Finding Krissi

What kind of story are you living? Is your life a good story? Is it an epic story? These are the questions that Donald Miller asks in his book, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” Miller takes his reader’s through his own journey of turning his life into a better story. Actually, turning his life into the best story. I am kind of a self-help book junkie. I love reading books that inspire me to be a better person. I love books that give me insight on how to live a better life. I love when a book is able to explain some of my, well, shall we say quirkiness. However, I would be lying if I told you that I read every one of them cover to cover. Because the truth is often I loose interest or find myself overwhelmed with the changes that the book’s author is suggesting. This was not true with Miller’s book. I’m not sure that the book is technically classified as a self-help book. It may be more in the genre of a great motivation book. Because from the first page that is how I felt, “motiva...

Tomorrow I will be posting my first ever book review. Believe it or not the number one thing I love to do, “Read!” The number one thing I hate to do, “Review Said Books.” However, the lure of reading free books and books not yet released had me signing up with this company. Who sent me this book. Actually, they sent me two. With a note that said they were so sure I would love the book that I would want to give one away. My cynical brain thought they were pretty cocky. I don’t just like any old book. Maybe I would hate it and then they wasted not one but two books on me. Turns out they knew what they were talking about. I LOVED THE BOOK! However, this is kind of like a paid post. They did give me two books and all and they have rules. Including, not posting a post about the book until tomorrow. Turns out that is the day the book is released. So you have to wait to read my first ever book review. Be kind, be gentle and remember. I loved said book.

Last night was my first night of school and the very first thing I learned was the six principles of effective leadership. It was a pretty good lecture with some interesting insight. The sixth principle was, "Be a Day Maker not a Day Breaker." Do you know what that means? Because everyone in the room started to laugh and I just sat there kind of clueless. Day Maker? What is a day maker? The professor soon explained that a day maker is a person who makes your day. You know who they are, that person who just makes you smile and be thankful. Ohhhhh! Okay. I get that. Pollyanna! He went on to ask us, if we went back in our lives and asked everyone we had ever met how they would rank us, how do you think we would do. One being a day breaker and a ten being a day maker. That is when I laughed out loud. Only no one else laughed. I'm pretty sure I'm a 2.5 maybe a 3. Yah, I'm a 3. Pollyanna and I would probably not be friends. Except for maybe she would try to be my frie...

I have decided that I have a very unique way of accomplishing goals. First, I make a goal. Usually something completely out of character. Something way to difficult and something that I should not be doing. Second, I figure out how I am going to accomplish this out of character, difficult, should have left it alone goal. Third, I work toward the goal, the whole time grumbling, complaining, whining, and defeating myself at every turn, angle and way. Fourth, I get towards the end and realize I have worked to hard, spent to much time and energy focusing on the goal not to complete the goal and think to myself, "Ahh Hell (I tried to think of a non-swear word but honestly this is what I say to myself), I might as well finish." Fifth, Goal accomplished You know what I am figuring out. I make my life very difficult. I'm pretty sure other people accomplish goals without all the drama. Maybe, don't quote me on this, but maybe Al gets her drama from her mother. Maybe?

WARNING! Never ask your family the following sentence: If I were an animal I'd be a (Blank) because (Blank). For my first day with the 3rd and 4th grade students I decided to do this activity, where you say, "If I were an animal I'd be a (Blank) because (Blank)." I wanted to give them all time to think about it and to understand what I was asking so I went to my family and asked them the question. That way I would have a few examples for the kids. The responses they gave me are still brewing in my head. Me: So I want you to answer this question about me. If I were an animal I'd be a (blank) because (blank). Husband: I'm answering this about you. Me: Yes, about me. Husband: Oh that's easy. If you were an animal you would be a bull. Me: A WHAT! Husband: A bull. If you were an animal you would be a bull. Me: (silently glaring, silently thinking what kind of husband calls his wife a bull?) Why would I be a bull? Husband: (Look in eyes saying oh crap how do I g...

Today was my first day of work with the kids. Guess what? I'm tired! I'm exhausted! I feel like I just rode a bike a 100 miles. It was fun and the kids are great but oh my gosh I'm tired. Did I mention I was tired? This working stuff is a lot of work. Kids, well they're kids. (Bet you read this blog just to read the obvious) They are totally random. Trying to keep them on task is like trying to keep a puppy from chewing. FRUITLESS! The ideas that come out of their heads. Umm, okay! Was I like that? Are my kids like that? Don't answer that I already know the answer. I just don't particularly like the answer. Then there are the names, PARENTS!!!! What are you thinking? There is one child that I am going to call Whoseit all year because I cannot pronounce his name. Which is obviously my problem and not his being as he told me how to say it 12 times. Then I had to ask the 6th graders what they are reading because I'm cool and I know all about books. Except for t...

A. and I think this hilarious the rest of the family is looking at us like we are weirdo's, what do you think?

Tooth Drama. Never in my life would I think I would have loose tooth drama. However, it is becoming obvious that my dear little Al has a loose tooth phobia. I can't tell you how much tooth drama it is causing. Before yesterday Brent had been forced to pull three loose teeth from her mouth. The last tooth he pulled out had turned a nice color of gray before we were able to get it out. The result of pulling the teeth has been escalating drama. I don't even want to tell you how it took me and Brent both to get the last one out. One of us was holding her down the other yanking it out. Her fear of losing teeth has caused her to make sure she doesn't wiggle any loose teeth, which includes lightly brushing her teeth and carefully eating. It is a lot of drama. Yesterday, was even more drama as a loose tooth lost a filling. Al was left with a very loose, very broken tooth. Which she swore up and down hurt. I was suspicious, figuring that there were probably no roots or nerves left ...

The garden post have been on the light side this summer. I bet your disappointed. I bet every time you have logged on to this blog you have hoped for a garden post. I bet the lack of garden post has saddened you. Well don't fret. I'm not one to disappoint, sadden or dash hopes. In response to your many, many emails I am posting garden picks. (Ok, I haven't received even one email, but I'm pretty sure you have been meaning to email, I'm pretty sure you have just been busy, I'm pretty sure that you were going to do it today.) (right?) This year I tried a few new flowers and overall I have been pretty happy. One of my favorites has been the Dahlia. Very frilly and feminine. Makes me feel like a girl just looking at it. A very close second is this cute little flower. This is a 4 o'clock. The blooms open up in the late afternoon and stay open until the sun hits them the next day. Sunflower. Not exactly a new flower to our yard but this was a little different t...

I wear contacts. Most days I have my contacts in for close to 16 hours. Most nights my contacts come out after a 1/2 hour of my eyes yelling, "That's enough! Get these things out." My eyes itch, water and burn until I finally take them out. Once the contacts are out I am instantly plunged into a fuzzy wuzzy world. Everything becomes non-descript and takes on a basic fuzzy shape. Except for small things. Small things simply disappear all together. Small things like eye glasses. Eye glasses that I need in order to see. Every night I go through the same routine of trying to hunt down my eye glasses AFTER I have taken my contacts out. Every night I ask myself WHY don't you find them before you take your contacts out? I search high, most of the time I have left them on a dresser, night stand or bathroom counter. I search low I have been known to throw them on the floor after reading at night. Most of the time under the bed so I don't accidentally step on them. What is...

Today I went to my first school district meeting. Part of my job is attending a monthly, training, type meeting. As I sat there listening, taking notes, and doing my best not to respond to the text coming in on my phone, it dawned on me, "I'm a working mom." It kind of took me by surprise to realize that my days of being a stay at home mom are over. I know that I have worked at the pool over the last couple years but I never really thought of myself as a working mom. My schedule was very flexible, there was always people around to take my shift, H. hung out with me. It was a job but it didn't interfere with being a stay at home mom. I was a little taken back to realize that I am officially a working mom. I can honestly say I never thought I would be. I really thought that I would stay at home and be "Suzy Homemaker," for the rest of my days. It has been a huge mental adjustment changing the plan. Most days I am pretty confident that I am on the right path. T...

Good pictures of S. are getting harder and harder to come by. She has entered the phase where she acts self concious. I have all kinds of pictures with her big, fake, smile. Total frustration. Then I have a whole slew of these pics the ones where she has about had it with me. Then I had this one. Real smile and all.

In approximately 20 minutes all of this silence is going to end. YAY!! However, when all the silence ends it means that all the monsters are going to be home. Maybe I shouldn't complain about the silence. First S. will get home. She will walk in the door with a big smile on her face. A smile that says, "That's right I'm big, I'm home first. Niener Niener." She is loving the fact that she beats all the little monsters home. That whole 15 minutes defines her as the big Sis. Sometimes it is the small things in life that make us the happiest. Approximately 15 minutes later A. will walk in the door. By himself without the other two. No he doesn't walk through the door he struts. Promptly he drops his backpack in MY front room and heads for the kitchen. He says nothing he is as Willow puts it "A Ninja." This is mainly because I will say, "Where is your brother and sister? You are suppose to walk home with them. Why did you beat them home?" He...

Below are my favorite pics of Al. She is always fun to take pictures of. She has all the attitude and a smile to boot. Except for when she doesn't. That is my Al one or the other. Never anything between. This one is probably my favorite.

Right this moment I am home alone. Right this moment I am home alone in a very quiet house. Right this moment I am home alone in a very creepy quiet house. It is broad day light and my house is so quiet that I am getting the heeby geebies. I know that there are plenty of mom's at home with kids crawling all over them that are thinking, "She is complaining! She is seriously complaining!!" Yes, yes I am. This alone thing is weird. This typing on the computer and not listening to kids argue thing is weird. This having to go the bathroom without anyone here to ask me why, when, how and whatcha doin. IS WEIRD! Just thought you should know. Home's without arguing, fighting, mom mom mom mom mom children. ARE WEIRD!!!!