Spring Fever

Spring has sprung and golf season is right around the corner.  Miles has the fever and has been to Riverview to play and the driving range at Otte.  Look out PGA Tour!

The hubs is currently in Boston chaperoning 50+ high school AP US History students.  I've been following all their shenanigans on twitter.  If you don't have a twitter account , you might as well sign up for one, because it's a "high school" thing.  I'm not much of a twitter gal myself and find it sort of useless.  I signed up for twitter when I went with Matt to Boston the first year, and although I don't get on it much, I now have my personal account, maintain the BRAVO 13 Nationals Volleyball account and assist with the SKyPAC twitter account.  I have three accounts, go figure!  

Lots of historical sites to see - Bunker Hill, USS Constitution, North Church, Red Sox game, tours of MIT and Harvard, Trinity Church and much, much more!  You can follow them on twitter too! @SWHSBoston



We decided not to do anything big for Spring Break (last week) mainly because Matt had this trip planned (which is a lot to organize and plan), and we had a BRAVO tournament in Atlanta last weekend.  A weekend trip to Atlanta is NO JOKE.  It's a haul.  I feel like I'm still paying for it this week.  The girls played in the Kudzu Klassik.  We beat all of the teams in our pool and tournament play which made for a worthwhile weekend.  I think the girls had the most fun hanging out on the football field at the high school where the tournament was played.

 We took the boys with us on this trip.  Isaac hasn't been to one of Karson's tournaments.  Miles went to the first one in Sevierville but hasn't been to any others.  The good news:  they had a blast.  The bad news:  the (for real) cops came to our hotel room on Saturday.  Long story short, they had received a noise complaint and also were under the impression that they boys were left alone in the room.  Yep, they're loud and like to wrestle AND Matt was there in the room with them the entire time (and said they weren't that loud).  Good times.

 Party of 1,000 at El Nepal Mexican Restaurant.

We are the Kudzu Klassik Champions!

We did get to have some family time at the Georgia Aquarium on Friday afternoon.  It's pretty awesome!

 I think the thing that is especially neat about this aquarium is not only the large amount of salt and fresh water life they have, but they also have two shows that you can attend.  We saw both the sea lion show and the dolphin show.

 We could've stayed in this room for hours.

 After we went to the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg a few years back, we swore we'd never go to another aquarium again - "if you've seen one, you've seen them all" mentality.  I sure am glad we went to the Georgia Aquarium and would recommend it to anyone.

Touching a stingray.

We even managed to snag some underwater creatures of our own at the gift shop who look sort of like our children.

 Miles had his spring program two weeks ago = "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears" - awesome, like always.  Plano has the best music program in Warren County.  We love Ms. Harrington!

Karson and her buddy Elizabeth enjoying post-performance brownie bites.

 I can't believe April ends next week!  Seems like every year moves faster and faster.  How is it possible that Isaac will be a 6th grader in a few short months?  Surreal indeed!  He's got his 212 Academy Ceremony this Thursday.  He continues to soar academically. 

School doesn't come as easy or naturally to Miles as it does the other two kids.  He's smart but has to work hard at school.  I'm super proud of him because his STAR Math test scores came home this week, and they were through the roof.  The star below was his projected growth, and the diamond is where he landed.  He went from a 533, 589 and 719.  We're crazy, proud of him!  I'm anxious to see how he did on his STAR reading.  Reading and comprehension are more of a struggle.  Hopefully, he did well.  Fingers crossed.  KPREP is right around the corner.

Feeling the Birthday Love

I'm overwhelmed with birthday LOVE!  It's hard to believe that I am 39 years old TODAY.  Trust me though, the crow's feet and wrinkles on my forehead which remind me of a music staff make me realize that I am one year closer to 40.  Advil and heating pads are my friends.  I have a recurring crick in my neck that I can't seem to get rid of (even after replacing my pillow).  I've worn glasses for two years, probably from the endless hours I spend playing Candy Crush and wishing I was as great as Amanda Warder.  I can only wear support shoes (like tennis shoes, flip flops with arch support or Easy Spirits) or my neck and back hurt.  My idea of high impact work-out consists of a mile on the elliptical and walking with my neighbor Jennie.  Yep, I'm 39 - that's my life, it's pretty average (and boring) and I'm okay with it.   I have everything I want.  Matt sent me this email (not sure who authored it) last summer, and I read occasionally to remind myself that my life is pretty great.

I live an entirely unexceptional life. Listen.
I'm a pretty average-looking 39 year old guy. I've got a decent education, but nothing out of the ordinary. I've got a decent job that I enjoy doing, but it's nothing earth-shaking. I'm married to a woman who means the world to me, but who has not thus far won either the Nobel Prize or Miss Universe, nor is she, I reckon, likely to ever do either.

I've got 3 kids. They're healthy and happy children who do fairly decently in school and have several hobbies they love. They mean the world to me too, but thus far none of them have won the Nobel Prize either, nor do I have any particular reason to believe that they will.

I've got perhaps a dozen friends that I love, and a larger count of acquaintances of varying closeness. I live in a perfectly ordinary Norwegian house, and drive a 12 year old Toyota that hasn't been washed this month.

None of this is exceptional to anyone except for me.

To me; this is my life; and I happen to enjoy it very much. Actually that is an understatement; if you'd told me a couple decades ago that I'd be as happy as I am, I'd have refused point-blank to believe you.

From MY perspective, I've got everything anyone could possible want. Health. Hobbies. Friends. and Love.

I'm not exceptional in any of these things; but why would I need to be ?

The rewards I desire don't seem unreachable to me. On the contrary, I feel like being alive right now, just like this, it is reward enough. What more could I need ?

I'm going to turn off the computer now, then I'm going to find a bottle of wine for when my wife returns later; and spend the 45 minutes until then playing the guitar. I do this because it's fun, because it's challenging, because I love learning and I love music, and because I can.

That's my life. It's not an exceptional one.
But my biggest regret is that I'm unlikely to get much more than 50 additional years of it. I intend to do my very best to enjoy every single day of it though.

Matt and Karson pampered me with a SOHO gift certificate to get my nails done.  Wahoo!

The boys both made me the sweetest cards.

 Isaac spent quite a while working on my card last night.  I didn't realize how much time and thought he actually put into it.  39 reasons I love MOM.  Love that he claims himself as a Momma's boy - makes my heart melt.  

 I got to celebrate with my family on Sunday (with my dad because our birthdays are so close) and got some nice gifts...

My adopted mom Vicky got me the cutest little flower pot.  My sister got me some wine glasses and a bottle of wine.

My mom got me these cute little bunnies - aren't they sweet!!

 

My mother-in-law got me a neat little lantern.

I got to work this morning and was flooded with love from my extra special co-workers.  Donuts are my favorite and welcomed me in the break room with a sweet card from the whole staff.  

 

My friend Jennie got me a lovely candy bouquet, and my friend Jess brought me a muffin from Spencer's. YUM!

 

My friend Deb played a trick on me and brought an empty Krispy Kreme box with a card in it but made up for it with a cute tumbler. 

 

My friend Lynn got me a great smelling candle, and my friend Sue got me some Bath and Body hand wash.  I'm spoiled and work with the greatest people on EARTH!  Totally!

I also had a dinner celebration at Griff's which has become one of my favorite places to eat.   

Capped off the night with a volleyball scrimmage at South.  The whole team ended up singing Happy Birthday to me =).  It was embarassingly awesome!

All my sweet birthday cards on the mantle.

I'm thankful for my life, my husband, my kids, my family, my friends and try each day to appreciate all the little things that I constantly take for granted. 

I truly feel loved and am going to hold on tight to numero 39 - the BIG one is next year!