What do ya think??

My dear Adventures in Newlywed best friend ever, just redid my header!  Isn't she just the greatest?  So tell me what you think, and if you want your own head over to her page and ask real nice like and she may be so kind as to hook you up too.  Or if you're not really into the being super nice thing, tell her she'll hafta wear this to her next function!  Yikes!  We found it tonight still shopping for her formal, but there was Mi Cocina involved, so I was definitely in for that!

I love Mondays!!

Monday night is the way I make through Monday daytime. 

I just poured myself a big glass of milk to enjoy my Oreos.  Oreos are by far my favorite store bought cookies, more on that in another post whenever I get around to it. :)

Set my VCR to tape the Big Bang Theory.  That's right I said VCR, I don't pay for cable.  How I met your mother comes on after that, so it gets taped too. :)

While the VCR does its thing, I get to enjoy the House!  It's so great in its sarcastic wittiness.  Tonight House figures out why this guy is locked inside his body, conscious but without ability to communicate. 

This is just a random picture I thought I'd throw in at the end of this post.  Farmboy wants a Siberian Husky one of these days.  Wish I could afford to give him one, but that'll hafta wait a while.  You know my love for all things furry n cuddly, I can't wait for more animals to spoil!

I love you FB, thanks for putting up with my craziness!

Saturday with the Girls!

The girls and I decided to meet at the Cheesecake Factory!!  YUM!

While we were waiting for Adventures in Newlywed, we decided to order this.  We didn't exactly read the menu too well.  It said the cheddar cheese dip was chilled, we totally didn't read that!  We were expecting queso, so when this landed at the table it was an interesting surprise.
We had to try it simultaneously, it was basically pimento cheese spread.  I ordered white chicken chili.  It was so tempting I forgot to take a picture til I'd had a few bites.  Speaking of tempting, I didn't even get a shot of the peanut butter cup cheesecake we gobbled.

After lunch we went shopping for the dress mentioned here.  We found a couple cute choices, but not the perfect one yet.  After we'd warn our poor bestie out with all the trying stuff on, then we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens.  How fun!  It was pretty enjoyable.

In other news... my class will have their standardized testing this week.  Which means a fairly low key week in the planning, grading department, but a week that will fry their poor little brains like a twinkie at the state fair!  Hope everyone has a great week.

Oh... How exciting!!

Pioneer Woman is having a real time Q&A session!  So exciting... is anyone else as obsessed with her?  Is there anything she doesn't do?  Head over there now if you want in on the fun.

OK onto other news.  Yesterday I mentioned more hiking.  Here's the Devil's Kitchen.

This is Farmboy going over a major rift in the rocks.  He's 6'4" and I'm not.
It took me longer to make the move, oh who am I kidding??  FB had to hold my hand and coax me into jumping.  The picture really doesn't do that distance justice.

I love this shot.  Don't we look like a freaky two headed blob?  Hehe we were looking down into a hole that we had just been in.  I don't think I've done this much physical activity in quite some time.  Moving home will definitely put me into much better shape!
Ahhh... Finally he let me sit down for a sec.  I really do mean for just a sec.  By the time I climbed up to where he was, he was done sitting and looking.  He looks super duper tall, which he is, just not as tall as it looks here.

A Castle with a View

While at the lake, FB went to Ha Ha Tonka State Park.  We hiked a couple different trails.  The first took us up to this castle.  It was built in 1905, then burned down in the 40's. 
We walked around to the back of the castle remains and saw this!  Wouldn't you love to wake up to this view everyday!  That's Lake of the Ozarks beauty there.

So pretty!  Such a shame it is burnt down.  It would make one heck of a sweet Bed n Breakfast or something.  We also hiked the Natural Bridge Trail that day.  

Tomorrow I'll post "Devil's Kitchen" pictures.  I had to really rough it there, crazy hiking!

Feeding Cows

When we started filling these buckets...

The calves come a runnin'

When you bring the hay... the cows get excited.

This one was smart enough to sneak around the tractor to the other side of the bail.

"She's a cutter!!"  Apparently I can't escape tattling no matter how far I run.

Farm Boy

In Love has finally convinced me to blog. I was uncertain on what I should blog about, but after reading "In Love with a Farm Boy" I have come to the conclusion that I should write about In Love when she is on the Farm. I must say that she tries her hardest and is flat honest with me about her knowledge of agriculture. For instance during the break we worked some cattle, which I am sure she will tell you more about. I asked her to bring a bull back so we can move him to another pasture. When I look out there she is standing on a pile of hay looking at the bull, a 1 1/2 ton bull looking at her and then both of them takes looks at me on what to do next. I must say that moments like this make me smile. She has wonderful spirit on trying things she has never done before and then patiently waits on me to help her. We have moments like this often and it is a wonder why she still wants to be with me. In three more weeks she will be back and I hope that we can spend more times like this together.

Fishing

Farmboy and I just tried fishing. I've decided I'm not going to pursue a career in tournament fishing. First, it's super cold that early in the morning. Second, it involved pinching worms in half then squeezing them onto a hook. Can anyone say EWWW! FB was kind enough to do that for me. Until it was time to go back inside, and FB said, "Take your worm off." And he was serious! I told him he didn't really know me, then I whined....a lot. He relented and dewormed my hook, and told me he stopped doing that for people when they turned 10. I told him I wasn't fishing anymore, he just laughed. I guess we'll see. I'm off to eat some breakfast. Happy Thursday Bloggers!

Riding around with Farm Boy

I "helped" FB do chores for his brother, who was out of town for the weekend.  I got to see a lot of things that FB's talked about, but I didn't really have any idea what he was talking about til now.

First I rode with him to sell a bail of hay.  These horses were more excited about the junk on the hood of FB's brother's truck than the fresh hay.

Then I rode with him on the tractor to feed the cows.  I've got a couple bruises from bumping along, but I had fun watching him work.

Last I rode along in the chuck wagon to give the calves their feed.  FB actually let me drive this thing :) Probably cuz there's not much possibility of me messing it up.  

Coming soon... pictures of the cows standing in line for the buffet, and possibly a Farm Boy post.  I'm still working on that.  Well, FB is headed over to pick me up so I can help him redo a walkway at his house.  I haven't worked this much on a vacation since I went to Arizona on a mission trip.

I L.O.V.E. Spring Break!

L: Is for the Left side of my body.  The only side not sore or bruised after a day helping Farm Boy and his sweet sister with chores.

O: Is for Overeating.  Since I drove up the drive, I've eaten!  Mom made french toast for breakfast yesterday, FB's sister made great burgers for lunch, FB took me out for a really delicious dinner (I ate way too much cheesy pasta), then to top it all off Daddy made me omelets and biscuits for breakfast today.  Can anyone say spoiled!  

V: Is for the Very appreciative Holly.  She's super excited to be at my parents.  They tend to spoil her almost as much as they spoil me.  

E: Is for Entertainment.  I've gotten to see a terrific volleyball game my beautiful niece won.  Learned a lot about farm chores, including a whole lot of riding around for me.  I've even had time to see a movie, by the way Employee of the Month is super funny.

Well that's all for today.  I'm having "family day" just chilling with my parents.  Their idea of family fun currently.... Mom in bed with the Sunday paper, Dad upstairs watching car stuff on speed.  Have a lovely Sunday!  I'm off to pull mom out of bed and towards the mall. :)

Forecast: Cold with Chance of Patchy Blogging

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy Thursday.  Hopefully yours went better than mine.  Thank the Lord I only have to survive one more day before vacation!  I plan on taking lots of pictures and posting as I have time.  However, I've got lots planned, and blogging won't be top priority.  Sorry, hope that doesn't offend anyone. :)  What you can look forward to in future posts: my attempts at fishing, my attempts at gardening, exciting shopping with mama, and possibly some farming mishaps.  I really hope there will also be a post from Farm Boy himself, he says he wouldn't know what to say... I dunno about that.

As for tonight.  Adventurous Newlywed and I have a lot of mischief planned.  teehee  So glad I'll get to spend some time with her before I head to the very chilly Missouri.

Random!

I found this random survey and decided it'd be fun.  There are a ton of questions, so I deleted the ones I thought were stupid.  Therefore, please ignore the numbers!  Mostly because I get really tired of trying to think of things to say.  Partly because I don't really know what y'all want to know about me.  With that being said here is my post, and if you have any questions you've been dying to ask, please comment me!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I'm kind of named after my aunt, our names are similar.  My middle name is my mother's middle name.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I can be kind of emotional sometimes, so crying is fairly common with me.  Ask Farmboy, it really weirds him out, he never knows what to do.  I teared up earlier today watching  Jen and Ryan's wedding highlights.  Congrats on a year guys!!

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I like my regular handwriting, but I think my cursive looks a little like a fourth grader's.  As a teacher, it's fairly precise, no changing to make it faster or flowerier.  (is flowerier a word? no? oh well)

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope, but when(if) I have a daughter her middle name will be the same as mine.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Yes, sometimes a little more than I should when second graders are concerned.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
nope, I'm too lazy.

14. RED OR PINK?
PINK!!

15. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I tend to be an over-thinker/worrier.

17. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
I'd like for whoever feels like fillin in random surveys to feel free to fill it in.

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
I'm wearing long green sweat shorts and bare feet

19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
the traffic and rain

20. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
pink

21. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Farm boy's cologne, fresh cut grass, the outdoors after a hard rain

22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Adventurous Newlywed

24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
football.

28. FAVORITE FOOD?
hmm... I like a lot of foods.... bread

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy, Farm boy is learning that scary's really not my thing

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Sean of the Dead, I think.  Again Farm boy's learning gore is not my thing.

31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Fall and spring

32. HUGS OR KISSES?
both!

36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
at work I've got those cute dogs w/ huge heads

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Mondays are the good tv night!  I had to tape House and watch Big Bang Theory and How I met your mother

39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Out in the middle of the ocean on a cruise ship

Again, I say, please let me know if you've got anything interesting to ask.  I'm always in need of new bloggy material.  Speaking of which, I'm still trying to convince Farm boy to blog for me once while I'm with him next week.  I think it'd be funny, so hit me up with comments for him as well.

Gardening Skills

As you can probably guess, I don't have any!  Now I know what to do with the lil forky thing and the mini shovel, but keeping things alive is just not my strong suit.  Luckily this is Farm Boy's garden not mine.  He's made his plant decisions, so I thought I'd share them with you.  I will be enjoying sweet corn, carrots, leaf lettuce, squash, cantaloupe, and watermelon.  I've never eaten squash,  but I hear its a healthy alternative.  Not sure what the unhealthy alternative is exactly, but that's what I've been told.  I'm sure I'll be asking for squash ideas, but I think I'll wait til I can actually pick one before that.  He also mentioned a pawpaw, but I think that's landscaping talk not garden talk.  I've gotta find my pink gardening gloves, and all the other stuff to start packing!  I made it through Tuesday, hopefully can make it through Wednesday too.  I found out we get to leave 2 hours earlier than usual, so that should give me the push I need :)

Spring Break Excitement

I had a typical Monday, not much fun.  So, I've decided to blog about Spring Break, aka the light at the end of the tunnel!  I'm headed to Missouri for the week, leaving the minute I can get out of school Friday.  Farm Boy and I are going to visit his friends at the lake for a couple days.  While we're there we're planning on doing a little fishing as well.  Of course, FB will be baiting my hook and de-hooking any fish I may catch.  I've never caught a fish, so I think FB won't have too much extra work.  I also plan on shopping with my momma!  We usually go an hour or so away to get to the bigger mall, so that should be entertaining.  She may even decide to hook me up with a new outfit or something.  Friday night 4H is hosting a bowling night, so FB's nephew invited us to that.  I like hanging out with his family, so that could be fun too.  I'm a horrible bowler though, and his mom is in the bowling hall of fame!  I'm pretty sure she'd laugh at my bowling skills.  My dad's birthday is St. Patrick's day, so I plan on figuring out how to make corned beef and cabbage for him.  We also have to decide on FB's garden, actually I suppose he has to decide on that since it's his.  Plus really as long as I get a cantaloupe out of the deal, I'll be happy!

Wow that was a long and random blog, but I think I can make it through the week.  Or at least Tuesday :)

I want one!!

I was perusing my fav blogs this morning, trying to get myself motivated.  And I came across this!

This is Annabelle, the new member of the Chickens in the Road family.  I love her little face and fuzzy little body!  Farm Boy.....*lovey puppy dog eyes, fluttering eyelashes*... I want one!   

I know FB's response...."I've been there done that. "  Something about waking up every two hours and the possibility of escaping sheep.  I'm having trouble remembering all the reasons he's listed, cuz I'm looking at those ears!  I think this would be the perfect Easter present, or spring break present.  I wonder what Farm Boy would do if I said I was getting him this as a late B-day gift.... Probably expect me to move back to MO to help take care of it.  I believe I could arrange that... this summer.  What springy thing are you craving these days?

My Crazy Class

I've decided after such a random day, I should inform you how amusing kids really can be.  I know there's whole shows based on this fact: Kids say the darnedest things, America's Funniest Videos, but when you spend every day with them it just is that much more amusing.

Today we were working on a reading group project.  

One boy to another: "It's science, S I N C, SIENCE."  said very emphatically while waving his hands with each letter.

Other boy:  "Do you hafta use your hands and everything?"

Me:  "You both need to look up science in your important words book.  And that has nothing to do with what you should be doing right now."

My class is often off task!

Rambunctious boy to Loud guy: "I'm going to put a bomb at your house."

Loud guy to Rambunctious boy: "Well I'm staying with my mom anyway!"

Sweet girl to Me: "They're talking about splodin each udder!!"

Then I had to go into a whole discussion about why talking about bombs and the like is a bad idea.  My kids this year really have a hard time choosing kind words instead of being silly. 

Younger sibling waiting to be picked up at end of the day: I got bleeded today!

Me: What happened?

Sweet little sister:  I don't know.

Me: Well it looks like you got it all fixed up. (pointing to band aid)

Sweet little sister:  Yea I just falled on the wood at recess.

This all happened after she decided to poke me in the back of the leg to get my attention.  This is the only conversation I've ever had with this little sweetheart.

I think I'll stop there for now.  I'll make sure to update you if anything super funny happens tomorrow.

First Ever Blog Award

My adorable bestie at Adventures in Newlywed gave me an award.  Isn't she the sweetest?  Kind of makes up for all the torture she's put me through over the years.  She tried to make me workout once.... that wasn't pleasant...

Anyway, the award requires a post about 10 not so cute things about me.  So here goes

I'm not cute when....

1.   I lazily refuse to shower til noon on lazy days.  OK let's be real, when I refuse til I hafta leave the house.

2.   I cry, it usually involves wheezing, blubbering, and runny nose.

3.   I complain, I can really be a big whiner.

4.  I forget to pack my hairdryer and straightener.  I recently had to purchase back ups, because I left them at home.

5.  I get caught in the rain.  My hair goes really curly and frizzed out.

6.  I am sleep deprived.  I've been told I can be a lil cranky.

7.  I am forced to watch scary movies.  I get pretty jumpy.

8.  I'm really mad.  It doesn't happen very often, but I definitely don't look pretty when I'm pissed.

9.  I get muddy.  I prefer to assume it's all mud and not cow patties, please don't burst my bubble.

10.  I'm lazy.  This happens a lot more than it should!

I must admit the reason my blog is so cute.  Adventurous Newlywed designed my blog, she really is the best.  I think I'll keep her around awhile.  

OK Now the hard task of awarding other cute blogs....

Amy at From this Day Forward ... I absolutely love their header!

Cathryn at Life Happens.... My sweet friend who always has something inspiring to write about.

Preppy 101 at All Things Southern and Preppy ... She's super cute! Love the pink and green

"Workin Cows"

Over the weekend I helped Farm Boy, his older brother, and his sister in law work cows.  I've never seen them work cows, or anyone work cows for that matter.  Farm Boy told me that he'd never let me work cows, because it can be hazardous.  Also, apparently they get a little upset with each other and don't speak too kindly while wrangling the lil buggers.  Me, being the city girl that I am, had no idea what to expect.  I knew there'd be shots n togs, but didn't know how they did either.  There were 3 different things that Farm Boy's brother stuck in the neck-ish area of each calf.  He also sprayed each calf's back with wormer or lice protection or something.  Since I was not allowed to help I was in charge of writing tags.  The little plastic things that are really just giant earrings to number each cow.  How exciting!  After I finished that, they deemed refilling the syringe safe enough for the city slicker.  I did realized why they seem to think I should never be allowed in the ring with them.  At one point FB's brother let a calf out of the chute, and instead of being a smart lil thing he crazily shoved his way backward.  Forcing several cows back with it, only problem was FB standing in the way.  Needless to say, FB has a bruise the size of a dinner plate.  All this done in the snow, wearing FB's sister's coveralls.  At the end of it all FB's brother said I was a keeper even if FB and I break up.  Followed by offers to buy me pink coveralls for future farm endeavors.  So bloggy friends.... Do I go for the pink coveralls or the regular tan ones??  I don't want to stand out too much, but I do love pink!

Happy Birthday Farm Boy!

Farm Boy turned a year older today!!  So exciting, he especially loves candles like these!  Actually that's a joke, Farm Boy has a strange hatred of birthday candles in his cake.  Apparently he thinks he's too old or something.  Weirdo, but I love him anyway.  

In other news, I apologize for my long absence!

It's been a little while since I've blogged, so of course I have lots to tell you, lovely blog friends.  In the upcoming week I'll let you in on the new things I learned on my impromptu trip home this weekend.  I went home to surprise Farm Boy for his birthday and he put me to work!  Well I guess technically I volunteered.  Anyway, come back soon for my very first experience with what the term "workin cows" really means.