05-14-2010

On my way home & in Sydney

Well I made it to Sydney (and only paid $375 extra in baggage! ah! It is unreal how much they charge you.) Anyway, it is absolutely beautiful here! I went to the Australian ballet last night at the Sydney Opera House. The ballet was Coppelia and it was breathtaking. I don’t too well sitting through three acts and by the end I was pretty tired but it was definitely worth it!

Today I took the ferry across the Harbour and went to the Taronga Zoo. I got to see the new baby elephant Pathi Harn who was born 10 March of this year. I don’t know how much anyone has heard but they actually thought the baby had died and his mother would eventually give birth to him but he was actually born alive. They had been watching her around the clock and of course when they go home he was born. The mother was distraught all night until the keepers arrived because he had actually slid underneath something and the elephants couldn’t get to him. Elephants are amazing at caring for their young and how they respond to each other. I also saw them take their baths (SO cute!) and basically stood there for over an hour watching them.

It is amazing how by myself I can spend so much time at the zoo! I then went to see the Platypuses who I have always wanted to see! Apparently they hide a lot and so it took forever for them to come out so I could see them! Then the giraffes were absolutely beautiful! They are such amazing animals. I look at them and just wonder what God was thinking

Anyway, I am having a great time in Sydney but it will be nice to be home. Although, as you can imagine it was really sad to leave birth. Bittersweet really. Anyway, I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Filed Under: Australia, Me, Travel, Uncategorized

12-18-2009

Christmas Questions

So I took this from Her Highness of Cute because I actually love lists {I know, it is weird!}.

It is the Christmas edition of getting to know your blogger friends. You are supposed to copy this list and paste it into a new post on your blog. Obviously, change your answers!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I definitely like wrapping paper better. I think there is a special anticipation that comes from being able to unwrap the present!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Most definitely real! But we have not had a real family one in about 8 years since the tree fell down in the middle of the night! Definitely makes you get a fake one. But I think when I have my own family I will probably want a real one.

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as possible! No we normally put it up Thanksgiving weekend but if it was up to me I’d put it up November 1st. The only problem with wanting a real tree is it doesn’t last as long so I think if I had real I’d have to put it up later.

4. When do you take the tree down? Normally by New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Honestly I have never really had it. I love hot chocolate though!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmm, this is a tough one! I don’t know! I can never remember asking for the “big thing.” I loved Minnie Mouse when I was little and Precious Places. So I think those were probably my favorite

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad! He buys everything he wants and anything I can afford he doesn’t need. So I have to get creative with him!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My friends who are like me! Basically I can buy anything I know I will like. Actually, I can easily get carried away with gift buying. I love buying gifts for everyone and sometimes I overthink it a little too much!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? YES! I have been wanting the Willow Tree Nativity for years and my mom has surprised me with all the pieces this year! It looks amazing!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Most definitely mail them. Nothing can take away how excited I get when opening a Christmas card. I know, I’m a dork!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Um, I don’t think I have ever gotten a horrible gift. I guess the horrible gifts are when they don’t fit.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love watching A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve when they play it non-stop on TBS.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Normally I start around Thanksgiving but this year I actually ordered some gifts back in August!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Gingerbread cookies and fudge!

16. Lights on the tree? Most definitely. And honestly if it was up to me they would be colored lights. I’m very classy!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I don’t think I have a favorite song. I am loving Chris Tomlin’s new CD. Actually when I was little I loved {and still do} a little known, random song called “A Spaceman Came Traveling” by Chris De Burgh. Funny thing is I stole the CD it was on and my dad ended up buying another CD because he loved the song too.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home! When I was little and we lived near my grandparents we would wake up and then drive to their house and 10 years ago we flew on Christmas and our layover flight was canceled. That was the last time we did that!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Of course! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen. Oh and Rudolph of course! Just sing the song :) Although, I {and most people} thought Donder was Donner but nope, he is really Donder. Google it

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We always get a new pair of pajamas and an ornament from my parents that we open on Christmas Eve. We also open the gifts from each other {my brother, sister and I}. Then on Christmas morning we open the gifts from our everyone else.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Rude people! I just cannot understand why some people think the fact that everyone is running around trying to get everything done is an excuse to be rude.

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Oh this is a hard one! I absolutely love ornaments! We have a beautiful blue bird one that I absolutely love. My favorite ones are the sentimental ones.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? Dressing and mashed potatoes!

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year? People to be happy!

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up? Getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve and we still get them!

27. Favorite tradition now? Still the Pjs :) Oh & my sister and I make gingerbread houses. Love that too!

28. Favorite Christmas Memory? Gosh, the sad thing is I am having a hard time thinking of specific things that have happened! I think it is just the magic of the entire season that makes me happy and what I remember.

Filed Under: Holiday, Me, Uncategorized

11-12-2009

Psst… want to know a secret?

I really am scared about this whole Praxis II thing! I was studying tonight and I swear I feel like I don’t know any of it and will get everything wrong. Why do standardized tests make people so nervous? And honestly, when will I ever need to know this by heart? Isn’t that what books are for??

No really, I am nervous. I know I can take it again though and I know I will do my best. I don’t like test anxiety! Just wanted to share this before I went to bed :) Random post, I know.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

11-11-2009

Off to the land down under….. eventually!

So I have decided that it would be ridiculous to pass up this opportunity to teach in Australia! It has always been my dream to teach abroad and to go to Australia and I know if I were to give that up I would definitely regret it! I need to just give it all up to God, He will make everything work out! I just have a hard time giving up control and I know God wants all of it!

Of course, now I have to figure out how to pay for it! Has anyone studied abroad? If so, how did you pay for everything? I have loans but the school decides how much it should cost you for a year and they obviously don’t count living abroad in that amount

I went through closets and pulled lots of stuff out to put on ebay and I am going to finally put my jewelry up on etsy. Does anyone have any other ideas? haha. [If you are looking for a Kate Spade or Coach purse I am putting those up on ebay along with some Tumi briefcases and some random other things- not until Sunday though :)].

I just know this is the chance of a lifetime and I have to take it! I have been super stressed this month with school, the Praxis etc. but it will be okay. Honestly, I look at the “challenges” and “struggles” in my life [in quotes because really it could be much worse] and if my biggest problem is really how I am going to pay for Australia I am pretty lucky, wouldn’t you say? And once this week is over I think I will be a little less stressed about everything. Although, with the excitement of Australia it isn’t helping me do my school work!

Hope you are having a fabulous week! AND just to add I am definitely going to blog while I am in Australia!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized