This weekend was a great one, like most. Friday night Jared and I went out by ourselves, which we rarely do (we like being around people). We had dinner at Jim 'N Nicks and did a little shopping. Saturday we went to Sylacauga for Cassie's 1 st birthday party. She was so cute! She got a lot of nice things and especially some cute clothes. We got her a beautiful dress, if I do say so myself! :) I've posted some pictures from her party. After the party, Jared and I went out to eat with Kevin, Gayla, Cassie, and friends of theirs, Marty and Lisa. We had a really good time. Sunday we ate lunch at Hickory House with good company, Mama, Daddy, Mrs. Courington, David, Susan, Josh, Katie, and Hannah and then went and worked on the L/L group scrapbook all afternoon. It was a good time as well. That night we ate dinner with Josh, Katie, Hannah, and Casey at Jason's Deli. Again we had fun! We had such a good weekend we hated to end it and go back to work! I hope everyone has a nice week!

I know it's been a long while since I've posted and The Blog Kop has probably slapped me with another fine, but here I am! Don't worry... my absence is NOT because I am in hiding because I am the Scotch Tape teacher... good news... I NOT! Like a lot of you out there The Sanders were also plagued by the AWFUL stomach virus! At one point I thought death was my ticket out! Why do people drink and why do people throw up to lose weight? There are better options for these people than throwing up. Kareoke and diets are just two options of the many.

On another note... please pray for the victims of the horrible tornadoes. We have a friend from Faulkner, Brendan Chance, who is the youth minister at Enterprise Church of Christ. One of the students that was killed at the school was in his youth group. She was actually in his youth group when he was the youth minister at Dalraida C. of C. and coincidentally, both families moved to Enterprise. Needless to say, he is very shaken up about it. He is very close with her and her family. He had to preach her funeral on Monday. The situation is terrible! Our school is collecting supplies for the school in Enterprise to help them finish their school year. If you want to help let me know! It is almost time for church and I don't want to be late!

Here is a cool website to check out www.HowManyOfMe.com

Here we go AGAIN!!!

Last night had finished a post and when I went to hit publish, I had been kicked off the internet! How annoying!

This past weekend, we went to my cousin Brianna's nine year old birthday party at Lightning Strikes Bowling Alley. It was a lot of fun! My cousins sure know how to put on a party! They always have fun parties. Her cake was the set of the Disney movie, High School Musical. It's actually a pretty cute pre-teen movie. Last year, when the soundtrack came out, my students (Brianna was one of them), would bring it in for us to listen to in the morning while we were settling in for the school day. So, when we have our girls' night, I would be happy to belt out some of the tunes for ya'll, I mean... if you want me to!! Anyhow, I have posted some pictures from the party. You guys know Briana from camp, as the cute, unruly, curly-headed girl. Well, that is not how she showed up to the party. She and two of her friends went to a little girls' beauty salon and had their hair done. Brianna had her hair starightened and she looked absoulutely Gorgeous; however, I like her better with her curly, unruly, little girl, hair. Of course, all of us Glenn girls are gorgeous! Check out these pictures from the party. Enjoy!

The Circus!!!

Yesterday, Jared, Joseph, Me, Addi, Chris, Jason, Mr. and Mrs. Hosmer, and MA all went to the circus with Xander. We had a blast! Our tickets were a gift from the Hosmers. It was really very generous! Pam didn't end up getting to go because she was very sick. The kids ate and ate and ate! MA got them both circus hats and cotton candy which they proudly wore! It was such a fun day that we didn't want it to end. As you can see from the pictures, everyone had all smiles all day! We also learned that Joseph and Addi would like to join the circus and Xander would like to wait until he got a little older to join; however, he was all about JOJO taking him down to be the guy that was shot out of the cannon. Did I say we had fun? Because we DID!!!

Survivor Weekend, Revenge of the Chickens, was a blast! I really enjoyed myself once again! It is always so good to get together with christian brothers and sisters, in a fun and relaxing environment. It's a good time to let your guard down and just be. One of my highlights was when Peyton Hyatt (if you know him, you know he doesn't chat much or really aknowledge your presence very much) chased me down before breakfast, grabbed me and mumbled, "I just wanted to give you a hug." And quick as a wink, he hugged me and walked away. He's only willingly done that one other time. I've always had a soft spot for that kid! So, to sum it up, it was a success!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. The picture to the left is team FEET and to the right, is the cutest member of team FEET, and on the bottom, my goofy siblings. ENJOY!!!

It has been awhile, but not much excitement this week. I started back to work! the kids have been GREAT and I guess I missed them.
Here's something to think about? When you donate to cancer research, where do you think the money goes? I thought to all types of cancer, but I was wrong. I still check Hadley's website daily, really, just to see how her parents are doing. Her dad has started a journal on there and it's really too sad to read, yet, it is also eye opening. He wants to help and do for others. They have started a foundation called The Hadley May Foundation. 100% of the money goes to pediatric cancer research. They will give it directly to the 4th tower at Children's Hospital here in B'Ham or someone they have come in contact with through what they have gone through with Hadley, or various organizations that deal with pediatric cancer directly. Did you know that when you do great things, like Relay for Life, only about 2% goes towards pediatric research. Don't get me wrong, it is all REALLY important, but pediatric research is under funded (if that's a word, but you know what I mean). Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death among children (ages 20 and down). One of Hadley's friends, whom she met because the both of them had cancer and were from the same town, passed away Sat. The little girl was 5 or 6 years old. Out of 4 kids she was around that had cancer, 3 have already passed away. Sorry to write about something so sad, it's just been on my mind lately. Not only is there the little boy who was in Paul's class, but there are others out there. One of the teachers on my hall has been having biopsies all week on her breast. Yesterday, she said she would be back to work on Thursday (she had a benign biopsy on Monday, but they wanted to search further), but at the end of the day she called to get a sub. I hope it's because she is sore and not because they found something. At any rate, if you ever have a few extra dollars to spare, think about giving to any oragnization like cancer research, pediatric research, or breast cancer research. Of course, give to the Lord first!!

Happy New Year!!!

These are the pictures of Joseph and me with Cletus at The Dukes of Hazzard museum.

I wish everyone a happy, prosperous, and blessed new year! I love you all!

I uploaded or whatever you call it, my first photo!! Hip-hip-HURRAY!!! Well, this is a picture that Casey took of Jared and his brother, Andy, at the Alabama/Auburn game. Aren't they cute? I will definitely be posting more photos soon.

Merry Christmas!!



Where do I begin? This has been, like always, a wonderful, or should I say, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!" Last Friday, we had Christmas with the Glenns. It was great to see everyone since I had not seen them in a while (we were at the Sanders for Thanksgiving this year). I'm used to seeing the kids everyday and I really miss that! When we got home that night Jared just had to give me my presents from him, he just can't wait. He did good!!! Saturday morning I woke up with the stomach virus, but treaked on to Brundidge anyway. When we got there, Jared, like tradition, woke up his brothers and we opened our gifts. Jared and I both were blessed! Next we went to Jared's Aunt Cora and Uncle Bill's house for the Sanders' Christmas. It was hard for me to pass up all the goodies, so, against my better judgement, I indulged. Hey, what' a couple more hours of stomach pains, it was Christmas!! We had a great time, but missed Tony and Ryann. Please pray for them and Jared's aunt and uncle. They are doing as well as can be expected. I thought back to last Christmas. Of course, Hadley was the center of attention, she was the only child there that day, and everyone was playing with her. She got a little wound-up and had to be put in time-out for acting up. I remember Jared begging Ryann to let her out because things had gotten boring! She is missed, but in a much better place!
After we got back from the Sanders' Christmas, we watched a movie with Jared's parents and brothers (Santa had brought Jared "Invincible" in his stocking at his parents' house). The next morning we went to church at Hamilton Crossroads and then had lunch and Christmas with the Flowers (Jared's mom's side of the family). Then it was time to come back home. We got to go to church at Roebuck Pkwy since S.S. changed their services and we missed it. We met Casey there, too. I got to see my cousins and aunts and uncles again, plus past students and friends from JCA and Roebuck. PLUS, I got to see my good friends from Faulkner, Jamie and Darrell Powell!! I hadn't seen them a while. They were in the same situation with church, too, and so we all We about closed the church down talking to them, of course, when don't we close the church down? After that we went to Mama and Daddy's for dinner. We woke up on Christmas morning and went over to Mama and Daddy's for Christmas with them! We had fun and again, we were blessed! Jared got a pool table from my family and he was so excited, he could hardly stand it! Any takers for a game of pool?? Of course, the pool table means rearranging the house. It looks like Jared might get a man's room (which will be our diningroom and our diningroom will be our computer room). The day after Christmas my family and I all went to Gatlinburg, TN. We had a lot of fun! We actually made it all the way there and back with Pam, Joseph, and I in the backseat of my dad's Lumina! We made fun of ourselves the whole time, you know, being three adults 23-27 years old crammed into the backseat! We didn't even fight one time! When we got there it was too late to do anything, so we relaxed at the resort. Wednesday, Me, Pam, and Mama took the car and went to the outlets. Dad and Joseph slept in and took the trolley to meet us later. They had an adventure because they went on a trolley that took them all the way to Gatlinburg, then back to Pigeon Forge, and then on to Severville, where they finally met us at the outlets. They only had to walk a little bit and cross the major highway twice (where there was a foot of sidewalk. They were also the only English speaking people on the trolley. We ate a restaurant called The Big Chop. It was good. Then we tried to get back to the resort for a game of Bingo, but, because the traffic was HORRIBLE, we missed it! Oh, well, maybe next time! Then we went to church where Barbara Hammock goes. We also found out that Charles Shepherd's mother and sister attend there. So, again, we closed, literally, the church down that night talking with Mrs. Shepherd. Yesterday we went to The Dixie Stampede for lunch (that is our favorite thing to do there)! Next, we went to Cooter's Garage (Dukes of Hazzard museum) and guess what???? Cletus was there, in person, signing autographs!! I felt so bad because of all the times Jared and I have gone there (a bunch) the one time he was not there, a cast member was there. I got my picture made with him and had him autograph a t-shirt and photo for Jared. For those who don't know who Cletus is, he is Boss Hogg's cousin, who is a policeman in Hazzard County. The other policemen was Rosco P. Coltrane (whom Jared was for Halloween- Rosco is Jared's favorite). Cletus' s real name is Rick Hurst. I will post a picture ASAP! Then, Pam and I walked the streets of Gatlinburg while Mama, Daddy, and Joseph went into the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. Pam and I had been there before when we were on a band trip in high school. That museum scared Pam so bad, I had to scare away two little boys (there was a certain part that had a man in an electric chair and these two little boys kept pulling it and electricuting the man over and over. It made a startling noise and scared Pam to death. She was huddled in a corner crying her eyes out.) Then I had to drag her out of the museum. Did I mention that I was a senior in high school and Pam was a junior? Anyhow, Pam was not going there again and Joseph really wanted to so we split up for awhile. After that, we went to some different outlets and then had a late dinner at Atlanta Bread Company. This morning we had breakfast at our other favorite place, The Apple Barn. Now we are all home and exhausted! We had a blast! I feel so lucky because I am so blessed! Now I am back home with my honey who just walked in the door! I better go, I haven't seen him since Tuesday when he left for work! Happy New Year!!!

My tree is no longer naked!! We finally got it completely decorated Friday! I would post a picture, but I don't know how. We also ahve our inflatable snowman and some lights up outside. Saturday, I finished my Christmas shopping, although I feel like Jared needs more, of course he doesn't! My next big step is to wrap all the presents. Not one single present is under the tree. Maybe in the next day or so. Saturday, Jared gave me an early Christmas present(s). He had to and I surely didn't mind! He got me a pink Razor cell phone, a pink case to carry and protect it, and a pink blue tooth (still trying to figure this one out).
My students have been so good this week. I can't ask for more! They have been good and cooperated and even given me gifts. I received a very teachery gift, which usually is not my stlye. It was from this adorable little boy named Gage. It is a teacher watch. The number 6 is a chalkboard that says "Best Teacher", the middle of the watch is a book that rotates, the long hand is a pencil, and the short hand is a ruler. You might think "dorky" but I feel like I am wearing a trophy on my wrist! You know that I have to wear this everyday for the rest of the week or it will hurt his feelings. He gave it to me first thing yesterday morning and made me open it right in the hallway. I first pulled out a candle from Bath and Body Works (coconut lime verbena) and thought that it was a nice gift. Then Gage told me there was more. When I saw a box that said "Best Teacher" I thought to myself, "Man, I'm gonna have another piece of teacher jewelry and Jared is gonna laugh and tell me to never wear it." It has been my favorite gift thus far. I've gotten other nice things this week, too. Well, let me tell you a litle secret. One student, Jade, brought me a gift today, and I asked her if she wanted me to open it now, or tomorrow at the party. She told me she wanted me to wait. I don't know why I even asked her that! I can't wait. I've never been able to. The excitement eats me alive and I can't stand it. Well, I politely placed the present under the tree in the classroom, where it teased me all day. After school was over, I gave in, and gently unwrapped the gift, just enough to peek inside and see what it was. Tomorrow I will exclaim in a surprised fashion over my new Christmas picture frame!
Today is Jared's birthday, again, but for real this time. He wanted me to fix chicken casserole and invite my parents and siblings over for dinner. We had a good time and watched the movie Elf. My Grandma sent Jared a birthday card yesterday and it said that she hopes this birthday
is as fun as his July one. It was funny! Nothing can top his July one! Today was just a nice reminder. I liked celebrating it in July because I could put more into it, instead of just rushing through it. By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!
Well, I better go. If anyone is up for Christmas movie marathon, then stop by anytime! I am always ready! I'll have hot cocoa (white or chocolate) and hot apple cider ready at a minutes notice. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I want a new look for my blog and I want it to be cool, but I don't know what to do. I want it to be pink or purple. I also want to post pictures, but I don't even know how to download them onto the computer. Help! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas time with all the parties and fun. Maybe I will get my tree decorated before Christmas day. It's been up for over a week, but it's naked. I don't know what else to say. I just am trying to say something so I can get my blog off the MIA list. HA! Ha! Plus, I really would like some help with the blog. See ya later!

Sad news today. Hadley passed away this morning around 1:45 am. I can't seem to think about anything else. She was a beautiful little girl and I wish more people could have met her. She was cooped up for most of her life because of her long battle with cancer. Tuesday she did get to go to the Galleria and build-a-bear, a promise from her parents for being so cooperative while in the hospital. Right now there is no word on funeral arrangements because they are performing an autopsy on her in hopes of helping other children with the same kind of cancer. Please keep her family in your prayers. She was their only child and only grandchild on her mother's side. Sorry to come back with such bad news, but I just wanted to let everyone know.

So, what's been going on?

It really has been a long time since I've last posted! Many things have been going on, probably boring to most, so I will only comment on a few! By the way, all good, happy things!

1. Hopefully sometime this week or next, I will have my new computer! Only, maybe I won't. If it doesn't come with the cords to hook it up, Jared is taking it back and it won't be pretty!

2. Jared and I also got, or rather, Jared's early Christmas present, was a new HD tv. We bought it, brought it home, moved around all the furniture in two bedrooms, and around 1 am, turned the dumb thing on, only to find out it was broke! It wouldn't turn on! So, before the precious Alabama game, we had to haul the dumb thing back to Best Buy and exchange it! Oh, and the new thing wouldn't fit into out entertainment center, so we had to get a new one! Luckily, Dad was leaving our house that same Saturday and noticed a yard sale down the road that had an entertainment center for sale. It was great and cheap, but still looked nice, so we bought it. Also, I purchased 3 new games, poker, Taboo, and Pictionary with a twist. Anyone up for a game night???

3.What's the longest you have ever stayed at a restaurant? How about 5, almost 6 hours! That's right! Saturday evening Jared, Casey, and myself sat at Wing's through half the Auburn game and the entire Alabama game (AL was on pay-per-view)! I don't really like the food at Wing's, only appetizers and dessert. Luckily they have trivia games and one tv was open for the trivia games. I played 1 game against myself, and a lovely person named Vultur played against me for the rest or most of the night. Talk about true love, or maybe stupidity!

4. Jared got a new job and will start on my birthday! We are happy about it, but now we have the burden of finding another vehicle to buy. So, if anyone knows of a cheap, reliable, low-mileaged, truck, please let us know!!! Speaking of his new job, which by the way is with a company called Alacare, yesterday, Jared had to have the routine physical and drug test. Of course, he passed them all with flying colors, or did he? Have you ever cheated at anything before? A test, your taxes, or perhaps an exam? Well, part of his physical was a brief eye exam. Jared was doing pretty well with both eyes open, but when it came time for him to cover his left eye, everything blurred and he could not read the specified line of letters, so, he fumbled through, and when the nurse turned her back to him, he uncovered his right eye and read the line! Can you believe it? Not only that, when he was asked to cover the other eye, he quickly memorized the line and "read" it from memory! Can you believe it? What am I gonna do with him??!!

Tag! I'm it!

Well, I think I know what to do. Paul tagged me in a game of tag, so now I have to name eight weird things about myself. Man, where do I start?
1. Everything I wear has to match.
2. Everything has its own special place, and when you are not using it, it needs to be in its place.
3. I like to read children's books.
4. I like old people.
5. I have an ankle, but then I have a place below my ankle that looks like a second ankle, but it's really where my bone did not grow together. You'd have to see it.
6. I use and fold a towel a certain way so that I never wipe my face where I've dried my behind.
7. I iron everything, blue jeans, camisoles that are worn under shirts, everything.
8. I have to put lotion on my hands everytime I wash them.

Ok, now that I am officially a weirdo, I will now tag three people: Rachel Garrison, Meredith Fletcher, and Jasmine Courington! Come on down, you guys are the next contestants in the game of TAG!

Hello out there! It has been a decent week so far, I just hate feeling so lost all the time at school! I mean, I use to know what I was doing and everything else about the school, but now I am clueless! It will get better and has started to. I will say that lunch is better and I no longer have to inhale my food! I just wanted to take a moment to brag on my wonderful husband! He has fixed dinner the last several nights for me, and cleaned it up, which we are suppose to share thase duties. When I got home yesterday, he had unloaded the dishwasher, reloaded it, swept and mopped the kitchen and bathroom, and scrubbed the bathroom! Now I can get use to that! Of course, he is usually helpful, I just really appreciated it!
I forgot to mention in my last post that Joseph's good grades were "B's!" I am so proud of him! Plus, I already miss him! I always hate when Pam (but not anymore) and Joseph have to go back to college because I get use to having them around and then they are gone again! I guess a mother feels worse. I know I always left to go back to college crying until I got halfway down the interstate. Of course, I loved Faulkner and it was definitely the place where I had the time of my life! But there's no place like home!
I would like to take this opportunity to inform everyone of a new ice cream flavor that you MUST try! It is Blue Bunny's Take Five. It is soooooo good! It's peanutbutter ice cream with chocolate, peanutbutter, and caramel swirls; Chocolate fudge chunks, chocolate covered peanuts, and caramel coated pretzels! It is the best! I am actually out of it right now. I finished it off Wednesday night. Yes, that's right, the stomach virus couldn't keep me away from it! That's how good it is! Well, I better go, Big Brother will be on soon and Jared has supper ready!
Love ya'll! Emily

Well, it's been a week since school has started. It was a good week except for the fact that I had to miss the 4th day of school because of a stomach virus. One of my nice little students passed that to me. It's been a slow week. Monday night we did the Richard Simons excercise tape at the church building. It was fun and I am looking forward to next Monday. Pam and I showed up to yoga late on Tuesday night, so we left because we were really too tired. This is Joseph's last week home before he goes back to Faulkner. By the way he made 3 B's in his classes this summer!!! I am so proud!!! Yesterday after school Mama and Jospeh called and said they were getting groceries for Joseph at Wise Buys, so, since I needed some groceries I figured why not show up and grocery shop all together. It'll be more fun that way! When I got there Pam had showed up too! I bought Joseph a family size can of Tomato soup for his good grades and the can was only slightly dented. It's kind of sad that the highlights of my week are exercise and grocery shopping with my family at the local bent and dent! But I still had fun! I missed being at church, feels weird! Addi made me a beautiful painting that I proudly hung on my refrigerator! Makes me feel bad because Pam and I meant to send her something when she was sick, but with school starting we just didn't get to it. She is so sweet! Well, it's Friday night so I need to find out what we are doing tonight. By the way, Katie, if you are reading this, I would like to visit you and Hannah at the hospital tonight because 1. I am excited for you and 2. Today is the day I picked for Hannah's arrival and I think it would be a good day! Kim, if you are reading this, I would like to take a computer course like Jasmine and learn to be more computer savy, plus my blog's look NEEDS some help! Talk to everyone that reads this soon, maybe even most of you tonight.

Back to school!

I have to say that I really enjoyed my summer and didn't want it to end! Monday - Wednesday was meeting after meeting. On Tuesday night we thought Joseph was having appendicitus, and was ready for surgery if need be, only to find out it was a little colon problem! Also, when doing the CT scan on him, the tests did not come out too clear because he is too skinny, something about looking at the fat around the organs and if it is swollen then that could indicate a problem, only Joseph HAS NONE! What a problem! Today was the first day of school and it was nice. I like my class and hope things go pretty smoothly this year. I do have one little girl who disobeyed all day and then grinned when she got in trouble and it was sooo annoying! Don't ya'll think it is cruel to give little kids only 20 minutes to stand in line, get their food, eat, and clean-up? I do! Plus, I didn't have anything to eat except for a bag of baked Chee-tos and a glass of water! Of course, that's all I had time for. I guess I should be thankful we get 20 minutes because there are so many kids to go through there. I hope tomorrow goes well also. I will try to keep up better from now on! See ya later!
Emily

Here we go again!

Tuesday night I tried to do an update and just as I was about to finish the internet connection turend off! Boy was that annoying! When I last wrote I was on my way to the beach. Well, we've been back. While there we ate seafood, bowled, played pool, played putt-putt at the condo (side story- while playing putt-putt I noticed this palm tree that was growing an interesting fruit I've never seen before or least I thought it was a fruit. I looked at this cross between a peach and a plum, but smaller, and, against Jared and his mother's protest, I ATE it! It tasted pretty good and then the after taste came. WEIRD! It was little and orange with a fuzzy skin like a peach and it tasted the way it looked. If anyone out there can tell me what it was I ate I would really appreciate it! I can not take the word of the 2 and 5 year old boys who told me it was called a "juice ball." They were standing there squeezing the juice out.), shopped at the outlets, bowled again and played pool again, and putt-putted at some pirate ship place that was pretty neat. Oh yeah, and we went to the beach once, at night, to walk. Except for Andy, he got mad because no one wanted to go to the beach because it was too hot, so he walked there by himself, and layed out and read. That's right, layed out. He said he was in a competition with his girlfriend over who could get the darkest. That's Andy for you! When we got back, we celebrated Mama's 51st birthday with grilled steaks, fresh cut asparagus, and some freakishly large potatoes that Joseph picked out. Dad ordered a delicious cheesecake from some backery near one of his offices. Last Tuesday, I was supposed to attend a conference on medication dispensing, but when I got to the school, I couldn't find where the meeting was. We were e-mailed the topic, when it was, and what time, but not where. Turns out only a few people showed up, but I didn't get to earn points for renewing my certificate, so now I've got to attend a ton of workshops this year. Oh, well! That night we did yoga at the church building. It was fun, but noisy! Too hard to concentrate and release all my bad toxins and negative energy. Wednesday and Thursday, I attended workshops at Gardendale High School. It was rather enjoyable. I learned a lot, got to ride with Pam, and spend time with my friend Dana from JCA (she changed jobs at the last minute and now teaches at Brookville Elementary). Friday, Pam, Mama, and Joseph came up to the school and kidnapped me. We went shopping and decided to take advantage of the no tax thing and also get Baby Hannah some diapers for her shower that night. It was a nice evening at Kim's! Saturday morning, bright and early, I had to take the Praxis down at UAB. It was crowded, plus I hate tests! Two hours for the test plus one for getting started. The girl next to me told me that she had to take her pills that make her pay attention. I almost asked for some, but decided against it. Just kidding! That afternoon, Pam, Joseph, Jared, and I went to the Rave and watched "Talladega Nights." It was not my favorite and I took a short nap during it. That evening we had a lovely time at the Courington's for our last summr youth devotional. Sunday was Orientation where the students and parents came to meet the teacher. Now I am going to close in case something goes wrong with my computer again because I am not writing this a third time!
Toodles!
Emily