The Dreaded Friday the 13th...

Dum, dum, dum.

Friday the 13th.

The day people fear bad things are going to happen.

I don't know if I believe the myth or not,

but I was bound and determined for this Friday the 13th

to be the best.

The day ended up being like a roller coaster ride with a few ups and downs.

Up:

At 8 A.M. I checked my email at school.

I was surprised and honored to find out that I had

received a grant in the amount of $300 to order

high interest books for my students!

Score!

Friday the 13th wasn't starting out so bad after all!

Down:

I forwarded the email to my principal to let her know that

I had received the grant.

I explained to her that I was very excited about winning,

and all I needed was our Federal ID number to prove that

we were a low-income school.

This is such a great opportunity for our students!

I was excited for her reply,

hoping at the least it would say "Congratulations."

If you were the principal,

what would you have written in reply to my email?

Well, let me write you her EXTREMELY LONG email (sense my sarcasm)

on here:

Fed ID # ___________________

THAT'S IT! 

Can you believe it?

Do you see why I am in search for a new job?!?!?!

To top it all off,

she saw me after school and still didn't say anything!

SHEESH!

Up:

I was able to spend the evening with my handsome husband

and wonderful friends at the Dee Gee Beer/Wine Tasting event.

Here are some pics:

Me, Anne, & Lorin

Keith & Jim

Friday the 13th ended on a positive note with good friends,

good food, good drinks, and good times!

Who says Friday the 13th has to be so bad?

Hoppy Easter 2012

Easter is always one of my favorite holidays.

I love bunnies, spring weather, and getting a new dress for Easter.

I love the food, friendship, family, and fun!

I love the thought that the next time I will be off,

it will be SUMMER VACATION!

I love this holiday so much, I think I should have been off of school the day after!

Anywhoo, we had a busy Easter this year.

Keith and I got up early and went to German mass

with my Opa at Old St. Mary's Church downtown.

I have always attended mass with my Opa at this church,

but my attendance lately has been lacking due to my long runs on Sundays.

After church, all of the family came to our house for dinner.

I absolutely love how well our families get along,

and love that we can spend so much time together.

Here are some pics from the day:

Trin & Jaida opening their Easter baskets

The Moms

Blowing bubbles outside

Johnny and Nicole

Maddy & her Omi

Opa & Troy

I forgot to take pictures during the Easter egg hunt,

but it was quite hilarious!

I still think there are some eggs out in the yard

(sorry Keith--you will find those when you cut the grass!).

Hoppy Easter everyone!

Love,

The Messers

Opening Day 2012

Opening day in Cincinnati is a holiday.

Keith and I had never been to an Opening Day until last year.

We would listen to it on the radio or watch it on T.V., 

but we had never experienced the hoopla.

After last year's eventful day (to say the least!),

we decided from then on out we wanted to go to Opening Day every year.

Our day started out with Chili Time at 8:30 A.M.

After a delicious and filling breakfast,

Griff, Keith and I then met the Camps down at Moerlein Lager House .

The morning started out quite chilly,

the complete opposite of how the Reds game was 2 days before.

As it started to warm up a bit,

we stepped outside for some live music and fun!

Then we started finding friends all over the place!

Me & Amber

Jake & Kerri

While heading to the restroom,

Amber and I found Cara!

Alex, Andy, Keith, and Griff

Amber & Andy

Joe & Danny

Keith & Griff

Conway & Me

(Side note: I had forgotten my sunglasses and have squinty eyes in a lot of these pictures!

I stole Keith's hat, but I don't think I look very good in hats!)

Before I knew it,

I looked down at my phone and it said 3:34.

Woah!

The day had flown by!

I told Keith we needed to go!

Luckily, the stadium was right across the street from the Lager House.

Here is a view from our seats:

We almost made it on the jumbo-tron!

They showed the seats in front of us...

by the time I realized it, it was too late to bend down and get in the picture!

Kerri switched seats with Keith and we snagged a pic.

To celebrate the Reds win,

we headed to Fountain Square for awhile,

then we decided we were hungry.

We hailed a taxi, and headed to Oakley.

While riding in the taxi,

Alex, who was sitting in the front seat, said nonchalantly,

"His alignment's off."

I was in the middle in the backseat,

looked up and noticed the alignment wasn't a little off--

it was A LOT off!

I snapped a pic real quick.

You might think that we were taking a left turn,

but we weren't.

We were definitely going straight on the highway!

Oh brother!

What another eventful Opening Day.

Thankfully, we all arrived home safely!

Goooooo Reds!

Our Engagement Anniversary

It is now time to flashback three years ago today--

I had been in Germany with Opa for 10 days visiting family.

Here are some highlights from that trip:

  

 

 

 

 

When I came home from this wonderful trip,

Keith, family, and friends were waiting at the airport.

These signs say, 

"Welcome Home!"

When we had gone up the 2nd elevator,

all of our family and friends flipped their signs over to say,

"Will you marry me?"

When I turned around,

Keith was down on one knee.

I cannot believe it has been three years already!

I am so lucky that Keith asked me to marry him that day.

I am a better daughter, sister, aunt, friend, teacher...

because of him.

I read this quote on Pinterest and it made me think of our relationship:

A 5-year-old girl asked the boy sitting next to her,

"What is love?"

He replied...

"Love is when you steal chocolates from my bag everyday,

and yet I still keep them in the same place."

Thanks for letting me steal your chocolates.
(And everything else).

Love you.

Forever & Ever, Babe. 

Some random things I did over spring break...

I wanted to post two random things I did over spring break...

First, I bought new running shoes!

Woohoo!

Runners are supposed to get new shoes between 300-500 miles.

I am close to the 500 range, but my shoes still "look" like they are in good condition

(let me remind you I used to wear shoes for years without replacing them!).

So, needless to say, I was skeptical walking into Fleet Feet

and wasn't entirely convinced that I would be walking out with new shoes.

I tried on 3 pairs:

Mizuno, Brooks, and Nike.

I love the way Nike's look,

but usually they do not fit me well.

Today, however, was different.

These shoes felt like they were made for me!!

It was like having trampolines on both of my feet.

After I put these on, I decided,

"Heck yeah I need new shoes!"

Here they are--Tada!

They are called Nike Flywires--

which I think is so appropriate since I am running the Flying Pig.

They are also pink like a pig,

and my favorite color!

P.S.--When I say they are pink...I am not kidding...we are talking highlighter pink here!

They are bright, but I am in love. :)

My second random post has to do with someone that I spent a lot of time with over break.

This little cutie--

I just adore her and had so much fun bonding with her this week.

That's it for today's randomness...

Opening Day pictures coming soon....

Reds Showcase Game

Today is Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012--

the first time ever that a ball game has 

been played in Great American Ball Park

before the season has started.

And we were there to see it happen.

Tonight, the Cincinnati Reds players

competed against the Futures.

In honor of this game,

I hung our new Cincinnati Reds wreath

that I created 

(Thank you Pinterest!)

Keith & Jason in our outfield seats.

This picture doesn't show it,

but I was literally TERRIFIED sitting in these seats.

During batting practice, I feel like 100 hundred baseballs

flew right at me--

I ducked every time!

Before the game we were allowed to meet some of the Futures.

The gentleman on the left is from Germany, so 

of course I walked up speaking German to him!

I called him "My New Friend"

the rest of the night.

And guess what?

My new friend won MVP of the game because he hit a 2 run home run!

I was so proud!

Getting more and more excited for Opening Day on Thursday.

We are beginning our day at 8:30 A.M. with breakfast at Chili Time,

then heading downtown for a full day of crazy fun!

Never a dull moment with the Messers!

18 miles!

Today my sister and I completed 18 miles!

Here we are when we finished:

How appropriate that there are 33 days until the marathon,

and we finished in 03:33:40!

Way to go seester!