Would it hurt to say "Thank you"?

So Ryan and I have been having this conversation about the lack of courtesy out there. We frequent a McDonald's near our home (we have two kids...of course we go to "Donald's"). I do not think that once has an employee in that place ever said "thank you" or "you're welcome" to us after making a purchase or being there. It is not just McDonald's. Is it not common courtesy to say "you're welcome" when some one says thank you or even say "thank you " when some hands you something? As a teacher, I work endlessly to try to teach my students social skills and how to handle sitations positively, then they go out into the world and hear this. It is just so disappointing. I can't wait to see how many "thank you's" I get this Halloween!

K :)

Please continue praying for our friends. They are struggling.

Loss of someone

Yesterday, we received some horrible news that the high school daughter of a family friend committed suicide. We are now dealing with this and it has been hard. She showed some signs of depression/ anxiety and everyone had been trying to work to help her. It was a total shock and now a day later, I still can not believe that it has happened. We are viligantly praying for her family, I can imagine how they can get through this. I am hoping they will gain strength from their faith as I will. So today, hug your kids a little tighter, and NEVER take their actions for granted.

K

Living In Arizona

Why I love living in Arizona...Although it is SO hot in the morning for Tatum's soccer game (she scored 5 goals!!!) and Ry's flag football game (they lost)...we can enjoy the cool temperatures of the pool (In Mid-September). Then get home and after a bath they crash on the floor before they even get dressed!! But when morning comes and they wake up on their own...they are so stinking cute. Who cares that fall is still a month away! Luv...K

Presents from Auntie Lowi

So Great Auntie Lowi makes these wonderful pillows for everyone. A few weeks ago, she sent these to the girls. They sleep with them EVERY night. It helps them get better when they miss their aunties. Thanks Auntie Lowi for the wonderful gifts. We miss you!

Labor Day Stay-cation

So this weekend, we left on Sunday to do a one night Stay-cation in Tucson at the Westin-La Paloma. Two couples joined us (the boys had a golf outing planned for Monday). The girls had a blast in the pool. The picture is them after their baths all wrapped up in the towels!

Teagan ended up getting sick last night making my visit to a great restaurant short. If you are ever in Tucson, try Zona 78. It was great even back at the hotel an hour later.

Monday we visited Reid Park Zoo. Tucson's zoo was small, but nice. The animals were right there, so the girls really enjoyed it. Teagan is still afraid of the tortoises, unfortunately, but we had a good time. It was hot and I have now decided, I am ready for fall!!

Luv, K

School- Tatum's First Day

So this year was Teagan's first year in Preschool/ Daycare and Tatum's first year at an elementary school.

-Teagan is in the 2 year old classroom at the high school and LOVES it. The first day she came home and said, " Mommy, I paint." She was so excited to be there and it doing great!

-Tatum is my drama child. She is not full of drama, but everything around her has drama. Tatum is enrolled at my school in the preschool program. Like one week in the teacher asked me why she wasn't in Kinder. (duh? She is only 4, not 5 until December.) So, talking to the principal, his hands are tied, she it too young and the district is being not cooperative. So after toying with putting her in a charter school, she is going to Kinder half day. She stays in the morning and then G-ma picks her up at lunch time. Not sure what to do, the Kinder teacher is saying she is amazing and doesn't get why she is not there all day. So now, I am thinking do I become the psycho parent and complain at the district or do the teacher and I approach the principal and see about her "secretly" being in Kinder (shhhh! don't tell anyone).

Ugh! This is just a taste of the new school year and that doesn't even include my class!!! They are a bunch of interesting drama kids as well!

More news later...Luv K

6 months since my last post

Wow I feel like that is the start of a confessional or something! We had a busy summer visiting family and friends. I cruised with my family, we drove to Wyoming, and then went to Wisconsin/ Chicago for a wedding. I PROMISE to be better. It seems as though I am better about reading other blogs than keeping mine blog up! Here is to a new try at this blog thing.

K

Super Bowl of Golf Weekend

So I found myself reflecting this weekend while in Florida. Ryan and I were lucky to spend the past four days in sunny Orlando, Florida. Last fall, Ry played in the Arizona Cardinals Alumni golf tournament. The team he played with won and the prize was a chance to represent the Cardinals in the "Super Bowl of Golf" in Florida (pictures to follow later). All expenses paid for Ryan of course, but I got to tag along. Sitting in the Disney Swan hotel, I thought about how blessed we have been. This caused me to reflect on that through out the past ten years Ryan and I have been blessed to meet some amazing people. People that I would have never imagined I would be spending time with. I always feel like it is important to spend your time with people who make you a better person and as we hung out this weekend I totally feel at a place in my life where I am with people who make me a better person.

Ryan's team consisted of Ryan (of course!!), Kevin Curry (best man in our wedding and one of Ry's best friends), and Rich Skelnick and Craig Hadges (from the sponsoring company- General Dynamics). Their former Cardinal match up was Kwamie Lassiter. Although they played awesome, they placed 9th overall with handicaps, etc. But, the weekend was a blast and more importantly a time to spend with friends. Thursday we went to the Magic Kingdom and saw Mickey and Minnie and then participated in all the events of the NFL Alumni Super Bowl of Golf!

After all the events the team and spouses met up in the hotel and just talked and hung out. I spent time with NFL greats like Kwamie and Dave Krieg. Most of the people are significantly older than Ryan and I. But, I never felt out of place, I never felt not included. It is so amazing to have people like this in your life. People who have no family connection to you, but yet are willing to care about you and enjoy each other's company.

By the way the Cincinnati Bengal team won in a four team playoff. I chose to root for them as we watched because they all matched. Their whole team wore the same hat, shirt and matching golf shorts. They looked great and they looked even greater with their Super Bowl of Golf rings!

Happy Easter!

Easter is such a special holiday, both in what it represents religiously and because it is the beginning of Spring! We had a fun day. The girls were spoiled as usual. I went to bed early in the afternoon with a cold that I am still trying to get over a week later.

Here's to a great Spring and Summer!

Stress

So it has been awhile, but I have been reading the live.love. photography blog regularly and I am inspired. I feel like I can use this as an outlet to relieve stress. By the way, check out the live.love blog if you have time. Tina is the mom of a little girl on Tatum's soccer team. She is a newly started photographer and is VERY talented. I love looking at all of her new shots each week.

So I feel like I handle stress pretty well. Our life is full between work, school (Ry's masters, some how has turned into my homework sometimes), and events. There are some weeks where I just want to stay home!!!

Here is where I vent: People at work who complain but do nothing. This past week, a lot of coworkers have been bugging me and complaining about things related to student council or my class. People who have no idea how much work goes into everything or how busy it keeps me. I even got roped into doing the Tango with someone at our next assembly (scary!). I get so angry about it and it seems to always be the same people. Those people who take credit for stuff, but do nothing for it. It is at the point in the year that I can not handle it much more. I think it is time for a vacation...or summer!

K :)