Mud Mania

So back in October I started this work out group with some of the ladies I teach with. We meet about 4 days a week and our "trainer" (I say this lightly because he may look intimidating, but he's the nicest guy you'll meet) is a former Alabama football player that now coaches at our school. I have definitely noticed a difference since starting; I'm stronger, my endurance has changed, I sleep better and just all around healthier. Now I'm not saying I'm an extreme health freak because I am a Southern Lady and I love me some food, but I am eating more fruit and veggies.

Anyway a couple of months ago a friend of mine told me about this race that was happening in Auburn called Mud Mania. It's like an obstacle course/ 5K. So one night at workouts I mentioned it to one of the girls in my group and she was all pumped about signing up. So after talking to the other girls we decided we would train and check it off our Bucket Lists. We trained for a couple of months working on our arm strength, running massive hills, and other out of control workouts.

The last weekend in March was the race, so we all piled in a 15 passenger van with our neon pink t-shirts (thanks to a lovely friend whose husbands has a t-shirt business) and bandannas and headed for Auburn. We didn't really know what to expect, we had read the description of the each obstacle on the website, but I had to see it with my own two eyes to fully understand what I had gotten myself into. The day before the race it had come a huge rain storm so everything was nice and muddy for us. We checked in and "fellowshipped" before the race started. There were a couple people that had gotten injured in races before ours which made us a little nervous. They even had to close one of the obstacles down because people kept getting hurt...yikes!

So the time came for our race and boy were we pumped! The first obstacle was to run through a pond (that by the way is in the middle of a cow pasture) filled with Lord knows, but we trucked through laughing the whole time. I think that was the theme of the whole run, laughter, because we did A LOT of that! The mud was horrible! It was so bad that there was no way you could run; it was so slippery that you would start to run and you would bust it! There was one point where you had to run against the current of a small creek. However because of the rain the night before this creek was more like a rapid! I was so thankful for those awful leg workouts we were pushed to do.

I completed the race with all my limbs and none of them hurt. I had a great time and I even got a medal for completing it. I recommend this to anyone who wants a good laugh and a good time. Below are some pictures from the race!

 Just trying to survive!

 My only injury-the bruise this guy's knee gave me coming down the slip-n-slide!

 The youngins' before the race!

 We weren't so clean afterwards, but we still looked cute!

 Enjoying the van ride to Auburn; getting our hair braided and telling stories!

The lovely ladies in the back of the bus!

Guess Who's Back? Back Again!

Yes it's true I'm making a comeback (for the 3rd, or maybe 4th time) in the blogging world! Blogging is tough stuff when you're as busy as Josh and I. There has been a lot of funny school stories, traveling, McAbee softball games, attempts at being crafty, and other shenanigans!

My goal this summer is to become a better blogger, housekeeper, crafter, organized teacher, and chef! I hope I can semi-accomplish this list....we'll see!

Happy Birthday Colt!

Sorry it has taken me so long to blog again, but I've been super busy. I know you are all dying to know how my lovely Chinese student is doing. Well we are making progress. Our teaching assistant has taken him under her wing. He still calls us "teacher," but we found out that in China they address their teacher with their first name followed by "teacher." So we're used to it now. He is so funny and you can't help but laugh at some of the things he does and says. He tells me everyday if the lunch we are having is "China's food." Then he tells us thank you at the end of every school day. I catch myself always looking for him and starting panic when I do not see him right away. Let's just say he keeps us 2nd grade teachers on our toes.

So back to the title of my post, last weekend Josh and I went to Phenix City to celebrate Colt's first birthday. If you don't know Katie and I have been friends all our lives. Our mothers were friends, our fathers were friends, so of course our children will be friends. I am still amazed that we are at an age now that we are having our own children's birthdays!!! Christmas was the last time we were in town, so it was good to catch up with friends! I look forward to many more of these birthday parties. We're all grown up now!!!




The Russell's trying to get Colt to dig into his cake.





The birthday boy with his cake. Such a cutie!!




Did I mention it was Katie's birthday too. Happy Birthday Katie and Colt!!

Welcome to America!

Oh the joys of being a school teacher. The school I teach at has a partnership with the Mercedes Benz plant in nearby Vance, AL. Because of this we get a lot of German families that come over to work for Mercedes and their children attend TA. These children are for the most part sweet, polite, smart children. There are a few that have a special place in my heart. They are so happy to be here in America that they want to learn and do and visit America as much as possible. The families go on the best vacations and have great stories and photographs from their trips. Oh did I mention they love to give their teachers German Chocolate?!?! It is delicious!

However this post is not about my sweet little Von Trap German students. No, in fact this is a story about our new Chinese student. Yes, Chinese. There is a small group of families that have come to America for work reasons and their children are attending TA for the time they are here. When the students come to America they are given an "American" name. It is interesting how they come up with these names. I think they pick names that apply to their personalities. Anyway our student arrived on Monday and he was quite....for about the first 10 minutes. He has one tone when he talks.....VERY LOUD. Yes I know what you are saying, "Meagan you are VERY LOUD!" No it is worse. He does not know any of our names, so we are addressed as "TEACHER! TEACHER!" "TEACHER TEACHER I NEED WATER." "TEACHER TEACHER YOU MUST TELL ME THE WORDS! I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THIS IS!!" All day long it is like this. At first yes you chuckle because I know this is probably stressful for him to be in a strange country, not knowing anyone or anything. However after you have heard that from 7:45 to 3:00 it starts to drive you a little bananas. And speaking of bananas he cannot sit still at lunch. He just gets up walks around and sits, talks, eats, where and what he wants. The first day he got behind the serving line at school and tried to serve himself before the lunch lady could. Because in his country he serves himself at lunch time. Today he wanted to eat off the teacher's salad bar. So what did he do? He walked his little self over there and started to serve himself. "TEACHER TEACHER I DON'T UNDERSTAND I WANT TO EAT THIS." It is hard to enjoy your lunch when he is getting up every 3 minutes. However the whole time I am secretly laughing at how funny we look running around a lunch room chasing a little kid.

I have to keep telling myself, "He is new, in a foreign place. He'll get the hang of it." I say this SEVERAL times a day. So when you say your prayers tonight please say a prayer for the 2nd grade teachers at Tuscaloosa Academy. Pray for patience and that we can get him to learn our names instead of "TEACHER! TEACHER!"

You Sleep More Than Anyone I Have Ever Met!

Those are the words that came out of my husband's mouth this afternoon. Yes, I do enjoy my sleep. However, this past week I haven't gotten much of it. I was put on some new allergy medicine that has screwed up my eating and sleeping habits. I'm thinking my body just needs to adjust. Hopefully this week I will be back to my normal eating and sleeping habits!

The Fryers are settling back in to our routines. This will be my first full week of school since before Christmas! Ahhh will I survive?!?! I think I will manage!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Fryers + Skiing= Not Good!

Hello there friends!



I hope everyone is enjoying the Championship as much as I am! I don't think I sat down the entire game! Some people say it was a boring game (non Alabama fans), but I think it was a GREAT game! 14 is my favorite number! :)



Anyway Thursday Josh and I left for Maggie Valley, North Carolina for a family vacation with my mom, step-dad, step brother, Morgan, and Jason. The ride was long and kind of spooky, like Deliverance spooky. There is nothing but fields for miles and miles! After a couple of hours we came to the Ocoee. During the summer this placed is packed with people White Water Rafting. However, when it's 14 degrees the place is a ghostown. As we drove along the Ocoee I took pictures of the beautiful landscape.



We arrived in Maggie Valley after 6 and half hours in the car, getting lost, and being flicked off by a lovely North Carolinian. The house had a beautiful view.




Sunset view from the front porch of our cabin. Isn't God awesome!

Friday morning the family got up and got ready to head toward the slopes. It was a balmy 14 degrees and the resort was blowing "man made" snow everywhere. I am not a good skier, in fact I hate it. I am a beach bunny, not a ski bunny. You need no skill to be at the beach, however skiing is a different story. I couldn't make it to the bunny slope without falling! Argh! I told Josh to leave me with the other 9 year olds and go and ski where he wanted to. After 2 hours and 200 falls later I was still trying to conquer the bunny slope. Besides being sore I was soaking wet from the man made snow that was being pumped in everyone's faces.

You probably can't tell, but my hair is soaking wet and Josh's hoodie is frozen!

So after Josh begged me for an hour to please try going down the beginners slope I caved and told him I would, but not to get frustrated with me. Well guess what? I fell coming off the ski lift, major sign this wasn't going to go well. After skiing/falling down half the slope I threw my ski poles down and decided I was done! Josh's fingers were blue and he was frustrated as well. So he decided he was done also. I told him to go ahead and ski down the slope and I would walk the rest of the way down. Yes I walked down the slope with my poles in one hand and my skis in the other! Right then and there Josh and I decided that the Fryers are NOT ski people! We spent the rest of the afternoon trying to thaw out and enjoying hot coca!

Besides not mastering skiing Josh and I had a great time with my family. We are a little loud and silly. There were many laughs and lots of stories that we will tell for years to come. Let's just say the next family trip will be somewhere warmer! :)

Roll TIde Roll!

Hello Friends!

Are you getting ready for the BIG game? I am! I even have Monday and Tuesday off for it. One of the benefits of teaching at a private school in a college town...a lot of the teachers and families will be at the game so we get the days off. Sadly, I could not make the trip to New Orleans, WAY WAY too expensive....maybe next time (and there will be a next time). I will be watching the game in the comfort of my living room being as loud as I want to be. Win or lose I'm proud to be a Bama fan. My only wish is that my dad could have been alive to see the game in 2009 and the game Monday. He would have been there I know it. But I know come Monday night he'll be up there in heaven with The Bear watching it. Roll Tide Roll!

Where will you be watching the game? Are you pulling for the good guys (Bama) or the bad guys (LSWho)?