Who's your friend you likes to play? Bing Bong Bing Bong

Who would have thought that I would love teaching so much? It is so completely exhausting but so completely exhilarating at the same time. The students make everything so worth it! 

Me (practicum teacher):

Joy (every day I got to see my kiddos):

Today is going to be a wonderful day! Lots of memories to make, let's do this! 

Anger (when after trying everything, and they still don't want to learn...):

Will you just pay attention already? You are supposed to be learning right now, not tipping back in your chair or throwing things at your neighbor!!! Come on! I'm up here! 

Fear (on observation day and being evaluated):

Worst case scenario: I forget everything I am supposed to teach, the students are like a group of wild circus animals, I fail! Oh no no no, think positive. I'm positive I am going to fail!

Disgust (yep I think I was a pretty cool teacher):

Try to look cool! We will play Lava monster and bubble gum bubble gum in a dish with the students at recess! Yep I think that will earn us cool teacher points! Oh and lets not forget to dress cute every day!

Sadness (after leaving my kiddos, so so sad):

My life is horrible! You mean I have to leave them after all the fun we've had?! My life is over!

I really went through the whole range of motions during my practicum experiences. I taught first grade for my first practicum. The students were adorable and I found that they just wanted my attention every second of every day. And then you always have those days when no matter what you do, they are not going to listen and they are not going to pay attention. You are doing everything in your power to not look silly at the front of the classroom, but give up just so the students will pay attention. Staying up late every day planning and then waking up early, hoping the students will get something out of what you say. And when they all groan because they hate math, you make math seem like the coolest thing in the world that they could be doing right now! And then playing tag, Lava Monster, bubble gum bubble gum, playing pretend with them, learning together makes it all worth it. Just seeing their faces light up when they are excited about learning and having you as their teacher. This is why I went into teaching, to make a difference!

For my second practicum I taught fifth grade. To say I was terrified is an understatement. I mean look at me, I can pretty much blend in with them and be one of them! But in the end I absolutely loved it and them! The fifth graders are so funny! You have the teacher's pet who tries everything to get away with everything if you let him. Then you have a student that is in tears because they don't understand, and then to go over and talk them through it and see them smile again. You see the students believe in themselves because you believe in them! This is why I am a teacher!

Summer Lovin!

At the Coast! (Well Kinda)

"We go together like, ramma lamma lamma ka dinga dinga dong!"

Costa Vida must be a hoppin' place! There I am in the back just whippin' up lettuce and tomatoes. I take a peak out front once in a while. In one corner are the families with kids flinging their food and it appears like they just completed a very successful food fight. The workers are trying their best to appear like they don't have a care in the world except for making burritos and salads and keeping the peeps happy, oh and don't forget surviving the intense heat from lack of air conditioning! And then there are the college students, fallin' in love and having a blast. Then add graduation and corporate visits and Costa gets just a little crazy. Yep! This is Coast life!   

These guys are my Costa family and they always know just how to make me laugh! The best part of the summer was when one of our family members was baptized! It was amazing to see Ayeli take this huge step in her life, I sure do love her! And I sure do love my Costa family!

Fun with the Polar Bears...in Yellowstone!

From the coast to the arctic chill of Yellowstone (okay maybe it wasn't that cold)...BUT when you see me huddled in the camper sleeping with a sweater, a winter coat, blankets, a sleeping bag, mittens, and a winter hat AND I'm still cold, you can't blame me for thinking I just stepped into the Arctic. And then you see my family submersing themselves in icy cold water, just for fun! Yep they are pretty crazy! But I sure do love them!

And then there is the cutest little redheaded boy ever and I got to hang with him as we visited the clay pots of Yellowstone and played games. And yes, he beat me at every single one of 'em!

And then the family! Hangin' with them and eating delicious camping food was amazing! And though I didn't see any real polar bears (not for lack of trying) it was an exciting trip!

"I got chills, their multiplying and I'm losing control, 'Cause the power, you're supplying, it's electrifying!" 

My very first Niece, and the cutest little girl ever! (If I do say so myself!)

My sister Brittney had her first baby August 3, 2015. Her name is Evelyn Rachel Welling and is the cutest little girl you ever did see. I am so excited to be an aunt and get to know this adorable little girl!

"You're the one that I want, oo, oo, oo the one that I need, oh yes indeed, you're the one that I want!"

Oh, and I can't forget that I met this cute guy! 

"Summer Loving, had me a blast.

Summer Loving happened so fast. Met a boy cute as can  be, Summer Days Drifting away, uh oh, to those summer nights!" Grease

Blind Dates Really Do Come True!

Yes they really do! Jared and I were set up on a blind date and the rest is history! 

Oh you want details do you? 

Well okay, if you insist! Once upon a time there was a young girl that always dreamed of finding her prince. But she thought that day would never come. But something inside her prompted her to go home. So, in the summer of 2015, she moved back home. That was when her prince rode into her life. A friend of theirs set them up on a date, they had never met and neither thought anything would come of it. But what would it hurt? They sat and roasted marshmallows and starbursts by the fire and got to know each other. Little did they know that there was something there and that they were on their way to their own happily every after. So yes, blind dates really can come true!

So over the summer they began getting to know each other. He taught her to play chess, they fed the ducks, they visited the beautiful Mesa Falls, played games with his friends, spent the 4th of July with her family, and went rollerblading (for which the young girl was pretty clumsy).  To be honest it was a difficult process for the young girl because her prince would soon be riding off to Purdue for graduate school. Sometimes she let her fear overcome her, knowing that being far apart would be a much more difficult road for her. But she soon learned that she couldn't let fear rule her life. Her prince teaches her every day how to be herself, how to trust him, and how to trust in God. Yep! Fairy Tales really do come true!