Has Spring Sprung?!

Saturday night

My friend Hollie came into town for work again, so a few of us met up for dinner. It was a great way to end another Saturday night!

Shower with Friends

I helped shower Abby (in the green scarf) for her upcoming wedding. We met at a cute tea room for scones, tiny sandwiches, and 3 different desserts. Marian was one of the hostess and it was wonderful to see her again! Retirement is treating her well!!!! Only 20 more to go until people can say that about me!

Downtown Evening

We had to celebrate Jenn's birthday! So, we met for a "peace, love, and noodles" kind of evening. After finally letting the stress of work go, we were able to enjoy a friendly dinner followed by some inspiring fortunes. Walking around downtown and popping into unique stores was followed by dessert at a little bakery. This whole evening was just what we three needed!

Book Club

We met last Tuesday for our February book club. Brenna was the gracious host for the evening. After eating, discussing the book, and talking about our lives we decided on the next meeting day. For March, we will be reading Love in the Time of Cholera.

100 days!

WHAT?! We have to celebrate 100 days of school on a Satuday?!


YEAH! There are only 80 more to go!!!

Parade

Our Kindergartners were in the letter parade this past Wednesday. Each child took home a letter of the alphabet, decorated it something that starts with that letter, then paraded around the school to show off the creations. This year, I convinced my team we should dress up too! Some of us were decked out from head to toe in things that begin with our letter and others were just one thing. I had bunny ears, butterfly wings, a bee body, beads, bandana, and boots on. The things you do for your children!

Missing?!

I catch crap all the time about posting on my blog too much or posting pictures right away. Truth is, people love it. They can't deny it any longer. So, where are all the pictures? the posts? Last weekend, my friend Lauren turned 32. There was a little gathering Friday night to help her kick off the birthday weekend. Well, instead of taking myself and the camera to the party I sat my happy butt on the couch with a low grade fever and slept for 12 hours. I received several comments about missing me and most importantly my camera. See?!
Saturday I awoke with the fever still hanging around and took a morning nap. It was then I decided sleeping was not going to cure my ails. I showered, took myself to the grocery store and got items to make some homemade baked potato soup. Sunday I was pretty a-okay. Monday morning hit and with it some more germs. That day we sent home two children with 102 fevers adding to the already five other children that were out. I was trying to catch some chills during the day so it was decided I would take myself to kick boxing that night to kick the germs away. Not so sure it worked, but Tuesday I took myself back to the gym to attempt running. Again, still coughing but thankfully no chills. Surely sweating was the way to rid my body of the nasty germs floating around my classroom. Wednesday, my voice was trying to disappear. Funny because in 32 years I have only lost my voice once. Wednesday night I went to yoga and really focused on my moves when she said it helps the immune system. As I came out of yoga, it was spitting snow. Awoke today, Thursday, to school cancelled. That's right. It looked like sugar had been sprinkled over my yard but school was not in session; not even for teachers. Instead, we all get to gather on Saturday for school until 1:00. My thoughts on this are: if we can't handle driving in only a dusting to an ince of snow then maybe we shouldn't live in the mountains right?! Of course, if we hadn't already missed too much school I would probably be feeling differently.
However, here is how it's going down. I am working on being Balanced Bethany remember? So, I enjoyed my "Saturday" by sleeping in which is what I think my body needs. Sipping coffee in my pajamas was enjoyed before having lunch and a Goodwill trip before heading home. Now it's off to read and hopefully send these chills and cough germs packing for good! I would like to feel 100% again soon!

Giving Back

A friend of mine posted this on facebook. I thought it was good enough to share.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-salwen/the-slightly-absurd-thing_b_817480.html?ref=fb&src=sp

Cheating...

We cheated mother nature out of two winter days. With temperatures in the low 60s here Saturday and Sunday moods were refreshed. Sunday after church, I enjoyed my lunch while soaking up some vitamin D. Later on, we joined Ann and her pup Chloe for a run in the woods. I tell you what, running in the woods does a mind good!
Now it's on to Monday when mother nature reminded us that winter is not through. It's okay, just that taste did the body good.
Two muddy girls:

A Friend In Town

Hollie came back into town to work this weekend and a few of us meet for dinner and drinks. The "negative Nelly" part of Saturday was we had a workday. The "positive Polly" part of the day was we could leave by 2 so I was home to watch the Tarheels play! Also, it was a beautifully warm afternoon so Pattie and I enjoyed soaking up some rays while playing in the yard. As the sun was setting, I headed downtown to meet the girls. Put all this together and you have the new me. Meet Balanced Bethany! When I went for "hairapy" (I get my hair cut and therapy from my gay hairdresser for the same price!) Friday afternoon this is what I discovered. I have been struggling with a few parts of my life this past week and I told him I was trying to be more positive polly. His response was only being positive denies reality. I need to find a balance. To this I responded with "I have it! I'm going to be Balanced Bethany!" So, here's to being more balanced.

All Day Racing

Awaking at 6:30 to 20 degree weather is not an ideal way to start your Saturday morning. However, I needed to get myself ready for another year of running in the Issac Dickson Hot Chocolate 10K. Yep, that's right. Again this year I signed up for the race in hopes I would keep myself motivated through the holidays. Turns out, January 1st hit and I realized there had been little to no training much as the past years have proved. So, last Monday I joined a gym, visited it 4 times and ran the race. Well, let's just say I finished the race. I actually felt much better about the race running more and faster than past years until I hit the beast of an end...the dreaded hill! Again, I finished.
It was home to quickly shower, eat, grab Pattie and head back to W. Asheville for the second event on the agenda. We were attending the Winter Warmer Beer Fest that afternoon. Little did I know a few firsts were coming my way. I rode the public bus for the first time (not buses that run through a college campus, I have been on those). I tasted a few beers for the first time. After the fest, we grabbed pizza before heading home. I ordered pepperoni and pineapple. There is no pineapple at this place, but they offered banana. I said what the heck, I would try it. It wasn't so bad. I still enjoy pineapple better, but now I can say I've tried banana pizza...have you?!

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Mom's turn!

Friday evening, dad and mom traveled up the mountain to celebrate. They arrived just in time for a lasagna dinner prepared by yours truly! After dinner, we enjoyed warm chocolate chip cookies before playing 12 rounds of Scattegories! I think this is just what mom wanted to do for her birthday!
Saturday morning after making breakfast here, we headed out for some shoe shopping. No one was successful, but we enjoyed the company. Before heading out of town, a late lunch was enjoyed at Blue Sky Cafe! It was a short visit, but so nice to have guests in the house!

Book Club and Birthday

We met this month at Amanda's for two important reasons. One, we needed to drink wine I mean discuss the book, and two we wanted to celebrate Amanda's 30th birthday! She and my mom both celebrate their birthdays on January 12th. So, we gathered to discuss The Glass Castle and choose the book for next month. We also went out Saturday night to dinner to help her end the week long celebration! Now on to read A Confederacy of Dunces.

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And so it happens...

It snows 7.5 inches, even though this is supposed to be a mild winter, and Pattie turns 2 aka sassy teenager! I woke Monday morning to 7 inches of snow and it continued to fall all day. There was an annual leave day Monday and today. Tomorrow is an optional day for teachers. Before Monday, we had 5 more days to play with until we start messing with Spring Break. I better enjoy my days now!
For Pattie's birthday I made her snowcream and a snowman...I think it was just what she wanted!

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Last of the Holidays

Here are the last of the videos and pictures from my holidays. For some reason, my old computer was not recognizing and playing the videos?! So, now that it crashed and I'm using a new laptop it's amazing how much faster everything is moving!
I would also like to add I am updating this on Monday morning as I watch the snow fall. I woke to 7 inches of snow and it's still heavily falling outside. It is a beautiful sight even though I might be snowed in for a few days!

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The New Year

As I said to my family before the new year struck, my resolution this year is...to accomplish something. Yep, that's right. Accomplish something. So far I've been pretty successful. For instance, New Year's day I took a shower. Sunday when I returned, I took down Christmas. Monday morning, I awoke to the alarm, made it to school, and actually taught something that day. See how easy it is to accomplish something? I think this might be my best resolution yet!

Children's Museum

New Year's Eve Day morning went a little something like this:
*Phillip and Dad are in kitchen trying to finish the floor
*Mom, Jammie, and I decide to take the kids to the museum to get them out of the house
*Kids are outside waiting for GG to get back, everyone else is in the kitchen talking
*We are about to leave when Phillip cuts his thumb.
Change of plans!
*Mom and I rush the kids off to the museum so they won't worry and won't catch glimpse of the thumb
*Jammie rushes Phillip off to urgent care where apparently if you walk in bleeding you are ensured fast attention!
Everyone returns in the afternoon happy and tired!

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It's A Petty Family Christmas

The snow postponed our Christmas plans until Thursday but luckily this meant the Ohio Gribbles could join us. We left Thursday afternoon and headed down to Raleigh for the evening. Laura and Grant hosted the event providing tasty pizzas made in their brick oven. There was the gift exchange which seemed a little calmer this year. I did end up with some beautiful hand knit gloves by Maggie even though it wasn't my original present. Thanks to Maggie for making them and Marie/Kyle for sharing them! I'm sure your new pairs will be just as beautiful!

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Hanging Out

Tuesday morning we headed down to visit Grandma Gribble. We enjoyed playing a few rounds of UNO before enjoying lunch and heading back home. The rest of the day and all day Wednesday were spent soaking in the moments of being a family.

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