Dropped off at the front door

Once upon a time, Eric and I shopped HomeGrocer.com.  Log online.  Order food.  Food delivered.  Easy - Peasy.  We probably weren't saving a ton by shopping online.  At the time, we had two incomes and we had money to spare. 

Oh, the days of two incomes.  How I miss them so.

Anyhow, a few weeks ago, we received a promotional flyer from Amazon.fresh.  Eric had to try it.

Yesterday, he ordered.  Today, it was delivered.

In 5 plastic totes.

Locked zip ties.

Styrofoam packing (dry ice included)

And a little treat from my hubby.

I don't know that we will do this again, however, Eric was able to find a lot of gluten-free items so this time was worth it to see him find foodie happiness. 

I also don't know what we are going to do with the extra totes.

Long weekend filled with

sleep.  play.  workout.  laundry.  clean house.  grade papers.  night out with friends from high school days.  sleep.  work out.  more laundry.  yardwork.  grade papers that were not finished the day before.  nap.  playdate.  sleep.  kung fu panda 2.

13 more wake ups until this becomes my daily routine.

i cannot wait.

Quantifiable Feedback

I attended a workshop yesterday about servant leadership and character training.  IT. WAS. AWESOME.  It is everything (and more) that I want my student-leaders to have learned when they walk out my door at the end of the school year. 

Part of the program is challenging students to work daily on character traits.  As I sat and listened to the presenter, I started to reflect on which trait I need to work on...I know I need to work on most if I want my leadership to grow but how do I know which is my weakest? 

So, I thought I would start to ask people in my life for feedback.  I'm going to take a simple survey and give it to students and staff members in my building, family and friends in my life, and to you, my blog readers.  PLEASE BE HONEST!  I can only be a better person if people are honest with me.  My husband has taught me that golden rule (yes, he answered VERY honestly when I asked for his feedback!).  And you won't hurt my feelings because, after all, I'm the one asking for the feedback.  If I can't handle the answers, I never should have asked.

THE SURVEY
I want to let you know that I am committed to being the best blogger that I can be.  (The word "blogger" should be changed, based on who you are asking to fill this out).

In order to achieve this, I need you to do me a favor.  On a scale of 1-10 (1 being poor, 10 being excellent) could you tell me how I am doing?                    

Great, THANK YOU!  Now, tell me how I can be a 10.  Typically, people leave 1-3 comments so do what is comfortable for you.

If you want to take the survey, please leave your comment.  Or you can email me (chelle).  Or you can move on to the next blog on your list of blog readings and that's great too!

Have a great day!



Where did the week go?

Last time I had a chance to stop long enough to look at the calendar, it was Sunday.

Here it is Friday.  This week FLEW by. Work is crazy.  You can feel everyone totally amping up.  A combination of warm weather (for the first time this spring), impatient, burned-out teachers, and students who are pushing buttons.  I'm moving at top speed, minute by minute, and hoping to survive each day. 

On Thursday, I gave myself a free day and went on Alexander's preschool field trip to the zoo.  So, so much fun.  You can read about it on his blog, over at Life with Alexander.  Did you know I had a blog for him?  I started it when I went back to work.  I may not update it as much as I should but it's the only version of a baby book we have for the little man! 

Now, it's the weekend.  Friday night.  I'm drinking wine and watching a movie while Eric cooks dinner.  It smells delicious (grilled chicken), the wine tastes delicious (thanks for the wine, Daddy!), and Alexander is working on his project - putting together a wooden airplane.  Hilarious.  May end up blog worthy. 

Tomorrow, we have a birthday party at a bouncy house, which will be the first time for Alexander and I predict, love at first sight.  Tomorrow night, I have to chaperone Prom.  Which, coincidentally, coincides with the end of the world.  At least I'll get out of supervision duty.  Sunday has no plans so maybe family time, laundry, house cleaning and other grown-up jobs.

And, hey, here was a first.  I wore skinny jeans to work today.  I swore I never would, but I did it.  Paired with a yellow tank, black cardigan and these sandals...?

 Too cute.

Makes me want to continue working out.

Have a great weekend!



Weekend Recap

What did I do this weekend while Alexander was away at his grandparents?

~slept in both mornings. 

~sat outside in the sun for four hours, read two Nicholas Sparks books, and enjoyed watching my skin turn a golden brown. 

~finished loads and loads of laundry. 

~cleaned the house. 

~caught up on Friday Night Lights, Season 5. 

~saw a movie with my hubby. 

~watched The Switch and Due Date (mindless entertainment) and updated our Netflix queue.  

~graded papers and wrote two letters of recommendations.

~had a pedicure and brow wax.  And was greeted by the receptionist, who was my TA fifteen years ago.  Yea, never saw that one coming.

~shopped for new shoes and found a few cute outfits, too.

~ate too much food and drank too much beer.

48 hours of no thinking.

48 hours of rest and relaxation.

Thanks, Big Papa and Umma. 

I missed our little man but this weekend is just what I needed.

It started with a fast car...

...eleven years ago.

I saw this movie and fell in love. With Paul Walker fast cars.  And the hot men Paul Walker who drive them. Oh yes, I enjoyed the Paul Walker the cinemotography, and street races, and the music.  

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that there have been four movies since 2001, with fast cars and Paul Walker hot men.  

Last week, the fifth installment was released. 

Turns out, I still love fast cars.

And that one guy...especially when he's driving a fast car.

I think I can.I think I can.I think I can.

Last night, I read The Little Engine That Could to Alexander.  It wasn't the first time but the message of perseverance, resilience, and never giving up has never rung more true. 

On my drive in today, I told myself I needed to summon the energy, like that little engine, to climb up the last bit of the hill that represents the end of the school year.

  Cuz this little lady is working on fumes.

For the past fifteen years, I have spent the last five weeks of every school year, figuring out how to set up the softball field so I could gain maximum tanning rays throughout the school day.  Seriously.   I would sit on the sideline and observe with a feeling of total detachment teach my young students the finer techniques of softball and the last days of school would quickly pass by.  And I was tan.  Very tan.

In year sixteen, the last five weeks of a school year is bringing a massive shift to my teaching paradigm.   Turns out, the last five weeks of the school year are EXHAUSTING. I'm spending my days, solving discipline issues at a rapid fire pace because they have increased tenfold.  I'm spending my time, wrapping up ASB issues of this year, while planning for next year.  I'm spending most of my time, in my office, with the ancient heating system pumping warm air into my window-less office.  I suppose I should be happy that most days are as warm as they were when I taught PE outside...but I'm not tan nor do I experience any fresh air. 

It's different, I tell ya.  Very different.

I still wouldn't change my decision to take this job.  I had the chance to take my old job back and I passed on the opportunity.  I haven't a clue how I am going to survive the next few weeks.  I don't know how I can make it, with any of my sanity intact.  And how am I going to get a tan? 

It's been a strange and interesting discovery to learn that the school year really does last 180 days.   

Huh.  Who knew?

And I don't want them back

Eight weeks ago (give or take), I bought these pants online.

They are super cute, flattering, and I instantly fell in love. 

Unfortunately, they were too snug.  I never would have felt comfortable wearing them.  Ever.

As with any online purchase, I had the option of sending them back or place them in the closet, with the hope they would eventually fit.  I can't begin to count the number of times I have thrown something in the closet, with the thought, "someday, they will fit".  Too many times.

Today, the weather was nice and I thought I'd try them on.  Just to see.

AND. THEY. FIT!

The hard work I've been putting in at Curves and watching all those stinkin' calories has been worth it.

Putting on those pants and knowing I have lost nine inches is awesome.

Today, working out has been worth it. 

Today, working out is encouraging. 

Let's be realistic though, shall we?

 It's the thought of being poolside...in a swimsuit...at 40...and not the clothes hanging in my closet, that really keeps me going.

Whatever it is that motivates you to be healthy, embrace it.  Because YOU are worth it!

Happy Mother's Day

I love him.

On a lighter note

I know that last post was a bit heavy and may have given the impression that I am not happy with my current life.  Or grateful for it.  Or past the infertility crap we went through.

I AM HAPPY.  I AM GRATEFUL.  I AM PAST THE INFERTILITY. 

Hitting 40 doesn't mean I regret anything that I've gone through or that I'm unhappy with where life sits.  It simply means I have a bit more to go through before I'm TOTALLY ok with being old.  I do love my boys.  I am grateful, SO VERY grateful to have my child.   I write in the blog when a thought comes to mind and, on Saturday night, I had a a-ha moment.  So, I shared it.  As with just about every post on this blog, writing it out helps me to process. 

Now, it's Tuesday and I'm back at work with a new, recharged attitude.  Another thing the camp friends do for me is give me a shot of energy and excitement for what I do in life - teach student leadership.  I have seven weeks to go and I can make it.  The year has passed in a blur but I think I'm going to come out the other end, a stronger, better person.

Enjoy the rest of your week!  I'm planning on enjoying mine.