Speeding Along

Hi!

It's been a while since I have last posted (I know all 3 of you who read this are just waiting in anticipation:)). Since I last wrote, I have been pretty busy at work. School is in full swing!!! It's going to be a great year, but it takes a while for me to get used to the school-routine again. I am trying to build my energy back up-so far I think I could go to sleep at 7 every night if I allowed myself:) I have to admit I am already kind of glad that we have a long weekend coming up.

I am also still working on finishing up my classroom (there is still stuff everywhere, so I think I will wait a while before posting those)

However, I am a very proud wife after this weekend! Shawn ran in the Heartland Group Track Club Meet this past weekend. He ran the 100 meter and 200 meter dash and placed 1st in his age group:)

This was also the first track meet I had ever been to period. I learned a few things, like 1)its going to be hot 2) bring something to sit on 3) video-tape the meet because things happen too quick to take pictures

Here are a few pics I did manage to get though:

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

These past few weeks leading up to the beginning of school have been WONDERFUL:) We have had lots of family visit and have gotten to spend some time together.

However, we also recently have had a little family scare. Lydia had a really bad reaction to one of her routine vaccines and had to go to kitty hospital. Taking her to the vet and checking her into the hospital was honestly one of the worst things I have ever done-it really felt like I was taking my little baby to the vet.

Then, when I got home, it was nothing but depressing. All I noticed was how there was no one to greet me and run at my feet when I got home, no one to climb into the pots and pans cabinet when I was cooking, and no one to come lay on my lap as I watch Big Rich Texas. It was an absolutely miserable day.

Its like the old saying goes-you don't know what you got till its gone-and by having Lydia gone for a day, I realized what an important blessing she is in my life. Luckily, she recovered overnight and was able to go home the next morning:)

So, after weeks of seeing family and missing the absence of a special member of our family, I continue to reflect upon how important it is to have family as a daily, eternal part of your life. I never want to miss another play or purr session with my baby girl:) When I think more about balance and how to constantly juggle work, home, personal time etc, I have found that while I sometimes regret choosing to go into my classroom on a Saturday, choosing to watch another episode of that TV show I have already seen or choosing to clean that room for the fourth time that week, I never regret making time for family:)

Especially gray, furry members of the family

Fried Fun

And the cooking extravaganza continues!

Yesterday (Tuesday) my lovely mom came down to help me move into and set up my new (and huge classroom).

I will get to the fried part in a minute.

Before I proceed, let me first share one of Lydia's premiere laying out spots in our house.

She doesn't come down when called, praised or commanded.

She only comes down for two things....

Friskies cat treats or a can of tuna-aka food. Just like her mama:)

Anywho, my mom and I went into my classroom to do some organizing and decorating. This is what we started with:

And its still a work in progress. So, soon I will reveal some after pics:)

Then, we decided to make some chicken friend steak...yum yum











Chicken Fried Steak (supper easy-thanks mom, I have a feeling I will be making this often)

Ingredients:

beef cube steak
bread crumbs
saltine crackers
2 eggs
milk
cooking oil

Combine cracker and bread crumbs.
Put oil in fry pan and let it get hot on low heat
Beat egg with milk
Dip meet in egg mixture. Press meat into crumbs. Coat well.
Add meat to pan with oil. Brown on each side.

I am really enjoying this cooking streak I am on. I recently read how everyone needs a creative hobby-perhaps mine can be cooking? I think its the eating part I enjoy the most though:)

Hope everyone stays cool this week-I am sooo sick of heat!!!