a smattering...

Well, it's finally here. TOMORROW is the last day of school. Yipeeee!

I am SO excited for this summer. Last summer was ok, but I wasn't getting paid and Tommy and I didn't have many friends that lived here (yet--Alli and Corey and Ash were our faithfuls...and Amy when she was here briefly...ok mostly Tommy didn't have many friends here). But it was SO boring for me...he worked all day and I...did nothing...and we didn't even have a church family so we felt a little isolated.

THIS summer, we have more friends, live in a better location, I will be getting paid, and I have gads of projects/plans that will keep me busy. Some work related, some not. It is going to be really great!!

We got a sweet little taste of summer over Memorial Day weekend.

Friday evening I don't remember what we did, I think we just kind of hung out.

Saturday, we slept in a little, took my grandparents to my Mom's concert in the afternoon, then hung out with our friends Eric and Kylie from our small group. We went to dinner at Cheesecake Factory in Allen, listened to live music on blankets with children laughing and playing tag around us, and then got gelato from Paciugo.

Sunday was church, breakfast, a good sweaty workout, then lounging by the pool for a few hours. Our apartment's pool is great, with comfy lounge chairs and even cushioned beds in little cabanas if you want some shade.
Monday, we slept in again, hit up our fav grocery store, Market Street, and got lots of goodies for the week. Then, Eric and Kylie and Jake and Bonnie (all from our small group) came over and we grilled and hung out by the pool. We had burgers with all the fixin's, sausage, grilled zuchinni and pineapple, chips and salsa, and our boys had plenty of Heineken to keep them happy. All in all, a great day, and a lovely weekend.

hooray!!

only. 9. more. days.
that's me in the front, the little chola with the beanie and pigtails.
(chola=latina gangsta)

b-t-dub, a career in education is probably one of the best decisions of my life. at least in the top 5, along with going to Baylor and marrying Tommy.

and summer vaca is probably in the top 3 reasons why it was a good decision.

what should we do?

The Hubs and I are in a bit of a workout rut. We have been doing Crossfit, of course, but are feeling a bit burnt out on the gym.

I really really miss running. And while I like what being stronger is doing to my body, I really felt I looked the leanest when I was running. We are doing 3ish mile runs every now and then, but I miss those 5 or 6 mile early runs when it is quiet, the air is crisp and your mind is clear.

And Tommy has never really run. Like he has never trained for a race or anything. And the weather is so much nicer now. All that to say...we might do this:

It seems a bit crazy, a half marathon in August. Oh well. If we want to keep going, it is a good set-up for a fall marathon.

If we do this, strength training will still remain VERY high on priority list. And not 5 lb bicep curls on a bosu ball. Good, strength-building training. B/c I like having muscles :)

In other news, just look at this guy...

He is getting bigger! He is so cute! I really love my little nephew.

lil' update

I can officially say it:

I have a teaching job next year!! This has been in the works for a while but it is finally official.

I will be the teacher in the SBS classroom in the Special Education Department at Frisco High School. SBS=Specialized Behavior Support. The kids our classroom will serve have a diagnosis of ED (Emotional disability). (you learn very quickly that there are alot of acronyms in education)

This is the classroom I am working in now so I get to have my same kids which makes me feel pretty confident since I'm aware of how the classroom needs to run and I have a relationship with the kids. Our kids are part of the general education population and have a schedule of classes, but can come to our classroom as needed for academic or emotional support. They are bright kids who just lack social/behavior/emotional skills that are needed for individual success in school. I won't teach a "subject" persay, but we'll be teaching social and behavior skills, implementing plans to improve behaviors or academic struggles, and sometimes just be a safe place for them to come.

Lots of feelings...

-EXCITED to make the classroom my own and implement new ideas and plans

-MOTIVATED to learn as much as I can to be a good teacher

-NERVOUS to be in charge...I have such an awesome relationship w/ the teacher now and love working w/ her...we are a good team and I'll miss her input and deferring to her for final decisions.

-DREADING the paperwork

-WORRIED that the kids will be upset about the teacher leaving

-CONFIDENT that the kids and I have great relationships

-BURDENED to see these kids succeed

-ANTICIPATING the reward of seeing their success (the increase in salary isn't so shabby either)

Anyway...happy Cinco!

nobody puts baby in the corner

i feel like i've been in timeout all week.

i was assigned as a restroom monitor for TAKS week. this means, for four hours, i sit in front of the restroom and listen to adolescents go pee-pee. not really, i'm making sure they go in one at a time, aren't using their cell phones, aren't talking to one another, etc.

the only thing is that MY restroom is in kind of a remote area of the building so i don't have very many visitors. also, my restroom was the one where a couple of kids were found doing the dirty so there is some sort of unspoken quarentine for that restroom. so my day is long.

throughout my pee-pee escapades, i've gotten quite a bit of reading done. i'm near the end of this book.
have any of you read it? what are your thoughts?

what i think so far:
--beautifully written
--i like that the author emphasizes relationship (with God) over religion
--i like that the author provides a framework through which to understand how tragedy and suffering exists in our world. (i am NOT saying i believe the book contains the ultimate Truth on the matter)
--it is a little dangerous to those who read it both as fiction and as non-fiction (as a theological text)...it would be easy let your view of God be shaped by Mack's personal experience...i think it is important to read it with the knowledge that it is fully fictitious, with themes based on the author's understanding of the Truth. which can STILL totally transform your life.

i want to hear your opinions!

things I'm loving

well, i don't think all of you blogstalkers posted like i asked, but for the ones that did, i applaud and exalt you, and will make sure you are on my little list to the right.

if you decide you want to come clean and reveal yourself, my offer still stands.

anyway, I decided to do a "Things I'm loving" post like so many of you out there:

1. Coconut milk

Ladies and Gents, if you don't use coconut milk, get up off your booty and go get a can (or carton--original only, vanilla flavor is nasty). First of all, it's non-dairy so a little less toxic for your digestive system...secondly, DELISH!! I use it for my oatmeal in the morning instead of water or cow milk. Also great in curries, smoothies, and other sauces. Half of the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut milk are composed of lauric acid, which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal. Coconut milk can help boost the immune system and fight off illness and disease.

2. Spaghetti Squash

We have been on a spaghetti squash kick. So far, I've made it with pesto and chicken and a tomato meat sauce. Both were awesome. Benefits: it is a low-glycemic food (some might say low-carb, but it does have carbs...the sugar from the carbs is just on the low end) and squash has a ton of good vitamins and minerals. It's pretty easy to make, too.

3. Rowing

OMG, I never really used this machine before we started doing crossfit, but now I'm hooked! It provides an excellent endurance workout. Disclaimer here: form is everything...without good form on this machine, the benefits of using it are nil. The little pictures and instructions posted on it are a pretty good description of proper form. But with good form, you will have a wonderful, full body workout.

4. Mambo Taxi from Mi Cocina

Frozen margarita. Sangria. Together. Enough said.

5. Rompers

I think these little things are too cute! I really want to get one (or two...or seven...) for the summer.

That's it folks, hope you enjoyed this edition of "Things I'm loving"

i'll tell you mine if you tell me yours

BS

NO, I'm not talking about that word with bull in it.

Blog-Stalking.

That's right, I said it.

Definition: consisitenly viewing people's blogs who you don't know or who don't know you follow their blog. even if they know you (or know of you) and you view their blog without their knowing, that is blog-stalking. basically, if you aren't mutual "followers," it's blog-stalking.

You know you do it. You know you don't subscribe or follow or comment for fear that the blogger would find you creepy or weird.

I blog-stalk a LOT. And I'm not going to divulge my favorites to stalk for above said reason. (don't want to seem creepy or weird)

Anyway, I would like to conduct a social experiment of sorts. Or maybe I'm comment-hungry. Who knows.

BUT, if YOU blog-stalk ME, I would like to know. I implore you, stalkers, LEAVE A COMMENT. I do it so much, I'm dying to know who stalks me. I promise, I won't think you are creepy or weird. In fact, I will be flattered. If I know you, if I don't know you, I don't care, LEAVE ME A COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

And if you reveal yourself, I will become a follower and devoted blog-fan. In fact, maybe we blog-stalk each other and don't know it! We are destined to meet!

Also, if I don't receive comments, I might develop a severe inferiority complex and fall into a deep seated depression, resulting in a loss of job, friends and happiness.