Resolution time!

Last year's resolution was a success! Instead of choosing something that was out of reach or impossible to actually do for a year, I tried to think of something I could succeed at. I decided to make my resolution keeping a running journal. It would allow me to see how far I have come and set future goals. I have really enjoyed it and plan to keep it up as long as I am running. That leads me to this year's resolutions: running more miles and keeping a food journal.

After tomorrow I will have run approx. 382 miles for the year. Not bad, but I can do more. I took off 9 solid weeks over the summer due to laziness. It gives me an average of 7.3 miles per week. Lame. Last week I put in 19 miles. That average stinks. My goal for next year is at least 520 miles. It shouldn't be a problem if I keep up the running through the heat of summer but I'm thinking realistically here. I may adjust my goal as 2010 progresses because I'll hopefully be training for the 2011 Houston Marathon!

Keeping a food journal is less about weight management and more about running. At this point I know what foods help me feel good and therefore run better but temptation is too great. I don't plan on being a freak but if I had to write down that I ate 4 sugar cookies, 2 pieces of fudge, and sat down with a jar of Nutella tonight (yes, I ate all of that :) ) I might think twice about it. When I've kept a food journal in the past it helps me to monitor my sweets (mmm) and keeps me in check. I feel so much better when I eat well and am able to avoid looking bloated to the point where I look pregnant. Not fun.

Anyway, share your resolutions and/or goals if you would like! I'm interested!

Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was filled with food, presents, and lots of family time. I had to get back on track with the eating today. :) My Dad got my Mom a Wii Fit Plus for Christmas. At first she had no idea what a Wii was (hilarious) but now she likes playing all of the fitness games (as does the rest of the family). Mom and Dad also got each other a Kindle! Now I'm the only one in my family without one. I'm still holding on to my paperbacks! Anyway, here are a few pictures!

My tree with a few presents. This was before the real buying began. :)

Mom and Dad's tree.

Mom getting her Wii Bowl on!

Dad enjoyed trying to increase his jumps.

Boards games, Snuggie, Debbie Meyer Green Containers, P-Touch label maker (it connects to my PC and you can type in what you want using tons of fonts and add icons and borders), Cuisinart Immersion blender (LOVE!), kitchen scale and spice blender, gift cards, Le Creuset saucier, new watch, science experiment book, and new beret and scarf set. That's a ton of stuff. My family always overdoes it. :)

Dinner!

Um, I love it!?

Teachers get some interesting gifts for Christmas. I usually put them into one of three categories. Here are a few from each this year. . .

Awesome! I love it!:

$25 Visa debit card

$50 gift card to Pappas chain restaurants

$25 gift card to Target

Super cute gift bags that I can reuse :)

Nice, but not something I needed/wanted:

$20 to Bath and Body Works (I'm not a smelly bath person. It irritates my skin.)

Cute, plaid scarf

Ornament one of the kids painted

Good smelling (thank goodness) Yankee Candle

Brownies in a Jar

Fleece throw with cats on it (it must be a present for Blanca)

You should have saved your money:

Puzzle

Stinky lotion

Assorted candies

Ugly soup bowl

'Love' necklace from Claire's

Perfume

Stinky candles

Note to parents: When in doubt, get your child's teacher a gift card. They will most likely love it and be very excited to use it.

School Funny!

So we are listing holidays to do an activity for social studies...

J: I know why we celebrate President's Day.

Me: Really? Why?

J: My mom said it's to pick a new President because the one we had this year is doing a bad job.

Me: Oh, that's nice.

OMG! I love it! Made me laugh for sure!

A Must Try! :)

One of the ladies at school sent this out today! She said she makes them every year during the last week before Christmas break.

Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies

1 cup of water

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup of sugar

1 tsp salt

1 cup of brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup nuts

2 cups of dried fruit

1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality.

Take a large bowl, and check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality,Pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter In a large fluffy bowl.

Add one peastoon of sugar. Beat again.

At this pointit's best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try anotherCup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cupOf dried fruit.

Pick the frigging fruit off the floor.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pryIt loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who geevesA sheet.

Check the Jose Cuervo.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink.

Whatever you canFind.

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fallOver.

Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish theCose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the wishdasher.

Cherry Mistmas !

Running in a Winter Wonderland

My run this morning was AWESOME! I had a ton of fun running 6 miles through the snow covered neighborhood. I was so peaceful and serene. No one was out really, just a few families playing in the snow before it began to melt. It was only 34 F when I headed out at a little before 9 am.

I just had to share a picture of myself in my superman pants and shirt before I headed out! I don't get to wear them very often but I was glad I had them!

This is the front area of our school. It snowed constantly from 9:30 - 4:15! We had over 300 kiddos get picked up from school early. I was only left with 9 students by the end of the day!

Strength

I'm watching a show on Discovery Health called Truth Be Told: I Have a Special Needs Child. I am amazed. Not only are these parents (they are focusing on the moms though) strong enough to share their stories they speak with honesty. I was tearing up when they were showing the different children and I realized it's because I feel guilt and a certain level of fear. I have nothing wrong with me (hey, hey, you know what I mean) and I don't know how I would handle having a child with special needs. One mother spends 42 hours week changing her child's bandages. Their situations are beyond my comprehension. It's a great episode if you ever have the chance to catch it.

DRAMA!

Warning: Calm venting to follow. I feel that if I say it here I can let it go and move on.

I'm pretty sure that everyone has work drama. I have avoided it for the past two years. Apparently my luck has run out. I feel that things started as soon as I was made Grade Level Chair for second grade. Hearing that members of your team are 'talking about you' is not only annoying but hurtful. Many problems can be taken care of if people would communicate with each other. If something isn't working or I have offended you, YOU HAVE TO LET ME KNOW! As for personality conflicts, I can't help you. I am not bothered if you think I have a comment for everything (um, like you don't) and it annoys you. I also cannot help you when you lie to myself and others and continually spread the drama by not keeping your mouth shut. You don't need to repeat every word someone says to you and take it out of context. So when you starting thinking that I have an attitude again because I'm not talking all the time work anymore it's because anything I say can be used against me and I refuse to give you ammo. I also do not want to be associated with any coworkers who belittle seven and eight year olds. Yes, the students are scared of you and you know it. Who cares if you are a great teacher of the curriculum and you have good scores. If you make children feel like crap what good are you doing? I cannot change that I was picked from GLC over you and your buddy. You are just like the last GLC and they wanted something different.

It's time for me to continue doing my job and living in my little bubble of a classroom. Dwell on the positive and not the negative. :) Better thoughts: I signed up for the Rodeo Run 10k today! It gives me something to look forward to and focus on after the half marathon in January. That day will be an attempt to set a PR. Yay for me!