Crazy Train...

Goodness, I don't even know if I've had time to breathe these last 6 weeks! Finished Jr. High, finished and started another term for grad school, starting to pack, found an apartment in CO, saw Christina graduate (as valedictorian!), had a great girls weekend with my lovely 3rd South friends, sorted through/got rid of/repacked all my classroom stuff, and started summer tutoring/teaching summer school...a little busy! So I have a gorgeous new apartment 5 minutes from my new school in Colorado (pictures to come in August...or so...), got to spend time with some of my favorite people while I was there, can't wait to be able to see them all more often! I have to say Aimee and Kevin live on one super fun block and have one (soon to be 2) super cool kid! Jameson woke me up, rather early even for me, every day with a smile and a "it's a sunny day Auntie!" And it was! The weather was great, apartment hunting was fairly painless, we laughed, we talked, we ate, we played, we walked, we BBQ'd, we went to a movie...all a perfect kick off to summer!


Jameson and I making silly faces
Mr. PDA :) Love it!
We occasionally still take really good pictures...not at the airport!
The following week was typical busy followed by a trip up to Atascadero for Christina's graduation...what fun to help her write her speech :) Sorry no pictures...I was too busy enjoying the occasion! The following week wound down tutoring at San Gabriel, starting my new term, taking the Praxis for my NCLB compliance in CO...no comment. That weekend, Sara, Jen, Lish, and I had ALL managed to coordinate the weekend to spend just us! I don't think we did anything but talk, laugh, eat, and walk...PERFECTION! I miss seeing these girls all the time :)

At brunch on Sunday
After that I finished teaching Jr. High...NEVER again and that would be too soon! But I survived (and so did they). I also started my summer tutoring, I have my 6 boys and am having a ball with them so far! My grad class is rolling right along...reading specialist exam August 6. I've also spent a weekend in Atascadero consolidating my 2nd grade classroom into must keep books and resources versus the get rid of or hang onto a little bit longer, just in case :) I have to say it was a little emotional at times, just for all the memories each box seemed to hold. I'm thrilled about the next step in my career and I wouldn't change this new adventure for anything, it just was a little hard to make the transition step. BUT all done and repacked into 35 (VERY small) book boxes and ready to move! I've also started packing my apartment things that I don't need in the next 5 weeks cause I know with everything else, time will fly! hmmmm...Oh, started yet another summer of Reading Lab, trying out my Master's class intervention program on them...FUN! I love Readers' Theater :) I THINK that's a pretty good summary of where I'm at right now - BUSY BEE!!! Off I go again...


PS I forgot to post this and now Tobin Joseph has graced the world with his cute little self...can't wait to meet him in a little less than 5 weeks when I move to his neighborhood!

It's been awhile...

I will graciously accept the world's worst blogger award...I feel like I blink and a month flew by lately! I'm near the end of my Master's/Reading Credential and can hardly believe there are ONLY two classes left! Oh my...but can't wait for that cap and gown! Anyway, school is good and flying by...my time with my tuttees is winding down...less then a month of school, thankfully I have a few favorites over the summer! My drama job has been DRAMA and I am not gifted in the jr high department, God bless those who are...I'll take my little ones any day! I'm thankful for the learning curve of that job and I think the kids and I all learned something! Speaking of little ones, I think there's something in the water right now, babies seem to be popping out all over - looking forward to meeting some new additions this summer! As most people know (not that too many people still check my blog!) but Soba was killed by another do a couple months back...miss having my buddy around to play and snuggle with :( He did get to meet his little brother from another litter because Edith added Butterscotch to their household so that was fun to watch them play together!
On a SUPER DUPER exciting note...I am officially a full time teacher again! I will be moving to Colorado to begin a new adventure as a Literacy Specialist (sounds important huh?) I'll be teaching K-2 students in a small group format and all I do is reading and writing...perfect huh??? I'm going apartment hunting next week and hardly believe that in 3 months I'll be a CO girl instead of CA....yikes! I realized that I'm going to need some serious shoe shopping, my California girly shoes won't work in the snow and cold....the weather opens up a whole new category of sweaters and coats for me too :) How terrible to have a reason to shop.
Hmmm what else...had a nice Easter with family and friends, went to a wedding with Kevin, I've started taking Zumba a few months ago.....COMEDY...I have zero coordination and it's makes me laugh but I figure it's all good exercise! I think that covers the basics :)

Kevin and I @ his birthday party


Butterscotch and Soba...Butterscotch did NOT want to stay still!

Christina, Emily and I at the wedding...trying not to freeze!

A little update...

Goodness, it's been a long time since I've posted anything...not that I've had a lot to report that anyone really wants to read about! The last 6 months have been filled with school...can't believe I can already say I'll be done this year! The homework is all consuming at times...as stressful financially (and on my routine) as it has been not to be teaching full time, I am often thankful that I have the time to devote to doing well in school! Proud to say I still have a 4.0! Anyway, school, homework, 11 tutoring students, teaching middle school drama elective, Soba, and managing to have a life every once in awhile seems to fill most of my time! The drama class has been...drama...I have learned a great deal of humility with that group...jr high is not my age group! I'm VERY much looking forward to having a new group next month! Hmmm what else? Just typical day to day stuff I guess. I had a wonderful time over the holidays with friends and family and can't believe that the first month of 2011 is almost over! As application season begins in the education world...hopefully I'll have something more to report!

A smattering of pictures...
Jameson and I in the car...love how he has to pull me closer :)

1 Angel, 1 sheep, and me @ the Christmas program

Excuse the sweater...all my grad school friends and I had presentations to do at the CA reading association this year....yikes!
Literacy Gala
Soba is so helpful while doing homework

I'm 30!

What better way to celebrate the big 3-0 then in the backyard with all my favorite people?? And I seriously had almost everybody all together at one time...I am a very blessed girl! Adrienne worked SO hard with some help from Cheryl to make my day extra specials and I'm so thankful for some of the best friends a girl could ask for!

Soba of course got to attend...I got to keep him for approximately 5 minutes of the party...here his is with Tyler and Ian...I heard later that there was an ear incident and squealing...poor Soba, he's a good sport :)
Jen and Jason drove down from Porterville...can't wait to see more of them now that they're living in CA!
Ruth and Ian
Cheryl and I...celebrating 20 years of friendship, I personally think we deserve an anniversary party!
ice cream cake...2 kinds :)
Mom finished my Japan quilt - love it!
Big Sis, Lil Sis, and Middle Sis....miss working with these lovely ladies!
Ok Seriously...the Braunds happened to be on vacation in CA for my party...how lucky am I to have Okinawa friends come??? :)
Kevin put himself firmly on the "favorite husband" list by driving 12 hours out of the way JUST so they could come to my party - soooooo good to see them, but never long enough :(
A picture I was convinced I might never get...or at least not until I get married...all my babies, all in one place!! It was nice to see them all running around playing - love being an Auntie!
And then there's my Japanmate...there aren't words - love you!
Adrienne's dad and my dad and Gil at the man table
Lisa, Edith, Kim...and the 5 minutes I got Soba
Lindy, the Wolfs, the Archers, the Browns, and the Farinos
Jameson and Ellie on their first date...they have an arranged marriage (by me!)

My parents came down and part of the Andrews family made an appearance...it was wonderful to see everyone, good to be 30 and hopefully a good time had by all! Thanks to everyone for making my birthday special - love you!

Disneyland with the girlies

Cheryl and I took the girls to Disneyland for Bella's birthday and had a great time! No mishaps until we left and we had one royal meltdown...but still a good day!

Ellie is my kind of girl...won't get NEAR any characters so we took our own picture while we waited for Bella and Cheryl
This was as close as she would get...and I didn't even tell her Goofy was in the pic with her ;)


Good timing...Minnie was walking out when we walked by so Bella got to hold her hand the whole way to the picture spot!
Ready for the Toy Story ride


Ellie was so excited to be tall...it takes 2 short girls to make a tall one I guess :)
The cutest picture ever! Love them!

Fancy Nancy birthday party

So I was getting another post ready and realized I had several posts ready with pictures....so why not post? So this was Bella's 6th birthday party - Fancy Nancy! Oh they were all so cute, Cheryl and I had a ball putting it all together!

Ellie and Auntie :)


The girls in their cute dresses!Birthday girl!
Adrienne was the resident photgrapher
GIANT cupcakes...so fancy!

Soba

I haven't had a dog since living at home and I've been wanting a pet for who knows how long...and now that I'm home more it makes sense to have a dog :) A former student/family offered me a teacup poodle from their recent litter and I couldn't resist (after asking Adrienne of course!) Anyway, I've had Soba for about a month and he's been a lot of fun....usually a good boy....we're working on the potty training still though!

I was getting ready to do laundry and came back out to find him on my sheets...he might be a little spoiled!
Bella and Ellie like when he comes over (Bella is getting over her fear of him and Ellie calls him Hoba)
Ellie and "Hoba" she seems to think he's hers and cries when anyone else holds him
He wouldn't stay still for pictures...