Holiday Hangover

Whew! As of today it's done! Christmas toys are out of the packages (no easy task) and they have found their place in my childrens' rooms. Holiday leftovers are finished or thrown away. Christmas decorations are down and safely back up in the attic til next year. Bulk trash even cruised through the 'hood today to help us finish off the trash. It's funny how my mantle and living room always look a little bare after the holidays come down.

I wasn't really in a hurry to have Christmas end, but it was Saturday and I didn't have much else to do so I decided to get things back to normal.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break. What I love about mine is that is is not over!! I still have a full week til school starts back again. It's been so nice to sleep late and lounge around the house, snuggle with my kids and not have any lesson plans to write or papers to grade. Life without a "to do" list is pretty sweet! I have even finished a whole book! I read Blink, it's VERY interesting. I am about to start Kite Runner. I know I am a bit late on that one since I could just go see the movie!

Chris asked me last night if I missed work, "hmm not really" I responded. Then he asked, do you miss your students? "Yes I do, I suppose" Never thought I would say that! I do hope they all have had a nice Christmas!

So here goes, I know it's old or cliche or silly, but what are your new year resolutions? Chris never plays along with my game so now you guys have to!! Leave me a comment and give me one or two resolutions you have. I haven't made my list yet, just mulling a few around in my brain. I won't actually say any out loud until I am VERY certain. I spoke too soon last year and it ended up with me running 13.1 miles! Not sure I am up for that again, maybe maybe not!

Check out this funny little clip for some ideas!http://www.bluefishtv.com/ProductDetails.aspx?cid=1005&id=2120

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told

Merry Christmas!

They like me, they really really like me!

Well I have made it through my first sememster of teaching after a 10 year "break". It was a fun day and I was thoroughly spoiled from start to finish! I am looking forward to my winter break and catching up on household stuff, scrapbook, time with family etc. My students sent me off in style yesterday. Thanks to them (and their parents) I could easily enjoy a FREE day that looks a little like this:

Head out the door and enjoy Starbucks, a GRANDE coffee AND a muffin and then I could make it to my 10:00 massage at Massage Envy. After that hour of relaxation I could then head to one of my favorite places, Barnes and Noble and pick out not just one book, but quite possible 3 or 4 thanks to my gift cards! Whew by then I will need a little nourishment so off to Pei Wei where I could have lunch and buy lunch for a friend!! Then I could head to Firewheel Shopping area and have my pick of places to shop and pick up something cute to wear when I head back to work. Just when you think this day of free fun is over, it's not, I can end the day quenching my thirst on a route 44 diet strawberry limeade!!! Oh and to top it off I have enough chocolate in my house right now to soothe the savage beast of about 50 PMSing women!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Give me a call if you have a chocolate emergency, I'm your gal!!

So for this chic that LOVES gifts and LOVES free stuff, yesterday was great! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better Chris, in his usual style, topped it all. He fixed a very nice "you made it through half the year" dinner. Complete with steak, twice baked potatoes, sugar snap peas, rolls and cheesecake! He's so awesome!

To celebrate being on break I stayed up past 10:00 and actually watched a movie!

So I guess those little critters aren't so bad after all! (Just kidding, they are sweet) or they are just worried about their report cards and thought they better put in a last minute bribe. Ha!!

Blog worthy!!!

Have you had this stuff? I started thinking about the foods out there that I can't have in the house because I will eat them til I am sick and thought I should share some of that list with you.

• crunch and munch ( I only buy this ONCE a year when I go to S. Padre. Crunch and Munch and the beach, good times!)


• hot tamales, I am out of control with these babies


• the peanut butter cookies with hershey kisses in the middle. I have embarrassed myself with my ablility to eat these in mass quantities.


• smarties, I firmly believe that eating these by the pound each Halloween increases my IQ


• mini-snickers


• a sweet cantaloupe (I had to add something healthy)

I am sure there are more.

Ok anyway! I am adding another item to that list and that is the cornfetti that is pictured above. Man that's good stuff. I don't have many friends, but the ones I have are really THE BEST!!

I just happened to mention to my friend on Tuesday night about how next time she goes to downtown McKinney could she grab me some cornfetti from the quaint little shop that sells it. I didn't give it another thought and then Thursday night Chris walks through the door with a giant bag of cornfetti that my friend gave him to deliver home. Chris can testify, I was sooo happy! I promptly hid it under the cabinet from the sugar monster in my house (Jessica) so I wouldn't have to share! I accidently left out today and she quickly spotted it, so now I gotta share! :)

I FINISHED!!!!

Well my fingers are about the only part of my body that isn't hurting at the moment, however they took about 4 hours to thaw out.

So my morning began at 5:30 as I got up and got my running shoes on asking them to carry the furthest they ever have. I ate some food, not real sure what to eat for maximum performance so I just fueled up with a hodgepodge of foods including a diet coke (real runners would be appalled) to keep that nasty caffeine headache at bay. I headed to my sisters house to ride downtown with her and her husband for the big race. We parked with ease and got inside the American Airlines center for warmth and a potty break, with the rest of the 15,000 runners.
Adrienne (sister) and I walked Doug to the starting point for the full marathon and sent him on his happy way.

We still had an hour to wait til the half marathon began so we headed back to the car to get out of the cold and crowds. We chit chatted til about 8:45 and then went back out to brave the cold. Before we got out of the car an agreement was made, that I know will be kept. See all this idea of the half marathon began about December 30th of 2007 when two goofy sisters were sitting around discussing resolutions. We had just finished the relay and had fun doing that, then we watched Doug finish his 2nd marathon and that is always inspiring. So one of us threw out the idea of going for the half marathon on '08 and we chuckled and said "why not". Now before you think we are actually, die hard follow through on our commitment people, we are SO NOT, but there was one other person in the room that heard that conversation that clearly is of that crazy personality, Doug, and he would not hear of us NOT following through on this commitment. So the sister pack that was made this morning is that no New Year's resolutions will be discussed between sisters, well at least not in the presence of Doug, EVER AGAIN!!

We made our way to the starting line and waited in the wind and the cold for the start. It's just AMAZING how many people take part in this event. I think 6000 ran the Half Marathon.
It's always a little anti climatic when you hear the starting gun, because it takes awhile to actually get 6000 people across one starting point. We were off for 13.1 miles of running fun. Adrienne and I stuck together til we hit a hill about mile 4 and then we went our separate ways. I think my few years of Atlanta running still helps me on these Texas Hills or should we say inclines! After that it was just me, no music, no buddies, just me and a sea of strangers all asking their body to do something difficult. I love the people watching, it's amazing to see some that have a stride that looks painful with each step and others that are fluid runners that look lean and mean. It's inspiring to see the people in a wheel chair as they ask their arms to do the same work I am asking of my legs and feet. I saw two blind runners that were running with guides. The level of trust the blind person must have in their guide must be amazing.

So I overall I felt good, it was so cold and my legs never seemed to lose their tight grip and warm up for me. My feet were great, which I was extremely grateful for, once the feet start to go it gets nasty! Things were smooth sailing to mile 9, then I am convinced that someone was moving the mile marker flags further and further apart, my stomach started growling, and the grip on my hamstrings was starting to tighten. I am kinda goofy because I don't like to stop and walk through aid stations so I know that I wasn't really hydrating myself very well, I grabbed a gatorade from one table and drank and ran, spilling most of it on me, but still refusing to stop. At mile 10 a small miracle happened, one fella was passing out jolly ranchers, I grabbed one and it was the best jolly rancher EVER. It tasted really really good and served as a great distraction from the thoughts of just wanting to be finished.

Next thing I knew I could hear the roar of the crowd as I neared the finished. This is such a neat thing. I knew my mom and dad and sweet husband and kids were waiting somewhere in that line and freezing their little bottoms off, so I had to keep going. I spotted them quickly and saw the sweet sign Chris and the kids made me, this of course brought tears and just the final push I needed to finish! I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 25 minutes! My goal was somewhere between 2:30 to 2:40, so I am quite happy about that.

I made it home and got in a warm bath and promptly feel asleep! I woke myself up snoring in the bath tub! How funny is that!

I am so glad it's done and my legs are still letting me know that they gave me their all, but that should get better soon. I am very happy that it's over and I am very happy that I did it.

If you are still actually reading this long post, you may feel like you just ran a marathon! ha

It's the final FINAL countdown

Now I am down to the wire, only 6 days left til I run The Half. I am ready to be done with this. I know the race will be fun, as fun as 13.1 miles can actually be. Not much I can do at this point. I plan to run a little this week. The best part of this week is that I am pretending that I need to do some "carb" loading over the 6 days so it's pretty much a free for all in the eating department! It will be sad that I will have to say yes, I ran 13.1 miles and yet still managed to gain 13.1 pounds!!

IN other news, we put up our Christmas tree on Saturday. This is my favorite night of the holiday season. We all get our jammies on, put up the tree and then have hot chocolate and cookies and watch a Christmas movie. Elf was the movie of choice. It's always a given that my kids (and Chris) will rewind the part when Buddy gets hit by the taxi cab, over and over and over and laugh hysterically. That's doesn't seem like the Christmas spirit to me!

I always get teary eyed when we put up the cute little ornaments the kids have made over the years. The ones with pictures usually bring out the tears. Chris just laughs and shakes his head at me, Joshua, he can't stand it when I cry so he said to Jessica, "quick do something funny, she is starting to cry!"

On a side note, i haven't had a quote of the week in a long time however today something was said to me that I felt was worth repeating.
Ok, so I am cleaning the house today and Joshua comes in when I am mopping the kitchen floor and says, "man, mom your working hard."

"Yes, I am just trying to get the house clean, it needed it." I respond thinking how nice it was that he noticed my hard work...

Joshua replies, "Hmmm, maybe you should change your name from LeRay to LeMaid."

I didn't have much of a response on that one, he went right on back outside to play.

It's the final countdown...

Only 14 days til I have to run 13.1 miles. Am I ready? Not really. Have I stuck to my training schedule? Not so much. However I am still going to give it my best shot. In true fashion, I plan to do a little "cramming" training here at the end. I don't think that is how it's supposed to work but oh well.

Refreshed

Greetings from Big Cedar Lodge outside of Branson MO. It's beautiful here. Chris had a conference here this week with fellow education ministers from around the country and I got to tag along. It has been wonderful few days of doing what I do best: a whole lotta nuthin! Being the always thoughtful man that I don't deserve, Chris booked a massage, manicure and pedicure for me for the day after our arrival. I have felt like a new woman since then! When the massage therapist commented that my shoulders were a wreck, she then asked what I did for a living. I answered that I taught fourth grade she chuckled and said, that explained it. I tried to explain to Chris that 1 hour massages may become a necessary part of my returning to work. He just laughed!

This place is really beautiful and gussied up for the holidays. We have enjoyed getting some time away together. We have eaten, hiked, eaten, played putt putt, eaten and we even went running together for the first time ever! (He's much faster than me! which didn't make me happy, you know I like to win!) Meanwhile my children are safely tucked away at the PK Ranch, which is their grandparents home, experiencing as much spoiling as I am just in a different form!

We head home tomorrow and it's back to reality for me (sorta since I just have 2 days to work til Thanksgiving break) I am ready to see my babies! I also have to admit in some small way I am ready to see MOST of those 22 little 4th grade creatures that call me teacher! They will be happy to have a rested, less haggard looking Mrs. Havard to deal with on Monday!

PICTURES TO COME LATER!

Overload

Joshua earned a reward for being respectful at school! (He gets that from his father! Not me)



If you know me you will think this is funny. Our school has a contest 2 times a year to see which class can walk/run the most laps. Winning class gets the golden shoe trophy. Well as you can see here my class is catching on to my "winning is everything" attitude!! ha!


Trick or Treat!!

My life in pictures!

Ok I have almost too much to blog about and many different topics in my head to write about

here a few:

• Halloween decorations gone overboard. Why?


• How many times do I say "I just need more time in the day" and today I have it and I still want more.


• Chicken tenders and running 9 miles don't mix! (BUT I DID RUN 9 MILES!)


• Why does Jessica have so much stuff in her room?


• Why do people get petty about stupid stuff and try to ruin my day?

So if you have a strong desire to have me write more on any of the random topics, feel free to let me know. If not I will leave you with the titles and your imagination can fill in the rest.

WANTED!!!

I am putting out a want ad:

Running partner needed, no experience necessary.

must have better attitude about running than me

must be willing to yell at me to get up and get moving and

must not be too sensitive when I yell back

Doesn't pay except in the form of toned thighs unless you do what I do which is over eat because I rationalize it all and say, I can have that donut, i ran this morning...

Partnership ends on Dec 9th.

Any takers?

Yippee!

Tomorrow afternoon I will be saying "guten tag" to my sweet hubby after his 6 day trip to Germany.

Here are some observations I have made while he was on his trip. He doesn't go out of town much (thankfully) so things are pretty noticeable.

1. Chris is a big part of our nighttime routine and my kids sure have trouble going to sleep without him. (Me too!!)

2. I think that when he is away I smile and laugh about half as much as I do when he is around. He definitely is my comic relief! He's been making me smile and laugh since I was 11 years old and that's a big part of why I love him so much. Hurry home Chris, before my smile muscles start to atrophy!!

3. It's not nearly as much fun watching the Office when he is away. I learned that a couple weeks ago when he was in Atlanta. I watched it but feel asleep! (Blasphemy! I know) I needed his loud laughing at Michael Scott to keep me awake!!

4. I watch sports even when he is gone. The noise of sports is comforting to me. It didn't feel like Sunday til I had Joshua turn on the cowboy game, I even had baseball on last night to drown out the lonely.

5. A night or two of having the whole bed to myself is nice, after that I don't much care for it.

Can't wait til tomorrow! So I can smile, watch the Office and snuggle up with my man!!!

Adios Rexs (for now)

So Jessica turned her journal and Rexs back into her GT teacher this week. I miss seeing Rexs in the fridge when I go for my midnight snack. No worries though, Jessica informed me that the little guy will be back with us next week. That is until he turns into a moth (how does he get out of the bean?) and then flies to Mexico to find a "buddy". We will wish the little fella well when he flies off.

We have a new pet

Yes folks that's correct we have a new pet at our house. It belongs to Jessica and she is quite excited about taking care of this pet. Jessica named her new pet Rexs, yes that is Rex with an "s". Rexs isn't very much trouble, he doesn't even eat anything, and won't tear up my furniture. Rexs is definitely our kind of pet. Rexs is a Mexican Jumping Bean. She came home with this thing on Monday and is required to take care of it and keep a journal for the week. Jessica takes her duties very seriously. For example, she was convinced that Rexs was supposed to go to bed at 5pm and he sleeps in the fridge. She really wanted Rexs to go to soccer practice with us, but that was past his bed time. SOOOOOO we put Rexs in a small cooler and brought him along! Rexs was given a bath last night too. We had a moment after the bath the we thought he was no longer with us, but after a little while he started jumping again. WHEW!! (I have no idea what the protocol is on a Mexican jumping bean funeral). Maybe he was just nice and relaxed after his warm bath. Oh and Rex also has a special box that he gets to live in, we could hear him in there today, asking to get out. Tonight Rexs is scheduled to be read to and then tucked into bed. Rexs has a pretty sweet life here at the Havard house.

Don't Ask Don't Tell

Ok I feel like any poor soul that comes within a 3 foot radius of me and asks "How are you or How's teaching?" is getting MUCH more than they bargained for. To all of you folks that have asked me that question and gotten more than an earful, I am sorry!! I am feeling quite consumed by this return to work and trying to figure out how to balance it all that I will voice my issues to anyone that asks! Now this HAS worked in my favor with some of my sweet friends. One friend listened to my woes and sent dinner over one night, another friend heard my cries and took my kids for me during parent conferences, and even another friend has been kind enough to get my kiddo to soccer practice one hectic evening or two. I don't know what I would do with out these folks! So just a big shout out "thanks for listening" to those that come in contact with me and also let this serve as a warning to the rest of you, don't ask ask and I won't tell.

I wish I could do this!

My mom is talented in several different things! She's quite an impressive woman, one that I love to spend time with, learn from and laugh with. She is smart, funny, creative and extremely discerning about people. She is definately the one that taught me to trust that gut instinct about things and people and she is GOOD at it. Well thats all for another time another blog. I wanted to share with you guys a part of my mom's creative side.

She started drawing when she was 21 (which is when I was born, so I think I brought it out in her or maybe drove her to it...). I can remember coming home from school and she would be wearing her huge headphones, jammin to Elton John or who knows what, and drawing! There was always something going on her easel in our house growing up. I can still remember being very annoyed when she made me stop doing something (I am sure it was so important) and come position my hand in some way and hold it there so she could look at it to help her draw.

Even today when I look at her stuff, I always think, "How does she do that? How can you get a blank piece of paper to do that, to make that." I can't seem to get my brain around it. The gift skipped me, it could very well be in Jessica from what we can tell. That would be neat. I was watching Jessica paint one day and I remember stopping in my tracks thinking, wow she looks just like my mom when she draws or paints.

Well I wanted to share a picture of a painting my mom is working on at the moment. She use to draw people, but I think she has come to prefer the company horses so they are the main theme of her work.

Enjoy your fine art moment of the day:

September?

September, September where for art thou, September...

I can't believe my last post was on September 12th! Yikes! It may still feel like the summer time here in Texas but my schedule certainly points to the fact that fall has arrived. It really hasn't "arrived" that sounds way too calm, it's more like it bulldozed or blindsided me like some of the hits I have seen on TV with the arrival of football season.

Within in this "transistion" time of re-entering the work world, the sports world also begun. Therefore, so did my regular duties of equipment manager, team driver, head cheerleader and snack chic (I coordinated the snack schedule for Joshua's baseball team and I am insisting that I be referred to as the snack chic instead of the snack mom, snack mom sounds like some over bearing, "mom jean" wearing woman who has nothing else to do but worry about what her little boy is ingesting, and it pains me to think that I might be thought of that way. So from here on out it's snack chic! capish?) wew, how was that for a side note!

All that to say, life is busy. I don't dread the sports at all. I know that makes me in the major minority. I was observing life around me the other day as I was walking into the ball fields and I was just saddened by it all. Irritated, stressed out moms barking at their kids, kids looking a bit wearied, some crying cause they lost the game, dad's heavy burdened with lawn chairs and looks of obligation. I just wanted to say, "Why are you out here? if you don't like it, don't do it." Why do we ALL seem to think that sports is somewhere in this mysterious, never ever seen, handbook of parenting? I didn't do sports growing up and I am somewhat normal! (Hmmmm, maybe that is the real underlying reason I don't "play well with others!) HA!! Anyway, I get a great joy from watching my kids enjoy their sports and if and when they find some other passion, I will get great joy from that as well. It's not the actual sport that I care about, it's what life in all it's experiences brings to my children, whether it's baseball, soccer, art, reading, guitar, etc. Now if I could just get all those unhappy faces I saw the other night, to just see it my way, wouldn't that be better!

Well, here are some sporty pics from lately. Joshua has a game tonight so I will continue in all my jobs of equipment manager, driver, head cheerleader (this just means loudest) and snack chic!

All I have to say is no homerun=no dinner! Thats how we handle it at the Havard house! ha ha!!

That's Joshua behind the plate

She looks good in bright orange!!

blogging/running/blogging/running

Many times while I am running I start to think about blogs I could write. The pounding of the pavement must do something to the memory part of my brain because it seems that all the blogs I write in my head never really make it to the "post section"

So I decided I should blog about running. I have been trying to get back in the swing of running and slowly begin to increase my mileage to get ready for the Dec. 9th Half that I signed up for. By the way, I tripped the other day during a run and didn't fall, but it was quite telling that my second thought was, "hmmm, if I would have taken a hard fall or twist of the ankle, no half for me" I could bow out ever so ungracefully, but yet not really "wimp" out, which my pride absolutely will not let me do! Aren't I kinda pathetic! My first thought you ask? Well of course it was "oh man I hope no one saw that!"

Ok so to stay positive I decided to write some things about running that I like, a top ten list of some sorts (not sure yet if I will get to 10)
1. I love a "good" run, this isn't exactly easy to define, if you are a runner you know what I am talking about. You just feel strong, and light on your feet.
2. I love an early morning run. It's really hard to get out of bed, but once I am out, I love to watch the world slowly wake up. It's very peaceful.
3. I love the "alone" time that running gives me. You see I have VERY little of this now that I am teaching. I wake up to get family up and going, we all 3 go to work/school, I then take care of 22 little critters all day, send them home and we all 3 head home from work/school etc.
4. I love it when I am running and I actually forget that I am running. I call this my "happy place" It's a fragile spot, hard to get to and even harder to stay there.
5. Sprinklers!! I love to run through sprinklers. It cools you down. I will go out of my way to get to a sprinkler if I see one. However it's kind of a cosmic "psych" when I spot one, head towards it, and then poof right before I get to it, it turns off.
6. I love it when a song comes on my Ipod that matches my stride. I know they make fancy shoes that can do that, but my stride is so slow that all the songs would be played in slow motion.
7. I love it when I see the finish line. I always get a little burst of energy knowing I am about to be done!
8. hmmmmm.... ok so 7 is good! Right?

Here's a new one ladies...

I am sure we could all recite some cheesy pick up line that some guy actually thought might work, but I just heard one this week that would have definitely swept me off my feet.

"Do you want to be my girlfriend? You're hot and I REALLY like the way you color in the lines."

This was the latest pick up line heard by niece in her 1st grade classroom last week. Hilariously sweet! I think she accepted til mom "clarified" a few things with her that evening.

Trying to keep up

Ok so I have made through the 2nd week of teaching. I feel quite haggard, hurried, and sometimes overwhelmed, however in the moments that I get to close my classroom door to the rest of the world and just be with the students attempting to teach them something, I am very content. My goal as a teacher isn't just to get them to pass that lovely test that the state of Texas gives, but it's also to show them that a teacher can care about them, yet have high expectations, smile and have fun, yet also get down to business when necessary. I never achieved this when I taught 10 years ago. My first year was chaotic, way to much "raising" my voice over their voices etc. so then for my next two years I taught, I was not what the students would call a "nice" teacher. I swung the pendulum way the other direction and smiled less often and demanded quiet. It was calm, but not fun for me or for the students. SO 10 years have passed and I have had some of the best teacher training available to anyone! Motherhood! My two have taught me more about how to be a teacher than any college prof or text book could! They helped me capture the "heart" of being a teacher. When I am frustrated or trying to work with a student, I just step back and think, how would I want Joshua and Jessica's teacher to treat them right now and go from there.



So I pretty much run like a mad woman from 5 AM til I crash around 10, so the blogging looks like it might get done once a week. Just FYI if you're frustrated with me.



Training update:
OH MY!! It's hard to work in working out! I am trying though.
Tuesday Ran 3 miles
Wednesday went to the gym in the early morning (there were a surprising number of crazy people up there at that early hour)
Thursday: ran just under 3 miles, lack of time, lack of energy
Friday I am going out to dinner with my husband (oh wait that probably doesn't count, but i felt you should know.)
Sat: plan to run 4 (does that count?)

Man that apple picture is ginormous! I didn't mean to paste a GIANT apple on there, but I am too tired to change it.

Superman!!!

I wanted to take a moment and give a little public praise to my man Chris!!! I was talking to a friend this morning about the first week of school etc. and she asked, "So was Chris SuperChris this week?" I laughed and said of course, which set me to thinking and now blogging about how awesome my husband is to me.

He has been super extra sweet to me all week. I think he might be fearful that I could go over the edge at any moment since I am going back to work after a 10 year hiatus. It's not very pretty when I go over the edge!! I am just kidding, he really truly does spoil me rotten all the time!

Monday started my first day of work, and he was up and out early to get me my favorite: taquitos from Whataburger and then he sent me out the door with a funny card with some very encouraging words to start my week off right.

He grocery shops on Fridays and ladies, I don't mean he just grabs some milk and bread and forgets everything else. He gets everything, puts it away and even takes all the fruit and washes it, cuts it up so it's ready to go. Dreamy!

This week he went above and beyond the call of duty and even returned a dress of Jessica's that didn't fit and picked out another one, the right size and VERY cute. I told him that I was very impressed and he replied, "I wasn't born yesterday, you know"

One night he took care of bedtime routines with the kids so I could attempt a run. I came home and the house was all quiet. They had bathed, brushed, read and were off to sleep.

Friday he picked up a yummy dinner for us from Central Market and we actually sat just the two us in the dining room and ate together. That was nice.

I love this guy not just because he is "SuperChris" but for so many other reasons as well. He works hard at his job and makes a difference in many peoples lives everyday. People at the Heights just love him and that is so rewarding for me to watch. He loves his kids and is a very good dad! Always wants what's best for them and willing to sacrifice for that. He wants our marriage to be awesome and healthy and is always willing to do what it takes to help us make that happen.

So just a little public praise and thank you to my hottie hubby!

I love you Chris.

I know I don't deserve him, but I sure am glad I have him!

First day of School!!!!

We ALL had a great first day of school today.

Normally I spend this morning dropping off my kids and shedding a few tears thinking that I will miss having them around the house and thinking about how fast they are growing up. Well I figured out the cure for those tears: GO WITH THEM!!

We all got up much earlier than we wanted to and headed up to school. The kids had great days and really like their new teachers.

I think I was just so excited to not be sitting in a meeting but actually being in my classroom with kids! I am sure there will be days that I long for a meeting again. However, today was a good one. I like my class and think that it will be a great year. It was hectic of course in moments trying to get everyone organized or back on the routine, but that will settle in over time.

Bottom Line: I decided that I will go back tomorrow for another day!! ha ha

Little League and Little Boys and big emotions!!

Did you watch the Little League World Series? Probably not unless you have a 10 year old boy in your house like mine. We watched it and it was great. I love watching my own kid play baseball the most, but this is probably the next best kind of baseball to watch.

These guys are such cutie patooties and playing their hearts out. They are full so much energy and emotions. The best part is they aren't hardened and calloused by the world that they think they have to hide all those feelings, like the big boys on the diamond often do!

Each summer this game is really such an amazing glimpse of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat side by side! I am happy the team from Georgia won it all, but I still felt sad and even got a little teary eyed when the camera showed the sweet team from Japan in tears.

Well, "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play, today"...

Joshua's baseball season is right around the corner and today definately got our baseball juices flowing again!

Play ball!!!

Stress makes me stupid

I am coming to the sad conclusion that when I am stressed I get really scatterbrained. It's been a long week of meetings at school, sitting there wishing I could be in my classroom working on stuff and getting lesson plans ready. Nope, I have to hear about planning "engaging" lessons instead of being given the time to actually do that! I have just accepted the fact that I will not start the school year "ahead of the game" like I prefer, but a step behind and working hard to catch back up. I think that is what "Labor Day" is really for!

So yes, stress makes me stupid. Forgetting where I put things is probably the biggest issue. I managed to lose my class list of students that I was given in a mere 12 hours. (I did find it)
You know how you sometimes walk into a room to do something, then can't, for the life of you remember what it was? Well multiply by 10 and that's about how many times this has happened to me this week. Car keys, oh don't even get me started, I need those things stapled to my forehead. Forgetting words, that's another thing, I will be talking and all of a sudden I can't get the word I am looking for, and I am just stricken like one of the patients in that movie "Awakenings" with Robin Willams, until someone gives me the word or my brain reboots and I find it. It's kind of embarrassing. I have told some of the people I will be working with that I really am a college graduate and I promise I won't always act so strange.

I don't need any help so all comments can just be encouraging or feel free to poke some fun at my issues too, laughter is a stress reliever, does that include when people are laughing AT you?

Yes, I am making lists
Yes, I am using lots of sticky notes
Yes, I am trying to visualize where I parked my car
Yes, I am thinking of buying the clapper for my keys

No matter what I do though, I am just convinced, stress makes me stupid!!!

TRAINING UPDATE:
I am sure many of you thought that I have already given up! NOT SO!! I am actually finally getting started. I got up early two times this week and ran. The victory this week was the "getting up early" part more than the actual running. I kept it short and sweet. You know you don't want to kill yourself when you start out, right!? Baby steps people, baby steps!

Top 10 things I will miss about being home

I am headed back to work. Here is testimony to why you don't use the word "never". I am pretty sure I used it 10 years ago as I jetted out of my 7th grade classroom for the last time. "I will never teach again" I am done, take my stuff, I don't need it. Hmmmmmmm, well fast forward 10 years and here I am again, putting up bulletin boards, and arranging desks. Who would have thought, certainly not me. I am teaching 4th grade at the same school that my kids go to which is approximately 1/2 mile from my house, in the neighborhood. I couldn't ask for a better situation. I did a long term sub job last year and really enjoyed it, and so I decided to go back full time. I hope I still feel this way come Christmas. Well, no matter what you are headed into I think there is still bit of sadness saying goodbye to the past season so I have compiled my list of top ten things I will miss about being a stay at home mom for your entertainment.



10. Shopping during the day during the week when everyone else is at work.

9. dropping the kids off at school while I am still in my PJ's

8. meeting a friend for lunch or starbucks

7. Running errands WITHOUT my children, they will miss this too!!!

6. VOLUNTEERING at the kids school, coming and going as I please.

5. My morning cup of coffee while watching the Today show until Meredith Viera annoys me to a point that I MUST get showered and start my day.

4. Not having a boss. If you know me then you know that I don't like being told what to do. character flaw, I know!!!

3. Working out after I get the kids to school. I am going to have to do it BEFORE school now. People do you know how EARLY this means.

2. Oh this is a big one!! My stay-at-home mom 2:00pm power nap. Many days (not all) I turn on a little afternoon Law and Order on TNT set my alarm on my phone for about 30 minutes and like Pavlov's dog I would here the "bum bum" sound that starts Law and Order and I would be out!! I love a good nap!

1. the number one thing that I will miss the most...
Fridays with my husband!! Since he is off on Fridays it was like and automatic date day, without worrying about childcare. I will be a little bummed every Friday when I know he is home and I am not!!

ALL BOY!!!!

Joshua is spending a few days with my folks and here are some "all boy" moments my mom emailed me. I just had to post them. It's good for a suburban boy to get out to the country sometimes!

The Best Birthday EVER

Yep! That's right, today is my birthday. I am 35 years old, but I have decided I am not going to think about age anymore. I still think and often act like I am about 18 so that's all that matters! I look around and think where is the old lady that is driving this blue minivan and toting these big kids around, it can't possibly be me!! I like my fantasy world, I am staying in it and you can't make me come out!

I thought I would take a moment and tell you about the best birthday I have ever had and I know it's the best one I will EVER have. Strong statement, I know, but read on and I think you will understand and agree.

My best birthday ever happened on the day I turned 25. I recieved the most incredible gift that day. It was a gift that changed my life and radically invaded my heart. I had no idea at the time how much joy and love this gift would provide me on a daily basis. I would gladly give up my life for the gift that I recieved that day. It is one of the two most precious things in my life.

You see, my sweet boy Joshua was born on my birthday 10 years ago today. He came 9 days early just to surprise me and share that special day with me. I LOVE sharing my birthday with him. Yes, he is a full decade today. I can hardly believe it and have been teary-eyed over it for several days. It is such a joy and privilege to watch this baby turn into a young boy and now to keep moving toward that goal of becoming the young man God has called him to be.

If I can take a moment (I can it's my blog) I will tell you about this boy. He is smart, funny, athletic and polite, all great things. However as I was pondering him today I was prouder of what I see him becoming on the inside than those things I can see on the outside. He is a kind-hearted person and has an empathy for others that is well beyond his years. He is growing in wisdom in the things of God. I love to hear how his prayers are slowly becoming deeper, more about others and their needs and less about self and wants. I am proud of his honesty and character.


I love the age he is now. I think they should be called the "see saw" years. It's like a see saw, one moment you can see the pull of independence in him as he pulls to grow up and the next moment you can see the push of a young boy still ok with a snuggle from mom and dad. It's a fun time to watch and be a part of.

So no matter what I might get for my birthday today, nothing can top the gift I got 10 years ago!

Farewell Friday

Today was our last full day at Horn Creek. They served a late breakfast to let everyone sleep in some, which we did!

After an amazing breakfast we joined in the organized family games they were having. It was just a bunch of easy games for us to play. It was really fun and Joshua and Jessica had a great time.

After that the kids rock climbed some more and played. Chris and I ran to the little nearby town to grab a sandwich and I found a charm for my bracelet. I got a bear charm, because all week we were told about a bear that likes to hang around camp. He busted into the laundry room one night and tore apart a vacuum cleaner to get at some honey nut cheerios that had been vacuumed up!!

That night was "banquet night. They served this wonderful meal and then we headed downstairs for our last service and they also served the Lord's Supper. It was a really sweet time for all the families and a wonderul way to end the week.

We all really enjoyed our week together, playing together and doing new things. I am ready to be home but will miss my mountain view and cool weather.

It's actually Saturday morning and we left VERY early (4 am) to get going. We are just outside of Amarillo. We will be back in Big D before long!

Thanks for enduring all my vacation pics!! More legit posts to come. I have many brewing in my mind! Come back for a visit sometime soon!

Texas Thursday

I call this one Texas Thursday because all the things we did could have easily been done in Texas, but just a different type of scenery. We started out the day with a trail ride to this gorgeous scenic meadow where we hopped off our horses and had a picnic lunch.

That night at the camp was Western night. We all put our boots back on (well not Chris) and squeezed into our jeans. On a side note, I am not sure if I mentioned this but the food is AMAZING!!! Three meals a day all wonderful! All NOT cooked by me. I am eating my way through the week. Really!! Imagine Ms. Pacman, chomp chomp chomp that's me!!!

Ok so we all eat our picnic barbeque outside and later that night we head down to this indoor arena area for some square dancing. It must be pretty funny to watch me square dance since I have serious issues remembering my left from my right! We did that for a little while and then Chris and I sneaked away and went bowling at the rec center. That was fun, even though he beat the fiddle out of me.

Wilderness Wendnesday

Ok so Wednesday after breakfast we headed out for a family hike to a Venable Falls. We were told this hike was a good one. It was about 2.5 miles from the trail head to the falls. No problemo I think to myself, we hiked in Georgia alot and all loved it. Hmmmmmmm, I seem to have forgotten that little thing called elevation. We were already at 9000 feet at camp and I think the falls were at about 11,000 feet so we had a little climb ahead of us. It was a challenge for the kids at times just with the altitude and steady inclines. I felt like I was on the stairmaster at the gym, huffing and puffing, with a much better view of course. So we made it the Falls and enjoyed our lunch on this rock that was jutting out over the water with the falls way up to the right. They were huge and beautiful and high, oh so high. I don't like heights. I forced myself out on the rock to look because I knew I would be sad to come all that way and miss it. They were beautiful. My kids were so cute eating their lunch on that rock and toasting their lemonade together in victory.

The hike down was much easier! That afternoon Chris played volleyball for 2 and half hours and the kids played at the recreation center and I took a nap, a glorious, quiet, nap!!

White water Tuesday

Today we left the campsite to do a little white water rafting through Brown's Canyon. It took about an hour and half to get to there, the drive was beautiful. We took Joshua's buddy Caleb with us. Once we arrived we put on our "splashguards" that we rented to help keep us dry then headed to the waters edge. Our guide spent about 10 minutes telling us all the different ways we could die on the river or strategies to do to try to avoid dying. I think Joshua and had some serious concerns by the end of that lecture, but we trusted our fearless leader and went anyway. Well it turned out that the lecture was not needed and these were very "family friendly" white waters rapids. I guess the guides enjoy the look of fear in the peoples eyes when they give that lecture. The rapids were fun, no one fell out, Chris and I even did some rowing too. The water was a chilly 48 degrees. We came to one point where the water was slow moving and he gave us the choice to jump in it. 3 out of 5 of us said, no thanks and looked at him like he was crazy. One of us said, "I want to go." Who was that you ask? Well of course if you know my family it was my water girl Jessica. I looked at Chris and he knew, if she was going he had to go, my baby wasn't getting in that water without an adult!

So we lived to see another day after the rapids and headed back to camp, cold and tired, but thrilled to have done and seen some incredible scenery through the canyon.

Funday Monday

Monday started bright and early. Our first morning here I woke up VERY EARLY to VERY bright lights shining in my face, my first reaction was to be a bit grumpy about that light, but then when I opened my eyes to the amazing mountain view out my window it just didn't seem right to be grumpy about that.

Monday morning started with a pancake breakfast outside. They rolled out this huge griddle and started flipping the pancakes. Literally!!! The cook stood about 15 to 20 feet back and you braced yourself with your flimsy styrofoam plate and kept your eye on the pancake!! I am happy to report the Havard pancake flipping stats:

Joshua had a solid shortstop catch on the first try

Jessica held her ground with strong second effort catch

Chris tried to showboat with a behind the back catch, but missed and had to get back to fundamentals and catch normal

Me I caught mine and gave the fist pump of victory.

After pancakes we spent most of the morning at the recreation center. They had arts and crafts for Jessica and Joshua bowled. I even tried to be "sporty spice" and play a little volleyball with Chris. It's not my favorite, it hurts like the dickens. Really why would we create a sport where we use one of the smallest, least meatiest parts of our body to pound a not exactly soft ball!? So I got my sporty spice on for most of the morning. (Does that count as my training for the Half?)

After lunch we went to the Alpine Swing. The Alpine Swing is this device that you harness yourself to the rope and the rest of the group pulls you up, up, up to about 25-30 feet in the air. Then this other rope gets pulled and sends you into a free fall swing. aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!

So Joshua was signed up to go and he did it, no problem, no hesitation (crazy kid) then while we were down there Jessica decided she wanted to do it. I didn't suggest this nor did I try to deter her, it was completely her choice. So she gets all harnessed up and is about to be pulled up and slowly the fearful tears started to flow. She never said, "put me down or I don't want to do this" so she gets pulled up about halfway and still the tears are flowing and I was just feeling helpless on the ground, fully aware that I couldn't do anything, this was her little battle. So "snap" went the rope and down she swung, with a huge scream, then she was ok and enjoyed swinging and twirling around. She claims she would do it again. I think Chris and I were about to bust with pride watching this sweet little 7 year old girl conquer her fear and follow through. I was just thinking about how much we all need a dose of that. Often alot of joy and fun comes on the other side of that fear.

We finished the night playing board games with Wally and Staci and as usual fell into bed and crashed.

By the way if you are still reading my blog, I feel like I am forcing you to come over and watch my vacation slides. Yet this is even better because I don't have to clean my house or fix you popcorn!

Jessica getting hooked up to swing, the tears were starting.

Up, up and away! He's about 3 stories up and I think I was more scared than he was!

PANCAKE CATCHES!

FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS (I catch like a girl don't I)

Yes!!

A step back in time (Sunday report)

So Sunday was our first full day at Horn Creek. I added some pictures of the lodge and views for you to get an idea of things. We had breakfast that morning then church. It was of course different from our regular rock and roll time we usually have at the Heights, but it was sweet to sing some hymns with just a guitar. I got a little chuckle thinking that my children probaby thought these were "new" songs. I am certainly NOT trying to open any sort of debate on worship style, just commenting that I did enjoy it.

Sunday afternoon we got signed up for our recreation activities for the week and then hit the pool and the waterslides. The slides were freezing, but the pool was warmer, at least that was what was reported to me. This Texas girl is not up to the polar bear Colorado water!

The highlight of the day came after dark when they set up the "log roll". We weren't sure what all that was about but the "regulars" sure did seem to be getting excited about it. (There are families here that have been coming for years and have multiple generations with them.) So we head downstairs to the main meeting room and they have this huge log hanging from the giant log beams in the ceiling and two by two they line up grab their pillows and just beat the tar out of each other! First one to fall loses. So we watched a few rounds, then my friend Staci who is the mom of Joshua's friend Caleb (they invited us to camp) get in line to do this strange tradition.

It was so funny. Of course you guys know me and I am acting nice, but of course I HAVE to win

(see post on random facts). Eventually I ACCIDENTLY went for the cheap shot and hit her in the boob, and she started laughing so hard that she fell off. I really didn't mean to, but it made for a very funny story. So then Joshua and I have a go at it and I was playing nice, letting him have a few hits, not wanting to crush the fragile male ego, then he smacks one across my face and it was "ON" after that. I took him down too!!

After that we played in the recreation center where they have bowling, basketball, rock climbing, raquetball etc. Fell into bed about 11:30.

At one point during the log roll, I looked at Chris and said, this is so old fashion. I meant that in a positive way. It was just so simple yet so amazingly entertaining. We are having a good time and enjoying plenty of family time. Check back tomorrow for the Monday report and pics.