This was BUSY weekend (for me anyway). Friday night, Elizabeth and I headed to Urbandale to spend the night. On Saturday, we ran in the Living History Farms race. It's 7 miles through the woods, fields, mud, and creeks but it is SO much fun! We didn't get any pictures taken :( but we dressed up as the 80s. We had side pony tails in scrunchies, leggings, big sweatshirts (with the necks cut to show our sports bras). We finished and hurried back to shower.
Elizabeth and I then went our separate ways: she went back to Waterloo and I went to Iowa City to meet Tyson for the Iowa game. He had been tailgating since about 8:30 that morning. I arrived in Iowa City before the game started, but drove around looking for a parking spot for about 30 min, so I ended up being about 10 min late for the game! The game was fun, even though Iowa lost! (booo!!) After the game, it took us over an hour to get to I-80 to get home! (My parking spot ended up putting us right where EVERYONE else was parked). We made it to Cedar Rapids, ate at Chili's, and then finally got home around 10pm. We pretty much went straight to bed; it was a LONG day for both of us. (Sorry, no pictures from the game either!!)
Today, Tyson spent the day on the couch watching tv and reading, while I spent the majority of the day at school. I've been spending every Sunday there since I started and feel like I get nowhere every time. Although today I got my room rearranged and really love it now!! One of these days I'll hopefully feel like I'm not always trying to catch up. I guess that's what happens when you get hired 2 months after school started!
Anyway, we leave for Mexico in 4 days. We'll be staying in Moline on Wednesday night, catching a taxi to the airport Thursday morning, and on our way to Mexico by 6:15am!! We are both SOOO excited! Now....what to pack?! :)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tyson's birthday weekend
Tyson's birthday was on Friday (11/5). He had mentioned the week before that we hadn't been to Jack & Arnie's for a long time, so we decided we would go for his birthday. So, we headed there after work on Friday. It was a pretty busy place! :) We stopped at a friends' house on our way home because they had gotten Tyson a cupcake from Scratch bakery. Luckily for me, they actually got TWO, so we came home and enjoyed a birthday cupcake for each of us. I also gave Tyson his birthday present, which was tickets for us to to go a Wakey! Wakey! concert in Iowa City on Saturday. He's known for awhile that we were going to go to IC, but he didn't know why until Friday night. (We found/heard of Wakey! Wakey! on One Tree Hill, so if you watch the show, you know what I'm talking about)
On Saturday morning, Tyson got up early like usual and I slept late like usual. We lounged around, watched the Iowa game, and then finally showered and packed our bags for Iowa City. We left around 3:00pm. We stayed at the Holidy Inn Express in Coralville and right next to it was the Black & Gold store. Tyson wanted to go there before we went to the concert. They literally have anything Iowa Hawkeyes that you can think of! We didn't end up buying anything, but we were kind of in a hurry. Maybe we'll have to make a stop back....or maybe I'll have to go for some Christmas shopping.... :) :)
The concert was at Blue Moose Tap House downtown. We got there a little early (my fault!) so we had a couple drinks and waited for the band to start. There were 2 opening acts before Wakey! Wakey! When it was finally their turn, Tyson was like a little kid in a candy store! He was smiling ear to ear and couldn't wait for them to start! Hahahaha!
After the concert, we were STARVING!! However, nothing is open at 11:30pm for dinner :). We finally found an Old Chicago so we enjoyed dinner at midnight, just as their kitchen was closing. They probably hated us, but there was another table that ordered at the same time as us. On Sunday, we slept in all morning. Well...I did anything. Tyson read his book and ESPN.com. We headed home at about 10:30am. Tyson spent the rest of the day relaxing and sleeping, and I headed to school to get my classroom ready!
***Pictures to come from the weekend.***
On Saturday morning, Tyson got up early like usual and I slept late like usual. We lounged around, watched the Iowa game, and then finally showered and packed our bags for Iowa City. We left around 3:00pm. We stayed at the Holidy Inn Express in Coralville and right next to it was the Black & Gold store. Tyson wanted to go there before we went to the concert. They literally have anything Iowa Hawkeyes that you can think of! We didn't end up buying anything, but we were kind of in a hurry. Maybe we'll have to make a stop back....or maybe I'll have to go for some Christmas shopping.... :) :)
The concert was at Blue Moose Tap House downtown. We got there a little early (my fault!) so we had a couple drinks and waited for the band to start. There were 2 opening acts before Wakey! Wakey! When it was finally their turn, Tyson was like a little kid in a candy store! He was smiling ear to ear and couldn't wait for them to start! Hahahaha!
After the concert, we were STARVING!! However, nothing is open at 11:30pm for dinner :). We finally found an Old Chicago so we enjoyed dinner at midnight, just as their kitchen was closing. They probably hated us, but there was another table that ordered at the same time as us. On Sunday, we slept in all morning. Well...I did anything. Tyson read his book and ESPN.com. We headed home at about 10:30am. Tyson spent the rest of the day relaxing and sleeping, and I headed to school to get my classroom ready!
***Pictures to come from the weekend.***
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Vampire Ladybug
Yesterday, Cedar Falls had trick or treat on Main so Wendy took Ava to see the Jiva girls. They didn't do the full trick or treating this year....Ava's fangs wouldn't be able to chew up all of that candy! :)
Tyson and I wanted to see Ava in her costume, so Wendy brought her to Snap for a Halloween cookie! It turns out that I bought the world's crumbliest cookie, Ava loves to play with the ab ball, and she likes to bounce on the Bosu ball. Maybe Tyson can start offering childcare after all? :)
Tyson and I wanted to see Ava in her costume, so Wendy brought her to Snap for a Halloween cookie! It turns out that I bought the world's crumbliest cookie, Ava loves to play with the ab ball, and she likes to bounce on the Bosu ball. Maybe Tyson can start offering childcare after all? :)
 |
| Yummy cookie! |
 |
| This cookie is hard to eat in this costume! |
 |
 |
| Ava is in a food coma after that cookie! |
 |
| Yay for Halloween!! |
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Pumpkin Carving
This is the 3rd Halloween (Nevada Day) that Tyson and I have been together, and every year we've both picked out a pumpkin and spent a night carving. Here are the results of this year and the previous 2 years.
Now, if you don't know why I said "Halloween (Nevada Day)" above...this is because Tyson calls October 31 'Nevada Day'. This was the day that Nevada became a state and part of the Union. So, if you live in Nevada on October 31st, this is a state wide holiday. We're talking no school, bed frame races in Carson City, parade, and lots of celebrating! So around our home, October 31st means a little more than just costumes, pumpkins, and candy. :)
 |
| 2008 |
 |
| 2009 - Tyson carved the left side, I carved the right |
 |
| 2009 - My pumpkin |
 |
| 2009 - Tyson's pumpkin |
 |
| 2010 - Tyson's pumpkin |
 |
| 2010 - My pumpkin |
 |
| Now we're ready for trick-or-treaters! |
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait...
I'll start this story back in January when I started subbing in Waterloo. I had never been in any school in Waterloo, but once I stepped foot into Edison (the first school where I subbed), I felt right at home. Everyone was very helpful, and even better, Elizabeth was long-term subbing there too! After months of subbing, new job openings were posted for the 2010-2011 school year. I jazzed up my resume, wrote cover letter after cover letter, and applied for almost every job possible. I even applied for jobs as far away as an hour drive.
I scored my first interview in Iowa Falls. Yes, it would have been quite the drive, but I wanted a place to get my feet wet and thought this would be perfect. Strike 1: didn't get the job. I figured it was for the best, with it being an hour away from Cedar Falls.
Next came an interview at Poyner in Evansdale, a last minute interview at Cunningham, and then another last minute interview at Orange. (When I say last minute, I mean I got called to interview the same day that I went to the interview.) Well, none of those worked out. I was starting to doubt myself and this career. I started my long-term subbing job at Cunningham for my friend Robin and it couldn't have been a better experience. It was exactly what I needed to remind myself that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
Then, after my 6 weeks were up, I got a phone call from the principal at Edison! She was asking me to come in and interview for a recent 3rd grade position. I got called Thursday, the interview was Tuesday, and then I had to wait until at least Monday (yesterday) to find out if I got it. So...I waited and waited and waited. Monday morning came and went and I was feeling hopeless. Then my friend Elizabeth sent me a text message telling me that the principal had sent in a recommendation for hire!!! I finally just got called from Human Resources about 30 minutes ago to offer me the job!!
So...I am now the newest 3rd grade teacher at Edison Elementary in Waterloo!! I will do some observing next week, then sit through two days of conferences, and officially start on Monday, November 8th. Elizabeth and I decided that it was just fate and I was meant to end up at Edison! :) :) I am soooo pumped!!!
I scored my first interview in Iowa Falls. Yes, it would have been quite the drive, but I wanted a place to get my feet wet and thought this would be perfect. Strike 1: didn't get the job. I figured it was for the best, with it being an hour away from Cedar Falls.
Next came an interview at Poyner in Evansdale, a last minute interview at Cunningham, and then another last minute interview at Orange. (When I say last minute, I mean I got called to interview the same day that I went to the interview.) Well, none of those worked out. I was starting to doubt myself and this career. I started my long-term subbing job at Cunningham for my friend Robin and it couldn't have been a better experience. It was exactly what I needed to remind myself that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
Then, after my 6 weeks were up, I got a phone call from the principal at Edison! She was asking me to come in and interview for a recent 3rd grade position. I got called Thursday, the interview was Tuesday, and then I had to wait until at least Monday (yesterday) to find out if I got it. So...I waited and waited and waited. Monday morning came and went and I was feeling hopeless. Then my friend Elizabeth sent me a text message telling me that the principal had sent in a recommendation for hire!!! I finally just got called from Human Resources about 30 minutes ago to offer me the job!!
So...I am now the newest 3rd grade teacher at Edison Elementary in Waterloo!! I will do some observing next week, then sit through two days of conferences, and officially start on Monday, November 8th. Elizabeth and I decided that it was just fate and I was meant to end up at Edison! :) :) I am soooo pumped!!!
Book Worms
It's no secret that Tyson is a book worm. :) However, as of late, he's been reading about two books a week! When Tyson and I started dating, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with reading. I didn't know what I liked to read and wasn't interested in figuring it out. But, the more time I spent with Tyson, the more I wanted to find a good book. So...Tyson introduced me to Jodi Picoult (after turning down Harry Potter several times).
I LOVE Jodi Picoult's books! I have 6 books of hers left to read (and one I have no interest in reading).
The only thing I hate is that I find it more and more difficult to get her books from the library. I must not be the only one who loves these books :). So....I jumped on the Twilight saga bandwagon and couldn't put those books down! Well, the first two books I read in a matter of days. Then I got to Eclipse and was less than interested so I took a few weeks off before trying again and then finishing the final one as well.
I then went for a while where I would start a book and couldn't get into it or would get a few chapters in before I was receiving overdue notices in my inbox, so I would return an unread book. Then school started and I just didn't feel like I had time to read, and at night, my eyes would be shut as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Well, I saw (on Facebook I think) that someone was reading a book called The Hunger Games. I thought I would see what it was all about. I checked it out, read about a chapter a night for a few days, and then suddenly I could not put it down! I finished it in about a week. On Sunday, I drug Tyson to the Waterloo library to get a card and the second book, Catching Fire. (It was checked out at the CF library and I just could NOT wait to get it!!) So, 36 hours later, I'm finished with book number 2. Now, one book remains, Mockingjay, and I NEED to go and get it. I'll be making an appearance at the library probably in a few minutes.
So...if you're looking for a good book, I'd suggest any of the above, but right now, The Hunger Games trilogy is a must-read in my eyes! :) Happy reading!
I LOVE Jodi Picoult's books! I have 6 books of hers left to read (and one I have no interest in reading).
The only thing I hate is that I find it more and more difficult to get her books from the library. I must not be the only one who loves these books :). So....I jumped on the Twilight saga bandwagon and couldn't put those books down! Well, the first two books I read in a matter of days. Then I got to Eclipse and was less than interested so I took a few weeks off before trying again and then finishing the final one as well.
I then went for a while where I would start a book and couldn't get into it or would get a few chapters in before I was receiving overdue notices in my inbox, so I would return an unread book. Then school started and I just didn't feel like I had time to read, and at night, my eyes would be shut as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Well, I saw (on Facebook I think) that someone was reading a book called The Hunger Games. I thought I would see what it was all about. I checked it out, read about a chapter a night for a few days, and then suddenly I could not put it down! I finished it in about a week. On Sunday, I drug Tyson to the Waterloo library to get a card and the second book, Catching Fire. (It was checked out at the CF library and I just could NOT wait to get it!!) So, 36 hours later, I'm finished with book number 2. Now, one book remains, Mockingjay, and I NEED to go and get it. I'll be making an appearance at the library probably in a few minutes.
So...if you're looking for a good book, I'd suggest any of the above, but right now, The Hunger Games trilogy is a must-read in my eyes! :) Happy reading!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Heeeeeere Come the Panthers!!
Yesterday was UNI homecoming and the whole family went this year! Last year, it was just Tyson & I and my parents (along with lots of other fun people!); Darren and Wendy were at home with a brand new baby and Josh didn't make it either. This made for Ava's first tailgating experience and it seemed like she had a great time!
 |
| He HAD to have this shirt. |
 |
| TAILGATING! |
 |
| Merry Christmas from the Pecha, Burton, and Malcolm families! :) |
 |
| Sibling picture...Josh and Wendy kept complaining about the sun! |
 |
| YMCA! |
 |
| Sleepy baby :) |
 |
| Naked baby!! |
 |
| Diva baby!! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)