So much to say & not sure where to start, but life is good. 2011 is off to an amazing start, and I've got a positive attitude & a spring in my step.
More to come!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, March 28, 2010
bravery rocks
I just spent another absolutely wonderful weekend at camp, and have to admit that I'm a little sad to be home. Camp this weekend was just what the doctor ordered. I got to spend some time with some amazing kiddos (and young adults), enjoy the beautiful weather, meet new people, and take a little break from the outside world (Dear Sprint, when will you get signal out there?). I'm coming back exhausted from all the fun, but also refreshed and ready for this week.
This weekend I had a new camper, who was too fun! He was a teenager, which was a big change from my 9-year-old little friend from before. Being in the "oldest boys" cabin sure was an experience! It was my new friend's first time and camp so mom & dad were really nervous, but we had an amazing time! My buddy was up for trying all of the activities at least once, and he LOVED canoeing. Even when I crashed us into the bushes along the bank. Oops! He made me smile all weekend, even after the 70th time he asked me "pancakes, eggs?" Yes friend, they're cooking them and then we will eat. Promise.
When it was time to do the high ropes, I wasn't sure if my camper was going to be interested or not. When he saw the cool "elevator" that hoists the friends who can't climb the rock wall up to the top of the zip line, he got so excited! So, we got him strapped into all of the harnesses, buckled into the sling, and away he went to the top of the 30ft. (or so..) platform. Once he was up there though, I think he realized what he had gotten himself into and got scared. He refused to walk toward the edge so they could hook him to the zip line, and stood there screaming "NO" so loud they could probably hear him on the other side of camp. I was down on the ground cheering him on, but feeling absolutely helpless. Knowing that my camper was up there scared and there was nothing I could do to help was the worst feeling, and my heart hurt so bad. All I wanted to do was climb up there and make it okay. I can't imagine how it feels when you're a parent and your child is hurting... wow. Eventually my buddy got hooked on the zipline and came sailing down, and I was oh so proud I wanted to cry! I'm not sure he will ever do the ropes course again, but boy was he brave that day. :) My old camper was brave at camp too, and he tried canoeing for the first time. I was so proud of my boys. If they can be brave, so can I.
The look on my camper's parents face when they found out that he had fun at camp and there were no major meltdowns was priceless. It makes everything we do at camp completely worth it. To know that the parents had a safe place to send their baby, and got some rest over the weekend, I can't even explain it. My camper's parents were so sweet and brought me a bottle of wine from the winery they visited while they were in Brenham. His mom said "we thought you might need this after this weekend." Too cute, but really, I loved hanging out with their son. He reminded me of an adult I know with autism. I can just imagine him being like my camper at age 12. They even look similar!
I ended the weekend enjoying the beautiful weather oustide today and catching up with a friend. Perfect ending. Now if only I could bottle this "camp high"!
This weekend I had a new camper, who was too fun! He was a teenager, which was a big change from my 9-year-old little friend from before. Being in the "oldest boys" cabin sure was an experience! It was my new friend's first time and camp so mom & dad were really nervous, but we had an amazing time! My buddy was up for trying all of the activities at least once, and he LOVED canoeing. Even when I crashed us into the bushes along the bank. Oops! He made me smile all weekend, even after the 70th time he asked me "pancakes, eggs?" Yes friend, they're cooking them and then we will eat. Promise.
When it was time to do the high ropes, I wasn't sure if my camper was going to be interested or not. When he saw the cool "elevator" that hoists the friends who can't climb the rock wall up to the top of the zip line, he got so excited! So, we got him strapped into all of the harnesses, buckled into the sling, and away he went to the top of the 30ft. (or so..) platform. Once he was up there though, I think he realized what he had gotten himself into and got scared. He refused to walk toward the edge so they could hook him to the zip line, and stood there screaming "NO" so loud they could probably hear him on the other side of camp. I was down on the ground cheering him on, but feeling absolutely helpless. Knowing that my camper was up there scared and there was nothing I could do to help was the worst feeling, and my heart hurt so bad. All I wanted to do was climb up there and make it okay. I can't imagine how it feels when you're a parent and your child is hurting... wow. Eventually my buddy got hooked on the zipline and came sailing down, and I was oh so proud I wanted to cry! I'm not sure he will ever do the ropes course again, but boy was he brave that day. :) My old camper was brave at camp too, and he tried canoeing for the first time. I was so proud of my boys. If they can be brave, so can I.
The look on my camper's parents face when they found out that he had fun at camp and there were no major meltdowns was priceless. It makes everything we do at camp completely worth it. To know that the parents had a safe place to send their baby, and got some rest over the weekend, I can't even explain it. My camper's parents were so sweet and brought me a bottle of wine from the winery they visited while they were in Brenham. His mom said "we thought you might need this after this weekend." Too cute, but really, I loved hanging out with their son. He reminded me of an adult I know with autism. I can just imagine him being like my camper at age 12. They even look similar!
I ended the weekend enjoying the beautiful weather oustide today and catching up with a friend. Perfect ending. Now if only I could bottle this "camp high"!
Monday, March 22, 2010
feels like home
Slipping on my leotard and tights and getting ready for ballet class tonight, it felt like coming home. There was something so comforting, so familiar about it all. And that's definitely a feeling I could use right now. One that made me smile.
Class itself kicked my butt! Whew. I will definitely be sore tomorrow. Everyone was very friendly though, and the teacher was great. I'm definitely out of practice, and had to try really hard not to get discouraged during class. Most of the other ladies in the class have been dancing together, with this teacher, for over a year. I'm embarassed to admit that I struggled to keep up a lot during class. My body just didn't remember automatically like I thought it would. After class I went up and asked the teacher if I should switch to the beginner class and she said no, so that was good. She was actually so reassuring, telling me that I know the steps, I have the technique, I just need to remember. She even told me that next week, I need to be in the harder group rather than the easier one when she teaches combinations... I'm glad someone has faith in me, because I sure didn't at the end of class. Overall, I'm so glad I made the decision to sign up. This is going to be so good...
Tasting Texas Beers class tomorrow... should be interesting! :)
Class itself kicked my butt! Whew. I will definitely be sore tomorrow. Everyone was very friendly though, and the teacher was great. I'm definitely out of practice, and had to try really hard not to get discouraged during class. Most of the other ladies in the class have been dancing together, with this teacher, for over a year. I'm embarassed to admit that I struggled to keep up a lot during class. My body just didn't remember automatically like I thought it would. After class I went up and asked the teacher if I should switch to the beginner class and she said no, so that was good. She was actually so reassuring, telling me that I know the steps, I have the technique, I just need to remember. She even told me that next week, I need to be in the harder group rather than the easier one when she teaches combinations... I'm glad someone has faith in me, because I sure didn't at the end of class. Overall, I'm so glad I made the decision to sign up. This is going to be so good...
Tasting Texas Beers class tomorrow... should be interesting! :)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
one foot in front of the other
I'm going to ballet class tomorrow! I've been thinking for a while that I'd like to dance again, but one thing or the other has kept me from actually following through. (If I'm being honest with myself, it was probably my own insecurities..) How fitting that when I got online today to look into classes, it turns out the classes start tomorrow, leaving me no time to "think about it". So I did it. I signed up. For the intermediate class. And yes, I forgot to pick up my ballet shoes from Pflugerville, and no, I'm not sure I have a leotard without holes in my drawer. But it's okay, because tomorrow I'm going to dance. I'm going to put one foot in front of the other, and hopefully, make my heart smile.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
rewind
Sometimes I wish I could rewind to a year ago... or maybe two. Growing up is hard to do and I'm not sure I'm ready.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
lazy sunday
I'm having one of those days where I have so much to say but also nothing at all. I will say that there's something so comforting about being at home, with family. Even if all we do is eat and watch TV. I'm not ready to go back, but it's going to be a good week. I love talking about community helpers, and one of my new friends starts Monday! We're also reading one of my favorite books:
It's such a sweet little story, you should check it out if you haven't already.
I've been really into quotes lately, so here's what I'll be thinking of as I get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine!
It's such a sweet little story, you should check it out if you haven't already.
I've been really into quotes lately, so here's what I'll be thinking of as I get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine!
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."
Have a happy Sunday! :)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
thank goodness for friends
Today I had a wonderful time reconnecting with a friend I haven't had a chance to spend much time with in a while, and I'm so grateful. It's so easy to be around your best friends, even if you haven't seen them in a while.
I'm so lucky to have friends who look out for and love me, new and old. :)
I'm so lucky to have friends who look out for and love me, new and old. :)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
perfection
I've always been a perfectionist. Sometimes this can be a good thing, other times I take it way too far. Like when the pillows on the bed aren't straight, or when there's one little crumb left on the counter. I mean really... in the grand scheme of things, what's the big deal? I even think that sometimes it hinders my relationships, because not everyone feels the complusive need to have things perfect like I do. It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. How to just relax a little, and learn to be okay with things not being just how I like them. So it was funny to see this quote at the bottom of an email my mom passed along to me today:
"Being happy doesn't mean
everything's perfect.
It means you've decided to
see beyond the imperfections."
Yet another thing I needed to hear that ended up right in my lap. Maybe someone's trying to tell me something! Definitely a thought I'm going to try to take to heart. Along with:
"No llorar. Guarda tus lagrimas en las bolsas de tus pantalones y ponerlas in el bote de la basura."
Have a great, imperfect night! :)
"Being happy doesn't mean
everything's perfect.
It means you've decided to
see beyond the imperfections."
Yet another thing I needed to hear that ended up right in my lap. Maybe someone's trying to tell me something! Definitely a thought I'm going to try to take to heart. Along with:
"No llorar. Guarda tus lagrimas en las bolsas de tus pantalones y ponerlas in el bote de la basura."
Have a great, imperfect night! :)
Monday, February 15, 2010
it's not about the storm
Poking around on Facebook yesterday during the drive home from Louisiana (Happy Birthday roommate!), I saw that a friend's status was "life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain", exactly what I needed to hear. So for today I'm going to try and ignore the storm, and find the beauty in dancing in the rain.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
oh so amazing
What a wonderful past week I've had! Camp AND my birthday in one week made me one very happy (and tired) girl!
My experience at camp was simply amazing. I honestly had no idea what to expect going into camp, but I think I got so much more out of the experience than I could've ever hoped for. Sunday morning I got up early and had coffee with Sean, finished packing, and then headed out to Camp for All. About halfway there I got pulled over for speeding (ugh), but I got lucky that the State Trooper was feeling nice and gave me a warning. Once I actually pulled up to camp I was so nervous, and I started wondering what in the world I had been thinking...
I met the other counselors and we did some icebreakers/trust exercises to get to know eachother, ate, learned about our schedule, and pretty soon the campers were arriving! I met my camper and his parents, and everyone headed down to the cabins (with air conditioning thank goodness!) to get settled. After the parents left it was time for dinner and a campfire complete with s'mores. Yum! Everyone was excited and on a sugar high, but so far, so good.
I won't bore you with all the details, but I will say that we went to nature, went horseback riding, did the high-ropes course, fished, did archery, swam every day, had wizard & superhero parties, went on 3 wookie hunts (and even saw wookies!), sang in the talent show, and danced our little hearts out! I know this is all pretty typical camp stuff, but the amazing thing about it was the kiddos who were participating in the activities. We had friends ages 6-13 with autism & aspergers, a few with Down Syndrome, and two in wheelchairs, but EVERYONE was able to participate in EVERYTHING! For the kiddos who weren't able to climb the ropes course, they were hoisted up in a bucket sling and able to fly down the zipline. Our friends in wheelchairs were rolled into the pool and helped out of their chairs. There was a way to modify any activity for any of our friends, and best of all... they were allowed to just BE. There was no pressure on our friends to participate if they didn't want to, to "behave" like other children, etc. It was just fun, fun, fun.
Camp LIFE is an absolutely amazing program, and I know my explanation isn't even close to doing it justice. It's just one of those things you've really got to see to understand. Life stands for Leadership, Independence and Friendship through Experience, and I feel like the campers we had really did gain all of those things this past week. Watching some of the children with more severe disabilities get so excited when they were able to do things for themselves, things they'd never done before, was absolutely amazing and rewarding. Watching the children develop friendships with other kiddos like them over the week just made my heart so happy. As for me, I developed a whole new understanding and respect for the parents of the kiddos I work with every day. At school I see my friends from 7:45 to 1:45, but at camp I was responsible for them 24 hours a day like their parents are, which is much more exhausting! I have a new understanding of the callenges parents face day-in and day-out, and I feel like my experience will help me interact with parents in a whole new way this upcoming year. Working a camp like this should be mandatory for anybody going into teaching PPCD or Life Skills!
What's even more awesome about Camp LIFE is that each counselor is responsible for only one child (sometimes two when they're less involved), so the children get some awesome one-on-one interaction! The camper I was assigned to was quite a handful and had me running circles all week, but by the end of the week we had developed a pretty good relationship and routine, and I was so sad to see him go. I miss my little friend and his "wookie repellent" bottle collection (which is a whole different story for another post), waking up for 6am meds, and singing bedtime songs. I don't miss carrying his weighted vest around everywhere, although it was a great workout as many times as we went up and down the hill! :)
I really wish I could share pictures, because they'd make this post complete. Guess you'll just have to use your imagination. All I can say is that I'm so glad I decided to go to camp, because I feel like I learned so much more from my campers than they learned from me. I'll definitely be back for their fall & spring weekend camps, and again next summer. I'm hooked!
My experience at camp was simply amazing. I honestly had no idea what to expect going into camp, but I think I got so much more out of the experience than I could've ever hoped for. Sunday morning I got up early and had coffee with Sean, finished packing, and then headed out to Camp for All. About halfway there I got pulled over for speeding (ugh), but I got lucky that the State Trooper was feeling nice and gave me a warning. Once I actually pulled up to camp I was so nervous, and I started wondering what in the world I had been thinking...
I met the other counselors and we did some icebreakers/trust exercises to get to know eachother, ate, learned about our schedule, and pretty soon the campers were arriving! I met my camper and his parents, and everyone headed down to the cabins (with air conditioning thank goodness!) to get settled. After the parents left it was time for dinner and a campfire complete with s'mores. Yum! Everyone was excited and on a sugar high, but so far, so good.
I won't bore you with all the details, but I will say that we went to nature, went horseback riding, did the high-ropes course, fished, did archery, swam every day, had wizard & superhero parties, went on 3 wookie hunts (and even saw wookies!), sang in the talent show, and danced our little hearts out! I know this is all pretty typical camp stuff, but the amazing thing about it was the kiddos who were participating in the activities. We had friends ages 6-13 with autism & aspergers, a few with Down Syndrome, and two in wheelchairs, but EVERYONE was able to participate in EVERYTHING! For the kiddos who weren't able to climb the ropes course, they were hoisted up in a bucket sling and able to fly down the zipline. Our friends in wheelchairs were rolled into the pool and helped out of their chairs. There was a way to modify any activity for any of our friends, and best of all... they were allowed to just BE. There was no pressure on our friends to participate if they didn't want to, to "behave" like other children, etc. It was just fun, fun, fun.
Camp LIFE is an absolutely amazing program, and I know my explanation isn't even close to doing it justice. It's just one of those things you've really got to see to understand. Life stands for Leadership, Independence and Friendship through Experience, and I feel like the campers we had really did gain all of those things this past week. Watching some of the children with more severe disabilities get so excited when they were able to do things for themselves, things they'd never done before, was absolutely amazing and rewarding. Watching the children develop friendships with other kiddos like them over the week just made my heart so happy. As for me, I developed a whole new understanding and respect for the parents of the kiddos I work with every day. At school I see my friends from 7:45 to 1:45, but at camp I was responsible for them 24 hours a day like their parents are, which is much more exhausting! I have a new understanding of the callenges parents face day-in and day-out, and I feel like my experience will help me interact with parents in a whole new way this upcoming year. Working a camp like this should be mandatory for anybody going into teaching PPCD or Life Skills!
What's even more awesome about Camp LIFE is that each counselor is responsible for only one child (sometimes two when they're less involved), so the children get some awesome one-on-one interaction! The camper I was assigned to was quite a handful and had me running circles all week, but by the end of the week we had developed a pretty good relationship and routine, and I was so sad to see him go. I miss my little friend and his "wookie repellent" bottle collection (which is a whole different story for another post), waking up for 6am meds, and singing bedtime songs. I don't miss carrying his weighted vest around everywhere, although it was a great workout as many times as we went up and down the hill! :)
I really wish I could share pictures, because they'd make this post complete. Guess you'll just have to use your imagination. All I can say is that I'm so glad I decided to go to camp, because I feel like I learned so much more from my campers than they learned from me. I'll definitely be back for their fall & spring weekend camps, and again next summer. I'm hooked!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
doing what?!
Tomorrow I'm leaving for a week to be a camp counselor for a little boy with autism, at a place where I don't know anyone. Most of the other counselors will be Aggies (hook em!) and I'm rescheduling 2 doctors appointments to be there, but I couldn't be more excited! This is by far the most spontaneous thing I've done in quite some time, and it completely goes against my color-coded planner ways...
On Friday I talked to the lady from Camp for All about the Young Professionals group I was interested in joining, and she definitely sold me on becoming a member. The way Sarah talked about her job at the camp and the kids that they serve, I could tell that she loves it and is so passionate about what she does. It seems like an amazing cause... a fully accessible summer camp for kiddos with special needs, complete with a ropes course. Wow!
So of course, me and my big mouth decided to ask if they needed any help at camp this summer, and the answer was obviously yes. Sarah told me about a camp that's coming in this week for kiddos ages 4-12 that have autism and Down syndrome that really needed extra counselors, and got me in touch with their director. Not 2 hours later, I was signed up to volunteer for the week with Camp for Life, an organization sponsored by Texas A&M (talk about putting my pride aside to help the kids, working with Aggies all week!). I love it! The best part about the whole thing? I did all of this while in the car driving to Louisiana for a wedding.
So, This is where I'll be all week: Camp for All
And this is the organization I'll be working with: Camp Life
Check them out, they both seem awesome!
This is way out of my comfort zone (and by way out I mean out like the awful puff-paint sweaters I wore in the 80's), so I'm definitely nervous. But really, I'm just excited! I've got a sweet new polka dot one piece (who says you can't still look cute while being modest?), and an awesome $6 ladybug watch. Watch out camp, here I come!
On Friday I talked to the lady from Camp for All about the Young Professionals group I was interested in joining, and she definitely sold me on becoming a member. The way Sarah talked about her job at the camp and the kids that they serve, I could tell that she loves it and is so passionate about what she does. It seems like an amazing cause... a fully accessible summer camp for kiddos with special needs, complete with a ropes course. Wow!
So of course, me and my big mouth decided to ask if they needed any help at camp this summer, and the answer was obviously yes. Sarah told me about a camp that's coming in this week for kiddos ages 4-12 that have autism and Down syndrome that really needed extra counselors, and got me in touch with their director. Not 2 hours later, I was signed up to volunteer for the week with Camp for Life, an organization sponsored by Texas A&M (talk about putting my pride aside to help the kids, working with Aggies all week!). I love it! The best part about the whole thing? I did all of this while in the car driving to Louisiana for a wedding.
So, This is where I'll be all week: Camp for All
And this is the organization I'll be working with: Camp Life
Check them out, they both seem awesome!
This is way out of my comfort zone (and by way out I mean out like the awful puff-paint sweaters I wore in the 80's), so I'm definitely nervous. But really, I'm just excited! I've got a sweet new polka dot one piece (who says you can't still look cute while being modest?), and an awesome $6 ladybug watch. Watch out camp, here I come!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
puddles
First of all, I love that it rained this morning. Not in a "yay the grass isn't going to die" way because I don't have a yard, but because it was just plain pretty. (And maybe because since it was coming down so hard I decided to stay at the gym a little longer and do an extra 30 minutes on the elliptical, which feels so good now). After the rain was over, I took Popeye out for a walk and in true crazy-dog fashion, he jumped right into a giant puddle and proceeded to kick water everywhere. He loved the water though, and I was in such a happy mood I let him splash and make a giant mess without freaking out about how muddy he was getting. (Hmm...maybe I'll have to find him some little doggie rain boots when I finally buy my own pair...) ;)
I've been up since 5:00 this morning and before you laugh at me for waking up so early, let me just say that I have been SO productive today! It's hardly noon and I've already...
I'm feeling so productive, I think I'll run a few more errands today :) Hope you're having a wonderful one and staying dry!
I've been up since 5:00 this morning and before you laugh at me for waking up so early, let me just say that I have been SO productive today! It's hardly noon and I've already...
- walked the dog
- poked around online & drank my morning coffee
- walked the dog again
- went to the gym for an hour and a half (weights AND cardio!)
- made a yummy breakfast smoothie
- ate breakfast and checked google reader (which I absolutely adore)
- picked an eye doctor, dentist, and girl doctor (yes, I've worked for GP for almost a year now and have yet to go to the doctor... don't judge!)
- walked the dog yet again (so we could go see the puddles)
- scheduled appointments at the above doctors (minus the dentist because apparently it takes a month to get on some list since it's an HMO, who knows)
- scheduled Popeye's vet appointment
- decided to put off scheduling my car's 20,000 mile maintenance until after I read the paperwork about my warranty (do I really have to go to the dealership and spend millions of dollars?)
- filled out a volunteer application for the ARC of Greater Houston (I've decided that I need to be volunteering to feel really fulfilled. I miss it)
- finally emailed the people from Camp for All (yeah, I definintely mentioned that in a blog post months ago and never followed through)
I'm feeling so productive, I think I'll run a few more errands today :) Hope you're having a wonderful one and staying dry!
Monday, July 6, 2009
whew
It's been a whirlwind of a weekend, but oh so much fun! I don't know about y'all, but I definitely had a fun 4th of July! I've always loved the 4th because it's a great excuse to be outside all day, grill, eat yummy food, try new recipes, and just hang out with friends, and this year was no exception.
The weekend started off on a happy note, with Sean bringing over these absolutely gorgeous roses!
He's so sweet to me!
The weekend started off on a happy note, with Sean bringing over these absolutely gorgeous roses!
He's so sweet to me!I roped the boys into cleaning house all afternoon, which sent Popeye running to the shower shaking in fear of the vacuum cleaner. I'm not going to lie, I found this pretty hilarious. Scared dog an all, our house was cleaner than it's been in longer than I'm proud to admit. That alone would've made me happy for the whole weekend, but then my friend Kyle came in from Austin and we met up with a bunch of friends for dinner. Have I ever mentioned how much I love Chuys? It's like having a little piece of Austin down here in Houston. Several margaritas later we made our way over to Christian's, the local bar which is seriously two blocks from my apartment. They have karaoke every Friday & Saturday, and it's always interesting to say the least. True to form, my friend David jumped right up there and joined a stranger on stage... classic.
Saturday once everyone was up we made a run the store to get party supplies. All I can say is thank goodness one of us (cough cough) had the foresight to make a list, otherwise I would've been there all day with 4 boys who only cared about what marinade they were going to use on the chicken. Since when did just plain ole barbeque sauce become unacceptable?
The little pool party that could ended up with WAY more people than we expected, but everyone had a great time. We ate, we drank, ate some more, drank some more... until it was finally time for fireworks (my absolute favorite part!). We live really close to the huge fireworks show they put on off of Memorial/Allen Parkway every year, so we figured we'd just watch the show from the roof of our parking garage. And apparently, so did all my neigbors. We made it up just before the show started and there was a huge party going on up on the roof. We even took shots with the owner of Christian's, who had the back of his SUV stocked like a fully loaded bar (that guy takes his partying seriously)!
Somehow, we ended up at Christian's for the second night in a row...
And apparently Brian thinks I smell because he's been doing this in every picture we take lately!
Saturday once everyone was up we made a run the store to get party supplies. All I can say is thank goodness one of us (cough cough) had the foresight to make a list, otherwise I would've been there all day with 4 boys who only cared about what marinade they were going to use on the chicken. Since when did just plain ole barbeque sauce become unacceptable?
The little pool party that could ended up with WAY more people than we expected, but everyone had a great time. We ate, we drank, ate some more, drank some more... until it was finally time for fireworks (my absolute favorite part!). We live really close to the huge fireworks show they put on off of Memorial/Allen Parkway every year, so we figured we'd just watch the show from the roof of our parking garage. And apparently, so did all my neigbors. We made it up just before the show started and there was a huge party going on up on the roof. We even took shots with the owner of Christian's, who had the back of his SUV stocked like a fully loaded bar (that guy takes his partying seriously)!
Somehow, we ended up at Christian's for the second night in a row...
And apparently Brian thinks I smell because he's been doing this in every picture we take lately!Sunday morning we went out for the obligatory hangover breakfast tacos, and then spent a good few hours cleaning the apartment that had been sparkling not 24 hours before!
Now the real question is... what am I going to do now that summer school's over and I officially have nothing do to. I'm a little scared! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday :)
Now the real question is... what am I going to do now that summer school's over and I officially have nothing do to. I'm a little scared! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday :)
Friday, July 3, 2009
my new love
Is this beautiful little number!
Thank you Marshalls, for letting me buy this fun dress for $30 instead of $250. What a deal! And even better? It's got pockets! :)
Thank you Marshalls, for letting me buy this fun dress for $30 instead of $250. What a deal! And even better? It's got pockets! :)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
nice people
There are still nice people out there! One of the girls who works at my apartment complex just called to let me know that my class ring showed up in the office. She (and the nice person who found it and turned it in) just made my day! I'm so glad that whoever found my ring was nice enough to turn it in, even if it did take two weeks. I'm also glad that the girl from my complex was so nice to call me and let me know. I think she's the same girl that I asked about the ring the day after I lost it... she probably saw the super sad look on my face and felt sorry for me. I wish I knew who turned my ring in, I'd like to tell them thank you. But since I can't, thank you nice person, my finger won't feel so naked anymore and my heart is happy!
It's been a while since I blogged, and there's been a lot going on. It's funny to say that... because I'm only working half-days, 4 days a week for summer school but whew, they're some wild and crazy days. I really enjoy working summer school, even though some people might think I'm crazy for that statement. I think that working summer school gives me a totally different perspective, and that I'm really going to appreciate my class a lot more this upcoming year. In my class this summer I have a whole class full of challenging kiddos, and they're all boys to boot. During the school year though, you generally only have one or two really challenging kiddos, so I'm hoping that this upcoming year will feel like a piece of cake when compared to the friends I have right now. Even though they're challenging, I love the friends in my summer school class. They've got so much personality! It's funny because it's only been three weeks, but I'm already attached to these friends, and I'll definitely be sad to see them go next Thursday. As much fun as I'm having, I'm still definitely excited for summer school to end next week and the real "vacation" to start. :)
Two weekends ago we went camping, and I can't believe I still haven't blogged about that! I kept putting it off because I wanted to post some super cute pictures of Popeye when I did it, but since that has yet to happen, I'll just say that we had a wonderful time and Popeye LOVED being outdoors. He loved swimming, chasing balls, eating turtles (don't even ask), fighting the tall grass, and just generally getting dirty. When we got to the campsite he was a white dog, but when we got home he was a gray dog. Thank goodness he likes baths! I'll have to post some pictures at some point, because I bought him this fishing vest to wear and he was just too cute! :)
This past weekend I went to a neat conference for work, and got to catch up with all my other PPCD teachers, which was fun. A group of us went out to dinner afterward, and then a few of us stayed at a hotel by the galleria. It was so nice to just hang out, chat, drink by the pool (and get lectured multiple times by the hotel guy), and then go shopping in the morning. the girls I work with are so sweet and fun, and it was such a nice break from all the xbox playing and boy time that goes on at my apartment! Then Saturday I left for Austin to go visit my dad (and the rest of my family) for his birthday and fathers day. I had a great time just hanging out, and Popeye loved meeting Sandy & Lil Bit, even if he did have WAY more energy than them. I was only really at home for a day which was sad, but I'll see my family soon for a wedding.
Other than the weekends and summer school, life is pretty relaxing. My afternoons are spent going to the gym, walking the dog, and working on my tan by the pool. What a wonderful life :)
It's been a while since I blogged, and there's been a lot going on. It's funny to say that... because I'm only working half-days, 4 days a week for summer school but whew, they're some wild and crazy days. I really enjoy working summer school, even though some people might think I'm crazy for that statement. I think that working summer school gives me a totally different perspective, and that I'm really going to appreciate my class a lot more this upcoming year. In my class this summer I have a whole class full of challenging kiddos, and they're all boys to boot. During the school year though, you generally only have one or two really challenging kiddos, so I'm hoping that this upcoming year will feel like a piece of cake when compared to the friends I have right now. Even though they're challenging, I love the friends in my summer school class. They've got so much personality! It's funny because it's only been three weeks, but I'm already attached to these friends, and I'll definitely be sad to see them go next Thursday. As much fun as I'm having, I'm still definitely excited for summer school to end next week and the real "vacation" to start. :)
Two weekends ago we went camping, and I can't believe I still haven't blogged about that! I kept putting it off because I wanted to post some super cute pictures of Popeye when I did it, but since that has yet to happen, I'll just say that we had a wonderful time and Popeye LOVED being outdoors. He loved swimming, chasing balls, eating turtles (don't even ask), fighting the tall grass, and just generally getting dirty. When we got to the campsite he was a white dog, but when we got home he was a gray dog. Thank goodness he likes baths! I'll have to post some pictures at some point, because I bought him this fishing vest to wear and he was just too cute! :)
This past weekend I went to a neat conference for work, and got to catch up with all my other PPCD teachers, which was fun. A group of us went out to dinner afterward, and then a few of us stayed at a hotel by the galleria. It was so nice to just hang out, chat, drink by the pool (and get lectured multiple times by the hotel guy), and then go shopping in the morning. the girls I work with are so sweet and fun, and it was such a nice break from all the xbox playing and boy time that goes on at my apartment! Then Saturday I left for Austin to go visit my dad (and the rest of my family) for his birthday and fathers day. I had a great time just hanging out, and Popeye loved meeting Sandy & Lil Bit, even if he did have WAY more energy than them. I was only really at home for a day which was sad, but I'll see my family soon for a wedding.
Other than the weekends and summer school, life is pretty relaxing. My afternoons are spent going to the gym, walking the dog, and working on my tan by the pool. What a wonderful life :)
Friday, June 12, 2009
blog makeover
After much debating, I changed the look of my blog. I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet, but I do love that I figured out how to change the font! :)
I was clicking through some blogs the other day, and somehow fell into one about digital scrapbooking. This of course then led to looking at tons of other related blogs, but I think I've found a new hobby! I love scrapbooking (and all things crafty), but I haven't actually done it in quite a while. It's the whole issue of taking everything out from under the bed, getting it organized, making one page and then having to pack up because it's time to do something else that keeps me from working on the mountains of photos waiting to be put onto pages. Which is why digitial srapbooking is perfect! You can still buy all the cute papers, embelishments, alphabets, etc , and then just put everything together in Photoshop (or some other program). What's even better, you can just delete it and start again if you mess up, which totally appeals the perfectionist in me. I can't wait to start playing around with it. (Take that xbox!)
I was clicking through some blogs the other day, and somehow fell into one about digital scrapbooking. This of course then led to looking at tons of other related blogs, but I think I've found a new hobby! I love scrapbooking (and all things crafty), but I haven't actually done it in quite a while. It's the whole issue of taking everything out from under the bed, getting it organized, making one page and then having to pack up because it's time to do something else that keeps me from working on the mountains of photos waiting to be put onto pages. Which is why digitial srapbooking is perfect! You can still buy all the cute papers, embelishments, alphabets, etc , and then just put everything together in Photoshop (or some other program). What's even better, you can just delete it and start again if you mess up, which totally appeals the perfectionist in me. I can't wait to start playing around with it. (Take that xbox!)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
why I should never go to the gym again
I'm pretty sure my class ring is lost. I've searched the house up and down (and will probably do it at least two more times), and it's nowhere to be found. I went to the gym yesterday, but forgot to take my jewelry off before I went. Since I was lifting weights, I took the ring off and set it down with my keys. I thought about putting it on the keyring, just in case, but then figured it'd be fine. Wrong. When I picked up my keys to head home, I must've forgotten to pick up the ring and left it there. It's the only thing I can think. Unfortunately, nobody's turned it in to the leasing office, it's not under any machines in the gym or in any lockers (yes, I walked around like a weirdo checking). Maybe that's a sign I should never go back! ;) But really, I do hope someone found it and turns it in... it's special to me.
In other news, we're going camping this weekend and I can't wait! We've been talking about going forever, but never actually made plans. I'm excited to see how Popeye likes being outside like that, and being around the other dog that's coming... :)
In other news, we're going camping this weekend and I can't wait! We've been talking about going forever, but never actually made plans. I'm excited to see how Popeye likes being outside like that, and being around the other dog that's coming... :)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
girlfriends aren't the only ones who dislike xbox
It's been a big few weeks in my apartment. We got Popeye, school ended for the summer, Popeye had his first visit to the vet, and the boys decided they just had to have an xbox. So this weekend, the boys went on a big excursion to find the best deal on an xbox, and when they came home you would've thought it was Christmas morning. They were so excited they ripped everything out of the boxes and started playing, and playing, and playing.... I swear, when guys play video games it's as if they get sucked into this parallel universe. While they were playing I cooked dinner, and Popeye was just hanging out. Over the noise of the video game (because, of course, if you're really going to play a video game, you have to play it nice and loud) I heard Popeye chewing on something that didn't sound like any of his toys, so I walked around the counter to check and found him chewing on a battery pack for one of the controllers! To the boys this was obviously not funny, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I laughed a little bit on the inside. Apparently girlfriends aren't the only ones who think xbox is silly!
We've had Popeye for a week now, which is hard to believe. He's a pretty cool dog, and now that he's starting to feel better (he had all kinds of yucky stuff he picked up from wherever he was before I adopted him) his personality is showing a little bit more. The clean freak in me is having to really hold back, because he sheds EVERYWHERE, and as much as I try to clean it up, he inevitably goes back to the same spot as soon as I'm done and rubs his furry little body all over it! I guess it's better than cleaning up potty accidents, which he's getting much better about thank goodness. Everyone was right though, it's great practice for having a kid.
Summer school officially starts today, and I'm excited to go meet a new group of little friends. I think it will be a good change of pace - working with new kids, actually having other PPCD teachers in the same building as me, being at a different campus - and it's only 4 weeks and half-days. Fabulous! I'm off to get ready and take the dog for a walk :)
We've had Popeye for a week now, which is hard to believe. He's a pretty cool dog, and now that he's starting to feel better (he had all kinds of yucky stuff he picked up from wherever he was before I adopted him) his personality is showing a little bit more. The clean freak in me is having to really hold back, because he sheds EVERYWHERE, and as much as I try to clean it up, he inevitably goes back to the same spot as soon as I'm done and rubs his furry little body all over it! I guess it's better than cleaning up potty accidents, which he's getting much better about thank goodness. Everyone was right though, it's great practice for having a kid.
Summer school officially starts today, and I'm excited to go meet a new group of little friends. I think it will be a good change of pace - working with new kids, actually having other PPCD teachers in the same building as me, being at a different campus - and it's only 4 weeks and half-days. Fabulous! I'm off to get ready and take the dog for a walk :)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
i feel doggone good
I did it. I adopted Popeye! I get to pick him up tomorrow after 4pm, and I'm so excited! The whole time we were at the SPCA I was trying to talk myself out of getting a dog, rationalizing why now isn't the right time, but as soon as they let me play with him in the "get acquainted room", it was over. I love that dog! Look how sweet he is...
I think the missing eye gives him character :)
I feel like a kid on Christmas (apparently Popeye did too, because this picture had to be censored!)
Sean, the cat lover who didn't even want a dog, is excited about Popeye!
Brian pretty much convinced me I had to get Popeye. Apparently he's going to teach Popeye tricks... (we'll see about that).
I think the missing eye gives him character :)
I feel like a kid on Christmas (apparently Popeye did too, because this picture had to be censored!)
Sean, the cat lover who didn't even want a dog, is excited about Popeye!
Brian pretty much convinced me I had to get Popeye. Apparently he's going to teach Popeye tricks... (we'll see about that).My mom thinks I'm crazy for getting a dog, and mean for making him live in an apartment, but I'm still so excited! I think summer will be a great time to have him, since I'll be home a lot more and able to spend lots of time with him! (And yes, this is the third post in one day which seems excessive, but I just had to show off pictures..)
art project gone wrong
I love Jon & Kate Plus 8, and this week, there was a marathon on leading up to the season 5 premier, so of course I set the DVR to record it! On one of the episodes, the kids went to an art studio and made some really cool paintings by layering. It looked like they were making a giant mess (a lot like we do every day in my classroom), but in the end the paintings came out way neat. My roommate and I had just been talking about needing something for the walls in our living room, and when I showed him the show, we decided that we were going to make some ourselves. All I can say is thank goodness we tried on small canvases first. Because our "art" came out looking like this...
Apparently we're less talented than 5-year-olds! They came out abstract looking alright, just not anywhere near "cool". Looks like we need a new decorating plan...
Apparently we're less talented than 5-year-olds! They came out abstract looking alright, just not anywhere near "cool". Looks like we need a new decorating plan...
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