4 years!

Yesterday, Chris and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary. As a little girl, I always wanted to marry my high school sweetheart. We started dating when I was 16 and dated for 7 years before we got married. I remember daydreaming about when I would be Kelli Starke. I would always practice my future signature on my assignments in high school. In fact, I recently saw a girl I went to high school with. One of the first things she asked me was, "Did you ever marry Chris?" She had never even met Chris, but she remembered me writing over and over "I love Chris" on everything. Sappy, I know. I have loved every second of our journey together. The ups and downs of life only make you stronger. I truly feel like God hand picked us to be together. He's my puzzle piece. Two years ago, I made Chris a book title, "101 Things I love About You..." Here are just a few of the many reasons why I love Chris. (In no particular order, some are deeper than others!)

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#1 You asked to kiss me for our first kiss.

#4 Your "auburn" hair.

#17 You're friends with my dad.

#20 You kiss my forehead.

#26 You can fall asleep any time, any place.

#28 You know every word to every song from every decade.

#40 The way you hold a baby.

#51 You love the weather channel.

#59 You're humble.

#75 You love and serve God.

#88 You take me to get a drink at Sonic even though you hate Sonic.

#93 We laugh at the same things.

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I'm so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man. I love our love story. I love you babe! Happy Anniversary!

Happy Birthday Andie!

Yesterday, we celebrated my sister's birthday. We ate at Iguana Grill and then stopped by Sara Sara Cupcakes for dessert. I'm so blessed to have Andrea for a sister. She is one of the best human beings I know. Some of my favorite memories with my sister are playing school (she always got to be the teacher!), pool gymnastics and mermaids, pretending our bedposts were our imaginary boyfriends (did I really just admit that?), sending "I'm sorry" notes under each other's doors, playing Barbie's with our beloved Barbie Dream House, spending the night with Granny and Papa, listening to Amy Grant and Jeremiah was a Bull Frog.... I could go on and on. We've had our ups and downs just like any sisters, but we've ended up even closer as adults. She's always set a wonderful example for me to follow in life. She's an excellent wife and mother. Happy Birthday Andra! I'm so thankful to have you as a sister and friend.

Flatout Bread

One day at Wal-mart, I came across Flatout flat bread, a cross between a pita and tortilla, but bigger. I thought I would give them a try and now I'm hooked. The have different varieties, but my favorite is the light whole wheat original or italian. I've used them for chicken burritos and breakfast wraps. Tonight, I tried pizza with turkey pepperoni, a bit of cheese and sauce, and red and green bell peppers...so yummy. The pizza came out to only 5 points on Weight Watcher's. Not a substitute for Old Chicago's, but it will do.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Saturday morning I ran in the Frigid 5, a 5 mile race at Mitch Park in Edmond. It was SUPER cold. After running just a few minutes, I couldn't feel my nose. Despite temperatures in the 30's, I had a great time with a bunch of my running buddies. Here are a couple pictures from the starting and finishing line.

Saturday evening, Chris and I ate at Iguana Grill. It's in the Automobile Alley district downtown that is slowly being revived. The food was yummy. The best fajitas we've had and trust me we've had our fair share of fajitas. Afterwards, we headed next door to Sara Sara Cupcakes for dessert. The cupcakes were HEAVENLY. We shared banana with snickers, red velvet, and chocolate and peanut butter. I loved the all-white interior of the house. It's definitely not your typical Oklahoma bakery. It was nice to branch out and eat somewhere different than the norm. We came home and Chris had everything set up to watch our wedding and honeymoon DVD's. It was really sweet. It's crazy to think it's almost been 4 years since we said our vows. I know I'm only 27, but I feel a hundred years older than that girl in the white dress! Chris also made me a homemade card. It was really creative and thoughtful, way better than my store bought card I got him! Thanks babe for a great day! I love you! I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day!

CAUTION: THIS IS NOT A RECIPE

I often find myself looking at these amazing blogs of random people who are superwifes. (Chris always asks me if I know these people....He just doesn't get it.) These women could be Martha Stewart, Julia Childs, and Paula Dean all rolled into one. Sadly, they put me to shame, but I tell myself, "I bet I could run faster than them", to try to make myself feel better. You're right, that's childish, but I spend most of my day with third graders so they tend to rub off on you. So, don't expect this to be anything glamorous. I try to get my veggies in every day and am always on the look out for new ideas. I love to bake eggplant. It's so yummy with a little cheese and marinara sauce. My new kick is acorn squash. My Dad used to bake these when we were growing up. They're kind of tough to slice in half, but that's what husbands are for. After the seeds are cleaned out from the middle, I cover each half with press and seal and stick in the microwave for 8 minutes until the sides are soft. After cooling, I spoon the insides out and mix with a little Splenda and top with cinnamon. It's delicious. I usually cook several at a time and keep the extras in a large ziploc baggie in the fridge. One cup is a serving and equals one point on Weight Watchers. If you have a sweet tooth, you could try my Dad's version. He mixes in lots of butter and brown sugar.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I love being a teacher for many reasons. Kids are my passion. Sometimes I think I'd rather hang out with kids than adults. No offense, but kids are just so pure and raw. There is no hidden agenda. I love the way they see the world through those little eyes. It can be a niece or nephew or a cute kid in the mall, I love the chance to get to interact with anyone under 4 feet tall. Here are a few of my latest encounters with kids.

This is a note one of my kids in my class gave me after Christmas break. I love this kid. At home, I reference him as my little OCD boy. He wants to complete every task perfectly and can get very stressed out if it doesn't fall into place that way. He's a big helper and always insists "there has to be something in your whole room that I can help you with." He says this after already asking me 5 times in the past 30 minutes.

"Dear Mrs. starke

I missed you so much that I Like you so much so much so much so much thet I was adout to cry."


This is a note I got from a 3rd grader in another class.
The paper was folded and on the front was the word "today".

"M.rs Starke you are invitid to my Birth day ther well be games in my back yard ther will be dogs but they don't bit."


One day one of my students in my class was having a hard time paying attention. This is very much a regular thing for him. I told him he needed to do his best and pay attention. He looked up at me and, as if to explain himself, said,

"My heart isn't working."

I wanted to laugh out loud, but instead I simply said, "Yes, your heart is working or you wouldn't be alive."

That seemed to do the trick and he was ready to get back to work.

Last but not least, I was on a mat at the Y stretching today. I was facing the windows that face the hallway. A little guy about 3 years old comes up to the window and stares at me. I wave at him expecting him to run away. Instead, his face opened in a huge grin and he waved. He starts to talk to me, but of course, I can't hear him through the glass. I mouthed "What?" and pointed to my ear. He said it bigger and louder. I so wish I could have known what he was saying because it seemed important. Then, all of a sudden, he puts both hands up like bear claws and opens his mouth and screams. I still can't hear him which makes the whole scene even cuter. I pretend to jump and be scared which he loved. Then, in a flash, he ran down the hallway and was gone.
Who knows....maybe I'll see my little workout buddy tomorrow.

Hot Date

Chris and I had a very exciting Friday night last weekend. Chris came home from work and I had broken out my Rodney Yee yoga DVD's I purchased when I was training for my marathon. Sadly, that was over 2 months ago and this was the first time I had used them. At first, he seemed rather amused, but after some razing from me, I talked him into giving it a try. I know he was thinking it was fluffy and would be a piece of cake, but it's actually a lot harder than it looks. After yoga class and a quick cat nap by Chris, we headed out to pick me up some soup from Panera. On our way back home, Chris asked me, "Want to go to the car wash?" I laughed and said, "Sure." A side note: Chris has found this car wash that him and a couple of his buddies love. I've never even thought twice about car washes. I guess it's a big deal to guys. So, I jokingly told Chris maybe we could make out during our hot date at the car wash. We didn't, but I did give him one peck. I know I've made all of you jealous, so if you want the location of the car wash for your next night out, let me know.

Rock N' Roll Marathon San Antonio, TX

Well, I did it! I finished my first maraton Sunday, November 16, 2008 in San Antonio, TX. The last 16 weeks have been a challenging, but rewarding journey. I trained with some friends I met at the YMCA where we work out at. There were many who ran with us and helped us along the way. My friends, Jill, Dana, and Nancy ran the full marathon with me and then a few others ran the half. The four of us have been through ups and downs physically and emotionally throughout this whole process. I will forever be bonded to these gals. Love you girls!! The race was way better than I ever expected. I never thought I would be able to say that! We had a blast. My goal was to finish and enjoy the experience to the fullest. Thankfully, I was able to accomplish both. We had so much fun interacting with the crowd and bands along the race. I was really scared that I wasn't going to be able to finish because my IT band on my left leg had been bothering me for about a month and was hurting badly on Saturday. I was thinking how dissapointing it would be to have to go home and say I didn't finish. At church, Pastor Herbert had been speaking on the miraculous. He had people who needed a miracle come down to the front for prayer. I went down and had them pray for my legs. It seemed a little selfish, but I know if God cares about the sparrow, he cared about my marathon. On race day, my IT band bothered me the first 5 miles. I just kept stretching it and kept my knee brace really tight. After 5 miles, my leg didn't bother me at all! I know it was a God thing. There's no way I could have finished the entire marathon on my own. There were so many other God moments throught the race. I'm so grateful for all the people who kept me in their prayers. God is good! My parents and Chris went with me. They have been a huge support system. They waited at mile 13 and 23. It was a big motivator while running to know I would be seeing them soon. The last .2 miles of the race was straight uphill. Seriously??? I turned the corner to the finish line and Chris was in the crowd yelling my name. Then, he started running with me on the other side of the baracade towards the finish line. It was so sweet! I'm so thankful for my marathon experience. Once we crossed the finish line, we were all hugging and crying. We were so overwhelmed. It's almost an indescribable feeling. I definitley want to run another one soon. There's more pics at http://www.asiorders.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=31362. You have to type my bib number, 15311.

The Expo on Saturday at the Alamodome. I like to describe it as Affair of the Heart for runners. This is just one small part. The picture does not do it justice.

Me at the Expo.

All of the runners


Me, Jill, and Nancy- first time marathoners

Mile 13

Off again

The winner for the women

The winner for the men

Finish line! What was I thinking? I'm starving! I need to eat now!

Jill and I with our medals. You can't really tell, but the medals were really colorful and pretty.

Girls Night Out

Another October update...My bunco group went to dinner and a movie this month. We saw Nights in Rodanthe based on the book by Nicholas Sparks. I'm a huge fan of his, but was a little disappointed with the movie. The book is definitely better. I recommend any of his books though. I have his new one, The Lucky One. I can't wait to start it. I had so much fun with the girls. I always look forward to getting together every month.

Mrs. Starke's Class

I took these pics at the beginning of the school year of my classroom. A lot has changed since then, but I just wanted to give a glimpse of where I spend my days. I've worked at Apple Creek Elementary in Moore for 4 years. I've taught 5th, 1st, and 3rd grade. Kids are my passion and I love my 3rd graders even when, occasionally, they test my patience. I truly see my job as a mission field and take very seriously the opportunity I have each day to invest in the lives of children. It's a privilege and an awesome responsibility that I don't take lightly. First and foremost, I want my kids to feel loved and then, the rest will fall into place. Go Cougars!

Halloween

More catch up... My school bunco group had a costume party October 30. It's always nice to de-stress from school, kick back, and eat yummy food. The costumes ranged from Cheech and Chong to Marilyn Monroe to disco. I was supposed to be a 70's chick, but kind of ended up looking like Dolly Pardon.

My third grade team

OU/Texas Weekend

I know I've been MIA for awhile, so I'm going to do a little catch up from the last month. Chris and I went to Dallas for the game. We had so much fun despite the outcome of the game. Thanks Steven and Amy for the tickets! We owe you some serious babysitting. We also saw Michael Buble in concert Saturday night in Fort Worth. It's our second time to see him this year. He was just as good the second time. I love his Frank Sinatra-style of music. It's very romantic. If you have a chance to see him, it's worth it. We tried to go eat downtown before the concert, but couldn't get a table anywhere. We were starving, so we had to resort to eating at fast food tex-mex restaurant. Very romantic! After the initial frustration, we couldn't help but laugh and had to take a picture. Another Starke memory.

Our romantic dinner

Michael Buble

Bump in the Road

Well, I think I officially win the worst blogger of 2008. I'd like to thank.... Seriously, though, we've been going none stop, but I must improve on my blogging endeavors. Just a little update on the marathon training. Last Saturday I ran 20 miles and felt great. My feet hurt a little bit, but other than that, no problems. I had my little twin cousins' birthday party immediately after running. I had just enough time to take a shower and get out the door. Later, I came home and graded papers for a couple of hours and then went to a friend's house to watch the OU game. Sunday, went to church, one of my student's birthday parties, and the fair. Monday, I was on my feet all day long at school and went grocery shopping in the afternoon. Long story short, by Monday afternoon, I had extreme swelling in my legs from the knees down. I wish I would have taken a picture. It was freakishly bizarre. I looked like I had gained 10-15 pounds in my legs. I looked like I was 9 months pregnant or an 80 year old grandma. Thankfully, I had no real pain, just tightness from the fluid. I began a week-long regiment of Motrin, elevating my legs, and ice baths. (Not so bad, after you go numb. A sweatshirt and Starbucks and you're good.) Finally, a week later, I look normal! It was definitely a frustrating process. I couldn't run or work out the entire week. Thankfully, it was an easy week in my training, so I think I'll be fine. I have definitely learned my lesson the hard way: rest is important.

Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

I know I'm CRAZY, but I will be running my first marathon November 16 in San Antonio, TX. I have participated in several races before, but this will be, by far, the most challenging thing I've ever done in my entire life. If you sense a little intimidation, you're right. That said, I know I can do it. If Oprah can do it, then I can, right? At least that's my what I keep telling myself. After running in Race for the Cure last October, running has quickly become one of my passions. Last Spring, I started running with a group from the YMCA where we workout at. They have been such a blessing, personally and with my running. Running gives you a natural high that is like no other. I love the feeling of pushing myself to the limit. With running, you set a goal and receive immediate gratification. Even with training for a marathon, each day you get a little bit closer to your goal. I'm in the sixth week of my 16-week training. So far, so good. Last Sunday, I ran 16 miles for the first time. I wouldn't say it was great fun, but it could have been worse. This Saturday I'm running 18! I will keep you up to date with my on-going training. Please keep me in your prayers!
http://www.rnrsa.com/

Big Cedar

Sorry, it's been forever since my last post. It's been crazy with school starting...more on that to come. I promised to share a few of our adventures this summer, so here is part 2. At the beginning of June, we went with the Starke's to Big Cedar, MO for a few days. We had a blast. We went fishing, swimming, watched movies by the pool, ate yummy food, and went on a family bike ride. Chris and I made some memories when the chain came off his bike and we had to walk most of the way back. All in all, it was great trip and we loved spending time with everyone.

Grace and I attempting to fish.

Sophie and the guys.

Chris and I at a several waterfalls on our bike ride.

Grace and Chris checking out the fish.

Todd, Chris, Steven, and Sophie

Chris and I before the bike chain incident.

Family bike ride

Chowing down on the front porch of the cabin.

Sophie and me on the porch.

Chris and Grace napping.

The family half way through the bike ride...we had to turn around and go back!

Sunset Beach

Since I'm brand new to the blog world, I thought I would share some of the fun things Chris and I have already done this summer. I'll share our adventures over the next few posts. We traveled to Sunset Beach, North Carolina the last week in May with my family. My aunt has a beach house and she was so sweet to let us stay in her beautiful home. This was my second trip to Sunset Beach, but Chris's first. It's a very quaint town that can only be reached by a draw bridge. It was very relaxing. We found an irresistible ice cream shop and indulged almost every night! We had a blast and loved watching Evie, my niece, experience the ocean for the first time.

The view from outside the lower balcony.

Evie taste testing sand. Yummy!

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

Chris and I on the beach.

My Dad body surfing. He's a big kid in a grown man's body.

Me, Evie, and Nana taking a stroll on the beach.

My sister Andrea and Evie hanging out in the rocking chairs.

Some surfer dude, I mean my dad, and Evie

The whole family on our last day.