The Houston House

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-22T22:43:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!!

**I know a lot of my family reads my blog, and if you are wandering how I could ever forget to send you a card, I didn't, I promise. There were printing issues and no one got a card. So this is how I am sending them this year, sorry.**

I Am Coming Back!!!!!

2010-11-21T21:14:00.002-06:00

I am so sorry I have been out for about 3 months, I have been completing my internship for my masters and starting my first year as a real teacher, woohoo. I am finishing my masters in 2 weeks and I will have sooo much more time. I have soooooooo much to catch up on, did I mention there is a ton to tell?? I hope to start catching up on some of my favorite blogs and re-connecting with my blog family!!! Will be back very soon!!!

Wedding Filled Weekend!!

2010-09-05T21:04:00.006-05:00

First, I am so sorry that I have been absent on here alot. There is just something about first year teachers and NOT having even one minute of spare time and if I do I am either slipping in family time or trying to get a minute or two of sleep.

Second, Beware this is going to be picture overload.

Last weekend the kids were in a wedding, Fallon was the flower girl and Kale was the brides usher, he walked her down the isle with her step-dad. I don't have any pictures of the actual wedding, I videoed the wedding.

Kale looking so handsome in his tux and Fallon so cute in her petti-shirt!

At the rehearsal dinner the bride and groom gave Kale this Razorback football memorabilia book. This book is so amazing.!!!

Fallon got a embroidered Razorback lunch box!!

Everyone wanted to look at Kale's book!

Paul and I all dressed up!

On every other row of chairs had these 3 glass (key work here) candle holders that decorated the isle. They were actually very pretty and a very good idea, at first.
Then Fallon fell out of the chair and fell onto these and broke them.

And cut up both of her feet and one of her legs. She is fine, but scary for a minute!!!

Of course she had to put the band-aides on herself.

We had to get to the Church so early for pictures and waiting can be so tough sometimes!! But they did good!

The Church had a pond and the kids loved it!

Fallon and her Daddy!

The flower girls and the groom!

The Bride and the Groom heading into the reception.
It was a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding for a Great Couple!!
Congrats!

Getting Old...

2010-08-14T09:44:00.005-05:00

Let me start this with a little history, growing up till I was about 21 I rodeoed. I loved it, and everyone who does it will tell you that it is your life and everyone is your family. With that being said, I had a good friend that I rode to rodeos with and he had another good friend he roped with. That other good friend had the cutest sweetest children alive.

Now to present day: As a teacher if students ask me to come watch them at a certain sport, no matter if it football, to choir I try to go. I have this one (now former) student who rodeos and he has asked me several times if I will come and watch him ride bulls. Since I love going to rodeos I said I would come to this particular one.

This is my former student riding his bull, he won the bull riding last night, yea!!!

Getting back to my story, team roping came up and they announced the next team and I said, oh my goodness, that is ******* and good heavens is that his son. There is no way that can be his son. (This was that other friend that I was talking about at the beginning of this post!!)

This kid looks like he is 16/17 years old. Then I proceed to tell Paul that I know them, and I think that is this guys son, but I don't think it could be.

Paul's only response, Stephanie, it could be him, remember you really are starting to get OLD....Seriously...

I have to explain the last picture, the clown would say put your hands up and cheer for the cowboys and Fallon would put her hands up like she was on a roller-coaster, it was so funny!!!
My friend Nitishia barrel raced last night also and she let the kids ride her horse. I truly do miss my rodeo family....They are the best!!!

The New Beginning...

2010-08-11T20:03:00.003-05:00

As the new school year approaches I am beginning a new chapter in my life. For the last 4 years I have been employed by the Clarksville School District as a tutor. That is classified as an aide position. As I am finishing my masters it came apparent that it was time for me to spread my wings and fly, meaning it was time for me to get a teaching job. Where I live teaching jobs are hard to come by, but in May I started sending out applications and resume's and the beginning of June I was called for my first interview. I was scared to death, and that truly is an understatement. My friend Baskin and I loaded up on a Monday in June and drove 40 minutes for my interview. (She went to help keep me calm on that long 40 minute drive) After the interview I thought I did horrible and I just said I could use that as a learning experience for the next one. The same week on Thursday night I got a phone call from the assistant principal saying welcome to ***. I screamed, cried, smiled, and who knows what else I did, I was so excited. Since then I have worried, stressed, and been excited about what I will be doing. I will be teaching 8th grade math.
I still am so clueless about what I am supposed to be doing and since we have been back on Monday for in-service I feel even more lost. But right now the hardest thing I am having to do is my room. Good gracious, even with all my years in education, I had no idea how hard it is to decorate a classroom. I am still not even close to being finished, but here are pictures of before and middle.

When I first saw my room.

It truly needed a lot of work at this point.

This is after day 1 of working on it.

Middle of Re-Do
The theme in the room: Zebra!!

This bulletin board is going to be decorated with pictures from when I was in 8th grade. Kids really enjoy when they can see that you were their age once!

I am going to apologize now, but until I get this whole teaching thing figured out, I probably will not update as much.

CoverGirl Giveaway Winner!!

2010-07-20T22:51:00.002-05:00

I am late at announcing this, it has been a crazy busy week!!!

And

The

Winner

Is

.......

Candy Dunaway!!!

Congrats!!

I actually know her and will make sure she gets her Gift Card!!!

My Baby is 4 Today....

2010-07-17T06:00:00.003-05:00

My baby is 4 today, tear. I will never have another 3 year old. OK now the tears are flowing. Here are pictures of every year of her young little life so far...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FALLON!!

She was 2 days old here.
(Yes I know she is one "big" baby, she was 9#3oz when she was born)

This was on her 1st Birthday!

2 year old

3 years old

(Almost) 4 years old

Happy Birthday Baby Girl, I Love You!!

CoverGirl Giveaway!!

2010-07-15T20:45:00.008-05:00

Make-Up has always been my thing, even though I get tired of putting it on sometimes and taking it off, I still love getting all "dolled" up!! I was so excited to get to review this CoverGirl Make-Up from MyBlogSpark!!

My first thought is this make-up is going to be so easy, the eyes are done in 3 steps. But to be honest, I have wore the same make up for about 10 years, after my pageant days I toned it down to what I wear now. I would still like to tone it down a little more.
I was sent 3 different samples, Bold Eyes, Smokey Eyes, and Natural. I went for the natural, because after all I am wanting to be more natural. Took a little getting used to, the eye shadow is all in one. It was really more convenient, but it didn't last all day.

I love the eye liner and mascara!!! I played around a little and actually really like using the eye shadow as the eye liner on my bottom eye lid. It made a huge difference in making my make-up look more natural!

If you'd like to be entered in to win the $20 gift card to Walmart, all you have to do is go HERE and tell me which of the Smoky Eye kits you'd like to try! {This is a mandatory entry}!

If you don't have a blog login, just leave me a comment under Anonymous, but make sure and put your name on there so I know who left the comment!!

For an additional entry, follow me using Google Friends Connect, if you are already a follower just let me know, just leave me a separate comment saying you are now or have been a follower!!

Giveaway will be open till July 19th at 10pm CST.

This giveaway is provided by CoverGirl and MyBlogSpot!

The Dad Life...

2010-07-14T16:14:00.004-05:00

I am not sure if there are any men who read my blog, but I just love this video. Actually it is hilarious. I wish I would have seen this on Father's Day and I would have posted it then. Enjoy!!

Kale's Surprise Birthday Party!

2010-07-08T19:18:00.002-05:00

Last night we threw Kale a surprise 8th birthday party. He had no idea and was totally surprised! The weather was perfect since the current Tropical Storm is coming through Arkansas.

We Had....

This Awesome

Cake!

Wishes Being Made

Friends

Family and Friends

Cake and Ice Cream and Chips (must be a boy thing)

Presents

Fireworks

Great Time!

Happy 8th Birthday Kale!!!

2010-07-05T10:45:00.003-05:00

Today is my first baby's 8th birthday!! Oh how time flies and I can't believe he is going into the 2nd grade or he just attended his first of probably many baseball camp or I get the "Mom I can do this on my own." I have put pictures on here of Kale each year of his life, but he was born before I got into the digital era so these pictures are not the best. ENJOY!!

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY KALE

He was about 2 months old here!

This was on his 1st birthday, we took him to Silver Dollar City!

Kale was 2 years old here!

3 years old

4 years old

5 years old

6 year old

7 years old

8 years old

I just can't believe it, tear...
But, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUBBA

Blogging Day of Silence for Cohen

2010-07-01T18:04:00.000-05:00

Snail Mail

2010-06-24T14:43:00.003-05:00

I love checking the mail everyday because I love getting things in the mail, I realize sounds weird, but I love it! I love getting magazines and especially gifts that I was not expecting! Today's mail was just full of surprises!! Back in May some of my family from Texas visited and came over to the house one afternoon and we had homemade ice cream and the kids just played and played. Then today in the mail I received a picture book of their visit and I LOVE it!! Here is a sneak peek of the book!

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The big surprise in the mail today, well it is the next Giveaway!!!!

Details to come!!

Just wanted to give a sneak peek!!!

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The Adventures with FOH...

2010-06-21T23:42:00.007-05:00

I have a daughter (as if not all of you didn't know that) her name is Fallon Olivia Houston, and I am declaring on this June 21st day that she is an absolute wild, crazy, loving, beautiful, smart (which is not always a good thing), ornery, hard headed, and a complete mess of a child. Not sure why she has to be so much like her dad, still don't understand why I have to pay for his raising, hehe!!
Conversations with her are quit comical also, I wish I could remember all of them, but here are the ones I can remember....(I realize these are more funny to me and it is one of those you had to be there moments, but I want to put them down so I remember them later!)

One night we were watching Cake Boss and Buddy (the Cake Boss) took his daughter to Disney World and while there she got to meet The Little Mermaid and the conversation went like this..
Fallon: I wuv the Mermaid
Me: I like The Little Mermaid also..
Fallon: The Mermaid is NOT wittle.
Me: Well, then, what in the world is she?
Fallon: Her is bwig
Me: Well honey that is just her name, oh never mind
You win this one...

Then last week Paul and Kale were gone else where and this is another conversation I had with her.
Me: Fallon what do you want for dinner?
Fallon: Poot Beans
Me: You want WHAT??
Fallon: Poot Beans
Me: Huh??
Fallon: The beans that make me poot all the time...
Me: Why do you have to be so much like your father? Do you mean bake beans?
Fallon: Yup
(Then she eats 3 bowls full, it was a long night, ha)

Last week I took her to get her hair cut, it was almost to her hiney and it was just time to get it trimmed up and healthy. She had around 3 to 4 inches cut off and now she looks so grown up.

Waiting for her turn!

The Before!

She didn't move an inch, she was perfectly still during the whole process.

The After

She looks so beautiful and grown up...

THEN...

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The very next day she is back to her normal 3 year old self...
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I was determined NOT to cut it and I didn't, some how she managed to get it out!!
Thank Goodness...
Even though she is just like her father, I Love this girl more than anything!!!

For All My Razorback Peeps!!!!

2010-06-19T16:00:00.004-05:00

We have been out of town for the last week or two, I don't even remember, and our life is so unbelievably crazy right now. I am going to take a breather for the next couple of days and one of my of my goals is to catch up the blog, PROMISE...But in the mean time, this is for all my Razorback Football peeps. If you are from Arkansas or a Hog fan you will understand this.

Woo Pig Sooie

Wordless Wednesday-On Our Way to Church!

2010-06-09T19:40:00.001-05:00

Memorial Weekend Baseball Tournament!!!

2010-05-30T14:12:00.012-05:00

First off, Happy Memorial Day Weekend!! We've had and are having a busy one. Kale was invited to play with a baseball team that played in a tournament yesterday. It was a new team and new coach but it was awesome! We knew going in that we were going to have a good team but little did I know how good. For these boys to never play together they they did awesome! We won the tournament! We played 5 games on Saturday we won 4 of the 5 games. (This is for me to remember, but we beat the first team 17-3, won the second game 20-4, lost the third game 18-16, won game four but didn't write that score down, and won the championship game 19-12!) We are hoping to get together for some more tournaments!!

Kale waiting to bat!

Kale getting warmed up!

The Championship Team!

Kale getting his trophy!

The Team with the Coaches!

Kale went up to bat 13 times yesterday and struck out once and was thrown out twice! I did not keep up with how many points he scored or RBIs, but there was alot! He did so good! Here is a video of one time while he was batting! I know the video is small, but you can see the short stop jumping to grab the ball and misses and the outfielders running toward the ball! Kale hit sooo good yesterday!

Couldn't not throw in a picture of this little cutie sporting one of her brothers baseball caps!
It was a long day for her and she was really good!

Paul playing catch with Kale! Getting him warmed up during our one big break of the day!!

Show Us Your Life - Books!

2010-05-13T20:06:00.004-05:00

This week at Kelly's Korner she is hosting show us your favorite books/children books! I was not raised in a house that reading was a priority. When I started working at the high school I found out quickly that reading is a high priority there. Both of our principals are avid readers and we even have a literacy period where the students are to just read. I have now become a pretty avid reader (when I have time.) I want my kids to see me reading so that goes on down to them.

I usually read what my high school students are reading and every once in a while I will throw in a Harlequin series! I really enjoy any of the Jodi Picoult books, she is one of my favorite authors right now. She is most notable for My Sister's Keeper, but she really has so many great books out there. One of the hot books at the high school right now is the Hunger Game series. The last of the trilogy is coming out this August and I can't wait, they are really good books! Just to break things up I recently read the Montana Creed books, this is just a good trashly love story.

My son Kale just really isn't into books, but my boss (one of the principals that is an avid reader) told Kale about the books that he read to his son to get his son interested into books. It is Hank the Cowdog series. We read them to Kale and Fallon both, and they both love them but it has really helped Kale to like books. They are really funny and fun to read!!

Fallon is my little reader, she LOVES books and that really is an understatement. Two of her favorite books are Pinkalicious and Purplicious! There is not a book in our house that she doesn't love, hasn't read 3, 297 times and can't repeat the book back to you word for word.

Women Run Arkansas Race Day!

2010-05-09T11:07:00.005-05:00

All over Arkansas 10 weeks ago there were clinics forming of all women that would begin a 10 week run/walk clinic that would train for the 'Graduation Race.' I joined and participated for all 10 weeks. You had the choice to train for the walking portion or the running/jogging portion. My friend Mandy and I joined the jogging portion. Between her building her house and my injuries we still made it through training and to race day! I am not an emotional person, but when I was on the last mile I caught myself fighting back tears, this was such an accomplishment for me and it was awesome!! I am definitely addicted now. I already have 2 more races lined out. Here are a few pictures from the day! (Official results still have not been posted, but I do know for sure I beat my goal time! My goal time was 45 minutes and when I crossed the timer, which was right before the finish line it was at 42 minutes!)

This was when we were walking up to race where everyone was!

Here a before picture!

All the racers lined up to begin!
(There was around 1400 women racing)

All along the 3.1 miles there were sayings written on the road for encouragement and little did I know till after the race my kids were part of that. This is what Kale wrote. (Yes I know he spelled Let's wrong, but he did write that himself without any help!)

My partner Mandy in the white shirt/red shorts! We stayed together till the very end and she took off sprinting and I stayed at my pace.

That is me coming toward the end Purple Shirt White Visor.

Almost there, I was dying at this point, but determined to finish!

I hate this picture, but it is the after. I still could not breath at this point!

I am normally behind the camera and this is a change for me being in front of the camera. I do not find these pictures flattering at all and I apologize for that. I just really want to remember this accomplishment!

Show Us Your Life!

2010-05-06T21:32:00.005-05:00

This week over at Kelly's Korner is how did you come up with your kids names!! I love my kids names and would love to share where they came from. They have no family significance, they are unique and short. That was my goal! I still have one more name picked out, but will probably never use it, but for the names I have used...

Kale Lane - His first name came from a young man who I adore and always wanted a son to grow up as nice and genuine and caring as this young man. His name is Cale E. Not sure why I just like using the K better. Lane came from Lane Frost, but I also really love the name Lane. (For the life of me, I could not find a picture of Cale E., but he is amazing young man! My Kale is an amazing little man as well!)

Fallon Olivia - Naming her was a little more tough, I wanted the name Lane in there somewhere so her and Kale would have that tie, but just didn't end up that way. Paul and I had an agreement, if the baby was a boy he got to name it and if it was a girl I got to name it. The Lord was looking out for me, poor Paul just didn't have very good names, HA! But I still felt bad, so I told him to pick the middle name.

I got Fallon from a model who barrel races, her name is Fallon Taylor (pictured above). I have met her before and she is just as nice as she is beautiful. But more importantly I love her name. I have no idea where Paul came up with Olivia, but it really all just worked together!!

Race to the Race!!!

2010-05-06T19:52:00.003-05:00

I have been training for the past 10 weeks to run the 'graduation race' and that race is this Saturday May 8!! Woohoo, I am so excited!! I am working on new music for the ipod so I have some good jam to listen to. Even though this journey has not been easy and I have been (seems that I have been) plagued with injuries, I am so glad I am healthy enough to run, scratch that, jog this race!! I am going to hand the camera over to Paul, which is scary, I did that at my college graduation and I do not have 1 in-focus picture. I will post how the day turns out Saturday when we get back home!!

Alive...

2010-05-02T18:58:00.002-05:00

I am still alive, I am so sorry I am not been posting. I will be back after Monday night, I have my last final and then I will have all the time in the world. Well that was a joke, but I will have a little more free time. I have been at the ball fields for the last 10 days straight and would be more if I didn't have to attend class one night. Also, I am still training for the 5K and the race is next Saturday, yikes, it stresses me, but on the other hand really excited!! Will post pictures and more details very soon, PROMISE!!!! Have a GREAT MONDAY!!!

It has begun!!!!

2010-04-20T20:19:00.004-05:00

It is that time...BASEBALL!!! There is no doubt this is my favorite sport and I love it even more that my son plays, is pretty good, and he loves it!!! He had his first game of the season last night and here are a few of the pictures. We won 16-0!!

That is Kale, the one that has that grub on playing back-catcher!! I think he is so stinking cute decked out in all his baseball stuff!

This is one part that I am actually glad that I am a women and a mom. Since we were told Kale will be playing catcher, his coach said to make sure he was 'well protected.'

Kale was introduced to the Cup. It was dads job to explain to him why he needed it and what exactly it does.

This year is his first year on the pitching machine. Kale was at bat twice and hit it both times!! He hit a triple and a single. He also had RBIs, I am just not sure if it was 1 or 2! I was so proud of him.

This is Kale on first base and I feel I need to explain what exactly is wrong with this picture. Kale completely does not match at all. This is what I get for sending Paul to get his baseball gear for this year. He never ever considered that their jerseys may be maroon and red does not match. So I blame all of the mis-match socks and helmet on Paul. Ha

Kale also plays 2nd base. He did an amazing job last night and I am so proud of him.

I am sorry, but I am sure this is the first of many baseball post from now to June.

And the Winner Is......

2010-04-17T21:39:00.003-05:00

Julie over at Mommalogues!!! Congrats, will you please email me or message me on fb your address so your prize can get mailed to you!!! I will update my week, and boy has it been an eventful one, hopefully tomorrow!!

Don't Forget the Giveaway!!!

2010-04-17T07:37:00.001-05:00

Giveaway Ends Tonight, make sure you get Entered!!!