Monday, February 28, 2011

A Marvelous Monday

I think I'll start with my funny story for the week: Almost everyday this year that I've been by the office after school, there's been a man sitting in there with a FedEx jacket on. So I assumed he was the FedEx man...taking a break? I wondered why he sat in there EVERYDAY. Then last week, I saw the FedEx man walking toward the nurse's office (in a different building). And he was NOT in uniform??? I have since learned he is definitely NOT the FedEx man. He is a student who is obviously a Denny Hamlin racing fan who sports a FedEx jacket on a daily basis. This may not be funny to you. But I thought it was hilarious.

Ella Kate is "talking"! She's making so many sounds. We love it. She'll be 4 months old on Saturday. Where has the time gone?

B now has football a couple days a week, and I am on break from cheerleading. So I get to come home each and every afternoon. It's marvelous. Speaking of marvelous...here's a short list of other things that I've been finding marvelous lately:

1. That hour after EK goes to sleep before I go to sleep.
2. Mexican food when I don't want to cook
3. Being able to complete yet another week in Couch to 5K
4. The tanning bed. I know it's bad. But it feels SO good and it makes me SO relaxed. And if the running doesn't make me skinnier, the tan will make me appear that way.
5. Sharing cheesecake with Bradley before bed
6. This lovely weather
7. Riding home from school with the sunroof open and the radio REALLY loud

Have a "marvelous" week.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Plain 'Ole Life

My sweet husband just informed me that I haven't blogged in over a week. So here we go. Life just hasn't been extremely exciting lately. It hasn't been bad. I just didn't think you'd be interested in making bottles, washing bottles, cleaning house, going to work, etc.

Ella Kate turned 3 months old a few weeks ago. Those teeth I mentioned a month ago...they have yet to come through. But she's been a trooper. For the last week, we've been able to lay her in bed, turn on the mobile, and she's put herself to sleep. It's SOOO nice for us. She doesn't fight us. And we're getting more sleep. I even got to sit down tonight and enjoy a really, really cold can of Coke Zero. I have an addiction. I like my caffeine cold. VERY cold. And it was extremely good. When Bradley and I got married, we drank Mt Dew. I think we did that for a while. But we began to grow. So we decided to make the switch. (I still enjoy a Mt Dew, just not on a daily basis.) Speaking of growing or lack thereof...I've lost more weight and I am thrilled. We're on Week 3 of the Couch to 5K. I was beginning to think I might not ever get back in my clothes. But I just might make it.

Bradley is now a proud member of the 32 oz club at Santa Fe. Why on earth he wanted to do this, I will never know. He's mentioned it the past several times we've eaten there. And with a little encouragement from his parents (as well as financial support...they bought dinner), he gave it a try Saturday night. Who cares that it took him 3 hours to finish eating???? He got a shirt AND his picture on the wall. It didn't take 3 hours...but it seemed like it. Ella Kate needed some fresh air about halfway through the steak. She and I took a little trip outside. I also had steak, but don't recall eating it. That's called multi-tasking. I'm learning that it's also called being a mommy.

I'll close with some sad news about a co-worker who went to the ER Friday was a week ago in pain. She found out last Monday that she had Stage 4 Colon Cancer and spots on her liver. She left the hospital Sunday after making the decision not to take any life prolonging measures. She passed away yesterday. I never got to know Mrs. Mozzo very well. But I knew her well enough to realize she was a very interesting woman. And well enough to know she would have chosen no other way to go. I listened to the other teachers share stories about her after hearing of her passing yesterday. They said she always said if they had her a retirement party, she wouldn't come. ..that when she left that school, she wanted to walk out and never look back. And isn't that how it happened? I'm certain that's the way she left this world. Listening to them share stories about her makes me wish I'd taken the time to get to know her better. Keep her family, friends, and students in your prayers. Many of them are having a tough time with this loss.

May you take notice of the simple blessings in life this week.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Aaaahhhh. Rest, how I've missed you.

Ooooh, life is good. It's Sunday night. We have pigs in blanket. Ella Kate's napping. Our house is fairly clean. Our patio is clean. AND we ran this afternoon. I feel thinner already! I will be honest. I thought my lungs were collapsing a few times. But Bradley kept pumping me up and I didn't quit. He told me I need to take longer strides. I'm not sure he realizes that I'm way shorter than him. I just gave him "the look" and kept running.

Yesterday, we had a date day in Dothan. We ate breakfast together and made a Sam's run. I needed that day. I became very aware of that on Friday night when I pulled up to the garage after the ballgame and remembered that I was supposed to pick up supper in town. So I turned the Acadia around and went back for our dinner. Sleep hasn't been great for the last week or so. Ella Kate's been waking up in the early morning hours and having to be rocked back to sleep. The last 2 nights have been WAY better though. Maybe we're getting back to normal. I apologize to Tessa for falling asleep while she was here last night. I told you people I'm tired!

Let me leave you with a funny for the week: On Tuesday I told my kids to look Wednesday morning to see if the groundhog saw his shadow (the 1st grade teacher in me was trying to get out). I had 1 very concerned young man because there are NO GROUNDHOGS around his house! I told him I guessed he'd have to watch for it on the news.

Have an extra good, snuggly, cozy kind of week.