Bored in a movie?!

I had a new experience in my teaching career the other day. We had just finished doing a novel study on Sarah, Plain and Tall. So, I thought I would be a nice teacher and get the movie for my kids to watch on Friday afternoon. Nice, right? What kid doesn't like watching a movie instead of learning? Yeah, well, the ones in my class don't! After only 30 minutes, they were all antsy and talkative, and when I asked if they wanted to turn it off and do something else, they all said yes! How strange is that?!

New Pajamas!

JC Penney had a huge sale yesterday, and my old pajama pants were kind of falling apart, plus they're kind of thin and better for summer than winter. So Mike helped me find the perfect new ones! They're cute, they're warm, and they were on sale! I have them on right now, and I am a happy woman!

Jimmy John's and Cold Stone

This weekend was our stake conference, so we drove to Ames twice. On Saturday night, we went to get dinner in between the priesthood and the adult session. Where did we eat? Well, our two favorite places in Ames, Jimmy John's and Cold Stone!

Jimmy John's might be a midwest thing since I had never heard of it before moving out here to Iowa, but let me tell you, they are the YUMMIEST sandwiches ever!!! Better than Subway, and I like Subway! Has anyone else ever eaten at one? If not, search it out. It's well worth it! (Which reminds me... I have leftovers in the fridge right now!)

And Cold Stone? What more can I say? You people that live 10 minutes from one, appreciate your good fortune!

So, where do YOU go to eat a treat? (Hey, and I didn't even mean to rhyme!)

First Snow

We had our first snow of the season today. I thought it was... well, okay, a little pretty. But ONLY because it didn't stick to the ground! One of my windshield wipers DID break when I tried to use it because it was frozen to the windshield! But I think Mike can fix it.
Sigh.
I'm trying to be positive about the long winter ahead...

Bathroom update...

If you missed my earlier bathroom post, go check it out. The great news is that when I came home the other day I saw this:

Notice the brand-new tile! Of course, it also meant that the toilet had to go somewhere, so here it is in our computer room!

We couldn't walk on the floor for a few days, but now everything is all put together and ready to use again. It is SO NICE to not have to trudge downstairs any time we need to use the bathroom! Hooray for our landlord! (And isn't it nice that he owns a flooring shop?!)

1.99!

That's right, folks. I went to the store today and I saw it with my own eyes. Gas for only 1.99 a gallon!!!!

I knew there had to be an upside to our crashing economy!

Paved Road!!!

There is only one access road to our house. You HAVE to go on 7th Ave. N, or you can't get to our house. Period. It's been pretty chewed up and gross for a while now, but hey, that's Fort Dodge, right?

Well, about 3 weeks ago, I drove out one morning to find the road further torn and gravelled. (Gravelled? Is that a word?) This was clearly done by machines. We were so excited thinking that they were going to re-pave the road! However, it sat there in its gravelly glory... and sat there... and sat there... and turned to absolute MUD when the rains came. I was honestly worried that they wouldn't do anything until after winter! Driving on ice is bad enough, but on ice over gravel! Yuck!

Well, they finally smoothed it over again a few days ago, but I was afraid to hope.

And yet! Today when I came home, it was over a beautiful, smooth PAVED road!!! Granted, only one half of the road is actually done, but that means they have to do the other half eventually! And half a road is twice as good as no road! (Yes, I know, technically 1/2 x 2 does not equal 0.)

Celebration for city work that has to finish as it gets colder! Yet another reason to not hate fall! :)