Homecoming, Coming Home

On Saturday we loaded up and headed to Terre Haute for Rose-Hulman's homecoming. It was Cooper's first trip to campus.

We started out by visiting the R Club tent for varsity sports players. Cooper met Coach Jenkins, Nate's baseball coach. Later he met Coach Bendel and his wife, Kathleen. I don't think they ever thought they'd see the day that Nate would roll up to homecoming with a baby!

Wait, can I still say baby? Or is it infant? Or toddler? Oh, help me. It was so much easier when I could say newborn.

But really, it wasn't easier at all now, was it? Up twice a night, ten poo diapers a day, and you certainly couldn't lay him on the floor to play by himself...

Anyways, we met up with a lot of folks that Nate went to school with. A lot of them I had never met before, but had only heard their names. So it's nice to finally be able to put the face with the name.

It's funny how things change.  A couple of years ago when we went to the game, we actually, you know, watched the game.  This year I spent watching kids.  A couple I had never met before, one who looks so unbelievably much like his Dad it's shocking. 

And here's the beauty of kids.  If they've never met, never looked at each other, they still just go on like it's another day.  They know no strangers.  And it's wonderful!  It's innocent, it's pure, it's almost hopeful.

Nannie and Pa met up with us and watched the game as well. Around halftime they took Coop and left for the night. Mommy and Daddy had a night to themselves! But what do you do with it? How do you spend your time when there's no baby?

Well I'll tell you how you spend it. You leave the game around halftime and head to the closest bar (Terminal) with your husband's best friend (Zach) so that he can watch the *cough* Ohio State game.

Then you sit in said bar for, no kidding, 6 hours. But then after three other guys show up and you're the only gal there, it's time to head to the hotel. Because folks, that's just uncomfortable.

But let me tell you what was comfortable. Getting up to that hotel room, crawling under the covers, reading a book, and watching whatever television show I wanted because I was ALONE. And I don't remember when the last time that happened was.

In all, it was a successful Saturday. Good times with good friends. Showing Cooper the campus of the school his Daddy attended. 

Just don't tell Zach.  I wouldn't want him to know that I enjoyed any time with him.  At all.

It Happened

As I mentioned yesterday, Cooper turned one. I can't believe that this little man that we brought into the world has already been with us for an entire year. Where did the time go? In the blink of an eye he has turned from this little guy that needed us for everything. Food, transportation, the little things. And as he grows, he gets more independent. While I love watching him grow and I love seeing him do new things, I still think back to that little 8 pound 2 ounce baby. Oh my, how time flies.

On Saturday we had a birthday celebration. We had an owl themed party with friends and family. We had a wonderful time that we will be able to look back on for years and appreciate. Here are some pictures from the event.

We had such a nice time. Cooper was spoiled rotten with toys and clothes and all kinds of goodies. I think we're going to have to build on an addition just to house it all!

Thanks to all that came! Next year, oh boy. I think we'll have our hands full! :)

A Lesson In Time

I have a confession to make.  One that has taken me about three months to realize.  A decision that I was proud to make, but still kind of hurts to admit.

In June I had a website designed.  I was so excited about it.  I was going to take on the blogging world and conquer it.  I was going to be the next Pioneer Woman.  A Little Miss Momma.  Or maybe even BooMama herself.  I collaborated with a gal that designed a beautiful page for me and worked hard for about three months to get it all set up.

But then I had a realization.  I had too much on my plate.  Listen, it's not like I'm being pulled from a hundred different ways or anything.  But for what I, personally, am able to and am willing to handle it became too much.

So on my way home from school the other day I had an epiphany.  I don't have to do this website.  I don't have to get myself into it if I don't want to.

And it's not so much that I don't want to.  You see, I was going to post recipes and blog about my life as a Mom, a wife, a teacher.  I was going to be witty and humorous and make you all want to visit daily.  It's something that I still want to do.  Truly, I do.

But now is not the time.

There's a lot going on in my life.  And while it might not seem like a lot to most, it's a lot to me.  I have a little boy to raise.  I have a family to think about.  I have a job that I love and I want to dedicate time to. 

And that's why I've decided to put my blog dreams on hold.

And this is where the good news comes in.

I'm staying right here.  I love doing this blog.  I love the encouragement that I get from all of you about doing it.  I love hearing how it made you smile or that I wrote something that you related to.  And lately, even though it might sound crazy, I've loved hearing you complain because I haven't updated.  Because to me, that means that you're coming to visit.  It means that you enjoy reading what I write.  And that makes me smile.

So the other website, well it will still be there a few years from now.  Or maybe I'll get the itch again and I'll do it next year.  Who knows what the future holds?  But for now, I'm content being right here, with you all, writing about my not so mundane life.

And I've got so much to catch you all up on!  And I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Did I mention that Cooper is one today?

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

I know I've been away for awhile. My sincerest apologies. However, I've been working on a very exciting project that I was hoping would be completed by now.

But, alas, it is not.

My deepest hope is that it is completed in the next couple of days and that I will be able to tell you all about it in my next post.

So please, PLEASE come back. I beg of you. I'm on hands and knees right now.

Okay, not really on that last part because I'd never be able to get myself back up.

But please. Come back. Don't leave me. I need you. Like water. Like bread. Like rain.

Like Lola needs 22 1/2 hours of sleep a day.

Please come back and visit. I've missed you.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Return

It's been a little bit since I've posted. Alright. It's been a lot of bit since I've posted. But between school, the initial back to day care illness, and the celebration of our fourth anniversary (yay!), my niece's first birthday (double yay!), and my birthday (ugh...) there has been relatively little time to sit down at the computer. So, in an effort to get back in your good graces I thought that I would humor you with a story that might get a good chuckle. If the story doesn't, the pictures will.

A couple of weeks ago I visited Lincolnshire, IL for a conference with 16 other staff members from Tri-North and many, many other Monroe County teachers, administrators, and central administration workers. It was a good way to get back in the swing of the school year and I learned so much valuable information.

We arrived on Sunday evening, and I have to say this. I was for sure that Nate was going to have to drive his happy rear end up to Chicago and pick this girl up. I didn't think that I could stay away from he and Cooper for three nights. However, after a full night of sleep I rallied back. Nate sent lots of pictures and I looked at my phone maybe a billion times to get me through. I was stronger than I thought!

We spent all day Monday in the conference. Afterwards we hurried back to the hotel to get ready to go to Wrigley Field and watch the Cubs play the Nationals. Now, let me say this. And please don't get confused as you read the rest of this entry. I AM A CARDINALS FAN. I am not a Cubs fan. I never have been. I never will be. However, I am a lover of baseball and I think that we can all agree that if you like baseball, Wrigley Field is a pretty cool place to go.

And also, my husband is a Cubs fan and sometimes I just feel pity for him. It has been a long, long time since he has had something to celebrate. And that makes me sad for him.

So we set off for Wrigley. We boarded a charter bus from the hotel and it took us to a train. As we unloaded from the bus it started raining. Now, let me take a small step back. It's summer. And hot. And humid. So yours truly is wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes. Typical ballgame attire.

And I immediately regretted it when it started raining.

I had no umbrella.

I had no hood.

I was in for a very long evening.

We got on the train and thought that maybe the rain would lift before we got to our stop. Our stop was about two blocks away from the bus stop that would ultimately take us to the field.

Oh how wrong we were. By the time I made it to the small shelter at the bus stop with 60 other MCCSC employees and various other bus commuters, it was full on pouring. I was so desperate that I took my precious purse and put it over my head to try and salvage a little bit of my hair, or to at least try to stay a little bit dry.

No dice.

I was soaked.

Absolutely drenched.

So we waited and waited and eventually the bus got there. We go to get on and I pull out my twenty dollar bill. The bus driver then proceeds to yell at me! Who knew that my twenty dollar bill was no good on his bus? That it wouldn't give me change? That if I put that twenty dollar bill in the slot that I might ruin all public transportation both that day and in the very near future?

Dude! I'm just a little country girl from Greene County! Public transportation is hitching a ride with the closest horse and buggy!

Or, the Co-Op tractor that is just sure to have traffic stopped!

Come on dude! Give this girl a break!

After he got done humiliating me in front of a bus full of people (and my principal mind you) he let me get on for free.

That's right. I showed that bus driver who was boss.

No, I didn't. I meekly walked to my seat where I froze for the next half an hour because I was soaked and sitting against an air conditioning vent.


So a blessed hour and a half after we started, we arrived at Wrigley Field. I never EVER thought that I would be so happy to see the place where the Cubs play baseball.

We immediately ran into the closest store when the bus stopped. And folks, this is where it gets hairy.

You see, I'm a proud person. But that day, when I was sopping wet and freezing and suffering from a slight case of frost bite on an August day, I walked into that Cubs shop and bought the place up. And no. I am not afraid to admit it. Go on. Bring on the ridicule. I can hold my own. I'm not scurred of you.


We get our Cubs gear, we put on our ponchos, and we're off! There were six of us together. My girlfriend Jennifer and I stuck together because 1) we're Cardinals fans and 2) we're girlfriends and that's what girlfriends do. We also had with us our buddy Chris and his Mama, our principal Gale, our friend Lisa (who, by the way, happens to be the sister-in-law of the Cubs' pitching coach), and our friend Pat, who was my mentor when I first started at Tri-North.


We go in, get in our seats in the bleachers, and then...

...we sit.

In the rain.

The pouring rain.

For an hour and a half.

Until they postponed the game.






And then, we started the hour and a half journey back.

But not before we realized that we were the only people from MCCSC who actually went into the game, sat in our seats in our ponchos, in the pouring rain mind you, and didn't even get to see a first pitch.

Because you see, everybody else stayed nice and dry in the bar.

Those smart, smart people.

Four Years Ago

Four years ago today I married my best friend.  It was one of the happiest days of my life, and the only reason that I say it wasn't THE happiest is because I had this little bundle of joy enter my world last year in the form of Cooper.  Those two days have a very hard competition to win in the battle for best day of my life.

I have had a wonderful four years of marriage to a wonderful man.  He is a phenominal father, a hard worker, an honest man, and the backbone of our family.

In our four years together we have grown and experienced so much.  One blog entry isn't enough to list all of the wonderful things that we have been so fortunate to do together.  We are truly blessed.

But truthfully, I'm the one that's REALLY blessed.  I'm married to a man that I love and that I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with.

Photos courtesy of Cornelius Photography

A Whole Lotta Randomness

I was sifting through my pictures and realized that there was a lot of stuff that I haven't blogged about lately, so I'm just gonna go ahead and lay it all out there for you.

1) My boy has a new favorite toy. It looks something like this...













The kid digs it. We walk with him and he chatters the whole time he's in that thing.

2) My boy has another new favorite toy from Papaw and Grammy. It looks like this...







He has mad skills in this walker. And Lola has met her match when he gets going in that thing.

3) So we watch a lot of Disney Channel in this house. A lot. Television doesn't typically catch Coop's eye. He would rather tool around, all getting into things and stuff. But there is one exception.

Selena Gomez.

He loves her. When she comes on the tube singing that "I Love You Like a Love Song" tune, he stops in his tracks and oogles the poor girl until she leaves the screen.







I kid you not it happens every time. This was in the middle of dinner tonight. You can tell by the piece of spaghetti on his head.

4) I go back to work next week. I actually will be in Chicago Sunday to Wednesday for a conference and then my first day back is Friday. I went in on Monday and my classroom looks something like this...













It's not good. There's a lot to do. But I'm looking forward to getting back at it. I love my job. I'm fortunate enough to be able to say that.

*Note: Somebody ask my that in March when Spring Break is over, it's cold outside, and the kids just want OUT. There's a good chance I might have a different answer for you.

5) This is what happens when your kid puts his hand in your pasta sauce and then his Pa tells him to lick it off.







And with that, I bid you a Happy Hump Day!