Presenting Oak Hollow's Star Student of the Week

Miss Mimi was presented with this fabulous award along with 2 other kids in her class. They even had an assembly in honor of her!!! Her award states. This award is presented to Mikayla Larsen because she is a sweet girl with a quiet disposition. She always raises her hand and lets others share their thoughts and ideas. CONGRATULATIONS! We are so proud of our girl. Great Job!

Tayler's Official Engagement Story

I wouldn't normally steal Tayler's thunder, but since she may never get around to recording her sweet proposal story, she gave me permission to do so along with some great pictures and a real live video (if I can ever get it downloaded to my blog).

Let me begin by saying Tayler and Jared have known each other for over 2 and 1/2 years and their relationship took a serious turn in August when they began talking about marriage. We knew this was going to happen. Jared had even came to our house the night before this took place to ask for our blessing, which is a very classy thing for him to have done (scored big brownie points with the parents)!!!

Anyway he had dreamed up a great way to propose that was very personal and romantically sweet for Tayler. Better yet he kept it so secret that no one but his sister in Dallas knew for sure where or when this was all going to happen. Tayler and her friends Kajsia and Ashley had all left for a 5 day trip to Disneyland. (Let me pause here and say that I have never met a person who loves Disney more than our Tay. From the time she was a little girl we would visit the Disney Store each year before Halloween because that is what she always wanted to be ...a Disney Princess. Belle, Cinderella etc.) So she and her friends had been planning a Disney trip all summer long and happened to be on their last day at the park. All of a sudden that morning she gets a picture text and it's from Jared. It was simply a picture of Disneylands Main Street. She looks at it and thinks, "I wonder where Jared found that?" Then a few minutes later another picture text arrives this time of "The Tiki Room". By this time she and her friends start putting it together, so Tayler texts back and says, "Jared are you here?" He responds back, "If you think I am come find me."

 She and her friends were stuck on the Alice in Wonderland ride at this point and it had broken down momentarily. So they all began screaming with excitement because they needed to go and find Jared. The last picture Jared sent was of the Disney Land Castle. On their way to find him they thought quick to snag a Disney Land photograher while Tay's friend Kajsia took video on her camera.  As Tayler is walking up  Jared is standing in the archway of the castle. He takes Tayler by the hands and tells her some sweet things, then he got down on one knee and asks if she'll marry him. She immediatley says yes as everyone claps and cheers around them. An engagement fitting for a princess and her prince charming indeed!!!  So This is Love!

Garage Sale Anyone?

My friends have truly addicted me to the new hobby of yard saleing. At first I couldn't imagine myself rummaging through someone elses junk. But as my friends have proven time and again. If you know where to shop most peoples junk can still be like just like new and for a steal of a deal. I being a true frugal shopper have a couple of self imposed rule I like to follow. First I usually go out with no more than a $20 bill in my pocket, this way I'm not tempted to spend anymore. And it allows me to decide if I really want something bad enough and if so to talk myself a deal with the seller. I try always to come home with a dollar or two left in my pocket. I also generally don't go more than once a month, unless I'm really searching for something...like my cherrywood night stand I snagged this summer for $12. Here's an example of what I found last week:

Hi-Ho Cherry-O game
5 like new books for my day care
Toss Across Game
Indoor Golf Game
Brain Quest
2 stuffed animals
Bird Puppet that sings
2 Healthy Cookbooks
Heelies
Comfy Clogs

All of these items were in like new condition. Shoes had never even been worn for $1 a pair. My total for the day $17. What a Steal!!!