Mulligans and Trophies…

 Nothing is better than a warm summer day on the golf course.  A little rusty, I hit the links for the first time this season to participate in the Ashland-Greenwood end of the year golf outing.  Our team has been the female champions the last two years and to be honest, I was kind of hoping to pass the trophy off to someone else this year.  It takes up too much room in the closet, and year after year, I am voted to take it home.   However, my competitive side just wanted to win. Let’s face it…I came to win.  The tournament was a scramble…my favorite way to play golf because chances are, someone will step up and have a nice shot when I inevitably biff it.  It also allows me to play a par game of golf rather than a bogie game.  As an individual I am definitely a bogie, if not double bogie player.  But on a team, the score card looks pretty nice.

I was nervous for my first time on the course this year as I secretly wished I would have at least gone to the driving range.  Ready or not, it was time to tee off.  I was super excited after my first tee shot.  Long, straight and in the middle of the fare way.  A golfer’s dream shot.  Shot number two…long, straight and in the middle of the fare way.  At this point I’m feeling pretty good about myself.  Then, my inconsistency put me right back in my place.  Topping it, slicing it and putting ten feet short of the hole.   I could feel my frustrations mounting as I kept reminding myself that it was for fun and I needed to pull myself together!

The day was full of ups and downs.  A few shots that boosted my self-esteem and plenty of shots that put me right back in my place.  However, I got to play with a great team.  We balanced each other out and hooted and hollered for each other’s good shots and blamed the bad shots on the wind.  Mary and Suzanne nearly perfected the art of picking up a golf ball without stopping…however, Mary’s primary goal was to dump Suzanne out of the golf cart.  Mary hit multiple golf balls into the “raging river” and I was nearly eaten alive by mosquitos.  And at the end of the day, I won a pin prize for the longest drive!   It was a perfect start to the golf season…champions again!

 

Memorial Day Weekend 2011...

A very happy Memorial Day weekend started out with the last day of school on Friday!  I survived my 4^th year of teaching, but it was really hard to see the kids go this year.  They were so sweet and loving…but just like I told them, I’ll still get to see them in second grade! 

Now, I am looking forward to the lazy days of summer after one more staff day on Tuesday.  But in the meantime, there is no better way to kick off summer vacation than with a holiday weekend.  Three barbeques in three days is what summer is all about!  I hope everyone has a very happy and safe Memorial Day weekend! 

Some gave all, all gave some…

Thank you to all of our troops, past and present. 

Surprise...

Surprise parties are hard to pull off…from keeping it a secret to planning and getting everyone there…including the guest of honor.  This weekend we had an early surprise party for my sister Jamie, who is turning 30 June 5^th.  Brian did a great job of planning it and I think Jamie was totally surprised!

The planning began about two weeks before the big party.  It included secret texts, e-mails and phone calls, making sure everything was ready to go.  The big plan to get Jamie out of the house was to go to Glacial Till, a winery in Ashland, that I had gotten her and mom a gift certificate to for Christmas.  However, Jamie graciously declined the invitation because Brian’s family was going to be in town and she should probably spend time with them.  Strike one.   Brian then planned it out that I was to call Jamie at 10:30 one night and tell her that “Mom really wanted to go this Saturday.”  At 10:15 I received a text saying “call now.”  So I called and this time, despite Brian in the background asking what’s going on? and with a little more irritation, Jamie again declined.  Strike two.  Luckily, she sent me a text later that night saying she thought she would be able to go Saturday.  Big relief!

That just about brings us to Saturday!  Other than a few nerves, everything went off without a hitch!  Mom even conveniently forgot her camera at the winery and Jamie retrieved it.  That gave us a little extra time to get ahead of Jamie and beat her home for the big surprise.  Once the surprise was over, it was time to celebrat Jamie's upcoming birthady with food, friends, family and lots of fun!  What more could a girl ask for?  

 Glacial Till is the coolest place…even if you don’t like wine!

 Sisters…

Girls’ Day…

 Cheers!  Check out my Diet Coke!   

 Surprise!

 No way!

Birthday girl…



Happy Early birthday to my big sister! 

You are the best!  Enjoy 30!

 

A Very Busy Week...

Two weeks ago was one of my busiest weeks of the year.  School, two track meets, FCA, a field trip to the zoo, an out of town wedding and Mother’s Day. At one point, I wasn’t even sure if I would make it!  However, I sucked it up and enjoyed every minute of it. In the midst of all the business, my best friend, Sara, who lives in Hawaii, was in town. I hardly ever get to see her anymore so hanging out was a must!  She is an amazing friend because we can always pick up right where we left off.  We can be goofy and silly just like we were back in high school, when we first became friends. 

The countdown to her trip began weeks before her actual arrival and a list of must-dos was already being created. At the top of the list was sidewalk chalk and pictures followed by ice cream. It was a perfect day for her visit and sidewalk chalk!

 A must take on our picture list…

 Jump!

 New headbands...thanks Sara!

Bubbles…

Although we only got to spend a few short hours together, it was a great time filled will fun pictures, cruising, ice cream and lots of laughs! Until next time…



Mr. and Mrs. Chizek...

Last weekend I had the honor to spend a beautiful May day with some of my best friends from high school. We were together to celebrate Ashley’s wedding. Although packed full, the trip to Kearney allowed for a much needed break from school work. We headed out Friday afternoon with just enough time to check into the hotel before heading to the rehearsal dinner. 

Saturday started bright and early with hair appointments followed by changing at the church and then pictures. Free time before the wedding allowed for a few fun pictures and a little spring sunshine!

Me and the beautiful bride!

My beautiful mom even made a weekend of the wedding and headed out to Kearney!

After the wedding we headed on the trolley around Kearney to take a few more outdoor pictures. Amy, Amanda and I were lucky enough to have our own personal photographers to commemorate the day…

All in all it was a great weekend…great friends, great food, and lots of fun!  Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Chizek for everything!

13.2

Exactly one week ago today I ran the Lincoln Half Marathon!  And yes, I know a half marathon is technically 13.1 miles, but according to the GPS watch, we ran 13.2.  Despite every effort to take the inside corner, somehow an extra tenth of a mile was added on!  Leading up to the race I was, for the first time, actually excited to run a race.  I was hydrated, loaded with carbs, had a Marathon Mania playlist ready to go on my i-pod and shot blocks in my pocket.    I’ve never really been a long distance runner, but I love the feeling of accomplishment when I am done. Therefore, I run! The Lincoln Half is awesome because there a people cheering you on the whole way.  Complete strangers cheer for me as I run by and eagerly high five them if they extend their hand.  I could be completely exhausted when some shouts out, “You’re doing great!  Almost there!”  and I suddenly get a little burst of energy that makes it a little easier to put one leg in front of the other. 

This year, as I was running I was completely overwhelmed with emotion.  I was excited, happy, proud, tired and sad, all at the same time.  Even with my i-pod, there is a lot of time to think while running.  This year my biggest thought was, why are all these people running?  All 10,000 people were out there running for a reason.  I read their t-shirts and signs discovering why many of these people were running the race.  It wasn’t necessarily because they were avid runners and competing to win.  Most were competing to finish, maybe beat a personal best and a lot were running in honor or memory of someone or to raise awareness for some cause.  I ran the race as part of Team Jess, in honor of my friend that was killed by a drunk driver.  I felt proud to be running in her memory and to see all of the others out there in Team Jess shirts.  It was such an awesome experience.  There was absolutely nowhere else that I wanted to be last Sunday morning.  Therefore, I ran 13.2 miles in 2:05… with a smile on my face!

Now, for some pictures from the race!

Ready to Run!

 Part of the fan club...

 All done and full of smiles...

 The Whole Gang...

Happy Easter...

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

 

I was listening to this song tonight and thinking about the Easter season and how Christ died for my sins and imperfections. I am anxiously looking forward to church tomorrow morning with hopes of sunshine beaming through the church windows as a cheerful reminder of the Resurrection.  It has been a gloomy few days and I am ready for sun and warmer temperatures!  

The Easter season also brought inspiration to create spring crafts to give as Easter gifts.  Check them out below!

The tools to create my crafts…

 Before…

After...an Easter bucket for Lainey filled with Easter goodies…

Painted tins turned into flowerpots…

After a whole Lenten season without candy or chocolate….the Easter Bunny did some shopping for some sweet treats for our Easter basket.

Dessert for Easter dinner…Fruity Pebble Easter Eggs

Finally, I had an itch to dye Easter eggs.  The first time in many, many years!  It was an experience all in itself.  My first time ever to hard boil eggs…only broke one.  Trying to perfect my designs and color patterns…a little tricky.  Dropping and cracking eggs…only one hit the floor and had to be thrown away.  Now, if only I liked hard boiled eggs!

Trent came home just in time to help with the last few. 



Until next time...Happy Easter!