That’s a Wrap…

I felt like there was not much to share, but as I’ve sat down to write, the week in review just keeps getting busier! 

I spent one night last week doing some of my own canvas crafts for Kirsten’s state volleyball gift and Naomi’s birthday gift.  It was my first canvas experience.  It turned out pretty cool, but it was a learning experience.  Can’t wait to try again!

Then Thursday, we loaded in the van and headed to Hastings for state volleyball.  Not quite the outcome we had all hoped for, but  a good season none the less.  Kirsten cheered up real quick when she got some love from her biggest fans.

Then on Friday we had an 11.11.11 party at school in celebration of Naomi’s 11.11 birthday.  Bad news...Lainey was sick so Naomi wasn’t at school.  We however managed to still enjoy all of the treats.  Then, on Saturday, Trent has his last football game of the season.

Coach Laune...

Now, I may or may not be a little A LOT excited for Christmas.  I generally refuse to think anything about Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but I just can’t get it off my brain.  My mom would kill me if she knew this (and she now does because she reads my blog)  Don’t worry, I’m not acting on it like your other daughter.

Today, I put in for a personal day for early December so Jamie and I could have a Christmas craft day, Christmas shopping, peppermint mochas, Christmas movies and all sorts of good stuff.  I couldn’t sleep last night just thinking about it! 

But for now, I will focus on Grandparents’ Day at school next week and all things thankful...

{The Launes}

Friends, November and State…

I am pretty sure that time is flying by right now and I am mostly okay with that.  Today is November 6th.  November 6th!  One thing I have found in all my teaching years (count all whopping 5 of them) is that once you get to Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas are here before you know it.  I like it.  It’s one of my favorite times of year in teaching first grade.

While time is flying by, it is mostly because things are so busy.  Good busy.  Thursday night I had a volleyball game.  Of course Team Situation dominated on the court!  (It’s not the most competitive league this time around.)  Then we headed to Lazlo’s for some team bonding and t-shirt planning.  Because yes, we are cool like that and we are going to make team t-shirts just because we can.

Then Friday night, Trent and I headed to Plattsmouth to watch Kirsten and the Bluejays take on Auburn in the volleyball district finals.  Kirsten did and uh-mazing job and helped the girls battle their way to state!  Can’t wait to go to Hastings on Thursday to cheer her on again!  I also love the pictures I got of her in action.  Her faces are priceless.

Thankfully I found a little time to sneak in a nap this afternoon and a viewing of the movie Tangled on Netflix...so cute :) 

{The Launes}

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}