Goal Summary 2017

You can view my 2017 goal list HERE.

1. Started several books.  Didn't finish one.  ...sigh...
   
2. No crops.  Zero.  I did grow some awesome flowers though!  Does that count?
   
3. There was lots of purging and ridding of uneccesary things.  Not in an orderly fashion, but the effort counts, right?
   
4. I did sell some antiques.  I did buy new furniture on December 22nd, for our new house... but it got done y'all!
   
5. Home repairs done.  We sold that house and the repairs were required for the sale! 
   
6. Nada on the exercise.  Next....
   
7. Nope on the MK sales director and nope on the quit teaching.  I have actually found a renewed passion for that one lately.  The MK is still fun, but less passion is present!
   
8. Still working on the debt payoff plan.  We sold our Mason Falls Drive house and we will be able to use our profits to pay off most debt.  We are still waiting on the closing of our new house to do that. 
   
9. We did repaint all those rooms listed.  We didn't do any of those other major repairs because we sold that house. 
   
10. Good GRAVY--a  lot can change in 12 months.  Looking back at this list... I see some of the things I wanted to do were a good idea, but I have learned that I have to create TANGIBLE goals with a way to track them.  Be on the lookout for #goalpost2018 soon with measurable goals that I can actually track and achieve! 
    
11. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas!  

He's seven.

This kid of mine.

I posted this picture a few months back and I can't help but love it a lot this week.

He turned seven this month.

That is more than one hand...

It requires two hands to indicate his age now.

He lost 3 teeth in the month of January, technically one weekend.

He just got notice that he has tested INTO the gifted program in our schools.

He's a genius, no denying it now that we have proof.

I love watching his kindness on display for others.

He is cautious and calculated with every move he makes.

He follows the rules and is motivated to do all the things.

I love watching him with his sisters.

He wrestles tomorrow and I'm already a nervous wreck.

Seven years ago this month I was learning about love.

I had no idea what it was like to be a parent.

I was terrified and still am, most days.

But if he's the first edition, then we are doing alright.

He's my favorite boy in all the world.

WES: year two.

Y'all.

I'm so grateful for those mommas who take '1st day of school pics' before school on the actual first day of school.  I get so many good ideas from them!  I'll be honest with you;  I take mine after school and usually just before bath time.  I can barely get myself up, dressed, out the door, etc. on time for school.  You can honestly forget adding photo time into that equation.  

So, here we go.

First grade with Mrs. Bragg and he's in LOVE with it.  His class is full of some of his very best buddies and some of the best kids I know.  I cannot wait to watch him grow and learn in the next 180 days.  I loved school and I love being a student.  I feel like he will be my studious child and for that, I'm grateful.

This girl started kindergarten with Mrs. Watkins.  She is thrilled with the aspect of social time every day.  She wants to wear a dress and a matching hairbow every day too!  She came home sweaty and so tired, but she loves every minute of it.  Her learning will be different and more challenging for all of us.  She tries hard and works every day at her homework with a gleeful attitude.

Daryk and I started our 11th year together as educators at the same school together this fall.  I know some people think it is crazy to work alongside your spouse, but I do enjoy working with him.  I like spending time with him and seeing his relationships with students.  He has a different crop of students than I do, and I so appreciate their interactions.  

Here's to a new year and some amazing kids, both at home and at school!

Thanksgiving

The baby boy started kindergarten this year.  His handwriting wasn't awesome and he didn't know near as many words as he was supposed to, but off he went.  He did a fantastic job and I'm so grateful for his teachers.  They spend hours with him and all his friends daily and they are precious to us.  These ladies are amazing and I so enjoy them!  Mrs. Watkins is a buffalo hunter and they live near her house!  Can y'all believe that!?

Sweet 'Indian' babies

My Hayesface

So proud of his brown bag turkey!

Graduation Tears

Every single year, it never fails that a piece of my heart walks out of the school building on the last day of the school year.  Some years there are more pieces than others, but there is always at least ONE.  This past spring these ladies walked through our halls for the last time as a student and they crossed a stage to receive a diploma.  The tears I cried that day were immeasurable and they pride I felt was just as grand.  I am so excited to see where the journey beyond AHS takes these young ladies.  They are genuine women of integrity and I cannot wait to see what their lives hold. 

This year was unique for me as a teacher.  I had the privilege of watching my brother in law's younger brothers graduate from AHS.  My brother in law is a Marine and I'm very proud of him for choosing to do that.  There is a point in the graduation ceremony where our administrators have all graduates who are joining the military stand to be recognized.  As a mother, sister, friend, teacher, and general human being I sobbed at that moment in time.  The pride and fear and overwhelming sense of amazement at those men and women was indescribable.  I was so grateful that these young people were capable and willing to make a decision to join a noble force in our world. 

What an honor to have known and taught SO MANY SOLIDERS!

My Britt--starting at LSU this fall.

My Bailie--starting at JSU this fall.

My Jamie--starting at school in Ga this fall.

Playful Pups

One day this child of mine will figure out how to actually smile like a normal person.

He is such a caring little guy.

His honesty and genuine vocabulary baffle me daily.

This was the day of his Mother's Day Tea.  I forgot that he should have dressed up and we all know his Daddy isn't going to make him dress nicely.  Nor does this child want to dress up nicely, ever.  Worked out well though.  I forgot that maybe I should have dressed up too.  Instead I wore his favorite color and my boy was happy with that part of it.  

I'm still working on that pirate face.  Seriously.

Last day of school with our FAVORITE Puppy teachers!  These ladies are awesome and love my kid while teaching him really important stuff.  

Fab Frogs

This sweet girl sure gives me a run for my money.  This is her delightful Mother's Day Tea at ELC.  The kids make the food and lots of sweet things for us as well.  It is really an awesome deal.  We love going and I really enjoy seeing how proud she is.  Her attitude at school is spectactular.  I did tell her teachers that she should not be in charge of any surprises, ever.  She told me every single detail about the food and the arts & crafts the day before the 'tea' happened.  

Here is a picture of us last year at her tea.  She was a ladybug last year and is a frog this year.  Mind you, the pictures are always her idea, but I'm grateful she likes me well enough to take pictures.

This is her BFF Delilah.  She loves this girl with some serious intensity.  I am grateful that they were able to spend time loving each other this year.  Delilah's Aunt Steph is reading to them.  She was so patient with them and so kind.  

And these ladies are her rockstar teachers.

They help with boo-boos.

They assist with potty training and accidents.

They provide guidance, for her in the classroom, and me outside the classroom.

They love her.

They were so kind and told me that the 4s teachers would likely fight over who gets to teach my 'delightful child'.....

All I could do was LAUGH like a crazy lady because my delightful child is so hard to deal with most days.  She is sunshine and rainbows when she chooses to be.  She is challenging and stubborn when she is not sunshine and rainbows.  She loves SO hard and she is so kind....

I am forever grateful to these lovely ladies.

Prom 2k15

I will say that one of the perks of my job is 'working' prom.  And by working, I mean we show up and marvel at the dresses.... good, bad, ugly....

Also, my date cleans up nicely.

Our favorite Hannah.

She is so special to us and I cannot wait to watch her grow up!

And Hannah's sidekick Bailie.

We love her so much.  I so appreciate her honesty and her integrity.

My Breakfast Club.

I will miss seeing them daily and spending time with them each morning and at lunch.  I've seen them twice a day for most days since August.  I'll be at a complete loss when they are gone!

Jayde!

The joy of my day!

Her positive outlook and smile can make my day better when I'm in the dumps.

Gorgeous inside and out!

And our precious neighbor Car-lo-line.

Caroline.

If you are my children, you love her.

We are so blessed to have this one close by to call upon when we need her.

During the Snowpacalypse 2014 she hand delivered brownies to us on Day 2 of Entrapment.

School begins

Football season came and went.

We spent the first part of the season in shorts...

...the last part of the season bundled up like eskimoes.

And I got to hang out with this handsome fella and perform CPR and basic first aid.

I can attempt to help save your life in the event that I'm not in a major panic about it...

Daddy Time

This man.

This man who is the father of my children is an amazing human.  He comes home from wrestling practice and gives my children a bath every night.  He sits with us at family dinner and then cleans it up too.  He plays with them each night and manages to say prayers with them every night before bed too.  He lets this little girl squish his face and hit him on the head with a hairbrush brush his hair every time she asks.  He will even sit with them in the chair and let them squirm all over the place while they ask him 90 questions.  

He talks about super heroes, dinosaurs, and Disney movies with Hayes.  He makes faces and teaches him important things about being a big boy, like how to pee in the toilet and not on my bathroom floors...  He spends time coloring 'art' with him and uses every opportunity to teach him something.  He sings silly songs and will dance around the living room if Hayes asks him to.  He helps Hayes choose his clothes every single day and he even makes sure he matches.  

I understand that not everyone gets the whole 'married to a coach' lifestyle.  I knew he was a coach when I married him.  I didn't anticipate that this 'wrestling family' would become mine by default, but I love them too.  I'm grateful for the friendships and the love that community provides to my family as well.  I'm thankful that my husband, the coach, comes home to love on my children after working all day with everyone else's.  He shows my children so much through coaching.  

His love for wrestling and those wrestling kids is phenomenal.  Hayes and Elizabeth both know all those guys as 'daddy's boys' from wrestling.  As far as they are concerned, all those boys are their friends too.  I'm so proud of my husband, the coach.  Sure, there are nights I resent wrestling.  Most of the time I'm tired and the kids are trying my patience and I'm ill about the fact that I'm doing the 'parenting' all alone.  I know I'm not the only mom doing things by myself... and I know that I'll have my parenting partner home soon enough.  

And you know what, he's a darn good partner.

And parent.

And husband.

And I love him for all of those things.

I don't do snow.

Unless you live under a rock, you probably already know that it snowed a lot in Georgia.  Well, considering that it IS Georgia, it was a lot.  In our state we are not prepared to handle mass quantities of snow or ice.  We deal with winter storms this severe about once every 2-3 years, so it isn't a huge concern for most of us.  The government doesn't invest much money into winter storm prep or winter storm precautionary measures.  Most of the time you mention that 4 letter 's' word in Georgia and the whole state begins to panic, rush to the stores to buy groceries, head home immediately after that, and then we wait for the cancellations to roll in.  

I happened to be in a lunch meeting south of Atlanta when the snow really started coming down.  We finished up our meeting and headed home around 1 p.m. Tuesday.  The drive normally takes a solid hour.  I was planning to take the interstate all the way home because I figured it would be less congested.  I changed my mind and headed home my normal route.  The normal route included some back roads and those less traveled, but I was confident that I made the best decision.  Around 2 p.m. I realized I was stuck.  We had traveled most of the way home and only had minimal miles left to go.  Actually, I think my GPS (who I lovingly call Bonnie) said I had 19 miles to home from that spot where I was stuck.

I wasn't stuck because I couldn't move, but I was stuck because the people in front of me couldn't move and didn't know that momentum UP the hill covered in ice was critical.  So, nobody moving means stuck.  I am 7 months pregnant.  Thankfully I had a huge lunch and wasn't even hungry during the course of the whole adventure, but my baby was bladder dancing and that was NOT fun.  I spoke to my parents multiple times and assured them I was doing the best I could.  My children were safe.  My husband was safe.  My parents and siblings were safe, and I was stuck.  

Finally, my dad called one of his best friends who was about 10 minutes away from my location.  He quickly ran to my rescue in his 4 wheel drive truck.  I spent about 90 minutes sitting on the side of the road before their arrival.  Jim (dad's friend) and James (Jim's son) jumped out of the truck and quickly began helping.  Jim decided to move my car and I asked that James do all the driving.  At this point I was so grateful to see them that I was trying not to cry!  Just knowing that I was going to make it home before midnight and wouldn't be stranded was such a blessing to me.  

We waited behind a salt/sand truck for almost an hour and I snacked on sour gummy worms.  Jim follwoed behind as James drove my car to a nearby grocery store parking lot and I was finally able to use the restroom after almost 5 hours in the car.  We decided that my car wasn't safe to drive all the way home because it was spinning so badly on the ice.  We left my car there and I'm praying that it is still there, unharmed, tomorrow when I attempt to retrieve it.  I was a nervous wreck just riding home, so I was beyond grateful that I wasn't driving.  

We encountered multiple issues on the way home.  There were cars stranded on the side of the road and cars who still had people in them trying to drive forward or backward or any way just to get home.  At one point we saw a car that looked as though it was vertical and barely hanging onto the side of the road.  Not once did I feel unsafe.  Not once was I worried that I wasn't going to make it home.  We drove down and then back up two giant hills with cars lining both sides of the road just stuck.  The roads were in terrible shape and many vehicles were abandoned on the side of the road.  I suppose those people got picked up or managed to walk home.

Jim stopped to gas up about 3 miles from my house.  We had to drop off the student I was traveling with and then Jim made his final delivery of the night.  The stressed, crazed, hungry, and exhausted pregnant lady was finally home.  I managed not to cry throughout the entire day.  I will tell you that my two little ones running into my arms once I was finally home almost did me in.  I was able to swallow my lump and hold back the tears though!  I offered beverages and snacks to my rescue team and they politely declined.  I offered the restroom.... again declined.

I sent them home with directions back to a familiar road so they could make it home.  I will never EVER be able to explain how grateful I am for that drive home.  The men who came to get me and my student.  The time they took away from their family and the generosity they showed to me... it is something I will never forget.  The biggest 'favor' of my life during the most critical storm I can remember.  I can buy every restaurant gift card and say thank you 9000 times and it will never EVER be enough.

Favorites

Sooooooooooooooo, these girls happen to be our favorites.  They rescue me when I'm having a bad day.  They pick up my kids when I can't or don't want to.  They come over and help me fix dinner or fold laundry or play with the kids so I can take a nap.  Jordan and Hope are two girls that I'm going to call my friends for a long time.  I see them at family parties and vacations and eventually at the weddings of my 3 little people.  They will be welcome at my house anytime and I'll always love them as my own.  

Jordan (on the right) happens to be one of the first baby sitters that Hayes ever had.  She came to my rescue several times in that first year and she's always the first one we call when she's home.  She left us to go to college (lame) and we miss her terribly.  I am proud of her and what she's doing with her life, but I'm also selfish enough to say that I MISS her and want her home all the time.  

Hope (on the left) is still technically our student at school.  She is a cheerleader and wrestling manager and she keeps me in line.  She's my lunch buddy and a one of a kind girl who could never be replaced.  Her honesty and level headed thinking is just something you don't find in a child, who's almost a grown up.  Sorta.  She has a fantastic sense of humor and I cannot wait to see what happens with her once she leaves us in the fall.  

Senior week

This is Sean and Daryk....

Or at least their look alikes during senior week at AHS.

I have never laughed so hard at a group of kids who had a blast.

They loved dressing up like our staff and did a great job!

You can hardly tell that they aren't male coaches...

1st Day 2013

Lively Ladybugs 2013

Elizabeth James Cochran

She's such a precious girl!

Her smile and sweet spirit is so contagious!

Also, she's a professional flirt.

She's giving Papa the flirty eyes and trying to be so sneaky...

Fabulous Frogs 2013

Thomas Hayes Cochran

He was too cool to pose for photos.

Or even look at the camera phone.

Or cooperate at all.

So we got this...

No photos Mom.

I'm busy, notice the blur of the toys in the photos...

School is such a blessing for us.

We are able to send our littles to the ELC at FBC Douglasville.

I love the ladies there who take care of us and THEM!

The life lessons they learn from their teachers and their peers are amazing.

I am also very excited that they learn about how God impacts their lives daily.

They learn so much about what God made and how He made the world!

I am just thankful for the people who help us get the babies to school

and those who help care for them while we teach.

A Day in the Life...

My days are pretty routine once school is back in session.

I do not know how people who work faaaaar from home function.

I hate to drive in my car and I hate getting up early.

Those are the top two reasons why I work 3 miles from my home.

A.M.

6-6:45 a.m. fight with alarm and try not to get up.

6:30-7 Hayes usually yells from his room for us to 'open his dooowah.'

7:00 I get Hayes milk and a pop tart to eat while he plays.

7-7:20 I get ready for school, make up, hair, etc.

7:20-7:30 I get Libby up and dressed for the day.

7:30-7:45 I load the kids up, drive to the designated grandparent for the day.

7:45-8 I drive to school.  Sometimes I get Chick fil A or Martins.

I like biscuits, ok?

8-4:00 I teach, plan, grade, laugh, eat, giggle, and shake my head a lot.

P.M.

4-4:30 I drive to pick up the kids, sometimes get groceries and then head home.

Sometimes I have cheer practice.

Sometimes Daryk gets the kids and I go exercise.

Sometimes I go have Target Therapy.

Sometimes I take a nap or have club meetings after school.

4:30-6 I make/prepare dinner and we eat.  

We are old people and eat an early dinner.

Judge me.

6-7:30 I clean up dinner, play with children, referee boxing matches, chase children, etc.

7:30-8 We run a bath for the kids and Daryk bathes them. 

I pick out their clothes for the next day and load bags for transit.

I put my clothes out, their clothes out, and pack my lunch.

I load every single thing I possibly can into the car and get my coffee ready for the next day.

8-8:30 I bathe (most nights) and get myself ready for bed.

8:30-9 I go to bed and usually fall asleep by 9:30-10 p.m.

My 'days' vary from season to season depending on the sport season.

We have all sorts of things we do after school as sponsors and coaches, so nothing is the same!

Peanut Butter Brownie Buddies aka: Satan's Snack Mix

Link to recipe
The original recipe of Satan's Snack Mix

I found this recipe when I was 'working' this summer with my favorite cross county girls.

We spend a few weeks/days working together each summer swapping stories, sharing snacks, and working!

It is NEVER dull and we laugh the whole time we are there.

I made us a low cal  chocolatey peanut butter treat in June.

It was heavenly and I'd bet you have most of the ingredients in your house right now.

Go do it, you won't regret it.

Well... maybe not too much....

Adventures in Babysitting, errrr teaching.

Every year since I started teaching I've been privileged to accompany my smart kids to Jekyll Island.

We attend GANHS convention in April and it pretty much rocks!

This is Driftwood Beach.

There are trees all over in pieces, still growing out of the sand, over run by the waves.

We They climbed over a lot of them.

I climbed up 3 feet to have this picture made.

While I'm soaking up convention exhaustion, sunshine, and students....

The babies are returning from the lake trip and snoozing in the car.

The POWER NAP!

It always amazes me that they sleep like this and their little necks don't hurt.

I need to invent some sort of neck saver for the little people.

I could make millions, no?

My Buzz and Woody playing with trains.

I haven't seen them since Wednesday April 10.

I think this is the longest I've ever been away from them both and I'm super sad.

I'm so ready to go HOME and see them tomorrow afternoon!

Meanwhile, tonight I'm the DJ at the GANHS dance.

I'll be on the radio next week.

Radio Disney that is...

Chaos, but not cha-ohs...

I am selling Advocare.

I'm so excited about it that I bought all these cute bags and packaged things with bows!

Go read my story and order products here.

I'd love to sell you fancy stuff and help you with weight loss, energy, and looking fabulous at any age!

I'm excited to try the 24 day challenge and add new products this month!

Also, I want these shoes.

The end.

Why is Easter candy so daunting?

I swear it is making fun of me.

Poking at me because it knows I can't eat it this week!

Jacklegs.

I sent stickers instead.

I'm sure some parents hate me for that too.

This is my 'I just found out that one of my students got an amazing scholarship face'.

I sent her this pic after she sent me the text message!

I am SO very proud of her and all the work she has done to get this far.

I cannot wait to see how my Galia keeps going forward!

Much love to you sweet girl and sweet success because you deserve it!

Being a teacher gets better and better....

despite the hours and pay...

and papers to grade and such...

Disney Day 2.

 We started our day very early and headed to Magic Kingdom.

This very curious girl explored every aspect of the line waiting to see Pooh.

You will see her wet bottom in just a few....

I love them.

Cooperative pictures with toddlers=impossible task.

 My little miss patiently waiting to see Pooh and Tigger too!

 See, wet bottom?  

Just water from the ground at the park, nothing more.

Sneaky little booger face.

Hayes was so excited to see ALL of the characters.

He chatted with all of them and told them some story about his life, I'm sure.

Possibly our only family pic from the entire trip.

Or at least one of the only ones.

And WHAT is Hayes doing with his shirt!?

DUMBO!

Hayes was wearing his pass in line.

He loved getting a pass while waiting in line!

It was a bit like a little baby jail.

They were fascinated with Dumbo.

I'm glad I obsessed with prepared them for Disney World with movies for months before we traveled.

They knew who most everyone was!

Over by Dumbo there were all of the 'circus' trailers that were full of various animals squirting water!

These children loved playing over there and running around in the water!

Note to self:  purchase a water sprinkler this summer.

We met Mickey.

Hayes squealed.

We also met Apunzel (as Hayes says)...

Elizabeth was fascinated with her long hair.

Aurora, our Sleeping Beauty.

And Hayes knows that Cinderella is my favorite, so he told her that when he met her.

He hugged all over her!

We love the princess's shiny, fluffy dresses and their satin gloves.

I love Cinderella.

And I realize these girls get paid to be peppy princesses, but they are amazing humans.

I love that they loved on my babies!

After we left Magic Kingdom and took a nap we headed over to Downtown Disney for the evening.

We shopped for a bit and then went to watch our AHS kids perform!

 Giant Lego Hulk.

Enough said.

Anddddddddd giant Buzz and Woody lego people!

Hayes wanted Buzz ears.

Hayes got them.

He's awesome.

Sissy continued with her Dumbo obsession and got Dumbo ears.

Ears have come a long way since I remember Disney ears as a kid...

They are complicated and fancy!

AHS Show Choir on stage at Disney!

It was so great to watch them sing and dance.

Hayes loved it and watched every single song.

Elizabeth also loved it!

Hayes shhhhhhushed me every time I tried to sing along.

After their show we had dinner and headed back to our 'room' as Hayes would say.

Bedtime couldn't come soon enough....