My Budding Author

 Today Alex got a copy of his very first published work! His teacher had the class work together to write a book and then hosted an Authors party at the Gage Park Carousel. Alex was so excited about the event that he has been remembering April 22nd at 6:30pm for three weeks now! (That kid has a good memory for dates) 

I know this was important to Alex because he bought a copy of his book with his own money. He didn't even ask me he just cracked open his wallet, filled out the order form and put his cash in the envelope. This kid has plenty of money in that wallet because he never spends it! So this was a big deal for him.

I'm so proud! And grandma Rosie got to be there too! 

So You're New Again

 Today was a pretty big day for me. Today was my first day in my new job as Shawnee County Extension Director! I couldn't really talk about it till now, because I was just too excited and I didn't want o jinx it. Who knows, maybe the board would change their decision and just have me continue as 4-H agent. 

I moved into my new office today, I got new business cards and I was introduced to the Shawnee County Commissioners as the new Director. No Take Backs now! LOL 

I have enjoyed my eight years as Shawnee County 4-H Agent but I knew that I would eventually like to do something that had more responsibility. It is why I pursued my Master's degree in adult learning and leadership. Since this blog marks the milestones at Meerpohl Manor I wanted to mark the day I started this new journey in my career. I adore my office and Shawnee County and once again I am lucky to be able to grow professionally in the same office that has supported me for the last 10 years. 

It was a good day and I want to thank all of those people that have believed in me. Extension has given me friends from all across the state and I'm excited to see what I can do in this new role! 

I took this picture on Saturday but it totally looks
like a Monday mood!

One of the amazing new job gifts that I have received. 
Jo got my my crocheted Bernie and now I have crocheted Alpacas watching
over my office! 

Lisa got me flowers right after I interviewed for the position
and Jo got me chocolate! I even got a surprise bottle of wine from my old 
Co-worker Kim. I am surrounded by amazing gift givers! 

Still working towards 12 Books

 I am so proud of the boys for how well they are doing with their 2021 reading goal. I say "their" goal, when really I made it for them because it's good for them. However, they have started to take ownership of the idea and after our 21 minutes was up last night, Alex asked if he could continue to read and it just warmed my book loving heart! It was bedtime but I still let him stay up late to read! (He may have found a bedtime loop hole) 

For March Daryl read Born A Crime by Trevor Noah. I actually read that book last year and when I saw it on Daryl's suggested reading for Middle School I told him he would LOVE it! He did really like it. Yay, Book win! 

Alex's March read was The One and Only Bob, he actually started this book once last year but didn't finish it. He asked if it would count and I said if he started from the beginning again. He agreed and he loved it! 

This month Daryl is reading Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and Alex is reading Ghost Hawk. I'm currently re-reading When Breath Becomes Air because none of my library books are ready for pick up. So going back to an old favorite! 

Happy reading everyone! 

Can you tell we always read in my room? LOL

Too Much Nature

 This last weekend was Easter and I didn't totally blow it. I told myself all week to find the Easter baskets but I still ended up in the basement at 6am cussing and looking for them. What a way to celebrate a holy day! Found the baskets, filled them and went back to bed! Alex woke up at eight and got Daryl up right away so they could see what candy and games they received. Then Alex tells me he is getting dressed to go find the eggs. Ummmm I let him know I don't think the Easter Bunny did that this year. He said I was ridiculous because the Easter Bunny always hides eggs. Well I hadn't had any coffee so I didn't argue with him. 

He looked, didn't find any. He ate some breakfast. Then he went and looked again and still didn't find any. So the Easter Bunny is unreliable. That is a life lesson, some times people or magical creatures will let you down. 

After lunch Daryl really wanted to go hike to the Kansas River, so we did that. It was a LONG hike. And even though we were still in Topeka City limits, it got really wooded. And there were signs about what to do if you come across a coyote. So I started freaking out a little bit, I didn't really like it! Both boys let me know they would take care of it if we got attacked by a coyote but I just decided this is too much nature for us. I don't think we are outdoorsy.....

A great weekend with great weather, we need more of them! 

Tree Huggers

After an hour we found the river, we took the road
back so it only took 30 minutes on the return. 

At one point they were both half dressed.

March Goal Update

 March seemed long, why was March so long? Well that's good for running miles and reading books, could have knit, but I don't feel like it. I tell you it is feast or famine with the knitting..... 

Alex has been lucky enough to be going to school in person five days a week for awhile now. Daryl goes back full time tomorrow. He is struggling with this idea. I asked him why he is having so many feelings about this. I wanted to know if he doesn't like his teachers, if kids are being mean or if something about the school is weird for him. The answer is none of that, he would just rather only go to school for 4 hours a day, it just works better for him. Well son, I also would just like to work for four hours a day but get credit for 8+ hours. That's not how it works. So keep Daryl in your thoughts in April, he i going to Middle School full time for the first time. It is upsetting. LOL! 

Happy April Everyone! 

Read 20 Books: 6/20  

I finished 2 books this month and am over half way done with another. So that will start April off right! PS-Love when my friends talk about books, it helps me pick my next read!  

Five dysfunctions of a Team by Lencioni

 I like it when I'm assigned reading at work. It makes me read some non fiction (good for me) and I do it pretty quickly because there is a deadline. This is a leadership book and I really like the style it was written in. I will definitely be using this model soon!  

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

This was some great fiction about a complicated relationship. Would you stay with your spouse if they were incarcerated? What if they were innocent and you knew that because you were with them when the crime happened? Could you support them and stay with them while they suffered for something they didn't do? Such a good book, read it if you like messy relationship books, and I do! 

Run 800 miles: 211/800

I ran 79 miles this month! Yay! I have a half marathon coming up in April so had some very nice long runs in March. They are getting difficult but that is expected. What makes me feel better about it is runs over 6 miles used to really freak me out. Now I'm not freaked out until they are over 10 miles. That is progress! I'm not really getting faster in 2021 but I'm also not getting slower, so I'll take it! 

Money Goals: Car loan paid off! Two years early! Now Facebook just shows me ads for new Subaru cars and I need them to stop doing that. My car is solid and I need to remodel my bathroom! 

• Pay Off my Car - Done March
• Replace my Car's Windshield-Done Jan. 
• New Fridge
• Fix Stairs
• Install a shower in hall bathroom and fix my sink in my bathroom
• Add $2,000 to savings 
• Replace some windows

Knit four new things: 1/4

Nope, it's too nice out to knit....

Purl would like to know when I will stop blogging and start petting her. 

Unrelated to goals, Daryl recommends the 2 rib plate
at Hog Wild BBQ. And Daryl doesn't let me take his
picture that often anymore! 

Paid For!

 This week I accomplished one of my money goals for the year. 

I paid off my car! My only debt now is my mortgage. Yay! Now I'm emailing some contractors about my bathroom remodel. That is the next money goal for 2021. They are all booked about 3-4 months out but that is good for me, I can squirrel away more money. 

Today was very productive for a Sunday. I started with a long run with friends on the Landon Trail. I have never run on that trail before and it was blocked from the wind and only muddy in a few spots. Running long distances is so much better with other people! They are running 14 miles next week so I will do 10 on my own, the weather right now is perfect for running. 

Daryl has been watching basketball non stop since Friday. So after lunch we went to Ward Meade park to "blow the stink off of him". :-) I love our parks in Topeka, they are little gems. Alex and I picked up some trash that had blown into the flower beds, so we felt pretty good about ourselves. 

Happy Spring Y'all! 

The Suby is all ours!