Take a Look

Don't ask...I know, I know, I barely have time to write on this one. But the blog to the right is something I've been wanting to do for a while now. Let me know what you think! This link will bring you there!

Home Sick

So this is the one minute that I get to blog...when I am home sick! Nuts.
I have been fighting this little bugger for at least two weeks now. I went to a wedding on Sunday night and was up till about 2am. Um...can we say EXHAUSTED?! So my little bugger took that opportunity to make his way into my upper respitory system (as per Dr. Net). Yesterday, I slept all day. I mean ALL DAY. I didn't wake for Oprah lol, I didn't wake for screaming children. I did wake for 5-10 minute email checks to make sure my students didn't burn down my classroom, and for a bagel, and fries.

I stayed home yesterday and pulled the computer out to log in to Aesop (program that teachers call in sick to...subs log in to find the jobs and choose where they want to sub for the day. Mr. Scott will be in my class today-the kids will love it..it being a MAN)to call in for today. I hate doing it but I forced myself to take the day so I can totally get better before visiting the brother, sister, SIL and nephew in Virginia for Nicorooni's FIRST BIRTHDAY! No one wants a hacking, coughing, whiny visitor. So here I lay, in bed, wondering if Dr. Erlich is the one that I can't stand and hoping its not because I have an appnt with him at 11.

What's New Here at the Zoo:

*Lucas can now say-cookie,shoes, socks, on, doggy sorry, cracker,garbage, no, yes, gimme,nooooo, I want, momma, mommy, mom, mommamia, moooommmmmyyyy and mommamoo

*Lucas' obsession with shoes has grown to new heights with the sighting of crocs that have fur lol

*Brooke is learning how to write her name and mommy is already obsessing (yes, I already fled to the kindergarten wing at my school asking for advice) that she writes her o's backwards. Now this may sound silly to obsess about but the o is the base for every letter...so if you write that backwards...you write most letters backwards...K Teacher advice- teach c first....ahhh gotta love those k teachers! This helps with pen direction.

*Brooke just recently went to the Monster Truck show with Uncle Danny and Aunt Marylynn. Quote of the day: "Mom, those truck drivers don't know what they are doing. They kept crashing. I was going to go tell them but I was too little to get down there".

*Valentines day- Brooke went to Friendly's with Daddy for some grub and icecream. Lucas stayed with mom. We had a candlelight dinner (for real). I had a calzone mmm and he had a slice of pizza. Cutest date I ever had... but boy oh boy I never did have a date take a poop right in front of me-strained face and all! lmao

*Mom(me) has been running and loving any time i can get outside rather than on the treadmill. I HATE the treadmill. I got a bike and can't wait till the weather gets nicer so I can take it out. Love that I will be able to get to a "different location" in the matter of an hour on bike...

So that's whats happening in the zoo. Love some of the new blogs that I've been visiting..if you want to get inspired take a look!
annette

Innocently Perfect In Every Way

Cleaning up (cleaning out) the playroom once again. This seems to be what I do on a snow day...

Mom- Brooke come here for a minute. I want you to look at these four dolls and choose which one you would want to give away to someone that doesn't have a baby.

Brooke- But Mom! I like them. (begins to stare at the dolls)

Mom- I know but you have four and it would be nice to give one away to someone that doesn't have one. What about this one. This one you've had the longest. ( I picked up the one thats been through the trenches and hands of two kids, mud piles, messy lunches etc...)

Brooke- I choose this one to give. (she picks up the one and only one that looks nice, still laughs when you press its stomach, still has the same clothes on...you get the drift)

Mom- Are you sure? That is in really good shape?!

Brooke- Yes, if the littel (and thats how she pronounces it...kinda like Grandma T) girl doesn't have one, she should have the best one.

I guess I'm doing something right! Can you love her more???

Baby Steps

So yesterday I ate really well and went to sleep by 9:30. Today, I had my vegan shake for breakfast (which IS very yummy), salad for lunch with almonds and fruit (also yummy). What then, my friends possesses me to go to the office, look for chocolate and when I don't see any, ask for chocolate. I proceed to walk back down to my classroom eating a FULL size Snickers bar...finished, done--by the time I got to my classroom! I mean really????

Baby Steps...rome wasn't built in a day...and besides...Snickers bars are really really yummy too!

So...

Been doing some research on how to optimize my eating...energy levels, yada yada. Came across this other blog, you can see it on the right hand side or here (www.charskitchen.blogspot.com) Lots and lots of interesting recipes. Also, Going to make a stop at Whole Foods tomorrow with the kids and most likely pick up the book Thrive by Brendan Brazier. Seems interesting. Will I become a vegan? No, which is a quick answer especially since I would hunt down a cow myself if I had to when I'm craving a cheeseburger BUT I definitely want to try and lean more about the healthier way of eating, especially on some of my long run days. We'll see what it does and if what this Brazier guys says is true... (rocky is probably grinning from ear to ear with this vegan talk...but you can't fool me...I see you eating those sausage and meatballs from time to time lol)....

P.S...If you go onto that blog there are recipe groupings on the side...stews, smoothies etc.!

Some convincing footage...

Vega training: part two of four from Brendan Brazier on Vimeo.

Vega training: part four of four from Brendan Brazier on Vimeo.

What the Dr. Ordered

So yesterday I woke up in a bit of a slump,down, unmotivated, annoyed at the world..really for no reason. Well maybe it was because I went to sleep bawling after finishing the book The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Really good, exceptionally good if you love dogs- more on that in a later post).

Back to what the Dr. ordered. I spent some time around a few good friends and laughed with some on the phone. A vent here and there, a laugh, then some more laughs. It gave me the motivation to get up and go to the gym to let the rest of it out. Last night and today I feel better than ever.

So thank you to my friends, that make me laugh and care enough to tell me to relax and move on from the day..that it will be better tomorrow. Because as long as you can see and remember that...all will be okay!

I find this HYSTERICAL...

...there are a select few that will know EXACTLY why....please...please ...quiet...lol just enjoy the video

Under Construction

The writer of this blog is under construction. She will be back shortly...with pictures, videos and some more ideas shortly.

Keep checking back!

Just Ask..and you may receive!

So I went onto shutterfly tonight and started ordering some of my favorite pics. I'm like that commercial where the kids are stuck in the camera for years...waiting to get out. I've always waited on doing this type of project because I knew it was something that was going to be a bit pricey and sometimes I can be a bit frugal with things that aren't a need. Long story short, I purchased about 30 of my favorite photos...some 16x20's...and needless to say it was a bit pricey. So to try and get rid of some cost i went on a nice little website called www.retailmenot.com this gives you all types of online discounts...very nice...

Well, after searching, I had no luck and was very frustrated. I was even more frustrated when I saw that snapfish their competitor had free shipping. My shipping for 4-5 days was 67 dollars! So I got on the phone, spoke with the guy and told him if he didn't give me free shipping i was going to move my business to Snapfish (now between you and I there was no way I was doing that. It took me hours and there was no way in hell i was spending another few hours on it). So the guy asked me to hold on, I did, and he came back telling me to go screw myself. Nah, just kidding. He told me he was going to give me 2 day shipping for free!!!!That is more than I even asked for and worth over 100 buckarooni's!

So my friends...Shrvrod (yes that was his name..spelling not too sure lol) had the holiday spirit and perked mine up a bit too by the spirit of giving! Can't wait to see the photos!

2:27am...really?

Calendars are done...you guys better enjoy them!!! They are alot of work!

Update

So the other day I wrote a post about Lucas screaming about his snack choices. I really tried every approach, every snack. Well my blog friends, the reason it wasn't working is what Lucas really wanted was to be feeding the dog! He finally went over and laid himself on the dog food, screaming and whaling. I said "Lukey Mama, do you want to feed the dog?" His eyes lit up, he backed away and then I filled the cup for him. I mean really--any cuter?? He took the cup and carefully, yet swiftly trodded over to the dog bowl. Filled the bowl up and picked up each piece that was dropped while Cooper patiently waited (while thinking...cool dinner early!) After filling it he ran back in to get some more....
...so here my friends, welcome to the new problem.....
Please expect to see an overweight picture of Cooper real soon....lol

What do you think...alot seems pretty true to me?

VIRGO

Virgo is a Mutable Earth sign, ruled by Mercury. As the sixth sign of the zodiac, and the only sign represented by a woman, the Virgo individual is reliable, industrious, intelligent, and practical, adhering to standards that are quite high in virtually all aspects of their lives. Famous and historical figures sharing Virgo traits are Mother Teresa (August 27), Michael Jackson (August 29), Ivan the Terrible (September 4), and President William H. Taft (September 15).

The Virgo personality is a complex mix of intelligence, common sense, attention to detail, and commitment. This is a down-to-earth sign with a strong sense of responsibility, especially with regard to family and close friends. Although they are described as orderly and neat in most personality profiles, the modern day Virgo may not always stand out from the crowd in the neatness department. However, even if the Virgo's house or office is not always in perfect order, you can be sure that they still know where to instantly find whatever they need, despite it being hidden in a pile somewhere. The real stand-out feature of the Virgo personality is their commitment to excellence in everything they do. This is a person who once committed to a given task, will complete it to the very best of his ability. If something goes wrong, and the task is incomplete or not perfectly done, it will be on Virgo's mind for some time to come. Virgos can be quite critical of perceived flaws in others, but do not take kindly to criticism themselves. They are very aware of body and health, and will take a dim view of comments related to the physical, such as weight gain or acne, of which they are already painfully aware. If life becomes too complicated or their already fragile ego is damaged, Virgo may become depressed to the point of immobilization at home, but will probably still function perfectly in the workplace. Virgo tends to be fairly careful with money and usually won't be caught without at least a small nest egg tucked away somewhere.

For those with a Virgo child, you have an energetic, talkative, analytic kid who may show maturity beyond his years starting at an early age. These kids are constantly seeking out new activities, and require a constant stream of books and projects to keep them from becoming bored. Your Virgo child will actually appreciate it when you give him household tasks to complete, and will generally do a good job with them, asking many questions along the way so he can do the best job possible. Be sure not to criticize if his job does not turn out just right, however, as this will deflate his ego and he will not likely want to try again any time soon. It's better with a Virgo to just talk about the nuts and bolts of how you accomplish the same task. Virgo children are somewhat shy when confronted with new situations, so providing them with opportunities to socialize with other kids is an important part of their upbringing. Virgos will do well in school due to their industrious nature and determination. This is a willing little worker who should be supported fully in any direction in which he shows interest, such as music or science. The Virgo child should do well as far as relationships within the family, unless there is a sibling with traits that he just cannot abide, such as a critical, pushy, or messy brother or sister. In cases like this, giving the Virgo child a place of his own that he can retreat to is always a good idea.

Virgo in the workplace is generally a dream come true. These are intelligent, industrious, detail-oriented people who don't mind having superiors and who will be active team members as long as they are provided with the tools needed to do the job correctly. In general, they are routine-oriented, doing their jobs the same way and in the same order day after day, and this shouldn't be interfered with or they will be thrown off balance. Virgo may seem bossy and controlling at work at times, but this is not about ego - they are not striving to be the top dog. Rather, they have an inner clock by which they work, and anyone that interferes is dealt with appropriately according to their Virgo standards. Virgo is a star in the workplace when all their elements are intact - workspace that is organized and tidy, head organized and tidy, and body organized and tidy. If anything becomes out of kilter, their performance could vary somewhat, but not so much in the workplace as in their personal lives, which can often become a chaotic mess because of their strong inborn sense of orderliness and the world in general not falling into line.

If you have found a romantic partner in Virgo, you have found a classy, intelligent, and witty partner indeed. You may have some trouble landing that Virgo, as they do tend to look before they leap, but when they do take the plunge, they do it with gusto. Once you are in a committed relationship with Virgo, you will have a partner that is willing to work to please you as long as you remember not to step on their sense of routine and order. Virgo doesn't mind you taking the lead, but will buck if you disturb their sense of how things should be around the household. A simple rule of thumb is take care of your Virgo, and your Virgo will take care of you!

The best matches for Virgo are Taurus, Capricorn, and another Virgo (Virgos tend to understand each other). Cancer, Leo, Libra, and Scorpio might work well for some individuals. It will likely be tough going with Gemini, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

Virgo in any relationship will be a diligent, hard worker who once imbedded in the friendship will go the extra mile when needed. Virgos are fairly critical and can tend to be nit-picky, but if you understand and accept this, they will be good friends who will amaze you with their wit and creativity. Be careful not to step on your Virgo friend's ego, as they may go into a tailspin. Many a Virgo has retreated to alcohol and drugs to lick open wounds. All in all, however, your Virgo friend will be an asset and an ally who will allow you to take the lead if you have proven to be a trusted entity in their lives.

December WHAT?!

I was teaching a lesson today, when I asked the kids "Wait, what's today's date?" December 13th they said in unison...."DECEMBER WHAT?!!!!" Can you believe that it is already the middle of December??? Holy cannoli where does the time go.

I, being Santa in the Johnson household, have lots to do! These things, don't let me fool you, I enjoy. I love to put the extra special touch on things, the extra sparkle, the small but extra special thought...its my thing I guess you can say.

I finished the x-mas cards the other day...again, couldn't upload pics for some reason but I will try again. Of course, it was as adventurous as always. I dragged the outside seat indoors, put it in front of the new fireplace and had my pockets filled with yummy snacks. I love the outcome and put it on my desk at school...those kids...I could honestly eat them and have to refrain from doing it everyday! Especially since Brooke has been asking people to "bite her"....lol...lmao....lol.

Next big December project...the infamous calendar. I will have to take a poll on who still wants them...but tonight I will be fishing through zillions of pictures to add to the calendar for 2011!!!!! Such a tedious task but I love the outcome...so I have to keep reminding myself of that especially when snapfish boots me off the system for being on too long.

So the calendar, ordering more cards, a bit more shopping and figuring out some dates, baking, Santa's letters and then we are ready to sit down, relax and enjoy the fire...(um Scott about that...its been 4 years lol)....I WILL ENJOY that fire AND I WILL post a pic of me doing it!!!! That is my christmas gift to myself! Enjoy the next few weeks all-it goes so fast!

I love this song and it makes me feel so many different things everytime I hear it. Sad but in some way...hopeful in others uplifting?

I feel like it somehow touches a raw emotion that I have not quite hit upon. I think sometimes it is so easy to get down, sad, to not trust, to give up....these are things that are easy. Especially, in this winter time, during these holidays when everyone is supposed to be so happy, yet I watch so many struggle in so many different ways.

So I I think this song, brings up some great questions...Is love alive? Where and how for you? And when it doesn't feel so alive- who and what helps you get closer or back to the feeling that it is.....

I added the same video but with them making it. I wanted to add this because "love" and the power of doing what you love is also what I am talking about...you could just feel it when you watch these ladies create the video...What do you do that makes you feel alive?

Desperately Seeking....a vaca

I don't know what it is about when I come home but honestly all hell breaks loose and I find myself in the pantry whimpering..."I can't take it anymore"...is this normal? Lol...I'm thinking not?

Lucas is screaming from his crib because the 'opening of the door creak' wakes him...and he knows I'm home, so he screams bloody murder. Brooke runs straight for the pantry in hope that the next person on shift doesn't talk to the previous person on shift to find out if she already had 16 snacks! Then when I take Lucas down he wants a snack...and fast...and YOU HAVE TO READ HIS MIND! You pick something out and all he can say is "no"...he will honestly leave the room to find a corner, throw himself down, scream and cry...until he comes back,sees the next snack choice and then repeat -corner, throw down, cry-...

This is about the point I go and whimper....advice please?