Life Long Learner

The University of Mississippi instills in its graduates the importance of being a life long learner.  I have always enjoyed a challenge and Cullen will tell you that I love an accomplishment.  I have a five year plan I run my life from and in my plans I am always coming up with something else to be certified in or to accomplish.  These goals do not always pertain to my school/career.  Two years ago I thought it would be a great idea to earn my Commercial Driver's License.  This fall I thought I needed to take a Hand Gun Class for Ladies.  Over the Christmas holiday I took a class on Passive Restraint Techniques so that in the event of a fight I could take a person down in five moves.  Yes, I love a class, I love to learn, but more than those I love to a certificate of recognition.  My latest class- welding.  I even conned my friend to taking it with me.  

 I found out that Lafayette Schools has a night program for community members wanting to pick up a new trade.  Since I am currently working for Lafayette my class would be free.  So guess what, I put on gloves & goggles and decided to weld.

 These would be glasses tinted at 5%.  Don't they look lovely, they make great sunglasses, I have worn them twice when I have forgotten mine in the house....stylish right?

 This was taken before I remembered the amount of hair product I use and calculated just exactly how flammable that made me. ... next I had on my lovely welding cap...she is a beauty isn't she.

 The first night our objective was to cut a straight line and make the piece of metal fall and to then cut a circle.  You better believe I have a paper weight now that I am mighty proud of.

While I don't think I will be the next Bob Villa or even weld for fun, I am excited about learning something new, possibly making a bottle tree, or signing up for the next class they offer at the VoTech.

Baby Girl

Very soon as in Thursday, hopefully, this baby girl is going to be a BIG SISTER.  I can not believe that almost three years ago she was born and in a few short days we will be welcoming a baby boy into the family.  "Henry is coming!" is what she tells me on the phone and I am so stinking ready for him to be here I don't know what to do with myself.  Please pray for my brother and his wife, Kathy, as they prepare for baby number two,  pray for a healthy baby boy and mom, and please pray for Ellie that the adjustment to her new sibling will be smooth.

Valentine's Day

I woke up Valentine's morning to find this waiting on me in the bathroom.  Cullen had created a play list of love songs on my iPod and left it for me to get ready to.  It is the little things that make me love that boy.

29 in Taylor

Cullen celebrated his 29th birthday at the beginning of February.  He wanted  a low key night with friends and that is what he got.  The Pollards, McCartys, Hilliards, Bo & Joanne headed to Taylor Grocery to sit back enjoy good food and great conversation.  Sadly it has been a long time since we had been to Taylor.

Cullen only asked for a tie rack for his birthday, and after my mom picked one up for him, I was left wondering what I would get him.  I thought and thought and decided we needed a trip.  So I picked out a Boston Redsox shirt, wrapped it and told him to pick out two tickets and we would go to Boston July 4th weekend to see the Yankees and the Redsox play.  I am super excited.  Boston was on our list of places to go and I've never been to a major league game before.  It will come at the perfect time for us, I'll be finished with my program and about to start a new job, and Cullen's busy season will kick off mid July so it will be a break before the craziness of fall football starts.

Pink Lemonade Pound Cake

I made this to take to my classmates and it was a hit.  Loved how easy it was and how different it was.

Pink Lemonade Cake Ingredients 

1 cup homemade unsalted butter, softened 

2 cups white sugar 

4 eggs, room temperature 

2-3/4 cups flour 

2-1/4 tsp baking powder 

3/4 tsp salt 

1 cup frozen pink lemonade 

1 TBS Lemon Zest

Pink food coloring 

Frosting: 

1 cup butter, softened 

7 to 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted 

1/2 cup thawed pink lemonade 

Lemon zest to taste 

Pink food coloring 

Directions

 Preheat oven to 350 Sift the dry ingredients together and set aside. Beat the butter for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat another 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat thoroughly after each addition. Start adding the flour mixture one cup at a time, and alternate with the lemonade; ending with the flour mixture, mix well and pour into prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or when a knife comes out clean Let cool completely. FROSTING: Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and beat with 1/2 of the powdered sugar. Add the lemonade and mix well. Add another cup of powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until you reach the desired consistency to spread; you may not need all of the sugar specified. Beat until light and fluffy. put icing into a good sized sauce pan and heat until icing is quite runny Spread on the cooled cake.

Time Keeps on Ticking

Sorry for a no photo post, but I wanted to give an update... on life at the Pollard house, but like always I'm running around crazy as ever.
Cullen says I never blog about him...he doesn't do things that are blog worthy really...we both don't but since I'm the author of this my view gets posted more than his...
So since the start of the new year Cullen has kept himself busy with Ole Miss Basketball, refereeing soccer games, refereeing Upwards games at church and playing MW3...
School has started back and I am not looking forward to the classes I'm taking this semester--research and management....Praise the LORD only 6 more months of this school stuff.
As for my internship- I love being in the high school.  I am working with awesome mentors and love getting to know the ins and outs of secondary education.
I can NOT believe January is over and we are moving well into February.
Keep praying for my test results to come in this week and be passing...they don't have to be high...I'll take passing.  Also, pray for my cohort that in the coming months jobs will be made available to us, decisions will be easy to make and that as we move toward our summer stay on campus we all remain calm, cool, and collected.