Celebrating 2025

 

As is any year, there was many things to celebrate and many things to overcome. But through it all, 2025 was a great year! I'm thankful it happened. I learned a lot. I was happy a lot. Here's my 2025 in pictures!

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I kicked off the year running a half marathon at Disney World! This was a race that saw me overcome a challenge at mile 10 that nearly derailed my race. I'm learning to smile more...and put my hands up!

Houston...we have marathon 2! It was so cool my 2 classes of 4th graders signed a shirt for me. I had to wear it at the expo. 

Brrr! Temperatures were in the 30s, but strong winds made it feel like the 20s. I never thought I'd wear an earmuffs, gloves, and a long sleeve for an entire marathon, but I did. 

As part of the trip my parents and I  went to the Johnson Space Center and even saw stingrays later on in an aquarium! It was a great trip. I don't take these trips for granted. 

I love celebrating the Chinese New Year every year!

I love celebrating the Super Bowl yearly too!

Back to back first place finishes at the OCPS Sea World race with two different schools! (I'm still at the same school this year.) This race was a literal sprint for the finish. 

In March, I went back to the Sea World, but not to run. It was my first visit to the park. I had so much fun riding rollercoasters and seeing the animals! I like Sea World!

I became a Universal pass holder again!

I was thankful to get an invite the watch the Savannah Bananas play first at an NFL stadium (Buccaneers) for the first time ever! The atmosphere is electric! The players, Jesse Cole (CEO), and entertainment is top tier!

I went to Zoo Tampa! I paid for my friend and I to get an elephant tour. It was cool!

Pancakes are the Sugar Mill at delicious! It's super popular and in the heart of the Deleon Springs State Park.

There's more than just pancakes at Deleon Springs State Park. There's boat tours, walking trails, and this beautiful hot spring in the middle of it all.

I love March Madness in the spring and I love bringing it to my students yearly. 

That feeling of finishing your first Springtime Surprise Challenge! 5k, 10k, 10 miler. All paces were  between 5:52-6:02 and I was top 10 in all 3 races. I was the 2nd fastest challenge runner!

When you do a challenge and see you the same runners day in and day out, they become your friends, not just your competition. This was a super cool moment!

Epic Universe opened up and I got to see a preview of it! 

My favorite universe is Super Nintendo World + Donkey Kong country. It brought back my childhood where we used to the play the game at grandmas. My brother and I had Yoshi's Island on our Gameboy Advance. and to my shock, I was able to rebuy the game! It was just how I remembered it. I really like Epic Universe. It's more of my childhood. 

We did Glow Day in 4th grade to review for the state test! The kids showed off their learning and had fun!

I'm really happy with how the kids did and the volunteers that helped make the magic continuous! 

My Running Company 6 race series came to an end in May. 

Four victories, two runner-ups, one appreciative runner. 

I surprised myself in a lot of ways during this series.

So many bubbles for so many deserving kids!

The last day of 4th grade is always a happy and sad one. I learned so much this year. I tried my best every day. I loved my students. I'm thankful to be at my school. I feel very lucky. 

 To celebrate the end of the school year, I built this F1 race car! My largest build yet. I love how it turned out. 

10 out of 10 recommend everyone color code their bookshelf. 

The new Villains Show at Hollywood Studios is great! I'd go on to see it a few times this year!

I went to Animal Kingdom by myself for the first time. I had great time riding rides and eating. I'm glad I had the courage to do it by myself.

The Wild Robot on the Island, the picture book version of the chapter was released. It's a beautiful book. I recommend it! During the new school year, after we finished reading The Wild Robot, I gave away one or two these copies.

As I flying back to Nebraska, I watched The Unbreakable Boy. It's a true story about an Autistic boy. Turns out the family not only lives in Nebraska now...but in the town where my parents live. When I saw the book, I had to buy it. Turns out it was last autographed copy. The book is just as good as the movie. 

"Through these gates walk the greatest fans in college football." What a beautiful stadium, even in the summer. The University has made massive upgrades around the stadium. One day the stadium will be given upgrades. 

Learning at the Lincoln Museum next door to the stadium. I had never been there. There were so many floors to venture to. It took us many hours! 

I'm finally teaching 3rd grade! I taught 3rd grade when I first started teaching and blogging almost ten years ago! Change was scary. I was heartbroken to leave 4th grade. I didn't know how my new team would receive me. I've had a lot to learn and most show massive amounts of improvement going into January. But I'm thankful to my team and students. They've helped me more than they'll ever know. I've been a lot happier this semester. I'm loving 3rd grade! 

I added a big 3 and SPACE ! I've always wanted both and finally got them. 

My 3rd grade classroom is similar to my 4th grade one, but bigger and better. Peep the stars hanging and the cabinets with no anchor charts. Simple and on theme.

Speaking of on theme....I had enough extra that I could staple it to the bathroom, including the door. Something you're definitely not expecting, but turned out so cool!

First day of 3rd grade! 🚀 

I trolled Swift's and Kelce's engagement after Nebraska football beat Cincinnati four first game of the season! 

I had the idea to give my ESOL students a copy of The Wild Robot as I read it aloud to the class. Then I saw a student or two face sad as they overheard so... I bought everyone a copy!

Rain was pouring, the touchdowns were scoring, and fun was overflowing! Gotta love UCF games with friends, minus Scott Frost being their head coach again. 

We love book fairs!

Not a throwback, but reality. Finally after seven years, the Jungle classroom transformation is back! The kids loved it. I loved recreating it. I was a wild day!

4 years of continuous racing was celebrated with an evening race in my Florida roots, Auburndale! It was a 5k race to raise money for the police department. I wasn't feeling super fast, but apparently my body was. I averaged a 5:27 pace, thus breaking my 10 year post collegiate record. 🎉  I was shocked!

My first ever regular season game watching the Seahawks in Jacksonville! (I watched them play a preseason game in Kansas City.) It was perfect weather for football. I had a great time, especially because the Seahawks won 20-12! 

That's not Oregon, it's Florida. This was a run back in Baldwin Park thanks for a teacher training I attended. I used to live close to there. 

Color changing science! We even tried with celery and lettuce! 

I just love my students! They're on pace to be an all-time favorite class!

My first ever NHL game, Lightning vs Ducks! I can't believe I'm saying this, but hockey might be my favorite pro sport to watch. Lots of action, the atmosphere was electric with the entertainment, and having two breaks means you can go to the bathroom and get food and drinks without missing a second of the action! I loved it! 

Pumpkin science!

My first ever tall Christmas tree! I love it! 🎄 

A friend helped me hang my tvs in my living room and bedroom and I'll never go back. It's a vibe. You know what else is a vibe? Putting up Christmas decorations on November first so you can enjoy them for two months. Who am I becoming?! 

One of my students' father is a MedEvac helicopter pilot! We learned so much and had a lot of questions for him. 

My first ever, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party! There were so many cookies and hot cocoa! I had a great time! We even rode on a few rides! It was good be back at Magic Kingdom! I love where I live!

My 50th race month was... a marathon in California! Everything was perfect about my time there and Raceday. It was a great atmosphere! I gave it everything I had. I'm thankful for the experience. What I learned as a runner with this race, you're never alone as a runner. Odds are someone else had your same day race ups and downs. It had been over 20 years since I had been in California! I'm glad I came back. 

Students in Ms. Colon's and my classroom helped them win the door decorating contest! They deserve it with the all the math, science, and reading they put on the door. It was also so cool to have another teacher want to team up. My team has been so welcoming and encouraging of my creative ideas. It's so great to see our hallway decorated with student work that myself and others have an imprint on. Students deserve it!

Survivor 49 season finale! It was very predictable, but fun! It's becoming a thing where I decorate my home with Survivor on the premiere and finale. I even had plastic leaf like bowls!

Students opening their presents on the last day class for 2025! I wish I could give these kids the world, they deserve it. They're a very special, wonderful class! I'm trying to cherish every second with them. 

And finally... my mom has a cat again. Whoops, my mom has CATS again. Ever since our beloved childhood cat died nearly two years ago, I was begging for her to get a cat. Cats make her happier and she loves them (and so do I, any animal honestly.) So the agreement was our their Europe trip in the fall she'd buy a cat. Well... it wasn't happening so I might've kept pushing and pushing and pushing. When I arrived in Nebraska, these two balls of energy were waiting. No, they don't have names yet, but are so loved and super kind... unlike a former cat of ours haha! 

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Those are my highlights from 2025! But I also had some major low points from 2025 that I'll continue to learn from and heal from. I remind my students that just because you're an adult doesn't mean you've learned it all or that life will be easier. But through it all I enjoyed 2025! I can't be how many firsts I'm still knocking more and there's hopefully more to come in 2026. 2026 is shaping to be quieter year, but than again, you can never be certain. Enjoy the ride!

 Have a Happy New Year everyone! God bless you and your family! 

Grateful

The Christmas trees are up, the lights are lit, and the ornaments are hanging. How has it been a month already? For the first time ever, I put up my Christmas decorations immediately on November 1^st. Let me tell you it’s a vibe. Coming home from working all day and having colorful lights twinkling, with red, black, and gold décor greeting me has been a welcome sight. It’s made me feel grateful.

 

There are other things I’m grateful. Rather than the usual…friends, family, food. I’m going to think more unique. This list could go on forever, but here are just some of the many things I’m grateful for!

 

·      Trashcans… 

my trash would be all over the floor

·      Door holders… 

the people who look behind to see if others are coming into the store

·      Pajamas… 

everything feels cozier in flannel pajamas

·      GPS apps… 

I know where I’m going in Florida, but it’s helpful to know about traffic

·      Pre-lit trees… 

no more messing with stringing lights around Christmas trees 

·      Cars… 

otherwise we'd have to run/walk everywhere

·      Shower curtains…

the water would spill all over the floor

·      Colorful pens… 

what’s more motivating than writing with a blue Ink joy pen?

·      Greenlights… 

pulling up to a light bracing for the red when it suddenly turns green

·      Books… 

a mini grateful or knowledge in the palm of your hands

·      Long distant friends… 

the ones that check in on you first after months or years

·      Cloudy days… 

a reminder to enjoy the warm blue skies will come back

·      Couch naps… 

they hit different when you slowly doze off for 30 minutes

·      Dogs… 

they’re such happy animals and companions 

·      Doormats with words… 

they’re extra welcoming

·      Haircuts… 

walking out with a fresh cut feeling confident

·      Salt… 

everything is better with salt: food, baths, roads, cleaning

·      Cold drinks… 

a sip of fresh lemonade is the best

·      Color-coded bookshelves… 

you won’t go back, trust me

·      Remembering your password on the first try… 

need I say more?

·      A full tank of gas… 

the world is limitless for a week or two

·      Dancing With the Stars… 

Robert Irwin deserved to win. I said it. 

 

Happy Holidays! 

Heart Rate

30 seconds until the start: 65 beats per minute

5 seconds the start: 85 beats per minute

0 seconds until the start: 102 beats per minute

 

 

Racing for me is like a rocket launch. I’m standing on the line for 5-10 minutes beforehand, but it feels like hours. My shoes are strapped on tightly. My mind is on the mission: run a fast time. And the engine in my heart is on break mode, yet ready to go whenever I push the lever into drive. 

 

Then it happened. The horn sounded, and I took off running. All systems go. A half mile in I was running a 5:15 mile pace so I throttled down a little bit to avoid a catastrophe. I started coasting to a 5:30 pace at 160 bpm: a little fast, but still safe. The ride was only expected to be 18 minutes or less, so pushing the pace for a short time would be okay. 

 

Right on cue, mile one was a 5:34. All systems are functioning well. I feel comfortable…too comfortable. I decide to push onward. I press another button and speed up to a 5:23 mile. As my legs increase the speed, my (engine) heart rate ups to 164 bpm. Because of this, I’ve lost all contact with life on Earth (the competitors) to my relief. Even better, I feel just fine. 

 

As I’m well over two-thirds and my tank is starting to run hot. My bpm stays the same, but my legs slow their rotation. I don’t panic because as I’m hitting my breaking point, I see the target. It’s about a half mile away. I can feel the atmosphere building, so I go for it. I rocket faster than ever, 5:23…4:47… 4:18…3:51 pace. Touchdown! Mission accomplished. 

 

After finishing, I realize an anomaly happened. This race was my fastest race in five years! This was better than plan nor was it expected on a day that was hotter than ideal race temperatures. But it happened. My fastest race since my 2020 surgery, and on my four year race streak anniversary!

 

                  Weirdly enough, people were more interested in my bpm after the race than my time. I told them I averaged a 161. Some gasped in concern at how many beats that was. Others were amazed at how low it was for the speeds I ran at. I felt indifferent. 

 

                  It’s very common for me to run in the 150-160s bpm for my races. Yet, it’s also common for me to run those same bpms for my training runs at much slower paces. Part of me thinks it’s because I usually train in the afternoon where the temperatures are hotter, whereas the morning is typically cooler. The higher bpm training runs could also because of the work fatigue. I teach all day and then immediately go for a run. It could also be that competitiveness in me. If I see someone walking or running, I tend to speed up. 

 

                   This month I’ve been monitoring my heart rate closely. My lowest heart rate was 39 bmp when I was in a deep sleep, but it normally stays in the low 40s during sleep. My non-exercise bpm is around 50-60. I feel healthy and comfortable. I never show any shortness of breath or dizziness. 

                  What I’ve learned is our hearts are just as powerful as the rockets that blast off into space. They can do incredible things with the power and muscle we put into them.  

Now

Tidying up

Dishes

Meal preparation

Trash

Text messages

Read

Laundry

 

 

Larry the Cable Guy, a comedian from Nebraska is famous for his “Get ‘er Done” phrase he’s used in his acts for decades. The crowd erupts in laughter when he says it. I even busted out in laughter when he used it at a show I attended. After some reflecting, maybe his famous phrase can be used to improve my life and yours for more than just laughter.

 

I remember my first years of teaching. I worked before the sunrose and until the sun went down. I loved every minute! That’s why I did it. Afterward I’d come home, lay my mail (without looking at it) on the counter, kick off my shoes in the living room, throw my tie and socks in my bedroom, heat up a frozen meal or cook one in the oven, and pile the dishes in the sink. That got repeated for a Monday through Saturday. Then on Sundays I’d clean up my dishes, put my mail in the cabinet (without looking at it), wash my laundry, and still spend at least a couple hours in my classroom.

 

All that repeated year after year after year. To be honest, I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. It’s all that I ever knew. It was my Sunday routine. So I kept doing it. 

 

It wasn’t until my 4^th year of teaching where the “Get er Done” mentally finally dawned on me. If I do things at now, then I don’t have to waste away my Sundays doing them.

 

Wash the dishes or put them in the dishwasher now.

Put your clothes in the laundry hamper now.

Open your mail now, not months from now.

Reply to emails 24 hours from now.

Text your mom back now.

Eat your vegetables now.

Read your book now.

Go exercise now.

NOW.

 

There’s 365 days in a year. 24 hours in a day. In that span you’re balancing your career, your side hustle, your family, your pets, exercising, hobbies, doctor appointments, and more.  Life is busy and tiring. I get that.

 

Every day we’re trying our best. Some days you’re a caffeine machine taking care of your life by storm. While other days you’re the snail just trying to move along. That happens to me too. By taking the extra seconds or couple of minutes now will give your time back when you truly want it back. That might be time you want tomorrow or on the weekend. Let this serve as a reminder to you and me that doing things that should be done now, should be done now. 

 

With that said, stop reading the blog now.

Fast Start

Every school year I start out running in a dead sprint. The details must be perfect. I commit to being fully present when meeting my students and families for the first time. The first two days are like the Daytona 500, action packed and fast!

 

The first days are fun and exhausting; and not just because I let the kids chase me at recess in my astronaut costume. There’s so much to cover and all the while I also teach. It’s such a special time. The kids are ready and so am I. We have 180 school days together!

 

The first days of training for a race are fun too! There’s so much optimism! My body is always fresh and ready for the newest challenge. Training comes with a consistent routine that feels oh-so good. This year I bought new trainers and tomorrow I hope to buy the shoes I’ll be running my marathon in. In a marathon, I have 18 weeks to train for 26.2 miles!

 

                  For the first time in nine school years, I’m teaching third grade. And for the first time ever in my 25 years of running I’m wearing Asics running shoes. At first, I was hesitant. Changing grade levels and brands made me unsure. Trying a new plan and teaching something curriculum is scary.

 

                  Despite it all, I’m off to a fast start. I taught curriculum on the first day while still mixing in fun activities. Meanwhile in my running, my training plan has me hitting the track for the first time in a decade and running paces close to my college times. 

 

                  In my classroom I’ve used more math manipulatives the first 15 days of school than I have in my entire career. As for my running, I’m intentionally running paces on easy days I haven’t ran since middle school. Both strategies are ones I’ve skipped but have known they’re best practices. If only I had started years ago.

 

                  When I look around my classroom I see space; literally and physically. Everything is spaced themed and less cluttered. Since moving to 3^rd grade, I donated many items that were meant 4^th grade. The result, my classroom feels bigger because it isn’t stacked to the brim with boxes and supplies that I never used anyway. 

 

In my running, by seeking advice from running experts, trying a different shoe brand, and sticking to a training plan has been super helpful. By relearning why certain types of runs are important my heart and lung concerns have dropped dramatically. Having my foot analyzed, I learned I’ve been running in a shoe size ½ inch or a foot too big for me. 

 

                  The surprising and most important thing I’ve noticed in both my teaching and running is my happiness. It’s been years since I’ve been this happy in my classroom. My newest classroom is my all-time favorite one! I love working in it. It’s easy to find anything myself and students need.

 

Until I started running slower weeks ago, I couldn’t remember when I’ve been so overwhelmed with joy for an entire run. Last week, I ran past animal statues and felt inclined to take a selfie, so I turned back around and did! That’s normally not me during runs. But it did it!

 

                  It’s safe to say, I’m off to a fast start. This time I’m optimistic I’m going to hold the pace!