The Long-Short Week

Anyone who is in education knows all about it.  The long-short week.....a.k.a. Parent/Teacher Conferences Week. :)

Before the long-short week began, we enjoyed an awesome Sunday afternoon at the Lazy T Ranch with our CAUMC family.

The weather was perfect and we had a great time on the hayrack ride, exploring the working farm and eating with our church.

Since I have been gone two nights this week for conferences, I decided to surprise the boys at school today and eat lunch with them. 

It was so much fun to interact with them during their school day!  Especially since I won't be home until late this evening.  We are looking forward to our Friday off together!!  Part of what makes this a long-short week. :)

I am on week 4 of running 5 days a week.  This morning my alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. to get in a quick 3 miles before starting the day.  It's amazing how much easier 3 miles is when temperatures are in the low 50's and there is no sun zapping all your energy away from you as your run!  Right now I am just focusing on getting my fitness level back and would like to be able in decent running shape for the 5 mile Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving in Kearney.  After that, it will be time to start training for my 8th half marathon!

Almost

Saturday was Collin's first time in an airplane!!!

Chad has a good friend who he arranged a birthday flight for Mitchell in August.

But with the 100 degree temps and no AC in the plane, we opted to wait for cooler weather.

Collin wasn't sold on the idea of going without mom (no room) for his first experience in a plane. But we finally got him to buy in....

Or at least that is what we thought.....

So, we ALMOST had Collin on his first plane ride.

Maybe next time mom will go and he can be a part of that tiny dot in the sky. After all, we got him IN the plane...so we were almost there. Almost.

Never Say Never

Recently, I had a friend post an amazing (and funny) blog about all the things she said she would NEVER do in life....and now has done them.  So I am stealing this brilliant idea for my blog as it got me thinking of my own moments where using the word "never" has come back to haunt me.

1.  I will never teach elementary aged children
When I was in undergrad at UNK for a K-12 Band/Vocal Endorsement in Music Education, I was certain that I did not want to work with elementary students and would never take a job as an elementary music teacher.  What was my first job right out of my undergraduate degree program?  You guessed it....K-3 Vocal Music!!!  And I loved it.

2.  I will never work as a middle school counselor
After loving both my student teaching and first two years of education with elementary students.  I set out to purse my master's in school counseling.  During this time, I was sure I wanted to work as an elementary counselor and did not want to work with junior high students.  What has been career for the past 8 years?  A middle school counselor.  And I love it!!!

3.  I will never listen to country music
For many, many years I have not been a fan of country music.  While I can appreciate all forms of music, I usually stuck to mostly top 40 stations in the car and I can usually sing along with most of the songs my students know in school.  Even,  when Chad started listening to country music....I resisted initially.  But after finally conceding and going to a Zach Brown Band Concert a few summers ago....I can now say that I am a fan.  Does that make old?  I think it may.

4.  My music will never be on the oldies radio station
I never thought "my" music would become the oldies.  Then one day as I was rocking out in my mini van to TLC's "Creep" at full volume, I realized it was being played during the radio's noon retro hour.  It's looking more like I am, in fact....old.

5.  I will never read the Twilight series
I had stood strong by this statement.  Then I spent two weeks in the hospital with Chad and Collin and needed a mindless, quick and easy read.  5 books and 4 movies (still need to watch the last one) later, I now officially belong to Team Edward.

6. I never and pregnancy
Starting and adding to our family wasn't an easy task for us.  So when it finally happened the first time....I was elated to be pregnant with Mitchell and thought I would never do anything but love being pregnant.  I love my boys.  I am so thankful and blessed that I was able to carry them.  But I did not love being pregnant.  My mom used to have a coffee mug that said "I'd rather be 40 than pregnant. " I used to wonder why anyone would ever think that.  I totally get it now.

7. Never and parenting
As my friend Amy posted, there are so many I will never statements I made about parenting before I actually became one. I'm sure I've now probably done 99%!!! Fits in the grocery store, separate meals for parents and kids, toys in the bed at bed time, have a child who hit another child at daycare, the list could go on to the point of parenting embarrassment.....I've come to be very careful when it comes to my kids, parenting and using the dangerous word....never.


8. I'd never be a runner
With the title of my blog....this one is obvious!  Sure I've been running for several years now.  But the fact that I am able to do this is still mind blowing to me.  I used to HATE running.  Truly and totally.  I was slow.  It was hard.  I am anything but a small, athletic girl.  The fact that I can train and run for a half marathon truly is a testament that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Game Time with Collin

Collin and I took in the game tonight by ourselves and even though he thought the walk in was L-O-N-G, he soon found the perks to Mommy and Collin time while in the game.

We were so thankful for the cooler temperatures this weekend which made watching a football game was a much more enjoyable experience for everyone.

And with some extra room in our row toward the end of the game along with our buddy from Kindergarten right next to us...we stayed well into the 3rd half.

Another busy but fun weekend in Manhattan  really takes it out of a little guy...and kitten.

Every Day Acts

Now a month into the school year, I feel like the boys are starting to get into the groove of our school schedule.

Collin has, by all standards, exceeded my  thoughts/expectations for the start of his Kindergarten year. It hasn't been perfect by any means, but he continues to rise to the occasion of his academic endeavors...and so far, so good!

Hooray! And if we do our homework wearing a TMNT mask...we are still doing the work so we still count this as a win. :)

Mitchell has also grown into some "big kid" chores to start the fall. After negotiating his way into a new 3DS...he has decided to work off the difference of what he had saved and what his new electronic device cost by doing yard work. And yes, he has to mow the ENTIRE yard...all at one time (much to his initial protests.) 

And with the new fall routine comes the return of church choir. I am so thrilled that both boys have the opportunity to sing with our church! Of course, this is also something that Mommy enjoys doing a great deal as well and I am glad to have weekly choir rehearsal back on my schedule. I think singing and running are my mental/emotional ways recharge and keep myself centered.

Another big kid moment for Mitchell happened at church last Sunday. Every 3rd grader gets their first bible from the church and last Sunday was his turn.

And even though it has been over 100 degrees for our first two tailgating events of the season...we've still managed to squeeze in some fun with our favorite Chapman ladies, Ally and Avery!

Heat, homework, yard work, tailgating and every day family events. With the projected falling temps, I just may add a weekly average of 15+ miles to my schedule as the Kansas temperatures finally look to be on the downhill slide.

Rock the Parkway

The registration is complete and I am committed to running my 8th half marathon in 2014!!!

And I really feel like it is time to get back into training.  I have been running some over the summer, never going more than 4 or 5 days without running some distance.  But it hasn't been consistent at all and my distances have really dwindled as well.  And because of that, I have noticed a big difference in my physical endurance and also my overall mental health.  I just feel better about all aspects of life when I am running for a purpose it seems.

So here we go again!  219 days until Chad and I will line up to accomplish another 13.1 miles together in Kansas City.  With our summer being so crazy, I am glad I had decided to take the fall off for another half marathon....but it feels good to have another goal on the horizon!

Kitten Chronicles

BLeo has more than doubled in size since his arrival in May.

And even though he is no longer a little fur ball , he is still full of kitten curiosity and endless energy.

And he is always right in the middle of the action.

No Place Like Home

Three weekends away left me looking forward to a weekend at home!

Even though we've had a weekend full of fun and activities, no travel time means we can still have some time at home to relax. And for Collin to create a habitat for himself out of nearly every pillow in the house.

 And Friday night was the first KSU football game!

It was HOT and we all know that it wasn't a great night to be a Wildcat Fan, but we still had fun and it was awesome to see The new West Side Expansion close up for the first time!

Then we flirted with danger by having 3 of Mitchell's buddies over for a sleep over last night. I'm happy to report....everyone slept!

And today was Mitchell's first time serving as acolyte for our church. He was so serious!

And we still have Monday at home to clean, relax and enjoy silly moments like this above. ;) Dorothy said it right....sometimes there is just no place like home.