Flying High

So I am writing this blog while flying to Burbank. Southwest Airlines is testing out FREE Wi-Fi on two of their planes and I happened to be lucky enough to be on one of those planes. It is very strange to be able to surf the Internet while 10,000 feet above the ground. But extremely convenient as well, I could get used to this that's for sure. What will they think of next?
So I am really excited for my trip because I get to see my brother and my of my closest friends, Kelli, who lives in LA with her husband. Kelli and I are going to Britney Spears tonight and then tomorrow we're all headed to Disneyland for a Magical Day =)! I am sad because I had to leave Bri behind, he has a bachelor party but absences makes the heart grow fonder right =)! Bri and I will be back soon enough for my cousin's graduation anyways! Well hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday!

Landon Liam Barrett

So I had to introduce Bri's nephew, Landon Liam Barrett. He is just the sweetest thing ever. He has two sisters, both under 2 1/2 who are equally as adorable as well!

Apple Chips

Ok so I have to brag about one of my new favorite things! I found these at Costco the other day and they are incredible! I LOVE them! Definitely worth trying!

Easter...

As everyone knows I am a huge family girl. But as things get more serious between Brian and I I felt as if we should spend some more time with his family. Brian has always been more than understaning about me wanting to spend the holidays with my side of the family and has gone out of his way (three trips from Elk Grove to Maxwell and back) during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) to make that happen. However, I was starting to feel very selfish. So being that his brother and his wife just had their son, Landon Liam Barrett, last week we figured this easter would be the perfect holiday to spend with his family. However, as I sit at home I am saddened by the fact that I won't be celebrating with my family tomorrow =(! I know I am being a bit overdramatic and it's really not such a big deal. But I suddenly feel very upset that I am going to be away from my family. I mean I am thrilled to be with Brian as always but I just wish we could be togehter with my family =). Wow, so as I reread this in my head I realize it sounds completely selfish and I need to put a smile on my face, stop being such a baby and realize that each new experience only helps us grow. Happy Easter everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

What three songs do you wish you could erase from your memory?

What three songs do you wish you could erase from your memory?
Stole this from Leslee =) Great Blog Prompt!

• Enya "Only Time" - They played that song during the "Every Fifteen Minutes" program at my sister's high school and I balled my eyes out. To this day I still can't hear that song without it sending chills down my spine
• Chris Daughtry "It's Not Over" - I have some bad memories associated with this song. Lesson learned but still not a song I care to remember
• And stealing one from Leslee "Smelly Cat" by Phoebe cause now it's stuck in my head and I can't get it out!?!
  

The New House

Living Room Before Living Room After
More pictures to come!

Developing Lesson Plans

Developing lesson plans and units is a really exciting part of becoming a teacher. I love researching about what I will be teaching my future students. With the use of the internet, when it works properly, research is so much fun. However, my biggest problem when it comes to unit development is fitting all the puzzle pieces together. I have so many different topics and ideas I want to teach my future students about and yet they don't seem to all fit together nicely. As we worked on the unit for our presentation I found myself wanting to take it in so many directions. It was very helpful to have decisive group members who cut and spliced the unit into nice succinct pieces. As a future teacher I know I am going to have to learn to be more decisive in order to make my job easier. Also I know that in being realistic I can not cram a million different things into one lesson plan. It is important to focus on the big picture and fill in with the smaller ideas as is necessary.
I have no problem understanding the basic lesson plan, which I am so thankful to Rene Nicholson for drilling into our heads. However, designing the unit is definitely still a little more of a hazy concept for me. I understand the basic idea but I still have difficulties with making all of my lessons fit into one unit. I know that as I work more and more with units this too will become second nature.
When I started this program I always believed that I wanted to teach kindergarten so therefore most of my lessons thus far have been geared towards that age group. However, as I began subbing I realized that the older grades were alot of fun as well, so now I am adjusting my lesson planning and working with some of the older grade levels as well. I know that especially in this economy, you never know what grade you are going to teach so I am glad that I am getting the opportunity to expand my horizons.

Guess what...

Yep you guessed it we have concrete now =)!
Wow, I feel quite grown up being that excited about concrete but it is just one step closer to actually having a yard =)! The concrete guys were a little difficult to work with but the finished product is beautiful and that's what really matters right? So I was thinking fantastic the dogs have a yard to play in right? WRONG! The next day Brian and my dad began trenching up the backyard for sprinklers. So we now have half a million trenches dug in the backyard. I know it's necessary if we want to have grass anytime in the near future, but I was kinda enjoying the fact that I could get up in the morning and let the dogs loose in the yard. Oh well, eventually everything will be done =)! I guess I should just remember to be thankful for a boyfriend who works so hard to get things done =)!