One Year

This week we signed another one year contract on our apartment. To me, it really felt good to be staying home for another year.

We have been really blessed here. I have reflected a lot on our life here in Topeka recently, and when I do, I'm filled with gratitude to Heavenly Father for the blessings he's given while we've been here. No matter where we are in a year, or two, or five, I think we will always look back at our time here as incredibly blessed.

We have really made a home here. We have been grateful for the people in the Topeka area, who have been warm and inviting and have helped us create a life here that is really special. We love the midwest, and we love our friends here. We have church friends and work friends and law school friends and volleyball friends.

I am really grateful for the last six years of my friendship with Todd. He is really my best friend, and home is anywhere he is. I think it is alright for me to say that we will appreciate this time of our lives without children, and look back on it as a time of necessary growth in our marriage. We want children, but life is sweet now, and we are grateful for these four years we've had to be on a perpetual (somewhat roller coaster-like) date :)

So thanks, Heavenly Father, for looking out for us and guiding us here. We would not be as happy as we are without the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thanks, Topeka friends, who are here now and who have moved on, for being kind to us.

Thanks to our families, who have supported us while we are far away. We are grateful for the technology that has allowed us to stay close and keep in touch.

Merry Christmas!

Things and people we love:

Church and law school friends :)

Work friends :)

Oh, the barbecue!

The history.

Date nights!

The church history nearby.

The sports!

Sports x2 :)

The Winter Quarters temple and the one being built in KC!

and, finally--Volleyball friends.

Love,

The Thomasons

The Boys by Ari

Dad reading the paper. I think I like to read the paper because of him.

Ian. I get to see him when I visit in Jan. because he will be off track at BYUI.

This is Jacob's leg. He's the brother that gashed himself with an axe during Scout Camp. He is a total trooper...and more careful with sharp objects!

When I visited last July, I let Ari have the run of my camera, and he's quite good. He thought it was hilarious to go back and look at the pictures he took. I took the last one, he loves balloons!

Mom called me last night and said Ari was walking around in his own little world going, "Megan...Todd....Megan....Todd." She put him on the phone and I could understand, "Hi Megan, Hi Todd, watch Cars, Bye Megan, Bye Todd." It was so cute and melted my heart! I guess my Granny told my sister last week that she was going to die with only one grandchild...um, major hint, eh? Ari is the only grandchild on my side, and Jess and I are the only ones married. Considering the next cousin in line is only 25 and is by no means an old maid, I don't know where she is expecting all these grandkids to come from! I love my Granny, she says what's on her mind!

Daily Deals

These are some sites I check daily, cuz it's fun, and because I've found some good deals!

No More Rack--they list a few things a day on sale. Occasionally they offer a $10 credit for signing up ;)

Groupon--daily deals....I check for Topeka and Kansas City, and sometimes I look at Omaha too in case I find something good that we can check out when we go to the temple.

And my volleyball friends have made me a Vera Bradley lover, so I get their emails, because I can't afford VB stuff at regular price, and they have some great deals if you sign up for their email :)

Check 'em out!

RUFFLES!

I am going through a serious ruffle phase. I want to sew ruffles, wear ruffles, and NOW, I want to SLEEP in RUFFLES!!!

Check this out!

I like the ruching on this one too:

And this one too!

And there ruffle curtains and ruffle shower curtains too!!!

Winter Essentials

Meg's Winter Essentials--things that help me prevent S.A.D., hehe :)

1. I told Todd the other day that I would die if I had to go a winter without skiing. I know this makes me sound like some kind of diehard ski bum, which I promise you I'm not, but I do really enjoy it. Unfortunately, I think the nearest ski hill is a hill with manmade snow about an hour away, and Todd can't stand manmade snow so I don't know...I think I will have to try to swing it in Pennsylvania when I'm there in January, but that would mean I'll have to leave my skis. I think I'm in as much love with my ski boots and skis as I am with skiing itself. We got them for a steal when we lived in Boise, and they are red, black and gray and AWESOME!! The picture below is not a picture of my skis--go figure, that's the picture I chose! Suffice it to say, I really hope we will be able to go somewhere this winter, or Kansas may be out as a permanent home. Just sayin'!

2. Hot Chocolate--especially if its Stephens, so good! I am one of those people whose feet and hands are constantly cold. I stay warm with hot chocolate. They have this raspberry cheesecake kind I am digging this year!

3. Good kiddos...Finally in November and December we get a little more used to each other and I don't want to pull my hair out everyday :) They really are sweet and I enjoying teach them (most of the time, let's be real here!)

4. Good friends and green bean casserole. Being away from family is always pretty difficult for me...I am content here, but it is nice to have good friends to hang out with. This picture is from Thanksgiving...the one picture we got! Also, I have finally perfected my green bean casserole and now I want to eat its warm deliciousness all the time. It's the sour cream!

5. Winter volleyball. I love volleyball. It gets me moving, its fun to be with the girls and be doing something out in the community. We have a good time, and it feels good to win from time to time.

6. Nieces and Nephews...enough said :)

(McKenzie thought the fire hydrant was a little person she could talk to, and yes, even kiss...I don't think we let her get that far!)

I cannot...

...bring myself to grade spelling tests on this lovely Saturday!

Thankful

It's cold enough for me to start wishing for enough snow in Missouri to visit that probably-tiny hill for some skiing. The great thing about not being pregnant yet is that I have another winter with my skiis :)

On a completely different note, I have a family member in surgery next week for cancer. Cancer is horrible at any stage of life, and I feel really thankful that it has passed my immediate family by so far. We have had some scares, but I feel like it just as easily COULD have been us. It's an incredible blessing but it's also hard to imagine what those who do have it go through emotionally and physically. It's difficult to see someone close to you struggle.

We live in a world where bad things happen to really good people. I am blessed with faith to know that Heavenly Father loves us even as he gives us trials. I hope that someday I can understand the "Whys" of this earth.

I am thankful as we come upon Thanksgiving for prayers that I know are heard by Heavenly Father. Sometimes all we can do is remember that He is there, and rely on him to strengthen our faith when the questions and the trials get tough.

Still Alive

(at the KC Wizards game a few weeks ago with the delish and not too overpriced cotton candy!)

Nothing new here. In fact, it's same old work-finals-eat-sleep-etc. Life is good, we are good, the Christmas shopping is bueno :) I am feeling really content with life right now, and that feels good too. Honestly, we are happier than many people who have babies and couches and new cars and mortgages :) Not that those things aren't fabulous, but it's not our season and I'm cool with it. Like, really cool with it. Now, I just need to get over my online shopping addiction and I might be able to say I'm 100% content with what I have :)

Here's to days off for Thanksgiving and pumpkin cookies and Christmas music and chilly weather!

Snow Patrol

I've told Todd several times if they ever come to a city nearby, he is to buy tickets immediately! They are probably the only band I would say that about...ever.

I really love music and I like a lot of different music, but Snow Patrol is my staple. Currently, my favorite song from them is the version of "The Planets Bend Between Us" (what woman could resist a song named that?) from their "Up to Now" CD. My favorite CD of theirs is probably the Eyes Open CD, so if you want to give them a try, start there. They've become popular with "Just Say Yes" and "Chasing Cars" but they have a million other fabulous songs, and yep, I liked them before they were as well-known as they are today :)

What are your favorite songs or CD's? What are you currently listening to? I always love to know what people like!

Get ready for cuteness. No, seriously!

I love Skype. If there is one thing that has been invented that has been the best ever, Skype is it! I got to talk to Ari and Jess the other night, and he can perfectly pronounce my name. It was so adorable. I'm sure he felt like he could connect a name with a face finally!

Anyway, he is a giraffe for Halloween. I apologize for the blurry cell phone picture, but it's still cute, right?

Here's a few pictures that the Petersons sent us of McKenzie. Oh my goodness, so cute, right? I can't wait to dress my own kids up in ridiculously cute costumes, but these two definitely are working their stuff now!

Three Day Weekend!

My friend Adriane, at her wedding! The terrible photo quality is on my end!

I also work with Tricia!

"Art"

Waiting for the Washburn Homecoming Parade to begin!

Nothing like a three day weekend to make you NEVER EVER want to go back to work! This weekend was pretty awesome because Todd and I spent most of it together. I was really spoiled!

P/T Conference Highlights (but mostly lowlights)

P/T conferences are always an incredibly stressful time of year. They fall right after grade cards are due, and we have to teach the entire day and then come back from dropping the kids off and be ready for 4 hours of meeting with parents. The next day, conferences run from 8 to 8. It's pretty exhausting, and considering I decided to rearrange my classroom in between conferences, I wore myself clean out.

It's always interesting to meet with parents. Some of them assume I'm a therapist, which I assure them, I'm not. I had several parents say, "I don't know what to do with my child, do you know anyway to fix this?" If I had a magic wand...totally! But sometimes it's nice to know they share my frustrations as well.

I had one parent start crying because her kid started crying during the conferences. Totally awkward.

Another parent informed me that he let his child know often that he was "special needs." Uh, yeah, nice. This kid did NOT qualify for an IEP last year. He is NOT special needs, but he does struggle in reading, which he is getting help for. Geez.

I had a divorced set of parents come in. The dad, who came first, politely let me know what I could expect from the mom. Thankfully, mom wasn't as bad as dad portrayed. AWKWARD!

So yeah, nothing too crazy. I had a mother who decided to take her kid off ADHD medicine for the summer inform us she hadn't been giving him his medicine this entire school year as well. Well, that explains a lot! I don't think we should overmedicate, but I also think if it helped him ALL LAST SCHOOL YEAR then maybe we could get somewhere this year with it!

But, as busy as conference time is, we get this Friday off, which means I need to get off Blogger and actually do something with my day!

Pimple in my mouth

Gross image right?

At the end of the day, one of my students said, "Mrs. Thomason, I think I have a pimple in my mouth!"

I informed him that it was probably a canker sore, and a few minutes later, he proudly called to his brother, "Hey, I've got a CANKER SORE in my mouth!"

Yeah, I don't just teach math and reading over here, people!

LOST

6 episodes down.

Only 105 more to go!!!!!

I was so grateful for President Monson's reminder to us last weekend that we be grateful for what we have. I have so much but I tend to dwell on the "have nots." Today I even did that, when I came home and ached for the time when the only kids I have to worry about are my own. I saw a picture on a blog of one woman's entryway, full of backpacks and lunchbags, and kids shoes, and I longed for the days when my entryway is filled with little shoes and happy voices (my students aren't always happy to see me. My group last year was, but this year...so different!). But I'm grateful for my job and I hope that I can look back at this season as one of growth.

And let me just say, I am grateful for being able to come home and put on comfy clothes. LOVE IT!

Crafting

I've gotten mostly over my beginning of the school year crafting blues (since I'm no longer in bed at 9...I can last a little longer now!)

So, if you want to see some projects I've done, click on the link over on the right side to head over to my craft blog. Nothing fancy!

Good/Bad Saturday Edition

Good: General Conference

Bad: Law School (because that's why he can't stay home on a Saturday!)

Good: Decorating the apartment for Halloween/Fall

Bad: Our place is so small I don't invite anyone over to see it :)

Good: This weather

Bad: Nothing is bad about this weather!

Good: Saturdays with nothing to do

Bad: I should probably clean the fridge or something productive

Good: Hospitals and doctors and the color pink

Bad: Cancer

Good: The Event and Glee and starting to watch LOST because the entire show is on Hulu

Bad: Watching LOST is gonna take a LOT of time!

Good: Special K bars

Bad: the corn syrup, sugar, and PB in them (my grandma calls them healthy because after all, they do have special K in them, and THAT is good for you!)

This is my cousin. He died last week. I didn't know him very well because we grew up on opposite coasts, but my mom always kept us updated on the goings-on of her side of the family. Just because I didn't know him that well doesn't mean that I haven't felt really sad this week. His funeral was this morning and I had to leave a meeting at work because I was crying.

He was only a few years younger than me. I can't imagine this happening to my sister or one of my brothers. I'm grateful for Heavenly Father's plan, but I know my family is hurting all the same.

Cameron (go to the R's)

We received some sad family news today. It's always a reminder of our dependence on the Savior, but also of his love. We will be praying for those family members affected, that they will receive strength to bear whatever it is that lies ahead.

The Thomasons Love You!

...aaaand I'm back!

Yes, losing your weekend and not getting enough sleep will certainly put you in a funk (well, if you're name is Megan). After a few days, my attitude and sleep patterns settled back into something slightly more normal and things looked up. You have to know the bad to enjoy the good, right?

I'll start off first with pictures off Todd and I after we ran our 5k. Honestly, we look pretty good! Just imagine me running off and leaving Todd to take down the tripod because right after we snapped the picture I had to take off (and so began the nightmare 24 hour bug). I'm hoping the next 5K I run won't be prior to the stomach flu (and maybe my time will be faster!)

This weekend we had to fight to get there, but we had a date in Kansas City. We had tickets to the World War I Museum, and in order to make sure we had a full stomach before we went, we stopped at Oklahoma Joe's. We had an hour long wait, but it was worth it! I could eat there every day!

After OK Joe's, we headed off to the museum. We really enjoyed it and learned a lot about the world climate during that time. The museum is really well done, and has a lot of great videos and exhibits.

After the museum, we headed over to Cheesecake Factory for some delicious pasta and of course, cheesecake! I was a little annoyed with all of the Art Fair traffic, but Todd is a much more patient driver than I, and we ended up finding a great spot and had only a 15-minute wait! All in all, it was a really great and relaxing day!

Do you ever...

Look at your schedule and get irritated?

This is what I'm experiencing:

*I spend all week jumping through hoops at my job to get the work done when I wish I could just teach and grade papers and GO HOME! Now, my district feels it is necessary to schedule MORE after school meetings and put me on MORE committees. Um, hello? Do you WANT us all to be burnout by October? We're following improvement plans, followed by implementation of team and individual goals in addition to more district training, and I mean, can you let me enjoy my job for TWO seconds before I have to be worried about the next check on someone else's to do list?

*We buy food at the farmer's market only for it to go bad because I get to eat dinner with Todd once or twice per week. His schedule is so full and our schedules do not put us home at the same very often before 10 pm most of the week. I hate it.

*I look forward to the weekends only to have the stomach flu hit me. This is the 2nd time I've been sick in the 5 weeks of school. CMON!!!! Can I get a break please?

I apologize for the rant. My weekend was suddenly sucked away and I sure am FEELING IT! I'm trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel, which involve lots more sleep, less work, and more of my husband!

UN!!!

Conversation with a student yesterday during reading group after we had discussed the prefixes for a WEEK last week.

Me: So, who remembers what the prefix un- means?

Student: "UNDO!"

M: No, what is the meaning? the definition of un-?

S: UN!!

M: No, that's the prefix, whats the meaning?

S: UNDO!

M: No, that's a word that has the prefix un-...but that's a good word that uses un!

And then I gave up and gave him the answer.

And yet, I think that slooooowwwwwwly, they are getting it!

Happy Wednesday!

Today I had a student (my problem child, so it was no surprise) scribble a death threat aimed at me on his desk.

Happy Wednesday!

(and Thursday will be better since he is now suspended!)

No Pictures

I know posts without pictures are boring, but too many can be overkill too, right?

Anyway, we are alive over here. Todd started school and has been REALLY busy. I can't believe how much he accomplishes every day. He'll go from 7 am-10 pm with only breaks for lunch some days. If I do that I'm grumpy, but he always comes home nice :) I love him!

School is settling down. I had several weeks of freaking out. I have a few toughies and one in particular really threw me for a loop and made me feel like I was going to go crazy or quit or both! I still have a tougher crowd than last year, but we are adjusting to each other. I think we will be okay! I had to sit back and keep reminding myself they are still young (2nd graders!) and that I couldn't push them too hard to be 3rd graders before they are ready. I'm learning to savor the good moments of the day and let the yucky parts float away. And I'm doing a LOT of praying! I know it's helping!

I am getting excited for fall in Kansas. I LOVE fall here. The trees turn and the weather cools. I am looking forward to the decorating and the smell of leaves and the Halloween fun! Fall is my favorite season! I'm hoping that it will be cool enough to go bike riding and play tennis....we are almost there!

Anyway, that's the update for now. The Thomasons are happy!

Change is Good

Today I was released from Primary, working the with the 7 year olds, and called to be 2nd counselor in the Young Women. While I've loved being in Primary, I look forward to learning more about the girls, and I'm excited about this change. I know it will mean more activities, and more work, but I'm really excited to get to know the other girls in the Presidency better, and try my hand at something new!

Now if only I could get my voice back!

Sigh.

Today, my kids got the "fighting is bad" talk.

Tomorrow, it will be the "stealing is bad" talk.

And I'm still waiting for my voice to come back. Yep, this cold hit hard and fast and I lost my voice for the first.time.ever. Yesterday, I was at barely a squeak, and today was a croak, which I guess was an improvment. Having a job where talking is sort of a requirement, and have the difficulty doing so, has been tough.

GRRRRR!!!

And onto a new day!

Happy Monday!

Regardless of the fact that my day started out with a parent coming in (with another student in the room) and declaring that if another student touched her kid again she was going to "Whoop his #$%"....

it was a good Monday!

can we all just grow up please?

Cicadas

Todd and I were both attacked by cicadas this morning leaving the house.

Those babies are HUGE!

Nurse

I just realized no one asked me to go to the nurse today! Miracle!

So maybe they just looked bored during reading, but really weren't??

I did have one fall asleep on me today, and one crawling underneath the tables (she got sent out, aiyiyi she doesn't stop moving!! or talking!!)

Today was a bit discouraging but I just had to look at my post from yesterday and remember that someday things will seem routine and the kids will get it and I need to be patient with them and myself!

New School Year

Today I walked down the hall to pick up my students from science and when I peeked in, I thought, "Who are those kids?"

And then I remembered that they were mine! And I didn't know them at all!

At first it was discouraging. Teaching new students your rules and procedures every year is hard. Not knowing them is hard. Constantly repeating your expectations is hard! Talking ALL day is hard!

But then I reminded myself it won't always be this way. Someday I'll look at these sweet third graders and realize that I'm having FUN, and it's only downhill from there :)

Today's Stats:

Students: 24

Criers:2, maybe 3 (the first, for who knows why, first day nerves maybe? the second got a ball in the face. I would cry too!)

The school secretary told me the third was crying because she didn't want to eat the school lunch (which was actually the same thing as her cold lunch, PB and J, which is hilarious). When I asked her if she was okay and if there was a problem, she said, "Oh no, I'm fine. But, when I was in there, my eyes started watering and they wouldn't stop. Sometimes that happens!" So funny.

Blood: One skinned knee.

Pants-wetters: NONE! Hallelujuah!

Troublemakers: None today, although I have a few picked out. Mostly ceaseless talkers, I think.

Names mispronounced: Elena, Darianna, Tyron, Chalil

Kids to the nurse: Only one...I'm mean and made everyone else stay in class!

Welcome back to school year 2010-2011!

Good times!

Just when...

...you want to lie in the lap of misery, you go to Church. And have FHE with your husband. And get a blessing from your favorite priesthood holder (Todd, of course!)

And then you get a little perspective, straight from Heavenly Father. And President Monson, our dear Prophet, who said this,

"Both abundance and lack of abundance exist simultaneously in our lives...it is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend."

So, with that truth, and others, in my mind, I'm going to make a fresh start and not let my "lack" cloud my abundance :)

Blogging

....has been lackluster lately, I know.

That's on purpose. Life is wonderful and good, but I've been experiencing a bit of a bad attitude, and while I like to keep it real on this blog, I'm not sure my thoughts of late would be appropriate for the public.

I'll just say that sometimes life requires patience and I'm out of it in regards to certain things, you know, the things that EVERYONE else seems to have, and I'm not talking about unrighteous things either. It's taking some work on my part to see the glass as half full. You know?

Anyway. Here are some happy moments from the last few weeks:

1. Going to the pool with Todd and floating on the Lazy River for forevers :)

2. Almost getting my classroom done

3. Getting nominated for another teaching award

4. A new letter from my Grandma

5. Downloading Paramore's new song

6. Laying around in the afternoons with nothing to do :)

7. Being there when a friend got some good news

8. Buying more shoes (the addiction must stop!)

New Favorites

This is one of my new favorite things: cinnamon roll jello! It's only 60 calories and it tastes SO GOOD! I can't stop buying the packages!

And that's it!

I've caught up! yay!!!

Pennsylvania

I just got back from my last trip of the summer...WHEW! It was great to see the family, and extended family. The main purpose was to attend my Granny's 90th birthday party, and so it was fun to see her surprised when I showed up. She has been a wonderful influence in my life, and it was said that we hope we'll be there for her 100th birthday!

It was great to go back up to PA and just hang out. We went to Hershey's Chocolate World (another Ross tradition), ate Rita's Italian Ice (SO yummy!) and Amish whoopie pies, sewed up a storm, and played with my nephew Ari. And, of course, we fit in some shopping time! It was great to see my brothers, especially Ian who leaves for BYU-I soon (doesn't that make you feel old, when your sibs go off to college?) I was also glad to see my bro Jacob healing up nicely after hacking his leg with a hatchet during scout camp (19 stitches!) He was feeling under the weather and still sewed me a pillow! What a cutie!

Playmill Theater

Our last big stop in Idaho was the Playmill Theater in West Yellowstone. We had been once with the whole Thomason crew to get ice cream and see The Foreigner, and after going once, we knew we had to go again! Todd got great ice cream at the Arrowleaf, and then the second time, we headed out to see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We really enjoyed both shows, although I liked The Foreigner better. It was fun to see live theater again, and we enjoyed the talents of others!