Mali Kaliki Muka!!

From Matt, that is. He spent the week before Christmas in Hawaii with the Washburn basketball team while I survived the first big snow and closed out the semester at the high school.

I was proud that I kept on top of my grading so on the final work day before Christmas break I could clean my room and prepare for next semester since I was done with final grades.
Had a relaxing few days with family in GB...pics coming soon!
Now it's back to reality as my "to do" list is psycho-long in preparation for all new classes next semester!

Guest Speaker!!!

Steve Hamilton, who holds the record for "World's Fastest Flap-jack Flipper" (according to the Guinness Book of World Records), came to speak to the Meal Management classes this week. He owns his own business (Chris Cakes, ever heard of it?) and travels 60,000 miles a year flipping pancakes AT people. See the pancake flying through the air in the picture above? He's been featured on the Food Network several times and has a patent out on his griddles and equipment. A true entrepreneur in the food industry!

It was really cool to have him speak to the kids. He woke up at 3AM to load up his equipment and travel to Topeka. He spoke ALL day long and served pancakes to everyone...all for free.

It was a fun day...but I don't necessarily feel like eating (or smelling) pancakes anytime soon...

Send Your Friend a Candy-gram!!!

If you're a student at WRHS that is. (But no inappropriate messages, please!!) Matt, Christy, Jenny, myself, and anyone else I could coax into helping have been spending our evenings tying ribbons and paper onto the 13 cent candy canes transforming them into candy grams to be sold for $1 each!!!

They've been a huge hit at school! We sell out everyday during lunch. However that means that I then have to spend all evening transforming more candy canes. And, even worse, my student aides then have to try to deliver the purchased candy canes all over the school. We can't wait for this fundraiser to be over!!! Matt wanted me to be sure and mention that if you'd like to donate funds for the Jr/Sr Prom of 2010 (that's what we're raising money for) we accept cash, check, or charge!!!

Weekend Pics

I was able to sneak back to GB for the weekend when Matt and the team went out of town for a tournament on Friday and Saturday. I didn't want to leave Matt home alone for Thanksgiving, but when he left for the tourney I fled for home. I've found I'm not yet strong enough to handle holidays alone. It killed me to know everyone was together at home while we couldn't be there. So I made the short trek and it was great to see everyone!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Not my words today...

Don't read my words today, instead I ask that you take some time to read this post from my friend Mandy's blog. (Here we are pictured above at a shower for Mandy and Dionne.) Follow the link to Mandy's powerful story about the pre-mature birth of her beautiful daughter, Ellie. What a reminder that we serve an awesome and powerful God, nothing is beyond His plan or purpose!

http://elliegramkow.blogspot.com/2008/11/we-are-thankful.html

Christmas Survey

This is not a picture of my home decorated for Christmas...but let's pretend like it is. :) I've been patiently waiting until after Thanksgiving to reply to the Christmas survey that's been going around the Keeley family.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?--Wrapping paper, more fun!

2. Real Tree or Artificial?--We've never had a real tree, I'm pretty sure the Kottmann's house is the only time I've even seen a real one in real life.

3. When do you put up the tree?--Usually right after Thanksgiving. This year it will be whenever we feel like taking on that awful closet under the stairs where the Christmas tree is stored. Ugh...not today.

4. When do you take the tree down?--Mid-January, when I've resolved to re-organize the under the stairs closet so I don't have to dread it anymore. Ha!

5. Do you like eggnog?--Don't think I've ever had "real" eggnog...but I like the eggnog flavor, in small doses.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?--No clue, all I can think of is the year I decided to open all my presents before Christmas while my parents were at work and then wrap them back up. That was a horrible idea. I learned a lot from that experience.

7. Hardest person to buy for?--anyone with the last name Keeley

8. Do you have a nativity scene?--Yes

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail-Matt loves sending Christmas cards...I keep trying to talk him out of sending them this year...who needs another picture of just us?

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?--Hmm, when I was probably 12 there was a HUGE box under the tree for me and I was convinced it was something super-cool like a computer...it was a globe. Mom, I hope you feel a little guilty about that one...

11. Favorite Christmas Movie?--I pretty much love all Christmas movies, but for all-time favorites I'd have to say "Elf" and "It's a Wonderful Life."

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas?--Whenever people start dropping hints for what they want!

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?--I don't think so...

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?--Sugar cookies & chocolate dipped pretzels

15. Lights on the tree?--Yes, all white lights are classy :)

16. Favorite Christmas song?--Grown Up Christmas List

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?--Travel, no way do I want to host!

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?--Dasher Dancer Prancer
Vixen Comet Cupid Donder Blitzen Rudolph--not going to lie, this one was answered when I cut and pasted.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star?--Star

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?--Christmas
Eve, then I'm at least dressed & wearing make up!

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?--Scraping
windshields, poor driving conditions, COLD

22. Favorite ornament theme or color?--Red?

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner?--Turkey and cranberry sauce, I like to have a Thanksgiving meal at Christmas too.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year?--All of my students to pass

25. Who is most likely to respond to this?--Well, I'm tagging DeAnna, Audrey, Emily, and Dedra to post on their blogs

Needs Vs. Wants

My "need to do's" are interfering with my "want to do's" today. Here's how I've spent my day off so far...

--Visit 1 of 4 to the dentist for my fillings: appointment was at 10:30 and I STILL can't feel the right side of my face. And it doesn't really feel like it will be wearing off soon.

--Grocery shopping: I think of grocery shopping as the biggest waste of time ever. It has to be done, but somehow I never feel I've accomplished anything after a trip to the store. You know? Come on, someone feels the same way about this, right?

--Emptying the dishwasher just to fill it again with dirty dishes that have been accumulating in the sink...and in the backseat of my car. Gross.

--Switching out summer and winter clothes. Yes, it's about time I did this, but this is something I dislike. I never have enough closet/drawer space and I always end up with a huge pile of clothes I need to just get rid of...which just creates more work.

Wow, I sound like a Negative Nancy today...where's my holiday spirit? Thus, I must create another bullet point list, even if it is a little cliche:

--I'm thankful I didn't have to go to school today and that I got to sleep in 3 hours later than normal. :)

--I'm thankful I have dental insurance.

--I'm thankful that God has blessed Matt and I with an affordable place to live...that has a dishwasher.

--I'm thankful that I have clothes to fill my closet and drawers.

--And I'm SO thankful for my friends and family...even though I have to spend Thanksgiving with the Washburn basketball team instead of you.

So I'm still working on snapping out of Negative Nancy mode...

Picture Game

Matt said he'd make dinner so I could enter grades in my online gradebook for school...don't know how I ended up here blogging instead? Sorry, Matt!
Guess there's this little game going around in the "blog world" and I'm thankful that I have DeAnna to clue me in on these things. :)
Here's what you do--
Go to your pictures folder:
Go to the 4th folder
Upload the 4th picture in that folder.
Tell us about it.

This is a pic from Elaine's bachelorette party on the plaza last year. Kelly is attempting to hug me during the picture. She's a hugger. I love that about her!
I can't look at this pic without laughing outloud about an incident that occurred later in the night that involved Elaine falling off of the platform she was dancing on into the lap of this rather not nice girl. I'm not exactly sure what happened...but the next thing we knew the "not nice girl" was offering Elaine money because she'd been so mean to her. Elaine wouldn't take it...even though we all urged her to. Ahh, memories.
Ok, your turn.

Good news & bad news...

The good news is that I made contact with a Topeka design firm and they donated SO many samples for my Housing & Interiors students to use for their final projects!!!


The bad news is that I somehow lost my cell phone while loading up my car and trunk with all these goodies. I'm fairly certain it's in the car somewhere...

Hitting My Stride?

The last 2 weeks of school have been great...which causes me to TOTALLY over-analyze the situation as to what made the week go smoothly and what was different than other weeks. I really felt like I was prepared for each day, had good lessons, and even had fun with the students. Too often I feel like I don't get to have fun or even show my personality to the students because I'm either teaching or running around to get the next thing ready while they're working on projects/assignments. But it's been different lately, and I like that. Maybe I'm hitting my stride? Learning how to live with and handle the anxiety that is 1st year teaching? I don't know...I don't want to jinx it...so I'll just say I've moved to being 90% sure I can handle this. I'd rate today as just "okay"...but it's probably because I wore uncomfortable shoes. Never wear uncomfortable shoes on a Monday!

My Dental Health Update

Just what you've been waiting for, huh?

I'm always nervous for the "first visit" whenever I move and have to get new doctors. Do these people know what they're doing? Are they going to overcharge me? Man, their office is nice...is that because they're going to overcharge me? Interesting tid-bits from my dental visit:
1. They had me wear sunglasses during the cleaning. That's new to me. Have you ever worn sunglasses before? Guess it keeps me from getting hit with flying debris?
2. My hygenist was a man. Not to be sexist...but it seemed weird. He looked a little like Dr. McSteamy from Grey's Anatomy...that may have added to the weirdness.
3. They barely even look at your actual teeth these days with all the technology. They take some images and then find the "decay" from there.
4. I apparently have 7 spots of "thinning" enamel and will be visiting the dentist weekly (practically until Christmas) because "if I let this go, it could turn into needing a crown instead of needing a filling..."
5. It will be my Thanksgiving resolution (???) to start flossing. Allegedly that's what caused this. When he (the male hygenist) asked me about how often I floss I had to reply "never...ish?" He did not laugh.

Grandmama & Papa's Visit!

We were so honored that Grandmama and Papa would make the trek to Topeka to see our place and to watch Washburn play KU.

See pics below!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Halloween 2008

Murder Mystery Party!
Christy did a fabulous job organizing a murder mystery party for everyone on Halloween. It was a little difficult for everyone to "get into" their parts...and with so many people who are related to each other I'm sure casting was difficult. It was a really fun evening. I hope we try it again sometime...I could be a better actress now that I've got one murder mystery party under my belt. Thanks for all your hard work, Christy! Please check out the pics below!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

DeAnna's Wedding!!!

I had the honor of serving as a bridesmaid for one of my great college friends over the weekend. Now, when an event planner gets married, it's nothing less than a grand event!!! DeAnna and Chris make a perfect couple and it was a perfect day--they deserve nothing less. I think the world of DeAnna. I've always admired her drive and ambition. Not to mention she's a genius, hard-working, level-headed, and a great friend. I've always wanted to do a sort of "infomercial" for her because I just think she's one of a kind. :) Congratulations, friend! Love you!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

See G-Dog Run!

Go G-Dog go! Gentry committed to running the KSU Homecoming 5K so I made the trip to Manhattan to partake in the event and spend a day hanging out. It took some encouragement...but she ran the whole thing and did well! Great job G-Dog! What a fun day with my "best girlfriend!"

Make a Smilebox slideshow

One thing I've noticed...

about WRHS is that they don't have a spirit club...nope, no Pep Club. Interesting. Got me to thinking...is there really a need for a spirit club? The Student Council and the cheerleaders seem to have divided up the duties a pep club would normally have. And everything runs smoothly.
"Locker art" is a duty that the parents have picked up...and they don't hold back. This is some of the most elaborate locker art I've ever seen. I'm sure the moms who make the locker art are scrapbooking enthusiasts...and I must say, well done.





P.S.--Don't worry, I don't think anyone saw me taking pics of this stuff...then they might think I'm weird. Well, what's weirder...to take pics of the locker art...or to compose a blog entry about the locker art?

Fun Unit in Housing & Interiors

I love it when parts of my job are fun...sometimes it just seems so BUSY that I don't get to enjoy the day at all. I dreaded teaching Housing & Interiors but it's turned out to be one of my favorite classes to teach. I love seeing the students be creative!


Graham cracker and frosting color wheel. How about an edible assessment?

Weekend Bargains!

Matt says I'll buy anything if it's on sale...but I like to think of it as I only buy items that are on sale. I'm a savvy shopper...I won't let him get me down about spending a little green to save a little.
Five shirts from Gap plus a pair of sandals off the Dillard's sale rack--all for $60.

What can I say, I'm into stripes? Some are turtle necks and some are short sleeved so there's really more variation than it looks like.
Jessica Simpson sandals...so I can't wear these for a few months...but I have no doubt I'll one day pair them with the perfect outfit and be oh so glad I made this purchase for $11. :)

I also treated myself to a post-race pedicure (wasn't on sale). Felt SO good! I hardly ever spring for the whole pedicure, usually just a polish, so this was extra special!
Guess this is what happens when Matt's out of town for the weekend?

The difference a little support makes!

Author's note: This race became so much more emotional for me than I expected. I got a little windy here explaining so I give you permission to skip down to the pics if you want. :)

The Story:
Last April I decided that running was going to be my "thing." I was going to be a runner. I can always pick out the women who run...disciplined, fit, and they wear fancy digital watches. I wanted that. I wanted to be hard-core.
So we're off...but running for no reason got kinda dull. How far should I run? How often? How fast? Why am I running? I needed a goal. After surfing the internet for running tips/routes I decided to dabble in a 1/2 marathon training program and picked out a race to enter. I trained for about 4 weeks before actually signing up for the Omaha Marathon...and before telling anyone I was thinking of signing up. After a 9 mile workout I thought, I can do this. If I can run 9...surely I can run 13.1?
Training was tough...especially when school started. I was feeling so overwhelmed already...and then had to add long runs onto my days?! Matt was such an awesome supporter! He trained with me a good portion of the time--solely because I didn't have time to get my workouts in until after dark and he wouldn't let me go it alone. (Wait, did that sentence make it sound like he was running with me...because he was biking...but I still enjoyed his company and appreciate his effort). I didn't know if I could make it 13.1 and I missed some training sessions here and there...but 13 weeks into attempting to be a runner...race day was upon us.
Hands down, the best thing about this experience was the support I received from my family. I was so honored when they all planned to come watch the race. So here we are...in Omaha...for the packet pick-up and pasta party. Only a few tears during a "what the heck am I thinking" moment when I looked around the convention center at all the hard-core people preparing to race...in the same race as me. My dad helped me through that one and I ate the pasta at the party even though it was like 4 in the afternoon and I wasn't hungry. If everyone else was eating this...I was too. Woke up at about 5am on race day and gave a quick interview to documentary producer Mike Keeley before venturing to the start line. Also kept reading the verses Hebrews 12:1-2 in reference to throwing off everything that entangles us and running the race before us with endurance, fixing our eyes on Jesus. I know this verse isn't referring to a 1/2 marathon, it's referring to living a life on earth for Christ--but it still provided such comfort and motivation for this small race I was undertaking in the big race of life. Might seem like a strange concept to some, but I definitely felt God's presence and strength during the race.
At the start line I kept thinking this was a goal I had set, I trained for this, now it was time to just do it. I kept thinking this is going to be hard, it's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't going to be hard my family wouldn't have made the trip...woudn't have made T-shirts to support me. This is going to be hard. It's supposed to be. I survived...and it was hard. But it wasn't deadly. It was actually FUN. The actual event of the race, running the 13.1 miles, was fun! It was exciting to see all the people lining the streets cheering the runners on. It was actually pretty emotional. The atmosphere was great and the route was really set up well. It was hilly, but I knew once I got up the huge hill I'd be able to go down it.
The point of my whole "story" is, I know there are a lot of people out there who have done much more heroic and hard-core things than run a 1/2 marathon...but the sense of accomplishment I felt when I finished the race and my family greeted me at the finish line is indescribable. It felt so great when they were proud of me. I achieved my goal...and it felt amazing! I know I'm getting all sorts of motivational speaker-ish, but I can't explain the feeling I got from meeting my goal. Surpassing my goal! So I just have to put that challenge out there...do something crazy. Do something you think is beyond yourself. Set a goal...work toward it...achieve it. Because otherwise you're just letting life pass you by, right?

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Conference Trip Pics

It's a little strange to sight-see on a trip with just a group of random co-workers you don't really know...but it was a fun trip. Heard the DuFour's speak about PLCs in schools and ate some great food while seeing D.C. and getting to know my co-workers. However, it's SO ANNOYING to miss school...especially for 3 days in a row! I returned to a mountain of papers to grade. Enjoy the pics! Next post = 1/2 Marathon.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Playing catch up...

Our computer is up and running again so I'm back to the blogging world! So much to catch up on...however...I have to go chronologically...so if you're waiting for that 1/2 marathon update, stay tuned!

Freshmen Football games are underway! Our first one (weeks ago) was endured in the rain...we lost 14-44. Seriously.

WRHS Cheer tradition for cheerleaders to do pushups when our team scores (luckily that's not too often). Do I think this is stupid? Yes. However, I do not get paid enough to fight them over their "traditions" so they are free to do as many push-ups as they like. Attractive, huh?

I've been meaning to tell you...

Our home computer has an icky virus...you always hear of these things happening...but you don't really care until it's happening to you. Haven't decided what our plan of action is to rid it of the virus...Matt's made attempts to fix...but right now it's still eating itself. Awesome.

Going to a conference in Washington, D.C. Wednesday thru Saturday for the school district. Was excited when they asked me this summer...not so excited as I make out my sub plans now...

Half marathon is 12 days away...two words...OH NO!!!!!

DeAnna's Survey

What do you do when you want to write but have nothing to really write about? Steal the survey thing from DeAnna's blog!

In honor of me taking the survey from DeAnna's blog, I've included these pics from her recent bridal shower! :)


I AM...tired
I WANT...to live in my parent's basement and have no responsibilities
I HAVE...a tummy full of ice cream
I KEEP...my birthday cards displayed on a string across my living room for at least a month
I WISH I COULD...do gymnastics like the Olympians...really...that would be so cool
I HATE...when people are mean to other people (especially high school kids...breaks my heart!)
I FEAR...that I actually have to run the 1/2 marathon on Sept. 28 that I signed up for
I HEAR...the TV? Matt's watching Sports Center.
I DON'T THINK...I'll ever have time to watch all my shows I've been DVRing
I REGRET...a lot of things...but they say you shouldn't have regrets...so I won't dwell on it
I LOVE...that I can call my mom anytime and usually reach her. I LOVE that.
I AM NOT...expecting anyone to read all these random thoughts!
I DANCE...rarely...not a big dancer
I SING...with Matt on road trips to the radio...we also like to make up actions...we are fun
I NEVER...go to bed early
I RARELY...cook supper for my husband...I know...bad wife...and bad FACS teacher
I CRY WHEN I WATCH...The Notebook. Not just cry, bawl like a baby...every time.
I AM NOT ALWAYS...on time
I HATE THAT...my husband's legs are SO much skinnier than mine
I'M CONFUSED ABOUT...who to vote for
I NEED...to feel loved and needed
I SHOULD...go to bed.

Going, going, gone!!!

My mind, that is.

Going to a wedding in Omaha this weekend. Can't remember for the life of me if I already bought them a present or not. I always buy wedding gifts online and have them shipped directly to the bride & groom. I tend to use Bed, Bath, & Beyond or Crate & Barrel. They have the best online registries. I just keep thinking...really? This is happening to me? I've lost my mind this much, already, at the wee age of 25.
I try to be so organized...I haven't written down a confirmation # for a gift anywhere...but I know I've looked at their registry...hmm. Would I have bought them this? That? Dang it!
Question: What's more embarassing? To go to a wedding and NOT give them a gift or to send someone TWO gifts?

Bittersweet...

Mixed emotions about the Olympics being over...Matt and I were AVID watchers this year. More so than I've ever been in the past. You know why? (Well, the real reason probably is because we just got DVR and we taped everything then watched it all while fast-forwarding through the commercials...and any other competitors besides the Chinese and the Americans...beside the point...maybe a whole post later will be dedicated to how DVR has changed my life...)

The reason why the Olympics are awesome? Because it's watching people compete for something they want SO bad. You know? And I LOVE when it comes down to the last minute...the last second, the last tenth of a second...the last dive, the last event, the last competitor. Even if it's randomly awkward men's diving...I love it! I'm going to miss it. The hub-bub of the students talking about it the next day. However, I can now get back to my regular viewing schedule, and possibly head to bed a little earlier. But the Olympics have definitely inspired me, at the very least, to be passionate about life and to dig down deep and be tough, no matter the challenge.

Didn't you learn that from watching? :)