Sometimes I miss it!

By sometimes I mean almost every single day. I love my job. I love the girls I coach. I love the trips. But I miss KHS Lacrosse. A cute little gingerhead once told me that KHS is to high schools as Texas is the to US. Apparently they just think they are better than everyone. I think it just might be true... and for good reason. So, this is a tribute to a group of girls I miss a whole lot. Varsity 2008 was a great, great thing. 

2008 Seniors- now college freshman

Once I told a couple players that if they were going to be late they better bring cookies....

My assistant, Becks, and Me

Love and miss ya'll

When the rubber meets the road.

This week I went to Big River Running Company and bought a pair of these:

First of all, they were a great running store. They are super friendly and customer service is top notch. Second, my old running shoes were hurting my feet and I needed a new pair. So, I bought these pretty blue running shoes with just the right amount of support. With my new shoes and this:

I headed out for my run this morning. It was a breezy fifty degrees, but I was excited about my route and the prospect of conquering twelve miles solo. In college I had the best running partners in the world. We had the exact same running stamina and it just worked. This current running situation... not quite as easy. I have found a few great running partners and especially enjoy running with Kelli and a certain little Gingerhead, but I don't have anyone committed to the mileage I need to commit. Because see I started this whole distance thing by fluke, but in November I will be heading here:

to run in the New York City Marathon. I am pretty stoked about that. It's my second marathon. I ran Des Moines in 2005, so, you see, it's been a while. I am doing most of the training alone (unless someone else wants to join) and I am doing the marathon to raise money for Team for Kids.

Here's my next point: I would LOVE if you wanted to support my endeavors. I need to raise $2,500 to participate in the NYC Marathon. Team for Kids is an organization that works to combat childhood obesity in New York City and around the country. If you are interested in learning more about the organization you can go here:

http://www.nyrrfoundation.org/get_involved/team_for_kids/index.asp

If you are interested in donating to the cause, you can go here:

https://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/start.cgi/mar-programs/nyrrf/team/2009/donations.htm

My New York City Marathon entry number is 361820.

I will keep you updated on the training! Let me know if you want to join for a run.

PS. The run this am went well. A little pain but I finished in 1 hour 45 minutes which is under 9:00 miles.

Guess you might call me a people person.

First thing tomorrow morning I am going to my advisor to set my first semester of grad school classes. A year ago I was taking pre requisite courses so I could get into a grad program for exercise science. The courses I sign up for tomorrow will be for counseling. Crazy how things can change in a year. When it's all said and done I don't think I will actually be a counselor, but I will have more information. I am fairly confident that the information I gain just might change my life. 

Here's the deal. I love people. I am through and through 100 percent a people person. I love meeting new people, keeping up with old friends, helping friends, mentoring kids, and just being someone others know will be there. And I absolutely hate letting people down... letting people down is the worst. I would almost rather be let down over and over again than know I have disappointed someone else. Perhaps that's what you call perfectionism or a people pleaser. I am not sure at this point, but I think I will probably learn sometime in my counseling courses. And from those courses I hope to learn to love people better. I hope to learn how to handle those I love when I truly disappoint them. I hope I learn how to confront and talk to people about the hard things. 

I think I will love it, but that's not the point. I don't think I will ever be a counselor. But I think you can call me a people person and I hope all those people that mean so much to me can benefit from the information I gain as a graduate student pursuing a degree in counseling. So, game on. 

Reason #342

why I love having 5 siblings:

You can call something a party, just invite your siblings, and it really does constitute as a party. I love that. My sis, Amy, is selling Arbonne and still learning a few things about her business. She needed to learn how to do a make up party, so we so kindly agreed to drink some margaritas and give Arbonne make up a go.

Make Up and Margaritas Party

with the Rau girls and a couple special guests

These two certainly don't need make up

Niece, Taylor, and her friend, Kara

Make Up Application: Please notice my lack of attention to make up applying
So darling... Granddaughter and Grandma
Lizzie (not a sister), me, and Kara
From left: Steph, Me, Ashley (TJ's fiance), Mom, Tammy, Amy, Taylor, Sharon (Taylor's friend's mom), Kara (taylor's friend) Not pictured: Sister Kara

Special Note: Maybe don't learn about your business over margaritas. We learned a great deal about the deliciousness of guac and margaritas, we applied some make up, we had fun, but I am not sure Amy learned all she needed to about doing an Arbonne Make Up party. I could be wrong, but Ames and I don't tend to drink and, well, those margaritas can take effect faster than on most. Just saying.

Woe is me

As the youngest of six children I am never short on showers to attend, birthdays to celebrate, parties to go to, or people to fight with. I'm also never short on people asking me how the others are doing. I usually love it. However, in this great 2008-2009 year I will say its gotten a bit old. Every time someone asks I feel I have a million things to report. The Raus need to slow down a tad. Tammy got married in October, Kara had a baby in February, TJ gets married in May, and Steph will have a baby in July. Now seriously people. At least three showers per occasion and that's 12 showers for the year...whew. And as much as I love a good party and cuddling that sweet little bundle of joy, I have gotten a bit exasperated with telling everyone about all the wonderful things my sibs are doing.

BUT...
that's just when I am being the bratty youngest. When I snap out of my brattiness and stop saying, "woe is me" I realize how freakin sweet this all really is. First of all, I have five awesome sibs who are enjoying major milestones in this 2008-2009 year. (except for Amy... but you have a husband and three kids, so give me a break :)) They are happy and healthy and want to share their life with me. And, to me, that is pretty great. Secondly, THANK GOD I am not in Colorado. If I've said it once I've said it a million times, God's provision, I think so. I am so happy to be here for all the fun events of the year. It makes me sad to think I would have only been in town two or three times during all this hooplah. Finally, how do I so quickly forget all the great things I am blessed with this year and always?! I may not be getting married or having a baby, but I am preparing for a four continent mission trip in July, working the job of my dreams, and beginning to train for the New York City marathon that I will be running to raise money for Team for Kids (an organization for childhood obesity).

To think in the midst of all of that I would have the nerve to say, "Woe is me"?! Pretty pitiful of me. Sibs, thanks for a year of fun, celebrations, and milestones. Mom and dad, thanks for the support. God, thanks for snapping me back in to reality. You surely won't hear me saying, "woe is me".

You may be familiar...

with this:

I love March Madness. I really only watch one team in the tournament, but I still love to fill out my bracket like I know what I am talking about. Today I was filling out my bracket in the office when one of my players walked in. I immediately told her I was just filling in my bracket... with hopes she would pipe up with her bracket picks. Her response: "what?" 

Me: "bracket, march madness, NCAA basketball tournament". Not a single bell rang. I was shocked. I shared this story with my family tonight. They laughed and found it as shocking as I did. But my mom's response was the best.... 

wait for it.... 

wait for it.... 

"Well, Kate, maybe she isn't from St. Louis." 

You're right, mom, maybe that's why she doesn't know about the NATIONAL basketball tournament.

One Month!

My sister has this really special little baby girl. Her name is Claire and she is just an absolute beauty. I seriously can't get enough of her. Before she was born I was super excited and used to pretend she would say certain things. I would just crack up cause I'm a cooky aunt like that. However, at that time I didn't realize how great this little one would be. She's just so tiny and precious and perfect. Can't wait until her little personality starts to show. Baby Claire, I hope you always know how much your Aunt Katie loves you! 

Her sweet feet

And little fist

These are the pictures we used for her baby announcements. 

A Flash Back To Texas

Here are some pictures of our games against Texas State and UT. Not much else to say. We lost by 1 to Texas State and by a little more than that :) to UT. 

Sweet Save Q

Please see the ball hitting the back of the net... Goal for MoBap

Everybody loves a Texas girl

Pre game prayer

St. Patty's Day

Tonight was St. Patty's Day dinner at my parents house. Each year we have a meal complete with corned beef and cabbage and everything green she can come up with. It's always enjoyable as most of our family dinners are. 

Sweet Baby Claire in her very first holiday outfit

She loves me way more than her face shows

Everyone in green

The following pictures are to prove my mother's love for holidays. Please let me know if you have ever seen ANYONE decorate this much for St. Patricks Day...Especially someone who is in no way Irish. 

towels on the stove

lights on the mantel 

leprechauns hanging from the chandelier

flags and door decorations

and a green leprechaun bath! 

So... a little story. When we were little my mom used to tell us to leave water out for the leprechaun to come take a bath. Every March 16th we would leave out our bucket of water and every March 17th we would run to check the bowl. Yep, sure enough, green water. "The leprechaun came to take a bath, mom!" 

We would scream through the house as excited as if the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus had paid a visit. As if that isn't crazy enough, for years I thought this was what every kid did on St. Patrick's Day. I'm not sure where my mom got the idea or why I believed it was normal, but she still does it to this day... and there aren't even any kids living at home. 

Just another crazy Rau family tradition for you. 

You're the best ever...

Coaching lacrosse at the college level brings a whole new set of challenges. One of the more interesting things is coaching girls from all different places within and outside of St. Louis. There is one girl in particular who is from out of town and has been going to MoBap for three years. In this third year she has still hardly left Olive Road and experienced the greatness that is St. Louis. So, in honor of and somewhat for this particular player here is a list of a few of my favorite things to do/places to eat in and around St. Louis. Enjoy! 

*Forest Park to run, bike, rollarblade, or simply relax 

*the Zoo 

*Ted Drewes 

*Dewey's Pizza 

*The Balloon Races in Forest Park 

*Missouri Botanical Gardens (free on Wednesday and Saturday mornings) 

*Brewery tour 

*Wednesday nights at the Garden in the summer

*The Muny in the summer 

*Crown Candy Kitchen 

*Castlewood State Park 

*Art Hill in the snow 

*Clayton Art Fair 

*The City Museum 

*Cards games 

*Boat House in Forest Park 

*Italian food on the Hill 

*Grant's Farm 

*Go to a show at Fox Theater

*Saturday morning at Soulard Market 

*Bike part of the Katy Trail in St. Charles

*Get gooey butter cake from Park Ave. Coffee

Perhaps there will be more to follow. Go ahead and get started on those for now. You have one year left and, well, if you do it you will for sure be, "the best ever". 

A Day at the Lake

After a lot of travel and rushing around we were finally settled in one place for more than a day. Instead of heading into Austin for shopping and sightseeing we decided to stay in Lago Vista (about thirty to forty five minutes out) for relaxing by the lake. The day started a bit cloudy and windy but the sun came out and it ended up being a beautiful day. We relaxed by the water, played catch, read magazines, tried our hand at volleyball, and ended with a bbq. It was a wonderful day. Here are some pics from the fun. 

Just relaxing

1,2,3... JUMP!

Please zoom in on the faces if you get a chance. You will surely laugh for hours. 

The team

Julie, Erin, Susie, Justine, Liz, Brandi, and Amanda

Me, Amanda, Liz, Julie, Kayla, and Lauren

They were trying to see who could throw the farthest. 

Check out the rocks in the air. 

Hanging by the lake at sunset 

It has been a fabulous week! Two games tonight and back to St. Louis at 7 am tomorrow. 

Lacrosse Ultimate Road Trip- Spring Break '09

The lacrosse team is surviving. It really has been the ultimate road trip, but it's been awesome. 

Friday night we drove four hours then stopped at the plaza in KC, MO for some shopping and dinner. We then headed to Lawrence, KS to stay the night. We played three games yesterday... rough. We lost to KU and Mizzou by one and beat Nebraska 11-3. After the game we got in the vans and headed to Dallas. The 8 hour trip was made without a glitch minus a few bouts of car sickness. We arrived at the Fairfield Inn in Dallas at 2:00 on the night of Day Light Savings.... again, rough. Today, we played UDallas and won 17-6. The girls played very well as a team. They seemed to finally really click. After the game we drove three and half hours to Austin. We had dinner at The Oasis overlooking Lake Austin. It was beautiful and a fun little celebration for our win and Amanda's 21st birthday. It really was a perfect day complete with 80 degree temps, sunshine, the lake, and a win. Loved it. Below are some pictures from the festivities. 

The wall at the Oasis

The team at The Oasis

The roomies 

17.5 hours and 4 games down 

15 hours and 2 games left to go

My faithful readers...

don't lose interest! 

I promise I won't leave you hanging too much longer. I know I have been a bad blogger this week. Let me give you a run down of the madnes: 

Sunday: Return from team trip at 4:00, pick up car from Enterprise with surprise new dent, family dinner at 5:30 

Monday: Morning practice at 5:30 am, get estimates on car, and see insurance agent, Kirkwood try outs, thaw out body, watch a super disappointing Bachelor 

Tuesday: morning practice at 5:30 am, more car estimates, Kirkwood try outs, friends over for dinner, laundry

Wednesday: meet Abby for breakfast, work, practice, Kirkwood try outs, bible study

Thursday: sleep through alarm clock, see Baby Claire, run errands, Chapel, office time, practice, Kirkwood try outs, meet for Kirkwood cuts, tan, eat dinner, pack, and bed

CRAZY week! I forgot my allergy shot, still haven't cleaned out my car, missed a few work outs, and didn't make the phone calls I was supposed to. We leave tomorrow at 2:00. Hopefully the trip to Texas will be incredible. Six games in four days is surely intense. I will keep you posted from Lawrence, Dallas, or Austin. 

Say a prayer for me! 

Putting up a W

After our rough loss Friday night we needed a win. So, that's what we did. Saturday we went out and played on a sloppy field in the pouring rain. We were soaked, cold, and muddy. BUT we won. And at that point, that is all that mattered.

Susie's dad was our fan for the weekend. It was so good to have him. For us, but, more importantly, for Susie. 

That mud is real... and they also really love each other

Small and Mighty, we are small and mighty!

A little post game pic.. check out the mud. 

Texas here we come! Current record 1-1. Unless you are a girl on the team that says we are 1-0 because Friday night was a "scrimmage"