Sad News!

I just read my cousin, Leslie's blog and am feeling very sad right now. She posted that her dad, my Uncle Roger, has been advised that he is in kidney failure with only 16% still functioning. I know, as part of life, we are born, live, and then eventually pass on. I am soo not ready to start losing my family that has been such big parts of it.

Growing up, my cousins and I spent a lot of time together. We spent a lot of time at their house in Sanford on the lake. Uncle Roger was always trying to get us girls fishing, but we were too busy roller skating and watching Princess Diana get married (lol). My Uncle Roger has always let me know that I was special to him and always treated me like one of his girls.

My heart goes out to Leslie, Melanie, and my Aunt Linda right now. I just wanted them to know that I was thinking of them and that I love them! Please send prayers and thoughts to them!

Keep the faith!!!!!

The Sun is AWESOME!!!

The Crew

Well, after an unsure start to spring break, the weather has been beautiful! A temperature around 80 degrees and sunny, a few puffy clouds, light breeze, can't complain. On Tuesday, I took Matt and Caroline (each with a friend) out to the park, played tennis, soccer, and had lunch, then ended up playing on the tire swing. We ended this adventure with Caroline pushing the other kids on the tire swing, lost her footing, and got bonked on the head by the swing. That is when we decided to head home.

Wednesday, Jenny and I took our two kids each, along with two more (Sam and Michelle) to Poe Springs. Now, around here in High Springs, we have several natural springs around us. It is very well known for scuba diving and snorkeling. Many movies have been filmed for underwater shots, such as Breathe.

Poe is beautiful, you have to walk back on a wood walk-way approx. 1/2 mile, but it is gorgeous. The spring itself is 18 feet deep, but the area around is shallow, approx. 3-5 feet deep. The kids love it, they can go in and out. Jenny and I just enjoyed being able to watch the kids, relax, talk, and catch some rays.

Thursday, was another beautiful day. Jim has taken today and tomorrow off so it adds to the fun! We chose to go to Rum Island today, which is a spring which connects to the Santa Fe River. The spring area is gorgeous, clear and shallow. When the water meets to the river, it becomes merky and deep. Jenny and her kids joined us again today so the four some continued.

I absolutely love to watch my kids swim and enjoy themselves. Jim commented tonight that this is the best our two kids have gotten along in a while, which he is correct. We finalized the evening with soccer practice for both of the kids (and Jim as he is coaching). Shep and I took a walk with Jenny and her dog, Lucky. It is sooo funny to watch the dogs; Lucky is a typical female yellow lab who is smitten by a male german shepherd dog, who could give a care as long as he is out sniffing and marking his territory EVERYWHERE! Not only do we get to get exercise, but we get a lot of laughs due to the dogs! Gosh it is good to be in Florida!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Family

The kids and I started our spring break today, but the weather has not wanted to cooperate. The weather keeps acting like rain, but then it doesn't; it is tough to call. I have been researching old pictures today and found some that made me smile and I am sure for those who view these will enjoy them as much as I do.

The few photos were taken at my counsin, Jed's wedding. A side note-Jed and Annie just had a baby girl on April 3, congrats to you both! Everytime the Asher family gets together we have a wonderful time, unfortunately it is so far and few between. We all have scattered across Michigan and the south that our together times are limited!

I miss you all very much, but enjoy your families and keep the memories coming! I enjoy reading and hearing about your happy moments!

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Well, my friend Jenny's birthday is today and I wanted to send her many happy birthday wishes. We both have a boy and a girl, our husband's coach soccer, and Jenny and I seem to have been created from the same mold.

Her friendship has been valuable to me the past year and half, but it feels as if we have known each other longer. She is a paramedic so she is helping people daily and you can hear her passion for the job when she talks about it. Even though she gives so much to others, she seems to forget herself. I just hope she knowns how special she is to me and my family.

To many more memories to share and tears to shed together! Have a great day!

Sea World - what a blast!

Well! We made it through the day at Sea World! We had soo much fun! The bus pulled out of the school parking lot at approximately 6:45 a.m., all kids in check, arrived at the park around 9:00 am, all kids hyped for the day; chaperones dragging!

As we entered the park, Matt chummed up with is friends and we hit the pavement fast! Matt is not much of a "rides" kind of kid, he was ready to see Shamu and the Sea Lion show (one of my favorites also). We had to attend an educational show at 11:00 am so we had a few hours to scope some of the animals. We explored the sting rays (feeding them anchoives), getting splashed at the dolphin pool, the lovely manatees, and the great penguins!

The beautiful manatee just floating and enjoying the sunlight!

The penguins were awesome! I couldn't tell if this one was sleeping or scratching!

The beatiful Shamu and the baby showing us their stuff!

As the day progressed, the kids energy levels dropped-thank goodness, but the excitement was still there! I was thankful as my best friend, Jenny, was there with her son, so it made the day extra special for me to spend with my son and my best friend. Jenny's birthday is this weekend so I know she enjoyed it as much as I did.

We ended the day with some very tired children, tired chaperones, but one great day filled with memories! It made me a little sad at first thinking of how I did this last year with Caroline and now Matt and realizing this was the last time I would be going with one child to celebrate their youth!!!!!!!!

My little sweet "Bubba"!

So for my Thankful Thursday (a day late), I love the fact that my children allowed me to enjoy this day with them; the youth and vibrance that they bring into this world. My husband for understanding that I enjoy doing these events and working things out at work/home for me to go; for friends who can laugh at me when I get the "take charge" attitude. For my wonderful Shep, who loved me beyond expression when I returned home and stuck by my side all night!For the yummy carmel apples that Jenny and I enjoyed on the bus ride home. Yes, we are trying to lose weight, but when you've spent the day at a park full of tourists beginning their spring breaks, you understand! Thankful for my place of work, understanding how important this was for me to go! For the gorgeous animals that allowed us to view them and learn about them! And my family and friends who fill me with love and satisfaction each day!

So on that note, Happy Friday and for those just starting, HAPPY SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun Day with the Students!

Today was our school's 6th annual Great Community Service Day. All of the 9-12th grade students are separated to several different locations around the city and complete projects. Such projects are weeding, laying mulch, etc. We spend 1/2 the day at our sites, then move to Camp McConnell which is owned by the YMCA, where all of the participants have lunch and spend the afternoon hanging out, swimming, playing sports. It is fun. I especially like it due to having the opportunity for me to get to talk with the kids and have them realize I am not stuffy and an old stick in the mud.

The weather was gorgeous (sorry to family/friends stuck in the cold); high 80's and sunny with a light breeze. Outstanding! Today is one of the days when I am happy to be a Floridian!

I really enjoyed talking with my co-workers also! I don't the chance to do that much as they are teaching all day and I am in my little fish bowl (as I call it)!

Well, tomorrow I am off to Sea World with Matt and his entire 3rd grade class. Who could of imagined the ability to go on a field trip to a world known amusement park! I did it last year with Caroline and it was a blast. This year should be even more fun as my best friend here in Florida, Jenny, and her son, Dalton, are going! Yeah Ha!!!!

I will fill you all in upon my return!!! Happy Spring!

Memories!

I have to thank my two lovely cousins, Leslie and Melanie, for getting me encouraged to create this blog. I live thousands of miles from most of my family and I miss them dearly. I blog a lot on myspace page, but most of my family do not access that site. I enjoy opening Les and Mel's pages to see the updates on their families and hearing about daily events. I mostly like the thought that Melanie said of not having someone say "NO" to me in response to my thoughts/demands/requirements of most moms.

I work at a private high school, mostly with seniors, who are getting ready to start their lives! I envy them in a way, but don't want to go back there and go through the trials and tribulations. I was asked my first year working at the school how many kids I have, I responded by saying 63! The look I received was hilarious! I further stated, 2 biological and 61 seniors! I remember that to this day! When I see the seniors walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, I know their full names, where they are attending college, and remember moments throughout the year of each student. This year we only have 45 seniors in the class and I am closer with these kids each day.

Overall, I have more and more memories created each day and more to remember from my past, that I wanted to be able to write down the happy times and trying times to remember that we not only have memories, but we need to create them along the way!

Love to all!