Does anyone read this anymore??

I miss my blog.

I haven't been blogging much lately because I've been so incredibly busy. But now it is summer and things have (kind of) calmed down. I'd like to revive my blog!

Blogging isn't the same it used to be. I think most people are on Facebook and keep in touch that way. When I first started blogging (and for several years after that), several of my friends had blogs and we all enjoyed reading one another's blogs and commenting.

Maybe if I get the ball rolling, they will as well??? (Wishful thinking?)

I have lots to talk about...so expect more soon!

And oh, yeah...does anyone read this anymore, or has everyone given up on the chance that I'll blog anything of substance again?

Still here

I'm still here.

Things have been the typical end-of-the-year wild.

I'll have a full update this weekend...for the three people who check this blog. :-)

Rough week

The blog posts have been scarce, I know. I have been so busy with putting together this awards program that I have barely had time for anything else. Oh, and then there's the grading, too. And it seems like every day this week has brought some bad news in some form or another.

The worst, though, is that Wednesday we found out that our house might not sell after all. We got a ridiculous appraisal on our house way below what we are asking. We cannot sell our house for that amount. Another appraisal has been ordered, but things aren't looking good.

We're bummed, to say the least. This also means that we'll probably be in our house a few more years.

The "common sense" side of me realizes that this isn't the end of the world and that many people--and I'm thinking of people in the Nashville area and people who would just be happy to have a house at all--would scoff that I'm so disappointed by this. But I am human, and I'm just really, really sad.

I'm hoping this week is better.

What's going on this week

Work--I absolutely hate teaching this time of year. The kids are done. I'm ready to be done. The number of days left in the year both excites and terrifies me...I have so much to do in these last few weeks. My buddy Tim introduced me to the "Revv" k-cup, which packs twice the wallop of a normal cup of coffee. I think I might have found the key to survival for the next month!!

Home--Adding to the stress (but also very, very exciting!!!) is the fact that it looks as though we have really, truly sold our house. Contracts have been signed and a home inspection has been done. Even better, we have found and signed a contract on a house we LOVE. Seriously...Darryl and I found this house last Friday, and we were in it for about two minutes when we both declared that it felt like the house for us. The home inspection for it was done this past week, and it's in great shape. There are so many things that I like about the house, but here are the things I'm most excited about: a screened-in back porch, a bigger kitchen with an island, and the openness of the kitchen and living area. We're very excited, but we're also scheduled to close a few days before school is out. Whew!

That's about it...but isn't that enough??

Why not another list?

1. This week at school has been very difficult. I've gotten very frustrated with my students, who apparently think they are already done with school. Maybe I used my "angry teacher voice" too many times this week.
2. We think we have actually sold our house this time. We have signed contracts and have talked closing dates. I know things can fall through at any time, but this is the farthest we've gotten in the process.
3. House hunting with a two-year-old is...interesting. And exhausting.
4. I'm behind on TV again. A student this week asked me if I watched Glee this week, and I told her I may very well not get to watch it until July.
5. Darryl was playfully hitting Amelia on the head with a balloon a few minutes ago, and now Amelia keeps saying, "Daddy hit me! Daddy hit me!" I hope she stops saying that by the time I take her to daycare Monday. :-)
6. Amelia seems to enjoy watching The Princess and the Frog, which is a welcome break from Elmo's Christmas Countdown.

The List for Today

1. I-tunes and boredom are not a good combination.
2. Neither is You-Tube and boredom.
3. I like my new iPhone cover. It is robin-egg blue and makes me feel springy.
4. I have felt extremely isolated this week and am craving adult conversation and a good belly laugh.
5. Darryl does provide some adult conversation, but we have exhausted our conversation topics this week.
6. The theme for this Spring Break has been k-cups, TV, and Amelia.
7. I have had some really weird dreams this week, including one where I was having an affair with Hulk Hogan. I was thoroughly repulsed when I awoke from that one.
8. I watched the movie P.S. I Love You and absolutely hated it.
9. I have had some pressing anxiety this week about all the things I have to accomplish during the remainder of the school year, including pulling off an academic awards program pretty much single-handedly.
10. I am enjoying this season of Dancing with the Stars more than I thought I would. Of course, I'm pulling for my figure-skating boyfriend Evan Lysacek, but who knew I would actually like Pamela Anderson?

The zoo

Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew.

Yesterday might have been one of those times.

After much thought, careful consideration, and discussion with my other mom friends, I decided to take Amelia to the zoo. I was tired of hanging around the house and thought that Amelia was old enough to "get it."

And I think she did. She loved pointing to all the animals and naming them. Her favorite exhibit was the flamingos. She also loved the giraffes and the monkeys, but the flamingos were definitely the big hit.

The trip went south in a hurry, though, as we left the zoo. I'm not sure how I managed to do this, but somehow I did not walk in the correct direction through Grant Park to get to my car. It's hard to tell because it all looks the same. (This is something I did NOT know at time, however.) I was hot and tired, and Amelia was hot and tired, and we walked and walked in what I thought was the right direction. Then I noticed a street sign and realized we were not even on the right street. I seriously wanted to cry I was so tired.

Because Amelia was tired, too, I tried to carry her as much as I could. And periodically we'd have conversations like these:

ME: Amelia, can you walk for a little bit?

AMELIA: No.

ME: Please.

AMELIA: No.

ME: Amelia, please, because you love your Mommy and she feels like she is about to pass out, could you please please please for the love of God walk for a little bit?

Seriously, we probably walked two miles. I know that isn't the longest distance in the world, but when you are hot, thirsty, tired, and have already walked a lot at the zoo, it feels like a marathon.

And then, THEN...on the way home I realized I no longer had a cell phone.

That's right. I lost my phone. I'll fast forward to the end of that story...someone gave it to a cop. I already have new phone and goodness knows if I'll ever see my old one again, but at least the phone (complete with my email and text messages) isn't in the hands of a lunatic. At least I hope not.

As I was driving home, I was wondering if going to the zoo had been a wise decision, if it had been worth all the trouble in the end. And then I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Amelia marching her little panda bear figurine up and down her arm, and I decided it definitely was. I just may never go again without Darryl. :-)

Here are a few pics:

I know I should have cropped out this kid on the left, but I'm feeling lazy.



On the choo-choo train--Amelia was getting tired at this point, but she was very excited and wide-eyed the whole time. Girlfriend loves a train.


Amelia picked out the elephant herself. :-)
The last hour aside, we had a great time. And we spent all day today recovering from our adventure.

Easter

We had a pretty good Easter. My parents have been visiting for the weekend and have been enjoying Amelia. I'm feeling a little under the weather with sinus issues, but it's been a good weekend nonetheless.

Here are a couple of pics. I can't believe how fast Amelia is growing up.



Nothing like the neighbors' garbage can for a photo backdrop, huh?



The Easter Bunny brought her some Micky Mouse Clubhouse figurines and she has played with them ALL day long.

Amelia also really enjoyed hunting Easter eggs, a venture that took all of about 30 seconds. She yelled, "I find Easter eggs! I find Easter eggs!" over and over the entire time.



Love our lush green grass?

On another note...we have someone interested in our house again. Apparently this person has narrowed the search to three (including ours), and we should know something in the next day or two. Cross your fingers and toes for us. In addition to this being pretty good timing (some Spring Break time to pack, the summer to get moved and everything in place), we have found several houses that we are interested in. The last time someone was interested and it fell through, we really didn't see much that we liked on the market, and the timing was terrible. We're trying not to get our hopes up, but we are so ready to sell our house. We have loved living here and have lots of wonderful memories here, but we need some serious space.

Anyway, aside from that, I'm super thrilled Spring Break is this week. I thought this week would never get here. I'm looking forward to some good times with my girl and sleeping later than 4:30 a.m. :-)

I like to call this one...

I like to call this photo "Stubborn Vs. More Stubborn." Want to guess who's who?

I stink

I'm a horrible blogger.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

I just need to fix it somehow.

I'll try to post more this weekend (with some Amelia pics), but here's a rundown of what has been going on.

1. School is keeping me busy, busy, busy.
2. Spring Break cannot get here quickly enough.
3. Lost was awesome last night...I would definitely put it in my Top 5 episodes. Maybe Top 3.
4. I've lost 9 pounds!!!!!
5. I've started jogging, for heaven's sake. And I'm enjoying it!
6. While I'm pining away for Spring Break, I am teaching Hemingway, Faulkner, and Fitzgerald at school, so at least I'm really liking what I'm teaching.
7. Amelia bit a kid at school today. When I asked her about it, she said, "I bite Bella. I get time out." Awesome.
8. I wish essays could magically grade themselves.
9. I need about five more hours in my day.
10. One of my students thought a sonnet was an article of clothing the other day. (Was he thinking of a bonnet?)

This interview made me laugh and laugh

I'm about to make two embarrassing admissions:

1. I have a school-girl crush on figure skater Evan Lysacek.
2. I love, love, love Bonnie Hunt (always have) and want to be her BFF.

This interview shows why I love them both. If you have the time, watch it to the end. At the 4 minute mark, it starts getting pretty funny.

Morning Blogger

I've decided to start blogging in the mornings before I get ready because that is the only way I'll consistently get a post up on this blog. And I miss blogging. I'm so grateful that I have "records" of days past; once in a while it is fun to see what was going on during various points of my life.

I realize it has been almost 2 weeks since the Winter Olympics ended, but I started a Top 5 Moments post that I am going to put up because dang it, I still miss the Olympics. And it's my blog. And if I want to put up a Top 5 List, no matter how pathetic it makes me look (especially two weeks after the event is over), then by George, I'm going to do it. I should have it up over the weekend. (I know the suspense is killing you.)

It has been a busy couple of weeks indeed. I've also made a conscious effort the past few nights--except last night because I had some extra things I needed to do around the house because someone is looking at it today--to get to bed by 10:00. Class prep, grading (as always), having fun with Amelia...I'm so ready for Spring Break to get here.

I better go for now. I'm judging an essay competition today. I know. You want my life. :-)

For Nana

Those Winter Olympics...

Now that the Winter Olympics are over, maybe I can return to my blog. :-)

I hope to have a new post soon, and don't be surprised if it contains my Top 5 Olympic Moments from the past two weeks.

Because I'm a bit of a fanatic...and maybe slightly traumatized that it's over.

My mother also wants me to post a cute video of Amelia, and I'm trying to figure out how to do that.

So...more posts soon!

The Week in Review--Amelia, Olympics, Etc.

Amelia with the Grandparents. My parents took Amelia back with them last Monday and kept her for the week! They spoiled her rotten with tea parties, beach trips, and more, and she had a great time. We met them halfway between our house and theirs yesterday to get her. I was so glad to see her, and I was thrilled when she came running toward me with a big smile and gave me a huge hug. Quite frankly, I was a little concerned that she had been having such a good time with them that she'd run away from me and want to go back with them!

Anyway, while we missed Amelia terribly, we did enjoy having a little break and some quiet around the house. We went to a movie this week (Valentine's Day, which I enjoyed even though the critics hated it), and we ate out just about every night at restaurants that aren't exactly the most kid-friendly. I also got to have dinner with my friend Sheri one evening, and that was fun, too.

But we're definitely glad Amelia's home!

The Winter Olympics, especially Men's Figure Skating. I'm going to totally geek out on you right now and confess that I stayed up until 12:30 a.m Thursday (really Friday) to watch Evan Lysacek win the gold...even though I had to get up four hours later.

I'm a big figure skating nerd and have been ever since I watched Scott Hamilton and Katarina Witt win the gold in 1984. I don't follow it as closely as I used to; in fact, I've never even heard of the skaters on the women's team, but I had heard of the skaters on the men's team (I even saw Lysacek and Weir skate "live" before at an event in Atlanta about six years ago) and heard all the buzz that this was probably our strongest and first real chance reclaiming the gold since 1988.

Making this even better was the fact that Evgeny Plushenko--a skater who has been around for years and had recently come out of retirement to repeat his victory in Torino--was one of the contenders. I've never liked him only because he comes across as extremely arrogant (as evidenced by his sour grapes attitude since Thursday night).

Anyway, it was totally worth the lack of sleep because Lysacek won the gold with a difficult and beautifully choreographed program, and apparently it was, in the words of the commentators, "the skate of his life." Plushenko landed a quad, but other than that, his program was lackluster. I liked the fact that the "total package"--athleticism and artistry--won out over one impressive jump.

I'm also happy for Lysacek's coach, 71-year-old Frank Carroll, who has come this close to having an Olympic champion before (he coached one of my faves, The Kwan), and now he finally has his champion.

And since I've totally just shown my figure skating geekiness...let me just go all the way and show you what is my Picture of the Day (for my Project Life album) for Thursday:


I know. Sometimes I scare myself. I just LOVE great Olympic stories. :-)

The diet. It's going very well. I haven't exercised at all, but I've done very well with my food intake, even with all the eating out we've done this week. I've made Tuesday my weigh-in day, and I'm curious to see the results. My goal this week is to add a little exercise.

And in conclusion...I've got lots and lots and lots to grade, so I better get to it. Someone remind me why I chose English as my subject to teach....?

Weight Loss, Take 482.

If you're rolling your eyes at me, I completely understand.

I wonder how many posts I've devoted to "I'm turning over a new leaf--skinny, here I come" posts.

I really don't want to know.

I've got to do something. I started Weight Watchers online today. My goal is to lose 20 pounds.

I thought photographic evidence of my goals might motivate me, so here I go. (Don't worry--you're not about to see any photos of me in a sports bra, a la The Biggest Loser.)

My first goal is that I want to fit into these black pants. I bought them at a killer price at Ann Taylor Loft, and I love them. At the time, I needed to lose maybe 5 pounds for them to fit well, but the price was good and I was convinced I would lose the pounds, so I bought them. Not only did I NOT lose those pounds, but I gained about five more. So in about 10 pounds from now, I should be able to wear these pants.

My next goal is to be able to wear this shirt (which also goes with a very cute size-8 denim skirt). I bought this outfit right after I lost all my baby weight...and it fit for about 2 weeks before I started putting weight back on (more about that in a minute).
The spot on the shirt is something with the camera I think; this shirt doesn't have a big grease spot on it. Anyway, I think this shirt is about 13 pounds away.

And last, but not least, is this sundress. I would really like to be able to wear it in May...maybe for Mother's Day or something? I'd say this dress is 20 pounds away. (And it is prettier in person.)


After I had Amelia, I actually did very well with losing the baby weight. Then at the beginning of that summer, Darryl's dad passed away and we spend a lot of time in our hometown. Now, some of the best cooks ever live in my hometown, and people there tend to show their love in homemade cakes, casseroles, and any other form of comfort food. I remember distinctly a butternut cake--and I mean a BUTTERnut cake that left a big grease spot on the paper towel--that changed my life (and increased my weight).

And I never got it back under control. I could play the blame game all day long; the stress of being a first-time mom, the stress of work and a new principal, the fun of cooking and enjoying what I've cooked have all contributed to my poor eating habits.

But I'm tired of feeling yucky and out of shape. I believe I'll be successful because I'm just READY to feel better. And spring and summer are on the way, so that means pool time. Shorts. Sundresses.

Here's to thinner, healthier days ahead!

Snow, Valentine's Day, Cupcakes!

As I already mentioned, we got a good bit of snow...several inches. Amelia loved shuffling around in it. The snow was actually too powdery to make a decent snowman (and do I even know how to build one, anyway), but we tried some snow angels and just walked around in the yard. It's amazing how a covering of snow can make your all-too-familiar yard look like a different world.


My parents came up Saturday, and Darryl and I went out Saturday night to The Capital Grille, which is really one of our favorite "special" restaurants. We get the same thing every time, but it's so, so good.

On Sunday, my mom and Amelia made Valentine's cupcakes. Once again, Amelia was a pro with the sprinkles.
Notice the cupcake apron. Nana even made sure that Amelia had the appropriate attire.

She was also a pro at eating the cupcakes.
(FYI...I promise we feed our child food besides cookies and cupcakes.)

Cookies!

With the exception of a short excursion to Chick-fil-a, Amelia and I stayed home today. We decided to bake and decorate some Valentine cookies. Festive, yes?

I'll confess that these cookies were not only store-bought dough, but they were also already rolled out and cut into little hearts. Now typically I'm all about making the cookies from scratch, but I figured Amelia would really have more fun decorating them, so that was really my main priority.

Here she is with the cookies, before they went to the oven. (She wanted some of that dough SO badly, but I'm still Paranoid Mom who thinks her daughter will get salmonella. Of course, I ate some, but whatever.)


She really enjoyed shaking the sprinkles on.

And she enjoyed tasting her creations. (I think Elmo was hoping for a cookie.)
On a different note, we got several inches of snow today--definitely the most we've gotten since we moved here seven years ago. I'll definitely have to get some pictures tomorrow. It was still falling after dark and I didn't want to mess up my camera. :)

Valentine's Party

Amelia's daycare class had their Valentine's party Wednesday since Thursday was a half-day (thanks, teacher furloughs) and today is full day off (thanks again, teacher furloughs).

Anyway, the party was super-cute. Amelia had a smile like this on her face the entire time.



Here's a pic of Amelia with her friend Tanner. Amelia LOVES Tanner. Whenever we're getting ready to go to school in the morning, I ask her if she is ready to see her friends, and she says, "See Tanner? My Tanner?" Sweet.

Here's a pic of the whole group.

Here's Amelia, checking out a valentine from her box:
I love these little parties. The daycare teachers do such a great job in making each child feel very special. Amelia had such a fun time (and so did her mommy)!

Oops...I Did It Again

I neglected my blog again. It's easy to do. Life gets so busy, and I've really been trying to get in bed by 10 or 10:30.

But here I am.

I don't really have much to report. I really have been making an effort to cook at home more (this is HUGE for me), and last Sunday, I made this deliciousness, homemade chicken and noodles:



And might I add that the yumminess you see in the left corner is blackberry cobbler.

I know. I don't know what came over me. It was all delicious and definitely thwarted my efforts to lose 10 (or more) pounds.

Speaking of thwarted efforts, about as soon as I posted how well I was doing with Wii Fit Active, I haven't done it again. I'm hoping to get back on it this week.

I've had a yucky teaching week with a few of my classes. I really am feeling the need to reinvent the wheel but am struggling to find the motivation to do it. Sometimes I think that I could light myself on fire and do a dance and they still wouldn't be engaged with what is going on.

Instead of leaving on a negative note, I'll leave you with this photo. Amelia and I were playing with her Elmo answering machine, and she was getting completely cracked up over the sound of her voice being played back to her. Cute!