March 25, 2008

agreed. 

March 25th is always a bittersweet day for me. 

Seven years ago the feelings were mostly bitter, 

but every year I've been able to find more sweet.

I love my Chris.

I love my family.

I love my friends.

I love my life.

I'm grateful for the March 25th's that remind me how truly blessed I am.

March Madness

While there has been way more basketball watched in our house this month than I care to admit, this post is not about basketball--despite the misleading title of this post. No, this post is about the madness that seems to have been our life this past month, a "life-update" post if you will (we love those, right? Indulge me!).

This whole month has just been kind of a blur. Between Chris playing on 4 different sports teams + getting a new calling in church,  and me finishing up my last month of student teaching, I feel like there hasn't been a whole lot of time for anything else. I can't remember the last time I ate anything green/grew from the ground + was on a regular sleep schedule. Truth: I took five naps over the weekend. I also slept over 26 hours, which Chris was kind enough to point out to me after my nap on Sunday. I guess that's what happens when you stop sleeping during the week (something I will not miss about student teaching).

But let's be honest, the real madness started this last weekend after I bought two bags of Reese's eggs. I tried so hard to stay strong and not purchase any Easter candy until next week, but Target got the best of me (as usual). Those eggs in the bowl are all that remain, which I'm sure it's safe to say will be gone by the end of the night. Sorry swimsuit season, but I regret nothing. NOTHING! (...yet)

Also, Chis was kind enough to remind me that he hates fake flowers because they "look tacky." Probably not the best thing you want to say to your sleep-deprived wife during March madness, dude. Just saying.  (...But is Chris right? Are those flowers tacky and I just don't see it?? Help a sista out!)

Anyway, here's to making it through the last few days of the madness we're calling March! Which I guess I shouldn't complain too much about, because I know it's only going to get crazier with graduation and applying for big girl jobs.  *mini heart attacks* I wonder how many Reese's eggs it's going to take to get me through that?



Update: There's only one Reese's egg left in the bowl... Chris better know how much he is loved.

Thursday-ness // a happy list

Thursday's are kind of bittersweet for me.  I hate that I have to wait until 11pm for Chris to get home from school, but I also kind of like the fact that Thursday has turned into "my day." Meaning, I can spend 8 hours with just me (Shayli likes Shayli) and do whatever I want and have no one to answer to...is that bad to say? But today I decided to spend "my day" with my best friend, Whit. Oh, and my family, because let's be honest, that's really who I'm with when Chris is gone. Hence, a happy list! 

But first, the struggle that is taking a picture in the blinding sun, and not being on the same page when taking pictures ("Wait, we're taking a "cute" picture now, right?)

+ Getting amazing feedback from my teaching adviser this morning (apparently it's good to talk about your Pinterest board to your class). 

+ Pulling off a fake pop quiz for my students to introduce the topic of stress management. I was able to keep a straight face the entire time! But I'm still shaking from the stress of deliberately being mean.

+ Going to The Hot Potato* because you're a duh face and forgot to bring your temple recommend/clothes to go do a session with Whit. 

+ Getting extra fries AND an extra shake because the waitress at Hot Potato could not get my order right (that I put in on an ipad). 

+ Getting the following text from my mom: 

"Where are you today? I have a drink waiting for you. (my love language)

+ Taking a long, hot bubble bath + listening to a playlist that consists of Cher, Whitney Houston, and the Hairspray Soundtrack (making mama Sanderson proud). 

+ Being in bed BEFORE Chris. So rare around these parts.

+ Not having to plan a lesson for Friday. Ah, bless you A/B day schedule. 

* My thoughts on The Hot Potato... great concept (it's like a fry bar! choose your style of fry + seasoning + sauce), decent food, terrible service. Oh, and their chili cheese fries aren't as good as Del Taco's. But let's be honest, nobody's chili cheese fries can beat Del's. Also, raise your hand if you think Swig should start serving french fries! Rant over.

my confession in fourth period

Let's talk about my fourth period class.

Ah, fourth period... such a love/hate relationship. Love that they participate and make me laugh--a lot. Hate that they are so chatty and get off topic--a lot.

But today I just couldn't help but have nothing but love for them. We were going over basic first-aid today and were discussing bleeding/bandaging and I showed them this picture:

class: "Oh my gosh, Mrs. Gourley! Why would show us this?! Eww!" 

me: "Because you need to know what types of bleeding there are. Plus, I think it's fascinating." 

That's when I made the mistake of going off on a tangent about how I went to phlebotomy school and learned how to draw blood. Then I made the bigger mistake of telling my class that I love to see, and I quote, "big, juicy veins." That's when I knew I was done for. Half the class roared with laughter and the other half had their eyebrows raised like did our teacher really just say that? + one student immediately said, "Umm... could you please not use the word, 'juicy' to describe veins, please?" 

After reassuring my class that I am not a vampire, I tried to continue on with my lecture. 

me: "Okay, so what is the purpose of bandaging?" 

class: "TO COVER UP BIG, JUICY VEINS!"

... I couldn't even get mad at them. I was laughing too hard! What freaking little smart-A's! I am happy to say that we made it through the rest of the lecture, but the phrase 'big, juicy veins' was shouted out probably 20 times more than need be during a first-aid lesson. That's what I get for being chatty and off topic, I guess. 

Maybe this is just one of those you-had-to-be-there moments, but I wanted to document--I had to! Because today was probably one of the funnest days I've had while student teaching and definitely one of those I made the right career choice! moments. Also, I have a feeling that I'm going to need this post to look back on when my fourth period class ticks me off on a different day. But for today, I'm just going to love them and be grateful that there were no penis jokes made after I confessed that I love big, juicy veins.