Oh, what do we do in the summertime?

Well, let me share with you what we do in the summertime. This summer, Adam has been attending a 6-week session of school. He's taking 2 courses and is rocking both! It's taking up a lot of his time, but it's sure paying off. He only has 2 weeks to go and then he'll have about 7 weeks before he begins fall semester.

Because I'm lucky enough to have the best job in the world which comes with the summers off, I was able to go visit my family earlier this month. Here's some highlights about the girls.

A.J.- A. is such a little nurturer. She cuddles her baby and frequently asks it "Are you okay, sweetheart?" Isn't that adorable? She's a little mother to J.J. When they're laying down for their naps, we can hear A. saying to J. "J., go to sleep right now!!!" It's pretty funny how she enforces the rules around the house.



I love how A. and J. are best friends. When I would take them for a walk in the double stroller, they would hold hands as we cruised the neighborhood streets. I'm so glad they have each other!

This next picture had me laughing for quite a while. A. got on her trike, and said to J.: "J. push me right now!" So J. walks over to A. and pushes her. This picture cracks me up because it looks as if J. is laboring quite a bit to push A., although I don't think it took as much effort as she makes it look

J.J.- J. is full of personality! It was kind of cute a few months ago when J. would walk into my parent's room in the middle of the night, full of energy, and would exclaim "Good morning!" Now, months later, it's charm has worn off. I think she was up in the middle of the night each night I was there. My favorite part of the trip is when I come out of the airport terminal and J. runs up to me and gives me a giant hug. I wonder how she'll do when Ry gets home at the end of September

The weather wasn't spectacular while I was home, but I was still able to enjoy the yard. While it isn't too enjoyable to weed and keep a yard, I think Adam and I yearn for the day that we have that responsibility. There's nothing better than hanging out in the backyard!

Here's what the next few weeks hold for AJ and I:

1. AJ will finish up summer school by July 7

2. Over the next three weeks, I will be teaching/tutoring from 10 am- 4 pm each weekday.

3. Beginning tomorrow, we will begin moving our stuff into another apartment

4. Mid-July we will be heading to UT for a bit of a visit

5. I'll get to see Sensei for a few days on the way to visit our families

6. AJ will begin fall semester on August 24

7. I will begin back-to-school meetings and preparation on Sept 2, (I believe)

8. Ry will return from his mission late September, and with any luck he will fly in on Yom Kippur so that I can see the girls reaction when they first see him after his 2 year vacancy

Exciting, ay?

Senior Retreat '09

On Tuesday-Thursday of this week, I was able to participate in Harvard-Wesltake's first ever senior retreat. (Maybe not first ever, but first in many, many years) Right before I left, I was questionning why I had volunteered to be a part of this experience. However, now that I'm back, I am so glad I chose to go. Check out this view!!!

I love being outdoors, away from it all. Unfortunately, the retreat did not go as all like it had been planned (it HAILED us out of our activities on Wednesday), but it was really an incredible experience with a great group of teenagers who will be grand contributors in a very positive way to this world.

In other news...here's a shout out to Cami Jo, Kayley and Kory, who are all members of the class of '09! I wish I could have been there for all of you!

Farewell 2008-09

Another school year has come to a close. Of the three years, I've been teaching, this year was the most enjoyable. Here's some pictures of the awesome students that I had the pleasure of working with this year.

Second Period: Algebra II

Fourth Period: Algebra II Fundamentals

Fifth Period: Math Analysis Honors

Seventh Period: Algebra II

8th Period: Algebra II

Although yesterday was the last day of classes, they still have school. Today they begin their finals. They'll take my final tomorrow. And on Tuesday, I'm off to chaperone senior retreat, followed by graduation next Friday.Then......it is officially summer!

Critical Swine Flu Prevention Tip

DON'T DO THIS!!!

** This was sent to my e-mail at school today.

SB Day Trip and Cravings

An extremely well timed spring break has arrived, and while we weren't able to get away this time, we did take a day trip to Santa Barbara today. We parked in old town and then walked down to the beach, browsing through shops along the way. The weather was absolutely wonderful, but as you can see, it was a bit windy at Stearns Wharf.

Below is a picture taken from Sterns Wharf looking back towards Santa Barbara. Isn't it beautiful?


The next picture needs a bit of explaining. When AJwoke up this morning, he informed me that he had a crazy dream that he was expecting a child (not me....him). So naturally, when the wind puffed up his jacket like so, I had to click it.

Apparently the dream also influenced his ability to have cravings like an expectant woman. As we walked back to old town from the beach he mentioned that he wanted CPK for lunch. However, when we arrived at one location in Santa Barbara, as luck would have it, the power had gone out. We waited around for a bit, but then decided it would be best to head back towards the San Fernando Valley and find a CPK along the way. I kept my eyes peeled for most of the drive, but didn't see one off any of the exits. (BTW, although this sounds old-fashioned, we have no cell phone so this last step, as well as the future ones, really were necessary)


We pulled off in Oxnard, because there was a golf shop that we wanted to stop at and were hoping that a CPK would be nearby. We discovered, after looking in a phonebook at a local Blockbuster, that there was indeed a CPK in one of the towns that we passed on the way to Oxnard. So, in order to satifsy our cravings, we headed back west to Ventura and arrived at CPK.


Unfortunately the service at CPK was HORRIBLE, but we did get our food eventually, and thus ended our first experience with cravings of that sort. I guess in a few years we'll see if this adventure matches up to the real thing.


AJ likes the boats....a lot.

Running mate

In grad school, I met someone that I knew I could count on to be waiting outside my door at 6:15 each morning so that we could start our day out right with a good run. At first she was just my running mate, but she soon became a life-long friend. Oh, how I miss her and our morning runs.

Thanks.....I guess

Last week AJ was encouraged to eat more healthy after visiting a wellness center on his college campus. He took this to heart, and went to the grocery store that evening to buy lots of fruit, yogurt and low-fat granola.


Now, fast forward to Saturday evening: AJ decides that he has done a great job with his diet for the week and wants to reward himself with popcorn. Since he was going to the store, I asked if he would pick up some ice cream so that I could treat myself too (although I had no reason to do so.) This is what he came home with.....

Seriously!!! No Sugar!!! Then what's the point?!?

So we had a little bit of a discussion about how he can't take shortcuts when it comes soothing my ice cream craving....because it certainly doesn't soothe it. It only makes it worse.