Time Flies

Hi there everyone,
I know, I know, you thought that I walked my way right off the planet, but the truth is, I found out in July that I was pregnant, and I was afraid to blog since I was having a hard time not sharing the info with everyone. I was not ready to tell my employer, or students until I was a little farther along, and so it seemed easier to seem MIA than try not to spill the beans, or the peanut as we call the little one.
T-man knew and it has been funny to watch how excited he is...everywhere we go he tells anyone who talks to him that he is going to be a big brother. He is thrilled although his Aunt MiMi assures him that he will not be so excited when peanut is here trying to take his toys and play with his things, we will see. He does love babies.
Thank you again, everyone who supported our 3-day Breast Cancer walk this year. Because of the pregnancy I was only able to walk half of the mileage each day, and some "medical complications" (nothing too serious) kept me from walking Sunday and some blood draw complications kept me from walking on Friday. But the important thing is that The Rack Pack was well represented, and we earned over $9000.00 for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer fund, and we were very proud of ourselves. We will be crewing in 2009, then walking again in 2010. This was the most amazing event of my life. To be part of such a fantastic group of men and women doing somthing so incredible will stay with me for a lifetime, and be part of my life's work always.
I will be "converting" this blog from a training blog, although, I admit, I dropped the ball there, to a family/new baby blog in the next few weeks. Thanks to anyone who has been patient, and kept up. Have a great end of summer.
Laura

July already !!!!

I can't believe how this summer is flying by, now my summer just shortened by 3 weeks. But, since I got the job that I had been interviewing for, I am very excited. I interviewed for both an SFA administrator, and an Asst. Principal. I will now be the SFA administrator at Lowell elementary school in Lorain. My first time working in a K-6 building. I think that I will have to change my approach. After 10 years of working with high school students, I don't think "suck it up" is going to be very successful with the elementary crowd. :)

T and I ar going to be heading out on another vacation. DH is very understanding about us taking off for a week here and there and A and her girls are heading out with us. He probably figures, how much trouble can two women get into with 3 kids under the age of 6. We are headed up to the lake Monday afternoon until Friday morning. 5 days at the beach will be just what the doctor ordered for both A and I. I hope that we can find a way to keep walking if we are gone from Mon-Fri we will need to get in 11 miles. I would be a quick few walks if we could find someone to watch the kids. Any volunteers?

I am very close to my three day goal now, only another $200 to go to make my $2200. But I have team mates who still need to raise a good portion of their funds, so if you are reading and are interested in donating to an exceptionally worthy cause, go to www.the3day.org and search for my name Laura Manning in Cleveland, then click on The Rack Pack in order to donate to one of my team mates. Please consider helping us to put an end to Breast Cancer.

Have a great week.
L

Catching Up

I know, I know, it's been a long time again...but I have been busy. But it's not just the blog that has suffered, for instance, my house is a MESS !!!!! T-man and I went on vacation without DH and everything was a mess before we left, and low and behold, it was a mess when we got back, and our luggage added to the mess.

I know that school is out, but it still doesn't feel like summer. Right now, the weather isn't cooperating, and I don't feel like we have had a "down" day yet. Before we went on vacation, everything was all about getting ready for the pig roast, then we left. We had a great time. My friend A and I had a conference for school at Kahlahari resort here in Sandusky, and we got to take our kids, we took a few babysitters to keep the kids busy in the water park during the day, and had a great time. Everyone came home water logged, and tired but full of memories that will last a life time. T-man loves the arcade, he is truly a gamer...God help us when he is a teenager. (It's already a fight to make equal time for books) but he loved playing in the arcade and cashing in those tickets. The last night he was playing for the King Cobra rubber snake that was in the display case, and he was hitting all the games that would give him the most bang for his tokens, he was 19 tickets short when a very angelic woman came up to cash in her tickets...she heard me explaining to T that he was just a little short and apparently deciding that she didn't need a whoopi cushion, or a set of parachuting army men, she told the attendant to give all of her points to T. He was soooooo excited. He got the cobra (which gives me a heart attack everytime I stumble across it hiding in the toy box) plus !!!!!!!!! She made his day.

The best part of the week for me was when I got to watch T ride the Flow Rider. Here is a child that is usually very cautious, but he had no fear boogey boarding his way around the surf...over, and over, and over. He didn't know that I was watching at first, and when he saw me he lit up. The woman sitting next to me, didn't know that he was mine, and she kept saying "look at that little guy in line, are they really going to let him ride?!" When he did it, the whole crowd was cheering and yelling for him. I was so PROUD !!!!!!!!!! He is amazing. When I told him how proud I was he said "I'm just good at it mom, that's all" So humble !!!!1

Well, everyone keep your fingers crossed for me, I have had two interview for administrative positions lately, and I am hoping to hear this week if I got the job.

Now I need to finish up my swap box and get all of these goodies off to Kelly !!!!!! I am very excited to see what she sent me.

Pig Roast Update

Anyone in the area who would be interested in attending our Breast Cancer 3-day team's Pig Roast leave a comment in the comment section and I will be in touch to send you some tickets.

The event is on June 21st. from Noon-5pm. Tickets are $20.oo for adults, and will include Pork, side dishes,Beer, Pop, a DJ, We will also have a special "Cure" shot and a raffle for some fantastic prizes from area businesses and restaurants.

Let me know if you are within driving distance of Elyria,Ohio and can't wait to help out a great cause.

I know that many of you were worried about Anna and I walking 48 laps (12 miles) in the heat of the day on Saturday for the Relay for Life. What an amazing event. There were all sorts of teams there from big businesses, High School clubs, small "mom and pop" type businesses, non-profit organizations...it was incredible. And, so was the heat. I have learned my lesson about black asphalt. I'm sure that Anna has too, she was covered in a heat rash by the end of the day, and was still feeling the pain this morning. What a trooper.

I am hoping in a break from the heat this week. I never thought I would say that, but it is almost too hot to walk.

Have a great day!
Laura

Summer, Day 2

What a wonderful start to the summer, while it is miserably hot, the sun is shining and fun things are happening. I have been able to walk everyday, I did 10 miles yesterday, and 5 this morning. I really like walking in the early morning. It gives me so much time to think about what is going on, and what I want to get accomplished.
I joined a blog swap the other day, and now I am anxiously awaiting to find out who my partner is, and I have started to make a mental list of some of my favorite things that I want to swap. June is a busy month, but I will make the time to put this together.
I watched a really beautiful, sappy movie tonight with M working, Friday nights give me the chance to watch all of the girl movies he barely tolerates. "P.S. I love you" it was really good, a 5 kleenex movie if ever there was one, if you don't cry watching it, you are made of stone. But, through the tears, I was able to listen to the really great soundtrack. Now, many of you know that I have been a country music fan for years, but one of the songs featured in the movie was from James Blunt. I had only heard of him just recently on a friends blog, but I hadn't heard his music, I am hooked. It was really good, so I just added "Same Mistake" and "You're Beautiful" to my ipod. Not really upbeat walking music, but good, so worth listening to, if you aren't already a fan, I recommend you have a listen.
Last thing for the night. Tomorrow I am walking in the Relay for Life at Avon Lake High School. What a great cause, the American Cancer Society, there can't be a person alive who's life has not been touched by some sort of Cancer anymore. I am very excited to be walking 4 hours for the TNG team, if you are in the area, come and cheer us on. My friend and Breast Cancer 3-day team mate Anna is also going to be walking. I am so happy to have the time to meet and talk with her. Love you, friend!
Have a great night everyone.
Laura

Summer is Here !!!!!

It's official, the kids are done, and the teachers have only a half day left. I love this time of year, the school year is done, the whole summer is spread out before you full of possibilities and TIME. We are going to be going to Kahlahari for a week, and are planning several week long girls and kids get aways. And believe it or not, I think that I will start out my summer vacation by painting and soliciting donations for the Pig Roast.

We got our assignments for next year this week, and I am torn. They don't have me teaching on the teams next year which I will miss It's nice to have that connection with the kids, and have three other teachers to work closely with. The up side of not being on the teams is that I don't have the pressure and accountability of the OGT. I will have the chance to teach all electives next year. The down side is that I will be teaching two classes that I have never taught, one that I haven't taught in years and 1 that I don't really enjoy teaching. That all boils down to an awful lot of summer prep time. The other good thing is that I will have lots of upperclassmen, and I will get to see some of my favorite students again next year. For some of these kids it will be our third year together.

Well, I am off to enjoy my evening, had a great walk this evening...I just beat the rain, and I was able to finish 4 miles in 1 hour. I am really looking forward to this weekends Relay for Life, a chance to get my 12 miles in, and help TNG raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Have a great week.
Laura

Sometimes these things come back to bite you in the ...

Wednesdays used to be so simple, School, Student Council meeting, pick up T, Weight Watchers meeting, home. I decided to eliminate Student Council, to give myself more time, and now, I have less time. How do these things happen? Yesterday I completely set myself up for success, I took my walking clothes to school, changed during my conference so that I was ready to go when the bell rang, I wanted to get in a 3 mile walk before I picked up T.
I dropped off the van in T's school parking lot and headed out for my walk. Beautiful neighborhood, everyone says "Hi" when you pass them, just the right amount of sun and shade. This is when I was lulled into believing I was in control of my day. When I returned to T's school, I was met at the door by the director. Apparently T had seen me walk by the school and had been melting down for the last hour because he knew I was there, and he wanted to leave. My five year old, who really just goes with the flow, was absolutely hysterical. Guilt. I get him in the car, thinking he will be soooooo happy to see me, I should have no problem getting him to go to the WW meeting with me. WRONG !!!!!! He does not want to go, he does not want to cooperate in any way shape or form. If he can find a way to slow me down, or defy me, he is finding it. Finally, after alot of whining, grumbling, and arguing we are on our way to the WW meeting with a quick stop at the drugstore. When I have put my foot down about buying a toy at the drugstore, my incredibly crabby T stomps his foot, puts his hands on his hips, plants himself in the middle of the (very busy and crowded) pharmacy aisle, and declares, loudly,
"Lady, you are pushing ALL my buttons today, aren't you!!!!"