And....It's Over

That long awaited reunion day, that is. Kind of like Christmas, ya know. You spend months planning and getting things ready and then it's over. Just.like.that. For another 10 at least, I guess. My cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling so much...mainly from all those cameras. It's hard to make sure they"get your good side" when they're coming at ya from from every angle!

I think between myself and my 2 fellow blogging classmates, I'm sure one of us has mentioned that we were a very small class. We come from a very rural (but has grown tremendously in the past years) county. The enrollment in the graduation classes have more than doubled from then to now. Anyway, we only had 27 in our class. I was kind of disappointed that I didn't get to see all of them, but for the 11 that attended, it was a blast.

I laughed so hard at pictures from our past. Just about every picture I saw of myself, I was eating. That cracked me up. I hadn't remembered seeing a lot of the pictures that others had brought and they were quite comical. I had made a cd with "our music" (are you surprised?) and it was fun listening and reminiscing about where we were and what we were doing when that song was a hit.

This is eleven of the most beautiful people from the Class of 1988!

This next photo is of my bestest girls. I love these girls. We've been together a long time. We only had 18 girls in our class and we were all great friends, but I couldn't ask for better ones than these!

And look how much we've changed!! Can you recognize 3 of us in the next photo? (Short One, where were you??) We were like 9 or 10 years old here. Isn't this the cutest picture? I have no idea what I am doing. It looks like I am about to smack my little brother. Just like little brother's to crash the party, huh?

This next picture is the greatest. Maybe we really haven't grown up that much. ha.

And last but not least...I can't forget the new generation. They were so good today. We hardly even knew they were around.

We really did have a great time. It's good to know everyone is doing well and happy with where life has taken them.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!

Yes, Twenty Years...

It has been that long.....whether I want to believe it or not. Time has, for sure, flown by. Regrets or not, it is what it is. God has a will and a reason for everything and that's all I have to say about that.

And I don't want to ramble on about how I am nervous about my twenty year class reunion that is coming up in approximately 24 hours, although I am nervous. If you want the serious post reflecting back on my past 20 years, just visit here. If you want fun, then read on.

No, I didn't ask permission from the people in the following photographs to post. One of my classmates is a fellow blogger and she gave me permission from here. Another, well, she also blogs and hmmm, it seems like she posted a hideous big haired prom picture of me not so long ago..so I guess I'm due. The rest of the gang, you wouldn't know them if you saw them so I guess it really doesn't matter, huh? (and these pictures are all scanned in)

Stay with me here. It is totally worth it in the end. (For you 80's lovers out there anyway!)

Twenty years. The year was 1988. My Senior Year. Doing the same things my son is just preparing to do.......taking Senior portraits, selling ads for the yearbook, joining clubs, cheering (well, thank goodness he doesn't do that!), throwing toilet paper in trees, cutting firewood and selling concession to raise money for our Senior Trip, going to prom, studying (he doesn't do much of that either) and the list goes on. So many memories to make...such little time.

This picture was scanned just for you, right out of my 1988 yearbook.

Twenty years ago
I was chosen as the Mistress of Ceremonies for our School Homecoming.

Twenty years ago
I dressed up as Raggedy Ann and sang a solo in a choir Christmas program.

Twenty years ago
I hung out with my peeps under this newly constructed pavilion during our break. (which they no longer get, btw)

(and I am not in this photo because I happened to be the one taking the picture!)

Twenty years ago
We boarded a bus we had chartered to take us to Daytona Beach and Disney World!!
Florida or Bust!! (Isn't that how it goes?)

Twenty years ago
I did it. I graduated. My mother was ever so happy. And so was I. I remember thinking how ecstatic I was to "get out on my own". Boy, was I in for a rude awakening!

I know you are tired of seeing big hair photos of me, so now I am getting to the really fun part.

Twenty years ago
I (and you too) did ALL OF THIS!!!



And Finally Twenty years ago.....
We listened to this...(yes, I'm most definitely getting my 80's groove on) This isn't the best video quality, but the music is awesome! Enjoy!!



I'll post again after the reunion!!

Have a great weekend.

Some Usual Sunday Randomness

I didn't spend too much time on the blog this weekend. I checked in occasionally to read a few of your comments as you posted, but I didn't spend much time "lurking" around. I actually tried to get a few things accomplished that have very much been lacking around here (I took pictures for some future home tour posts)....and I had a few things on the scheduled agenda.

Before I head into the recap of my weekend, I want to be sure and let everyone know that my mother has been diligently working on her etsy shop and has it "somewhat" up and running. Her etsy shop address is http://www.katiebugcasuals.etsy.com/ so please go visit whenever you get the chance....and I'm sure she would very much appreciate you sending as many people as possible over there as well. Here is a spoiler for ya, just in case you missed my post dedicated to her and all her talent...

An Internet business has been a "dream" of hers for awhile so we are hoping this turns out well for her....(and yes, Little Ann's real name is Katie...and yes, she is the only granddaughter and yes, she is pretty special...and is fully aware. ha)

Friday, I spent the majority of the afternoon in our town. It's a place I don't like to go because I am pretty much a countrified home body and I loathe the hustle and bustle of crowds. Walmart was especially crowded on Friday. It was like a traffic jam on every aisle, and I swear their air was broken. I had pictures in the 1 hour so I was forced in the store for at least that long. I think the crowds must've been a combination of 1st of the month grocery shoppers and back to school shoppers and everyone else that couldn't find anything better to do. Ug.... I had a hair appt. scheduled earlier that day too...trying to get prepared for my 20 year class reunion coming up this next weekend. I have a couple of postings in mind for that....(you know, trying to get my 80's groove back on.) Before I headed home, I went to our local scrapbook store and picked up a few items with my gift certificate, but I wasn't sure what all I needed, so I still have plenty of credit left! These are a few of the things I picked up:

Friday night after I got in from errand running, we had our monthly Ladies Bible Study. Sometimes I dread getting out, but it is always so worth the trouble. I come home feeling refreshed and being with my christian sisters is such a blessing to me. We are talking about "witnessing" for Christ right now. We are going to be studying in a book called "The one thing you can't do in Heaven". Know what that is?? Yes, you got it. You can't win souls to Christ in Heaven. By then, it's too late. Why is it so hard to tell people about Christ, especially the ones you are the closest to? I hope all of you who are reading know Him as your personal Savior. If you don't, please take this opportunity to ask Him into your heart right now. I may not know you personally, but I most definitely want you in Heaven with me no matter who you are.

We also discussed our itinerary for our mission trip we are taking in September to an Indian reservation in South Dakota. I can't wait. I think I am going to let Little Ann go too, and she is beside herself.

When I got home Friday night, I was in the mood to scrapbook so this is what I did:

Saturday, Little Ann and I put our noses to the grind and cleaned house. I, of course, "hired" her to do things that I didn't want to do...isn't that why we have kids in the first place? She did things like wipe down kitchen cabinets, baseboards, clean the jets in my whirlpool tub, and vacuum stairs. Here she is in action: (no roller skates this time - roller skates, top of fridge, not a good combo)


I went to bed Saturday night on clean sheets, feeling very much satisfied with my day.

Today, we went to church and this afternoon, I once again took advantage of my child labor. Tomorrow, I am taking the kids shopping for school supplies and clothes so I bribed Big Dan and the girlfriend into detailing my van before our trip. It was sooooo hot out and I almost felt sorry for them.. you know, working in the heat, while I took my nap, and Little Ann slurped on watermelon.

I've been battling a migraine all day long so tonight I decided to indulge in chocolate cake. Have a great week. I hope I can post all my great back to school finds for you tomorrow!!

Scrapper Mom
(I deleted it again..I have got to stop doing that!!)

Twenty Years?

A few nights ago, I was over visiting my parents and made the comment that a few high school friends and I were in the midst of planning our twenty year reunion for August. My mother looked at me as in disbelief and said "Twenty Years?". Until that moment, it had not really dawned on me what an awful long time that is, and just how fast the years have passed by. My oldest child will be starting his own last year of high school this year, but why is it that I don't really feel that old?

I guess because I seem to stay so busy with the kids...and the house....and church...and ballgames...and girl scouts...and this...and that...it doesn't really seem like I have enough time to actually feel anything. (Although I do know my body requires more sleep than it used to, even though I've always enjoyed my naps.)

As I think about this upcoming reunion, a part of me gets nervous. What will they think of me? Am I too fat? Will my outfit be just right? What have I done to show for myself in the past 20 years? I didn't turn out to be anything special...no fancy career, don't own my own law firm, no computer analyst or web designer, nothing of that nature. As a matter of fact, I'm still pretty much the same. I still live in the same town, substitute at the same high school I attended, still do the same things (with a little more discretion), still attend the same church, I sound the same, and yes, aside from about 25 extra pounds and less hair, I still look the same.

Ya know what? I'm happy with the same.

Here is your 1st introduction to my "big hair days". This turned out to be sooner than I expected, but since it's been twenty years...aw, what the heck....don't laugh too hard please, especially at the dorky glasses. (Yes, I know it is humongous, but it was the 80's!!)

Big Hair Photo: Taken of me fresh out of high school. My Freshman year in college.
age 18


Normal Hair Photo: Current Hairstyle. Recent photo includes crows feet and chubby cheeks. age 37

So what about you? Are you in your happy place?