Thanksgiving

My personal 4th annual turkey trot 5k started off the next few days of celebrations. The weather conditions were not in my favor so I told Joel running for me was going to be a no-go. I told him to call me at 7am on Thanksgiving if it wasn't raining. Sure enough, I got the call. I was sleepy, and didn't want to run, so I told him I was out. For the next 7 minutes I laid in bed yelling silently at myself. Well, 8 minutes later I was frantically tying up my laces and shoving a banana in my mouth. I layered on lots of clothes and headed to the course. 500 people came out to run the turkey trot. It was raining, 30 degrees, and soaking wet everywhere. The course was a trail run so everyone was so dirty. The first 2 miles went fast and were fun, I was running slow, but steady. The last mile was the killer. I finished it without stopping, which was my goal, but my body could tell I hadn't been running for almost 5 weeks.




About an hour after our race, I headed to Chicago for a Thanksgiving dinner. I was so hungry by the time I got there I sort of ruined my dinner with all the yummy appetizers. It was great to hang with the fam and realize what we are truly thankful for. We made lots of great desserts and we were home by 7.







Saturday, we celebrated my momma's 51st birthday. My mom is the greatest. I love her so much, and she knows it. The girl is one of my best friends and I hope to be as cool as she is at the ripe age of 51.

Giving Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for:

• First, and most important, is my health. This is number one, because without your health, you don't have much. Even though I get down on myself when I don't eat right and when I don't run enough, I am lucky to be able to decide to eat wrong, or not run. I am so thankful for my good health and hope that this year I try harder to better it on a daily basis
• Family. I'm not sure if you know my family, but they're pretty good to me. Each member of my family brings a different element to our crazy house, but we couldn't do it without all of us. Even though we all get on each others nerves now and then, I know that Mom, Dad, Hannah, or Nellie, would be there for me without a seconds thought. I'm so thankful for them ,and their good health too.

• Joel. My boyfriend of 2 1/2 years. He is so good to me. He is the ying to my yang. He is calm when I am crazy. Funny when I'm in a grumpy mood. Sweet when I'm sour. One of my most favorite things about Joel is that we would have a good time together in a jail cell if we were stuck in one (which we will never be, but I'm just saying). He is determined and postive, and he makes me a better person. I am so thankful for him, and again, for his good health.
  

• Friends. On a side note, the really cool thing about this post, is that some of my friends are my family too. I'm so lucky that my family members are actually my friends. I won the family jackpot (on most days...). I have a lot of friends. I have a lot of really good, really pretty, really funny friends. When I sit down to think about the amount of really good friends I have, I become overwhelmed by my thankfulness. Each one of them brings me so much joy in their own ways. I've gotta throw a shout out to my very best friend Claire. I am so lucky to have Claire in my life. We only get to see each other a few times a year but this girl knows my in's and out's, and still loves me. Bff's since 2nd grade, and no end in sight.
  
• Kuka & Papa. My grandparents. I'm so thankful that I have such a good relationship with them. They are so youthful and paitent. I am so thankful that they take care of themselves, and love to be around family, and have instilled such values in our lives. I am forever in love with my Kuka and Papa who are some of the most generous people I know.
  
• Teaching. It feels really good to have a love and passion for the career I am about to get into. I am so thankful that I get excited to go into the classroom. I am thankful for the 32 brilliant 5th/6th graders I have met this year and couldn't imagine I could love and care for them in the short 12 weeks I've known them, but sure enough....they've got me.
• My house. I am so thankful for my house. It's so warm, and cozy. I am thankful that I am moving back home. I am thankful that I will get to spend a few months at home with my mom, dad, and nellie. It will be an interesting transition, but I am thankful for the option and the comfort.
• Comet. My dog is about the sweetest animal I have ever met. I am so thankful that he is so cuddly and happy to see me everytime I come home. I'm even thankful that he wants to kiss me when I come in sweating from a run.
• Mexico. I am so thankful that we have a vacation home in Mexico. I love Punta Mita, and I love that we get to spend Christmas down there. My entire family gets to relax and spend time with each other, and thats what Christmas is about. I am thankful that in 4 short weeks I will get to do yoga in the sun, read easy fun books, slather myself up in SPF 90, and get to dance and eat at resturants where the floors are sand.

I am thankful for so much more but it's 11:24, and my bed is making me pretty thankful for sleep. Happy Thanksgiving to all and Give Thanks.

Lemons

Those that know me will know exactly how much I adore this pic

The big 15k race was today. 9,000 runners in attendance. Not including me.

For the past two weeks I've been sick. Started with H1N1, turned into an Upper Respiratory Infection, and has left me with a pulled muscle (*hopefully not a splint rib) in my rib cage from all my coughing. All of this equals= no 9 miles. Really disappointing. Hoping in a few weeks to pick back up and complete a Thanksgiving morning turkey trot.


On the bright side, I had a great weekend at home. Our Halloween was as perfect as they get. We made pumpkin cupcakes, carmel apples, a white chicken chili, played board games, and watched the HAWKEYES kick butt against Indiana. All in all, being home was just what the doc ordered.

Don't be tardy for the pardy

Voiceless blog.

That's right readers (bahaha, if they're are any) ((I humor myself)). I've gone from infestation of the swine, to straight up voiceless. And let me tell you, voiceless teachers don't get very far. Why voiceless you may be wondering. We had a Tyrrell invasion this weekend here in good 'ol Iowa City, with an unbelievable HAWK WIN. Wow!.

Amanda, my most wonderful cuz, and her bf Andrew came to visit. Also, little 16-year-old Nellie had her first college experience as well. Unfortunately she is now home with 102.0 degree temp and chills. Clearly, she is not prepared yet.

Overall we had a really great, stress free, late nights, bad food, no sleep, typical family weekend!

Tyrrell Sista's

Well isn't that nice! ha

I'm Sick

:) This helps a little bit.

Counter-Thingy

Okay, something must be askew. That little counter thingy to the right of this post is claiming that I have had 12,000 hits on this blog. I do not believe it. #1. None of my friends have blogs #2. None of my family have blogs #3. I'm not that interesting. However, I'm going to pretend that I have people reading my blog as stalkerishly as I read other blogs. In fact, I have stumbled across two unbelievable blogs. These two women are crafty, creative, stunning, organized, and deisngers (with great camera's). If you're bored, or even if you're not, I highly reccomend grabbing a glass of wine, and perusing their lovely sites.

P.S. Did I mention that "these two women" are twin sistes. Just an FYI.
Darby and Erika

P.P.S. I aspire to have blogs like their's. Give me 3 years. Or more.

P.P.P.S. This blog post (probably only read by Joel, will inadvenrtley concern him, guarntee)

15k

I JUST REGISTERED FOR A 15k

which means I have to run it.

FALL has arrived!

My favorite season is here!

Joel is a good sport because this weekend was dedicated to any and all fall activities I could think of. Saturday we headed to an apple orchard to pick apples and get some cute pumpkins. We made a really good apple crisp, made a pizza, and watched some UT football. It was a success



And then today we decorated Halloween cookies. It was a great weekend, minus the fact that it has landed me under the weather. I had to leave work this morning in hope to not infect all of the children. I'm hoping by tomorrow I will be back to kickin' form.

I'm very proud of the bat cookie :)

60 years of wedded bliss

Precious. That is the word that comes to mind when I think about my grandparents and their 60 years of marriage. Kuka and Papa are the foundation of the family and have asked for only one thing from everyone. To foster a close knit family. Mission Accomplished. This weekend was spent laughing, and smiling, and touching, and hugging, and eatting, and dancing together as a family.

Saturday was the big day. At an early service on Saturday morning, Kuka and Papa renewed their vows and recieved a blessing at their church. (After brunch, I am proud to say, I ran 5 miles!! Way off topic, sorry!) Saturday night they hosted a party for 75 of their closest friends and family. After a wonderful dinner, and touching toasts, we danced the night away. Kuka and Papa couldn't have been happier.








Most of my best memories are in the company of my family and I have no one to thank for that but Kuka and Papa. They have are more than words can describe and an inspiration to us all.

1:24:24

Joel Bolt!!
Joel Bolt!!

Joel Bolt!!

This weekend Joel ran the Crystal Lake 1/2 Marathon. His goal: complete the marathon under 1 hour and 28minutes. Pfffffhhfff - He blew that outta the water. At 1 hour and 23 minutes, I heard his brother Jake yelling that he was on his way to the end. I quickly grabbed my camera and was amazed to watch him cross the finish almost 4 minutes faster than he had predicted. It was a proud moment :)

Jake and I could barely keep up with him - on our bikes!

Look at those awesome Crystal Lake runners

Coming around the 4mile bend

My Tori moment ;)

Unbelievable

:)

Practicum

No clue who the little girl is but...Google did it!

Practicum has begun. Practicum is the semester before you student teach. We spend 4 days a week at a school from 8-11am. Seeing as we are spending so much time at these schools, where we got placed was a big deal. There are so many of us that we were told that some of us would be placed as far as 90miles a day. I did not want to deal with a super long commute so I had been anxious about "placement day" for the entire 3 weeks they made us wait. Well, the time has come....I am so happy to say that I will be in an IOWA CITY school district in a 5th/6th split classroom. Let's go Lemme Leopards!

wow

First week of school. You wouldn't guess it if you took a look at my planner. This week has been long, long, long, and I can't quite find a better word to describe it.

Being in the college of ed is so cute. Really. All of our teachers bring us sweet home-baked goods, and we play lots of fun team games to get to know each other, and catch up at record breaking noises for college classrooms. However, we have more work to get done than I have hours in the day. I have class for 8 hours a day T, W, Th, (M, F - only 4) and about 2 hours of homework each day. Not to mention I'm working 15 hours this week. I'm trying, really trying, to not get overwhelmed. However, I think that ship has sailed.

Tonight though I'm taking the night off. I'm about to place an order for thai food with my new roommates and we're going to sit and chit-chat and enjoy a glass of wine and listen to the rain. I have already changed into my pj's and I'm starting to believe that maybe a night like tonight will be just what I need to get a fresh persective.

Double the Fun

I had the pleasure of finally attending a "Shields Wedding"!!

Joel and I drove down (and flew back) to Tennessee with his parents on Joel's 22nd birthday! We left at 5:30a (Thanks to Joel due to the face that his parents alarm didn't go off!) and were in Nashville by 2:30. I slept for most of the drive so it really wasn't half bad. Mostly in part to the sound machine I found on my iphone apps.

We made it!

On friday night we crashed Annie's ceremony. I hadn't even met Annie at this point and was brought to tears by her touching wedding. Her brother Corby is a youth pastor and married Annie and Trent. At the end of the ceremony the five of us (joels fam & me) went and had dinner at Barbra's Down Home Cooking. Barbra doesn't joke about the "home" part. The restaurant is actually in her home. We sat in her front yard and had some reeeeaaaallll southern food including and not limited to: fried chicken, fried catfish, fried ohkra, sweet tea, and mac & cheese. It was all delicious. We were just finishing up dinner when I heard screams coming from the side of Barbra's house. An old woman had fallen and couldn't get up. Joel, Andrew, and Mr. Shields sprinted over and lifted the woman to her feet. She was shaky but her response was priceless. , "Ya'll just picked up 200 pounds, such strong boys!". Clearly she was in a stable position. After dinner we went to a Honkey Tonk bar on Broadway and got to meet up with my cousin Anthony. Minus the fact that he had to make a trip to the E.R. (He had cut his ankle in the morning and it wouldn't stop bleeding), we had a great time dancing to country music and hanging out.

Ya gotta do, what ya gotta do

Annie's lovely ceremony

Roberts - The bar

Saturday Joel and I went to Vanderbilt University where Anthony goes to school to check things out. Anthony gave us the official tour and I was in awe. It is hands down the prettiest campus I have yet to see. Anthony insisted on taking us to the best bbq in Tennessee, Jacks. We stood in line for 45mins but it was most definitley worth it. It was so great to get a chance to visit Anthony on his turf and it's been great to become friends with him after years of not seeing each other.

Saturday night was the big reception. Their family yard had been transformed into a beautiful location for a wonderful weeding. The food was so amazing, (clearly this was not a weekend to do ANY kind of dieting!) food that included shrimp and grits, a meal Joel had been insisting I try. Overall we had a great time dancing and catching up with Joel's fam. The Tennessee Shields' were nicer and taller, than I would have ever hoped for! :)

Tennesse, California, Nevada, & Illinois!

Broadway in Nashville
:)

The twins sharin' a dance

The goregous party