Decision time...

Ok friends and family...

I went to Rexburg two weeks ago for a quick day trip. I wanted to pass my resume out to a bunch of school districts from all over the west and practiced my interviewing skills at a job fair put on by BYU IDAHO. I was looking forward to my interview with the Aldine School District in Houston, TX. They pay about 48,000 a year and that would be so perfect so I could get out of debt quickly. My interview with the Alpine District in Utah was right before the one in Texas, so I thought it would be good practice. The man I talked with was an older man, looked me straight in the eyes, and asked me for my resume. I handed him a packet with a coverletter, teaching certificate, resume, and praxis scores (national exams for teaching). He just smiled at me and didn't even pull any of it out of the packet. He just wanted to talk to me, which most interviewers just want to see statistics and then ask questions.

He saw that I was a special education major and general education major and was automatically interested. He wanted to offer me a job in a resource room setting after a few minutes of talking. I told him that I wasn't interested in anything but a general education job because I got my special education major so I would have an easier time once I went to graduate school for communications disorders/speech pathology. He laughed and said, "what do I have to do to get you to change your mind?" So, I asked him to go over jobs with me, benefits, salary, and why I should choose his district. His eyes filled with tears as he told me of the wonderful district that he and his family have worked for. Go figure! He was the superintendent. HAHA! Oh man. Embarassing!

The benefits looked wonderful. He sounded convincing. I have friends who work for that district and love it. I felt good about signing a letter of intent that would be in effect until 4.20.2009. I interviewed the the Texas District and was invited to their "invitation only" career fair in June. My chances weren't as high as I would like to get a job for the fall and I just didn't feel very good during the interview. I started my drive back to Boise the next morning and automatically got a call from a developmental preschool coordinator for the Alpine school district where I had signed my letter of intent for. He offerred me a job and told me I could start for the summer and get paid 30 bucks an hour and then be contracted for the fall. WOW! I love developmental preschool. I did my student teaching last summer in Ucon, Idaho at a developmental preschool. Now I was actually offerred a teaching job for that position?? HOLY OVERWHELMED!

I asked him to email me some details and his contact information because I was driving and that I would call him with my decision. It took me a week to get ahold of him after the first email because it was their spring break. I was searching for a place to live in the Orem/Provo Utah area and everything was too expensive for me right now. I sent out a facebook message to some friends and family and my friend Chelsea responded. She told me that I was an answer to her prayers because her roommates are moving out and selling their contracts for 150 a month and then utilities and August is paid for, then the lease is up. PERFECT! RIGHT IN OREM! Tucanos is right down the road and my bosses are letting me transfer down there.

I am very blessed rght now in my life. Things are falling into place and I am able to make the move on May 3rd and start working/job shadowing at a preschool whenever I would like. I can also start Tucanos whenever I would like as well. That's where my life is at right now. I am just making friends and having to move again so soon, but I knew it would happen sooner or later.

I'm an old woman!!

My mom got us both a book called "Love Me?" about a boy who does naughty things, and mommy still loves him! Perfect for Deidre and I who were constantly fighting growing up.

Daddy got me a fishing hat! Go figure! ;) I'm sure he was so proud of me putting it on like a true fisherwoman. My mom said I looked like a "gangsta"....


Deidre got a BSU shirt from Natalie. Hopefully that will help you push through her last year of college.

My mom got me two children's books and the movie Sleeping Beauty and Deidre got me Little Rascals! Fun to add to the collection.

So...I turned 23 on March 3rd! Crazy! This is actually the first birthday that Deidre and I have been together in a few years, so it was fun. I am used to being around lots of friends from school, throwing a big party, and getting some "kisses" from my friend Elliot. haha. Good memories if anyone knows those stories. :) I took the day off of work and spent the day bringing Deidre lunch at her school and then shopping by myself and it was absolutely wonderful! I have recently lost 15 lbs, and I told myself that when I lost that much, I could buy a few shirts. Birthday+Weight loss=shopping spree!! It was a relaxing afternoon and I got to do my hair for the first time in forever. As a waitress my hair is always up in a pony tail.

We had a family party that evening when Deidre got home from her job. It was fun getting shampoos and shaving stuff and other fun things. My family messed up on the birthday song. THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED!! haha. Natalie came over and then my mom and dad. They didn't really sing to Deidre, but I thought that was great becaus I am obviously the more important twin. haha! After the family pizza and cake, Deidre and I went out to Cheesecake factory with some friends. It was fun, but I really missed my friends from school.

I feel like I borrow Deidre's friends sometimes, but they are such good people and I appreciate all they do. :) What great friends and family I have! Victor's mom called me for the first time and I got to practice some of my spanish skills. And Victor actually sent me flowers for the first time ever. It was a great present and I really appreciated the thought it took.

A new start

First off, I have had a job for a few weeks that I actually enjoy quite a bit. I was driving home from the plasma center one day and I looked off the freeway and saw a new food joint being built! TUCANOS! It's a great Brazilian Grill that they put up by the Temple in Boise. I applied online, went in for some interviews at a hotel, and started my training. The interior of the building wasn't done at all, so we did all of our training in the Oxford Suites which was definately a different experience. All of us were brand new, so there weren't many "peers" to follow like in a normal resturant setting. I have made a few friends and have been crazy busy ever since.

Victor and I have decided to end things with us...we have known for a while but made it official a few weeks ago. It's just hard facing the reality that your choice to be together for so long might not have been the right one. But, we have both really enjoyed each other and the time we have had becoming such good friends. Our love hasn't changed, but other things have to change. If you know me well enough, you know that change is the hardest thing in the world for me! Victor came to Boise for Valentines weekend and we spent time like normal...being friends...laughing...joking around...just being together. It was a great last weekend together. Who knows what will happen in the future, but this decision is a good one. :) That's the dating life update, so here I go spending time being busy with work and making sure I focus on myself for a while. It's time for me to be selfish...and that's a good thing, I think.

I appreciate everyone's support with my schooling, my move back to Idaho, my love life, my career choices, etc.! Love ya!!

Two weekends of fun!!

I got to see Victor two weekends in a row...the last time we got to do that was last summer because I keep moving around. I am so happy to be in Boise with my family, but the long distance is a killer, for sure. I drove to Rexburg a couple weekends ago. We had a big lunch at Applebee's with my friends and I got to hang out with Eric and Whitney while Victor worked. They let me crash on their couch for a couple of nights and it was so fun to have Bailee wake me up with her singing in the morning! :) Victor took me to a spanish branch for the first time. It was really fun for me because I could understand a lot of the talks that were given. I was so sad to leave him, but was excited that his sister-in-law invited me to meet up with them in Provo the next weekend.

Victor drove to Boise last Thursday night and he told me he wouldn't be there til a little later. He got the surprise of seeing my beautiful self without makeup, just finished blow drying my hair (Victor said it felt like a broom..haha!), and in my pj's. Why does he still talk to me after such horrific events? I have no clue. It must be my great personality and sweet spirit. ha! We left early the next morning at 4 to make it to an appointment. We then met up with his cousins and brother's family. It was so great to see them again. Their little twins are growing so so fast and have great personalities. His brother is just like him! Always sarcastic, but he is always generous with his money and time. That is a rare characteristic blend, and it's one that attracts me to Victor. We went to eat El Salvadorian pupusas again and I was so excited. Victor's Tia let us stay at her house that weekend. She says that we can always call her house our home. I really appreciate his family for all they do for each other, no favors asked. Victor and I drove to Pocatello early Sunday morning so I could catch the shuttle to Boise. I don't know how much longer I can keep doing these goodbyes...but it's always great to see each other again.

Even though I still do plasma, another place FINALLY hired me!! Tucanos is a Brazilian Grill in Provo and SLC, and they are just having their grand opening for one here in Boise on 2-10. I will start as a waitress soon and am excited to start working again. It has been a month of unemployment, but that is so much better than other people and families can say. So many are getting laid off, but you do what you can for money. All I can say is this job will help my self esteem get a boost because I even got turned down as a janitor!! (shhh...stop laughing!)

I got to babysit my sister, Leslie's girls...Emily (4) and Kaitlyn (2) while the happy couple celebrated their anniversary in Hawaii before their 3rd little girl comes into the world. I got a little taste of mother hood. No sleep, feedings, playing dress-up, arts and crafts, pictures, painting, naps, laundry, THE DOG, feeding, and cleaning cleaning cleaning! It was really fun for me to see that I could actually do it without too much stress. I know it was only a few days, but I was happy to do it. Oh, and potty training Kaitlyn was really fun. I think everyone's "potty" experience should be as happy as hers....I wouldn't definately want to go potty more often if that was the case. She clapped for herself and smiled big. (Please picture yourself doing the same, and you may laugh like I did). :)

P.S. Best pal Erin had her baby and I got to be at the hospital after she was born. Little Jane and Erin both looked so great! Congratulations to 1st time mom and Grandma Jackie.

End of 2008!!

I was worried about finding a job during the holidays. Nothing seemed to spark my interest, so I found a holiday/temporary job at JcPenney's. It's not an ideal job and my feet finally got used to the hurt...but money is money...as long as your use moral tactics to earn it. ;) haha! That job ended and all of the family came in for the holidays. I had so much fun with everyone and the house was complete noise until the kids went down for bed. I take that back. When Deidre, me, Whitney and Eric played monopoly...things got a little crazy! Now my new permanent job is plasma donor!! haha. Mom really loves that idea.

Victor sent me my Christmas present! I was so excited and had to wait a week to open it. I was a good girl and waiting until Christmas Eve to open it up. He sent me pictures of us that I have been wanting since we met. I will have to scan them and then post some. They are so cute and that was my favorite/most sentimental gift this year. He came back from Guatemala and visited me. I had butterflies for at least a few hours before I went to pick him up! I felt like a little girl in a candy store. I miss him so much when he is away. We had a great weekend together and it's always hard saying goodbye to him.

We were babysitting Emma and Davis for a few hours. I thought I was a good entertainer, but Emma liked my makeup more than my building blocks. Here are some pictures to prove that she really is an artist.

I didn't get my New Year's kiss this year like I was hoping for, but I did have fun with some friends. We went out to dinner, watched a movie on a big projector at Luke's school that he works at, and then went to the BSU student union building for a bit to hang out at the dance for the count down. It was a good 2008 year now that I think about it. There were so many ups and downs, especially with school, relationships, and family. It's kinda exciting to start 2009 with a clean slate. I am making a few goals right now. I try to make at least 3 goals each year: 1 spiritual, 1 physical, and 1 academic/student loans/debt. :) Happy 2009!!

Oh..and P.S.!!! When Victor came into town on Friday we went to a couple of clubs. I loved dancing with him! We had a great time taking our friend out for her 21st birthday.

Life since college graduation

Alright. So, I decided to give in and create one of these things! Maybe it's because I'm tired of filling out job applications, and my feet hurt from the recent retail job...so sitting at the computer sounds really good...but it may also be because I'm a computer junkie!

I moved from Rexburg, Idaho/BYU-IDAHO to Las Vegas in August to do my student teaching. What a culture shock, right? My mom went on the long road trip with me and it was actually really fun. I think my mom and I talked almost the entire way. It was a great bonding experience for us, I think. We drove from Boise to Salt Lake and visited my mom's parents and then stayed with my dad's parents. It's always nice to spend time with them. When we got to Las Vegas, it was very hot and the last thing I wanted to do was move all my stuff up the my new apartment in the middle of the day. My new roommates ended up helping me and Sara automatically offered to show us around the city. My mom was so funny to watch! Prior to going to Vegas, I told her to pick out a show she wanted to go see together. She said "don't worry about it..." so, I didn't. When we drove passed all of the signs of who was at which casino, she was like a little girl at a candy store! We ended up buying tickets to see "Mama Mia" and it was great. My mom was in a trance the entire time. :) My old roommate Melissa and her husband David took us out to an authentic Italian resturant and it was great to see her again.

I got to Vegas, then flew to Seattle to meet Victor's mother. She flew from Guatemala to Seattle where Victor's brother, wife, and little twin girls live because the girls were turning 1! Right when I went into the house in Seattle, Victor's mom brought me up jewelry and a jewelry box. How sweet!! I had a great time there and loved spending time with Victor and his family. One thing that I have learned since I met Victor was how wonderful other cultures and people are! I truly love the latin culture and how warm and welcoming they are to absolute strangers.

I went back to Vegas and taught special education at Hal Smith Elementary and then 7 weeks later I was a 3rd grade teacher. I absolutely loved the kids that I worked with and have a special place for them in my heart. It helped me decide that maybe I do want to teach more than I thought I did. I still have the dream to be a Speech Language Pathologist someday. But, loans will have to be paid off first and other decisions. Right now I am living with my parents and Deidre again and it's been great! I am working at JcPenney's right now as a temporary/seasonal associate. It's fun and crazy and busy! But, it's money. I'm still on the job hunt for teaching positions or anything I can get my hands on in a school district.