I really want some bread

Day five of my new Paleo lifestyle and I would really like some bread...or spaghetti...or bread and spaghetti combined in a blender.

no?

I've been very self disciplined this week, but it has been very, very hard. I may have cried more than once. Martin says I'm going through gluten withdrawals and that's why I'm so irritable ;)

I know what you may be thinking.

"Just eat some crackers Jessica!"

But I can't.

I really want to give this new way of eating a try...this new lifestyle.  I had mentioned that eating Paleo has so many health benefits...and I've already noticed one and it hasn't even been a week! I never really noticed how bloated I have been most of my life...I thought it was just how my body was and I was beginning to come to terms with not always being able to button my pants with ease :)  

I'm looking forward to seeing more positive changes and I'm proud of myself for not giving in.  Martin told me the other day that we are choosing to eat this way and yes, others will be curious and not always understanding, but we are never to judge others for how they eat.  If people want to know more we can tell them, but we should never force our opinions on others. 

So I promise that if you eat a big cupcake with an inch of frosting in front of my face I will not judge you.  If you eat spaghetti and fruit roll ups (separate or together) I will not say a word.  


{I will just be secretly wishing it was me eating that cupcake instead of my pork chop}

laughing keeps you sane

Warm spring sun where have you gone too?

I don't know about where you live, but it is hinting at winter here in Colorado. I've had to scrape the ice off my car windows twice this week!  

This week has been interesting to say the least. My students' personalities are really shining through and lately we have had some odd conversations... 

Exhibit A: 

We have been working on figuring out "How Many" in math.  How many friends are here today?  How many eyes are in our class? 

I asked my students to think of things that come in 2's.  You know like socks, and ears, and hands.  I had my students begin to share their ideas as I drew them on the board. 

I called on a student.

"Babies that have two heads!"

{insert crickets chirping here}

The next student I called on wiped his nose with his hand and said, "Snuffers!"

"Snuffers?"

"You know these things..." he then proceeded to poke a finger in his nostril. 

At least both students had right answers...right?

Exhibit B:

Today as I was in the middle of testing a student in math, "...18, 19, 20, 21, 22..." he suddenly turned to me and said, "I don't want to die."

"What?!"

"Yeah, I told my mom that I want to live forever."

"What did she say?"

"She said I have to die someday."

"Well don't worry, I think you'll be old and wrinkly by then."

He giggled and continued counting "...23, 24, 25..." as if he had never stopped. 

I'm telling you, if you want to be entertained for a day go visit a classroom at the end of the school year :)

Look Who's Home!

I am beaming with happiness today! 

Saying Goodbye is Hard

Our sweet sweet Pepper is gone.

At 19 years young it was just his time to go.

He fell asleep in his favorite chair enjoying what he loved most...the warm sunshine.

I feel like my heart is literally breaking. 

I can't even remember if I said goodbye to him the last time I was home. 

I probably yelled bye as I waltzed out the door, not looking back, and now I'll never see him again.

He was our family.

I can still remember the day we got him.  It was the greatest surprise I had ever experienced and I had never loved anything more at that moment then when I first saw our tiny little kitten.  There he was, perfect, sleeping on a pink crocheted blanket.

We were inseparable. My sisters and I loved Pepper more than he probably wanted.  He showed us his love by attacking our legs as we ran up the stairs and trapping us in our bedrooms.  We would scream and yell for help that the cat was holding us hostage...my dad always took Pepper's side.   

My mom wrote us a very sweet letter today to tell us the news.   

My parents buried him under the great pine tree in the backyard, wrapped in his special blanket.

I wish we could all be home together right now.  It just doesn't feel right that we're all in different places feeling the same heart ache.  

Goodbye my sweet beloved Pepper.

I will miss you so much.

earth

Today in honor of how awesome our world is, my Kinder friends and I watched some of Life: Plants.  I've talked before about how I've shown clips of Planet Earth to my students.  Every time I watch my 23 curious little students view such amazing footage it chokes me up.  Their mouths are hanging open with each new thing they see. You can barely hear the narration because of the "WOA!!! Mrs. Wolfe! Did you see that?!?!?" 

"WHAT IS THHAAAT?!"

I love it. I love seeing something through the eyes of a five year old.  You start to think to yourself, "Woa! That is COOL!"

These little ones are amazed at what they are seeing for the first time. We learned that plants are alive! They especially loved watching the venus fly trap. 

A student turned to his classmates and said in a matter of fact voice, "That plant will eat you too."

"Waaaaitt a minute boys and girls! You will not be eaten by plants."

I love being the first one to teach my students something...it feels like such an honor.

The sun is shining, it's Friday, and I get to see Martin in 3 days!

we don't own a microwave...and I may be converting to caveman ways

My husband says that microwaves give you cancer and that eating bread is as bad as smoking a cigarette.  You know?  I think he might be onto something...no he is definitely onto something. 

Remember when Martin started eating Paleo?  I do, it was a traumatic day for me. I have a really hard time eating meat because I am classified as the world's pickiest eater.  I really just like spaghetti and well spaghetti.  But that is a big no no in the Paleo world.  So is bread, dairy, and anything processed.  Martin is very strict with this, but tells me I can feel free to eat what I want.  So I do.   But when I look at Martin and how far he has come from a year ago...his health, his body, his mind...it is incredible.  He has transformed.   

I'm going to become a cavewomen (but I will still shave my armpits).

Martin has inspired me. Other people's stories have inspired me.

I want to be me, but the healthiest I can be. 

Watching my husband go through this process has been eye opening.  I want him to be proud of me and I want us to share in this lifestyle together.

It's going to be hard...probably one of the hardest things I've ever done.  But it will be worth it.  I've been working on trying to simplify my life...cleanse it from things that I don't need or things that may be harmful to me.   This is just what my body and mind need. 

And as far as I can tell, the benefits outweigh the loss of my favorite foods ten fold.  

Even my amazing Fettucini Alfredo...so long friend.

I Miss This Guy

Next Monday can not come soon enough. My heart is seriously aching to see Martin again. After nine years together I still can't get enough of his cute face. 

Martin finally called me on Saturday.  Other than a quick e-mail letting me know he'd actually made it I hadn't heard from him all week. 

Me: It's so good to hear from you! I'm glad you're finally calling me. 

Martin: I've been in Italy 

WHAT?! ITALY!? I thought you had gone to get the mail!!

It was a short conversation intertwined with shouts of "WOA! A Ferrari! No WAY! A Maserati!!"  Followed by a high pitched squeal that I'm hoping was a wild pig in the street and not my husband. 

I think this aching love sick feeling is one sided :) Maybe Martin will remember he was supposed to miss me when he sees me at the airport next week.  

But not to worry, Kate has spent hours of Skype time with me and Elizabeth and my brother-in-law, Don, have taken good care of me while my sole provider of meals is away ogling at fancy Italian cars. 

a new rule made special for mrs. wolfe

I added this rule today. 

Because if you follow this rule I will love you.

The end of the school year is, I believe, the most difficult time of year for a teacher.  Sure, sure the time before Winter Break is a doozy, but the end of the year is a whole new ball park.  I was totaling the number of tests I have to give before school ends. 

299

oh, you couldn't read that

299

yes siree

Just wondering how I'm supposed to still teach and keep growing young minds and preparing my students to be big first graders...anyone? Yeah because it's impossible.

And it's the time of year when we start to see a lot of behaviors...spring fever is a serious disease. 

But it's okay because there are only 23 days of school!

I can not wait for summer...beautiful, warm, sunshiny summer :)

love list for martin

Hi honey,

I don't know if you'll be able to read this while you're gone, but just incase I wanted to let you know that I'm doing just fine.  I've even had two social engagements in the past two days...just like you said I should.  Here are a few more things that I've done on my own... 

1. I filled the water pitcher in the fridge when it looked almost empty (well Marlena did tonight annnd she taught me how to open a bottle of wine)

3.  I took out the trash

4. I've kept the cats fed and brushed and loved

5. I've cleaned every inch of the apartment...I'm telling you it's spotless

6. I've stayed up past 10 o'clock every night (I think I keep waiting for you to come to bed, but you don't, so I fall asleep watching old Office reruns)

7. I've gotten the mail

8.  I went grocery shopping and made sure I bought lots of protein

see? I can almost survive without you...but not for much longer.

When I see you again I'll be an independent woman...you probably won't recognize me. 

Please make sure you're eating lots of Parmesan cheese for me

I miss you terribly. 

Love you

Love,

Me

helping Martin study :) 2005

Say CHEESEBURGER!!!

h m m m m...if this was the best one, then I'd like to see the ones that didn't make the cut. 

I didn't have my individual picture taken this time around to avoid the inevitable awkwardness.

Photo Lady: Okay come sit on this crate made for elementary students with your elbow on your knee and your fist under your chin

Me: Seriously? 

Photo Lady: Okaaaay, lean forward...No! Too much! Tilt your head to the left, now bring your chin forward.  Bring your knee up and twist your body slightly to the right. Okaaaay on the count of three I'm going to shoot a really huge flash bulb in your eye and I want you to look as natural as possible. ONE! TWO! *flash*

Me: I think you took it before you said three.

Photo Lady: NEEXXT!

Last year I forgot it was picture day and came to school with a high pony tail that made me look like I was 10 and my school pride t-shirt...  

My mom tells me that I'm lucky to have one of the only professions that will document my career yearly.  And it's true.  It will be fun one day when I retire to look back over all my classes I've had...the students that really impacted me, the classes I feel I was able to really inspire and most importantly how my hair styles have changed.

I even bore my cat

I can just hear her little voice, "Ummm excuse me mom? This is super boring..."

Yesterday I was pretty Bored, with a capital B. It's amazing how even if you're not doing anything with your husband, just having them around makes you feel...well, less bored.  

I rearranged some things.

Emptied out some things.

Threw away some things.

Put things away.

Took waaay too many pictures of my cat

see?  b o r i n g.

It's boring being bored.  I was trying so hard to find something to do that I actually put the laundry away...Martin can thank me later. 

I'd better find a new hobby during the next two weeks or I'm going to end up with an embarrassing amount of cat pictures...

Bon Voyage My Love

Martin left yesterday for Europe. 

We got up early and enjoyed our last few minutes together. 

It was so hard to say goodbye. I know it's only for a few weeks and I know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. But somehow that doesn't make it any easier. 


He's going to have an amazing time. 
I can't wait to see that big grin of his when I pick him back up from the airport, feel his arms around me, and have him to myself again.

six years later

Today Kate and Bobby are celebrating their six year anniversary. Did I ever tell you the story of when they first met? It was Kate's Freshman year at the University of Colorado.  Bobby was visiting friends, one who happened to be Kate's newest friend. 

They met.

Played a song on the piano together. 

He left.  

Fast forward months later to a dorm hallway at the University of Northern Colorado.  Bobby was visiting more friends (boy he sure has a lot of friends) and he noticed a girl down the hall. He told his friends that he had met that girl before.  They told him it was impossible. And it was, because it was me.

A few months later Bobby ventured off to Arizona.

When he returned back to Boulder a whole year later he asked his friend for the girl's phone number he had played the piano with. 

Kate.

He eventually realized she was a twin...

They've been together ever since.

When Kate was offered her job in Florida, Bobby didn't even think twice.  He moved with her thousands of miles away.  

We are so glad he did. 

{happy anniversary!}

drink the wild air

I'm so envious of people who live near the ocean. It's so serene. You can stare off into the horizon and feel peace, nothing at that moment is important except for the wind whipping around your hair.

I love laying out under the sun, just me and my thoughts.  Mostly thinking when that next little breeze will come by and cool off my burning skin.

My sister and I walked along the beach watching the sun rise one morning.  We people watched...we found two perfect sea shells that the seaweed tractor hadn't destroyed yet.  We wandered into the Spanish River Park hoping we wouldn't see any spiders the size of our faces (we didn't), just Jurassic sized leaves.  We both felt whole again. Being together, talking, listening, laughing. 

Watching the sunrise on a peaceful beach makes you think. You can't help it. It forces you to look into your life and think about its purpose. It asks you how you can simplify it, make it more beautiful. I think I'm ready for the challenge. That salty sea air sure does wonders for your mind...

Sunrise