Happy Birthday Patrick

Today is my little brother's 25th birthday. It is on days like today that I can only wonder who he would be today. Every year on his birthday I remember how much he loved being the same age as me for one whole month. I remember that I hated it. Today I wish that just one more time, we could be the same age for one whole month. Of course when we were both six, I had no idea that would be the last time we would share an age. I miss you Patrick! I will cherish this month of time when we would both be 25 years old. I know you are watching over me and I thank God for your love and protection. Happy birthday Angel.

Katie and Andrea's Day of FUN

This is what I do when I feel extremely happy! Can you believe I can jump that high? Look Amy, its almost like the pictures you take of Jonathan! I think he can jump much higher than me :)

This blog is a long time coming. My cousin Andrea and I ran the Running of the Green, the St. Patrick's Day race in downtown Denver. We always have so much fun together and this day was another in a long line of fun running memories. Andrea was cracking me up as she mimicked serious runners warmups and just acted like a goofball all around. So these t-shirts have a story all their own....

Just in case you didn't already know this about Andrea and I...we are SO worth it! I saw this shirt at the volleyball tournament at the convention center and Andrea and I thought it was great. What a good reminder to yourself and it this particular moment in my life, it was just the reminder I needed:) Andrea thought the green shirt would be perfect for our race and the rest was history. We had some interesting comments by people about our shirts. Overall we felt great about ourselves and had so much fun. I was a bit disappointed when a guy on the street said, hey I like your shirt and you are worth it. I responded with "Oh, thank you." He looked at me and said, "Not you, I was talking about her," as he motioned to Andrea. It was hilarious.
Andrea could not resist the urge to take home this sign...

I tried to pretend as if I didn't know her as she took the sign down. She reminded me later that everyone knew I was with her, we were in matching outfits. I have never laughed so hard as I did walking with Andrea carrying that sign through downtown. After we reached the car we took tons of photos jumping in the air like leprechauns...see this blogs first photo. Here is Andrea...

After we got back to her house we tried to recreate the magic for the family.
What a fun day. It is days like these I feel so blessed. Thank God for days like this.

I'll take Yoga...on the rocks please

Sunday morning I had the wonderful opportunity to go to a one hour "Butts and Guts" class followed by a one hour yoga practice. Class was held at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. I have conditioned my volleyball teams there and ran the stairs myself till I thought I might just throw up. Today I was able to experience Red Rocks in a whole new way. There are hardly words to describe the feeling of practicing eagle pose with the wind causing my yoga mat to dance and my pose to gently sway in the breeze. It was so amazing to do sun salutations and have the teacher encourage you to reach to the sun, and you can actually feel the sun beating down on you and for a moment you do really feel as if you can reach the sun. As we were taking in the beauty around us, the teacher encouraged us to appreciate the beauty but to also remember that beauty also lies within each and everyone of us. What a powerful message. I left yoga with my butt feeling a bit tighter and my spirits soaring. What a way to start the day.

Poetry for Amy

We are working on poetry with my writing groups. Here is what we came up with today as it was snowing like crazy outside!!

If today was a snowday I would get more sleep,
If today was a snowday the students wouldn't make a peep!

If today was a snowday I'd read a book,
If today was a snowday I would email Mrs. Hook!

Back in Colorado

I arrived back home on Friday evening. For those of you who know me well this will come as no surprise.... I had a ridiculously difficult time saying goodbye and leaving my cousins in Maryland. Casey and Cameron didn't really say goodbye as they hurried out the door and off to school. Connor avoided going to school for as long as he possibly could. Mike and I let him :) I hadn't cried in front of the boys, well except for baby Colton, all week. I suppose I felt like I didn't want to pile my emotions on top of all the emotion that already filled their beautiful home. Friday morning, exhausted and not wanting to leave, it all leaked out.

My cousin Mike has had a special place in my heart since I was 7 years old. He came to my brother's funeral and I don't remember how long he stayed in Colorado or where he stayed. What I do remember is the love and attention he showered me with while he was there. I wish that there would have been a million other ways for me to return the favor than by doing so while his own son was sick. So needless to say, saying goodbye to Mike was difficult for me. He gave me a hug and thanked me for all I had done while I was there and all I could do was cry. I wanted so much to tell him all he has meant to me for all these years but all I could do was cry. I did manage to tell Connor that his Dad came to spend time with me when I was about his age and that meant a lot to me. I think Mike knew what I meant. Anyway I finally managed to say goodbye and throw Connor around in the air a few more times before he headed off to kindergarten...tardy. Did I mention yet that Connor had show and tell at school while I was there? Guess what he wanted to bring.....ME! I am going to miss that boy!
Here is a photo of me, Mike, Connor and my dad from this summer when my dad and I went to an Orioles game with them.


Well, I was able to take baby Colton for one last run that morning, clean up the house, finish some laundry and pack all before 1pm when my ride to the airport arrived. My experience as mom for a week had come to an end. I cried some more while I was at the airport and speaking to Melanie and Mike on the phone.

Once I arrived back in Denver it became quickly evident how quiet my apartment is with just my cat and I. I caught a bit of a 24 hour flu bug or food poisioning...something that was didn't make me feel very well. I didn't sleep well at all and I still can't figure out if it was because I was sick or I was lonely. Here is picture of how most nights ended for me in Maryland...

Connor is much more fun to read to at night than my cat. Someday I think it will be nice to have a houseful of kids. Since it has been almost a week since I have been home, I must say I am grateful that at this time in my life all I have is a cat to take care of. Being back to teaching and coaching leaves little time for me to take care of 5 boys:)

Here is picture of Caleb and I playing Nintendo Wii on the second day I was in Maryland...


Caleb came home from the hospital the day I left Baltimore. That Monday he was taken to the ER when he spiked a fever. He has been in the hospital all week. Tuesday he undergoes another bone marrow test and spinal puncture to see how he has responded to the treatment. Thank you for praying for Caleb and please continue to do so. This disease has impacted Caleb and his family in so many ways. I hope that I will be able to go back out there this summer. I miss those boys already!
My camera battery died while I was uploading pictures so the remainder of pictures from this trip will have to wait for another day, another blog:)

Mike and Melanie have a fabulous network of friends in Maryland. One friend in particular has started a website for Caleb. She posts updates as often as she can.

www.caringbridge.org
Check out that link and type in CalebSchneck without any spaces to view his page.