A first... Slice of Life

As we entered the bowling alley, Hudson clung tight as he was very unsure. 
He seems to be unsure of a lot lately. 
Must be a stage. 
He really wasn't sure what this whole bowling thing was going to be like and it looked like he wasn't going to go for it. 
I took him to the counter to pick out shoes. 
He stuck his nose up in the air when they were handed to me.
I of course made a big deal about them... calling them special shoes, and showing the colors. 
He reluctantly sat down and let me put them on. 
When it was time for him to walk, he again, was unsure.
I thought... for sure this wasn't going to go well. 

I couldn't have been more wrong. 

Hudson slowly walked with me down the ramp, to the lanes.
Eyes wide open and in awe of this new adventure in front of him.
Gazing at all of the different colored bowling balls to choose from,
and the lights leading to the pins. 

One step on the 'special floor' and his shoes instantly turned into dancing shoes. His legs moving back and forth and the smile on his face ----huge!

He was up first. 
He let me help him set the ball up, and PUSH!
Ok, this was cool....he wanted to go again. 

This time..He needed to do it. 
All of it. 
By Himself, of course! 

He walked the ball to the lane. Set it up. And counted...
One...Two..Three...Four...Five...Six...Seven...Eight...Nine....Ten...Eleven... Twelve...thirteennnnnnn... FOURTEEN!

Yes.. counting to fourteen is apparently the new send off for things ;)... Three would just be too quick. 

Release!

Go! Go! Go! Go!!!  GO GO GO GO!!! Go GO GO GO!!! GOOOOOOOOO!  As the ball rolled, and rolled and rolled down the lane. 

Crash.... Pins Fell....

Cheering and clapping but the little bowler, and responding with a "Thank you" to everyone else who was cheering and clapping along with him! 

He was hooked. Little guy bowled all 10 frames!

Success! 


I'm writing a slice of life today with the Two Writing Teachers!  Join us on Tuesday for this awesome place to write, reflect and share!!!  

A Moment In Time... Slice of Life 10.25.2016

Thinking back to those moments that become ingrained in your memory are so special. I'm trying to do more of that. 

More moment taking....Less frantic mom who is thinking three steps ahead. 

That's hard. 

I worry about---when I'm going to get the house cleaned,when the dishes will be done, or the clean ones put away,when I'll finish my school work,have a minute to myself,spend quality time with my family,getting {it} everything life throws my way done and accomplished. 

You can sure drive yourself crazy worrying. 

Worry.

What a small word. What a big part of a daily life.

If. You. Let. It. Be

I have been open with you all about my struggles the past year. Postpartum.
Transition.Anxiety.
Toddler.Life......

Today I come to you with a happy post about saying goodbye to those worries. I'm not sure what it was, but last 2 weekends ago a trigger went off in my brain as I jolted awake.  A trigger that said.... "You're in control" ... "You can do this!"

And I just did.  

Now this is a long time coming, and has taken a lot of work and perspective! It won't be perfect everyday. But when you have that click, just like what we love to see with our students... you just realize that you must carry on. you must live. You must embrace your life and what you have in front of you. And that is what I did. And that is what I have really focused on.... and the past several weeks have been different. 

So looking back on that moment.  Any moment....The moment in time that gets marked down as being special. 

I mean, come on!  Look at that face!

That was a moment. 

A Moment in time, I will cherish... Forever!

Happy Tuesday! I'm excited to be sharing my Slice of Life with you today and linking up with the Two Writing Teachers for this special day! What are you special moments? When did you have something click for you? I'd love to know!

A Video...A Quote...and a Photograph... Celebrate!

Happy Weekend!

I'm happy to be back at the keys today. 

This last week was difficult to write. 

As I've shared, I've been struggling with my balance lately.

Back to school this year has been harder than usual.

I'm hopeful....but it's been difficult. 

Today I want to celebrate this week with things that made me STOP and think! First of all, this short video came across my Facebook feed. I don't know why it came at the perfect time for me, but it did. The fact that I haven't seen it shared before either was shocking to me!  IT was perfect. I feel like it spoke to me. Take a second to watch it here. I literally sat at my desk and cried as I was watching it. I was sad, happy and feeling the same way as the woman.  Anyone relate???

The second is a quote from our Positive Thinking Thursday at school. Jennifer, my dear friend, coworker and fellow blogger from The Sweet Writing Life, gives us positive quote each week. This one made me giggle. To take time to laugh these days is something I'm trying to do more. Thanks Jennifer for the quote! Especially as I'm working on balance in my own life. 

Lastly, a photograph that I took this week in the backyard. Pure Beauty!  Made me stop and marvel at nature and what was right in front of me! #nofilterneeded

Enjoying this space to celebrate!  You should join us and Ruth Ayres for this weekly celebration. 

A Slice of Life 9/27/16

Well well well...
Here we are, with Two Writing Teachers, and Tuesday's Slice of Life. 

One of my most favorite days of the week for sharing just a little bit of what life has to offer.  I have a very short post today, in light of my newest accessory (keep reading)..... and what I have seen in just less than 24 hours of having it.

I've seen this quote floating around here and there for some time, but with really focusing on growth mindset with my students, it's really something that I have talked about a lot lately. I am so proud of them and their kindness... and today they showed it so very much-- to me AND to each other. 

I showed up today after being gone all morning with a 'boot' on my foot.  I've had an injury for some time now, and finally got into a specialist this morning.  Wasn't expecting this outcome...however I came back to school a bit defeated, to an amazing report from a substitute, which in the first month of school is awesome. But, it doesn't stop there!  Then there was a a sub switch (long story) to another one in the PM so I could do assessments, which ended the day with another amazing report.  

I was so proud of them.

However....Still. Not. All!!

When each student came to see me to do their testing.... they were so concerned with ME. Not only were they awesome with each other today, helpful to the substitutes, worked hard and got along, but they were so kind, and helpful to their teacher, me, who was having a rough day, and who was barely getting around. 

They rocked it today... and I think we all need to take the time to do kind things for others. Even small things matter.

A Smile...

Holding a door...

Being patient at a stop sign...

Not be in such a rush.....

Noticing when someone needs a helping hand....

ANYTHING! 

Be Kind...

It is free after all!

Xoxo

Ana

Dusting off the keys... to Celebrate

Hello and happy Sunday!
It's been awhile for me, but a personal goal as the school year started was to blog more! I want to write more, as it helps me reflect and comprehend what's going on around me. So today is the day!
And for that I'm going to celebrate...

I'm joining Ruth Ayres to celebrate this week and you should too!

This week for me is all about making it.
I had a rough one.
There I said it.
I admitted it.
Only September, and I'm not quite in my groove.
But---
instead of dwelling on the rough week I had,
I want to share some 'LOVE'
I want to share some happiness.

Two things happened this week that I want to shout from the mountains. Unfortunately I can't share them both.. but in due time I can {not my news to share}...however the other is in the beauty of nature.

As I shared in an earlier post, my tattoo is my grandmothers handwriting.
It's from a letter she wrote me. 

I received this rose as a peace rose from my teammates at school when my grandmother passed. It was sudden, and not expected.
It was hard.

We moved about a year ago, and this plant was struggling, as was I on so many levels. However looking at it today is truly amazing.
It wasn't growing.
It was being eaten...
It only had a few buds.
And now???
Now...
It is thriving.
I would like to say that I am thriving....
I am not...
However, I'm much better right now than I was a year ago,--
So to me, I consider that thriving a little bit, and that's better than nothing.
SO for that---
I celebrate.

What do you celebrate??
Link up!
Share!


xo
~Ana

Small Moment {Slice of Life 4.26.16}

Yesterday was a Monday. 

I have to say... not a horrible Monday,

but one of those, what else crazy or unexpected 

might happen??...(especially at school!)

I was going a million miles a minute, 

it felt to catch up and be on top of things. 

I had students breaking down for 

things happening at home,

three milk spills during lunchroom duty

and kids asking me if the pioneers were 

able to stop off at Walmart while on the trail. 

It was a full moon feeling of a day. 

So when I got home I had no intention 

on taking some time to just soak in

this special moment....this special memory----

As you know from an earlier post,

my grandparents are very special to me.

I have been close to each one my whole life.

I recently lost two of them, and only have one

left to share in this life with. 

My grandmother came by last night, for a quick

visit before we ate dinner.  This isn't something that

happens often, as she lives almost an hour away. 

Even though the time was ticking away,

and becoming closer and closer to dinner and bed---

we took some extra time to just live.  

We watched Hudson run around, play, giggle, and enjoy---

It was the most beautiful night. 

It was unexpected. 

It was perfect. 

Join in on other people's amazing slice of life stories by visiting the Two Writing Teacher's Blog today.  Better yet, write your own slice to share!

A Moment....

Happy Tuesday! I'm linking up with Two Writing Teachers for the Slice of Life weekly event. I'm excited to do this coming off of the month long writing challenge in March.....

I want to open up more and share beneath the surface.  Feel vulnerable and open like so many of the other wonderful writings have done with me over the last month. I know there is never enough time, but I wanted to share a scary moment that for some reason has been playing a lot in my head lately.  It's a moment that changed my life forever, and it could have even changed it for the worst...but it didn't.  Yet it still scares me.

"OH MY GOD!!!!!" -Was being screamed out of my best friend's mouth as I opened my eyes just in enough time to see the van flying towards us, and then we hit.

Those three words. I can still hear her tone, hear the expression in her voice...she had seen it all. She had known it was coming, she had to prepare for impact. She had all of our lives in her hands.

Let's rewind:  I was in LaCrosse for the weekend with a great group of girlfriends.  Two of them were from back home, and were heading through Madison to go up for the weekend to see friends.  My other girlfriend that I went to college with, joined us and we hit the road. The free road, ready for a weekend of fun and friends. We had all of that.  Early Sunday morning we woke up and had breakfast and decided to make our treck home... back to reality! The two of us in the back dozed off in the car.  The last thing I remember before being awoken up was stopping for gas, and the girls in the front chatting, laughing and listening to music.

"OH MY GOD!!!!!"

It was like a scene from the movies.  Like I stated earlier, I didn't see anything coming, but this is what had happened.  An SUV traveling on the opposite side of the interstate (very quickly, may I add) jumped a guard rail and was sailing right into our lanes of traffic and right at the van in front of us.  They hit.. then we hit. I remember frantically calling 911 trying to figure out where we were. Then I remember calling my mom and asking her to hurry. The rest was somewhat of a blur that comes and goes.

Then chaos.  Mass chaos.  The gentleman who was in the SUV that hit us was drunk.  Yes at 10/11 something in the morning when it had happened.  He had 8 OWI citations and no drivers license.  He had just purchased the car the day prior without insurance or a license.  He fled the scene. He hit a family, that oddly enough was local to where I was from.  Their van hit us.  The two adults were hurt very badly. We couldn't get them out of the car.  The children we could get out so we wrapped them in blankets as we waited for help to arrive.  They were scared. I was scared.

Thankfully everyone survived this horrific accident, however that memory, that moment---lives on.  It was a long road to recovery for the family ahead of us in the van. Many ups and downs, and both physical and mental scars.

After several years (almost 10 to be exact) I actually came in contact with the couple in the minivan.  They own the vet clinic that we go to. In that whole time up until I saw them recently, we never ended up getting either of them for one single vet appointment??? We've been going to them for 6 years. The funny thing is we had a lot of appointments, let me tell you. Our dog is what you call "high-maintence" She struggles with kidney stones, and needs special food, and needed surgery and was sick for a long time until we figure it all out.  When I finally met them we were all overcome with tears.  They called me one of their angels, and I just couldn't stop telling them how much that day, that moment changed my life forever and that I thought of them often. It was a nice meeting, another chance meeting.

Isn't it crazy how one moment can do so much???


If you're still reading, thank you! This one was a long one!  Talk to you soon!    ~Ana

One Year {#SOL16 Day 31}

Whew!

I can't believe that the writing challenge 

is going to be over today! 

Part of me seems like I just sat down

on my first day and attempted to try something new!

Little did I know, I would have so much fun writing 

and connecting with other writers from all over!

My post is symbolic of today in many reasons!

First of all, last year at this time

my husband and I were very much stuck.

We had sold our house in November,

and had plans to build next to my parents. 

It fell through. 

To say I was devastated is an understatement.

We were at square one again, 

and not sure where to go or look.

We started the house search once again. 

We found nothing.

Then we would find something, 

and it wasn't what we thought. 

We put in offers on a few things, but

they weren't what we really wanted. 

Until we found our lot that we 

currently live on. 

I was making a picture book today

of our building process. 

I contacted my cousin to ask her to send me some pictures. 

You see, she was with me and my son, when

we strolled up the driveway at my parents house,

and my husband shared the great news---

"We got an accepted offer!!!"

She had no clue what was going on,

but pulled out her phone and started snapping 

picture after picture. 

I realized today while making that photo book,

that March 31st was the day that we found

out we were going to get our lot to build our house.

TODAY!!!  

So weird??!!  Yes, and no!

I believe that things happen for a reason. 

Yes I was down and really not sure 

which direction to turn.  

This was the second time we had put an offer

in on this piece of land, and it was our last chance. 

And. We. Got. It!!!!

It's so cool that today was that day exactly

one year ago where this dream started. 

It's so hard to think that I've been living in

this house since September 5th now!

Not a very long time, but it does feel like forever!!

What a cool thing to figure out and remember today!

Today is day 31 of the Slice of Life writing challenge! I'm so thankful that my coworker Jennifer encouraged me to join! It's been a great ride, and I'm looking forward to sharing more as time goes on! Thank you for everyone who has taken the time to communicate with me, and share with me. I truly loved each day of this!

Passion through Photography {#SOL16 Day 30}

I spent some time looking through some photos today while I was playing with my computer.  I know that I've talked about photography being a passion of mine. I wanted to take a little time to share some of the pictures that I have loved over the time that I've been taking pictures. I also want to thank each one of you for taking the time to read what I've written over the last month and encouraging me on my sharing, writing, hobbies and passions!  I am so excited that I have been able to be a part of something like this! I look forward to where this will take me in the future!

Adult Time {#SOL16 Day 29}

So, I'm barely making this post today..

I had such a full and wonderful full day 

of break with family and friends today!

We had a fun playdate with a past 

coworker and her daughter this morning,

finally finishing the last boxes to be unpacked 

in the basement during nap time,

and a small impromptu dinner party with 

great friends this evening!

The night was capped off with a little coloring 

session and wine for me with a friend. 

It was relaxing, fun, a great time

for conversation and bonding. 

This friend of mine is always there for me.

I feel so lucky to have her in my life. 

I have to say though, that I don't get to spend

a lot of time with her. It's mostly because of 

my schedule, but she is always there no matter what. 

She cheers me on with my new workout routine,

it always there to build me up when I need it,

and make me remember that I am enough when 

I need the reminder. 

We colored.... talked...laughed...drank wine.... and enjoyed some adult time!

I didn't get to quote finish the second one tonight, 

but hopefully tomorrow I will get the chance to. 

Have you tried the new adult coloring craze yet???

I recommend it, unless you can't 

possibly by any more coloring materials. 

I have spent a lot more on special coloring tools!!!

:)  It's all worth it! 

Interactive Teaching (#SOL16 Day 28)

Right before Spring Break,

we had Ma and Pa visit our 3rd graders at school. 

They have come for several years now, to kick

off our end of the year pioneer simulations. 

Ma and Pa are pioneers who are 

getting ready to hit the trail to head West. 

They come to school to teach our kids

the basics of packing up a wagon. 

They learn about reasons pioneers traveled West,

what they needed to pack 

and how the journey would have been 

along the way for them. 

The looks on their faces, and the

questions that they asked were priceless!

They are so excited to get their own

pioneer identities, occupations, families

and begin to hit the trail on their own. 

We have many STEM and interactive

activities planned along the way, 

but while learning about the regions that the pioneers

traveled through and the hardships that they 

faced, students will get endless opportunities

to research, read and explore on their own

all about the pioneers. 

This is what they use to outline how big a wagon would be.
Then students can see how small of a space they really have.
Then students themselves get into the 'wagon' as items. These
three girls are Ms's organ. They later have to take it ou
because there isn't enough room.

I even got in on the actions!  It never fails, 

every year, I get put on this lift for fixing the 

wagon and a student has to lift me up!! :)

What do you do in your classroom to keep 

student's attention for the end of the year?

This works great for us, and our kids

always talk about it... for years to come!!!

First Easter/Last Easter {#SOL16 Day 27}

Happy Easter to all of those who celebrate!

I had a truly wonderful day full of 

love, family, worship and reflection. 

This Easter was very different than ones

that I've had in the past. My parents

are in Hawaii, for a much needed getaway,

and today was the first time we've had Easter

 without either of my grandparents. 

Last Easter was the last time that I 

got to see and spend time with my grandmother. 

I know that the dates were different,

but I've been replaying last Easter in my

head over and over. I keep looking back on pictures

hoping that one of them with her would magically

be not blurry.  They all still are. 

It's weird how that happens. We had the most beautiful

day outside in the sun last year. Hudson was about 1 

and we were surrounded by family. So much family!

It was a great day.  She got Hudson three trains

from the Thomas show that he still plays with so

much to this day. He loves trains. 

We couldn't stay long, as we were on baby time...

but it was a great time!

We kissed and said goodbye and left

just like every other day or holiday or event previously. 

Is was the last time we saw her. 

That is hard to think and look back on. 

Today was hard, however ended up being magical

and one of the most wonderful days 

we have had as a family.  

We all still come together, to laugh, share stories,

eat, and keep traditions alive. 

It felt so good!

This lamb cake was always a part o our celebrations!
My grandmother would make one each year for Easter
and also for each of my aunts and uncles (8).
We had one today! :)

Today is the 27th day in the Slice of Life writing challenge. It's coming to an end, but there are still so many things that I have left to share, so I'm excited to keep writing with this wonderful community of writers. 

New Traditions {#SOL16 Day 26}

We've been in our new house since the beginning of September. 

It feels like we've been here forever,

but as we're about to celebrate Easter tomorrow,

I am reminded yet again how little time we've been here. 

We were able to have our very first family Christmas this year 

in the new house, which was amazing!

I didn't even think that we were about to do our first Easter 

in the house until this evening while I was prepping. 

Let me rewind just a bit----

Hudson was born in 2014.  

He was early. I had just had my last day of school,

before I was going to enjoy my spring break and at least 2.5 

weeks until the baby arrived. 

WRONG!

I woke up the next morning, 

and was having contractions 5 minutes apart

since almost the very beginning. 

Although I was in denial, we proceeded to the doctor

and then finally the hospital.  It was a Friday. 

Good Friday.

A few short hours later, and some scary moments,

we were parents to a tiny little 5 pounder.  

We spent 4 long days/nights in the hospital,

including Easter.  So it wasn't ideal, 

but Hudson spent his first Easter in the hospital,

and we spent our first holiday as a family 

in the hospital!

We put our house on the market a month later,
and it sold quickly, so we moved into my parents
house with a 5 month old and nowhere to go!
We stayed with them for about a year,
before we finished building and moved into our home now.

When we moved out of my parent's house when

our house was finished, we started having our firsts
as a family!!! With this being Hudson's 

third Easter, it never really dawned on me it would 

be the first one in our new house just the 3 of us. 

We had such a great time dying eggs together,

he is at such a fun age! 

We got to lay out eggs and surprises tonight for him

to wake up to tomorrow. 

These moments and memories are just beginning

and I"m trying to make a mental picture of 

anything and everything I can. 

I know it will go by in the blink of an eye. 

What are some of your favorite Holiday Traditions??!