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.