Happy holidays everyone!
I hope everyone had a great break, I sure attempted to. I made this cake in honor of Spring (Easter, whatever) and I wanted to share just how good a chocolate cake can look when covered in homemade frosting and food colored coconut, yum! I wrote earlier that I wanted to try working out and running this semester, and my first ever 5k is coming up in a week. We will see how that goes. 

Over spring break, I was able to befriend a rescued squirrel who will be released soon. Everyone, meet Nutterina!

vacaciones de primavera

SO... three of four my kids attend a year-round school.  They released last wednesday 3/16, and will be out until April 4th.  I just started a Title I tutor position at a Middle school close by last monday, 3/14.  My four kids have been scattered all around for this week.  They have spent a lot time with their aunt and close friends, making like 30 kids to two moms....  The week has been absolute pandemonium.  I did however, have an opportunity to run, getting in a few 3-milers and one 5-miler.  I love this time of year minus the pollen.  My car is black so i rinse once a day, realistic waste of time, as within minutes its yellow again. 
I must add, I am thoroughly enjoying my new job.  Its not a student teaching job, nor is it full time, but it is providing me the experience with Middle schoolers that I am learning that I might enjoy a little more than the younger kids.  BUT- i am astounded at the extreme changes in students since I was in middle school.  The expectations of teachers, the students desire to do well, the potty mouths overlooked by the teachers, or the blatant disrespect for teachers or fellow classmates.  I will not be accepting of the use of the F work in my presence at all, tutor or teacher.  Then the students who know they are not going to be held back and stopped doing work three years ago and just sit in class and do nothing.   These kids have such great potential and yearn for attention.  Sometimes I wonder if every morning the class should start with group hugs and "lets all talk it out" time, maybe even journal time.   Sounds ridiculous but really, kids act out for attention becuase any attention be it bad or good is attention.  All eyes on them for just hat moment.  Its there turn to shine bright or dim.  The majority of the kids in this school have terrible home lives.  It saddens me for them.  Maybe I do want to be Mother Teresa and save all the children so they too can grow on to make the world a better place.  

soñar un poco de sueño

Gator golf!

So I happened to stumble upon this little guy sunbathing on Monday. All of the reptiles were out to play! I was playing 18 holes of golf with my friend Miranda. There was one on 4 of the 18 holes...that we could see... This one below was only a 5ft, but there was another that was 13ft! We keep our distance but we appreciate the true beauty of nature from a distance.
¡Bien cervezas , gran día!

Animal Kingdom

Ha!  This was when I visited my oldest daughter in Orlando.  She was there as part of the Disney College Program.  In this picture, I'm with my two younger daughters Camille and Jessie, and of course, Tarzan, who is picking bugs out of Camille's hair.  Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite theme parks.  Me gustaria aprender sobre los animals!

¡Hola clase!

Spring break was very exciting for me this year! Normally all I do is work the whole week but this year I got the opportunity to travel to Baltimore, MD to play in the UNCW pep band and cheer on our men's basketball team as they won the CAA tournament! During that trip, we also got to visit Washington DC! I had never been before so it was a great experience. I feel so lucky to be a part of the UNCW pep band and for the opportunity to continue playing an instrument that I love and has taken up 11 years of my life. I'm even more excited to announce that we are going to the NCAA tournament in Providence, RI and I get to travel again in support of our Seahawks! Everyone should watch the big game on Thursday. It's UNCW vs. Duke at 12:15pm. GO SEAHAWKS!!! :)

Spring Break in a Graveyard!

¡Hola, clase!

My boyfriend, his family, and I traveled to Savannah, Georgia over Spring Break Weekend. We had a wedding at the Historic Bonaventure Cemetery. I never thought I'd attend a wedding at a graveyard site. Yet this was something eerily beautiful. I have never visited a prettier scenery. The Spanish moss coats the trees and cascades down to play with the wind. It was a small ceremony, and we loaded up the SUV with 12 people to ride back to 109 West St. where the reception took place in a Victorian home. Free wine and homemade honey beer, excellent music, cheeses from Paris, and great company. It is the wedding season, and minus the plague of gnats, a few bug bites later-we left the party with our honey party favors and retreated back home. 

I find that many should partake in self-healing. Whether the stress is internal or external, it is important to take care of yourself before others. My escape is horseback riding. I feel so free and relieved of all duties. Nothing is more important than the bond between me and a horse. Just knowing that a 1200 lb animal could kill you instantly and chooses to trust you, is complete euphoria. People refer to it as a harmful addiction, I call it equasy. The sky truly is the limit when you're jumping it. Mujer del caballo para siempre.

el arco iris

 

This is what I saw on my way to work a few days ago.  The picture doesn't do it justice; it was much brighter than the pictures shows.  I remember one time as un nina that I road my bike as far as I could towards the rainbow's end because I wanted  to find the pot of gold. 

u15blog5

This is a picture of a fox, zorra. It is nice to be so close to nature. I lived in a city for 14 years so I enjoy what's around me living in the country. I don't take it for granted. La naturaleza es espectacular.