The quilt of life..

Most days I cruise life, taking care of business while enjoying myself (most days) not really thinking about the big picture that is my life. Recently I have thought of my life as a quilt and my day-to-day memories as being the squares in my life. Take this past week for example:

Last weekend Jay and I drove to Crystal River to visit Jessica and Michael. It was such a great day! We really miss them. In the year and a half that they lived in Gville we grew close. We haven't seen each other in like a month, but we easily fell into conversations and Xbox games as if we just saw them yesterday. The day completely got away from us and before we knew it, the clock read 8 pm and we still had an hour drive home. As we back down their 45 degree driveway we were sad but already planning our next trip to CR to see them. Good friends do not grow on trees, but we have been blessed to have a handful of them come into our lives in the past year and are so thankful.

Thursday night we had our second meeting of our book club. Just like the first one we had a BLAST. We had four absent members, but we made do. The meeting was 5 hours long, involved 4 bottles of wine and some daiquaris, and even what seemed like thearpy. We talked about the book a lot and about our families and lives even more. Its those moments in your life when you kinda step out of the frame and go - wow, I am so lucky to have my life!

Last night Laura's family came into town - even Tommi!! It was super exciting to see Tommi outside of a computer screen. Last July Tommi left to serve his required duty in the Finnish Military. There have been hard times for him and for Laura, and it is so nice to be able to see him, hug him, and also see how happy their family is to have him back. I could not imagine having my brother that far away and not being able to talk to him all the time. Makes you realize that family extends outside of bloodlines. I consider Laura extended family, so of course if she is missing a piece of hers, I feel for her.

Also last night Deb's son, Danny, also known as D.P. had a CD release party for his new rap albulm and she invited us. So at midnight (yes midnight!!) we found ourselves in this bar, 1982, not knowing what to expect from the show. Deb was SUPER excited to see us and have us on the dance floor with her. The show was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Brandy and I had so many laughs at the expense of some of the Rhytmless Nation jammin' out in front of us, we all wondered how he could rap some of those lyrics in front of his mom, and I stood there in awe of how great he was and that, in a way, I knew him! At the end of the night Deb kept saying over and over again how much it meant for us to be there. It made me think about how important it really is to support the people you love in the things that they love. To celebrate with others is so exciting, and you really hope when you have something to celebrate they are there for you as well.

All in all, it has been a kinda eventful week! Let's see what else is coming my way! :)

Hugs and Lipgloss kisses!
xoxoxo

How do you handle being a spectator and not a super hero?

In the past week I have had some major difficulties - among the biggest is the multiple times where I was not able to swoop in and save the day for two of my loved ones. One being my uncle and the other my lil brother. Both had devastating situations this week and it was miserable for me to sit idly by and not have a way to fix it. Especially concerning my brother - when he hurts I hurt. I always want to fix things for him. And I could not this time. It's a horrible feeling. I take solace in the fact that when he needed someone to talk to I was there for him. I love my family so much, and some times I wonder if I love them too much...

"I think you guys just make up excuses to get together"

I have not really written about work a whole lot, and I have my reasons..it has been a KARAAZY year! This bunch has been/still is..I don't even know what adjective to use. I guess it just depends on the day, the weather, and who shows up. We have had two kids sent to A. Quinn from my room and another very close. Jessica left in December and the team dynamic changed, which was hard. And there are a whole slew of other issues across the grade as well. BUT, believe it or not the intention of this post is not to talk about how horrible it is, but to highlight the good stuff. (It has been my goal to dwell more on that then be a negative nelly)

With that being said...I do want to talk about my team! They are awesome and silly as hell! I would be absolutely lost without them. It is a given that day to day at work is going to be hard, some times pretty near impossible, but it is never completely horrible, because I have my team. They are the BEST people in the world, and I think we all balance each other out so well. I have never met a bunch of people (especially women) that are so truly helpful and supportive of one another. And we have F-U-N doing it!!

The title of this post was a quote from a comment made about our book club pictures, and well..maybe we do make up any excuse, but can you blame us?! We have had multiple people tell us they want to be on our team (but not teach our kids. ha!), which we find flattering. We stick together and have fun doing it! We now kinda have a nickname - "Fab Five" which was created for our kick ass shirts that we made and wore for the school bowling Happy How, and now look for any excuse to wear again:) My team makes me laugh, and that's great, because if we didn't laugh I think we'd cry...and now for some of our highlights:
Begining of the Year Party:



Christmas Party:



National Championship:



Bowling Happy Hour:


Math Boot Camp:



I realize I have been REALLY lucky for the past two years because I get to work with some of my greatest friends, and know its not going to be this way forever. But I will enjoy it while it lasts :)

Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!
XOXO

Hi my name is Kristin and I am a part of a book club...

....and I like it! (Weird I know!) So, for about a year now mommy has been telling me how I should start/join a book club. She has been in one for over a year and LOVE it. As usual it was one of those "sure mom" things...don't get me wrong I love my mother and we do a lot of things alike, but I was not thinking a book club would be one of them. She kept raving about hers and how she enjoys it because she gets to read different books she would never pick up. I was happy for her and for the good books she recommended through her club, but still...in one ear and out the other... Skip ahead a year to about a month ago...I was taking Brandy home and we stopped by Target (shocking I know!) and she picked up Revolutionary Road. I told she would have to let me know how it was because it was not on my to read list (or to pick up actually) and then I heard mommy in my head raving about the diverse collection of books she had read because of book club, and without realizing it I opened my mouth and exclaimed "We should start a book club!" Brandy agreed and the plan was hatched. While on our regularly scheduled walk I mentioned it casually to Laura and she agreed. Then we invited the rest of our team, Jessica, and Courtnay and we began reading. None of us had ever been in or to a book club and did not know what to do or expect, but we decided to feel it out. We set a date, decided on what to read, and to bring a 1950s inspired dish since the book takes place in the 50s. Our first meeting was last night and.... Omigosh was it F-U-N!! I knew I would enjoy myself because everyone coming was on my team at work, and let's face it..Fifth grade rocks. I did NOT know, however, how much fun I would have. We talked a lot about the book and it was interesting to hear how we can have such different takes on the same character or small detail of a book. Then there is the fact that we are a group of 7 very different women. I think this last detail was the one that really made my night so amazing. At one point I looked around the table and was a little amazed that I never realized how awesome we really are. I found myself feeling so lucky that I get to be surrounded with such unique, intelligent, beautiful, and strong women everyday. I also found myself a little upset at myself that it took me so long to realize this. I LOVE my team and get along with them so well, but wow! Including our interns our ages range from early twenties to mid-fifties. All of us have come from different walks of life, have had different experiences, and in many cases the only thing we may all have in common is being a woman and an educator. There were stories shared, lessons, learned, laughs had, and memories made. I was almost a scene out of a chick flick where all of the random women come together for a loving and memorable, quote-worthy moment, and it was REAL! So moral of the story...okay, maybe there are a couple..1)Always listen to your mom..sooner or later you will end up doing it, so why waste the time dragging your heels...2)Book clubs ROCK..and 3)Schedule the next meeting ASAP!!
Hugs and Lip Gloss Kisses XOXO

Insomnia Strikes....AGAIN!!

So, its that time of year when I really need to whip my sleeping patterns into shape, as it never fails.....my sleep becomes all of kilter. I know the cause -- my head -- I cannot shut it off. No matter how tired I am, how hard I try....it is listing, and analyzing, and plotting...AHHH!!

Tommorrow (Well actually in about 6 hours) I am going into work for a lil bit. Crazy, I know...I have ONE WEEK left of summer and I choose to use a portion of that to go to work?! WTF?! Well, yeah, its a funny thing...preplanning is a joke. It is a week of meetings and whatnot and not enough time is allowed to actually be in your room. So..for my sanity I am spending some time tommorrow arranging ang organizing. I will thank myself later for it I am sure.

Its a new year coming, and with it the new year jitters. Stupid really, but I get them every year. I am a creature of habit and a worshipper or routine. I HATE the beggining of the year -- when all of the routines and proceedures are established. If I could fast forward two months in to where the training is really kicking in I would. I was spoiled last year -- my kids picked up quickly on routines and ran like hell with them. They could almost....almost....run class without me. That is a beautiful thing. But, like all good things, that had to come to an end. Blah. And...to top it off...I NEVER remember what in the world I do for the first couple of days. FANTASTIC!! Need to figure that out....and fast!

Maybe if I jot down some things I need to do I can clear my head and get to sleep (Feel free to skip this paragraph:)) Mail Kody's Jersey, pick up pictures, finish movies, burn cds/dvds, finish sewing bedskirt, wrap bracelets, email Gma, buy remaining class stuff(sanitizer, material, markers, colored pen, paper, broom) type up welcome letter and jobs.........

GNite...Hopefully!

Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!!

Time Marches On

Life Moves Quickly....Sometimes too quickly as I have found out recently.

Where has the time gone? Seriously?!? Today, at 11:15, Ops, my family dog of thirteen years had to be put to sleep. Two weeks ago we found out that he had Luekemia, and has been deteriorating since. It has been a hard day for all of us. He has been a loving and loyal dog for half of my life. We got him when I was thirteen! He has been there for so many of our major life milestones. But, as sad as it is, he is in a better place. We will love him always and forever.

This weekend I attended the wedding of a young lady I babysat!! Wow did I feel old. She had her reception at the same place Jay and I did, but it could not have looked any different from ours. It was more formal than ours, but still beautiful. She was a amazingly beautiful bride and was so happy.

Yet another marker of time zooming past me - the "babies" making college decisions!! Kody and Kaitlyn both have been making college decisions lately and its scary for us older siblings! While I was home, Kody finished up his UF and Auburn applications - fingers crossed for UF :) Kaitlyn has been looking at schools and making decisions on trying out for different softball teams. It is just so weird that in a year they are moving into adulthood...Wow!

It is just so scary how fast time flies....I need to really focus on making the most of it!

Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!!
xoxo

And a year has zoomed by....

Well, it has been almost a COMPLETE YEAR since I actually blogged...somewhere along the way I forgot I had this....surprise surprise. :)  It is kinda sad that I forgot, because it has been one hell of a ride this past year! When I left off last year, it was prior to the school year starting and I was stressed and anxious, so let me get you up to speed on how should was last year....

- Overall FANTASTIC!!

- Started out the year with two teachers and large classes, then soon turned into three teachers and small classes

- Fell in love with Laura and Jessica, the two new teachers on my team and found two wonderful friends in them

- Had a wonderful class who I miss daily now

- Technology ROCKED - we were on the news and in the paper!!

- Finally felt like people were noticing my hard work

- Had lost of fun learning and laughing all year

It was hard to say goodbye to this school year.  I had a great year.  I enjoyed going to work.  I loved my kids, I loved my neighboring teachers.  I was happy to get up and go to work and happy when I got home most days.  It was a year that reminds you why you teach.

Personally, this past year has been a bit of a rollercoaster.  I have learned a lot about myself and others.  I found out what and who makes me really happy. I have realized what is worth fighting and what is not. I have found out what is important and what is not. I have lost friends and gained friends, and although there were bumpy times, I came out the other end happy and okay.  I never had a problem with who I was, and now more than ever I know who I am and like that person.  I am 26, married to one of my best friends, a fantastic mom to my puppies,the best big sister and daughter ever, spend my days with kids who I love and love me back, am goofy as shit, a loyal friend, and some days a ocd crazed woman on the lose....but you know what?! I am okay with all of it :)

I am making a promise to write more often, so enjoy the craziness :)

Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!