Spring has Sprung…

and I love it!  It is the last week in March and I have worn capris multiple times and can no longer count the number of times that I have worn open toed shoes on two hands.  The grass is green, the flowers are in full bloom and the pollen count is off the charts.

Friday night mom, Jamie and I went to Stations of the Cross at Holy Family Shrine.  It was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the Lenten season as it quickly comes to a close.  Afterwards we explored outside and enjoyed God’s beauty as the sun was going down on a warm March evening.  Perfect.

 

I am still recovering from a busy weekend and anxiously awaiting a full Saturday...running, followed by coffee followed by The Hunger Games!  Middle school track started today so I am officially stressed until May 8th.  Too much to do and not enough time in my days...

{The Launes}

More Love and Basketball…

The first weekend of spring set the stakes high for things to come.  The weather was absolutely beautiful and the Launes were out in full force.  It was a weekend so busy that it even warrants more than one post...so I will start with Saturday.

Trent was participating in the second annual alumni basketball tournament.  The class of 2003 had big shoes to fill after being named the inaugural champions.  With the gang back in town they took the court bright and early Saturday morning. 

Amy, Amanda, Jackson and I took a quick walk around the lake in between games...

They put on a good show, but weren’t able to repeat as tournament champions...

Saturday night it was off the the Volentine/Murer wedding at the Durham Museum in Omaha.  An absolutely perfect day for a beautiful couple.  I remember back in college when Lauren liked a guy named Mike. A lot. Not much came of it at the time, but a couple of years later when we were together again for Julia’s wedding Lauren was dating a guy named Mike.  The Mike!  Now, three years later they are married!

Lauren and I were roommates back in college.  Many fun and crazy times together.  We both worked at Dippin’ Dots, got ice-cream practically every night one summer and filled a good portion of some nights taking pictures.

Exhibit A...

Exhibit B...

Apartment 734 then...

And 734 Reunited...

The wedding was lots of fun.  Not only did we tour the Durham Museum, but we also caught up with old friends, had some delicious food and even danced a little.  Trent was pooped from his big day so we called it an early night and headed home.

Now that spring is in full swing my schedule is quickly filling up again.  Middle school track starts this week and I have about ten things to check off my to-do list before I head to bed tonight.  Getting ready for another crazy week at school!

{The Launes}

Love and Basketball…

I have been MIA...I know.  I really have been around, but between school and parent-teacher conferences and who know what else, I have not had a chance to blog. 

That means I have to take a jump back a month to start things out.  Check out my new nativity.  A Christmas themed gift for Valentine’s Day...I love it.  I left it displayed through St. Patrick’s day, but then thought I should box it up so I can look forward to getting it out in December.

And now, it’s March Madness and I’m all kinds of excited.  I filled out my bracket Wednesday night and have been closely following and highlighting my wins over the last few days.  Currently Trent leads 28-26 in picks.

Friday afternoon we headed out to the Century Link Center to catch some of the Midwest regional games.  We watched Florida defeat Virginia and Norfolk State upset Missouri.  During the Virginia/Florida game we spent part of the time out in the concourse cheering on Creighton as they battled Alabama in a close game.  My blood pressure was basically off the charts.  Creighton has had a lot of “barn burners” lately as the sports commentators like to call it.  The outcomes have been mostly good, but it’s a little more than I can handle!

The quote from a commercial that has been played 101 times since the start of the tournament saying, “You pick the favorite and root for the underdog,” is my new favorite quote.  I found myself doing just that at the Missouri/Norfolk State game.  I had picked Missouri, but Norfolk State had spirit and played really well.  Plus their band was a crowd favorite.  It was a good game and even though I was surrounded by Missouri fans I secretly cheered for the underdog.

Now it’s back to the second half of the Creighton game.  Here’s to crossing your fingers that they can pull through!

{The Launes}

I Believe the Children are Our Future…

I love my sister, but growing up, she was always the boss.  I think it comes with the territory of being first born.  For me, it was character building.  When we played school she was the teacher and I was the student.  One time she made me write “I will not talk back to the teacher” ten times.  My life was rough.

One of my favorite memories is our late night singing lessons.  Long after we should have been in bed, I would stand on the kitchen stool and sing “I Believe the Children are Our Future” at the top of my lungs while Jamie would critique me...less like Kermit the Frog and more like Whitney Houston.  Come on Meg.  I never quite nailed it.

Thank you Jamie  and Whitney for that memory.  I am not a singer.  Sometimes I think I sound good, but this is just because the music is so loud I can’t actually hear myself.

Tomorrow will be a crazy day at school.  It’s Valentine’s Day.  The kids are so excited.  I painted my finger nails red in celebration.  Must. Get. Sleep!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

{The Launes}

Super Bowl Sunday…

Is it really February?  Sometimes I think I want time to slow down because it is flying by and other times I want it to speed up so I can have summer break.  Regardless, I have been busy, busy, busy.  Nothing really blog worthy as you can tell from the lack of posts.  I survived the 100th day of school, some basketball games and about 6 inches of snow. 

Last night we did what any other true American did.  Ate way. too. much. and watched the Super Bowl.  

Jessie made some amazing food for the party.  I definitely had a bellyache and major regret by the end of the night...

Tim has the ultimate “man-cave” set-up...perfect for the Super Bowl. 

Jackson and I read some good books...

Thanks for having us over...we had a “super” time!

Trent can’t wait for this guy to move to town...

The boys...who’s tallest?  I can’t tell?

I am 99% sure that Jessie and I had a picture together on my camera, but it was nowhere to be found.

And now for my top commercial pick.  I am voting this as my #1 pick in Super Bowl commercials...I’m a sucker for animals.

Now it’s on with the rest of the week.  One more week of the challenge, some basketball games and a full week of school!  Bring. It. On!

{The Launes}

The Challenge 2012…

I am a competitive person.  I need a little friendly competition to motivate myself.  I do not run if I am not training for a race and I usually eat like a complete mess.  I am busy.  My life is busy.  I know, excuses, excuses.

However, back in December our Educator’s Health Alliance was promoting healthy living with its month long challenge...Flab on Fire.  This meant tracking the days I exercised for 30 minutes or more.  The reward, a chance to win a Visa gift card if you are compliant for at least 20 days in December.  The chance to win a Visa gift card, although slim to none, won my heart over immediately.  Plus, the upcoming holidays usually involve a lot of extra indulging so I thought it might counteract some of those calories.  So, I started setting my alarm for 5:35 a.m. (most people had to pick their jaw up off the ground when they heard this.  If you know me at all you know I am NOT a morning person), getting out of bed and heading to the gym for a little morning news and running.  I decided that I was going to become a morning person.  FYI...I’m still working on the whole becoming a morning person.  Baby steps.  I met my goal, but did not win.  Big shocker, but no regrets.

Then came January.  I kept running, but wanted to do something more.  I came across a little challenge online, but needed someone to do it with.  I sent an e-mail to a few people at school and they were all interested.  So I thought I would include anyone at school that wanted to participate.  A little modification and 24 responses later, we were ready to go.  It’s a 4 week weight loss/be healthy challenge.  You earn points throughout the week for different things such as eating fruits and veggies, drinking water, keeping a food journal, not eating sweets and exercising.  My nemesis...eating 3 servings of veggies.  I don’t mind them, but I don’t love them.  So 3 servings can be a lot. 

It has only been 5 days, but I love how excited everyone is.  On Monday there were cupcakes in the teachers’ lounge.  Normally they are gone by 10 a.m. but on Tuesday afternoon one little cupcake still sat in the container.  Now that is dedication.  Can’t wait for the coming weeks.  There is strength in numbers...and competition.

Now for some Pinspiration:

… 

TGIF...

{The Launes}

All Things Running…

It is so easy to blog when I am out of school.  Partially because I have a life again, but mostly because of all my extra time.  I went back to school over a week ago and of course I have been running pretty much non-stop ever since. 

However, I did have a rare opportunity last week...to run outside. In January.  Ohmyword.  It wasn’t even just a nice day for January.  It would have been a nice day in March.  So Jamie and I hit the streets of Ashland for a little January run. 

But we soon discovered what a difference a week makes.  Because exactly one week later the weather went from 70 degrees to negative 10 with wind chill.  Back to the treadmill...but, I did get new running shoes this week!  My feet and knees and shins are all very thankful for this new purchase.  It was time.

It is hard to believe that January is basically halfway over.  The days are slowly getting longer and I just know spring will be here before we know it! 

{The Launes}