Pictures......Part II

Joshua's 8th grade promotion ceremony from May 2011.  I know, it's been a while, but I finally downloaded the pictures from my camera.  And I wanted to share even though they are from so long ago.  Enjoy!!!

Josh in his bow tie.  Getting ready to enter the ceremony.

Joshua and Rachel

Joshua and proud mom!  :)

Pictures......

Ok, so here goes.  I'm so behind on getting pictures uploaded to my blog (I have them from last year).   I finally downloaded them off of my camera.  My first picture is from Easter of last year...Not quite a year since lent is just about to begin!  :)  Rachel and Joshua all dressed up and Koda yawning!

Ten On Tuesday

1.  I promise that I will get some pictures to post soon.  I still have to download all my pictures from 2011 off of my camera...yeah, I still have some from last Easter, Josh's 8th grade promotion ceremony, my summer in Georgetown, and now Christmas pictures.  I promise to try and get stuff on here before my next ten on Tuesday post.

2.  School has started for me and Josh.  It's been a slow start but it's nice to have some routine again.

3.  Nice thing, my college classes don't start until Jan 19 AND I won't have to drive to Las Cruces every week, not even once (or twice like I have in the past).  One class I can do the discussion over Skype and the second class is actually working on my Master's thesis.  Gah!!  Nervous about that!

4.  Have I mentioned this before?  January is the longest month.  And so dreary.

5.  I have become addicted to the TV show "How I Met Your Mother" and it's on Netflix.  Where and when will I find the time to feed my addiction?

6.  I'm tired of being so cold.  Warm weather, I'm ready for you.

7.  I went to the movies with Daniel on Sunday evening and we saw "New Year's Eve."  It was surprisingly very good.  I really enjoyed it.

8.  Of course, the movie (mentioned in #7) had to be good....Jon Bon Jovi was in it.

9.  I've been attempting to try new recipes for dinners at least once a week, but it is so difficult since I have nothing in the category of grocery stores.  I really get frustrated  looking for just basic items.  Can I get fresh and decent vegetables?....that's all I really ask!!!

10.  My house looks so bear without all the Christmas decorations.  I just love that time of year!

Ten On Tuesday (first in a long time)

AND...since I'm back on a Tuesday......I'll start with "Ten on Tuesday"


1.  Christmas was very quiet this year.  I missed my parents, my sister and her family, and my kids.


2.  Daniel and his parents were here and we had a nice Christmas Day.


3.  I love the holiday season with all its traditions.  I'm thinking I should start some of my own.


4.  I saw the new Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol movie.  Awesome!!!  Of course, I love the Mission Impossible movies.


5.  Tonight, Daniel and I have a date.  We are getting all dressed up and we will be having dinner at the Lodge in Cloudcroft (I believe the restaurant is called Rebecca's)....anyways, it should be a good night.  We haven't had a real "date" since he came back to Alamogordo.  I'm looking forward to it.


6.  The kids are having a great time in Hawaii.  Rachel looked so pretty and Joshua so handsome for Bryan's wedding.  Here is a picture of them with their new step brother and step sister (Sean & Alejandra)

7.  I can't believe my Christmas break is already almost over.  It makes me sad.  Yep, complaining.


8.  Speaking of complaining, I'm so sick of the cold weather.  I need to live somewhere where it is warm year round, oh, and somewhere where I can visit the beach frequently!!!!  That's what revives my soul!


9.  Here's something of interest.  Since I haven't posted in approximately five months, I thought I'd share this.  I used to make fun of Rachel and Kira for being so obsessed with the show Supernatural.  They talked Daniel and I into watching it and now we are addicted too. 

10.  Another TV addiction.......How I Met Your Mother.  Too funny!  It's on instant play on Netflix.  It just makes me laugh!!!

Whew....Ten on Tuesday finished.  I have some time this week.  So, I will finally get my pictures of last summer posted (from Georgetown) and I will also promise to start taking more pictures than I usually do!  I have this awesome camera so I need to take more!!!     

I'm Back!

What a year?  I know we are all busy, but man, 2011 was nuts.  For many, many reasons.  I am still working full time, teaching US History  at Alamogordo High School.  I am still taking six credit hours a semester for my Master's, but here is hoping to a much better year in 2012.

I know I do this often.....I end up having to take a break from the blog because I just become too overwhelmed and can't find the time to post.  But I'm hoping that I can keep this year going.  I like the idea of posting certain things on certain days i.e. ten on tuesday and 10 on 10...that kind of thing. 

With all that said, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I hope that the upcoming year is filled with laughter, smiles, family, and friends.

Happy Holidays!!!

The Casey Anthony Verdict -- My two cents!

The Casey Anthony trial and verdict has bothered me a lot, but probably for a very different reason than a lot of people. Of course, I feel bad for the child who was killed but I could honestly care less whether the mother was found guilty or not guilty. This is not national news. This isn’t news at all. It is simply a distraction. It is something to make Americans forget that more important things are going on here in the United States and more importantly, right in your backyard.

This is the issue: What will this country gain by a conviction and an execution? Would a conviction or execution somehow prevent a child from being killed by a parent in the future? Probably not! Now, how many American kids go to bed hungry every night? How many children are sleeping in their cars or going from one friend’s house to another so they have someplace to stay for the night? How many die because they can't get the medical care they need? How many are abused in the foster care system or have become victims of human trafficking? These are all things that we actually CAN have an impact on if we focus on these types of issues. But nobody posts on Facebook about these issues.

I find it very ironic that many of the people that are rabid with blood lust for Casey Anthony are the same ones that claim to be pro life, but often take an anti-life position. I have never understood how one human can judge whether one life is more important than another based on a legal system that can be fraught with human error (Judges, lawyers, jury – all human). We are no longer a nation that allows those who are arrested the opportunity to stay “innocent until proven guilty.” The media has taken care of that. Americans are quick to judge and convict based on just enough information to be truly dangerous. If she did kill her child, will she have been the first to get away with it? NO! Will she be the last? NO! Bottom line, I keep hearing about how justice has failed. This is actually where justice HAS worked. It is in our very system to say that if there is even a drop of doubt, one cannot convict. Bottom line is, the average person only gets to see what the media wants them to see. No general public has the full story. Period!!!

What I am trying to say…care about the issues that we can actually make a difference on. I have found many who fall into the pro life category are usually against Medicade, S-Chip, Universal Health Care, rights for immigrants (or at least the ones who aren't white), and taxes for education. All the things that would help improve life for the child after it is born. In addition, they are also the first who want the death penalty in trials like this. All of these positions are anti life positions. Why are so many people only concerned with this one child? My conclusion…because the media made it important!

More Pictures from Georgetown

So, remember in my last post I talked about Sprinkles, the first cupcake bakery in the United States owned by one of the judges on Cupcake Wars.  Here's a picture so you might recognize her.

And I wanted to share a picture of the Professor who took us on a walking tour of Arlington.  We have two more tours with him in the next two weeks.  He is a fountain of knowledge.

Anyways...I'm having a really great time.

I only wish someone would come visit me while in the nation's capital on July 4!

Ten on Tuesday

1.  I'm writing this from Washington DC. Yay!!!!

2.  I know it has been a long, long, long time since I've posted.  But I have been a very busy woman.  I have been travelling.  I have made it to Washington where I am working on graduate course work.  But I wanted to finally post...just so I could keep any few readers I have.

3.  I am in Washington DC.  Living on the beautiful campus of Georgetown University.  Taking courses (equivalent of six hours) and going on field trips as well.  I feel like a college student again.  I love it.  I'm having one of the best times I've ever had.  This place is amazing.  The things I'm seeing are amazing.  The stuff I'm learning is incredible.  I am very lucky.  This is all part of the James Madison Memorial Foundation Fellowship that I received last year.  I am one of only 1000 James Madison Fellows in the entire United States.  This is their summer institution on Constitutional studies.  Perfect!

4.  On my travels across the nation I stopped in Oklahoma City for a couple of days to visit with my longtime BFF Lorraine.  It was wonderful.  We talked and had a really great time.  It was as if the past 17 years had never even took place. 



Me & Laine!

5.  Then, I was able to see my sister Jill, my brother in law Ross, my neice Zoey, and my nephew Max.  I was finally able to see their beautiful house and visit for a little bit.  We went to King's Island, and one of the highlights of the trip was eating at the Melting Pot.  YUMMY!

Me and my sister Jill



Zoey, me, and Max


6.  So, I arrived in Georgetown.  Met my suitemate.  She's from Portland, Oregon.  We had dinner that night.  All the fellows are very friendly so it was really easy on me, despite my shyness!  Sunday, there was a formal luncheon with all the fellow, I walked around Georgetown, went to Mass at the church that Jackie and JFK and family used to attend.  Monday was our first day of classes and discussion groups.  Tuesday we had class and discussion groups again and in the afternoon we had a special tour with Professor Smith and went to Arlington Cemetary.  It was great.  Wednesday, class and discussion groups again.  Class and discussion groups on Thursday and then that afternoon the fellows had a private session with Justice Sonia Sotomayor.  Super cool!  She was so interesting.  Friday, I was up at 4am to catch the bus to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) and Montpelier (James Madison's home) and then, that night the fellows went out for drinks at The Tombs (the bar from St. Elmo's Fire was based on the one we were at).  And just a side note....getting up at 4am and returning to the dorms at 2am......I am too old for that kind of thing!  This week it is just class and discussion groups because we have a major paper due!!! 

Me, at the Supreme Court building

Me with my boyfriend, Thomas Jefferson

Me hanging with Dolly and James ... the Madisons

7.  I had a cupcake at Sprinkles.  If you don't know what that is.....if you watch Foodnetwork's Cupcake Wars, she is the curly haired female judge.  Anyway, her cupcake bakery was the first of its kind.

8.  I have had such amazing food here.  Italian, pizza, deli style sandwiches, mexican, five guys burgers and fries, thai food, and sushi.  Thank God for a gym!!!

9.  I have met amazing people in this group.  From all over the nation.  The sad thing is, I've realized that New Mexico is lagging far behind in their social studies curriculum at the secondary level compared to the rest of the nation.  It's amazing what others are doing in their districts and schools.

10.  Despite the fun and learning.  I miss my kids, and I miss Daniel!