Guess What!!!!!

If you read my Memorial Day Mystery Post (scroll down, I am too lazy to link it and it's not that far down) then you heard my loud lamenting about the lake. Well my sweet friend Staci heard my cry and has orchestrated a full weekend for all of us at the lake!! I am invited!!
Yippee!!!

Does this make me a dork?

Yes is the answer to the question, but read on for your entertainment. I had some time last night after working out before I had to pick Jessica up from the VBS she attending this week, so I indulged in one of my favorite things to do. Now you might be thinking: a trip to Starbucks, or a trip to Ann Taylor Loft, or maybe even a mani/pedi, all great things to me, but one of my most favorite things to do is to go to the bookstore. Oh, yes now I hear it, you're calling me a dork. That's ok. I can handle it.

I realized last night that going to the bookstore gives me such a thrill. I wonder if it's the same high that some chics get when they buy a new pair of shoes (never understood that one) or maybe the feeling a fella gets when he heads to Best Buy, (Sam's club does it for my husband)

I don't know. All I know is that I was giddy with excitement when I walked out with my purchases. Yes, I went in to browse, but there is no such thing for me.

I was trying to figure out what it is about the bookstore that "gets me." I love the way a new book smells. (I had a student write a story about her favorite place and she wrote about a bookstore, she was my BFF after that!!) I love the newness of the book, not written on, never read by anyone. (Except maybe by the lurkers that hang at the store for hours on end reading books they don't pay for, that is NOT me) Now the rational side of me sat there and said, why are you buying this book, you should try to check it out at the library, for free. Or why don't you look for it on ebay. Nope, that doesn't give me the same thrill as a new book does for some reason. I have to own it new, and own it forever if I so desire.

Well like all normal people when confronted with our issues, we start looking to find the root of our problem, where did it start, or who can I blame for my issues. Well the blame lands squarely on my dad. How appropriate for the child to blame the parent for their issues. ha ha. My dad is a professor and I can still remember loving going to the bookstore on the campus! My dad always had a book and I am pretty sure prefers owning the book to borrowing the book as well. If my memory serves me right, I think my dad would gladly lay the blame on his own father who spent countless hours reading. So now that I have found the root of my "book need" I can claim that it's in my blood and I just can't help it. Right?

So, I am now trying to pass the obsession on to my kids as well. I purchased each of them a book. I think it might be working on one of my kids, not so sure about the other yet. Let's just say when I presented one their book, I got a "cool thanks" and when I gave the book to the other kid, I got a full on body hug, you know the one where they are hugging you with arms and legs! I think there was a slight squeal involved as well. I understood the excitement.

Yes, I am a dork. Here is my latest purchase for myself and the kids:

It's here!! It's here!!!

You got it, it's summertime for the Havard household. Alot has happened since I last posted. We'll play catch up in bullet points:

• Joshua's baseball team started tournament play. They lost their first game, won the next 3 then lost the fourth game by one run. Joshua decided to make it more interesting by getting strep throat, so he missed one game, but made it to the last one. I am working through my case of PBSD that I get each season. (that is Post Baseball Season Depression)



• The kids enjoyed field day at their school and quite frankly so did I. I even joined in for some of the fun. I appreciated the comments I got from volunteers after the event that my class was the "most competitive" and the "most polite" not sure which one of those things I am prouder of! Ha ha.



• Chris and I gave the kids a Wii. WOW the Wii is soooo fun. Wii can't stop playing it. My arm is sore from a pretty serious left hook I landed boxing.



• I said goodbye to 22 really sweet fourth graders, that are more than ready to become 5th graders. They go to a different campus next year for 5th and 6th grade so I won't see them too often. You do get pretty attached when you spend 35 hours a week with them.



• Joshua and Jessica finished up their year, they both had great years. It was bitter sweet watching Joshua play on the playground that last day knowing that was it. I really enjoyed being at the school with both my children. It will feel strange next year. Jessica and I will miss him being in the same building.
  
  
• I closed up the classroom on Thursday, it looked really empty and was way too quiet. I am sure you will all be shocked to know I am already thinking through next year.



• I was taken out to a very nice end of the year celebratory steak dinner, by my very sweet and handsome man.



• The June calendar already looks full of really fun stuff.

• Let the summer begin!!!!

The Memorial Day Weekend Mystery

Well it all started on a warm Friday afternoon when some friends asked us to come by and check on their pooch while they were away. No big deal, I thought, these are great friends and I am happy to do it. I innocently asked where they were headed and the response was, "the lake." Ok, I didn't want to appear dumb, because it seemed that I was supposed to know where this "lake" was, so I left it at that. Then a few hours later Jessica went to go play with her friend down the street and came back with a sad look on her face. Her friend couldn't play because they were getting ready to go to "the lake" and shortly after that I got a call seeing if Joshua could watch their dogs while they were gone. Ok, no problem, but my suspicions about this place called "the Lake" were beginning to grow. It all became very clear to me on Sunday when we were bored and tried to call some other friends to go eat dinner with us. No answer, hmmmmmm. That evening she called me back and just guess where they had been: "the lake."


OK people, I have concluded that "the lake" is really code for some really cool party place where you are ALL going together and not inviting me!! Why? I ask you Why? What did I do to be left out of "the lake" Is it because you have heard about my one attempt at waterskiing and the atomic wedgie it gave me? Is it because you have seen how I can munch and you are fearful I will eat all your snacks? Is it because it annoys you because I don't really like to get in the water?


Ok so on this last day of Memorial Day Weekend I have decided that if you call, I won't be around. I will be at "the lake" with all your doggies!!!!



I just had to add this update:
Tuesday morning, back at work and I ask a student about a math assignment that I had sent home to be done over the weekend. His response, "I couldn't do it, I was at The lake all weekend."

Cheating...

I found this on another blog, copied and pasted. I thought it would be fun to do...

I am: loved unconditionally.
i think: too much.
i know: I have control issues. (No comment necessary)
i want: summer to start NOW
i have: the best husband ever.
i wish: I could see what my kids are going to be like as grown-ups
i hate: my stomach.
i miss: my grandparents.
i fear: failure.
i feel: pressure to get it all done everyday.
i hear: my children playing downstairs.
i smell: no dinner cooking, oops!!
i crave:a good run in the mornings.
i search: for ways to be a better teacher.
i wonder: if I could really run a marathon.
i regret: not trying more things when I was growing up.
i love: to watch Jessica score a goal and Joshua throw a 3rd strike.
i ache: for children that have parents that don't care about them.
i care: about my students
i always: say "I love you" to my family.
i am not: very nice on the inside.
i believe: sometimes it's best if I just stay quiet.
i dance: to embarass my kids.
i sing: in the car when I am alone.
i cry: when I have PMS or when I am really really mad.
i don’t always: care about people like I should.
i fight: unfairly, because I keep quiet til I have it all settled in my mind.
i write: quick, usually meaningless, blogs
i win: as much as I can, because I like to win!
i lose: at foos ball everytime!!!
i never: eat enough vegetables.
i confuse: some rules in baseball, but I am getting much better.
i listen: to Joshua tell me about his day, each night at bedtime.
i can usually be found: in my house or in my classroom.
i am scared: when my phone rings late at night.
i need: more hours in the day.
i am happy about: my family, my friends, my life.

You're turn!

Happy Mother's Day mom!!

I just wanted to do quick list of all the great things about my mom. She is by far the best around and here's just a FEW reasons why!

1. She is strong. I think this is one of the qualities I like the best in her and desire to have in myself.

2. She is not afraid of change. If I told you the story of her urban to country life change of the last few years, you would agree wholeheartedly.

3. She loves my dad. I think there isn't anyone that my parents would rather hang out with more than each other.

4. She is a good mom. I think she put aside alot of things in order to raise my sister and me. She was a mom that was truly "present" in the moments of my life growing up.

5. She is a FUN mom and a REALLY FUN grandmother! This only bugs me when I am on the receiving end of her "schemes" (ha ha)

6. She is a wise mom. She taught me the importance of seeing each side of a situation. She has a wonderful ability to empathize with others. She has a wonderful way sensing when to give advice and when to hold back and just listen.

7. She wasn't ever a "smothering" mother. She was pretty good at letting us make our own decision (even the bad ones)

8. She is extremely talented. Her art work never ceases to amaze me. How she can do what she does to a blank canvas is a true gift.

9. She is loyal. I wouldn't mess with anyone she loves, it could get ugly.

10. She is discerning. She is a great judge of character and situations. She knows how to "trust her gut".

I love you mom! Thanks for teaching me how to be a good mom to my own two. You were teaching me long before I even realized it.

LeRay

FREEZE!

Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time and keep them this way forever. Thankfully I realize that I have said that with every stage so far. I found this poem I wrote when we lived in Atlanta and I was up late one night, wishing to "freeze" time again... (Speaking of freezing, it was freezing this morning at the soccer fields, they had their arms in their shirts trying to stay warm!)

If I could keep them small I would...

I'd hold them in my grip so tight

protect them from the cold of night

Keep them ever near my chest

listen for each and every breath.

Carry them through each trial

and walk with them each mile.

I often think this plan is best

but God reminds me, in Him I rest.

God knew best when this power

to mothers he did not give.

See if they remain small and in my care,

a seed is all I'd have to share.

Slowly and gently God says, "Give them to me"

I will show you the flowers they will be.

I loosen my grip, and God takes my open hand...

I can't walk them through this land,

But I trust the ONE who can.

No need to comment and point out my "over protectiveness" screaming out in this poem, I am very aware of it already! ha ha!