I'm Off...

Tomorrow I am off to Alexandria, Virginia for a Responsive Classroom workshop with 3 other teachers from my school. I'm excited about the class because I know I'm going to get lots of good information that will help me become a better teacher. And I get to spend time with some very fun people who I love to be around! :)

Besides the class we are planning on doing a little sight seeing...

Doesn't it look like such a cute place?!?

It's so close to DC, we'll get to go on a night monument tour.

Plus, we're going to go see the new Twilight movie.

Maybe hang by the pool and relax a little.

And I'm sure we will eat plenty of good food.

So, I'm out. Peace! So ya in a week...

Perspective...

Today started out as kind of a bummer as we woke up to hear a strange sound coming from our air conditioner. It sounded like it was shaking and the fan blade was whacking something. So... we put in a call to have it checked out.

Turns out, a sticker had come off the unit and gotten stuck on the fan blade. It threw it off balance... hence the strange sounds.

Repair bill: $50

And... we felt pretty stupid. Totally could have handled that ourselves.

Then this afternoon my check engine line comes on in the Accord...

Another bummer! Especially since we leave in the morning for our trip to St. Louis. {Why does stuff like this always happen the day before you go on vacation?!?!}

So... I put in a call to the dealership and they tell me to bring it right in. I drop it off and get a ride home, only to be called shortly after by the service department. He told me he had some good news and some bad news.

We started with the good: Nothing major. Just a loose fuel cap. Bad news: We still had to pay for them to hook it up and run their tests.

Repair bill: $54

And... again I felt pretty stupid! I didn't screw the stinkin' gas cap on all the way after I filled up my tank. Really??? Ugh!!!

So I was feeling a little bit bummed about my silly mistakes today, when I got some more news. The father of one of my students had passed away last night. This just absolutely broke my heart.

All I can think of is my sweet, little 7 year old guy and what he's going through right now.

Makes my complaints really seems trivial...

Please keep this family in your prayers.

Summer Has Arrived...

School is out and summer is officially here. We've got some big plans including...

Basketball.

A trip to St. Louis to visit family and watch the Cardinals.

Open gym at 8:00 am 4 days a week. {Ugh}

A girls' trip to Colorado to visit my friend, Sara and her new baby boy.

Basketball Camps.

Running.

A work trip to Alexandria, VA to attend a conference.

Sleeping in.

Basketball.

Swimming.

Camping.

Watching Basketball games.

Canoeing.

Reading.

{Do you notice a theme here?!?!}

I'm excited to have lots of time with family and friends. I need some relaxation and stress relief after the crazy year we've had! Whew!!!

There's just one small matter to be taken care of over the next few days (packing up school stuff and moving into a new classroom)... Once that's done than I can really relax!

Ice Cream with Sparkles...

This week Elyse got to go on a special trip to Cold Stone Creamery with her friends, Zayde and Kynzie. They got to go back behind the counter and make their own ice cream! Elyse was soooo excited about this "field trip".

Elly chose pink ice cream with "sparkles", while Kynzie chose yellow with M&Ms, and Zayde chose brown with M&Ms. Aren't they just so cute!?!?

Race 4 Hope...

On Saturday I ran in the 3rd annual Race 4 Hope in Joplin, MO. My wonderful Mother-in-law is on the board of the Hope 4 You Foundation which raises money to fight breast cancer. All the money they raise stays in our area to help people in our community. It's such a wonderful cause! Each year the race has grown and improved...with over 500 participants this year!

Elyse and Ryan planned on walking the 1 mile, but after walking about 50 yards Elyse was done. So they just hung out at the finish line with Nanna and waited for me to finish the 5k. I finished with a time of about 27.15. I didn't look at the clock right as I finished because I was trying to sprint the last little bit without passing out and dying at the finish line. :) I was pleased with my time. I kept up a faster pace than I've been doing lately. I really think that boot camp made me stronger and has helped increase my speed. Woo hoo!

It was a great race and such a fantastic event!

Stress Is My Middle Name...

I have not had much time. or motivation. to blog lately.

Between work. family. work. boot camp. work. basketball. work. cleaning. work...

There just hasn't been much time left over for blogging.

We've had a busy few weeks including...

- basketball practices, camps, and tournaments

- a family float trip

- camping (in the backyard)

-graduating from boot camp (ha!)

- Payton's end of semester finals

- end of the year paperwork at school

-and much more!

Monday is our last day of school and then I will officially be on summer vacation. I'm excited and ready to spend days at the pool. sleep in each morning (if you count 7:30 as sleeping in). being able to clean the house and do chores during the day, so we can spend time together as a family in the evenings.

I promise that I'll be a better blogger soon!!!