in the morning after they clear the roads. So, that's the Salazar update this week. Pretty boring, but that's not all bad either!! Have a good one!

Snow days, Snow days, Snow days...

Ok, everyone sick of the weather keep reading!

This is ridiculous! Rock Valley is now up to

5 days. We will be taking Presidents day, our Thursday before Easter and Monday

after Easter, and 2 days this goofy season!

We will get out now May 24. Still early, but tired of pushing the date back! Nothing new here. We have been running 4 out of 5 days a week to basketball games and wrestling meets. Needless to say we are ready for that to simmer down! The boys love it...and the concession stand treats!!!! I have spent a life's savings there already this year, and am tired of it!! HAHAHAHA. Eric got his report card and did just super...such a proud mom I am!! He also got his diagnostic reading test back and scored at a 4.5 level, which means he reads the same as a student in the 4th grade!!! He LOVES reading and now has homework assignments with his accelerated reading program he is in. Good experience for him. Alic has been a little naughty at daycare lately with another little guy! They like to wrestle and try and push Tammy's buttons. He has had a few time outs from what I understand. I tease him that Eric never got in trouble at day care....of course, Eric was the only one there!!! He'll learn, I am sure of that. His new thing lately is to wrestle with his little friend, and he has come home with some nice scratches on his face from their 'playing.' HAHA. I survived last weeks ITBS/ITED tests, and am just trying to have at least one normal week of school again. There still is never a boring day at work, and I still am loving it every day. Stay dry, safe and warm!!!

Pics of the new pad...finally!

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting some pics

of my new place. The very first pics you saw were with

the previous owners decorating....not so pretty now. LOL

It is definitely a work in progress, and I got a ways to go, but have YEARS to do that too. Needless to say, we are LOVING it!!!!!!!!! It is unbelieveable how at home we

all feel, and love every inch we have. The boys are healthy

and happy, and I'm so grateful to have a new washer and dryer

and love it too! Kelly has done a superb job getting the garage

to his likings...hmmmm HIS GARAGE it looks like! :) The rest of the pics are of my table, kitchen, and our

bedrooms. I hope to see some of you for a visit soon!!!!

What a craaaazzzy Christmas!!

Just when you think you are going to get some time to relax, the weather goes and interjects!!!! I cannot believe the amount of snow around here...haven't seen it this bad this early since I was a little girl...oh well, we all survived, and once again are shown it is not in our control. It all worked out, and have now celebrated our 3 christmases, enjoyed time with all the family, especially seeing my sis-in-law again, who made it home in the storm from Alaska with her kids and husband. Jack and Pres came on the Monday after xmas, so its just been crazy around here, besides moving into my new house on the 19th too!!! I NEED ANOTHER VACATION! :) The boys were plenty spoiled by all, and had a great time. I can't complain myself, as got GREAT time with Kelly as he worked ahead to spend more time with me, the boys, and helping set up the house. We are settled in, I'm doing my own laundry again, and loving the new kitchen table Myrna and Allen brought back when they picked up the boys. Life is good here people, that is for sure. We head back to reality the 4th, which is fine...too much time off and one gets lazy. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids again, getting back into a routine, and hopefully start working out regularly!!! (HA) We hope you all had as great as a holiday season as we did, and have an AWESOME 2010!!! Much love and kisses to you all!