March Madness, and I Don't Mean Just Basketball!

It's mid March already. It seems like I was just buying Valentine candy and cards. I'm wrapping up student-led conferences at school and planning for the last few months - MCA's, PDP's, Staff Appreciation, etc. Can't believe our Spring Break is next week already. Easter is early this year and pretty soon it will be April. I'm ready for the warmer temperatures but not quite ready to bare my legs in shorts or open my pool out back yet. It's also that time of year to get my NCAA basketball picks to Brian. We'll see if I can place this year. Close last year, but not in the top three.
My girls returned safe and sound from New York. They had a fabulous time out there. It's hard to believe that their trip has come and gone already too. And you should see the scrapbooks that Courtney and Phyllis made! They captured everything. So for now, Lindsey is back home with her husband and her dog. She's working, coaching volleyball, and helping out with church retreats. Kelsey is back up at school. We just got a letter from her sorority about the Parent Formal in April. We'll go again this year. We had a really good time, and we're one of the last families to leave. It was that good! And that leaves Courtney home with us. . .she's taking one online class and trying to find an apartment to rent while she's in school in Alexandria beginning in May. Shawn finished up his coaching gig. . .he had a lot of fun with those little fifth grade boys. Now he's been busy planning his dad's retirement party. That's coming up quickly too. I'll write again soon.

A New Start

January is almost over and here comes February. It's almost time to turn the calendar to a new month and make a new bulletin board in my classroom. Time continues to march on, now doesn't it? It seems only yesterday that I was singing Christmas carols. Shawn's had a birthday, Lindsey got a new job, Courtney went to New York, and Kelsey began a new semester at UND. And as for me, January brings an end to our second quarter and our first semester at FMSE. Grades are done, mini courses are over, and I just received my new Laura Robb classroom library. Hallelujah! We're beginning Random Acts of Kindness and "I Love to Read" campaigns in our Tiger Times too. So many new things! It's exciting and invigorating. Just like making better food choices and counting points!

Happy New Year!

It's only January 23rd. . .not too far into the new year to get back into the swing of things. I've let my blog go. . .very disappointed in myself. Let's start from today and move forward though, shall we?
The holidays are over. My favorite time of year too - bittersweet because I love when they're here, but by the end of the season, it's nice to get my routines back. So my Christmas decorations have been put back under the lower level steps and now I am shopping for Valentine candy.
My middle daughter graduated from college last month and we had a graduation party for her last weekend. Dear family and friends came - small, intimate group, but fun just the same. And speaking of her, Courtney is now in New York, staying with a dear family friend until March. She is actually on Long Island, which is about an hour out of the city. Courtney starts school up again in May so she had a couple months to kill until then. Our friend is a true New Yorker and will show Courtney the sights and sounds of the area. I am so glad Courtney has this opportunity. She talked about creating a blog and reporting back about her ventures. Perhaps you guys would find it interesting and I could create a link here. . .Oh, to be young and free of worries!
I am getting into American Idol once again. I look forward to Simon's antics. I laugh so!
Our SBC is going to meet soon. I am excited for the camaraderie again. Our food choices will be different this time around. . .
I'll post some pictures soon. Bye now!

Moving Day, Thanksgiving, Shopping, and Chanhassen Dinner Theater

I've covered a lot of ground since I left work on Tuesday. After school I raced to Snap Pea and picked up my 10-pound turkey. Then Shawn and I headed to Fargo to move Courtney home. We got up there around 8:15 and went straight to the Mexican restaurant where she works and had dinner with her. We stayed in her apartment and got up early to begin moving. Luckily, we got a hold of some carts to help us with the couches, desk, table, and her bed. It was snowing softly outside. Courtney finished up packing, Shawn moved the furniture and boxes to the trailer, and I packed up the kitchen, vacuumed, and cleaned. We were done by noon, grabbed a bite to eat, and hit the road. That night Courtney had 13 girls over for appetizers and drinks. We took lots of pictures (this group of girls loves to take pictures. . .Shawn was a good sport climbing up on chairs to get the whole group shot) and giggled with them. They went downtown Rosemount and Shawn and I unwound for a bit. Kelsey got home about 8:00.
Thanksgiving. I love this day. I got up early and made my corn casserole and a new salad. I kind of made it up as I went along. It was spring greens, sliced red pear, pomegranate, toasted walnuts, and a peanut/sesame dressing. We went to my mom and dad's around noon. My two sisters and their families were also there. All the food was so good, right down to the pumpkin cheesecake my sister had made. My mom even made me a pecan pie. I request that every year. Later on we got out the Black Friday store ads and planned our shopping day for the next morning. We got home and watched Ocean's Thirteen - very good.
I was up at 4:00 A.M. this morning. We headed to the Hastings Wal-Mart for the biggest shopping day of the year. The store is open 24 hours so by the time we got there at 4:50, the parking lot was full and there were people all over that store! Some people had huge TV boxes balancing on their already-filled carts. You should have seen them trying to navigate these carts down the aisles with so many people around. This morning was one of the first times I have ever felt frustrated on this shopping day. Usually I get what I want, get out, and move on to the next store. But today the crowds kind of got to me. We checked out and drove across the street to Target. That was a better experience. We met my sister Jane and her daughter Casey in the store. We exchanged notes on the "hot deals" and had our Caribou eggnog latte. We were home by 7:00 A.M. Lindsey went to Macy's for me and got a Santa Bear.
Also today, we left for the Chanhassen Dinner Theater at 10:00 for a luncheon matinee of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I have seen it twice at the Orpheum - we took our girls one of those times, and we own the CD and the DVD. We all love it and all of us know just about all the songs by heart. It's road trip music for the girls and me! Anyway, we took my parents, Pete, Lindsey, Courtney, and Kelsey. It was our way of kicking off the holiday season. The lunch was great, the wine was a nice compliment to the meal, and the musical was amazing. I didn't want it to end, but it did. We all talked about it on the way home. My family was with me today and I had a really good day. I'm exhausted and glad I have two days yet before I go back to work.

25 Years Together: November 20, 1982 - November 20, 2007

Shawn and I recently celebrated our anniversary. I have been married to that same amazing man for 25 years. I remember my wedding day like it was yesterday. I got married in LaCrosse, WI at 3:00 in the afternoon at the big cathedral downtown. My reception was amazing. I remember there were so many people - several that I didn't get to talk to very long. We had an appetizer buffet and for whatever reason, Shawn and I didn't eat much. By the time we finally got up to our room, we were famished and ended up ordering a late-night pizza! My overnight bag didn't make it up to our room, so all I had with me was my wedding dress that I was wearing. I tracked my bag down in the morning and all was well. We flew out early in the morning for Florida and had an amazing honeymoon. We had our first Thanksgiving as a married couple in a fancy hotel - very nice.
I still love that man.

Update

Hello! All is well with me. Shawn flew out to Phoenix this morning. He'll be home late tomorrow night. He's going to stay the night with dear friends out there. Wish I could have gone with him. We had a busy weekend and we're off and running into another week. I submitted my first quarter grades and feel good to have that done. I corrected papers over the weekend as I wanted to get those scores on first quarter. Too much pressure put on myself though. My students have this week and then they're off all next week.
I got a call from a neighbor last week that another neighbor of ours was going in for a double mastectomy on Friday. You get that kind of news about someone you know and love, and it really throws you. My prayers are with Karen and wish her well. There are six families in our cul-de-sac bringing meals to them this week. My night is tomorrow and I am not quite sure what I'm making yet.
I have started Christmas shopping. I have made a couple trips to the MOA recently and am excited about this time of year. I love walking the mall and listening to the music and seeing all the decorations. It kind of takes me out of my daily routine for awhile. I enjoy finding special and meaningful gifts for my family and friends, but I try to keep myself grounded and not go too overboard. After all, the true meaning for me is about being together with everybody and counting our blessings. This year is going to be extra special and fun for us as we have a brand new son-in-law! (And I'll have you know that yes, I am playing Christmas CD's in my car already!)
We're moving Courtney home next week. She's going to finish her last three weeks out at NDSU and graduate on December 14th. She's going to be staying with a friend up there after Thanksgiving until she graduates. We're taking up a trailer from Shawn's company to bring home all the furniture she's been using. I can't believe I am about to celebrate another daughter's college graduation. It's a great feeling! I am a proud mother.
We're getting together for SBC Friday at Lynda's. I am excited to have the camaraderie with this women. I am looking forward to all the laughter and catching up with every one again. I hope the weeks goes well and that Friday comes quickly.
Love to all. . .bye for now.

Laughter

I am alone tonight as Shawn is in North Dakota. The good thing about him being gone is that he spent time with both Kelsey and Courtney this week. In Grand Forks, he stopped at the sorority house and picked up Kelsey. He took her out for a rib eye steak and did the typical Target run with her. Then he headed down to Fargo and picked up a French silk pie for Courtney. They watched a movie last night and went out for pancakes this morning. He loves to spoil his girls and I think they enjoy it when he comes to town. (Just then that sounded like Santa Claus!) He's in Bismarck tonight now. The bad thing is that he's gone all week.
But Lynda keeps me company at night on the phone. Tonight we laughed soooo hard! I mean loud, hard, belly laughter that my sister next door could have probably heard! It was good for the soul. I felt overwhelmed today after school thinking about all the things I have to do and then trying to figure time to do them all. The laughing helped me settle down a bit, so now I'm ready to face a new day tomorrow.