Decorating

It's that time of year again! I get so excited about getting all the Christmas stuff out and decorating. I loved how I did 'the ledge' last year, so I decided to look back in my pictures so I could re-create it. GUESS WHAT? Apparently I didn't take a picture of it. Bummer. I did get a picture of the mantel from last year though.

This year there isn't any mantle to decorate. Darn it.


I finished making the Christmas cards for this year. Now I just need to convince the kids that they ARE getting their pictures taken - standing/sitting near each other - and looking happy about it. Someday they will thank me for those Christmas pictures!

I went to the Southern Christmas Show last week with 2 friends. We had a great time! We met the Gourd Lady (try googling her - she is a riot!) and saw lots of pretty Christmas things. The top photo below is of a miniature fabric store made inside a sewing basket! How cute is that?? The bottom picture is what I would do to my mantel if I had one to decorate this year..... :)

I Went to the Dentist

I had to go to the dentist this morning. I broke a filling last week. I knew it was going to happen because it just felt weird...kind of loose. Anyway, they numbed me up to grind out the big old crappy silver filling and then put in one of those nice white ones. I have a horrible time with the numbing stuff. It works too well. I can be numb for days and days. I have even gotten dental work without being numb. I figure after having 8 children, the dentist is easy-peasy. The dentist used a different kind of numb-stuff today - it's supposed to last 30-45 minutes. My appointment was at 8 AM. I was numb by 8:20. it is now 10:20 and the left side of my face, including my ear is STILL numb. It really sucks! I started thinking about when I got that big old crappy silver filling way back in the dark ages. My dentist didn't even use gloves - how gross is that?? Does anyone else remember that? That is seriously nasty to think about. The gloves my dentist uses now are even flavored. I've got to say that is a major improvement!

Happy Veteran's Day!

The kids are 'home' from school today. At the moment, the only one home is Kirsten. She told me this morning "I looked at my clock and it said 7-2-7 and I said 'I gotta get up!' so I did and then I had fruity pebbles and got dressed because my feet were cold and now I'm going to play wii, lots of wii as soon as I find the chapstick." 5 year olds crack me up!

It's been very nice here this week - in the 70s in the afternoons. Since it was cold last week - cold enough to sleet/snow for a couple of minutes - and then it warmed up again, it's time for the march of the lady bugs in my house. They come in the front and go across the ceiling and go out the back. Ugh. Did I ever mention that I don't like creatures in my house? I might have said that once or twice before. Anyway, I was talking to a friend yesterday and she said to put bay leaves in the windowsills. So my sills are coated in bay leaves. She said one would work, but I had a lot of bay leaves, so I figured lots would be okay. Here's hoping!

Sleet/snow from last week:


I got my hair cut and colored last week. I really like it! I had to tilt my head to get a better shot of the color - it's reddish - what she called my 'winter color':


My mom made me lots of crocheted flowers over the summer. They are so pretty! The girls and I made some Christmas ornaments with them. I am also going to make them in white with red flowers.


Dallin starts soccer practice next week. I can't believe that he's old enough that his first tournament of the season is the CASL showcase! I remember going the first time with Kyle - it seems like it was last year. Yikes!

Speaking of Kyle, he was just transferred from Meridian, ID, back to Nampa, ID, but to a different part of Nampa. This time next year, we'll be picking him up from the airport because he'll be done his mission already! Wow! We got a letter the other day from a family in the area where Kyle was serving. Here's part of the letter:

"About a month ago my daughter and I were unloading groceries from the back of our truck when Elder Watson and Elder *** rode up on their bikes and offered to help us carry in the food. Of course we accepted.......(skip).............as they were getting ready to leave Elder *** asked if there was anything they could do for us as they were looking for service to do. Elder Watson happened to wrap his hand around one of the posts on our banister and gave it a tug, commenting that our banister did not meet code. We had know for years how dangerous it was........(skip)........He said "I can fix that for you." (DOESN'T THAT SOUND JUST LIKE HIS DAD??) ...........(skip).............. Some of our tools were pretty sad but the Elders made do, never complaining, and working with precision. Elder *** told me up front he didn't know how to do much but he could learn........(skip)...........Elder Watson patiently taught him what to do ....(skip)...........He was so careful in his calculations, figuring and figuring again.................(skip).................What a wonderful son! He not only served us but he is dedicated and focused on being a good missionary..............I wanted you to know how grateful I am for the service of your son. I've seen him several times since the completion of the stairs and he just makes me smile.................(skip)...............I know Elder Watson won't be home for a while but when he does get home I wanted to help contribute to the purchasing of a few things for whatever his future holds. (She enclosed a gift card to Old Navy!)

Here's some photos of the stair project:

The Cow Poop Story

"Farm living is the life for me" Who the heck came up with those lyrics?? Seriously?? Did they ever live on an actual farm??

This morning was so much fun (insert a very sarcastic voice here!).

Since it was raining, I stuck the girls in the van to drive them to the end of the driveway to wait for the bus. Picture this: I backed out of the carport, looked down to go from R to D, and looked back up RIGHT IN TO A COW'S FACE! It scared me at first, then it really pissed me off. As I drove up the driveway, I noticed that ALL BUT 2 COWS WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FENCE!

I grabbed my cell and called Keenan who was with Tim at church so they could leave from there and go to the jobsite. Keenan apparently sleeps in the van while Tim is teaching seminary, and I woke him up with the panicked phone call. I told him to tell Dad that all of the cows were out and I was going to need help. He told me "I saw cows out this morning when we left and I told Dad and he said not to worry about it; leave them alone." WHAT THE HECK?? It turns out that Tim thought there were only 2 or 3 cows out....not 45.

By this time, the girls were on the bus (which showed up late!) and I drove back down the driveway to the shop to open the door for the kitten. I put the van in park, opened the door and stepped out PUTTING MY FOOT RIGHT INTO A FRESH PILE OF POOP! Fantastic. Now in addition to being upset that Tim wasn't coming home to help, I had poop on my croc. Great.

Well, it gets even better. The cows, noticing that I wasn't blocking the driveway anymore, decided that maybe they could walk up the driveway and go on a search for better pastures. YIKES. So I backed up the van and blocked the driveway. Here's another visual for you. Picture me sitting panicked in the van with all the cows mad that I blocked their exit and to get to the cattle dog, I have to walk through all the pissed off cows. Not happening.

THANK HEAVENS I got a text from Keenan at that moment that said "we're on our way". YAY!!

I very slowly drove the van towards the cows so they wouldn't start running (which NEVER helps) and they very calmly walked toward the spot they used to get out. My mom says that cows will almost always do that - walk right back to the spot where they got out to try to go back in the same way. Guess where they got out? Right through the middle of the barn. Guess what they did? They got into the feed room and somehow carried the metal can full of chicken feed out of the feed room, got the lid off and ate it all. (so now I'm going to be going to Tractor Supply to get feed sometime today. yay.)

Well, wouldn't you know, the cows didn't want to go back through the barn because they wanted to get to the winter hay storage. Bummer. So after I put the can back in the feed room and shut the door, I opened the fence to the bull pasture. I figured it wouldn't hurt to leave the fence open since all the cows were out anyway...it wasn't like any more could escape. Then I got back in the van and 'herded' them towards the pasture. Cows being cows, they went the other way towards the house.

Then Tim and Keenan pulled in - HOORAY!

Keenan started a tractor and moved it to block the opening into the barn where the cows had torn down corral panels. I parked the van and Tim and I walked the cows around the house and back into the pasture. Where they went without any complaints. I know Tim was wondering why I always have issues with putting the cows back in. Isn't it funny how they all behave so well for him??

So, for now, the cows are in instead of out. When Tyler, Ethan and Dallin get home from school, I am supposed to take PSPs, Wii controllers, and laptops until the fence is fixed in the back pasture.

Not so good.....

The N.C. High School Athletic Association boys soccer state playoffs get under way this week and, stunningly, they do so without North Iredell.

The Raiders, co-champions of the North Piedmont Conference, were disqualified due to an infraction that cost them more than their postseason berth.

North Iredell coach Scott Childers declined to comment on the matter Monday, deflecting questions to the school administration.

“We had to withdraw because of an ineligibility issue,” North Iredell principal Teresa Evans said.

Evans didn’t say who the ineligible player was but noted that the team had to forfeit its games.

The Raiders went 11-4 overall and 9-3 in the conference. They won their last nine games to share the NPC title with Statesville for the second straight season.

Evans said she sent letters home with the players regarding the circumstances.

“It’s awful,” she said. “I’m not very happy.”

Tyler's Senior Night

Last week was Tyler's senior night for the high school soccer team. There were 10 seniors and they each got a chance to be in the spotlight. Coach Childers handed out a form for them to fill out and then it was read over the loudspeakers. The boys also got their fleece blankets and the moms got the flowers. The weather was beautiful and it was a great night (especially since we won 4-0 and Tyler scored!). Tyler had an amazing senior soccer season!

Here is Tyler's 'speech':

Name - Tyler Watson
Team # - 34

Sponsored by - Mr. and Mrs. Tim Watson

Teacher who has inspired/encouraged you the most: Mr. Childers
Why did you choose this teacher? Mr. Childers has taught me the most and helped understand a lot about many random things. He is always there if I needed to talk to him and is my favorite teacher!

Most memorable "soccer moment" - All the memories kind of blend together, but I would have to say that just playing in defense and helping our team chase down all the forwards that got through is the most memorable for me. Although dribbling to the goal when I played forward was pretty fun too!

What college do you plan to attend? BYU-Idaho

What do you plan to do after college? Clinical Psychology and run the world on the side!

What thought would you like to tell to your teammates as you graduate this year? Playing with my fellow seniors this year has been the best ever. Even though I have played many more years of club soccer, this season remains my favorite. Also, to my defensive buddies Brad, Jesus, and Deveron: Well done! We've been through a lot together!"

Who would you like to thank for supporting you during your time here at North Iredell High School? I would like to thank God for helping me get through these few years of high school, my parents for teaching me and giving me guidance, and to Mrs. Evans for being the best principal ever!