Wednesday Whatnots...

Tonight we had a switcheroo of sorts...instead of family night...Norah had family night with the Wilcox family as they invited her to their Church for some dinner and fun. She had a blast! I went to a meeting at our Church about the Youth program.

I have to add this blog post about a fabulous kitchen/dining room makeover that is so what I LOVE!! This way I can go and reference it when I need it! So I first saw the post on Young House Love and it lead me to HERE. Love the color of cabinets, countertops  furniture, wall treatments, lights, painting of the interior doors....the list goes on!!

Speaking of blogs...do you ever read NieNie Dialogues? If you do not know the story behind Stephanie Nielson and her husband...and their family...you need to check it out. She has had the blog since 2005 and the horrific accident she and her husband were involved in was in 2008 so it is pretty intense to go back in her blog from the beginning. If you ever need to have perspective on life...wow. I saw that she had a book out now and it is added to my list of books to read and maybe it could be a good book club book. It is called "Heaven is Here"

Well that is all I have for today...off to gear up for the rest of the week and the last day of January tomorrow!

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Wednesday Whatnots...

300th Post...

Can you believe it? This is my 300th post that I have had on this blog in 3 years! Kinda crazy...I have loved having my online scrapbook and only wished I had started it earlier to keep track of even more pics of Norah and stuff.

Norah gettin' her apple on!

My kids (6th graders) surprised me yesterday with a gift for my birthday...how cute is it?! Love it and the colors are way fabulous!

This Thursday is our first book club where we are going to discuss the book..."The Language of Flowers"

I really liked it and recommend it to others to read. It will be fun to hear what everyone else at the book club thinks about it. I also finished three other books this month for January...

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is a re-read but how I love Harry Potter books! I thought "Your Faith Your Life" was good and informative. I also found "A Community called Taize" an interesting read and it actually makes me want to read more about the community and about Brother Roger who started it all. I started reading this one because we are going to have a short service at our Church during Lent on Wednesday nights that will be modeled after the services done in the Taize community (I think that makes sense?!) and since I had never heard of it...I wanted to see what it was all about. 

Cannot wait to see what all I read in February! 

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300th Post...

Birthday...

My 35th Birthday...here is a sneak peak..

I received flowers, gift cards, the "hat" Norah is wearing while putting in my birthday candles into my Harry Potter cake (with green chocolate frogs on it!)....and the center pic is the cutest! A student at our school made me Sugar "mice" and Pumpkin Juice since she knows I like Harry Potter...how awesome is that!! I loved all the cards, texts, phone calls, facebook messages, cupcakes, etc. that I received from friends and family which made my day super special. I even took my 6th grade students to PE class instead of math class on Friday where we played kickball. So my birthday was a good day! Even though Jeff and I did not get our date night as hoped on Friday and the whole "no cooking/cleaning" did not happen...I got some rest time and "me" time today. I also went to Sunday School and Church this morning which was great as usual but missed having Jeff and Norah with me as he had to work all weekend and Norah was still with my mom and Denny. Norah and I did accomplish a project this weekend...she decorated her name on the bottom of a silhouette that her old school, Calvary, did of her last year and put it in a frame...I think it turned out cute!

Since Norah stayed up a little late last night while she stayed with my mom and Denny...she was in bed tonight by 7:00 pm! She was exhausted! We had a internet glitch this weekend (just got it fixed!) so I haven't been able to use my laptop since Friday...which was kinda a bummer. Well back to reality...gonna finish up some school stuff for the week, clean the kitchen, get ready to watch Downton Abbey, and hopefully read some more of my new book!

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Birthday...

Three Things Thursday...

1. Family Night this week was great and we ended up having dinner at Norah's favorite restaurant...Miyabi! She calls it the "Chop Chop" place since they cook on the table...she loves it! And it held double duty as we counted it as my family birthday dinner. As always...we three had a fabulous time together!

2. Speaking of fabulous...my friends Sally and Glenn took me out tonight to Chive Blossom to celebrate my birthday with apps and drinks...I got a yummy Blood Orange Bellini that was delicious! The food was great too!

The best part was my company...I do love these ladies!!

Sorry for my devil eyes! I couldn't figure  how to edit the red eye!

And to top it off...they got me the BEST present!!! (Y'all did too much!!)

The bottom of my hand looks a little strange...what is up with that?

Check out my new bling! I LOVE this bracelet! It is just what I have been wanting! Remember the necklace I posted HERE and what about the bracelet I posted HERE....it is like they know me or something?!! ;) Cannot wait to sport it all the time!

3. Last night the teachers I worked with last year sent out texts about "what one word represented each of us" and the funny thing is all my surrounded my "hick" accent. (All the "words" for everyone made me chuckle!) It is funny though because living here...no one talks about my accent because everyone sounds just like me!! :) 

So on that note...Night Y'all!!! Tomorrow is the BIG day! :)

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Three Things Thursday...

Happy Monday and MLK Jr. Day!

We are out of school today and have gotten a lot done! We ran some errands and loads of laundry. We even decided to make a "Pokey" cake to celebrate MLK Jr. Day. I got the idea and recipe from THIS SITE. Now we are going to share the cake with friends so we don't eat it all here at the Hoppe house...it is yummy!

This is Norah trying on some glasses while out in Tuesday Morning! Very Cute!

 This weekend we went out to a farm of our friends with other families and had a great time! Thanks to Keith and Glenn for having us out!

Sunday we went to Sunday school and Church...which was awesome as usual. I do love all the people in the Sunday school class...they are so funny and knowledgeable...love them! I must say that I am excited about the Superbowl this year now! I did want the Broncos to go all the way...and when they lost...I was leaning toward Atlanta. However, I think the SF and Ravens is going to be a great game and I am good with either winning!How sad that football will be over till the Fall...
Well off to finish some things around the house and get in gear for tomorrow.

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Happy Monday and MLK Jr. Day!

To make you smile...or at least it made me smile...

I found this and it makes me laugh. First, I love "Big Bang Theory" and I think the flash mob thing is pretty funny. Check it out and watch "Raj"....it cracks me up!



And I still watch this video of the swim team for a smile!)



Speaking of flash mobs...the school I worked at last year ("The Hollow!")...the dance teacher taught a group of students to do a flash mob. So one day we were sitting in the cafeteria and they busted out with it...it was really cool! And to continue with my train of thought here...last night I got sent this picture by phone...

That would be part of my team from last year...Early, Noel, Gordon and Adams (even though Adams is the guidance counselor....you know we count you as a Mountaineer team member!). They were out celebrating Mr. Early as yesterday was his last day at Quail Hollow. He is changing professions and starts a new chapter of his life! Congrats Early! Missing in the picture is me, Callaway and Brown from the Mountaineer Hallway. I sure do miss all of you...no one can have a meeting like us Mountaineers! Y'all are the BEST!

Well today's adventure is some good ole' family fun with some friends...I'm sure I will have a recap and pics to post later! But first....cleaning and you guessed it....laundry.

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To make you smile...or at least it made me smile...

Happy Friday!

Yeah! Today is the start of a three day weekend and I could not be more excited about it! Wednesday night we had our family night and since it was super gorgeous outside...we took the dogs and headed to the beach. It was beyond glorious! This was the conversation between Jeff and I right when we arrived on the sand:
Jeff: "Do you smell that?"
Me: "Smells like happiness."
Seriously...the beach is the most magnificent place...clears your head and makes everything seem alright with the world! Of course I took some pics and get ready for pic overload!

Aaaahhhh...doesn't it make you relax just looking at the beach?!

Okay so birthday countdown is 7 days and I'm getting pretty excited! My mom and Denny should be here that weekend so Norah gets to spend the night with them...Jeff and I get a date night! I cannot wait! I told Jeff that all I want for my birthday is to not have to cook or clean anything the entire weekend so I think he can handle that!!

I have been on a kick about getting the house more together by hanging our pictures (yes, it only took 6 months!), finishing painting (we may finish by summer!), and ya know odds and ends. I did see this fake turtle shell at Target and I so want it!! I think it would be awesome to hang in our dining room or somewhere! I promise it looks cool in person and you could always paint it a color too!

Well I'm off to enjoy my time alone as Jeff has Norah at family swim time at the gym. Oh yeah, everyone that has been asking me about the fish in Pawleys Island...yes...Jeff went out there and said you could smell it the moment you got close. The beach we went to on Family Night is North Litchfield Beach so no dead fish!

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Happy Friday!