The never ending school year and my dreams of Summer vacation

Five more days with kiddos and eight more torturous days left of work! I'm done! I'm done! I'm done! But I'm actually not and that is what STINKS! In a previous post I was excited to see my little first graders become butterflies. Well, now they are butterflies and most of them are fluttering around making me crazy. I'm trying to enjoy the last few days with them because I know I'm going to be sad when they are gone. I actually have a really good group of students this year and I love them to death, except when they make me crazy. Did I tell you that they are making me crazy? This summer will be the first summer in six years that I won't have to worry about whether or not I have a job next school year. I feel so relieved that the worry is gone and now I'm just focused on Summer.

Speaking of Summer, I have been making a long mental list of fun things that I want to do this Summer. When you are a teacher, Summer vacation is a time when you can relax and focus on yourself after worrying about kiddos for the last ten months. Here are the top five items on my Summer to do list.

1. Beach- every Summer I say that I am going to go to the beach and I never do. Most of the time I don't go because who really wants to drag all of your crap to a place where you spend the day in the hot sun and then leave with a whole bunch of sand in your suit? Well I am really missing the beach right now, so my hope is to visit the beach once a week this Summer. Hopefully I can get a lot of reading done and maybe even get a nice tan!

Campfire Bars- A must try this Summer

2.Cook, BBQ and make lots of yummy things to eat- I pin a bizzilion things on Pinterest, (Hi! My name is Michelle and I am a pinaholic) but I don't take the time to make anything. I am hoping to cook a lot and also get the hubby to BBQ this Summer. He can BBQ like a master chef and I am always willing to be his taste tester.

3. Scrapbooking- I hate to admit it, but I still haven't finished my wedding scrapbook from three years ago. I almost finished though, so that is getting finished this year along with a couple other projects.

 4. Exercising- I haven't been to the gym in almost two weeks and I can feel it. I can't wait to get back into an exercise routine and get ready for the half marathon in September. I have realized that I am not a runner. I don't enjoy it like I do swimming. But maybe that will change in the next couple of months.

5. Travel- this Summer we are going to Pennsylvania for the Battle of Gettysburg's 150th anniversary. While I am not super excited about the battle stuff, I am excited about sight seeing in Philadelphia. It's always nice to get out of California for a bit and see new places. 

What fun things do you have planned for this Summer?

One step forward, two steps back- 16 and a half weeks to go!

So the plans I had to get on track with training for the half marathon in September have gone out the door for now. About a month ago, I hurt my hip at the gym. I thought it was my right hip flexor muscle, which is really weak to begin with. I didn't ice it, but I just dealt with the pain. I know, stupid! Gradually the pain became worse and worse until I ended up in urgent care last week. Diagnosis: a strained ligament in my hip! NO! This is not supposed to happen! I have been procrastinating to the nth degree and right now I'm supposed to be kicking butt to make up for it. Now, instead of my new running shoes being my new best friend for the next week or so, I'm making friends with a bag of ice and Advil. Juuuuust great! Luckily I have still feel like I can complete this half marathon, even if I have to crawl to the finish line. 

Anyway, before all of this mess last week I was attempting to stick to my goals for the last two months of April. I walk/ran 6 miles the first week and 4 miles the second week. I also started reading my running books again and I learned that I need to stretch a hellofalot more than I actually do. I learned that I need to eat healthier, but that was not a surprise to me. I'm realizing that my goal for this half marathon (getting a cool looking medal) should just be one of many goals in becoming a runner. Therefore, this next week I'm going to reassess my long term goals in becoming a runner. Until then, you can find me in bed snuggled up to a bag of a ice and a good book.