Monday, December 13, 2010

Catching Up

I've not blogged in forever! Thanks to those of you who reminded me, I will try to be a bit more constant with it.

These past few months I've been teaching at two schools and it has kept me quite busy! I am loving my job (yay!), but teaching one less class next semester as maybe I bit off too much in teaching 6 college classes my first semester! So next term I plan on teaching only 5. I'm a bit sad semester is coming to an end, as I had many wonderful students that I will miss. But hopefully I will get a new batch of great students come January!

This week is finals at my second school and then it's a long break! Hmmm, maybe I should look for temp work while school is out.... :)

Even though I have a month off, there are no big travel plans. I think Dad and I will go to Des Moines to see family, but that's about it. And as for the future, I promise I have not made plans to leave the country again! Although wouldn't it be useful to learn Mandarin...... :)

So for those of you used to crazy adventures and fun pictures from other parts of the world, this blog may be slightly less exciting for awhile. But never fear, I have included some pictures of my regular U.S. life as of recent! The pics are not in order, but here you go!



Ashli and I making a gingerbread house. The roof kept falling off and I would seriously advise against eating the hard as a rock candy, but we were satisfied with the final product. Although, I'm not sure any house will ever come close to Emma's and mine with the Soviet Santa back in Hamburg (there are pics of it on my blog as well).





Around Halloween Ellen and I tried our hands at various sizes of pumpkins. On a side note, I randomly met Ellen in an airport in Barcelona as we were both working in the south of Spain, and since we've been back we do weekly Spanish practice. Me encanta!

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For Dad's birthday his sister surprised him by publishing a book he had written years ago. What a wonderful gift! If you want to look at it, you can find it on Amazon and Zulu. The title is hard to see here, but it's called Stolen Identity.




Ashli, Hannah and I attended Whitney's masquerade ballroom dance in a private airplane hangar. It was great fun! People all dressed up and in masks dancing around airplanes to a live band. Lovely!



Ashli also had a Halloween party at her place. She throws great parties!

Well that's life in Kansas for now. At the moment it's freezing cold, a little snowy and I've got grades and finals on the brain. I've been ballroom dancing again (love it!) and am ready for the holidays! I love all the lights and decorations, and Dad and I have even put up a few ourselves.

I hope everyone is doing well and happy holidays!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

A Month for Weddings








September has definitely been a month for weddings! Mom got married a week ago, and Dan this past Friday. Both very lovely ceremonies and celebrations! So much happiness! And an occasion to dress up.

Mom's was outside in the sweltering heat in the beautiful Missouri countryside, while Dan's was at Longview Mansion, also a lovely venue.

It's still very warm here. I am eagerly awaiting some fall weather with sweaters and scarves! Work is keeping me very busy, hence a lack of blogging. But it's almost October, my favorite month, and things are going wonderfully!

Monday, August 09, 2010

Lately...

A lot has been going on lately. Here are some pics to show! Dad and I helped Joanna and boyfriend SK paint her house, which she just got an offer on!!! (sorry pics are out of order)






Hannah and Nathan's joint birthday party with lots of salsa dancing!



Us girls before a night out of salsa dancing.



A MISO get together while Sheri and Kenyon were in town.



Dad painting the second story of Joanna's house.....






And of course the bi-weekly pool parties.

Now if only the heat would break!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

JOB!

So I finally found a job! Teaching ESL at a local university. It's 20 hours a week so I will need to find some more hours, but I'm really excited! I start in about a month!

Also, if you're wondering about Mom, she's doing well. Surgery went really well and she's just healing.

I hear the salsa club calling....

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Trip to see Megan















Megan and I did so much! Went to San Fran for a bit, biked through vineyards, she took me on a 13 mile bike (run for her), had a bbq while watching Spain win the World Cup, picked fruit from her backyard, and rode to the grocery store on bikes. It was a great trip! We also went up Mount Diablo and to Rock City, some very beautiful places!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

New Baby Sister



Lauren Avery was born 7-7-10. She was 6 lbs and sooooooo cute! Healthy and happy, baby and mother both! Yay!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Tomatoes



The romas are just starting and the cherry tomatoes are turning red! I'm so excited! Is that sad that I'm so excited? Oh dear, I need a job....

Friday, June 25, 2010

Lawrence Film Festival and Broadband Man


Joanna and I went to Lawrence last night for the summer film festival, which this year is showing movies with Cary Grant. We watched The Philadelphia Story as it was projected up onto a big wall. We took blankets and laid on the grass and enjoyed an old black and white classic. But we were pleasantly surprised to find Broadband Man advertising in his super cool superhero outfit. We couldn't resist taking our picture with him!
I also highly recommend Lawrence's downtown summer film festival!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Pool Party!



People playing in the pool.





Jennie and I! Jennie in her rain jacket and rain boots!





Sariah, Sam and James's cutie!




I made Spanish tapas! This is just one of the tortillas.




It stormed the day before and Dad went out there with a METAL POLE in the WATER to fish things out. Not the smartest...lol.


The pool party was great fun! I'm glad everyone could make it out! :)

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Some Pics of Home



Janet and Silvino's wedding! Beautiful.





The start of the bachelorette party downtown. Fun!




Badminton/volleyball court in backyard. Dad and I just put it up. :)





I've decided to try my hand at growing tomatoes (and some mint). I'm growing them in pots and hope it works! Homegrown produce is always the tastiest.




Ahhhh how I've missed the pool!





We have Tiger Lilies growing next to the house, and I need to get to a nursery and plant more! They are gorgeous.



Dad and I are off to the lake. There will be more pictures. And also hopefully some soon from Janet's wedding!