Storms!

Last night was one of the first storms of Spring 2012. Of course, the lightning and thunder had to start at precisely 8:20.....right when the girls were trying to go to sleep. I tried to calm them down two-three times in their rooms. But when I walked into Lexi's room and saw her sitting on her bed rocking back and forth with her blanket over her ears, I knew it was a hopeless cause.

So I told the girls they could go sleep together in my bedroom until Chris and I were ready for bed. They jumped out of their beds and ran as quickly as possible to the bedroom.

But within a minute or so, I quickly realized this wasn't going to be enough. They both looked at me with these sad eyes telling me I had no choice but to crawl in bed with them.

After I settled in with them, they both draped their arms over me. One tidbit of information about me: I HATE to be touched when I'm trying to go to sleep. So I laid there a long time.........long time.... before I got even close to getting some sleep. Right before I drifted off, Bren whispers to me: "Thank you. You saved me." Then, she wraps her arms just a little tighter around me and falls asleep.

I know I don't know everything about parenting and I doubt I ever will, but here are a few things I got from last night:

1. My kids hate storms.
2. Regardless of how old they are, kids like to be close to their parents during storms.
3. Moms need to get over the "being touched while sleeping" thing and hold their kids close during those storms. :-)

Running

As it starts to get nicer outside, I always seem to post a blog about getting into shape. I start running and exercising more often, but it always seems short lived. I get sore and tired, and I stop. Someway...somehow....this is not going to happen this year. I have been surrounding myself with healthier foods, finding time to workout every day (in someway or another), and just feel altogether better about my efforts.

For lent, I gave up pop and haven't missed it too much (except during these long parent/teacher conference nights). Every pop I don't drink is 140 calories I don't intake a day- which is 140 calories I don't have to work off that night.

So I am announcing my running circuit today:

TBD- a 5k
May 19th- CF Run (6.2 Miles)
June 2- Dam to Dam (12.2 Miles)
July 14th- The Warrior Dash (3.4 Miles--I think)


I feel that if I post it on here I am more likely to follow through. I read online that it takes 4 weeks for you to notice a difference in your body, 8 weeks for your family and friends to notice, and 12 weeks for everyone else. So in 8-12 weeks, you are going to see a stronger, faster, healthier me!



"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'" 
- Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

The Little things in life.

Chris has been traveling a lot for work lately, and it makes it difficult to be the one left at home to keep things running. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining because I know he enjoys feeling more needed in his department and somewhat enjoys the travel aspect for it gets him out of the same boring routine.

I was worried about how the girls would deal with Chris being gone. Lexi, being the little grown-up she is, didn't seem to be bothered. Brenna, on the other hand, struggled the whole first week. She wouldn't go to sleep and would cry in my lap about how much she missed her daddy. She would ask questions like "Is Daddy ever coming back?" and I would try to console her with the number of days until he would be back.

Chris has taken 2 more trips since then, and we have slowly gotten used to it. We talk every night and I feel like I always tell him about the big things of the day, but easily forget all the cute little things the girls say. Those are the things I want to remember.

Brenna: "Mommy, I guarded my Squinkees from Dawson like you told me to. I didn't let you down."



Lexi: "Stephen is my new bff. He wrote me a note today asking me to play with him during 2 bell. (Pause as she looks at me) I know what you want to say."

Me: "What do I want to say?"

Lexi: "You want to ask if he's my boyfriend."

Me: "Well, is he?"

Lexi: (eye roll) "Mother, you're embarrassing me."




Brenna: "When I get older, can I marry Daddy?"

Me: "No, because I'm already married to Daddy."

Brenna: (Starting to Cry) "But that's not fair you get to marry him and I don't."

SLIDE by Jill Hathaway!

For most teachers, the time they spent student teaching was stressful and almost a deal-breaker on the whole teaching career. I was recently married, 6 months pregnant, and a little concerned about being in a classroom full-time.

Then...I meet Jill Hathaway. She was a great mentoring teacher who introduced me a lot of new ideas, concepts, but most importantly, writing. At the time I was student teaching, she was constantly telling me about her book ideas. I had never even considered writing or becoming a writer, but I loved listening to her talk about it.

And now, her dream of becoming a published writer is finally coming true! Here is her first novel being published! I cannot wait to read this and share this with my students who I know will love it, too! If you love YA mysteries, then look for this one!