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!!