I am a rock…

No, not The Rock, or Iraq...just a rock.  For Halloween that is.  Seems silly.  I know.  But it goes with a theme...can you guess?  I had bright ideas as I began to create my masterpiece.  Things took a quick turn and it soon began looking like a dark storm cloud.   

This was the first year that the first grade team has only had to come up with a theme for 3 :(   When I put it on for my 1st graders, I immediately told them that I was not a dark storm cloud hoping that would eliminate that guess.  Their response...are you burnt toast, Mrs. Laune?  Guess again boys and girls!

As for trick-or-treaters...my recruiting totally shattered last year’s counts.  If you know anything about me, I have dreamed my whole life of having trick-or-treaters.  However, growing up in the country, that was not quite a possibility.  Living in an apartment is also not quite conducive to trick-or-treating and therefore, I recruit!  I was up to 16 trick-or-treaters this year!

Bella anxiously waited for trick-or-treaters to come to our door.  (Then ran the opposite way as they got close)

These trick-or-treaters made a stop by this evening.  This little princess and duck were more excited to see Bella than they were for candy.  Bella on the other hand was not so excited.  Imagine that...a black cat on Halloween that was spooked.

I am so happy I survived Halloween.  On a Monday.  With a new student.  And I had candy for dinner.  The rest of the week can only be better, right?

I hope that you had a “Spooktacular” day!

{The Launes}

Goooo Biiiiig Reeeeed…Go Big Red!

Yesterday morning I got a call at about 7:30 a.m. (on a Saturday) from my sister.  It went like this...”Hey Meg, want to go to the Nebraska football game today?  You’ll have to be ready in half an hour.”  I debated for a few minutes and finally decided, what the heck!  I’m going to be spontaneous for once.  And boy am I glad!  Jamie’s neighbor had an extra ticket to the game and I was the lucky recipient.  Better yet, it was FREE!  Thank you Jamie’s neighbor :)

Jamie, Brian and I...all decked out in Husker red headed to Lincoln, stopped by a couple of tailgates and then made our way to Memorial Stadium.  Jamie and I had tickets together in South Stadium while Brian sat with the neighbor on the 45 yard line 14 rows up (but I’m not complaining).

Touchdown...Go Big Red!  Go Big Red!

The Huskers took on Michigan State in a Big 10 battle...that the big red dominated!  I’ve only been to one other game since I graduated from UNL so it was a blast to cheer for a game where the Huskers beat a team ranked higher than them.  Let’s just say that my college days and the Bill Callahan era were not the glory days.   It was also fun to be there with Jamie.  Part of my cheering goal was to say something that would make Jamie laugh.  Mission accomplished!

I did not regret my decision to go to the game one little bit.  I am so glad that Jamie didn’t take my initial no for an answer.  There is no better way to spend a Husker Saturday than at Memorial Stadium with some of my closest 86,000 plus fans. Thank you Jamie for making this happen!

Tonight, I have a Halloween costume to make, cookies to bake and more school work to finish up.  Wish me luck!

{The Launes}

One long week…

What a week!  I survived parent teacher conferences.  I give them an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.  Only had one slight meltdown this week...apparently the combination of conferences, school and life got the best to me.  But thanks to some extra support (and chocolate and caffeine) I was able to quickly get back on track.

This was just a little of the love shared with me during parent teacher conferences.  Somebody must have known I was going to need it!

To celebrate my day off on Friday I ate lunch with Marissa to celebrate our birthdays and then got a massage.  I topped the day off by treating myself to a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.  I had never had one before and felt like I needed to experience the cup of coffee that everyone so raves about.  I’m sold.  Fall in a cup, what more can a girl ask for?

Now, I’m off to enjoy another beautiful fall weekend...Go Big Red!.

{The Launes}

Best. Day. Ever.

Yesterday I had a very happy surprise.  One of my best friends (in the whole wide world) came to visit and didn’t tell me she was coming!  We showed up for a regular Saturday night game night at the Vest house and out walked Sara!  Since she lives in paradise (Hawaii) I don’t get to see her very often.  Usually I have a countdown of how many days until Sara is in town, but not this time.

Game night did not go off as planned as the boys shared their top and bottom five Nebraska football player list of all time followed by You Tube videos of those old players and deep discussion followed by whiffle ball in the garage.  But I did get to spend some time with Sara and Jessie.  Sara also made me a completely Pinterest inspired birthday gift...Clothespin glittery magnets, a t-shirt braided necklace and a wrapped L...love it all!

Having Sara in town meant getting home really late.  Staying up until 1 a.m. is just not in my blood.  It’s even worse when I have to get up early the next morning.  So let’s just say that the best day ever was followed by the Worst. Morning. EVER.  I told Jamie a couple of weeks back that I would do the Zoo Run with her.  Sounded fun.  Sunday morning, 5 miles around the Henry Doorly Zoo.  Bad news...only about a mile of it was in the zoo.  The rest was outside on the street, long hills, and miserableness.  I survived the first 4 miles and then couldn’t decide if I was going to throw up or pass out.  Thank heavens neither, but I had to walk...don’t judge.  Had it been flat I would have pushed on but I could not do one more hill!  I put on a pathetic performance this morning.  Sorry Jamie!

The race did include free admission into the zoo so we checked out the Cat complex, the gorillas and the polar bear. 

Jamie wanted to take this kitty home, but the zoo keeper said not today...it just looked so cuddly!

This tiger on the other hand was not so happy to see us.  Apparently it was unaware of our affinity for cats...

This gorilla woke up on the wrong side of the bed...bless its little heart!

Then it was on to brunch at Wheatfield's.  The omelet special was delicious!

Finally, after a quick grocery shopping trip I head home and took a much anticipated nap.  I’ve been planning on this nap all week and it lived up to those expectations.

Thank you Jamie for convincing me to do the Zoo run.  Next year I will prepare by running hills...lots of them.  Now, it’s back to Monday.  First day I will see my little darling since last Tuesday followed by the longest week ever! 

{The Launes}

Happy Fall…

I don’t know about you, but I think that this has been an absolutely beautiful fall!  The days have been mostly sunny and temperatures have been steady in the 70’s.   I know fall is also dubbed as “sweatshirt weather” but I quite honestly prefer to not need a sweatshirt.  That is part of the reason why I am loving fall so much right now!

I also love fall decorations...pumpkins, flowers, wreaths and pumpkin spice candles, oh my!  I put my fall decorations up towards the end of September, but haven’t had a chance to share the love.

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Soap...I can’t wait for my hands to enjoy this new soap in the kitchen!

Super simple wreath I made...I love wreaths but they are so dang expensive at Hobby Lobby. 

My birthday flowers...still thriving in the uh-mazing fall weather!

A little bit of everything...Halloween and fall mixed together!

Here’s to keeping my fingers crossed that this fall weather keeps up until at least mid November!  I could get use to this.

{The Launes}

Happy Friday…

Sometimes you just have to share the love and innocence of two happy little girls...

Couldn’t resist... :) 

{The Launes}

Amanda’s About to Pop…

This past Sunday we celebrated the impending arrival of Baby Chung due in early November!  Not only was it a chance to see Amanda in all her cute pregnantness, but the girls also got a chance to catch up.  Amy came up with the theme...

Amanda’s About to Pop!

I made punch.  I found it on Pinterest.  It was suppose to look like bath water.  Of course the Pinterest one was like 12 times cuter...as it always is.  But I finally got to use my punch bowl that I got as  a wedding shower gift...thanks Grandma!

The soon to be mommy...all belly and nothing else!

We made onesies for the new baby...Beth and Anne went all out!

And we showered the mom to be with gifts for the baby...

Overall, a great Sunday.  Unfortunately it took me until Thursday to blog about it!  It’s been a crazy week.  On the bright side, our softball team made it to state so we only had 2 days of school this week!  Go Big Blue!  The rest has been in-service so I have been preparing like a mad woman for conferences next week.  Already thinking ahead...I think I can, I think I can!  Happy almost T.G.I.F.  On the agenda for tomorrow...one more staff in-service and off work at 1:00!

{The Launes}

Introducing…

Bert and Ernie. 

As a little girl growing up in rural Ashland, Nebraska, I had big dreams.  Not to be crowned Miss America, or to win a gold medal at the Olympics as a gymnast (which did both top the list at one point) but to own a goldfish.  However, no matter how many times I asked, the answer was always no.  So I went to extremes to create an imaginary pet goldfish.  Yup.  I filled a plastic baggie with water, gently placed a Cheeto inside and tied the bag.  Inside, was my pet “goldfish.”  My soggy friend didn’t last long and had to be replaced often, but I was satisfied with my creation.

Slightly lame, I know.  I never thought too much of it until I shared the story with some of my friends at Bible study.  Since that time, the story has come up again and again.  I have no idea how many people they have shared this story with!  They think it is hilarious. 

And that leads us to Bert and Ernie.  On Wednesday, I got an e-mail from the school secretary saying I had a “special delivery.”  As I walked into the office, there sitting on the counter was a fish bowl with two goldfish happily swimming around.  In my head I thought, this can’t be it, it just can’t!  But then I knew it was and exactly who it was from.  So the fish spent the rest of the week at school in room 111.  The kids were pumped, I was nervous of my abilities to keep them alive.

Today, I stopped at school to feed them only to discover that Bert had passed on.  I don’t know what I did wrong, but I am a goldfish caretaking failure.  No wonder the answer was always no.  I brought Ernie home so he wouldn’t be lonely.  Currently he and Bella are getting acquainted.  There will be no leaving the two of them alone.  Bella is getting a little too close for my comfort.

May Bert rest in peace...hopefully Ernie will grace us with his presence for quite some time!  Thanks Jen, Jenna and Jessie for bringing them into my life.  My childhood dream is now complete!

{The Launes}

They Say It’s Your Birthday…

Na, naa, na, naa, na, naaa, na-na!  Yesterday marked the big 2-7 for me and it couldn’t have been a better day.  I felt for once like I had a summer birthday because temperatures reached 90 degrees and it was Hot!  My ideal fall day.  I was also of course spoiled all day by some of the best friends, family and students I could ask for!  Basically, I was on cloud nine. 

The day started at school when one of my students came marching in carrying a bag nearly as big as he was and a grin that was also just as big.  He quietly sat the bag by my desk, got his book tub and started reading.  Of course I had to check out what it was and it was the cutest fall wreath and some treats that I could keep in my desk for those days I just need a little something extra.  I could not believe one of my students (and his mom) remembered my birthday...…but I quickly realized most of my kids knew...and they told everyone!  They even made me the nicest birthday cards in art and sang me Happy Birthday when I shared the cupcakes that I made for them.  I also got flowers at school from my mom.  They are beau-ti-ful!

Then my sweet sister came all the way to Ashland to visit me.  With M2M out of the way we got to go for a nice leisure walk.  She also spoiled me with with cinnamon pumpkin soap, a water bottle and gift cards to Hobby Lobby and Bath and Body Works.  With lots of visitors yesterday, Naomi, Lainey and Ellie also popped by.  Lainey was of great assistance in opening the present they brought : )  My mom also stopped over for a visit and went above and beyond in the birthday department.  I am already penciling in the massage she got for me and can’t wait to light my new candle!  She also got me the sweetest book, On the Day You Were Born.  It was so fitting.

Last night, the birthday girl got to pick out the restaurant that Trent and I were going to eat at.  With little hesitation I jumped on the opportunity to eat at El Bee’s, one of my favorite restaurants! 

Then, today at school I got an e-mail from the school secretary saying that I had another “special delivery” in the office.  Of course all I could think about was what could it be and who could it be from?  Hold on to your seats, because I am now the proud owner of two goldfish.  Yep, waiting in the office for me was a glass fishbowl with two little goldfish staring up at me.  The story behind the goldfish deserves a post of its own and will come soon...with pictures.  Don’t worry!

Now I really need to refocus on school.  In honor of my birthday week I have majorly slacked in the work department.  I have papers to check and lesson plans to do!  Until next time...

{The Launes}

Market to Market…

1 van + 8 teammates + 78 miles = 1 amazing day

Yesterday marked the 4th annual Market to Market race.  The race starts early in the morning in the Old Market and ends at the Haymarket in Lincoln.  The usual 86 mile route was detoured a bit due to the summer’s flooding and also happened to take off a few miles and create a new starting point at Memorial park.

We all piled into the team van at 6:30 to head for Memorial Park to drop off our teammate for his first leg of the race.  It was a little brisk in the morning, but overall the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. 

We spent the day driving from exchange point to exchange point, hydrating, cheering each other on and taking in a beautiful Nebraska fall day.

The girls on the team...

I may be all smiles, but in my head I was thinking 5.4 miles, no i-pod...will I survive?

Jamie showed determination as she finished her second leg of the race.

The team headed up over the bridge to meet Adam for the final leg of the race...a team finish.

78 miles later we were in Lincoln and all smiles...

Amy’s husband Adam joined our team this year.  We couldn’t have done it without him!

Team Common Tread...alive and well!  And because of some rock stars on our team, we made it to Lincoln in 10 hours and 49 minutes.  Way. to. go.

After watching the first quarter of the Huskers play at the post race shindig, we headed back to Omaha where Brian had put up a big screen for an outdoor projection of the Husker game and lots of yummy food!

Today I am a little sore, but not nearly as bad as I have been in the past.  Market to Market 2012…already on the calendar.

Now, on to Monday...

{The Launes}