The Final Step Approaches

The semester is over! It was a bittersweet end because I absolutely loved the first grade class I interned in. This was the hardest but most rewarding semester. I am so thankful for my mentor teacher, Denise Bridges, for all she taught me and for allowing me to work with the wonderful kids in her class. By the end of the semester, they were my class too!


The first graders were so funny, challenging, and delightful. I love that you never know what might come out of their mouths and how excited they get when they figure something out.

Now, on to student teaching! I am super excited to be going into Mrs. Johnson's first grade class at Winkley Elementary. When we talked about student teaching at the beginning of the semester (and even the end of the semester) I got kinda freaked out. But after meeting Mrs. Johnson today, I am already so much more comfortable and excited. It's going to be awesome!

More Random Shots

Here are some more pics from the last few months.


Yes, people, she is actually sleeping with her hand in the popcorm bowl!


Beautiful rolls fresh from the oven for Thanksgiving. Yum!


We found some really cool old sawmill equipment on a land hunting trip one weekend. Unfortunately, it wasn't actually on the property we were looking at.


Bekah and Rian, cousins and friends.


Halloween 2010


Playing Bingo with Nana. The best part? She gives candy for prizes!


This is a middle school playdate :)


I just like this picture.


Bingo again. She is such a good Nana!


I guess I'm into taking pics of my food. I am proud of my jam making this summer/fall. This is strawberry but I also made pear and it was delicious!

Some of My Favorites

So, I thought I'd post some of my favorite pictures from vacation in Elko last August. I know, I'm months behind on my posting. Better late than never, right?


Dad and James on the porch relaxing


This is me trying to imitate my incredibly talented sister in law, Dana. This is the poppy's view of the sky. I thought it turned out pretty cool. Even used it on a school assignment.


Bekah loves to pose for pictures. And she loves flowers. Perfect!


Cherith and her banana...doesn't she look so much older than her eleven (then) years.


Another attempt at trick photography.


Uh, maybe that's a little too friendly?


A huge thank you to Andy for providing bikes for all the kids to ride!


Ow! Don't bite my toes, puppy!


All the grandkids with their grandparents.


Emily making jam...and it was delicious!

This lady is HILARIOUS!!!!!!!

If you've never seen any of Anita Renfroe's comedy, try this out...guaranteed to almost make you pee your pants (especially if you are a married woman):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbd-2lhYMqw&feature=related (Don't Breathe)

Here are some other juicy nuggets as well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLjWDKu0jfM&feature=related ((A Real Life) Love Story)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygWO30gdpK4&feature=related (Before I Eat)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaruNs_7okY&feature=related (All the Wrinkled Ladies)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYukEAmoMCQ&feature=related (Momisms, William Tell Overture)

Last Days of School

Bekah - Second Grade Finale
Pancake breakfast! Love this tradition for the second grade. Yum!

Bekah and Grace


Bekah receiving her awards from her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Churchill.

Fifth Grade Awards
Can't believe Paul's leaving elementary school. A new chapter begins and I'm not so sure I like it!

Singing! Paul was so mad about this because they used up PE time to practice.


After the ceremony they had cookies and lemonade. Oh the joys of fifth grade :)


A final elementary photo. I am so proud of Paul! He is such a good student and a great kid. It's been hard to watch him grow so fast. He keeps asking for more independence and I have to remind myself that he's growing up so it's okay to let him stay up later and ride around the block on his own. Exciting things are on the horizon for this young man!

Austin Children's Museum

Second Grade Field Trip 2010
We were supposed to picnic at Zilker park before the zoo but it rained buckets! So, the kids had to eat at 9:30 am in their classrooms. Interesting start to the day...

In the classroom, playing games and eating "lunch". Ready to go!


This was an exhibit modeled after a local childrens' author's books. Her books are about her life growing up in Texas and her family traditions and such. It was a really neat exhibit.


I love this picture will all the girls working with the nuts and bolts. The kids were encouraged to use their imaginations to "engineer" things.


Huge exhibit about air that the museum employees built themselves. Very, very cool. This thing used air to push those circles.


These things were to see how things sound if ears were different shapes. Or something like that.

Very fun museum. Paul went in second grade too and it was neat then. Very unique and "Austin". They embrace the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan.

Longhorn Cavern

Fifth Grade Field Trip 2010
Little bit of history: This cave was carved out by an underground river many, many, many, many, many years ago. That is somewhat unique, according the the guide. Most caves are formed from the eating away of rock by water. It was used as a Native American meeting place, an outlaw hideout, and a speakeasy before it was cleaned out by CCC workers after the Great Depression.

The entrance...tips accepted at the end of the tour...whaaat? Did you notice that this is a group of students?


My favorite picture. Some of the areas were huge and looked really cool with the lighting.


The tour group...Paul down in front with the brown jacket on.


Frog formation...That's for Mom and Dad :)


Crystals. What's a cave without crystals?

It was a pretty neat place. There was even a bat resting on the ceiling in one room. They rent out some of the space for concerts, weddings, etc.

Don't forget to tip your tour guide. They only make minimum wage, you know. (sheesh!)

Wildflower Center

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - April 2010
One of my favorite places in Austin...even when it's not wildflower season.

Dragonfly sculpture at entrance. They had a ton of cool sculptures all around the place. All for sale, if you can afford the price.


This was our favorite sculpture. Anyone want to spot me $20,000?


A field of wildflowers.


Paul and Bekah posed for me; Bekah quite happily, Paul with resignation :).


A turtle at the entrance pond. There were three or four. The kids (and Dad) could have stayed for hours just watching them. But it was getting hot.


The kids and Dad at the entrance pond.


Mom resting on a bench while we climbed the tower.


Spider sculpture made from various metal objects.


Some weird fish sculpture - definitely interesting!

We had a lot of fun at the Wildflower Center. It was beautiful and we took a long walk around the field and through the wood. We did not, however, make it to Grandma's house :) Just back to the other side of the Center.

So............

I really, truly have been meaning to finish updating my blog. I have pictures from the Wildflower Center with Mom and Dad, Bekah's play, end of school year pics, this years art from the kids....

And now is the time that my lovely computer decides not to work properly! I guess I'm calling ATT tomorrow to complain about the internet speed...again. I'll do that in between chores, playing with the kids (it is summer after all), finding a percussion kit for Paul (have you heard he made the percussion class in middle school?), doing homework, and cooking for the fam.

What is the deal? And while I'm ranting, why can't I find a contractor to redo my bathroom? They either want an arm and leg, haven't returned the bid to me, or won't call back in the first place. I guess business is just good for them and they don't need a new customer. Good for them, not so much for me.

On the happy side of life, it is summer. The summer classes I'm taking aren't all that bad. In fact, there's really no work at all in the math class (and I'm even learning a thing or two!). I have purchased plane tickets to visit Elko in August - YEA! - and I'm running almost the whole 5K distance now. Can't wait for that race just before my b-day in August.

Ok, back to work...school work...I guess I should utilize this time at school to do that. :)

Ramblin' at the Park

Bluebonnets...
Our state flower and Bekah's all time favorite. They were especially beautiful this year and there were several nice patches at the park on this day.


Perspective


Stalking...
We happened to see a deer while were were walking along the path. I certainly wasn't expecting it but the deer is probably used to it by now. (I have no idea why this is underlined...don't know how it happened or how to turn it off...hmmmmm)


Of course, one must try to get as close to the deer as possible...


but when a gaggle of other kids join in, it doesn't work too well.