Beware Chocolate Lovers...

Forever ago (I can't remember when, but I think it may be before Hurricane Katrina, so 4 years or so ago), I saw a tv commercial for Dove ice cream. I like Dove chocolates, I mean they aren't swiss chocolate, but they are pretty good. Back on track now, ever since I saw the commercial, I have been on a hunt for this ice cream. Why may you ask? Well, not only is it chocolate ice cream, but there is this yummy layer of chocolate gnache on top of the ice cream. You have to break through the chocolate to get to the chocolate ice cream. Can I just say I love the person who thought of this?

Well, I have searched all the grocery stores at home, parts of Louisiana, Idaho, Utah, and Las Vegas and no luck. Now I was able to find other Dove frozen treat products, but not the ice cream. I was beginning to think I had dreamed this whole thing up. However, as I was browsing the isles of Kroger last week here in Jackson, my long search came to an end. There it was on the top shelf in the ice cream section. I actually heard chiors singing. A huge smile came upon my face. And if there was less people in the isle, I would have done a dance. I don't mind a few people seeing, but there was like 10 people. Well, I wasn't heading straight home that day, so I had to replace it in the freezer.

My friends, I must tell you this treasure find has been on my mind since that day. I have also been trying to justify buying a $4.00 pint of ice cream. Today I received my justification. I have almost lost my voice (not from yelling, but from sinus drip) and I had a rough day not being able to talk loud or much at all. I was exhausted after school and I was really wanting these amazing cream cheese frosted brownies from Corner Market in Sumrall (Thanks Leanne for getting me hooked). Then I thought who needs brownies when the Dove ice cream is only around the corner from the school? So I finally left school a bit after 5 today and went to Kroger. I walked straight to the ice cream section and then I had to make a choice....ugh. Did I want Unconditional Chocolate, Beyond Vanilla, or Chocolate and Brownie Affair. I decided on the Unconditional Chocolate. I got home, some left overs and then started a movie. Then I flopped on the couch and broke into this chocolate heaven. Again I heard the choirs singing.

It is so YUMMY! There is also a bonus in this flavor... chocolate chunks in the ice cream....ahhhh! I am relaxed now and happy.

My New Job

Finally I have internet! WOO HOO! I am now in Jackson, MS and am sorta settled in. I still have boxes to unpack, yes I know I have been here for 3 weeks now, but I have not stopped in that time. You can read the whirl wind apartment hunting story in my blog called Found It. Well, that happened on a Monday, my mom and I drove home that night, I started packing. On Tuesday, my mom and I went furniture/antique shopping all day long for my apartment. We had great success. We found a mini couch with a pull out twin bed and a drop leaf dining set. I packed my car until the wee hours Tuesday night and first thing Wednesday morning I left for Jackson. I packed my car with the things I would need for a week. My mom was brining up all my furniture the following Wednesday.

I made it to Jackson around 2pm, about 2 hours later than I had planned, thanks to a traffic accident. I hurried to unpack the inside of my car before I had to go downtown to Central Office to complete all of my paperwork. Did I mention it was 104 degrees that afternoon? So I was red faced and sweaty to do my paperwork. Luckily it took awhile so my face returned to normal paleness before I had to take my badge picture. After doing all that, I returned to my apartment to unload my trunk. Finally I was all unpacked and in my apartment, that had nothing in it. I did bring my little tv and dvd player, but I forgot the box with all my dvd's in it, so I headed to Target to buy some movies. I spent the first night (and week) sleeping on an air mattress, which the first time I didn't fill up enough and could feel the floor when I laid down. Oh joy.

Thursday morning, I started my job. We had in service meetings all day and I was able to meet my aid, Ms Pate. She is very nice and helpful. Friday I had meetings for new teachers about the EnVisions math program (which I sat through 3 days of training during student teaching because it was new in the Las Vegas district) and the reading program (which I had also already had training on), so needless to say I was bored out of my mind all day. I really could have used the day to work in my classroom. I did get to work in it on Monday for most of the day and on Tuesday for half the day. Ms Pate did a lot while I was at my meetings on Friday!

School began on Wednesday and I had 28 students, with 3 no shows. It was a hectic day. I had parents in the room until 10am....apparently this is normal at this school. I was ready for them to be out of there before 9am! Most of the day was filled with putting supplies in bags (some students will be shipped out after Labor Day and we have to send their supplies with them) and getting to know each other and the rules. Really the rest of the week was the same way. I was relived to come home Wednesday and find my mom and Dwight had all my furniture moved in and arranged! What a relief! To be honest, I don't think I would have been much help to them. We then went to this mexican restaurant down the street and it was so stinkin good!

Last week was the first full week and I am now up to 33 students! And I have heard a rumor today that I will be getting another one tomorrow! Do you know how hard it is to keep 33 five year olds quiet and on task? I should be thankful that out of the 33, I only have 4 that are my biggest challenges (behavior wise). I am working on them. So far one has improved and another has made progress. The other two ... well I am praying for them! Last Thursday, I had to call 5 parents because of behavior. There is a silver lining to this... today was much much much better!! I feel they are starting to adapt to the routine of the day. so that is a good thing.

I am sure I will have many stories to share this year. Right now most of the class is sick. I just love runny noses! NOT! Today we worked on the concept of covering our mouths when we cough and noses when we sneeze. We also had a lesson on not asking permission to get a kleenex when it is HIGHLY need. One little girl would sneeze, say Ms Mason, I would look at her, and she would point to her (need of a kleenex) nose. So GROSS! I think I was putting hand sanitizer on about every 5 minutes today. Oh and did I mention I woke up without a scratchy/hoarse voice this morning. I think it is due to the change in weather. Oh that is another silver lining....the high today was in the low to mid 80's and it was 58 when I left my apartment at 6 this morning! I think Fall could be just around the corner! YAY!!!!

Well, that is all for now... I hope yall have a FANTASTIC night!

My New Apartment

Well here are some pictures from the day I moved into my apartment. There is no furniture and some boxes laying around. I will take some pictures of it furnished this weekend.

My Bedroom

The bathroom

My TINY kitchen

the hallway

my living room at a funny angle

I do have fireplace/gas heater to the right of all my junk in the living room picture. There is more living room behind me (not too much more but a bit more)

I LOVE my hardwood floors!!!

Oh PS notice my rocking awesome hudson's dirt cheap $7 purse (it was originally $80s!)

I'm Still Here

Ok I am able to post this quick like from my computer at school... I get internet at my apartment on Monday...WOO HOO! So I will have much to post about ... I have missed reading your blogs and am ready to catch up! See you soon!

Pip Squeek

So, Kiwi the cat is a grand hunter. She loves to hunt lizards, rodents, birds, frogs and snakes. She she catches something, she will play with it until it is dead and then she will leave it in the garden for my mom to find. When she does this we praise her for being such a good hunter. It is better for the snakes and rodents to be dead than in the yard. We do fuss at her when she kills a bird, especially when she jumps up and catches one as it is feeding on the feeder.

The other day, Kiwi killed a baby vole, it is a rodent but fuzzier and they won't come in your house. I am not a fan of rodents but if I had to have some, I would choose the vole becasue I know I won't ever see it running across my kitchen. Well, later that evening, Kiwi found another baby vole. She had played with it and left it, so I figured it was dead. I got the shovel to throw it in the garbage and when I touched it, it started running around! Yikes! I ran inside and got a towel and put it in a box. Once that was done, I started thinking, crud now what do I do with it? I don't know where the cat found it. It's tiny and its eyes are barely open. I really really really don't want a pet rodent. I don't want to just give it to the cat to finish it off. I felt kinda sorry for it. Then a lightbulb came on. I ran inside and grabbed my phone. I called Jenny, my friend that is now a vet and rescues wild life. I got in touch with her and she said to keep it warm and to bring it to her at the clinic in the morning. Ok, problem solved. And I named it Pip. I took it to Jenny and I haven't talked to her to see if it survived or not...oh well at least I tried to save it.

Here is Pip...I think it is so cute because it is so tiny...

I made Kiwi apologize to Pip before I brought it to Jenny

I Found It!

Today my mom and i drove to Jackson. I had to turn in a copy of my Mississippi teaching license...I finally got it in the mail. I also had to do fingerprinting. Oh by the way I am a total pro at being fingerprinted. Today was the 4th time I have had it done in the last year...crazy I know.

Other than business at central office, we were going to apartment shop. Can I say I hate, hate, hate apartment shopping. The driving from complex to complex, looking at apartment after apartment, apartment managers begging like dogs for a treat to get you to sign the lease. UGH...it can be so miserable.

This morning, I had to go to the post office for a money order for fingerprinting. There was a long line and I started talking to the lady behind me in line (I love this about the south, you can gain a new best friend in any line and know their whole life story in the time you are in line together-it's the BEST!) Well, she told me she is a librarian at a high school in Jackson, and I told her I was a kindergarten teacher. I also mentioned I was apartment hunting and she asked where I was looking. I said I would love the Belhaven District (it's historic), but I was also looking in Fondren District (arts district) and Ridgeland (a city outside of Jackson). She said she lived in Belhaven and loves it and that it would be the perfect place for me to live. She told me of a realtor that had worked the area forever and would know any and all properties available. Sweet.

After I finished my business at central office, we went to the Chamber of Commerce to get a map of the Jackson area. The lady there also recommended the same realtor as the post office lady...hmmm....maybe we should go see him. Well, first we tried to see this apartment in the Fondren District, however, it is gated, we couldn't get in or find the office and no one would answer the phone. Then we went to find the highly recommended Henry. He was so personable! He had 3 properties available. The first was a 2 bed/1 bath on a busy street. Henry said he didn't think it was the best place for a young single lady, but wanted me to see it. The second place, known as 'the 721 building', was a 1 bed/1 bath. Very cute, but small but the building was built in 1939 and was absoultly charming. The kitchen is sooooo tiny! The third apartment was still occupied unitl the middle of the month but it is an option. It was also a 1 bed/1bath but when we walked in the door, there was a STRIPPER POLE in the living room. Now, there was supossed to be a GUY living in the apartment...hmmm. It was a nice apartment with a walk in closet. We thanked Henry for his time and went to see another realtor I found online. The realtor was less helpful than Henry. She told me the properties available, and they had 2 in my price range. She handed me the keys and pointed me in the direction of the properties....ummm, ok. The first was a 2 bed/2 bath the previous tenants moved out this morning and it was dirty but the cleaning crew was hard at work. It did have A LOT of storage... 6 closets total! Nice! The second properties was called a 'studio' but it was really a 1bed/1bath. It was nice and the lowest in price at $505 a month. However, it was on the 3rd floor and I am not looking forward to hauling furnature or all my stuff up 3 flights of stairs. We brought the keys back to the realtor and thanked her for the little effort she put forth in making me feel like she at least wanted me to be her next tenant. Ok, I didn't say all that but I did say thanks.

So now after looking at only 5 properties, I was already tired and didn't want to look anymore. I honestly had made my mind up about one. They all had their pluses and minuses, but only one I could see myself living in...

can you guess?

I decided on....

The 721 Building!!!

Charming with history. Hardwood floors. I can see the capitol building from it. I LOVE IT!!!

Here is the only picture online I could find of it... more to come soon!

My apartment is on the second floor...you can't see my window because it is covered by the tree.

Fishing Adventure

The other day the big boys were deep sea fishing, so Jen and Livi decided to go fishing on the seawall and I joined them. I don't know about Jen and Livi, but I had fun.

Jen caught the first thing...an oyster shell.

I caught a croker fish and Jen caught one too

Livi caught a jellyfish...well she really found it washed up on the seawall

When we were younger and we weren't catching anything while fishing, our Papa would tell us we weren't holding our mouth right...so here is Jenn and I trying out different ways to hold our mouth to see if it would change our luck

It really didn't help too much...maybe we still aren't holding our mouths right!

Fun Foto Friday

Jayden LOVES riding on Patsy's big green tractor!!!

Working on my Room

I have been back and forth to Jackson lately trying to find an apartment and trying to get my room set up. Jenn and Livi went up there with me on Monday to help me tackle the storage closet in my room.

As you can see from the picture it is slam packed ...

As I said the plan was to tackle this closet to see what I have to work with in there. In my room I also have one of those storage closets on wheels. Before working on the big closet, I decided to look inside. Oh boy was that a mistake! Now the closet is about 6 feet tall and about 4 feet wide. Upon opening it I discovered it too was slammed full, mostly of construction paper. However, it was shoved in there in a huge disarray. In other words it was a HOT MESS of paper! Once this new mess was discovered the big closet project went out the window and all attention was turned to organizing all the construction paper. I was so focused on getting it organized that I forgot to take a before picture. It took the 3 of us almost 2 hours but everything is nice, neat and organized. We had two huge black garbage bags full of paper that we threw away. I wasn't keeping anything that was bent, folded, torn, or had any marks on it. In this hot mess, we found a dozen or so never used packs of construction paper. I have a 2 foot tall cabinet full to the top of 2 foot by 3 foot paper of every color of the rainbow. I now know I have finger paint paper, packs of manila colored paper, poster board, writing tablets and notebooks. I pretty much can now open my own paper store, if I wanted.

Here is picture of the cabinet when we started putting paper back in it...please note that this is just some of the paper I decided to put back in here, I moved a bunch to my built in cabinets.

Can you picture this slammed full of paper all jumbled up????

Here are some more shots of my room...it is pretty bland right now. Oh you can also see the paper that is spread out EVERYWHERE as we were putting like sizes and colors together.

FYI

I am giving yall a warning that my blogging skill are being put on the back burner for the next couple of weeks. Sorry. I will try to keep yall posted as I apartment hunt, set up my classroom, move, and prepare for the first day of school (which is Aug 10th). But I will take pictures and bombard yall when I get settled into my new home!

Exciting News...

Well yall, after months and months, job application after job application, job fairs and more job fairs, my search is FINALLY OVER!!!!

WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Last week I was talking to my oh so wise friend (which is why she is my bestie) and she told me she had faith that I would hear something about a job. Well, she was right, I did get an email from a principal telling me all positions in his school had been filled, but thanks for applying, blah blah blah. I guess, I was hoping for a call about a job. I was beginning to get a wee bit depressed by the end of the week. The weekend came and went and a new week was beginning. Little did I know what this week would hold.

Picture it, Monday afternoon and my phone rings. I didn't know the number so I was going to send it to voicemail (I don't like to answer numbers I don't know - I'm weird like that). However, I just got a new phone and instead of sending it to voicemail, I answered it. Realizing it, I quickly said hello. This southern accented woman, quickly speaking may I add, started talking. All I got was "principal" "position" "do you have a job" "do you still want a job". Then I said... No I don't have a job yet, yes I would like a job...Oh I am sorry I didn't catch your name or the school. Dr. W asked when I wanted to interview, I answered Wednesday and gave her a time that was good for me when she asked. When I hung up the phone it took me a few minutes to realize I HAD A JOB INTERVIEW....sweet! Wait!??!! Am I ready for this.. .I mean this is the first real interview, besides the few I have done at job fairs. GULP!

Last night I drove up to Hattiesburg and stayed the night with Leanne and Branson, since they are half way to Jackson. I drove to my interview this morning and everything went well. Actually, Dr. W told me she had basically made up her mind to hire me after speaking with my references! Oh goodness, I need to call them and find out what all they said so I will know what I have to live up to!!! :) So I signed my employment agreement, went to central office handed in some paperwork, next week I will get my fingerprinting done and start setting up my classroom and find an apartment! YIKES! Oh did I mention school starts in 2 1/2 weeks??? DOUBLE YIKES!!!

So, now I am a McWillie Bulldog!

I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone for their prayers and support!

I really do have the BEST family and friends!

Love yall!

Fun Foto Friday

Who knew I had my own fort?? Pretty rockin awesome though! Fort Mason is located in beautiful San Francisco. It served as an Army post for more than 100 years. It was built during the Civil War, but was used during WW II and Korean War. Today, some of the housing here is still used by the Army, some is rented to the public (how cool to say you live in a fort??) and one of its buildings has been converted into a youth hostel.

Happy Fun Foto Friday!

Fun Foto Friday

Cafe du Monde...need I say more?

Seriously, if you have never been to New Orelans and make it down here one day (I recommend the early spring...like end of Feburary or March... or fall ... any time from the end of Sepetember on) this is a must stop. Nothing is better than these yummy powered sugar covered beignet goodness. I like it with chocolate milk or hot chocolate (depending on the time of the year - wait, sometimes it is 85 degrees at Christmas here- so I should say depending on the weather of the day I visit)

This picture makes me want some beignets now... ok, I think I will go get so... so bye yall I am off to New Orleans for the day!

The Happenings...

Well yall, I am sorry it has been awhile since I have posted.

Things have been nuts! Last week my aunt Carol died (my dad's youngest sister). My mom and I jumped in the truck and drove up to Oklahoma City for the funeral. My aunt Carol was the only one of my dad's siblings that I was close to. We stayed at my cousin Dotties house. It was a lot of fun. Her little girl Emily is now 3 and is my new best friend ... YAY!! Now, the interesting thing about going to this funeral is I was going to meet some of my cousins for the first time ever. I met 3 of Dottie's brothers and her sister. I know it is strange that I could be close to Dottie and not know her siblings, but they are all way older than me...some of them have kids that are my age. So now I can say I have met my cousins and they have met me. And now when they look at a picture of me, they can say "hey I met her and she is rockin awesome", well at least that is what I hope they will say.

Do 45+ year olds say 'rockin awesome'??

Now Oklahoma City is not a place that I would say let's go for kicks and giggles, but maybe during football season it would be fun to go to an OU football game....Boomer Sooner!

Oh and they do have the Cowboy Hall of Fame there-not that I went this time, well my mom said I went there when I was younger, but I don't remember, I guess I was too young or it really wasn't that great. I may go next time I am in town.

The highlights of this trip were....

Braum's

seriously the best ice cream ever

its a fast food/ice cream parlor/grocery store

Braum's bacon is stinkin delicious and smells so yummy cooking

their cottage cheese is better than any I have ever eaten

IKEA

this was my mom's first trip to IKEA and she LOVED it!

I drooled over the yellow linen cabinet I will be buying soon

LOVE LOVE LOVE the sweedish meatballs with lingonberry jelly

I found some new glasses I want to buy

did I mention how fabulous the 'AS IS' section can be

the GREATEST/MOST FUN fabric is at IKEA

Welcome Centers

why does Louisiana have a welcome center in the MIDDLE of the state?

we discovered about 50 festivals in Louisiana that my mom and I are going to go to...can I saw Swine Fest and greasy pig contest here we come?!?!?

Texas welcome center on Interstate 20 is not as great as the one on Intersate 10 (I-10 has a swamp at it with alligators...I meant you can't get much better than that)

who would have thought you could get a seed catalog at a welcome center, well in Texas you can!

I love brochures of all the great things a state has to offer

Lafayette

pronounced 'Laugh-e-yette'

Genuine Cajun. Uniquely Creole.

Kai's mom's house is decorated in funky art

Prejeans for brunch -

Seafood Skillet Fondeaux, Shrimp Sassafras, Crawfish Boudin Balls, Mardi Gras Oyster Bake, Eggplant Abbeville....yum!

cute little town with that Louisiana way of life

Bonding time with my mom

this is always the best!

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Now as for a job for the fall...negative.

I know it's kinda depressing.

I have been applying EVERYWHERE...seriously.

I have great friends, who have found teaching jobs, that are passing on information about jobs they hear about

I have a job offer to go to Bahrain...but the pay isn't a great as I would like, but it is a thought on the back burner as a last option possible

My friend Jon's mom in law works on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico and let me know they have job openings and is getting me all the information... I think it could be cool to teach the Navajo children and maybe I could learn to speak Navajo

I sorta kinda want a job offer from one of the district I applied to in Utah

A school I in Texas I had an interview with now has job openings (they principal did interviews before she had openings so she could fill openings when they came available) my interview went really well, so I am hoping she didn't forget about me :)

Well, that is all that is happening right now. HOPEFULLY I will have good news about a job for yall soon! I hope everyone is having a FANTASTIC summer!!

Mississippi

I love taking pictures by the welcome signs as you enter each state...it's pretty much one of the greatest things to do on a road trip. I have always like the sign as you enter Mississippi (not that I am particle to the state or anything). Now over the years, it has pretty much been the same thing...a warm welcome to the state of Mississippi...

This is the sign from when I was younger

This was the sign that was in place for the longest time

This was the most recent sign... It really is like coming home when you cross that line

So as you can see the past 3 signs have been quite inviting...they are almost like getting a hug of hospitality as you enter the state.
Well I guess someone decided that Mississippi is no longer like coming home.
There is now a new state sign as you come into the state...

Sorry it's blurry, I was zooming by at 75 as I took this picture.
Welcome to Mississippi - Birthplace of America's Music
What??!!??!?!?!?
Aren't we the hospitality state? Shouldn't the sign be more inviting like signs in the past?
Now, I know that many GREAT singers have come from Mississippi
Elvis
Bo Diddley
Faith Hill
BB King
John Lee Hooker
Chris Ledoux
3 Doors Down
Tammy Wynette
Howlin Wolf
Muddy Waters
Ike Turner
Conway Twitty
Leanne Rimes
Jimmy Buffett
Lance Bass

So as I was looking more into this Birthplace of America's music and I found this blog on it
Birthplace of America's music
it is pretty interesting
So this is my little rant on this subject...
I guess Mississippi can be the hospitality state and the birthplace of America's music

Lunch with the Girls

The other day, I had the opportunity to go to lunch with 3 of my best friends from high school. I met all of them my freshman year, when I transferred to Bay High. That was 16 years ago! We have all done a great job at keeping in touch over as life has taken us in different directions. Once again we are now living within an hour of each other.
Luckily, this day Paula had the day off of work (and it was her birthday), Jenny was able to take a lunch (she's a vet and is always busy with her patients) and Leanne was on the coast for the day (she lives in the Hattiesburg area)...and I of course am always free since it is summer (and I wasn't off at a job fair somewhere). So we made a plan to go to lunch. We decided on J's, this great little restaurant in Waveland. We had such a great time talking about old times and what is going on in our lives now. I know I can talk, but put the 4 of us together and you can hardly get a word in, there wasn't a silent moment!
It was such a bright and sunny day! Luckily I had my sunglasses and didn't squint!!
Me, Jenny, Leanne and Paula

Fun Foto Friday

Here is Lynley and I being goofy and trying on hats...this was taken about 6 years ago or so. I miss this kid...she's my bestie and lives all the way in St. George. Oh and she may be moving to Logan for grad school, which means she will be even further away. But I like Logan and Bear Lake so I will be going to visit often.

Streett Turned 2!!

S had his second birthday this past week. To celebrate he had a sprinkler party (it's the ONLY kind of party to have here when you have a summer birthday). All the kiddos had a blast playing on the slip n slide, kiddie pools, sprinklers and the kid sized jumper. Here are some pictures from one of my favorite 2 year old's birthday party...

S trying out his new lawn mower in the pool

Blowing out candles

Opening presents...he is totally into Thomas the Train right now and I love it!

Cousins S & J in the jumper

Crazy Little Man

My cousin Nancy came over to visit with her little man, Vinny. V is so stinkin cute, but boy oh boy he NEVER stops. He gets it naturally, Nancy was the same way when she was little. The pictures are a bit blurry because he wouldn't pause for a second.

I was in the kitchen, where my mom has this huge island. V ran around the thing 34 times! Then he ran into the art studio, then the tv room, then he climbed on the couch, then he took off somewhere else!

Even though he is a package of energy, I wanted to show this cute little guy off!

Evening on the beach

A few weeks ago, Jayden and I went to the beach for the evening. He really didn't like the sand at first and for some reason the kid has a few of water. Well, I wouldn't hold him so he quickly got used to the sand and had a blast from then on.

The tide was out and there were MILLIONS of jelly fish on the shore. Now, these are not stinging jellyfish, they have no tentacles. It is really cool because you can put them in your hand and if you blow into their mouth, they fill up with air like a balloon. J thought this was cool.

We ran up and down the beach for a while then I decided to take a walk out to a sand bar. I gave J a piggy back ride out there and we chased birds. He even let me put his feet in the water to was them off! (Well, he did have a death grip around my neck)

It was getting dark and we wrote J's name in the sand. Trying to get a 2 year old to stand behind his name and take a picture (oh and it was getting dark) was not as easy as one would think. But this is what I got...

It was such a fun time!