Finding Krissi

It is Sunday night at 9:43 and a small part of me does not want to start at post at 9:43. Because starting a post at 9:43 might mean staying up later than 10:00. I must be in bed my head nestled on my pillow and headed to dream land by 10:00. Tomorrow is Monday a long week of work, parenting, teaching, leading, and ect... is in front of me. 10:00 is mandatory for me to function. That is what I tell myself, "If I get to bed by 10:00 my week will be perfect."  The truth is I don't really have a lot to post. Well, okay I could tell you that my baby is now driving. The weather here in Utah is crazy, icy, snowy, and foggy bad. The fact that I have to let her drive practically kills me. I don't want her driving.  I don't want her driving in this horrible weather. However, I have to let her grow up. Yah..yah.. yah.. blah.. blah... blah.... I could tell you that January has been a challenging month. 2013 did not start off with a bang. More like a...

I'm not even going to look to see when I last posted. I know it has been awhile. A long while. I have no excuses. Well I have a few. For example: We went to Cali for Easter. Spent some much needed time with family and friends. Celebrated the holiday  with a little frosting. After Easter I started applying and interviewing for jobs. Then.... Yup... So excited to be a third grade teacher next year at Quest Academy. Big smiles and grins! A few days after accepting the job it was my big day. It was an awesome day shared with my family, parents, in-laws, and the great people I travelled the road to my degree with. I still can't believe how fun it was to wear that silly hat. Before graduation Al performed in her last elementary school play. She played the part of Colonel Hathi in Jungle book. She was awesome of course. While watching Al's last performance my very cool friends gave me a graduation gift. A necklace that I wore on the day of gr...

Amazingly, today I am a mere week away from earning my Bachelor's degree and teaching license. Two and half years ago I set out on this journey and now it is coming to an end.  My thoughts and actions have pin pointed to this moment for so long. My vision has been focused acutely on this day. It feels a little strange to be here. Strange, happy, excited, and scared. All of the emotions are swirling around me like dandelion seeds. I had my final faculty evaluation last week. I turned in my last homework assignment. From this point forward everything is just paperwork and red tape. I would like to say that now is the time to celebrate, relax, and enjoy a little freedom. However, life is about forward motion and the time for new goals is now. Ideas for new goals are stacked up around me like toy blocks. I am narrowing down my options and deciding what goals need to take priority. Among, those many goals is to find a job! I can hardly wait to have my own classroom. The past n...

Blogher is asking the question, "How do you plan to create happiness for yourself in 2012?" I love this question and before Blogher even asked I had spent a lot of time thinking about this question. Really, this is what this blog is about finding and creating happiness. What I have discovered over the past few years is happiness is something you have to create. Happiness just doesn't happen. If you are waiting around to feel happy you are probably going to be waiting for awhile. Feelings are funny because we ultimately choose how we are going to feel. Angry, sad, happy, joyful, blessed. Each one is a feeling we seek after and embrace. Don't get me wrong, sometimes life sneaks up on you and dumps a whole lot of not happy in your lap. Sad things happen, bad things happen, unfortunate things happen, things that make us mad happen. However, do we take those moments and foster those feelings, let them grow into something ugly, or do we reach for something bette...

I find it kind of funny how much a new year feels like a do over. It is as if we get this single day each year to wipe the slate clean and try again. It doesn't matter if you agree or not the world around you is full of people making resolutions. It is kind of awesome. I love how I have this day to reflect on my life, what is working, and what is not working and resolve to make it better. I also love the feeling of optimism. I have heard several people say that this year is going to be "the year". "The year" for what I'm not quite sure but they all seem pretty excited. I know the last few years have been full of a lot of ups and downs for us. I'm not sure that this year is going to be "the year," but I'm positive that this year will bring us a few giggles, successes, disappointments, tears, excitement, and blessings. I just have to say, that no matter what this year has waiting for me I am thankful for the brand new, shiny, do o...

Two posts in one day. It may be a first. It's not. Once upon a time I was constantly posting. Sometimes two or three times a day. When did I have that kind of time? Where did that time go? Okay, so lately the song below has been on a loop in my head. For some reason it is resonating with me right now. Possibly because my life is going through a transition. Not just my life but Me. I can actually feel all these changes taking place. Such a difficult thing, feeling, emotion to explain. Whatever it is I love this song. I think because it is about taking on life without inhibitions. I need less inhibitions! I also need to KNOW that it is okay that I don't have all the answers. That I can have parts of my story that are unwritten. Maybe I just need to enjoy writing the story a little bit more and worry less about how it is going to end. Whatever my reasons I love this song right now. So turn up the volume, throw up your arms, and sing with me people. I am unwritt...

My 12 year old has become a little Ninja Obsessed. Everything he does he says, "It is because of my mad Ninja Skills." I have already shared with you his favorite YouTube video. Yah, I'm starting to wonder if his strange sense of humor is here to stay, or if it is some kind of hormone side affect. Well, son I was reading my google reader today and I came across this picture. For everyone else, I realize it may not be that funny but believe me my 12 year old is going to LOVE this. Happy Sunday Friends! Krissi PS Here is the link for the above picture .

Four days back to the real world. How is it going? Personally, I'm in need of some tips. It is January, it is COLD, and I don't remember what the sun looks like. This song about says it all! Any winter blue survival tips would be appreciated.

Sometimes I find things on my computer that make me laugh but at the same time leave me a little concerned. We had an awesome day today. I'm thinking that 2011 may be the best year yet. Happy New Years EVERYONE!

I have every intention to get to the braggy post that I promised. However, in the meantime you are going to have to bear with me through a not so merry post. Each year we send out Christmas cards to friends and family far away. I love sitting down, reviewing the year, and having a chance to say hello to people we don't see nearly enough. It is also a time for me to remember how blessed we are to have so many people in our lives. Over the years my husband has collected a eclectic group of friends. Most of his friends are old enough to be his grandfather. A couple of years ago, after sending out Christmas cards, we had a Christmas card come to us from the widow of one his friends. It was sad to learn of his passing. We spent sometime remembering our friend Smokey. Who was the nosiest neighbor a person could ask for. However, he made us laugh and he loved our little babies. Even if he did tease Brent that maybe someone should explain to Brent how babies are born because we see...

I may have just discovered the greatest thing ever! Yesterday, while at the store checkout I decided I wanted a pack of gum. I'm normally a 5 gum girl. I'm particularly fond of the "React," flavor. It is black which makes Brent think I'm eating black licorice. Black licorice grosses Brent out. I swear you would think I was eating spiders the way he reacts. Also, it is just minty delicious. Ultimately I prefer mint gum and I'm not to fond of sweet flavors. I don't really even like bubble gum flavored gum. However, as I stood there unable to find my favorite gum I noticed Extra's Desert Delights gum. Like I said I'm not a big fan of sweet flavored gums so I kind of ignored it at first. Then it was our turn to check out and I was out of time. Heaven forbid I just go without! So I grabbed the Extra Desert Delights figuring I would try it and then give the rest of the pack to the kids. As we walked out to the car I unwrapped the pack and...

I distinctly remember the first time I referred to teenagers as, "kids." I remember pausing in the middle of the conversation turning to Brent and saying, "Since when did I get old enough to call a highschool student a kid?" It was shocking and one of those memories that burned into permanency. A shocking realization that I was no longer a kid. The other day someone was talking to me and asked if I knew who someone was. I replied I didn't know her name but I had seen her at the school and she was very young. A couple hours later I kind of gasped in surprise at myself. When did I become old enough to refer to another mother as young? She wasn't young in the sense she was a teenage mom. She was just young in the sense that she looked young and she was surrounded by a bunch of little ones. I have to admit that this stage in my life keeps taking me by surprise. I keep thinking that I am still a young mother with all these little ones. Then I see a yo...

Due to the economy the last couple of years have been financially stressful around here. It is funny how you think that you need to make x amount of dollars to live each month and then all of the sudden your making half of x and you are still living. You think to yourself well there is no way we can live off any less than this and than you find your self living off half of that. Did you follow all of that. The inner teacher in me wants to explain. We were making x Then we were making x divided by 2 Then we were making x divided by 4 To say things have been tight would be an understatement. To say that we have become excellent jugglers would be head on. Over the last few months things have gotten progressively better. It is strange and I still haven't adjusted and I have to admit I'm still waiting for it all to fall apart again. My inner pessimist is winning this particular battle. Yesterday Brent and I had the following conversation. "I'm really stresse...

My life loosely resembles a tornado. One of those things that sucks up everything in its path and manages to distribute objects here and there and back again. The objects being distributed are children. When I remember, I get them back again. If I try to keep track of a whole week at a time, I give up in frustration. So the new motto is survive one day at a time and record everything on the calendar. If something happens to my calendar... well... Let's just say I will be up a creek with a leaky boat and without a paddle. It is all crazy chaotic and a bit of fun. Yes, all of this insanity is fun.   In the mornings, we try to get a few things done, and at 7:45 am you will hear A. practicing his Bass, Al. practicing the piano, and H. reading aloud. My life is a parody of a busy family. Every time, Brent and I proclaim,   This is it!   Enough is Enough!   No More!   One of the evil little monsters blinks his or her big brown eyes and we go down like the Titanic...

Creating balance in my life is never an easy task. I personally feel like there is always that one thing that weighs so much heavier than everything else. Pulling me so far away from everything else that I am suppose to be doing that I start to loose sight and become totally consumed. Currently, that is the way I am feeling about school it is pulling on me so hard that I can't find the time to do everything else I have to do, should do, or even want to do. Honestly, it is scaring me a little how time consuming school has become and how I have not been able to find the balance between school and the rest of my life. Then I remind myself I have been here before. In this place where balance seems impossible to achieve. Somehow when balance is my goal I find it.  Only I can't remember exactly how I did it in the past and the weight of everything is getting a little heavy. The one aspect of my life I am missing right now is writing. I really enjoy keeping up this blog it is the time...

Yesterday was my first day back in the water. I have to admit that I approached going back to the pool with a little bit of dread. Being in the water working with kids for four hours makes me feel old. by the time I get out I am starving and tired. I came home yesterday ate lunch and took a nap. GEESH! You would think I was 90. However, by the time my first class was over I was reminded how dang cute the kids are. Not to mention how rewarding it is to gain all the little one's trust and teach them a new skill. I really do enjoy it. You are all going to reminded me I said that over the next few weeks, RIGHT? As for the rest of the family. They are doing good we are having a lazy summer as we take it easy and let S. recover. She is doing good. Her pain is way down and only when she does to much does she start hurting. She and Brent have started walks. She is trying to keep in shape the best she can with only one arm. Yesterday there walk lasted over an hour so she must be on the...

Yesterday was the last day of school. The three youngest kids came home with their report cards and the name of next years teachers. I am finding it hard to believe that I will have a second, fifth, sixth, and eighth grader. I don't know where the time keeps going. We have a pretty busy first week of summer and then things calm down considerably. Well as calmed down as life gets with four growing children. Brent and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary the other day. I had to laugh as the celebrating didn't take place until 8 o'clock at night due to kid's activities. It is times like those I like to remind myself that one day our time and attention will not be in as much demand. I find myself doing that a lot lately reminding myself... Reminding myself the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Reminding myself that there are people who are worse off than I. Reminding myself that life does not progress on my time table. So much reminding and I get ...

Did anyone see Glee this week? I love that show, truthfully I could do without the story lines most weeks but the songs are so awesome. I just laugh and smile like a big goon through most of the shows.  Well if you didn't see Glee this week you might have to head over to Hulu and check it out.  Why? Well because it was an episode chuck full of Lady Ga Ga songs.  It was awesome.  I might have already mentioned that.  Anyway, I'm on a little bit of a Lady Ga Ga kick because I was coerced, compelled, leaned on , talked into going to her concert. Oh but wait, it gets better. SO WAS BRENT!! I will give you a moment to quit laughing and breathe. Yes, next March Brent and I will be at a rock concert. Honestly, can you even breathe through the laughter? Okay, well I plan on documenting the experience. Because I never thought the day would come that Brent would be at a rock concert. Some people have questioned the wisdom of a Lady Ga Ga concert. All I have to say is...

First of all the tooth came out. With just a few tears and the tiniest bit of drama. There is hardly even a story to tell. It was all very anticlimatic after all the tears of all the previous teeth. Second of all today totally sucked! AHHH! Why can't I catch a break I feel like my life is becoming a very steep roller coaster. A whole lot of climbing and stomache turning falling. When did I get on this roller coaster and HOW the heck do I get off? I want off RIGHT NOW!! That is enough moaning and groaning. Gee, where did Al get all of her drama. It is such a mystery. I had a serious pout happening and was spending a good amount of time clicking around facebook. When I came across a video some one posted. That made me think. GET OVER YOURSELF! Then I went to youtube to find the video and spent another hour watching motivational videos. Im feeling a lot better. I know I'm a nerd. I can't help it. The videos had all kinds of corny and full of motivational quotes. For some reaso...

*Big Sigh* Okay, I’m going to admit that a very good mother’s day goes along way in restoring my notion of motherhood.  If you haven’t noticed the last couple of weeks around here have been a bit dramatic. I have been feeling over worked, over whelmed and in need of something. Lucky for me that something was an awesome Mother’s Day. In general I am not a big fan of Mother’s Day. In the past Mother’s Day felt a little like a big stick hitting me on the head. Each thunk on the head felt like a reminder of   everything that I do wrong. Let’s face it mother’s are human so they make their fair share of mistakes. Including, writing the wrong time for a soccer game down and showing up a quarter late. Who ME?  Having a day to celebrate those mistakes seems a little...unnecessary. Well this year the hubby and the kids pulled out the stops and I had a good day. Starting with a great Mother’s Day Program at Church and ending with my dear hubby taking very good care of me. I have b...