Thank you, teachers!

Today is National Teacher Day, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to tell you about some of my favorite teachers!

I loved school and I was so fortunate to have been taught by some wonderful teachers.  Two of my teachers really went above and beyond in the way they helped us remember and learn.  First was Mrs. Olson.  She was my PACE teacher (G.T.) in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grades.  Mrs. Olson definitely was not a read-from-the-textbook type of teacher!  We did research reports, played Stump the Wizard, and performed skits (LOVED skits!)  She was the type of teacher that instead of giving you a bad grade, she would help you to understand why you got that grade and helped you understand the material so you could improve.  Kids that weren't a part of the PACE program were intimidated by Mrs. Olson, but to those who knew her, she was the BEST!  To have had her for five years in my elementary education was not only a privilege, but an honor.  She was one in a million and I'll always remember Mrs. Olson.

When I was entering 4th grade, the school's gifted and talented program changed a little and instead of taking part of the day to go to Mrs. Olson's classroom, I had Mrs. Smith.  Mrs Smith was the type of teacher that had every kid crossing their fingers all summer long, hoping to get!  Mrs. Smith, like Mrs. Olson, was hands-on.  I guarantee any student in my 4th grade class still remembers learning about caves, even almost 20 years later!  I don't ever remember Mrs. Smith getting mad or upset.  She was always in a great mood!  She was such an inspiration and really made learning fun!  Thank you, Mrs Smith!

I have also had many teachers in my life that didn't actually teach me in the classroom.  My blogging BFF, Angela, is a teacher.  She cares for her students as if they were her own children.  She demonstrates hard work and has showed such strength throughout her career as a teacher.  I imagine Ang to be the type of teacher that Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Smith were.  Someday when they are older, her students will remember her and everything she did for them.  That is the reason she is one of my favorite teachers!

Another blogging friend of mine, Biz, teaches first graders at the school my girls will be attending.  She is a fun and creative person whose heart and faith lead her through life and in the classroom.  I can't wait for Mrs. D to be Jaden and Taylor's teacher!  I have a feeling that they will always know Biz as one of their favorite teachers.

Mrs. Bieberich is Jaden's preschool teacher.  She is one of my favorite teachers because she ignited the fire for learning in my daughter.  Jaden loves preschool more than anything!  She has already decided that when she grows up, she wants to be a teacher.  I have Mrs. Bieberich to thank for that.  She really set the bar high for Jaden's future teachers!

This whole week is Teacher Appreciation Week.  Please take the time to thank your favorite teachers.  If it wasn't for these unspoken heroes, there would be no other professions.  You are where you are today because of the men and women that helped you get there.  Thank you, teachers!

For the Babies!

Good morning, blog friends!  I have a huge favor to ask of you all.  My wonderful friend has set out to help lots of teeny tiny babies and she needs our help!  Amanda is walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies in Nashville, TN on April 22nd because every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick.  She has stepped up and has asked for our help because she wants to do something about this!

Please support her walk!  Making a secure donation is easy (I made mine on Friday!)  Just click the "donate now" button in the banner at the top of this post (or on the in-text link above).  She has set a goal of collecting $100 in donations.  Please help me help Amanda help the babies!  My one donation already covered 25% of her goal.  Let's try and give her double (or triple) what she is asking!  Your gift will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives.  It will also be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in the NICU.  You will receive a receipt via email after you have made your donation.  Come on!  Let's join Amanda in helping give the babies a healthy start!!

I thank you, Amanda thanks you, and the babies thank you :o)

Thank you.

I am a very lucky person.  There are many things in my life that make me do a double-take and question, "Is this really, truly MY life?"  I have my family, my health, an income, a home, food, the list goes on and on.  On Monday when I got home from work, there was a package on my doorstep.  As soon as I saw the return address, I had tears... happiness, relief, understanding... she knew exactly what I needed.  After reading that post, she mailed me a hug.  I never knew that you could actually send a hug in the mail, but she did!  Now, in addition to the sign on my desk, I get to look at this daily and feel her hugs all the way from Nashville...

That little green sign make me smile everyday!

This little book, Live Happy, is filled with inspirational thoughts on life, love, and laughter.  It reminds me to keep on truckin'! 

While you live, love.
While you breathe, sing.
While you walk, dance.
While you work, shine.
While you see, dream.

Thank you, Amanda!  You don't know how much I really do appreciate our friendship!

My Fool-Proof Plan for Christmas Shopping

I can't believe that Christmas is only 53 days away.  We have started shopping but haven't really got deep into it yet.  The problem we have run into in the past is getting the shopping done super early only to find that J has a new obsession by the time the holiday actually comes around.  I can't have my kid thinking that Santa isn't in tune with what she loves!  This year, I have a fool-proof plan.  I'm going to get my shopping done early and just feed J's obsessions like it's my job!  She loves 101 Dalmatians right now.  I could go buy her 101 actual dalmatians but if Christmas rolls around and she is loving something else, she won't care one bit.  So, if I buy her a bunch of dalmatian stuff, all I have to do is keep talking about dalmatians, watching 101 Dalmatians, calling her Pongo, whatever it takes for the obsession to last!  Like I said, fool-proof... right?

Sorry, I'm a little distracted today...

Ok, I have had this blog for a while.  Why do you read it?  I want to know what it is that makes people keep coming back and reading what I have to write each day.  I've been posting a lot of crafts and tutorials lately and honestly, those posts are the ones to get the most hit.  Is that what my readers like?  I don't know?  There is a mom whose daughter goes to the same sitter as my girls.  She apparently has a blog (didn't know about it but will probably search for it now) and wrote a post about the babysitter and how much she loved her.  Great, right?  I mean, I love our sitter and trust her with the lives of my daughters and I don't mind telling you about it... BUT, this mother's post was stapled to the kids' menu this week.  Now, I don't know if the mom provided the copy to the sitter or if Annie just so happen to see it, but I felt like it was a little... I don't really know how I took it.  I guess it just made me wonder who is reading my blog and what they come to me for.  For the rest of this week only, I am allowing anonymous comments (hopefully I won't get too many spammers!).  Please, if you read this post, leave me a comment and tell me why you did.  I want the good, the bad, and the ugly.  If you come to my blog because you think I'm a dork and you like watching me make a fool of myself, tell me :o)  If you think I'm the smartest and most creative person in the world (first, congratulations for realizing that), tell me!  I want to know it all!  Now watch... I'll get zero comments :o)

The Best of What's Around

400!!

Thanks so much for actually coming back and reading my random ramblings each day :o)  I have the best blog buddies ever!

Now for your questions...

Tia said... What is the absolute best book you have ever read?

This is a tough question because I love so many different books and so many different kinds of books!  If I were to pick my favorite non-fiction book, I would have to say A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas.  It is about a woman whose husband is hit by a car while out walking the dog.  He suffers severe brain damage and she has to go on living while taking care of him.  It is so emotional and raw.  SO good. 

My favorite fictional light read is actually a series; Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.  She starts with One for the Money and is up to Sizzling Sixteen.  I've read 1-14 and have laughed out loud at every single one!  They are so hilarious!!  Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter and the situations she gets into are just crazy... read them, love them, you're welcome!

Now, if I could only pick one book to read over and over for the rest of my life, I would definitely, without a question, pick Jodi Picoult's Nineteen Minutes.  This is a fictional story about bullying and a school shooting.  It goes through the trial of all involved.  I connected with each of the characters so much that I really had a hard time deciding whose side I was on.  I would say that if you have kids, are ever planning on having kids, or work in a school system, you HAVE to read this book.  It is so powerful.

Jenny said... What is your most memorable childhood memory?

When I started to think about this question, in almost all of the memories that popped into my head involved playing with friends outside.  Shane and I had friends that lived close by in the neighborhood.  We loved getting everyone together in the summers at night and playing Shock outside.  If you've never heard of Shock, it is basically hide & seek in the dark with a flashlight.  It was so much fun!

My favorite childhood memories involving my family are the times we went on family vacations.  One I remember in particular was our trip to Cincinnati to see a Reds game.  I remember feeling like we were in a HUGE city!  It was so exciting!  I also remember going shopping and going to Kings Island.  It was a lot of fun :o)

Angela said... Pick one or all 4!.... What is the thing you are most afraid of?

Death.  I am terrified of dying.  I don't want to miss out on anything and I never want to leave my girls.  In fact, I'm going to quit talking about this because it's making my tummy hurt...



What is one of the greatest goals you've accomplished?
This is a hard one!  I honestly can't think of a single thing!  I could say finish college, but to me, college never seemed optional so I don't really feel like it was an accomplished goal, you know?  I could say getting a job in my field, but that actually makes me laugh a little... then cry.  I really don't know!  You've stumped me :o)

What is something you'd like to accomplish but it seems to be filled with obstacles?
Finishing your prize from my 300th blog ;o) 

Actually, I would like to be 100% debt free.  Mike and I don't have a lot of debt, but we have two cars, a house, and a couple of loans.  My number one goal is to pay all of that off and be debt free!  I know it won't happen soon, but I really think we can do it someday.


If you were to create a mind-blowing performance on video, what would it look like? :)
Just you wait until my 500th post ;o)  How is that for suspense??

Max Teders said... What kind of dreams do you have for the girls?
For them to be happy!  They can do whatever they want and be whatever they want as long as they are healthy and happy.  I hope for them to always know how much they are loved. 

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
In 20 years, I hope to be helping Miss Jaden plan her wedding.  I hope to be getting ready to purchase Taylor's last bottle of wine for her 21 bottle collection. I hope to be taking weekend get-aways with Mike. I hope to be continuing to live a happy, healthy life on purpose!

Superjules said... How did you pick your kids' names?
With Jaden, I really liked the name Eden, Mike didn't.  We went back and forth over names... We finally decided to combine Jade and Eden and came up with Jaden.  At that time, I hadn't heard of Jaden.  It wasn't until after she was born and named that I found out about Will Smith's Jayden and Britney Spears's Jayden.  We had planned on calling her Jade after she was born but she has always been Jaden!  Her middle name is Claire.  She is named after Mike's grandma, Ina Claire.

For girls, I like names that can be either boy or girl.  We liked Taylor because it sounded good with Jaden.  They aren't too girly and are good for a little girl or an adult.  Before we found out that T was a girl, we had picked out Joe for a boy.  We wanted to name "him" Joseph Dean after my Dad, Max Joseph, and after Mike, Michael Dean.  Each time I've been pregnant (and any other pregnant woman that he knows), Dad had referred to my baby bump as little Max or little Maxine.  I remember joking with Mom once saying I should just name Taylor, Taylor Maxine.  After I said it out loud, I actually thought it sounded cute!  I mentioned it to Mike and he liked it too.  So that's how T got her name.  We usually just call her Taylor Max though :o)

Do you have a favorite easy craft?
I have so many crafty interests... I like sewing, painting, scrapbooking, I don't know if I have a favorite.  I like creating with the girls too.  It's fun to get paints out and let J go to town on a picture frame or something.  I guess that would have to be my favorite :o)

Lora said... When you found out you were pregnant, with each girl, how did you tell your family? Who did you tell 1st?
With Jaden, I actually found out while I was on the phone with a friend.  I was confused with the pregnancy test because one of the lines was a little faint.  I had called her and was telling her that I didn't know if it was a positive or a negative and was reading the instructions over the phone.  I then got to the part in the instructions that said, "one of the lines may be lighter than the other," and said, "holy crap.  I'm freakin' pregnant!"  To tell the family, I painted these mugs for everyone:

With Taylor, I think Mike and I kept it a secret until Jaden told her Grammas and Grampas with this "Big Sister" shirt:

 
Thanks again for reading, guys!!  How about that snake, huh?

Thank You for Loving ME!

You readers are awesome!  Holy crap... I'm speechless.  Check this craziness out:

This graph shows the number of visits to my blog last March.

A measley 660 visits... an average of 21-22/day.  Not too bad.

But wait... This graph shows the number of visit to my blog in March of this year!

7,526!  WOW!

An average of about 243 a day!

I love blogging and I love seeing that people from all over the country (and sometimes in other countries) are reading and being inspired by little 'ol me, right here in Indiana!  My goal is to have 8,000 visits in April... may give something away if that happens :o)

Seriously though, thanks so much!  Also, if you do read, comment so I can "meet" you!  I'd love to check out your blog!