Chicken Little is Home Sick

Second day back to school and I had to bring Hudson home because he threw up in class.  Ew.

To his credit, he found me in the resource room during morning prayer and told me he felt like he was going to throw up.  Is it just me, or do we try to convince our kids that they really don't feel that way?

I started in on all the reasons why he probably felt sick: at the doctor yesterday for his cough and wheezing, medicine is making his tummy funny, take off sweatshirt if too hot, tired, and on and on.  I did tell him to run out the door if he really needed to puke.  He didn't take that advice and threw up on the floor at the front of the classroom.  I owe a huge present to his teacher.

I updated some lesson plans and got my classes covered and brought him home.  He is feeling much better.  I tried to get him to sleep.  He is still resisting.  Guess who is going to bed really early tonight?!

At least Harry is happy to have someone's lap to be in for warmth.

In other news, we all survived our first day back to school/work after vacation.  It was a good, but tiring, day.

It was also a little hectic because I needed to get Hudson to the doctor to get ahead of the wheezing and asthma that always accompanies his colds.  Luckily, I was able to get him in during my teaching break.  Of course, he wanted a "treat" on the way back to school.  I'm a sucker and got him a McDonald's cheeseburger.

So much for this being the year of bright and bold lipstick!  I completely forgot to put any on yesterday!

I did, however, remember to pack lunch!  I'm back on my Whole30 plan at least until the end of January.  As much as I loved vacation, I'm ready to feel more alert, less lethargic, and have less cravings for sugar.

I got quite a bit done yesterday.  I've got my planner, my salad, my new scarf, my water, and Hudson's medicine!

My partner teacher surprised me with a Christmas present on my desk at school.  Inside were three Lush bath bombs!  I was so excited!  I've been wanting to try these things for weeks.  After boot camp I came home and thoroughly enjoyed my bath with this thing.  It smelled so good and made the water this super pretty purple color.  I'm going to have to teach myself to make these because I could seriously use one every single night.  At over $6 each, I think even Eric would start to tell me no!  But oh how I enjoyed it!  

Now I have to decide if I'm going to use the other two bombs right away or if I'm going to spread out the indulgence.  I want them now!

My January goal of making my bed each day is going strong on day four.  The dogs aren't really pleased with me as I kick them out of their warm spots.  That bump is Harry who wiggled under the blanket in search of warmth.

Buddy opted to lay on top of the soft blanket at the end of the bed.  I laughed at how laid back he looked resting on his side without a care in the world!

Fingers crossed that Hudson is okay for me to return to work tomorrow.  As any teacher knows, trying to create sub plans is not fun.  Sometimes it's just easier to suffer through and be at school.  I do have to say that the iPad program makes me being gone a lot easier.  I simply upload work and directions directly to the kids.  I just need someone to monitor them.  

In any case, I am getting quite a bit done at home.  Silver lining.

Top 16 in 2016

I have seen so many people who have sworn off the past year as the worst year ever.  I highly disagree.  I understand that every person has their own experience of a year, but I think there is always room to grow and learn from each moment we live on this earth.  I know some years can be tougher than others (2009 - the year my dad died was a TOUGH year for us as a family), but there is also good in the previous 365 days.

I saw THIS on a blog that I follow and wanted to do my little part to remember that 2016 was indeed a great year!  My entries aren't in any particular order of importance.  They are just 16 great moments from last year.

1. We had a great time at the Tulare Basketball Tournament in which Evan's JV team placed first and then Evan also got to help the Varsity team take 2nd place!

2. We enjoyed a fun Catholic Schools Week, and I had the best time wearing my veil and tiara for Crazy Hat Day!  I haven't worn my veil since my wedding day, and I felt so pretty all day pretending like it was my wedding all over again!

3. An AMAZING family trip to Disneyland that also included a fun dinner at Farrell's Ice Cream.  We saved and saved and Eric worked two side jobs to pay for this fantastic trip.  It was so nice to play and play and eat and play and not worry about paying for the fun.  Loved this family trip!

4. I am blessed to work with some seriously awesome people.  My teaching partner, Amanda, is the best of the best.  She has a heart of gold, infectious energy, and is such a great friend.  I am so lucky to plan days with her. Plus, she's always up for a selfie!

5. We went to Stacey's wedding in Pismo, and stayed a few extra days to enjoy Easter at the coast.

6. Eric and I participated in the California Classic.  We did a 35 mile bike ride on Saturday and walked a 5K on Sunday.  We both got our interlocking medals.  Such a fun time for us to enjoy being together.

7. My annual trip with my 8th graders to The Ronald Reagan Museum and Disneyland.  It was extra fun with these friends this year.

8. Eric and I attended a Dave Ramsey SMART conference for a second time.  We love the inspiration and motivation we get from these conferences.

9. I participated in the Spring Concert by playing the piano with two of my 8th graders.  I was so nervous, and it was so much fun!

10. We went to the water park as a family for the first time ever.  Since losing weight, Eric is much more comfortable and excited to do things like this with us that he could not do before!

11. Lots of cycling.

12. We took a baby beach vacation before school started.

13. My principal gave my partner teacher and I the go ahead to remodel our classrooms into a desk free zone!  It was so much work, but so worthwhile!  It gave me such inspiration to go back to school in August!

14. First day of school.  I am blessed to be able to teach and have my kids be at my school.  I have not missed an event in their little lives!  I also marvel at each year of growth that my kids experience.

15. I successfully finished my first Whole30 and it brought me better health, clarity, and vigor for life!  Yes, it really did!

16. We enjoyed vacation time as a family.  This is my new favorite picture...all of us in matching pajamas!

There are many more happy, inspiring, and growth moments that I could have chosen, but it just proves to me that through the bad times, there are always ways to look up and be grateful for the good times we also experience.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2017!

Happy New Year!  I have to admit that I hate the week in between Christmas and New Year's, but once the year rolls over, I'm all better!  There's something exciting about a fresh start, new goals, and a whole new year to contemplate.

Last month, Gwen at Sunnyside Bicycles began a #sbfitnesschallenge group on Instagram.  She posted a theme for each day, and we were supposed to post our pictures each day while working towards our goals.

She posted the January themes.  Here they are:

 There are some great days listed there!  Can't wait to get started and make progress on my goals.

I decided to make short term and semi-easier goals for each month, while also focusing on some long term year-long goals as well.

Here are my January goals:

I'm really bad at making graphic posts!  Look at how crooked my letters are!  I need to find an app that will let me make cutesy memes.

The goals are pretty self explanatory, but let me give a bit more detail on a few. 

1. I want to see the green ring on my Apple Watch make a complete circle each day.  I'd also be happy seeing the two other rings make complete circles, but the main goal is the green activity ring.

2. Continue working through the schedule of Couch to 5K.

3. Hydrate!

4. Self explanatory.

5. I have some sort of mental block when it comes to attending a spin class.  I'm so intimidated by it.  I want to get over that at least ONCE!

6. Follow Matthew Kelly's Prayer Process each morning for ten minutes of prayer time.  I really enjoy getting my coffee and sitting in a corner of the couch under the Christmas lights to read and pray each morning.  It's so peaceful and quiet, and I'm really able to focus and absorb. I'll need to provide myself with some soft lighting in that corner once I take down the Christmas lights.  It's a really nice way to start the day.

7. Read at least 10 pages of a book each day.  I slumped on this last summer, but if I remain steady with it this year, I should be able to top the number of books I read this year.  I'm shooting for finishing at least 70 books.

New pajamas for a new year!  And yes, I totally wore these in the car as we drove across town to get cheeseburgers and shakes from In N Out drive thru.  These pj's are the softest and most flattering I have ever owned!  And they are purple!

I'll share my long-term 2017 goals in another post.

Happy New Year!

Beyond Christmas

We have had a very low key and relaxing vacation.  Eric was able to be home with us for the whole break, so we spent lots of time meandering around town, watching tv, and resting!  Just what we all needed.

The kids got Uno, Phase 10 and Life for Christmas, so we played games.

 The spinner was tough to spin!  Not like the old days.

Eric and I were out shopping one day when I saw KangaRoos shoes at Payless!  Oh my gosh!  I wanted a pair of these so badly in third grade, and I got them!  Not only did they make me run faster, but they had a pocket for my quarters so I could buy a cupcake or popcicle at school!

Hudson woke up on Wednesday just long enough to snuggle with on the couch and fall back to sleep in my neck!  I posted the black and white photo on social media.  Sleeping kiddos always get lots of "likes!"

I treasure these moments.  I know they are going to be few and far between as the kids grow.

We went bowling on Thursday.  I broke 100 in both games and won both times!

Bowling was a lot of fun.  We only have a few more days of vacation.  Sad.  But it's been a nice two weeks of family and relaxing.

Christmas Day 2016

We had a really nice Christmas this year.  Times are definitely different with the kids being older.  While they may not squeal at the top of their lungs at the site of all the presents under the tree, they are still surprised and thankful for the gifts they receive.

Santa made his visit!  I love how the tree is completely empty until Christmas Eve night.  It's fun to go from bare to overflowing!

I must have missed a spot with the lights because that weird shadow is in every picture of our tree this year!

Both boys came out holding a dog!

I swear Hudson has pj pants on!  He gets hot in the night and it is always a mystery as to what I am going to find him wearing in the morning!

He got an iPod touch!

Evan taking it all in!

I told Huddy to at least put a shirt on for pictures!

Hudson got a Sunnyside Bicycles sweatshirt!  Now he is like the rest of the family!

It was an Apple and Nike Christmas.

The kids failed at passing out the presents correctly, and Eric accidentally opened up one of mine!  He's going to look good in pink workout pants!

He got the slippers he wanted.

And he got Justin Ropers!  He's been saying he wants a pair for a year now, and I was super happy to surprise him with these!

Now he needs Wranglers!

The happy mess.

I am not normally one to clean up in a hurry, but it was easy to fold up all the boxes and stick them in their spot.

Hudson was already going to town on his iPod and Eric is looking at the Apple Watch that he gave me for Christmas!  I love it!

This dog has been so spoiled this vacation.  He is pretty much curled up in Eric's lap every moment of the day.  He's going to have a rude awakening on Tuesday when we all go back to work!

Ropers and pajamas!  It's going to be the next trend.

After enjoying the morning for a few hours, we all got ready to head to Bakersfield to spend the day with Eric's parents.  We had a nice day visiting with them, eating a yummy lunch, and playing on our new toys.

We got home around 7ish and Eric curled up on the floor in front of the fire.

Whereever Eric is, Harry is not far behind.

This dog is loved and spoiled.

Those faces!

Hudson had to get in on the snuggle action!

It was a really nice, low-key, fun loving, and joy filled Christmas.