I love Texas Tech!

I love my school. I love that I feel at home there. Walking around the campus brings wonderful memories to mind. I'm so proud to be a Red Raider despite so many negative stereotypes that plague our reputation. Yesterday, the country got a glimpse of what I've felt for years as we shined hosting College Gameday and beating the number one team in the nation, Texas.

Here's the photo diary of our day!

Wake up time 6AM...not a complaint at Casa Malouf...only nervous energy!







We had to take a stroll around campus to get further fired up!

































As we walked back to our car (so excited to eat Rosa's), we discovered the bird we hit earlier--still in the car! People were literally stopping taking pictures of the bird. Disgusting.











Game time 7 PM. Tired, excited, nervous, crying, shaking, poking, high-fiving, hugging, hugging changed to embracing were all done the next four hours. What a great time to be a Red Raider!

Arrival @ 3 AM after eating dinner at Caboose...we were too excited to go home afterwards!

Much love,

Free Credit Report Commercials

I love these commercials! I get excited when they come on...so catchy and witty!!!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-W3oNNgM6P7E/free_credit_report_commercial_all_5/

Much love,

It's October, and I'm listening to Christmas music!

Who loves Christmas? I do, I do! I'm longing for Christmas. Okay, I have a confession...I don't celebrate Halloween. It's true. Now, gasp. I don't even hand out candy. I am totally creeped out by the holiday. I think it's cute that kids dress up, and I don't mind carnivals, but I think Halloween has some odd origins so it was never a big deal in the Kenner household. I think we dressed up a couple times, but mostly celebrated at our church's Harvest Festival. I did dress up in college for the Theta parties, but again, I'm still totally weirded out by little kids dressing up as witches. Door to door trolling for candy was out! I don't feel deprived either. BUT, Thanksgiving and Christmas was such a special time. I loved going to my granny's for Thanksgiving for the fesitivities. My grandparents had a huge, beautifully manicured lawn (I still remember Glen, the gardener, came on Tuesdays and wore overralls!) and Thanksgiving football games in the backyard were fun! There was always way too much food, but I mostly love the memory of going around the table telling what we were thankful for. Then, my granny would inevitably cry happy tears...I get it from her! We would put up the tree Thanksgiving weekend. Our tree always had to be artifical since we are allergy suffers, but it was still so beautiful! Christmas filled our home with decorations, Christmas cards/update letters, play practices, going to sing with my school choir at the local banks, new pj's, lots of extra time in church, and of course, more time at Granny's. I think I want to have a big family because I have such fond memories of loving being around extended family at these holidays. I'm totally rambling as the Christmas playlist plays on. I'm ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Totally unrelated...been to the LBK two days in a row! Yesterday, Micah and I had much needed haircut appointments after work! I love my hairdresser; who needs therapy when they have a hairdresser. Micah loves her, too! His curls or "wings" as he likes to call them are gone. Since I had not had a trim or highlights since the beginning of July, I was thrilled to walk out feeling like a new person! Then, we went to dinner and had a little dinner date. Sitting at a dinner table not eating sandwiches tends to much better conversation than eating on the couch while watching television. This is a horrible habit which we must break when we have children. Neither one of us ate like this growing up so we need to be good stewards with what we've learned and pass on good table manners to our children. Today, we went back and Micah watched the game with Victor while I listened on the radio as I shopped. My shopping was pretty pathetic. In four hours, I bought two pillows, handtowel, eyebrow wax strips. That's it. Guilt, I tell you. My painter, new guy, I've given up on painter #1 to call is coming on Monday. I felt like I should save my budget for him. I even bought some super cute shoes, got out to the car, felt horribly guilty and walked in and returned them. For the last year and a half, I have worked hard trying to be so aware of money spent that I am starting to almost buy nothing...it's scary! Tech won big today! I listened on the radio in between stops and I found myself sitting in the parking lot waiting until Tech ended their offensive drive...what has Micah done to me? And, the new kicker is doing awesome! College game day is coming to Lubbock this weekend! I'm so excited, and of course, Micah is ELATED!

I'm still rambling...this Christmas mix is so great, and I'm getting lost in it and have just kept typing...

Much love,

Rap on Palin

Must go vote! The week on SNL Amy Poehler, who looks like she's about to drop a baby any day now, rapped as Sarah Palin head bobbed along. I laughed so hard in amazement that Palin sat through this! So funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioKvun6Jdzk&feature=related

Much love,

Wellness check

I'm feeling adaquetely prepared should the Texas Panhandle have an outbreak of influenza--I received my flu shot today. I'm quite proud of myself. I don't like needles, but I really don't like being sick. I also went for a wellness screening today. I received a bone density screening, had my body mass calculated, and had a blood panel taken. It was all totally free covered on my insurance plan...so was my flu shot...I love free things! So the bone density screening wasn't the fancy full body scan type thing...it was just the heel test. It made me aware that my bones are low. I'm taking a vitamin with calcium in it, but I suppose I'll be loading up on my leafy greens since milk makes me gag. The body mass index...ick, no need to discuss.

Much love and health, too,

Band and bruising

I sort of feel like a rag doll right now after going to work. I was pretty worn out just after getting ready this morning. My rear and back and really sore after the unfortunate fainting incident...mind you, my heiny is still in recovery from my moment of stupidity hopping in my moving car.

On a totally different note, I saw where the Tech band was getting new uniforms a couple of months ago. Every home game the topic of the uniforms comes up, and I always refer to them as the "zorro" uniforms (the one in the middle looks like a zorro slash to me). The uniforms that the band wears on the field are probably a different version, and really like way those look as they are marching. I don't, repeat don't like these as shown in the picture! I'm going on the record with my picture below to prove there is potential for ugly uniforms representing us out there Red Raiders!

Here's the story, too!

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/083008/loc_325222130.shtml



Much love,

I'm trying to make myself sit here...

I hate sitting. I'm so bored. Yesterday, during my recovery, I did over six loads of laundry and cleaned the bathroom just to get up. So I thought I'd load some pictures to take up some of my "rest" time. These are pictures from the Nebraska v. Tech homecoming game.


Micah likes to take pictures of the game...

But I like to take pictures of people! Aren't Ash and I just the most precious in our ponchos??? I don't think I've ever worn a rain poncho before! That Mitch...he's always prepared! My bangs were in my face the WHOLE time, I was totally going for Cousin It...I love my 1994 bang look.



In the meantime, I repainted an old chest that has been in my childhood home since I can remember...I took the hutch off and painted it black after it has been blue, and stained brown. Now it's a bedside chest for the guest room. I love affordable fixes.





A few pictures from the front yard.

Impatients as of 10/19. Would you want to pull these up even though they technically aren't in season? Me either!

Holly berries blooming on the Youpon Holly 10/19

I also planted cabbage, mums, and pansies, too.

But, my geranimums are still blooming!


Much love,

My body came crashing down on me...

I'm bummed. I was supposed to be on a weekend retreat with my fun Sunday school class this weekend and instead I'm sick on the couch. The couch is an upgrade from where I've been--hugging the toliet and bed. Thursday night, my throat begin hurting, but I thought it was just allergies so I took benadryl and fell asleep. I woke up extra early since the 4th graders at my school were scheduled to go to Caprock Canyon to hike and fish on Friday. I began getting ready and then the illness took over my body. I could barely swallow, but I needed to throw up. I fainted and landed on the kitchen floor knocking stuff off of the kitchen counter. So I missed our big fieldtrip and we missed our weekend getaway to see the fall foliage in New Mexico. I'm on the couch, drinking fluids and pill popping antibiotics for what is either a sinus infection or strep throat. I'm so grateful for Micah's aunt for coming and bringing me help...it's so hard when you don't have a doctor in the town you live in! She even brought him "real" food to eat...isn't she so thoughtful? And thanks to my third grade teacher friends for calling and checking in on me...y'all are precious! Right now, Micah is in Lubbock watching the Tech game at Victor's house, and I'm watching from home bundled up. Goooo Tech!

Much love,

Maybe this could be..

Have you wondered what your children will look like? I wonder, will they have Micah's big, brown eyes or will they end up with my pale blue eyes (yep, they are light blue without contacts)? Will they have my full cheeks or more defined cheekbones, like Micah? Olive skin or fair skin? We have different features so I really am curious. So, I was looking at a photographer's pictures and I ran across this picture of a child. If you know this child, I'm seriously not trying to be a creep-o, but it looks like Micah when he was a child. I wonder if we have a little boy if he will look like this. Could this be the next John Andrew Malouf?




Much love,

Ear muffs and mittens

I like to be warm. Really warm. I was even checked for anemia since I'm so cold natured at one point. I'm not, I'm just really cold natured. Today, some school employee workers came to my school and regulated the temperature controls. Imagine being in an 80+ year old building with five large windows in my class...drafty, huh? I'm at lunch today, and all these woman on hormones are complaining about how hot their rooms are, and then I speak up and say, "Well, mine's freezing." That prompted discussion on how many people have been through my room, apparently it's well known for being cold. Me, in the cold room? I'll be wearing ear muffs and mittens in May.

Much love,

I'm it!

My sweet Evans next door neighbor friend, Monica, tagged me to write about my husband's favorite things after she had been tagged. I've been brainstorming for a couple of days, and I think I'm ready to tackle the challenge!

In no particular order:

1. Coke, and lots and lots and lots of it! We are so obsessed with Coke that we looked into buying a fountain machine for our home. It's expensive and involves CO2 so that was a no go!

2. The Packers, the Dodgers (Dodger Malouf's namesake) any Texas Tech sporting event, and golf. When I go to Micah's parent's house, I love looking at the old photo albums. All of the photos dressed in team attire affirms he really has been a fan of these teams since he was a little kid. I love his team loyalty! Growing up with one sister, mom and myself, we just outnumbed my poor dad. We would send him to watch his sports on the kitchen television that had no cable...I really have learned that not everyone grew up that way. ESPN (which I learned a couple of years ago from his mom, he would wake up at 6 AM to watch even when he was a little boy) is a constant in our little household. When I'm alone, I'll even turn it on some sports show, not really watch, just because I'm so used to the announcers voices; it makes me feel like Micah is there with me.

2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team

3. Dodger Malouf. He loves this dog. It's such sweet interaction between man and dog. Micah plays with him like he's a child sometimes...maybe this is why Dodger acts more like a child than a dog??? When he's being punished, Micah will say, "We do not do this in our family."

I think dogs look like their owners...he looks like he was just meant for us!

4. His weekend attire. This would be basketball shorts which he calls "morts" (mesh shorts) and long sleeve Under Armour shirts...not the tight, creepy ones...the normal tee shirt looking ones. He loves, loves, loves coming home and taking the dress clothes off and getting comfy!

5. His close friends. He is a very loyal friend. He holds dear those friendships.

Rehearsal dinner photo

6. Family. He really is a family person. We both just like family. I love that he loves his family and my family.

Law school graduation

7. Me! I think he likes me alright. I often am amazed how God knew to put us together. I know He knows everything, but on a personal level nothing has ever felt more "right" than us two. It really was like we were meant for each other. Sometimes, I'm amazed how much we are alike and at other times, I think we are two very different creatures. We balance each other beautifully.

Wedding day

I now will tag my new blog friend, Mandal!

Much love to my best friend for life and all the people and things in the world that make him happy,

Sitting on a donut???

Micah and I have been so good about not eating out or getting take out lately! I started running again, too...I think it's the new tenny-runners! So tonight, we are on our way to dinner and I ask Micah to pull up to the mailbox since neither one of grabbed the mail. I turn around with mail in hand, and he's doing that inching up business with the car. I'm saying, "This isn't funny," all while laughing and running after the car. Not really thinking, still laughing, neighbors probably thinking we are lunatics, I hop in. The problem is I hopped in "wrong." Somehow I hit my tailbone too hard and the pain is in my lower back and butt. Hence, the blog. I'm slumped down on the couch. Maybe, I'll be super cool and get to sit on one of those donut things that people with hemorrhoids sit on. Let's hope not.

Much love,

I'm ALL class...

I've gone and done it. Yep, I've gone and embarrassed myself. I get this memo that Highland is responsible for decorating the high school locker room and the game is Thursday. This means all decorations are being picked up this afternoon (I learned this at noon). Immediately, my thought is, "Oh, no...I was never a cheerleader, and I certainly don't have bubble letter skills." So, people are tossing around "cute" slogans. I have nothing so someone gives me a suggestion, "Pluck the Chiefs." We are playing a San Angelo team. My thought, headdress...feathers coming out of the headdress. So I whip out my overhead...trace "Pluck the Chiefs." My kids think I'm so talented. Then, I put bulldogs prints all over the large piece of butcher paper as though the bulldogs have really gone to town on this team, er, giant poster. I have the kids make very colorful, fringy feathers out of construction paper. I'm so proud of myself at this point. I'm so proud, in fact, that I write in the corner of the poster (to be extra cute), "Highland 4th graders love the Bulldogs" and proceed to sign my name and have all of my students come into the hall and sign their names. I get home and begin telling Micah of my poster. He starts laughing, "Are you serious? Real classy!" I was going so fast, I didn't even think this was an innuendo statement...what does pluck rhyme with? And, I've gone and put my name on it and all of my children's. I'm currently dying. I will be profusely apologizing and clearing my name tomorrow. And, to think I thought I was so cute...

Much love and a flushed face,

Need a sale...

I get that the retirement funds, mutual fund, yadda, yadda, yadda needs our money more than Pottery Barn...sort of. I finally found the table I want...finally. I'm so indecisive about what I want, then I saw it. I want it. I pull up two red tables and make Micah look at both tables and likes the one I do (score!). Then, he asks the dreaded, "how much?" Ugh, really, did he have to ask this? I know it is a ridiculous amount for a red entryway table, but I like it. Maybe it will go on sale???

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p9506/index.cfm?pkey=call%2Dentryway

Much love,

A Rainy Sunday

It's been quite the rainy day today. Rain makes me want to stay in my pj's all day. And, I have. Shhh, we didn't quite make it to church today! I did prime an old chest today, but because of the humidity it isn't drying as fast as normal so my black paint will have to wait. As for our house, I bought bright yellow mums, cabbage, and pansies for the flower bed and installed them yesterday. It looks funny because I couldn't bear to dig up some of the geranimums (they are still blooming and have got huge over the last few weeks!) so I have all four seasons covered in the bed. I am beginning to get holly berries on one of the shrubs while another shurb is giving off the typical spring flower. I think my plants are very confused. With all the rain today, I hope everything survives (I think I said the same thing in June after they put in the shurbs!). I need to get some more plants and fall decor going outside. I was at Little Red Riding Hood a couple of weeks ago, and they had some adorable scarecrows. Maybe I'll make a scarecrow...we'll see. I always think of things on the weekends, but on the weekdays, I'm just not as inspired. Around the house, not much is going on. My painter/carpenter hasn't called yet so I suppose I'll be giving him a reminder that I don't like samples on my wall, otherwise, I'll go in search of someone else. Honestly, he was supposed to call some time ago, and I was too busy to remember. Wouldn't it be just great is Candace Olson from Divine Design just came over and did my whole house? These are the things I fantasize about...

I had a pretty good week at school. I found out that one of my other fourth grade teachers is moving in January to Virginia as her husband joined the army. She told us this week she's expecting, too. Very exciting times for her!

I found out my sister, Karli, has a new job as a dental assistant...very exciting for her!

I painted my toenails a lovely fall shade...a deep plum. Love it! Maybe I was inspired by last Sunday's debuante spa day. I don't know if I mentioned, I'm the sophomore sponsor this year.

Yea for a Tech victory yesterday! I'm glad they are at home next year, and it's homecoming. Ahh, the memories of homecoming week...I, the stage fright little girl, stood up and sang karoke to some Tim McGraw song with words changed to "Hey handsome Raider won't you give me a sign, I'll anything to make you mine all mine..." I even danced with some boy I didn't know...brave soul. Then, I remember riding a float one Friday night down Broadway wearing ear muffs (it was soooo cold) and dancing to "Jessie's Girl." I was so out of my shell then!

Much love,

Too long!

I didn't drop off the face of the earth. I've just been busy so here's a random collection of things I thought of posting but didn't. Not that y'all aren't busy, it's just I'm sitting here with a Kleenex up my nose (more on that later) on Micah's work computer he brought home because our laptop which was the computer he bought as he entered law school has died. The sucker died without a whole lot of warning...otherwise I would have backed up my pictures and files a little better! Rats!

--Still liking church...we are learning to think outside of ourselves to reach out to others. Guilty of thinking of myself too much. I have a convicted heart.
--Last Wednesday, we volunteered to help with the 3-5 year old Wednesday night class...whew...glad it was just one night. I don't think I'm cut out to work with kids that I can't really discipline. Let's just say, I walked in the room and their was a little girl standing in the play kitchen sink while another boy was literally trying to scale the walls.
--I rearranged the desks in my room twice in two weeks. I'm trying to find a happy medium between rows and tables, structure, but creativity with my hetergenous learners. Balance not quite found. Speaking of my class, got a new student, lost a student. I'm hoping my room isn't the revolving door.
--I'm beginning to get fall catalogs in the mail. Isn't it exciting to see a fun winter coat and Christmas decorations in the Pottery Barn catalog? It seems to make cooler temperatures more bearable for me!
--My parents drove through last Friday night and stopped in for a nice chat. My parents really are so funny...opposites attract!
--My summer plants are starting to fade out...I need to get some fall decor outside. I do love me some mums this time of year!
--All of the fourth grade classes went to the Ollie Liner Center today for the annual "Ag in a Bag" fieldtrip. We went around to different farm/ranch stations to teach our students about livestock, water conservation, etc. My allergies hate me. I took my medicine. I think my nose went into overdrive with all of the dust and pollen. I'm sitting in my pj's after coming home to wash it all off with Kleenex up my nose. I know, I know...hot!
--Last Thursday, I went to my sweet friend Kristen's baby shower. I love a good party and love Miss Kristen. I love Kristen because she always has a positive spin with a smile on her face! I love you Kristen...and I love all my Evans' girls! Shout out!
--Got some new kicks...I thought I'd come home and run tonight...ugh the pollen.

See it's a hodge podge of stuff...sorry. I'll try to be more interesting!

Much love,