Park City

Joel and I love going up to Park City whenever we have some spare time, and since neither one of us had to work today or run any errands, we thought it would be fun to go one more time before we head to Florida. We ate lunch at one of our favorite restaurants on Main Street--Bandits! Joel was REALLY hungry though, and today it took forever to get our food!! You can see the progression of Joel's mood as we continued to wait. Haha!! I was fine though...

















After we ate, we walked over to the skatepark (Joel's FAVORITE skatepark)! Here he is bustin' some moves!! I, of course, soon left to visit the Outlet Mall =)~















On the way home, we stopped in Midway~ one of my most favorite cities~ and I took a picture of the "Hobbit House" (as we call it), and then we went to the Homestead Crater (which is actually an ancient volcano with 65 feet of water inside for scuba diving!!) It's kinda a dark picture, but it is purdy sa-weeet!















Midway is BEA-U-TI-FUL I will definitely miss the mountains!! We had a great day!

The Last Day of School!!!

I'll miss these little rugrats!

End-of-the-Year Awards! Isn't Cody's face too funny?? haha.
My class was the BEST! Love you kids~!!
*Btw, I should NOT be wearing these baggy jeans!! I'll sacrifice comfort for cuteness next time =)-

Haha! Love It! Ya know I do!

Best Friends!!!

A Best Friend is a sister that destiny forgot to give you.

Forever!!!

AND EVER!!!

Sorry! Lots of pictures!

I believe in Angels, the ones that heaven sends. I believe in Angels, but I call them my best friends!

What They Teach Me

I took a picture of my school (so that I can remember) because I'm gettin all sentimental about leaving the place where I've had so many good memories of my little 1st-graders--sniff-sniff. Not a day goes by that they don't draw me pictures or bring me flowers or rocks, or a lost tooth...not a day that I don't watch them on the playground as they put their arms around each other and walk together side-by-side, not a day that I don't notice their carefree spirits, their ability to forgive and keep trying after they've failed many, many times. Even though I'm the teacher, they teach me every single day. Here are some lessons they've taught me:

1. Children have very few choices, yet they have so much life. Their possessions and power are limited, but their lives are abundant. Lesson #1: Less is more.
2. Failing is what little kids do best. That is to say, little children fail a lot but seldom feel like failures. Adults, who fail far less, tend to feel like failures often. My kids keep trying because they know they will eventually succeed. Lesson #2: Fear is worse than failure.
3. Children don't worry about tomorrow because they know they have no control over tomorrow. They do not see life as an obstacle course (like I do frequently), but as an opportunity to do something fun and new. Lesson #3: Let go of worry.
4. Kids live in a state of wonder. They inspect strange bugs and marvel at the size of bubbles. They are always looking forward to something to be excited over. Lesson #4: It's not what you have seen and have done that makes your life marvelous. It's what you haven't seen and haven't done that makes life wonderful.
5. To little children, it comes so naturally to forgive quickly and often. They do it for a selfish reason though: they don't want to be lonely. Children are more willing to forgive in order to keep the fun. Lesson #5: It's better to lose your pride than your friend.
6. Children show genuine love. When someone starts crying, no matter if they are in our class or not, they go up to them and comfort them. Their hearts have not been calloused by the pain of the world. Their souls are still sensitive and soft. They are not scared to feel what others feel. They aren't repulsed by another's pain. Lesson #6: Mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort.

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Little Children.

American Idol Tour BA-BAY!

The tour is coming to Tampa in August and although I'm dreadfully aware of the swarms of teeny-boppers that are going to be wailing around me, I felt it was worth spending just a little bit of money to see my beloved Jason! This little blurb sums up why:

"It was his voice. A voice that made me feel, a voice that transported me in place and time, a voice that lifted me to summertime bonfires, to dark rooms and tear stained faces, to retrospective gratefulness for the life I have behind and before me, to the joyful whimsy of childhood. I’m not sure what this man-child has but whatever it is, it’s infectious and delicious.

"Jason Castro was a gift to American Idol. No, he doesn’t have a voice that is technically flawless with a five-octave range but his flaws are perfect flaws. They are the flaws of heart and soul, they are the flaws of a song sung about life lived with a knowing and a beauty, I can feel what he’s saying with every crack, with every broken note, with every perfect flight into falsetto, he moves me. So, on the day his CD hits the store shelves I’ll pick up a copy and the next and the next. I’ll miss you Jason, I’ll miss your voice, I’ll miss your attitude, I’ll miss your face, and I’ll miss someone that “was thinking Bob Marley.”

Amen to that.

It's Official!

Today, I am officially a HOMEOWNER. =)

An Uncanny Resemblance??

Ok...everyone and their BROTHER keeps telling Joel that he looks like Spencer Pratt from The Hills!! I couldn't find a picture of Joel with his hair long, but what do you think?? hmmmmmm. hahaha. Maybe they're long lost brothers--aww! They ARE both from California, ya know