Oops...

I'm still alive! ahahah

Things have been CRAZY busy, but hopefully in one week, things will slow down! The marathon is exactly one week from today! YIKES.

This past weekend, we had the chance to go to good ole' Shelbyville and spend time with Jason's family. We went to see the Christian comedian, Dennis Swanberg, and WOW, my face hurt from smiling and laughing. It was a very fast weekend, but fun.
Here is Kara my little sister in law with her autographed picture of Dennis Swanberg....

Happy FALL and welcome to the month of OCTOBER!

CRAZINESS

So my best friend Ryanne came to visit for a few days. She is in town for the Fall Fest that she used to work at her old job...and came to visit me before hand. We went shopping for hours trying to find our marathon clothes. We spent about an hour in Target's dressing room yesterday, and we were laughing so hard people probably wondered what was wrong with us. (We're trying to follow a marathon pro's advice...and Target carries a Champion brand that is suppose to be great...for those of you who are runners, you'll have to check it out!) Anyways, the lady running the dressing room pretty much became our best friend. ahahahha. We think we found something....but have a few last minute online orders to place since Target didn't have what we needed. Most of you who know us won't be surprised when I say...for old times sake, we're going to dress like twins AHAHAHA. I can't believe we're doing it, but I think it will be funny. We also had to find something really cheap to wear over our running clothes before the race begins that we can just throw on the street when it's time to start! That was what really caused the laughing in the dressing room because we looked so silly. I was also having issues buying something that will be worn for an hour because it's such a waste, but i'm hoping someone who doesn't have a home and lives on the street may be able to use our sweatsuits. :-)

One last thing....I survived the big 20 mile run today...(it's the biggest run we do before the actual marathon), and anyways, I don't know if i can go 6 more after that. That will be another HOUR. ahahaha. I did feel good when I was done, and besides the fact that I thought my knees were going to break in half and that I was starving, it went better than I expected. I didn't think I could do it. So, yeah. It's all tapering down from here, so only 11 more days to run.....and nothing more than 12 miles. phew!
OK, well, hope everyone is doing well. Sorry I don't post very often and then when I finally do it's a book. With school back in session, my teaching duties take over my life!!!!!!!!!!

Less than one month!!!!

The Chicago Marathon is less than one month away! YIKES! My "marathon shoes" arrived in the mail a few days ago, and while Ryanne is visiting next weekend, we are going to pick out the clothes we will wear as we conquer the race! (PRAY for her....my knee injury has luckily left...but hers is still around, and training is crucial right now as we near the end!)
Anyways, this is my weekend to be productive as my husband is with my father-in-law in Iowa. So far, I'm not getting as much as I'd like done! What's New!? ahahaha.
I'm so thankful for the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a great one!

St. Joseph, MI

I love St. Joseph, Michigan! Jason and I took a day and a half to go visit Adam at his new place in St. Joe. He has an awesome view out his windows....Lake Michigan! It's beautiful. I think I might want to move there. ahahahah. The beach was fun, and the weather was awesome. I fell asleep laying in the sun, and my left side got more sun than my right side....hopefully now that it's faded a little it's not too obvious and silly looking! ahahah Lissy came to visit too (Bethel College is about 45 minutes away), and she cooked for us! We went and got some ice cream at one of the cute little shops downtown, and of course, clumsy me....I tripped and fell, landing on both knees! I was so embarrassed and I was laughing and crying all at the same time. My left knee has needed ice to help some swelling and it's black and blue, but hopefully after I rest it a bit more, it will still be able to get me through the marathon (which is only a month and 3 days away!) Inspite of hurting myself, I did manage to save my ice cream in the fall! ahahahahah.

Here are a few pics...

Adam, Jason, and Lissy walking...

The boys swimming...

Sunday Blues...

I've got the Sunday Blues....

Other teachers would understand what I mean. It's that depression that hits on Sunday afternoon when you realize that tomorrow is another Monday...and week full of students and chaos. UGH. I think I'm also so sad because my best friend, Ryanne, is moving this week. I can't even be there to help her load the truck because I have Open House at my school....and I can't skip meeting all the parents of my students.

Well, I've put it off long enough....it's time to plan for this week of school.

Attached is a picture that make you laugh....I laugh now, but at the time was ANNOYED. Yup, Byson ate our car last week. Jason insisted he go to Kroger with us, since Reggie was coming along, and after a little arguing (because I said he'd chew something), I gave in....and after about 15 minutes in the car while we got groceries, this is what he did! He also ate my car freshner thing (and oil stains were on my seat), and he broke my Clay Aiken cd! THAT DARN DOG! ahahahah To top it off, he chewed part of my luggage toiletry bag while in his cage in the basement...(he's got a long tongue, so i'm assuming he somehow licked the bag close enough to the cage to chew!) OH BROTHER.......

And by the way, this picture doesn't make it look too horrible, but if you see it in person, it looks crazier. I need to attach a sign to my dashboard that says, "My dog ate my car," because I"m sure people wonder as they walk by....

Have a good week!

Ready or Not, Here they come...

Wow, I guess I won't be posting as much as I'd like now that I'm back to work! I've moved classrooms, and things are pretty well settled thanks to my mom's help the past few days! I have a few more things to sort, and then I need to make a schedule, update some things, make plans for this first week of students, etc, etc. etc. (I'm a little overwhelmed...). Tomorrow is a bunch of meetings, and Tuesday the kids come! OH MY WORD. I guess everything I didn't get done this summer will just have to wait.:-)
Have a great rest of the weekend...

I have an amazing husband...

So Jason pulled it off...he surprised me along with his sisters.....

Alissa, Anna, Shayna, and Kara came for a surprise visit last Friday until Monday morning. They were hiding in my bathroom when I got home from picking up some pizza...

It was such an amazing, relaxing, fun weekend. We watched movies, home videos, ate good food, and laughed.

Little did I know they had belated birthday surprise II planned for Saturday night. I ran some errands with Alissa and Kara, and when we returned, Jason and the other girls had the house decorated, and my friends Kristin and Ryanne were at my house too! Jason baked a strawberry cake and made a strawberry pie. He aslo made nachos! It was great! They brought gifts for me to open too. I felt so loved.

I feel so blessed to have such amazing family and friends!!!!!

Here are some shots from this weekend...

Kara, Reggie, and I....

My beautiful sisters...
Me and Jase after church...

Kristin, me, and Ryanne...

Shayna holding Reggie...(He was SO SPOILED having four of his aunts over!)