Accepting the Challenge

Okay here goes-7 weird or unusual things about me!

1. I will eat chili for breakfast...or pizza...or cheeseburgers!
2. I'm so old that I actually attended a one room school house!
3. Halloween is not just a holiday for me, it's an obsession.
4. I have a bird phobia, birds inside a building terrify me.
5. I can't stand to have the bottom of my feet touched.
6. When I first started college I planned to be a psychologist.
7. I usually get to work an hour before I have to be there.

Now I'm ready to hear from the rest of you on this blog! Get Busy!

Bargain Hunting

I wish I had been able to find these for the K-8 Moms Christmas party. Our goal for the gifts we brought was to make 10 dollars go as far as we could! I bought these things at the Nashville Flea Market on December 19th. The flea market is held once a month at the fairgrounds. It is normally the last week end of the month except December when it is the third weekend. Admission is free, but there is a four dollar charge for parking. We go several times a year and one of my favorite spots is the quarter table. I actually received change from a ten dollar bill and left with all this!

I had three bags after checking out, thankfully the husband came by and carried it to the car!Here's what is in the bags!

Notice the prices!Remember these things were 25 cents each!

Lovely suncatcher for my porch--valued at$3.99
I'm not even going to tell you what I bought at Target yesterday at the 75% off Christmas sale, but I did save $139 dollars not counting the $129 dollar tree that I bought for $35.00 (tax included)
Anyone want to go on a field trip?

You are still tagged!

Okay ladies. I tagged you--remember---Share 7 strange/unusual facts about yourself!
The Christmas rush is over so sit down and share. You can adjust the rules, change the number but you are still IT until you complete the tag! Let's go. . . ask your relatives they will help with your list!

Get Well Wishes to Cyndi who got an unexpected Christmas gift, read and heed her story on her blog. It's on our list.

Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone from the Pritchett gang! Blessings to you all!

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.The good you do for others is good you do yourself...Norman Wesley Brooks

Before & After

BEFORE...the magic...

AFTER...the magic...

Well...there is a Santa Claus...but it seems to me that MRS. CLAUS does most of the work!   So, I thought I would share a picture of our tree before and after MRS. CLAUS worked her magic!   I cannot wait for the boys to wake up in the morning!   I hope I can keep them in the bed until Dana & I are ready with our camera and camcorder to catch every oooh & aaah!   Oooooh the anticipation!   This is so much fun!   I love my job as a mommy!   Merry CHRISTmas to everyone! :-) :-)  :-)  :-)  :-)   XOXO   

Memories of Christmas Past

Here's Leslie's sled she made in 4th grade, I think she was trying to paint a bear. I also have a variety of mismatched ornaments,and I agree, they are the best kind because there's a memory with every one!

The Tree is Up!

For those of you who doubted--here it is. The tree is up. Some of my friends think I am a little scroogy about putting up the Christmas tree, and that I wait too long to get it in place. I think I even heard a discussion about someone coming to check and see if it was up and there were threats of a tree intervention, but today December 20th, it is ready. Now before some of you look at this picture and say, "Did they let the two year old do that?" Let me explain, we know that Martha Stewart would not approve of this tree, nothing matches and some might say it has crossed the line into tacky, but the tree tells a story, its full of things from the past. Things little girls once crafted and placed on the tree with pride. The little girls are grown and they have trees of their own but pieces of their childhood will always decorate mine. So let me give you the tour:

The Tree

In case you could not tell, this is baby Jesus made by a three year old at Sunday School. He has had a special place on our tree every year since!

This bear says DAD--he is a little roughed up, but don't he look just like Peanut?

Who doesn't have a glitter covered pine cone to adorn their tree. It must have super glue holding the glitter because it has lasted for a long time.

No tree would be complete without a star on the top, this one may be made from cardboard, but isn't it absolutely gorgeous?

We have some pictures from Christmas Past

And this lovely plastic ornament is all that is left from a tree 34 Christmases ago when a young couple could only afford a cedar tree they cut from the woods and some red glass balls and plastic ornaments from Big K.(Those of you old enough to remember this was the store that came to Cookeville and eventually became Walmart.)

Now What's On Your Tree?

Holiday Eating Tips Continued. . .

Here's the rest of the list. . . Enjoy your holiday feasts!

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some scruples.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Holiday Eating Tips

I have a bff who lives in Murfreesboro, TN. We don't remember not knowing each other, we have always been friends. She loves to forward e-mails. Don't tell her, but I don't always read them, depending on how busy I am, but she sent me some Holiday Eating Tips and they made me laugh out loud so I thought I would share them with you:

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn in to an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's almost Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

(I can't believe it; she actually sent me a forward while I was typing this!)

Moon over Monroe

Just wanted to share this photo I took one night on the way to play practice at church. The moon and clouds were so pretty that night. I carry my camera with me at all times now so I won't miss anything. It amazes me to see beautiful views in our world like the moon, sunsets, etc. and know that people don't believe in God. How can they not when witnessing such events? I know we are all in a hurry these days with the holidays and craziness surrounding us, but the next time you see a beautiful sight, one only God could create, stop, look at it, really look at it, and enjoy it even for just a moment. And take a photo for the rest of us to enjoy! Merry Christmas to all of you!

Tag from Misty

Misty recently(well some time ago) tagged me with this challenge Share 7 strange/unusual facts about yourself
I thought about this and decided that I could not really think of 7 strange or unusual things that I was pretty average and boring. When I mentioned this to my daughters they immediately said "Oh, we can help you with that!" So here goes:
1. I love to do laundry.
2. I can crunch the seeds in Strawberries, and make them pop with my teeth.
3. I may have read more books than anyone in Pickett County.
4. I read music and can play the piano.
5. I have met Dolly Parton.
6. I will pick up bugs or snakes, but I am terrified of mice and will run screaming from the room!
7. When I am just sitting around I hold my big toe up! I can do this with either foot!
So I am tagging everyone--go ahead do it--if you can't think of anything just ask your children or your hubby!

One Size Fits All Christmas Party

Don't forget our Christmas Party Wednesday night at 6:00 in the computer lab. Bring a gift and some finger foods and join us! We are trying to make ten dollars go as far as possible with the gift. (See post made by Kim announcing the party!) Even if you are just a K-8 mom (or grandma or aunt etc.) and reader of the blog, we would love to have you join us. If you have any blogging questions or issues it would be a good time to get those answered or fixed!

Pictures Not Included

Need a last minute Christmas gift?

My daughters are making these frames. They have a little business called Splendid Bits. The frames are magnetic and you can change and arrange the pictures to suit yourself.

The 8x10’s are $20.00
5x7’s are $10.00

There are several different backgrounds and themes. Stop by the computer lab, visit with Delilah and see them.
(Lovely pictures shown above are not included)
Thanks,
Delilah

What God Wants for Christmas

What God Wants for Christmas is a kid-friendly, interactive nativity that tells the story of Christ's birth in a simple and fun way for kids of all ages.
Create anticipation and surprise in your child's Christmas experience with seven gift boxes, 6 hand-painted figurines, and a surprise ending in box #7. A colorful pop-up manger and a beautifully illustrated story booklet are also included. You can use this hands-on Christmas activity as a one-time event or 7 days leading up to Christmas morning.

From the Inside FlapWhat God wants for Christmas? It's--to you--a surprise. In box number seven it is disguised. But - no peeking! Be patient! For this you must wait. It's what you offer Him, and it's really great.

Christmas Party

Hey Blog Mom's

We are going to meet at the K-8 computer lab on Wednesday December 17th at 6:00 p.m.
Please bring finger foods and drinks(something easy). We are going to play dirty santa it's a fun game please bring a $10.00 gift if you want to play. We want to see
which mom can s-t-r-e-t-c-h her $10.00 and get the most things with the money.
Mrs. Delilah thinks she's got this in the bag, but I'm going to try and beat her.


Happy shopping hope to see you wednesday

Merry Christmas

Kim Anderson

I won some chocolate!!!

I actually won one of those giveaways I keep entering!   I won me some chocolate. (like I really need it, but who doesn't love it?)  I have only won 1 other time and it was a lovely scrapbook!   I get so excited if I win anything!   YAY!   

Check out the post showing my big win!   

Click Here!

Need some unique Christmas presents?

My daughters are creating magnetic photo frames that they are selling for $10.00 each. Each frame comes with four different backgrounds and 4 removable buttons that allow you to place pictures or objects on the frame in any way you like. I will have some with me tomorrow, if you would like to take a look at them. They also have an 8 x10 frame for $20.00. It's sort of scrapbooking on a frame!
They would tell you, "They're super cute!"
Thanks,
Delilah

Rebel For A Cause...

I found this great contest on a bog I like to frequent.  I wanted to share it in case any of you were interested and I also get an extra entry for doing so!   Wow...what a giveaway it is!!!  Check it out!

Rebel For A Cause

I'm Just Saying

Miss Veda and I were eating lunch today and someone had left a Hallmark Magazine on the counter where we were dining and I was flipping though it enjoying the festive Christmas articles, pictures and such when I came to this ad!
It implies that teachers would like to have this ornament for Christmas. Now as your friend I am going to tell you all that this is not true. Frankly, I don't even like that ornament look at its pointy pencil head and that smirky face! Teachers don't really want ornaments for Christmas, nor do they want mugs or dish towels and please step away from the chocolate covered cherries!
What do we want? Well. . . I noticed this ornament cost ten dollars, now granted that may be more than most people spend, but let's stay in that price range and buy something like gift certificates--think fast food, Dollar Store, Gas, Starbucks! How about real towels--bath towels we all use those and on sale you could get a couple for ten bucks. They don't have to be Egyptian cotton we are not real picky. We always need office supplies. Ten dollars would buy a few packs of copy paper or construction paper or staples or you get the idea. Another suggestion--a good book, most of us are readers and we enjoy a good novel during our Christmas break.
Here's what I would want because after 32 years I can't count the number or ornaments, trinkets, (I'm a #1Teacher) mugs, (I don't drink coffee) dish towels, and boxes of one dollar candy I have received. I want you to make a donation to an organization like the Imagination Library or the Friends of the Library in my name. Buy a book for the school library for me or better yet a nice card with a note that says Thanks, just like the one I got this week from a little sixth grade girl who wrote a note thanking me for teaching reading to her and wishing me a Merry Christmas! I'm Just Saying. . . .

Second Grade Campaign

Mrs. Stephanie Norris is starting a drive to save the pop tabs from aluminum cans. Be sure to read the full explanation at the K-8 Computer Lab Blog here:
http://k8computerlab.blogspot.com/2008/12/save-your-pop-tops.html

snow globe

Pickett County Humane Society Needs Our Vote

I received an e-mail from PAWS, Pickett County Humane Society asking me to vote for them at this website. They are entering a contest, trying to win a $10,000 donation from Care2.com.
They will need the votes of your friends and family by January 31, 2009 to win. You can visit here to vote:
http://www.care2.com/animalsheltercontest/71275/?refer=2415.a7.1228272091.8816