Monday, November 06, 2006

Value your vote and vote your values!!!!

Get out there and vote...my second graders are :o)

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Wow, I should buy a new car more often so that people will comment!

Well, this week I've been having parent teacher conferences. I am looking forward to tomorrow, it will be my only conference in English! My Spanish has gotten much better! I'm proud of it. hehe It has been good to meet all the parents and to see where my students are coming from. I love my job and my students.

This weekend I am going to the Santa Cruz County Sharefest. It's when all the churches in the county get together to do service projects. Our young adult group is going down to a run down area by the beach to paint and fix it up. I am really looking forward to hanging out with all the people in the group! I really like it, and am about to get involved on the activities committee...surprise surprise. I am ina girls group on mondays and a mixed group on thursdays. I am soooo happy to finally have a church, it makes life sooooo much better.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Sunday, October 15, 2006

ahhhhh!

I just did my first adultish thing. I bought a car! Welcome to my 2006 Ford Escape complete with 6 cd changer and sunroof :o) and now, i will be broke for the next 6 years!! hehe sooo excited!

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

the slo life

hi all! Amy is right, i haven't posted in awhile! I visited slo this past weekend. it was AWESOME! I got to hang out with the nugents a ton and saw a few other people. Lets just say, it took all i have to leave again. Benjamin kept saying how much he misses me and asking me to not go home. i could barely handle it, and i so wish i could stay and help...oh how i miss them! I had a nice relaxing time there, that ended with a victorious charger party at the peets! it was good times!

Teaching is going great. Life is much better than it was 3 months ago! Things are much calmer, and we have such an fun time in my classroom. We r always laughing and just hanging out with each other. I have bonded with the kids and i almost always want to cry when they tell me they love me. I love being a teacher...i now know what God had in store for me. Most of these students just want a hug or some attention. I'm more than willing to give that! Now the next challenge:doing 15 parent conferences in spanish....joy....

Also, I am starting to get involved at santa cruz bible church. I love the church and the young adults group. I just joined a bible study and i really enjoyed it. I hope this helps to fight the loneliness i was feeling! its so hard to move! I have made a few friends there and am looking forward to making more.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Life

Other than watching 24, I have found a church and a fun post-college group! I hope things continue to go well. I have been attending Santa Cruz Bible Church. I really like the pastor and the young adult pastor. I hope it will start to feel more like home soon, but man, do i miss Grace!! Can't wait to go to SLO...2 weeks!
I LOVE 24!

Friday, September 08, 2006

An update...

Well, I think it's time for an update...even though theres not much to update!

I just finished season 2 of 24...and wow, that is a high quality show...love stories, action, crazyness...and of course Jack Bauer and Tony Almeda dont make the show horrible..haha. Although I already know Tony dies in season 5 :o(

Anywho, I have been spending a lot of my time watching 24 and reading! I haven't found a church yet, so I havent really met many people, outside of school. I can't wait to find a home church! School is pretty much the same. It seems to get better each day, even though my one student is an emotional rollercoaster...he pretty much dominates my life, in school and out. I love him to death...and today he gave me a huge hug, first time hes ever done that...but wow...that was only after a very long crying fit he through during my lesson. He's a hard one, but he's worth all the time and energy. This is what I was born to do...give these kids the hope they need! I know the Lord brought me here for a reason, even if its just taht one student. So everyday, when I question my career choice, I have to remind myself of all the positives. Not to mention, I couldn't have picked a better staff to work with, wow they're amazing. The 2nd grade team is pretty much the best! My partner(th eother bilingual teacher) is so awesome. She's so helpful and if she wasn't married with 2 kids, im sure we'd hang out all the time..haha.

Last weekend Rachel came to visit. She got to come to my class and hang out for the day..it was interesting for her, haha. We went to the aquarium, to the gilroy outlets and to the santa cruz boardwalk..it was an awesome weekend! The weeks after those weekends are always hard, because now i have nothing to do this weekend! Well, except for Sunday, because Kristina and I are going to the Padres-Giants game in SF! We have 2nd row tickets! woo hoo! Soooo excited!

Well, I guess I'll get some sleep....so happy to sleep in! Hope everyone is well!

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Yes, the moment youve all been waiting for, Suri actually exists. haha

http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/pressroom/

24

Ok...since I don't really have much of a life after full day of teaching, I have been watching A LOT of 24, and I mean a lot. I got season 1 for graduation and then bought season 2 cuz it was on sale. I'm almost finished with 2, then I have to watch 3 and then the last few episodes of 4 and then season 5, and then I'll be all caught up! I have until January, til the new one starts, so i think ill be ok. Anyways, I'm a little emotional today, because I had a rough day...but anyways, Jack Bauer is about to fly a plane with a nuclear bomb into the desert so that he can save everyone in california. He's talking to his daughter and saying good bye...so I actually find myself crying! After its over, I start laughing hysterically. I know that jack bauer is in every season, so i know he doesnt die! hahahhaha...still, such a girl thing to do! Ok, this post was really lame, but i thought it was funny. If you dont watch, you should. Monday nights, starting in january!



HAHAHAHA

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1532225,00.html?cnn=yes

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Lo siento...

Sorry...for the lack of posts. I have been soooo busy! I don't leave school til about 6 everyday, then I pretty much just come home, cook dinner and watch 24! I'm trying to watch all the seasons before the new one starts.

School is going well, but I have a difficult class. I really, really love my students, even when they drive me nuts, which is pretty much everyday. for the love! Hope everyone is doing well!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

church

Well, I tried my first new church today. Twin Lakes Church in Capitola. Wow, it was HUGE! I mean, there was an upstairs to sit too! The pastor wasn't there, he and another pastor switched for two weeks. The guest pastor was really good, but I'm interested to see the regular pastor. I enjoyed the service, but am looking forward to checking out some other churches.

One thing I had a hard time with was the scripture reading. I was one of maybe 5 people who opened their bibles. Even the pastor read from the piece of paper in the bulletin. I noticed they also had it up in power point. I guess when it is already there for you twice, why open the bible? That bothered me a tiny bit. Mostly because at Grace, Pastor Tim was always very adamant about opening out bibles, and I loved that.

Today made me Slo sick, really bad. I was really sad afterwards. Mostly I have been too busy to be sad, but then it just hit me! Can't wait to get back to visit.

I will be out of town next week with Christy, but the week after I think I will check out Santa Cruz bible church. That is also a huge church! If you know any churches up here, let me know!

Saturday, August 19, 2006

The First Week...

So by popular demand...here is my first week of school. (as a teacher, i mean!)

On Monday, we had a whole day of training. 8:30-3:30. After that the first and second grade teachers stayed another 1.5 hours to figure out a problem. There are 2 bilingual classes and two english classes. There is only 1 bilingual teacher, and 3 of us english speakers. The district wants us to be teaching 50 percent spanish and 50 percent english. To make the program bilingual, my class switches with another class for language arts. I teach both classes in english and Laura, the Spanish Speaker, teaches it in Spanish. The first day, I met a lot of my parents. Only a few of them speak English. I was surprised at how much Spanish I remembered! Good thing too, since I have been speaking Spanish for about 85 percent of the school day! I have a few students who don't speak English, so speaking Spanish is the best way to clear up instructions. I should be completely bilingual by the end of the month!

My class is very sweet, but very loud! On the second day, they took advantage of me a little bit, so on the 3rd day, I turned into a meanie. I took away 7 recess' and the whole class had to stay in for 5 minutes during one! Needless to say, it worked. They were shocked, and I will continue to be that way until it works.

All of the teachers at the school are amazing. They are all very young and very fun! I get along with all of them and have become friends with a few! I am enjoying being a teacher, but there is so much work that goes with it! I am always so tired, so I rarely do anything after work! I am looking forward to trying out a church tomorrow. And tonight, I'm going to Jessi's belated graduation party! She's the only one I really know in the area, so I am excited to hang out with her! Plus I havent been anywhere but Watsonville and Gilroy for the past week. Speaking of Gilroy, that place is the greatest, with the exception of the smell lol. 145 outlets...that place is so amazing! I can't wait to go back!

I am missing SLO a lot! But, I am trying my best to move on and make my life here. I am missing you all, and I hope everyone is doing well!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

more Hawaii...


Girls "night out" haha


parasailing!

ok..my computer is being too slow..more later!
Work starts tomorrow! ahh!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Hawaii in a nutshell...hehe

Way too much to tell, so I'll do my best!

Day 1:
-Almost missed our flight in SLO, nugent party of 3, alderton party of 1, last call..haha
-Found out we were going to the big island, flying into Kona (it was a surprise!)
-Christy met us at LAX (was supposed to be a surprise, but i kinda knew, nevertheless, i was ESTATIC!)
- We got to Kona about 11:30 am, hit up costco and the grocery store, settled into the condo, and slept!
- spend hours trying to figure out why hawaii looked more like a desert than a tropical island...gotta love the lava rock!
- settled into our condo in Waikaloa
- I honestly dont know what happened the rest of the day haha

Day 2:
- went snorkeling at Kaphu'u beach, or something like that
-soooooooo awesome, snorkeling is so cool, and we saw tons of fish
- hung out the rest of the day at the pool and condo

Day 3:
- sooo sick, not cool
- we went to a private beach, where only 25 outside cars are let in
- it was awesome, but i was sick, so i didnt really get to enjoy it, no good
- went to downtown Kailua-Kona with Christy, trying to find the "Scene"
- apparently people dont go out on Mondays, no luck, haha
- did tons of shopping though!

Day 4:
-took a drive to the other side of the island, Hilo
-it was much more tropical, swam in a waterwall, hiked to a few others, and bought a fresh, ice cold coconut from a cute hawaiin boy
- we also went to the hilo zoo for 15 minutes, because it closed at 400 and we got there at 345 haha, turbo tour, otherwise known as the blair zoo project on my video camera!
-went to a park in hilo and just enjoyed that side of the island

Day 5:
- probably my favorite day in hawaii!
-in the morning we went to the pool
-then, Christy and I went parasailing!
-we went up to 1200 feet! if you know me, thats a big accomplishment.
- I saw a group of about 15 dolphins, soo lucky!
-boat drivers definitely made the trip even more fun, good times!
- that night we went to a luau at the marriot(we= Christy and I)
- it was awesome. awesome food, awesome show, awesome company
- our table was a lot of fun, although the host guy couldnt find us 2 single guys! :o(
- Snuck into the marriot pool, then called it a night hehe

Day 6:
- kayaking! we all rented kayaks and kayaked a mile in the ocean to a prime snorkeling spot
- the snorkeling was great, and the kayaking was hard work, but wow Benjamin did awesome!
- on the way out, christy and i got stuck on a rock, hilarious, but we got out!
- took the kayaks back to the Kona Boys, and got ready for dinner, after some home made macademia nut ice cream!
- we went to a nice dinner at Cafe Pesto...yummy!

Day 7:
-we went out to the beach at the mariott resort!
- not great snorkeling, but the waves were a good size for benjamin
- talked to a fireman(got paid 5 bucks haha), who tried to talk me into moving to hawaii to teach, apparently theres a good job market
- after my credential is cleared, i will seriously consider it! ( you all have 2 years to save up to visit me in hawaii!)
- Katie and Tim took a snorkeling cruise, so christy, benjamin and i headed over to the hilton to see the dolphins and sneak into the amazing pool! haha
- that hotel is AMAZING, you have to take a tram to get around it!
-we packed up the car and went to bed early!

Day 8 (last day) :o(
-left really early to turn in all our gear, and head to the other side of the island
-we headed for the Hawaii Volcanoe national park. We saw craters, went in pitch black lava tubes and took a 3 mile hike to a crater.
- Did i mention there was an active volcanoe directly in front of us? It was awesome!
- Drove back around the hilo side, and stopped at a stand and had white pineapple, soo yummy!
- went to the firestation to buy a shirt, no one there :o(
- dinner at the beach front hard rock cafe, then off to the airport!
- Our flight, which was supposed to leave at 10 pm, didnt leave til 12 am!
- It took us a few hours to check our luggage!
- We got to SLO around 1130 CA time, i took a nap, did some laundry, then headed up to oakland for traning!


That's where i am now. I'm staying at a friend's house in Pleasaton, until thursday, then a hotel thursday night. I am going on my 3rd day of training. It's not too bad, im just stressed that I am here and not in my classroom where I should be! I talked to my new mentor teacher and the new principal. I think I am going to be richly blessed in that area. I have heard great things about both! yay!

I hope to upload some more pictures once i get settled in! Hope everyone is doing well!
-

Friday, August 04, 2006

Hawaii!!!


We're in Hawaii! We are having a great time! Christy and I went parasailing and to a luau yesterday! We had an awesome time doing both! Today was kayaking and snorkeling! Wow, I'm exhausted! We are on the big island of Hawaii, about 30 miles from Kona. This island is different because it is full of lava rock! The island was formed by volcanoes and still looks like one. Haha. We also went to the other side, and its very tropical! More Hawaii-ish! The island is huge, all the other islands could fit on this island, with room left over! I am really enjoying the time away, and am not looking forward to getting back to normal life! Benjamin is holding up well, but he is really jealous that tee-ti got to see dolphins when she was parasailing! Hope everyone else is doing well! Back on Sunday, then its off to Oakland for training!


Aka Aka Falls

Friday, July 28, 2006

fun from wednesday night..

Some pictures I stole from Jessica hehe



David...having way too much fun!



Jessica and one of our SLO families :o)



great picture of the Fuglers!

It was an awesome time of hanging out with some of my church family in slo. I had such an awesome time!

Thursday, July 27, 2006

moving...

Well, I am officially moved! All of my stuff is in Watsonville and unpacked...welll except the 9 boxes that are going to my classroom! I am exhausted, all I have been doing for 3 days is cleaning, packing and sweating..haha. Tomorrow we clean, and then it will be over! Thank goodness for hawaii! only 2 days!!! I am soooo looking forward to it! Katie just made reservations for a luau for her and I to go to. So touristy, but it must be done. :o) Also, I'm thinking about parasailing...we'll see if I can handle it!

Last night, Jon and Noonie had me, Jessica and the Leonards over for dinner. It was such a fun time! and wow, was the food amazing! It was sooooo x 100 hard to say goodbye!

oh no, lynn is here to get me for applebees, more later! :o)

Monday, July 24, 2006

ay yay ay

113 degrees in Paso Robles today...at 11:00 am. bring on hawaii!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Summer School

Wow, I can't believe I am about to start my last week of teaching summer school! It seems so unreal. I can tell that I picked the right career. If you can love teaching during the summer, you can love teaching always. haha I love those kids. I loved speaking Spanish, I loved coming up with the plan when I got to school in the morning, and I loved having a good time.

Some things I learned:
-yelling at kids, doesn't work
-sitting down with them and helping them through the book or the work, does work
-if one of your students doesn't speak english, you have to change everything about your teaching
-don't do everything the curriculum tells you to
-productive noise is ok
-3rd grade boys like to show off
-getting hand drawn pictures is the coolest thing ever
-all 4 years at cal poly are worth it after you get a letter that says you're the best teacher they've ever had :)
-every student has potential, you just have to bring it out in them!
-math stinks, but timed tests really do work
-explain everything, if you think they know how to do it, explain it again

I'd say it's been a productive summer! I'm still terrified of having my own classroom, but at least I know which things work, and which things don't! In 3 weeks, school starts. how crazy is that?!?!

but even sooner...hawaii...5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. this heat is crazy!

Finleyfan02: How do you feel about ice cream later?
RebelDM01: are you thinkin' coldstone ice cream?
FinleyFan02: im thinkin anything thats cold
RebelDM01: amen
FinleyFan02: i dont really care where
RebelDM01: i'll LAY on their cold stone
FinleyFan02: HAHAH

Friday, July 21, 2006

Roomie!

My roomie is moving out, as we speak! :o( We've lived together for 2 years, and I will miss her dearly, even though she wasn't here much! I'm just watching them move stuff, and wishing that I didn't have to do that in a week. I so hate moving, mostly because i dont want to pack everything!

meanwhile, benjamin is asleep in the other room (finally) and I'm trying to get myself tired enough to join him, since he'll probably be up in 5 hours!
good night!

Dancing fun!

Last night we went dancing to celebrate Amy's last day of being a cal poly student!(not that we don't usually go on thursdays, lol) Anyways, Amy, Lynn and I had an awesome time! Line dancing in the summer is always so awesome, because there's not as many people! I'm looking forward to enjoy my last week of dancing, next week. Maybe I can get my parents to come! haha

In other news, Rachel just booked flights to come visit me on Labor Day Weekend, how cool is that?!?! Now I'm excited to move, just so she can come visit :o) She's coming Aug. 31st and then leaving on labor day. I think we're going to go to the Monterey Aquarium, one of my favorite places! Also, since she hasn't been to sbc park, I think we're going to go to a giants game, which I'm always a fan of, because Steve Finley is on the team! She is also going to be able to come to school with me on Friday, which is sooooo exciting. That will be a good time, even though I'll put her to work ;o)

I also just booked my flight to fly home for thanksgiving. It was 70 dollars cheaper if I flew home on tuesday night, instead of wednesday morning. Kind of lame. $160 round trip is pretty good! I am sooo looking forward to not driving, especially if I have the same car. (poor corrolla!)

Well I'm off to the pool with Katie and Benjamin!

P.S. 8 days til Hawaii!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

fun graduation pictures....

Since I didn't have this blog when I graduated, I thought it would be fun to post some pictures from graduation and the party for those of you who didn't get to come


both sides of the fam :o)



me and Mike my other family :o)

that's all for now! maybe more to come!

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Sushi!

Jacquelyn and I went out for our last (*tear*) hang out night, for awhile. We've had an awesome time getting to know each other these past few years, even if it was around my crazy schedule and her fun kids! I'll miss their family, dearly! Can't wait til you come up for the aquarium! Remember, Eliannah knows all about it, and she definitely deserves it after this ordeal! :o)

Some fun pictures....


Just happened to be my biggest bite of sushi...and if you know me, you know why this is hilarious haha


Sushi first-timer...she was brave and did well! I wonder what the fish in the background is thinking lol...

leaving...

Ok, so I admit, I'm getting a little emotional. A week from tomorrow I will officially be moved out of SLO and will be one day away from Hawaii! But wow, where has the time gone?!?!! I'm starting to feel the sadness...

Not to mention, this is my last official Nugent date night. For two years I have cleared my schedule every Wednesday to be able to spend precious time with them and Benjamin, usually Ben, while they go out. Free dinner every Wednesday, sweet deal huh? ;o) Wow, so weird. I really, really hope I am good about keeping in contact with them! I'm sure I will be, especially with the new baby. Anywho, Benjamin is staying at my house this friday, for a last night with tee-ti (auntie christal). That should be fun, even though Tim keeps laughing at me for that decision. I might as well get used to it, we're sleeping in the same room for 6 days in hawaii! 6 days of 6am...haha...I told Tim I was going to send him to their room at 2am, and tell him to say he wanted to sleep with mommy and daddy..hahaha.

Not only am I moving from my beloved SLO, but I am moving further from home and my family and friends there! Good thing I'll be making sooo much money I can fly whenever I want to (hahaha *sarcastic*) Rachel, Julie and McG's...you must come visit the big SC! (in fact, everyone needs to visit!)

That's all for now, I guess! I hope everyone is doing well!

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

comments...

my apologies to those who couldn't comment before. It's fixed now!

fun videos

If you haven't watched these videos...you should....

Evolution of Dance
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vS10iEz3aV4&search=evolution%20of%20dance


World Cup crazyness
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zAjWi663kXc&mode=related&search=zidane%20headbutt

Did he deserve a red card? Even tho the refs technically didn't see it? What do you think? Does anyone even care anymore? lol...I'm still way into soccer after the world cup! I miss it!

summer fun

before I go...
Lynn and I had a great time at the beach this past week! Clam Chowder was also a hit :o) Yay to catching up with old friends!





new blog!

Hi All. I switched over from xanga because a few people said that they can't comment there, and that's no fun! I stayed home from work today, because I have had flu like symptoms. Kinda random. I was with eliannah moses a lot this weekend, and I just found out she has the chicken pox. Sooo, I may be reacting to that, even though I've already had it! Anywho, I'm just enjoying relaxing and being away from the kids for a day. Man, they're tiring. I just hope that they haven't killed the sub yet. lol. I've been praying for her all day, because everyday after recess, they've been really obnoxious. Anyways...hope all is well with everyone!

11 days til Hawaii!