Good News on the Home Front!

Okay, it's not a big deal for most families, but for those who know us well, you will truly understand just how fabulous this is for us.

We signed the family up for a 5K walk in 2 weeks. Okay, it's really no big deal for me, hubby, and youngest son, but our oldest (aspie) detests anything that involves physical activity. But, we told him that he had no choice. He's not really happy with us right now.

Well, today we went out while the birding contingent was at their competition and took the dogs for their first walk on their leashes. Then we brought them back and walked about 1.5 miles together. Okay it was slow. And halting. And SLOW! But, he did it.

He struggles so hard with balance and coordination. He has that typical Aspie shuffle in his walk which makes it all very inefficient to do much of anything physical. I have read several articles which have said that this will improve as he does more, so I am hopeful. If we can get him to walk with us, it will give us more family time and more options to do somethings with the boys to get them out of the house a bit more often. Right now, youngest son will go out with hubby and do things, but oldest son tethers himself to either our house or Granny and Grandpa's house.

So, it may not be a huge thing for other folks, but I am thrilled that he might be able to do this 5K with us. I just have to force him to walk with me every day between now and then--no small feat in and of itsself.

Birding Rocks!

Well, one tired adult and two totally tuckered-out younguns returned to my house after the 24 hour birding extravaganza. But, you'd never see happier faces as they recounted the 51 species that they had seen and heard. The winning team saw 101, so next year, the quest is really on--complete with a camping start at the Georgia coast (according to my competitive hubby). The boys are already talking about what they will do next year.

This is a really wonderful event. The boys got beautiful t-shirts and a great book that outlines all endangered species in Georgia and where to find them, etc. They didn't win any raffle prizes, but had dinner with the Executive Director of Audubon Atlanta (okay, that one probably meant more to hubby than to kids). Hubby and son are also going to be interviewed for a special podcast about the event. Pretty cool!

This is one instance where I can say that my tax dollars are truly well spent. The more kids who enjoy the out of doors, the more effective our conservation efforts will be.

Georgia Youth Birding Competition

It's a good day. Hubby, youngest son and a friend are heading out to be a part of the Georgia Youth Birding Competition. It's a 24 hour event where kids of different age ranges compete to identify the most species of birds within the confines of the state.

The kids are so excited on their first big-time birding event. Upon return to home base (for videos and snacks) I am informed that they met another birding team up from LaGrange. Imagine that, someone else is actually birding! Wow!

They just darted inside from going out to try and hear the call of the whiporwill and a Chuck Will's Widow (they did). They are going out even later still to check on our resident owls.

They saw a blue heron catch and swallow whole a fish that appeared to be two times the diameter of his throat. It doesn't get much cooler than that.

Of course, when you don't have to compete with video games, tv shows, and other mindless drivel, you can actually enjoy the wonders of God's creation. It's a kind of moving meditation just talking with a friend, listening, planning, watching.

Birding with kids. It's worth doing.

Walking and the Big Bash

Well, my friend called me at 7:30 am and we arranged to walk around her neighborhood this morning. We hooked up and walked for 4.5 miles. That's a record so far for me and it actually felt pretty good. It's not all flat, but not loads of hills, either.

Now, we are about to get ready to go to the Big Bash Spring Fundraiser at our school. The boys are really looking forward to it and it usually is a lot of fun. So, it's a good thing.

Tomorrow, my hubby takes our youngest son and a friend to be part of the annual Georgia Youth Birding Competition. We'll see how that one goes. They are all really excited and hubby is thrilled to have a reason to pull kids outside and away from tv, games, etc. It's a good thing all around. I just with older son would show an interest.

Whew!

I don't know if there is a full moon that is just hanging over my school, but I have just (barely) survived the most emotionally wrenching week in my teaching career. I don't know what has happened. I don't know if I am becoming a burned-out, old teacher or if the children really are acting like rabid animals escaped from a zoo. Whew! I am not quite sure how I am going to get through the remaining weeks.

I am excited to go to the kickoff for the 3-Day in Atlanta on May 5th. It will be tight time-wise as I have got to be up late the night before with chaperoning our senior prom. Then I have to get back in time to help set up and help with the picture taking for our junior prom. I will be pretty exhausted when I get through that weekend. I just have to remember that I will have to do my laundry during the week that week--because it just won't be done otherwise!

Yay!

Welcome to our new 3-Day Supporters team mates! Kristin McWilliams, Clarissa Peterson, and Teresa Ferguson! I'm so glad you've joined our team!

Back on the Wagon!

Okay, after a horrible weekend of binge eating, I am starting over with the diet and nutrition stuff. I can't seem to fix the problem, so I will just start over. So, I am writing down every bite I take and I woke up early to get on the elliptical before school (Yuck).

I am so NOT a morning person. It is really hard to get up and do that first thing. But, it's also hard to figure out how to work in a walk every afternoon with kids in tow. This way, at least I will know that I am getting a workout in no matter what happens. If I can't walk, I can always hop back on the elliptical and then work on longer walks on the weekend.

At least that is the plan! We'll see how it goes.