running nowhere

I had a dream two nights ago that completely explains my life right now.

I was rushing around trying to get ready to leave for some kind of trip with hubs and some friends. Each time I tried to leave, I realized I forgot something, so I'd run around the house to get it. Then I couldn't find my socks and in each drawer there was everything but socks. So I realized I left my socks at my friend's house. Meanwhile, hubs would pop in and tell me to hurry up. So when I left to get my socks from my friend's house, I tried running there, but it was like the sidewalk was almost verticle and I couldn't move! Hubs was next to me walking just fine and easily and I just couldn't move.

Then I woke up.

I totally understand this dream. I feel completely out of control in this whole wanting to have a baby thing. It's mostly out of my hands. I know it will happen when it's supposed to happen, but I love to be in control of my life! That probably has most to do with being a teacher, I like to plan everything out. I can't plan things out on this.

Alright, I've gotten that out. I needed to vent a little. My attitude has been positive for the most part on this whole thing, but I can't hold in the struggle or it will eat me alive! :o)

question for the more blog savvy people out there.

This post is purely to help me understand something, and I need your help!

I'm fairly new to this, so bare with me. When someone follows my blog, how the heck do I look at theirs? When I click on their little thumbnail by "followers" it will give me a pop-up but a lot of times, it doesn't have a link to their blog.

Any help would be fantastic. Thanks bloggers!

Lemonade

I just love reading other people's blogs. Sometimes looking at someone else's perspective on life really helps sort out your own. Today, when reading someone's   blog she wrote, "Life doesn't suck, life is a blessing." For some reason, it really struck me as so simple and so true. I didn't really realize I needed to hear those words until I read them.

I've recently been handed a lemon that I'm not ready, or maybe just not willing, to talk about. Not only was it a lemon, sour and bitter in itself, but it wasn't even ripe enough to make lemonade out of...non-the-less to put into vodka.

So rather than making lemonade this time, I've found a blessing in this lemon. Some lemons are not meant to become lemonade. Some lemons are just there to remind you that someday you can have lemonade.

 

And I will... when life hands me a good lemon.

California... knows how to party.

(Yes, I dedicate my title to Tu Pac, I would put a link to the song on here, but I'm not that tech savvy, so use your imagination.)

Well, it's official. I'm jet lagged. D and I slept in until 10:30 today and the only reason we woke up is because my mom called. We usually wake up around 9:00 when we get to sleep in.

We got back from Cali on Wednesday night, or should I say Thursday morning? Our flight landed at 11:58 on Wednesday and we got dropped off at our house by my awesome dad and went straight to pick up the dog from my in-laws. When hubs and I walked in, there was very much excitement for 1:00 in the morning. I have never seen a butt wiggle more furiously! The dog was pretty excited, too. ha.

I digress. Our trip was fantastic! As you can see from hub's face when we first arrived: (lol)

 At least the back seat was excited!

D obviously didn't want his hair/face to get too tan. Plus, he looked pretty fashionable with his shirt on his head, right?

Obviously, everyone in this picture didn't get the "act like you're laughing" memo. (Yeah, and I'm not the best actress.)


The height difference is hardly noticable....

You might be thinking, why is he wearing so many clothes at the beach? Well, when you forget to put sunscreen on ALL PARTS of your torso, you will get sunburnt in the places you forgot. Therefore, a shirt was neccessary!

We planned to take a picture of each of our meals, but we forgot and only took pictures of this one... halfway through eating.

Yum. Spinach and ricotta ravioli.

The San Diego Zoo. Sadly, I took a lot of pictures on my phone. I need to take the time to send those pictures to my computer so I can post them.

 

As a baby hippo, being next to your mama comes at a cost. His face was so smushed up against the window!

Gosh, do I miss the palm trees!

 

And we're back in Michigan. It's raining. There are no mountains or palm trees when we look outside our window. Hubs would move there in a second, but not me. Nope. Yes, I loved the scenery, the weather, the amount of things there were to do. Sure, I hate the winter here, I despise putting my winter jacket on and would rather wear flip flops year round than have to tie my own shoes for 6 months out of the year. But unless we find a way to move each and every friend and family member with us, I'm staying in this multi-weathered state.

Besides, where else can you point to your hand to show someone where you live?

my reward

We had a field trip today and holy moly was it hot. Even without the squirt bottles we brought to spray the kids (and ourselves) it would have looked like we went to a water park.

It was so fun to watch the kids here. The PTA bought every child a ticket to ride the carousal which was so sweet. Most of the kids haven't ever been on a carousal, let alone did they know what it even was! (In English that is) So watching them ride was a reward in itself.

But for me, the real reward came outside of the glassblowing building before sitting on a bench.

My group consisted of 3 boys. One wanderer, both in mind and body, one loud, fast runner, and one stinker who I would take home with me in a minute but is a totally irritating student. He never, ever, ever stops talking. I'm talking never quiet. It's like he doesn't even know I'm right next to him and he'll just spurt out anything he's thinking. He was the only one who ever "moved his name down" consistantly in my class and had to miss recess. Though he was irritating and frustrating, I often teased him about how chatty he was and that I am chatty too, but I control myself and if he's ever a teacher he can chat as much as he wants. This, obviously, isn't the reward.

Back to the glassblowing building. We stood in the building that held over 2,000 degree fires to help mold glass into beautiful vases only to step back outside to the 97 degrees the day held for us. We were waiting for our partner group to walk out and out of no where, he gives it to me - my reward.

"You're like the best teacher I ever had in my whole life."

And that was it. I could have cried on the spot. I thought he didn't think much of me because I was always taking his recess, threatening to call home, moving him to his own island so he'd stop talking (which he still talked, but to me since his seat was in front of my table), and his name was always being said from me in and irritated way. But he said it, I was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. And that's 10 years of life!

He didn't stick around for the hugs and love like my girls do when they say this stuff to me. He simply walked over to his friend and continued to play squirt me in the face with the water. That's how I knew he really meant it.

I'll never forget it. Not ever.

a lot of fun

Well I have been posting about the newest addition to my extended family, but I failed to post about our memorial weekend. I had to make everyone uncomfortable with my new hobby of taking photos.

We had a surprise BBQ and game day in our backyard. I had finished cleaning up around the house and D says, "The guys are coming over in a minute." We had no food in our house, no drinks, nothing. So, we improvised.

We brought out the washers, and guess who got a ringer!? Me! Guess who forgot to take a picture to document this momentous/rare occasion. Me.

Some people showed their enthusiasm for the events of the day like they normally do.

We took in a collection and bought food to grill on our grill we got as a gift last summer but hadn't ever used. And our chef was the one who ran to the store, so us regular folks were there to figure it out.

Success!

There is always one way to find out if you had a successful impromtu gathering....

It was a fun night and we all were sad when we realized it was the last day of vacation and work was waiting for us in the morning.

At least someone got some rest that night.

 

Baby Fever!

My niece!

She's georgous!

Oh I can't wait to have my own. We're lucky to have such generous people having babies. I'm 100% positive that we all spent more time holding this lovely girl than mom and dad did!

So much excitement

My lovely sister-in-law and brother are having baby number 2 tomorrow. I'm really excited to be an aunt again! They didn't find out what they're having, which makes this extra exciting. I suppose I will know tomorrow morning! I'm regretting the fact that I am working a half day, I wish I would have taken the whole day off, now!

This really makes me excited to have a baby of my own someday. <3

On another note- the countdowns are crazy. 5 school days left and 12 days until vacation. I can not wait!