A Story...

Okay, so I will finally admit that I'm not a great driver. I don't really enjoy it anyway. I do it a lot, especially during baseball season as we head to away games, but I get over it. I'm horrible with directions, and have been known to get lost - horribly lost - more times than I can count. Kelly keeps promising to get me a GPS, but as of now, my dashboard is empty.

What I really don't like, though, is driving with another adult in the car. I get nervous. After driving for 16 years you'd think I'd be okay.... but no. That said, I have a little story, and it goes like this:

One day, a beautiful young maiden was driving to work. She had just attended spin class and was feeling good. She was making the short drive from the wellness facility to her office on campus. She got a little distracted however, when she noticed the car in front of her. She saw that it was her co-worker and was just pondering the thought that he was in front of her. (The maiden, being so young & beautiful had to have at least one little fault, and that fault just happened to be that she didn't always pay attention. Trivial, really). In order for her to enter the faculty/staff parking lot, the maiden had to roll down her window and swipe her card so the gate would raise. And she did all of these things. About the time that the gate was to go up, she realized that her co-worker didn't turn into the parking lot. She turned her lovely face to see where he went, and when she didn't see his car, she proceeded forward into the parking lot. Alas, the gate never went up (the card-swipe thingy can be quite tempermental) and the young maiden drove right into it. It scraped the front bumper, the hood of her car and finally smashed into her windshield. The maiden backed up, the gate went up and she pulled into the parking lot. After she assessed the damage to her vehicle and called to report the damage to the gate, she went to work. Fortunately, the young maiden wasn't really a maiden, as she was happily married to a prince of a guy but liked to refer to herself as a maiden, and her prince reassured his love for her. Despite years of damage to the various vehicles they've shared.

...They will live happily ever after, just as soon as they find a way to buy the prince a new truck.

THE END

beauty queens & basketball

This weekend was a busy one. Saturday brought us the Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet Pageant - a scholarship program for university students that our department puts on, which is also a preliminary to the Miss Louisiana and Miss America Pageants. Hours and hours of work had gone into the pageant, and this year being the 50th anniversary of the pageant, it was a very big deal. I had the opportunity to serve as a preliminary talent judge, as well as a mock interview judge, designed to help the young ladies "fine tune" their interview skills. Not being a pageant girl myself, I came in pretty clueless. But now that I have 2 under my belt, it's all very interesting, really. Our winner gets over $6000 in prize money & scholarships. Claire came with me to the pageant and had a great time.

Claire & Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet 2009

Saturday evening was also the Demon Baseball Banquet, their big fundraiser of the year. It was the first time this group of coaches hosted a banquet and I'd venture to say they learned a lot. All the wives and girlfriends helped out and by Friday night everyone was spent - and the banquet wasn't even until Saturday! I didn't get to attend, but the event was a hit, I heard the food was great and they made some solid dough.

Saturday morning the kids played basketball - Nolan scored a basket for his team (which is huge, since he hadn't even touched the ball much in his previous games) and Claire was the high scorer on her team with 6 points. It's 7 year olds, people. They both played great and I can picture Claire on the court in five years and beyond. Nolan... well, I don't think basketball is his sport, football is where he wants to be.

Over/Under

Over-Educated

Two nights ago Claire & I were at home. She decided to play "Bad Economy". After enjoying Econ Day at school, her scenario at home went like this: "I borrowed $13 from the bank to buy Daisy three new toys. Now I need to sell my stuff to get money to pay the bank back. If I can't pay them back in time, I will owe them $15!!". I listened to her play, saying things like "Oh, I think I will go to the riverfront to sell my things. Hello? Toys for sale! Does anyone want to buy my toys? Oh, dear..."

Under-Educated

During the Inaurgation of our new President, the kids were often found playing "Governor" and "Inaugaration". ("I was Barak Obama", said Nolan). But but when he saw a picture of the White House on television, he got excited and said, "That's where the bat cave is! Under that building!!".

Seriously, are these my children? Pretty sure I wasn't that creative (or updated on current events!) as a child!

More Details Than You Ever Wanted To Know

I've been longing for a witty story, a funny anecdote to share, but life has been so busy that those funny moments pass by far too quickly.

Where to start? I know, I'll go backwards. You know, like that great Seinfeld episode where it starts at the end and ends with the beginning...

This weekend was jam packed with great stuff. Yesterday was a great day. Kelly & I lead the College Class and we spent the rest of the morning in worship with lunch afterwards at San Luis. This is our fav mexican restaurant where we don't need to look at the menu, we've been so many times. I'm pretty confident that the Spann Van would be able to drive itself there, it's driven the route over and over.

I headed to bible study later in the evening and Kelly took the kids to their Sunday night activities. We've been working in shifts lately, and I'm so thankful to have such a cool guy as my husband. I also had the opportunity to go to a college worship service. I really loved it, but felt stinkin old since I'd never heard some of the songs we sang.

Saturday was the game opener for Upwards Basketball, a sports program through our church. Claire & Nolan both had 9am games. Claire is a great defensive player, and she's quick! Nolan is still trying to figure out how it all works, but had a great time. Saturday afternoon I headed to our church's annual Princess Retreat, a day-long retreat for 6th through 12 grade girls. I spoke in 2 breakout sessions on the Five Love Languages. It was a treat to spend time with the girls.

Claire & I then watched the Miss America Pageant at a friends' house and enjoyed tacos and a HUGE piece of chocolate cake (while we talked about the size of the contestant's thighs). Ha!

We have a regular 5-day week this week, after MLK holiday last week and a short week for school conferences the week before. Not sure if I can handle it, but I'll try!

Claire has undergone testing for the gifted and advanced program at her school. It began months ago, when she scored high at the school level. She then underwent several screenings for the school board. I had a meeting with the academic and physchological assessors last week who communicated her result. Claire is an extremely bright, talented and gifted girl (I already knew that, but it's nice to hear someone else say it). She scored high all-around and will be attending advanced classes for reading & math. She is so excited and we are thrilled for her. She's still obsessed with all things European, especially France & the language. She just can't get enough!

I've been going to a Body Blast class Mon, Wed & Fri at 6:30am. It's working me over and I love it. Kelly starts team practice on Sunday and well, it's all over but the cryin'! We are so looking forward to the season. Lots of away games, and I've already planned our Spring Break trip to San Antonio. One day we'll take a non-baseball related vacation, but until then, we make it work.

Life is good. The details listed above are an indication of what goes on each week in the Spann Home. Throw in homework, basketball practice, FCA meetings and fun times playing Wii and you've pretty much got the picture.

God is so good, and is beginning a new work in us, in ME. And I'm so excited. Bring it on, baby!!

Back in the Swing

Well, it's January 5th and back to life... Back to school, work and daily routines. The last week has been great. We slept in. Stayed in our jams. Played the Wii. Baked. Took naps. Mastered several levels of Lego Star Wars and Petz Dogz. Ate. Relaxed... Our time in Colorado was fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family and doing, well, much of the above mentioned activities. We finally made it home after driving straight home, about 16 hours. I drove 6 of those hours, of which I'm quite proud. That is a long time for me to drive, and a long time for Kelly to sit. We picked up Daisy and settled into a great week.

This week brings early mornings, homework, baseball camp, dentist appointments, basketball practice and routine. I'm back at my desk, however students don't return until next Monday, which is why I have time to blog! Claire & Nolan's teachers are struggling to get through the day with tired students, I'm certain, and Kelly is gearing up for the season as winter camp begins tonight and team meeting is next weekend.

I'm headed to get a second cup of coffee in order to make it through the day... Here's wishing you & yours a Happy New Year!! Whoo Hoo 2009!

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Merry Christmas

I write this post from Denver, Colorado where we're visiting family. It only took 18 hours in the Spann Van (spread over 2 days) but we made it! We were hoping for lots of fresh, white snow but the Colorado sun has come out, melting most of the white stuff.

We're so thankful to spend this time with family. We've had a blessed, busy month... Lots of holiday parties & events, time spent with friends. The 2008 holiday season marks the passing of our year anniversary as Louisianans. It seems as though it has flown by, but when we stop to consider all we've experienced & encountered in the last 12 months it makes it difficult to believe it's only been a year!

We're so thankful for our southern family... such good times have been had and surely there are only more to come.

May you & yours have a wonderful holiday season: A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!