THE GREAT WHITE SHARK by Josh

Josh had a science project on the animal of his choice.  He picked the great white shark.  He had so much fun picking out the fun facts and pictures.  He did not have so much fun cutting out the kazillion pieces of paper that he had to put on his poster.  I, too, had a hard time, but only because I was trying hard not to take over the cutting and gluing.  Josh did an excellant job and was rewarded for his hard work with a 100% from his teacher!  He is so good at school and I am really proud of him for all his effort!

Relax during our "summer" break?  Nah, not us.

We are finally laying the laminate wood flooring that we have had in our garage for MONTHS.

Thankfully we have the help of some wonderful friends.  They made it go very fast and I would even say enjoyable.

This is just a preview.  The final product will be posted soon.

Random Thoughts

I am stitting here watching The Biggest Loser (yes, it's Wednesday, but I don't actually watch live TV) thinking that I should blog. But since I am not capable of really focusing on anything specific right now, the title is random thoughts...

1. Eating rocky road ice cream while watching The Biggest Loser is counter productive
2. I was was wondering if I could compare finals to labor without getting lynched.  Labor is harder, I have done it three times, you know.  Twice without an epidural.  But finals are bad too.
3. I thought that my History 330 teacher was telling a joke when he said the final was optional if you were happy with your current grade.  Well, I am not exactly "happy" with my grade, but since it would be impossible to get 115% on the final I am thinking that I might have to happy with my grade.  And he was not joking about not having to take the final.
4. Why can I only sleep in on Sunday's?  Not the day that I have the opportunity, but instead on the day when five people have to be ready before 9 am.
5. I like riding the bus to school.  I am starting to hate driving to school.  Traffic sucks.
6. I love my ipod.  It makes my morning nice.
7. I miss my kids when I have to spend all day on campus, but it still bothers me that they are home early on Wednesday.  Not sure why.
8. David Boreanez (Booth on Bones) is really nice to look at.
9. My house needs a make-over.  But I lack the energy to do it.
10. The warm weather is nice, but here it means all the hoochie-mommas come out.  Who wants to see that?
11. I will graduate two years from next weekend, provided I retain my sanity through it all.
12. I think that my family is pretty great.

realization

I just realized that instead of having a two week break from the spring and summer terms I only have one week for a complete mental unload.  I am so bummed.  How am I supposed to accomplish anything within a week?  Oh yeah... that is my realization, I won't get anything done.  Oh well.

And the season begins...

Baseball season is in full gear again and this season we have both boys playing. 

Eric is in the Minors playing for the Braves.

Josh plays machine-pitch for the Mets.

Last night each of them had a game.  Josh played catcher and Eric pitches, but when he is not pitching he plays left field.  Since he pitched on Monday he played left field yesterday.  Brandon is helping coach boy of the boys teams this year.  There will be some very busy weekends for him this spring.

Thankfully they were right next to each other at the fields.  At one point the were both up to bat and I was able to stand in between the two and see them both.  It was really cool becuase at this particular moment they batted at the same time, had hits at the same moment (singles for both), and ran in for the score at the exactly same time.  So fun to watch my boys!

Baseball seasons also means my spending a lot of time with Katie walking around the field (her with a little attitude, please)

and chillin' in the van

She did not want to sit and watch her brothers play.  It was sad for me because I wanted to watch them play. I am very hopefull that she will let me watch a few games this season.  Otherwise, I will see a lot of movies.  Either way, the boys will have a lot of fun, and that is the point.

My flowers and trees are blooming and I am heaven!  I love this part of spring!  Only this part though, I DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT like the allergies that come in the spring.  Dang Juniper.

And soon I will have tulips! 

Spring Break: the Oregon Adventure

Because I KNOW that you want the super fine details... this post might be a tad bit long.  Don't say that you were not warned!

I headed to the great pacific northwest for my spring break.  As the title suggests, I went back home to beautiful Oregon. 

I flew in to Portland on Friday afternoon (yes, I totally ditched class to leave when I did!) and was picked up by my good friend Chris who married one of my best friends from high school, Elissa.  He took me to their super cute Lake Oswego home where were eventually met up with Elissa.  There we split ways, Chris headed out to his musical with a couple of their sweet kiddos while Elissa and I headed out by ourselves to eat dinner.  We ended up at Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  Burger heaven on earth, I must say.  Sooooo good!!

After that amazing dinner we went to see Chris's musical.  He is the music director at the high school he teaches at and each spring they preform a muscical.  This year they were performing "Once Upon a Mattress".  It was so good.  I was amazed at the talent that these young men and women had.  A fun way to spend a night.  After we got back to their house we stayed up and talked and talked and talked...  until too late in the night/morning.  A short night, but so worth it to spend time with these great friends.  I have known the both of them since I (we) were 13 and 14, respectively.  It is always so good to see them.

 

Here are Elissa and I the next morning.

And the fabulous Rust family... love love love them!

It was at this time that my parents picked me up to attend my brothers wedding, the real reason I flew to Oregon.  Greg and Elisa were married in the cute little church out on Sauvie Island.  The day was beautiful; beautiful blue sky with white fluffy cloud and NO RAIN!  They could not have asked for better weather.

Here is my brother and his beautiful bride.  The wedding was so pretty and Elisa did a lot of it herself.  Including those wonderful flowers that she is holding.

This is Greg with his two little girls, Andriana and Savannah.  They were the flower girls.  I love this picture.  They were watching Elisa walk down the aisle.

After the wedding my parents and I, with Adriana and Savannah headed south to Eugene.  That is where my parents live.  Since I had last been there (5 years ago -- too long, I KNOW!) they had moved into this absolutely fabulous neighbohood.  Beautiful homes, beautiful landscaping, great location, quiet, basically perfect in every way.  At night I could hear the crickets and frogs, it was a wonderful way to fall asleep.

I could not believe how everything was in bloom.  I know it was all for my visit, that I might get the most of coming home.  When I left New Mexico nothing was blooming yet, only the leaves on the dafodils were popping through.  In both Eugene and Portland everything was blooming, flowers, trees, and the grass was so green!  Thankfully, things have started to bloom in New Mexico too.

While I was in Eugene I was able to go and see two more friends from high school, Scotty and Lisa.  I got to meet their kiddos and spend an evening with them.  Like with Chris and Elissa, the night went by to fast.  It was fun to see them after 10 long years.  I learned something fun while there... appearently it was I that introduced these two love birds.  Never knew that!  I have to say that I have know these two for a long time as well,  Lisa and I met when we were 12!  WOW!! Twelve years old!!  Crazy!!  And I met Scotty when we were maybe 16?  Not quite sure on that one, but we have certainly been friends for a while.

After a couple of days in Eugene, my Mom and I headed back up to Portland to the airport, but not before I had the chance to spend the evening with yet one more lifelong friend, Janell.  I have known Janell since I was 12 (22 years ago!  Seriously, that is just crazy!) and she was one of my best friends in high school.  I was so excited to spend time with her and her super fun NEW HUSBAND!!!

She was married just the week before and I was unable to go due to distance and other things.  But, as she said, I was able to spend more quality time with her and Tom then I would have had I been at the wedding.  And, like I had said before, the time was too short and I would have liked to have spent more time with her and all my other friends. 

PLUS... I spent time with my parents and neices in Eugene and shopping with my Mom in Portland.  It was fun to spend time with my Mom without kids.  Not something happens very often and it was really nice!

This trip was so fun!  It was weird to not be a Mom for a few days, but instead a daughter, an Aunt, and a friend.  It was nice to see my Mom and Dad, my brother, meet his new wife, and spend time with my neices.  It was really fun to spend time with all my friends.  When I was with them it was like being 18 again, no adult worries, just good friends and fun.  Unfortunately, I did not get much sleep.  But so worth it.

I also want to mention that I know how blessed I am to have such wonderful friends who I have known for so long.  I know that it is not common to have so many friends that have know me for 20+ years.  They are people that I can always count on to support me and my family.  I love them so much!

And I could not ignore Brandon when discussing this trip.  He made this entire trip possible for me.  He is such a wonderful man and father.  I love my husband more than I can express.  I love you and am thankful that you are mine for eternity.

I have to add this final note: while I did enjoy myself and loved having a break from everything, I was so happy to walk out from the airport and see my wonderful husband and my sweet children.  Coming home is the best.