Pants on the Ground

Sometimes I do stupid stuff and don't realize it.  Othertimes I do stupid stuff and don't realize it until immediately afterwards. 
So there I was, on a long run, needing desperately to go to the bathroom, but with no bathrooms within five miles of my current location.  Like any good runner, I began looking for the largest, most concealing tree I could find.  Stop there.  I should clarify that last sentance.  Like any good female runner, I began looking for the largest most concealing tree I could find. 
I found one suitable for the job and jumped off the side of the road into the underbrush to "dehydrate" myself as quickly as I possibly could.  It wasn't until I jumped out of the underbrush and back onto the road that I realized I had been squatting in a patch of those stupid burrs that basically jump off the plants if you so much as breath on them.  Suddenly, I was running down the road with both hands in my shorts trying to pull burr after chaffing burr off of the fabric of my shorts.  I'm sure I left quite the impression with the neighbors.  But lesson learned - look before you leak. 

Family Time

As soon as I got off work on Friday (for the summer, woot! woot!), Ross and I packed up the car and headed North.  It was Quentin's (half) birthday weekend, and a good excuse to spend a little extra time with the big sis and brother-in-law before they head out on their little three year adventure to N.Y.C.   It was also the the last time we were going to get to see Kristina, their exchange student, before she heads back to Germany.  Here are a few pics from the weekend.  We had a great time, and I'm so glad we went.

The two cutest boys I know getting a little morning read in. 

Pool party with the cousins.

Tell me he's not the cutest kid you've ever seen.

 Post pinata trampoline time. 

Patiently waiting for presents.  Just a side note, when he had to decide between unwrapping gifts and eating broccoli - the boy went for the broccoli every time. 

Getting some baby girl time.

Cutie Patootie

The boy's new wheels.

Kristina and our girl.  Love.

Dear Dad,

As far as dad's go you're pretty elite.
Your heart is big and so are your feet. 
It seems you did a pretty decent job.
Except maybe for naming your daughter, Bob!?

You've worked really hard and given a lot.
In my book you've got the number one spot.
I know for any of us you'd take a bullet.
You might even be able to pull off the mullet. 

You are something for sure, and I'm glad you're mine.
That's why I wrote you a Happy Father's Day rhyme. 

Love,

Bob

Happy Dance!

My elementary worksample has been approved and is on its way to being submitted to TSPC.  Yay!  That pain in the booty is officially d-o-n-e.  My job is officially (more or less) secure. 

Today was our last day of kids for the school year.  Tomorrow is our last day of work for the school year.

Saturday is our first day of summer vacation.  Saturday I will be snuggling my niece and playing ball with my nephew.

Sunday I am going to tell my dad he's rad...and stuff. 

Monday I am finally going to dust our house. 

Right now I am doing the happy dance with my shoes off. 

Kids Are Weird

Kids are weird. 
They pick their noses and try to hide it by putting their other hand in front of their face. 
Sometimes they put their pants on backwards, their shirts on inside out, their jackets on upside down, and their shoes on the wrong feet. 
They think that running to "the wall and back" is fun.
They love to be chased. 
They will do anything to be the first person in line.  Any line.  Even a line that isn't going anywhere or doing anything. 
They think that bandaids can make bruises, scrapes, slivers, scratches, rashes, and scabs better. 
They say funny things, and they sound even more funny saying them when they don't have all of their teeth.
Kids.  Are.  Weird. 

Hello?

I've been gone for a long time.  Life happened mostly.  It was crazy.  It was busy.  It was even a little bit treacherous.  Ross may have had to talk me down from the ledge a couple of times.  But I've made it back to the land of the living with little more than skinned knees and quite possibly a few extra cavities.  (I stress eat chocolate and ice cream, okay?) 

We've moved to a rental house.  I've been teaching.  I've been coaching.  I've been helping with a local fun run.  I've been finishing my elementary PE credentials.  I've been trying to cook and clean on occasion.  And I've been running - glorious running. 

Running here is like drinking wine in the Napa Valley.  It's pretty pristine.  There are people to run with.  Their are mountains to run, and trails, and logging roads.  There are animals to gawk at - turkeys, skunks, deer, fox, snakes, and owls - to name a few we've had some close encounters with.  It is: So. Much. Fun. 

Teaching is almost over with for the year, but it's been a great experiences with lots of entertaining moments.  Kids are gross, but they are also pretty darn funny.  "I'm going to gallop because I'm part reindeer."  Um, okay. 

My sis is about to leave the country for three years - they're moving to New York.  So the next few weeks will be spent fitting in as much sis and nephew and niece time as possible.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures to add in the very near future.  Yes, I do know NY isn't really another country, but it's far enough away.  I feel like they should reconsider, but that's just me. 

That's where it's at.