Bad News

Well sports fans- Everybody who knows me is very aware how much I enjoy sports. I started volleyball in 6th grade because the constant pounding on my knees from running in soccer caused a painful knee condition called Osgood Schlatters and I had to switch activities. I've been playing ever since then for my high school and on neighborhood teams. A massive draw to SVU last year was the fact that I would be able to play volleyball. Unfortunately I have been removed from the team. Apparently the coaches did not see me improving and I have poor hand eye coordination compared to the new freshmen who have "potential". Funny, last year the coaches told me I had great potential but since they never offered me pointers or critique during the season I did not improve as much as they hoped and here I am on the outside looking in. The surprising fact that coaches can be so heartless and cut a loyal returner makes me almost glad to not have to play in that enviornment. Regardless, I am very upset about it but I WILL get over it and I WILL be good at something else.

Home Again, Home Again Jiggidy Jig- to BEEVEE!

So here I am again back in good 'ole Buena Vista. I've gotten all set up in my house and so far am liking it pretty well. I stay fairly busy with RA training and working out so I'm ready (well fairly ready) for when volleyball practice starts on Monday and the rest of my girls show up in the next week or so. Today I spent all day in CPR, First Aid, and communication training. If you ever pass out, sever a limb, stop breathing, choke, suffer a stroke, seize, fall over.... or a series of other random things I know how to help!! So- it is nice to be back again. Yeah I miss home a bit but it almost feels like I never left this place. The people and things are all the same like time stood still here while I went home. Volleyball season has me a little worried and classes do slightly too but before I know it Christmas will be here again. Try not to miss me :)

the best days of the summer!

I spent my last week before heading back to school with Josh and Sophie- I have done it the past two summers and love it. Sunday evening through Thursday morning I stayed at the Spivey's house then Thursday through Saturday Josh and Soph came home with me. I had so much fun watching them and miss them SO MUCH already. I took over 400 pictures of those kids in case you have any doubt how cute I think they are. It was tough but I selected a few of the cutest pictures to share. If I could I would put up all 400+ pictures but I will save you and I the drudgery of that. The kds and I had a good time baking, going to the park, playing in the pool, going to Chuch E Cheese, reading, and just playing. Josh is so smart. We had some really cute conversations. We talked about Jesus, why some animals can see in the dark, and an infinite amount of other things. He really never stops talking. My favorite was when he looked up at me one night while we were watching Brother Bear and he had his head on my lap and said out of the blue "I really love you." Sophie had seperation issues when she came over to my house. For 3 days she wouldn't go to anybody other than me without screaming like mad and I could rarely put her down without somesort of theatrics. When I held her though she was great. We played and she even would laugh and smile at other people- until they tried to take her away. It was an awesome week. Josh and Sophie were great!

Mo flo-duh

at Scotty's Landing for dinner in Miami Miami at night In Key Largo with my dad, grandma and brother I beat him once or twice :) Beautiful beach weather... most of the time. My cousins Sami and Brandon at our grandma's house (bahahaha Brandon in the background is so funny!) These last pictures sum up our time in Florida. Hanging out, go-karting, mini-golfing, eating ritas, seeing cousins, and relaxing at the beach- not to mention driving A LOT back and forth from Ft. Lauderdale and Key Largo. We had a good time. Our trips always seem to fly by and before we know it we are home again.

Hanging with the Washingtons

My mom gave me two free tickets to Mount Vernon, George Washington's house, that she had won at a neighborhood party so Javi and I went the other week. It is not exactly what one would call a fun Summer activity but is was something to do. We spent most out the time taking pictures of out of place things that obviously weren't there during George's time like a fire hydrant or tractor and getting weird looks from people when we said things like "Why would George Washington need a shop full of pictures of his own house?" or "hey look George Washington's garden hose." It was blazing hot outside so we didn't stay long but it was a sorta cool random thing to do. I dount I will go again in the near future but if you have never been I would reccomend it once in your life- especially the movie in the theatre at the end where actual snow fell from the cieling. I wonder why george would want that... humm.

FLORIDA!

My Grandma lives in Florida and our family tries to make it down there at least once a year to visit and enjoy the weather. We just got back from a week there. We took two cars since neither of ours are roomy enough for the four of us larger in stature people. It takes about 14 hours to get there, including the stops- which we did often. We spent Sunday at the beach and Javi got fried. It made for a pretty miserable week for him sun wise but that didn't stop us from going out on jet skis for an hour on Monday! That is so fun and when I get rich someday I'm totally buying at least one. Tuesday through Thursday we brought Grandma along to Ft. Lauderdale where my dad's friend had offered her the use of her town house for free. It was a little weird to hang out in someone else's house but it was really nice of her. We went straight to the pool for a while and then to Miami, which is a really beautiful place. Wednesday we drove down to Key Largo and swam and looked around. Thurdsay we went to the resort where my brother Jae and his fiance Pierina (YES THEY ARE ENGAGED!) were staying. Her brother got married on Friday so it was cool that they happened to end up just a couple miles down the road from us. Of course it rained all day and we couldn't spend much time at the pool so we went to the mall, ate at the food court and started the 5 hour drive back to Grandma's house in Daytona Beach. We spent friday riding go-karts and hanging at the beach. It was sad to leave on Saturday but we really enjoyed seeing our cousins again and spending time at the beach. Thanks mom and dad! Don't worry- more pictures to come. Enjoying the beach Sami giving me board waxing lessons At Ponce Inlet My mom's old house on Partick Air Force base. Her Alma Mater- the scorpions