Nashville

 Since the end of January I started training to run the Rock and Roll Nashville Half Marathon.  I printed out a training schedule and really tried to stick to it.  It was hard.  I was running 4 times a week and cross training 2 days.  I couldn't stick to the days per say on the schedule at times but I really tried my best.  Towards the end I really had a hard time with squeezing in long runs- weather, schedule, sickness...it all factored in.

We left on Friday and it took forever to get there.  It was traffic jam after traffic jam.  We finally got there and stopped to get my race packet.  Then it was off to the house we rented and to dinner, very yummy pizza!!

 I had been watching the weather all week.  The weather was all over the place...I prepped for rain.  Then that morning when I woke up I checked the weather again...no rain.  The weather channel lied...it poured! The race was delayed due to lightning.  Then finally after 2 delays it started.  I went without headphones due to it raining.  There was enough music along the way so I didn't mind it.  But boy....was it hilly.  Hill after hill after hill...I was fine until mile 10.  I could feel my right calf starting to cramp.  So from then on it became a run a little bit, walk to recover, run a little bit, walk to recover.  I finished...2:22.  Not my best but I was proud of my training and the end result.  I think if my calf would have started to cramp I would have done better but I am proud of my time! Nashville was a beautiful city!

Then we did some exploring of downtown Nashville and went to the Grand Ole' Opry Saturday night.

Braves and G-Day game

We had a very busy April! On Brendon's birthday we went to the Braves game! At games on Sundays they let the kids run the bases after the game.  Olivia had been so excited about it all week!! Well...

 Well...here is what happened...she was running a bit too fast...caught up to the child in front of her in red, tripped on his shoe, and went face down in the dirt. I knew instantly she was going to cry.  Thankfully someone walked her around the bases...parents are not allowed on the field. 

The following Saturday we went to the G-Day game! It was so crazy busy in Athens! We could hardly find a parking spot.

When it is not just painting a door...a Fixer Upper story

Our house was built in 1995 and it looks it.  We have started making some small changes to it.  Well last year was kind of big with carpet and flooring for the lower level.  Since then we have changed out doorknobs, changed some lighting fixtures, and faucets.  Our lovely white doors in some rooms have really gotten beat up...from us and the previous owners.  There are only so many times you can wipe finger prints off the door before you start taking off the paint.  My plan was to only do 2 doors...the door from our garage to mud room and the front door.  Well...then it looked kind of silly since there are 4 doors in this little area...the white and new color Brown Fox by Sherwin Williams just didn't look right.  So the project increased by 2 doors.  By the 3rd door someone wanted to help.  So I let her.  I gave Olivia a paint brush and showed her what to do.  Yes she got paint on the molding...and the wall, but the moment was priceless.  We chatted about little things as we dipped our brushes and of course had some giggles.  She was so proud of her work.  When she was done (her job was the bottom of the door) she went upstairs to play.  Little did I know she was in the office.... here is what she was doing...

She drew a picture of us painting the door.  My heart skipped a beat.  That moment of painting was to me, just painting.  Now our door tells a story.  She will always say...I helped you paint that door, or remember that time I helped you paint the door. 

As I have been painting the doors I thought about what those doors have seen in the 20 + years of being there.  Those doors hold so many memories of our house.  They open and they close, they let people in and out, some lock and some never lock, and sometimes you just need to knock on them to open an opportunity.

Here is one of the doors, I just need to finish the moldings! So much better than white!

When the teacher has to take a test

Tomorrow I have to take a test.  Yes a test, actually 2 tests!  I am the worst test taker ever, I took the SATs twice, that's how bad of a test taker I am.  I shouldn't be though...in my 13 years of teaching I have given hundreds or maybe even thousands of tests by now and taught my students test taking strategies.  I should be a pro, but I don't feel like one.  As Olivia would say...I am not brave enough to do it.  I have been studying since February along with teaching, mentoring a student teacher, training for a half marathon, being wife, mom, and daughter, and I feel okay about the tests, but not super confident.  I admit I am nervous. 

This will be my first online computer test, which I even watched the video to prepare myself of where to click and what the questions may be like.  I feel that I don't read as closely as I should on the computer, but I have 5 hours to complete 2 tests with 80 questions a piece for a total of 160 questions.  I can't even bring a watch or a pencil so I am going to really have to watch my time. 

I now know how my students feel when they take a test. I have been thinking about it this whole past week.  April 7th has been looming over my head.  I have been saying words and terms in my head constantly.  I keep thinking about silly stuff too- can I have water during the test? 5 hours is a REALLY long time!!! Is there a snack break?  What if I have to use the restroom?? Just crazy things to think about, but I know my sweet students think about those things too!

I really should know all the information since I have been teaching for 13 years.  A lot of the information is stuff that I studied 15 years ago in my undergrad classes...but that was a LONG time ago and I am a little rusty and education has changed in 15 years just a bit!! I don't know why I have to take a multiple choice test to demonstrate my mastery of teaching ESOL students.  I have been doing it for 13 years, how about an observation?  That seems more logical to me. 

So say a little prayer for me tomorrow afternoon. I pray that I can be brave enough to conquer this test!

While everyone else is having fun on spring break, this is what I have been doing...and no I am not asking for any sympathy!!

High Falls Camping

After the really long well/sick appointment we left for camping.  We didn't go to far, jsut to High Falls state park.

It stormed really bad the first night.  I admit I didn't sleep much due to all the thunder and lightning!  It was pretty scary.  Friday it rained off and on but we were still able to get out and do some stuff.  Saturday was gorgeous and we did lots of hiking at the campground, played mini golf, and tried fishing.  It was a great little spring break trip!

Decorating the camper with Shopkins coloring

Crockpot soup and homemade biscuits

Olivia's version of S'mores

The dam at High Falls

Finding a Geocache

And another tricky geocache

The river on Friday

Attempting to fish by the dam...the water is covering some benches

Frozen Uno of course!

The river after the dam on Saturday

First hike of Saturday

Mini golf!

Nature Trail