A rare opportunity...

Recently, about 40 faculty members (including me) participated in Arapahoe High School's annual Faculty Dance. Each year for the Winter Pep Assembly, the teachers dance to a few songs representative of a specific decade. This year it was the 90's. We practiced for two weeks after and, sometimes before, school to prepare ourselves to dance in front of 2000+ students. Each of these videos are essentially the same. The first is taken by our tech guru, the second by our librarian, and the third from a student's cell phone (of which was posted on YouTube within 20 minutes of the completion of the pep rally)...each one a different perspective. I'll let you figure out where I am...(if you really can't find me, listen for the lyrics "Alright, stop! Collaborate and listen..." and listen for Queen's "Under Pressure" music.) Some of you didn't think I could dance. I convinced my students that I couldn't. They must not be very good dancers themselves because they were giving me a lot of complements.

Even more recently, I participated in my high school's teacher talent show (as if you didn't think Vanilla Ice was enough). Although I was running a 102-degree fever and trying to suppress coughing due to bronchitis, I didn't perform all that bad. Wait until the end, I butchered part of a less technical section. Thanks to those who don't know the piece very well, many weren't aware of the slip up. Enjoy my talent!

Bubbly Bath

Bubbly Bathtime at the Leibman's. Here are the Schmidt kids enjoying one of the many pleasures of life at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It's a jacuzzi tub...very cool if you're three. (Hopefully this video works, this is my first attempt at posting a video)

Milestones

I love my Camry (**reading warning: this will be an infomercial for Toyota). It is the greatest car ever!!! Toyota cars are just wonderful and everyone should buy Toyota...they are simply the most reliable cars, they rarely cause problems and when they do they are easy to fix. Here is my most recent milestone...which I am very proud of!

Half Marathon

I always seem to have this knack for getting myself into things that I don't really have time for....but then I love doing them and as soon as I'm finished I am planning the next thing. This year it involves running! As soon as I got back from my honeymoon my friend, Christy, started raving about how great it would be to run the Denver Half Marathon. So while relaxing in those last few weeks of summer with nothing to do but run, sleep late, and hang out with my new husband I thought it was a great idea! Then a month later school had started, my master's class had started, coaching vball had started...and I realized that maybe, just maybe I had made a poor choice. However, not liking to back out on commitments I stuck with it....here's the proof. It was 40 degrees and rainy, but there are still smiles on our faces!


So get excited because not only have I foolishly signed myself up for another race, I have signed the rest of you up as well!! Hopefully the weather will be nicer!

Slides, hoses and corn

These pictures were taken over a month ago now, however, as I was browsing through my pictures I realized that I should share some of these. As you know I don't have my own kids to blog about so I will frequently borrow my sister's for blogging.

This summer was obviously jam-packed with activities but thankfully I was able to get away for one last trip with my mom, sister, Will, Emma, and Charlie. It was great to spend some quality time with them after the wedding but before heading back to school. It is always so great to see them and reminds me of all the reasons I want to move back to the Midwest. Thankfully though winter is on its way which will of course remind me why I dislike the Midwest so much :)

In these pictures we've got various groups on the slide at Diane's, Charlie and Emma with the hose (I actually think I have the exact same picture from 2 years ago when the kids were 17 months), Will in sunglasses and the boys enjoying their first experience with corn on the cob.

Wedding Pictures

So, Anne and I are extremely pleased with the whole week. The ceremony was great and the reception was perfect (except that Anne nor I had a bite of the desserts). We have also decided that if you didn't have fun it was because you didn't try to.

Here is a short synopsis of each picture starting at the top:
1)In this first picture, shortly after the ceremony, we are both really happy, but my boutonniere is not.
2)Great looking family save for Lulu's awkward holding of Riley.
3)Flowers, apparently, are a great way to hide yourself...Emma!
4)Charlie is either fascinated by above said flowers or by my handsomeness.
5)I, of course, giggled when Craig wanted me to promise quite a long list of things to Anne.

We are so privileged to have had your company at the very start of our new lives together as Anne and Jon Thurmond. We hope and encourage you to come and see us. We have space for 1 large family or 2 small. See you when we see you.

Love,
Me

Best Wedding Ever!

I'm sure everyone says that but I do have to say the Thurmond/Leibman wedding will be hard to beat. Jon and I had a blast and everything went so smoothly....thanks to everyone who helped out and contributed. We don't have our wedding pictures yet, but we have lots of Hawaii pictures. Here are a few to make you all a little jealous. In order they are: our view in Kauai, hiking in Oahu, Jon and me at Waikiki, our view from the condo in Maui, Jon and me after an afternoon of surfing, at a Luau, hiking somewhere along the road to Hana, and a picture of our Hawaii license plate!

We should have wedding pictures soon we will post some of those as well.