Only ONE more week!

I am proud to announce that I have made it back to teaching now for 7 weeks and only ONE MORE WEEK TO GO!!! I am way excited! It has definitely been hard leaving Garrett everyday to go to work. It's even harder to come home and have the energy to be a mom! I so look up to so many moms that work outside of the home! It is tough! Our families and friends have taken time out of their busy schedules to help us out to watch Garrett! We can't say enough thanks to how you have helped us! I am glad that I don't have to continue to work and can soon stay home with Garrett.

I can't believe that I am only one week away from retiring! That is sooo crazy to think about! This is my fourth year teaching and it is going to be strange not to go back. I can honestly say that I am going to miss it. There are many things that I will miss and many that I won't. Take today for example: I had a boy in my class have a COMPLETE meltdown! I am not just talking about a few tears, but full on screaming, head banging, almost digging eyes out type of meltdown. This all started when some boys were teasing him about a bug being on his shirt. Yes, at one point there was a bug on his shirt, but they didn't let it go and thought it was funny to keep tormenting this boy until he was beyond hysterical! NOT FUN!! His only solution to calming himself down was to suspend this boy! I wish I had the power sometimes to do that! Needless to say, I had to try and deal with that for almost 45 minutes while my class "hung-out" and waited for me to come back to the class. On the FLIP side of today: I had three great moms come in and present me with a treasure chest full of presents and treats for "Teacher Appreciation Week!" The best being $25 gift certificates for dinner and a movie! That was sooo nice of them! It makes all the hard work worth it when you have the support of great parents. I also got a card from a student yesterday that said, "too bad you're retiring this year. I think that kids next year would really like you!" That pulled at the heart for a minute knowing that there will be no next year! Despite all the ups and downs, the stress, the long days, the after hours work, the meetings, the conferences with parents, the not so fun emails and phone calls home to parents, recess duty and bus duty....the list could go on, I WILL MISS BEING A TEACHER!

Thanks to all the friends I have made over the last four years, the principals I have worked with, and the fabulous students that I have had the priviledge of teaching! I have grown and learned so much and if there is anything I have learned, it is how to be a better parent for my own kids! My teaching career is not ending, it is just beginning! I can now be my son's life-long teacher!I miss you too, Garrett!

Mother's Day 2008

I can't believe I just celebrated my first Mother's Day! I remember last year at this time wondering if I would every be a mom! Just a few short weeks later, we found out we were pregnant! Colin has always been sweet and gotten me a card and a gift in the past on mother's day just to show he cares and to say that he was excited for me to be a mom some day! Well, this year was special that I have a son to celebrate with! I woke up and got breakfast in bed and then opened a few gifts! My favorite being a new tent! I am so excited to camping this summer with Colin and Garrett. Our first tent that we have used for almost six years now isn't big enough for our whole family, so we had to have an upgrade! Yay! I can't wait, we are already planning our first trip in a couple of weekends! I love camping! Then we attended church where all the priesthood filled in for the women's callings. ALL the women in the ward got " a day off " which was nice. Unfortunately, I have a teaching calling for the fourth Sunday in Relief Society, so Colin didn't have to teach. Even better though that he got to coordinate the whole day for everyone in the ward! Great job sweetie! I know the women appreciated it! We then went to my family's house to have dinner which my little sister made and then to Colin's parents for dessert! Let's just say that we couldn't pass up strawberry shortcake at my house before we went to the Lewis's and also had strawberry shortcake! Lucky for me, that's my FAVORITE!! That is way too yummy to pass up having a second time! Colin says all the time, if I were what I ate, I'd be a strawberry! Last, but not least, I had to get a picture with my son. Garrett was being so wiggley! He would hardly hold still. He loved giving kisses on my mouth and cheek. I never thought I would enjoy slobbery kisses as much as I do! What a cutie! Thanks to Colin for making me feel special on my first Mother's Day. I look forward to the many more ahead!

A poem for his mommy
by Garrett
(okay....Daddy helped a little! )

I like to hear your sweet, soft voice.
I love your shining smile.
I like it when you read to me,
I've liked it for awhile.
It really makes me happy,
When you feed me everyday.
I try to keep it all inside of me,
But spit up, I just may.
Thanks for all you do for me,
My diapers, clothes, and baths.
I try to say my thank yous
With my smiles, giggles, and laughs.
I'm glad that you're my mommy,
No one else would do.
But most of all I want to say,
How much I love you!

Love

Your Son,

Garrett

The big race

We participated in the Race for the Cure on Saturday downtown at the Gateway! It was sure a fun thing to do as a family. This was my second year doing it and Colin and Garrett's first. We raced in honor of my dear friend Kristy's mom who passed away almost three years ago of breast cancer. Even though I haven't directly been affected by someone in my family having cancer, it was such a special thing to be a part of. There is just something about 17,000 people supporting the same cause that is inspiring. I participated last year in a diabetes walk and want to do the same thing this year. Hopefully one day they will find a cure for cancer and diabetes, but until then, let's RACE!!!

Garrett and I waiting for Trax! He enjoyed his first ride on trax. He slept the whole way there!



Colin and Garrett trying to squeeze their way through to the starting line. It only took us about 1o minutes to get there!

Just after we were 1/2 way done, Garrett decided he didn't want to ride in the stroller anymore! Thank heaven we had our bjorn that we could still carry him in!


WE made it to the finish where we met up with Kristy!
We are excited for our next race in September!