Warrior Dash 2011

All the Cambridge-Isanti girls

Today, I survived Warrior Dash 2011 with my besties Kelsey and Diana and some other fantastic Cambridge and UW-RF friends! It was a 3.2 mile "run" at Afton Alps (ski/snowboard hill). Our "obstacles" were:

• Junkyard cars (had to climb over)
• Typhoon (big water jets)
• Over and under barricades 4' (with barbed wire)
• Across a cargo net
• Over a cargo net
• Through a dark tunnel
• Over a vertical wall
• Over up and down planks
• Down a massive slip and slide
• Through fire
• And through a mud pit, under barbed wire

The hills were honestly worse than the obstacles! You should have seen them! But it was a GREAT time! Don't we look like we're having fun!?!

Kelsey and I after we crossed the finish line

"I'm so muddy." "Me too." "No way!"

Nick finally kissed me when I was a little cleaned off...

But this is as close as he would get!

Journal of the last 10 days

Tuesday, July 5: I learn that there is a 1.0 counseling position open at my previous school (Wayzata West Middle School-WWMS) due to an unexpected resignation.

Thursday, July 7: WWMS position posted. I apply immediately.

Still July 7: I am offered a .8 position at another school. I tell them I need to think about it because I may have the opportunity to go back to WWMS at 1.0.

Still July 7, an hour later: They counter offer with a 1.0 position. I say I still need to think about it because they don't know what the other .2 will be and can't define it until the state is up and running.

Monday, July 11: I call WWMS and tell them my dilema. I am offered an interview on Thursday, July 14 at 8 am.

Tuesday, July 12: Principal from other school calls. I call back. We never connect.

Wednesday, July 13, 9:15 am: Principal from other school calls. I answer. She needs to know an answer by 10 am. I call WWMS. They say nice things to me and encourage me to interview Thursday. I feel stuck. I verbally accept .8 at other school but cannot accept .2 until it is more clearly defined.

Thursday, July 14, 8 am: Interview at Wayzata. Goes well. Feeling stressed to the max.

Still July 14, 8 pm: Text from friend on interview committee which seems like a good sign, but still very nervous. Can't read into these things too much.

Friday, July 15, 8:30 am: Call from Wayzata West Middle School. Offered the job! YAYAYAYAY! Accept the job! YAYAYAYAY! Call Nick. Proceed to make very uncomfortable phone calls to other school district to apologize profusely and rescind my verbal acceptance and resign from coaching position in other district. Experience feelings of guilt.

Still July 15, 9:30 am: Make celebratory calls to Lewis parents and Sykora parents.

Still July 15, 10:40 am: Writing blog post. Still in emotional fog. Potentially need a counselor to digest what has happened over the last 10 days. :)

In summary: I will be a full time (1.0) counselor at Wayzata West Middle School for the 2011-2012 academic year (and hopefully many more). I have resigned from coaching high school swimming so I can focus solely on my counseling career. I will continue to swim and coach as recreational activities only and very much look forward to working with my West kids and returning to an AMAZING staff! I will be ready to celebrate in a few hours! Until then, I will be relaxing and doing wedding things for the remainder of the day!

Shower Fun :)

Yesterday, my dear sister and my wingman (LeeAnn and Sheila) threw me a really fun shower at my mom's house. It was SO fun to have so many of the women I love (and little Alex) all together and all to myself for a couple hours!

The card I got from Kelsey was a really GREAT reminder of what all this "fuss" is about. And it nearly made me cry because I really do think that Nick is my perfect fit, and I am SO SO SO lucky to have him. Sheila made me the most beautiful and special scrapbook with our story in it, and LeeAnn got me a bridal handkerchief that I almost needed to use when looking through the scrap book. :) I am so grateful for friends and family and all that I have been blessed with. So thank you to everyone who came and thank you for all of your generous gifts, friendship, support and love.

Kelsey's card:

Somewhere between fittings, flowers, phone calls, and all of this wedding-planning craziness -- there are two people who are in love. And that love is the most important thing...

Because when your wedding finally comes, the most beautiful bouquet in the world (and it will be beautiful) won't compare to how you two look at each other when you say "I do."

There are so many details that go into planning your wedding (and I promise to notice them all!) but you can rest assured that it will be perfect. Because the two of you are perfect for each other.

 
Here are a few photos (Thank you Dad and Sherry) from the day:

Lea, Alex, Kelsey, Jana, Sheila, LeeAnn, Diana, Aubrey

Kristin, LeeAnn, Lori, Cathy, Diana & Aubrey, Jana, Kelsey, Lea & Alex, Sheila, Sherry

 

 

 The banner in the background says "Future Mrs. Sykora." 

Now it's hanging in my living room at home. 

I LOVE it, and I'm going to keep the Mrs. Sykora part for my office at school.

Alex is giving Aubrey the kissy face

Alex hugging Aubrey. He liked her fluffy dress. Aubrey thinks he will want to wear it when he is 4.

Alex just chillin'. So cute!!!