Kicking off the Summer!

I am OFFICIALLY in Summer Mode!

My last day of Internship was Wednesday. Thursday, I had to go back to HSU for my “Exit Interview” from the the Teachers College/Internship program. I was so nervous and I know I stumbled over my Impact on Student Learning defense presentation, but I made it through. Afterwards, I had lunch with my brother and B and Stephen. (Stephen was there for classes but we had to go separately because he had to attend a state sport event in a town not far from Arkadelphia after he left college.)
 
When I got back to town, I picked up Christopher from his daycare then we “went to Cruizzers to get a sip.” This is one of Christopher’s favorite things right now and he asks to do it almost every day when I pick him up. Cruizzers is a Sonic-type drive-in that we have here. (They’re way better than Sonic – we have one of those too, and I’m not sure how it gets enough business to stay open.)  Cruizzers half-price drink is from 3-5, which is perfect for getting out of school. We have been going maybe once a week since the weather has gotten warm! Christopher gets a small Sierra Mist and I get a Cherry Diet Pepsi. I have quit buying the canned CDP because I am trying to cut back on (NOT COMPLETELY CUT OUT) caffeine.

We came home that afternoon and I decided to cut back the bushes that are in this small flowerbed between our front porch and sidewalk. There are two different types of bushes that grow there – azaleas and something else. The other bush grows really quickly and crazy and had been needing a good trim for quite awhile. There were like 6-8 bushes total… way too many for the space available. I got out the electric trimmers but the battery gave out on me not long after I started trimming them, so I decided to go ahead and cut them way back with some loppers.

Um, yeah. I got a little carried away…

Friday morning, I had to go back to Arkadelphia again for the Internship Award presentation. It was a pain to have to make the trip again since I had just gone the day before for a 30-minute interview, but I did, as it was required.  I was glad I went, because I received an award! I was so shocked – I couldn’t believe it! I received the “Outstanding 7-12 Intern” award. SO EXCITING!!! There is one “Outstanding Intern” awarded to each group of interns based on the grades they are going to teach. (One for those who are K-12, such as art, music, & PE; one for P-4; 4-8; & 7-12) then one of the Interns who received the “Outstanding” award for their area is chosen as the Overall Outstanding Intern. I did not receive the overall Outstanding Intern award, but I am honored to have been in the top 4 of all 83 interns in the program this year!

The winners are chosen by a survey that goes out to faculty of the college and faculty in the public schools where we were doing our internship. There are certain qualifications that must be met in order to be able to be put on the nomination list, then professors, high school teachers, principals, etc, are able to choose from the nominees and place their votes. I’m not sure who all voted for me, but I was so surprised to be chosen! They named off several “honorable mentions” before calling out the winner of Outstanding 7-12 Intern and I honestly did not think it would be me!

Enough with that. =)  After I got back to town on Friday, Christopher and I had to try out a new sno cone stand in town. I’ve seen people at it every day after school for several weeks but never stopped for myself. I figured there was no better way to kick off summer break than with sno cones! Christopher got a grape one and I got wedding cake – my favorite. We enjoyed them on the back porch after we got home.

Before we got sno cones, we stopped at Atwoods to buy a few plants. (HAVE I MENTIONED I HAVE A PROBLEM?!?) I had been thinking about it all day and decided that I wanted to completely dig up the bushes that I had cut back in front of the house. I bought a few new, much smaller azaleas, a few dayliles, and some ground cover. I plan on stealing some variegated monkey grass (liriope) from my mom’s house.

I started digging up the bushes this morning. After the disaster I had a few years ago at our old house digging up century-old holly bushes (not really, but their root systems were a bitc you-know-what) I swore in the future, I would just leave well enough alone. Yeah, well… not so much. Stephen had a golf tournament this morning, so Christopher and I loaded up on water and tools and started digging. (Well, I did. Little man – not so much. He rode his motorcycle {tricycle} around and “helped” me a little.) I worked for several hours and dug up several root systems before giving in to the heat (I overheat easily and when I do – it’s not pretty.) and coming inside. I spent the rest of the day cleaning AT the house and doing laundry. (It’s a disaster area, really.) I am hoping to finish the new flower bed tomorrow or Monday and will post pictures then. =)

Stephen got home from his tournament around 5 and we headed back outside. He and Christopher swam (C’s first time in the pool this summer – he loved it!) and then Stephen mowed the yard while I did a little cleaning up in the back yard. Bliss!

 

(PS – I know the kiddo looks like a crazy hippie child. He keeps telling me he needs a haircut. We have one scheduled for Tuesday!)

It’s been awhile.

Soooo.

It’s been awhile.

The reason I haven’t blogged this semester? It’s sad.

I would take my laptop to and from school every day. Most days I would pack it up from school, put it in the car, and then leave it in there overnight. It was just easier that way. In the past, most of my blogging was done in my chaise lounge, in front of the television, while Stephen and I were relaxing at the end of a long day. Not to mention, my nights are quite full, especially since the time changed and it stays light so late. My afternoons this semester have consisted of picking Christopher up from daycare, coming home and (most days at least attempting to) clean up the mess that we’d made that morning getting ready for school.  Usually there was an errand than I needed to run or I would go to Curves to work out or something that took up another hour of my afternoon. Then before I knew it, it was time to make dinner, bathe the kiddo, and get my stuff ready for the next day. Lots of nights it’s 9pm before I’m having my “me” time, so blogging just got put on the back burner, unfortunately. I hate it.

I do plan on catching up on the good ol’ blog over the summer, as well as trying to keep blogging on a semi-daily basis.  I have no idea what is in store for us this summer, but it might very possible involve moving and it better most definitely include a new job for me!

Today is my last day of student internship, which is absolutely crazy. This semester has gone by faster than ANY spring semester has in the past. I have to to a Defense/Exit Interview tomorrow in Arkadelphia, then a luncheon in Arkadelphia on Friday. Then the next Friday, I’ll graduate! So exciting. =)

Other things I’m looking forward to?  Cruising in less than three weeks, summer break, Fourth of July, swimming, tanning, spending time with my family, a small family vacation this summer (maybe just visiting a zoo or waterpark), grilling hot dogs, planning Christopher’s third birthday party (WHAT?), blogging, photographing, and sleeping in past 5:30.

It will be the first summer in five years that I am not working (Walmart), and/or pregnant/on bed rest (for four weeks with C -- July 21 till the day he was born on August 18) or taking college classes. I have a feeling I will have a busy summer as far as looking for a job and getting all set up for it (i.e. possibly moving, professional development, setting up my classroom, etc.) but as of right now there is nothing that I HAVE to do and I am SOOO looking forward to it. {Knock on wood.}

Now, for an iPhone picture dump. (No good blog is complete with it.)  Here are some randoms I’ve taken recently.

This past Saturday, I had a much-needed girls day shopping in Hot Springs with my mom and Britney. This was the back of our car at 9 that night. Doesn’t B look happy? I got a lot of new clothes for this summer and for the cruise.

The next day, Stephen, Christopher and I drove to Owasso to visit Stephen’s grandfather. Stephen’s mom and Leonard were also visiting with Stephen’s grandpa. Christopher was very excited about seeing everybody! He keeps growing.

Another reason I love summer! Plants! I go crazy overboard with flowers every year. I love them! One time back at the beginning of Spring, we were in the garden center and I told Stephen to pick out a plant that he liked for the backyard. (Because then it would be even, you know, I have my plants and Stephen can’t gripe about not having any himself. Haha.) He came back to me with a tomato plant. Crazy guy. Anyway, these are my first two homegrown tomatoes! I don’t like tomatoes but I told Stephen I would try one because he swears they’re better homegrown.

Again, crazy with plants. I’ve never been able to grow petunias before because at our old house there was no good full sun areas. There was a huge tree in our front yard and we didn’t really go in the back yard much (although there was also a huge tree back there that also shaded a large area.) I’ve always loved the way petunias look and I kept seeing different colors and varieties this Spring. I kept buying them and buying them… I have five different pots with petunias. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few more (I’m thinking red/white/blue) pop up sometime in the next few weeks.

That’s all for now!