It's been awhile

It seems like forever since I have posted so here is a quick update of my life. I LOVE my job! It has been a big change but such a great one. My co-workers are fantastic and my principal is wonderful and so supportive. This has made my second year of teaching so much fun. I have learned so much from the teachers that I teach with. My students are wonderful a few that are a little bit of a challenge but wonderful none the less. My parents are also wonderful they support me and help out a ton. I am so happy I decided to teach again this year. 

My Personal life has been great a little one the relaxing side but that is great. I have some great friend that are there for  me when needed and we always come up with something fun to do. They look out for me when I think I don't need it. 

Health has been interesting I have been struggling to get things on track but forces seem to be against me. But hopefully with new meds things can start looking up. 

Utah and so much more

A few weeks ago I went to Utah for my cousin Amber's wedding. Of course she was stunning as always. Her husband seems like an amazing man, and the reception was beautiful. It was great to see my family and spend some time with them. After the wedding I spent saturday with some of my younger cousins, we went to lunch then to a movie. I love spending time with this family,  I don't really see them that much. They are amazing and so giving, they even let me send the night with them when I had no place to sleep. 

For part of my trip to Utah I spend a few days with A good friend of mine, we shopped, we partied, and he had a blast. I am so amazing at the great 

people in my life that they would put life on hold to spend time with me. 

 

Today I went to the Arizona Botanical Garden with my friend Brian, they have a Butterfly pavilion with hundreds of monarc butterflies. It was so much fun to see them all and take pictures of them all around us.. I was so glad that I kicked off my october break with this experience. 

Great Blog

I found this blog and have been laughing ever since...... Take a look....

http://damomma.com/

Oregon Sept. 11-14

My Best friend Angie got married to her longtime boyfriend Adam in Organ last weekend. As the maid of honor I was lucky enough to be able to go and have a great time. We flew into Portland then drove to the coast to the city of Lincoln where the wedding was to be held. Saturday the best man and myself drove along the coast to check out some of the fun stuff there is to see. We went to a light house and some other fun places. Sunday was the wedding on the beach.. it was a little cold, but it was beautiful. Angie looked amazing in her dress..... Then home on monday. It was such a fun but short trip, but I was glad to go and be there for Angie.... 

Diamondbacks Game!!!

My uncle Danny was kind enough to give me his tickets for the Diamondbacks game. I have only been to one game since they where formed and the first experience was not a good one, but I gave it another chance. The game was amazing!!! I had so much fun. I took some good friends of mine and we all had a blast.... After the game there was a concert that was really good then to top off the night a great firework show.... I think that I am going to be taking my uncles tickets again the next time he doesn't want them. Thank you Danny!!!! 

More Pictures

The Best trip so far!! AFRICA!!!

I was blessed to be able to visit my parents in South Africa while they are on there mission. It was one of the most amazing trips that I have ever been on. We started the trip in Madikwe at a game reserve that really taking you into the bush. We did a photo weekend with a famous photographer Colin Mead... We saw so many animals and learned a lot about taking photos. Next we headed back to Joberg for a few days then it was on to Elephant Valley. We stayed at a high end game lodge with tents.... It was amazing our tent was right on the water hole so we could see all the animals coming in to drink.... And the food and elephants where amazing.... After a few days there we headed for Victoria falls. We stayed at the David Livingston, right on the water we went jet boating, micro lighting, and a boat trip down the river. I have never stayed at such an amazing place..... We spend a few more days in Joberg before heading home... I could not believe all the things that I saw and got to experience while I was with my parents. 

New Job!!

As of Monday night I have a new job.. After I had made a decision to not teach this year and go back to school, but as fate had it I am now going to be teaching 6th grade at a school called Barbra Bush. This is a fantastic school, and a place that any teacher would dream to be apart of. I can't wait to start this new job and begin another year of teaching. 

P.S. Pics from Africa to come soon.....

Home from Africa

I have made it safely home from South Africa. I had an amazing trip and was sad to leave that beautiful country... I will post my pictures once they are all loaded up, but I need to clear some space on my lap top before I can load them.. I could not believe how fast the time went and how great it was to spend time with my parents. 

Happy Fathers Day!

Yesterday was fathers day, and with my parents on a mission it is a little bitter sweet. I have to say that just talking to dad was a little hard and not being able to see him. 

I have been blessed to have an amazing father in my life. He was always there for me and my brothers in anyway that he could be. He is always coming up with fun things for us to do, especially when we where kids. He always made sure that he had time for me as his only daughter and showed an interest in what I do. Even if my interests where boring, I never felt left out or over looked.

He instilled in us a great love of reading by reading to us when we where young. He would always do the voices and always had interesting books to read us. Or in my case would change the story to amuse himself. 

He taught us through service to others by always helping out those less fortunate. Making sure that we understood the importance of service. He is and will always be an amazing father, and friend to me. 

Disneyland Trip

Went to Disneyland for the weekend and just got back. Had an amazing trip with my friend Ben. We spent two days at the Magical place. The first day Saturday we walked right onto Indiana Jones ride, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Splash mountain within 45 minutes.. It was amazing how dead it was in the morning. The rest of the day it got a little crowded but not too bad. Sunday we hit a few rides for a second or third time. It was a great trip and I want to head back there right now....

Disneyland!!

I am so excited to be going to Disneyland this weekend!!! I am going with a good friend of mine Ben. I have not been to Disneyland in over 5 years so I am ready to go and have fun.. Pictures to follow when I get back next week......

First year of teaching

The year has ended on my first year of teaching! I can't say that it was easy, it was probable one of the hardest things I have done in my life. I had some great kids and a few challenges thrown in there for spice. Even though it was a hard year I loved it......... We had a lot of fun times together.. 

 I was so proud one of my students Aaron was student of the year!!! He was so surprised and he really deserved it. He would always keep me laughing and was always there to help me out with whatever I needed done. He has a great sense of humor and would always play along with my jokes...... 

This was a present from my neighbor and my moms best friend Debbie. I came home from taking down my room and really having a bad day, and Debbie had this made for me. It was to celebrate the end of my first year of teaching. I can say that it really made my day! She has really been there for me this year whenever I needed a pick me up! THANK YOU DEBBIE!

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all the mom's out there..... Especially to my mother who is half a world away, but is still in my thoughts... Hope you are having  a great day and I will see you soon. My aunt put a picture like this up on her blog and it reminded me of one I took in Ireland.... 

Happy Birthday Mom!!

So today is my mothers Birthday. As the last year has past, I have really begun to see what she has done for me in my life. I have really missed our times together even the little things.

I never realized how much she does for me as well as the others around her. She is so giving of her time to anyone that needs it. She gives so much of herself that you don't really notice it until she is gone.

I can honestly say that she really gave more then she received. Always taking me and my sister-in-laws out for some girl time in cali to see Wicked, or just to dinner and a movie. 

I can not wait to see her when I go to Africa this summer and get to spend some time with her. 

AIMS Testing week

To start out the week we had an AIMS prep rally to get the kids excited for the test. With some persuasion by another teacher I got up and sang a version of YMCA with the words changed while the other teachers dressed like the village people. Even though some the kids thought it was stupid I really had fun doing this. We even had a few raps that I talked Sean one of the other 6th grade teachers into doing and it was great. The rest of the week my kids have been testing for AIMS and it has been really stressful for them as well as me. I want my students to perform like I know they can if they just try. We only have 2 more days left and I am so happy to get back to teaching my kids instead of reviewing. On another note I only 35 days left of teaching.... Yay for summer break.

Ready for summer!

I am so excited for the summer to come. As the months drag on and the behavior of my students gets more frustrating I just tell myself that in July I will be flying my way to Africa to spend 16 days with my parents. I can't wait to have some time off and get out of the drama that is going on at work and with friends, to be able to leave it all behind and just have some fun. As well as seeing my Parents and some amazing animals.

St. Patties Day!

It dawned on me today that it is march which means the month of green. I had the chance to live in Ireland so here are some pictures of Ireland and all the green it had to offer.

Sad goodbye but a returning friend!

This week brought tears to my eyes when I had to say good bye to one of my students. He is a great kid and is going to do amazing things in his life. He is moving back to Argentina where his family is from. The class threw a party for him and we all said our goodbyes. I have to say that I shed a few tears when he left. I am so sad to go back to school and not have this great kid in my classroom.



Another thing that has been going on is an old friend that I have know for 7 years has come back around. It is great to be spending time with such an amazing friend. He has been there for me in the past, and has been there recently when I have needed someone. I am so glad that he is back in my life and reminds me of who I am and what fun I can have.

Happy 26th Birthday to me!

I feel like I have been celebrating my Birthday all week long. It started on thursday when Debbie, Sandra, and Jo Marie took me to dinner to celebrate. We went to EJ which is a new stake house close to where we live. It was really good and so much fun to spend time with my mom's friends. On Friday my friend Kandi put together a dinner with a bunch of my friends, we went to a sushi place in chandler. The food was great and it was so much fun to spend time with my friends. Tonight I am going out with a friend, and then monday Kris and Sarah are taking me to Haji Babas. It has been an amazing birthday and it is going to keep getting better. Thank you to everyone for making it a great one!