Perfect Weekend

If there is anything we are not, it's perfect.  But I have to say, we had a pretty close-to-perfect Memorial Day Weekend, just the three of us.  While we completed many of our normal weekend to-do items (laundry, a trip to Target, yard work, etc.), we took plenty of time to leisurely enjoy our extra time together.  Saturday we hit up Half Price Books (they were having an additional 20% off for the holiday weekend), and we ate a late lunch/early dinner at Gloria's.  Since we were there, I enjoyed a house speciality mojito.  They never disappoint.  Beyond our outing on Saturday, we spent a portion of each weekend day at the pool, we read books, we napped, we feasted on lots of grilled food, and we just generally enjoyed spending time together.  Sometimes in our busy schedules, we simply "put off 'til tomorrow" being with one another ... but not this weekend.

Tonight, along with grilled chicken and lots of fresh grilled veggies (what is summer if not the season of grilling?), we had our first corn on the cob of the season.  It was goo-ood, as Cousin Eddie would say.  Sara didn't fully understand the concept of eating side-to-side, but after each bite she did say, "Mmmmmmmmm." 

(Funny story that my family will appreciate: after we got home from the pool today, we decided to go ahead and make an early dinner.  Sara was very hungry, evidenced by the fact that she was crabby and impatient.  When we sat down to eat, Sara's mood changed after just a few bites: she was so much happier than she'd been.  I made a comment that Sara might be just like her Uncle Melvin (actually Aunt Melissa, but that's a story for another time), a little on the crabby side when she's hungry, perfectly happy when she's fed.  Sara's response: "Uh-ohhhhh."  We laughed over that one ... the kid has excellent comedic timing.  Sorry, Mel.  Love you!)

There was a great commentary on the radio Friday morning about the fact that we often fail to remember that Memorial Day is more than just a day off work, a weekend of sales, an excuse to BBQ.   It's true that we tend to overlook the true meaning behind the holiday, as we do with many holidays throughout the year. It is important today - and always, really - to remember the men and women who have sacrificed, and who will continue to sacrifice, their lives so that we may live in a free nation.  Because of those who are willing to fight for our freedom, we can choose our careers, our clothing, our places of worship, our spouses, our lifestyles.  We are so blessed to live in America, land of the free and home of the brave.  A special thanks to my cousin, Tim Merhar, and his wife, Toni, who are actively serving in the U.S. Air Force. 

Hope you've all had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, and hope that you've taken a moment to think of those who have given their lives so we can live to pursue our dreams.

Mine

Sara insisted on wearing her backpack around the house while she played yesterday. She knows it's hers, which is why she not only calls it a backpack, but she also calls it, "Mine." 

She has been using that word frequently lately ...

...especially when she's eating or when Higgins is hanging around (as you've probably guessed, these two events often coincide).  While wearing her backpack and munching on some grapes yesterday, I heard Sara say to Higgins, "No, no, Dog.  Mine."

Higgins has figured out that, when it comes to food, "mine" only means "mine" until Sara inevitably decides that he needs a bite or two, also, so he's forever tagging along!

more MN memories

from last weekend ...

Nothing but Blue Skies

We spent the weekend in MN for Grandpa Todd's retirement celebration, and we had the best time.  Though the trip was short, the quality of our time was immeasurable. 

Sara and G-pa Todd hung out in the party room at the Hyland Lake Park Reserve.  Sara loved mingling with all of the party-goers.  There was a big park outside of the room that Sara enjoyed, too.  She played hard and partied hard, and she didn't miss a beat.

Sara and Dad enjoyed pulled pork and other good eats.

Sara started saying "Auntie" this weekend, which Melissa thoroughly enjoyed.  She also started saying "airplane" ... you can imagine her excitement at the airport!

Many more pictures were taken, but apparently not on my camera.  I guess most of the good pics ended up with my mom and sister ... I'll try to post some more once I see theirs.

We got home about 8:00 last night, and right away my priority became preparing for our big week: Sara started at her new daycare this morning.  Last Thursday when I picked her up from her old school, there were lots of tears.  I was so sad to say goodbye to the ladies who had taken care of her since she was eight weeks old, and who have helped me so much along the way.  I was really nervous this morning, but tried to excitedly talk to Sara about her new school, new teachers, and new friends.  When I left her this morning, I had a very peaceful feeling (for the first time since moving became a necessity) about the transition, and Sara ended up having a great day.  An answered prayer!  Here's hoping the rest of the week goes as smoothly.

To: Iowa People

While driving home this evening on President George Bush (the 1st one) Turnpike, speed limit 70, I momentarily wound up behind a tractor.  You heard me correctly, Iowa people: I said tractor.  A big, blue, out-of-place tractor.  In the driver's defense, he was moving pretty quickly by tractor standards.  But not quickly enough by the standards of The Bush, and certainly not quickly enough by my standards (and, truth be told, I'm not even that fast of a driver).  I was, understandably, both annoyed and amused.

On an unrelated front, Steve found this article that confirms the fact that I'm not the only one feeling a Fall 2010 Baby Boom coming on, as mentioned in my last post.  Check it out!  Seeing as how the article is out of Des Moines, you probably already knew this, right, (pregnant) Iowa people?  Love you!

Saturday Night Sound-off

When I woke up yesterday morning (I don't know if "woke up" is even the appropriate term), I felt like I'd spent the better portion of Thursday night consuming mass quantities of alcohol.  Though I had done nothing of the sort (I actually spent Thursday evening at my district's Teacher of the Year Gala, which is a very dry (alcoholically speaking) event indeed), I found myself stumbling clumsily to the shower out of nothing more than pure lack of sleep.  I haven't slept well for the past couple of weeks, but this week was exceptionally bad.  This morning at book club, one girl made the comment that she doesn't necessarily need more sleep, just quality, uninterrupted sleep.  That's exactly how I feel!  If I could just turn my brain off, fall asleep at a decent hour, and not awake from crazy dreams in the night, all would be well.  However, until life settles down a little, I'm not sure the quality of my sleep is going to improve.  Do you ever find yourself in that "I-need-to-sleep-because-I'm-stressed-but-I-can't-sleep-because-I'm-stressed" catch-22?  U-G-H.  I have good intentions of catching up a little tonight ... we'll see.

Like I said, on Thursday night I was at my district's TOTY Gala.  For the first time, a middle school singing group was asked to perform (usually it's just high school), and the chosen group was from my school.  We have a nine-girl pop group that performed two songs for the 1500+ people in attendance, and they did an outstanding job.  To top off that excitement, my school's Beginning TOTY (each school selects a "beginning" (first year) and "experienced" teacher to represent at the district level competition) won the district title for Beginning TOTY.  He is completely deserving.  I was so proud to be part of my school on Thursday night ... I'm going to miss it.

Last night I had to stay late for the play.  Also excellent.  Another reminder of the talent I apparently lacked during my awkward middle school years.  Anyway, Steve and Sara hung out together.  To entertain himself, Steve had Sara spend the evening wearing a do rag ("hat" is now on her ever-growing list of words), and apparently he taught her to play Aladdin on Sega: yeah, we're old school.  Sometime during their evening together, Steve also showed Sara his picture with Tony Romo and taught her to say Romo, which sounds more like "Momo" when Sara says it.  Anyway, she's developed an infatuation with Romo that rivals the love she had at one time for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the love she currently has for Elmo.  It's very, very serious.

Today we finished a landscaping project that we started last weekend.  Our front yard has been in need of some TLC, which started last Saturday with removing an evergreen tree (one I really did love because it reminded me of home) that had just gotten way too big for it's spot.  Today we replaced the evergreen's empty spot with a crape myrtle, updated/fixed the brick landscape border, and put down new mulch.  I also planted some nice, bright marigolds for the season.  Just a few little touches can make such a big difference. 

Tonight I'm going to start my new book club book.  It was my turn to pick this morning, and I chose a book that my mom recommended.  When she gave it to me, she said that she likes a lot of books, and LOVES just a few ... this was one she LOVED.  We'll be reading The Art of Racing in the Rain.  I can't wait to get started.  I'll let you how it is!  After I announced my pick this morning, Gabi said that she'd heard that this author will be in town speaking sometime in September.  If this book's any good (and I think it will be), maybe we'll all go see him.  The book we finished for today was Middlesex, an Oprah pick from a few years ago.  I really enjoyed it: lots of good history intertwined with a fascinating, sometimes mind-boggling story.  And if you still haven't read these books, it's time.  Get on it!

Just for the record, I have to state that nearly everyone I know is pregnant.  No exaggeration (okay, maybe a little exaggeration: not nearly everyone, but many of my friends have a bun in the oven) ... and the baby announcements just keep coming.  Between September and December, there is going to be a serious baby boom around me.  I am not pregnant.  Don't want to be.  Don't plan to be.  I have the pharmacy receipts to prove it.  Just wanted to put it out there that I currently know A LOT of pregnant people.  Weird.  Congratulations, again, to all of you, by the way.  If this is #1, I can say confidently that life's best blessings are ahead for you.  If this is #2+, you are braver than I.

Hope you are all enjoying a nice weekend.  This time next weekend we'll be in MN for Todd's Retirement Bash.  I simply cannot wait!

Angel of the Morning

As is the mother, so is her daughter. Ezek. 16:4

Henry Ward Beecher said, "We never know the love of the parent until we become parents ourselves."  You know who else told me that?  My mom did, and now I know that she was so right. 
Mom, the appreciation I have now for the love you've had for me for twenty-nine years is incredibly overwhelming.  Thank you for loving me so much.  Thank you for giving me roots and wings.  Thank you for being the mother I aspire to be.  For me, nobody else could have ever been you.  Happy Mother's Day. 

Love, Katie

Board Approved

The school board is approving my new position tonight, so I'll finally be official.  When I posted about this a couple of weeks ago, a few of you were sweet enough to e-mail to ask whether my new job involved becoming a principal.  HA!  While I appreciate the vote of confidence, that step is still a long way off for me.  However, I will be the assistant principal at a brand new middle school that is opening in my district.  The opportunity to open a new school doesn't come along very often, and I'm just thrilled to be part of building this new community.  I'm excited about working with the principal, about bringing together teachers from a variety of different buildings, and about blending students from various neighborhoods.  An added bonus happens to be the fact that my new school will require a 10-15 minute commute, as opposed to the 45-minute one I currently make.  That's really just the icing on the cake, though.

Yesterday afternoon we went back to the pediatrician for a re-check after a week+ of breathing treatments for Sara's wheezing.  Our last two visits had been with other doctors in the practice, and yesterday we were able to see our regular doc.  When I asked whether Sara's wheezing, which has subsided some but still remains, would go away with allergy season, he told me the main thing to consider is the fact that her wheezing is hereditary.  It's probably here to stay, at least for a while.  He put Sara on a daily dose of over-the-counter Claritan and not-over-the-counter-but-very-pricey Singular.  We'll recheck mid-June.  If she hasn't improved, we'll take another step involving more intense breathing treatments.  Pray that we don't have to cross that bridge.  While all of this is scary, expensive, frustrating, etc., etc., etc., like I told my mom tonight, I know we could have it so much worse.  We'll take the wheezing (the no good, very bad breathing treatments and all, pictured above).

Sara's two favorite things right now - in no particular order - include reading books and being naked.  The last few nights after her bath, she's made a quick escape from her towel, and has taken great delight in running from room to room in her birthday suit.  Exhilarating.  Freeing.  Against the rules?  Fun!  Truth be told, a good, old fashioned drip dry never hurt anyone, right Junior-year-Mexico-spring-break-roommates?!

Here is Sara doing both of her favorite things at once!

The last couple of weeks have been rather treacherous, to put it gently.  This week has started off much more smoothly (I hope I'm not jinxing it), and the fact that Bret Michaels is expected to make a full recovery after his brain hemorrhage is great news in my world.  All of the talk about him on the radio has had me thinking about when I fell in love with Poison.  My dad bought me my first Poison cassette at Target when I was in third grade.  A couple of neighbor friends could NOT believe that my dad bought me the tape despite the parental warning labels attached.  Maybe he was trying to be cool.  Maybe he just didn't know better.  Either way, the parental warnings against Poison's subliminal (or not) drug and sex references were nothing compared to what's available today.  And I turned out just fine even after listening to that tape on repeat in my boom box.  I don't have tons of clear childhood memories - one of the things my sister and I have in common, unfortunately - but I do clearly remember getting my Poison tape.  I remember feeling so cool when "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" would come on at the roller rink (it did so often), and I knew the words.  Because I had the tape.  Tucked inside the cassette case were the lyrics.  Bonus.  I've loved Poison ever since, and I'm relieved that Bret is on the mend.  I guess it's true after all: every night has its dawn.  So much wisdom wrapped up in the 80's music that still rocks my world.