Feeling my age...

I have pics from Father's Day to post, but not with me at work, so those will come. I just want to vent about something that we talked about in my class last week. My professor was discussing with us the realities of being a teacher to this new techie generation, and having us brainstorm ways that we can use technology in our teaching since that is how we can connect to today's kids. While I see the obvious merit in including technology in the classroom, the professor, who I might add is a techie herself, was implying that without constant technology in the classroom we will not reach our students. Sigh. I am self-professed computer-challenged most of the time, and besides that point, what the *#% happened to using your imagination!!!! I swear that kids are starting to lose the ability to entertain themselves without the aid of a television, computer, or whatever the crap those little hand held video game things are called. I am falling into depression about this. I am holding on to that little speck of hope I have inside of me that I will be the kind of teacher that uses technology, sure, but that can also bring back using the MIND. My kids will read books and learn to love them, even if they are downloading them onto their Blackberries and IPhones. Sigh again. Any words of wisdom or hope are encouraged...

We made it one year!

Yesterday was our one year anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year already, it's scary how fast the time goes by. We definitely had our ups and downs, but overall it's been a great year. Here are a couple wedding pics, to remember our day one year ago.

My Birthday and Prayers

My birthday was last Sunday and I had an entire weekend of celebrations! I share a birthday with Nick's sister Taresa, and his other sister Natalie and niece Jessie also have birthdays in May so we had a big party for all of us on Friday. On Sunday, my family took me bowling and we visited family graves. It was a great weekend, with the only downfall being the nasty cold I am still fighting that arrived at the end of the semester. Enjoy the cute pics of my family! Also notice the adorable new addition to the family, Halle the bulldog baby. Nick's sister Natalie got her as a birthday present and she and Chavez are new best friends.

Also, my mother-in-law Tami is in the hospital fighting a bad lung infection. She is doing better and we hope she'll be released sometime tomorrow, but to anyone who reads this say a quick prayer for her recovery!

My Trip to the Desert

Well I am back from my trip and it was AMAZING! I was planning on a big post with lots of pictures, but I've found that it's very hard to put my experience into words. I have posted a few pictures, but most of the stories are being kept for me. If anyone has ever visited a place with a culture that is so drastically different from our own, you will understand my difficulty in explaining.
A few things we did on the trip:
-Given the honor of visiting a petroglyph site and attending a Kachina dance ceremony on the Hopi Reservation.
-Lessons on basket weaving and pottery making from a beautiful Hopi woman in her home.
-Home made fry bread!!! I can never eat it at the fair again...
-Spent a day at the Hopi Day School and worked with the kids there- I want to move there the people are so gracious and the kids are incredible.
-Hiked Canyon De Shelly on the Navajo Reservation and saw the White House Ruins that date back to 1100 AD.
-River trip down the San Juan with a Navajo guide who showed us more ruins and explained the geological features that have formed over millions of years.

It was a long 9 days, especially with 8 other girls... but it was such a great experience. If anyone has the chance to visit, I would definitely recommend taking the opportunity.

Celebrations!

This is a post of celebrations. First, yesterday was baby Chavez's birthday! He is two years old. We aren't sure when he was really born, just that it is around this time, so decided to give our Mexican a Cinco de Mayo birthday.

Second, today is my sister-in-law Natalie's birthday. Happy Birthday Nat! I heard that she got to do a lot of everyday mom stuff instead of something exciting, but I hope she had a good day anyway.

Last, congrats to me! I got a 4.0 this semester, and even though it is tacky to toot my own horn, I am really excited that I managed to pull off those A's. Also, I am leaving on Saturday on a school trip to the Navajo/Hopi Reservations for 9 days. A couple of my good friends from school are going as well, it's going to be awesome. Hopefully I will get some good pictures, and remember to post them.

The Ugly Truth About Marriage

My sister warned me that when I got married, I would get fat. I laughed her off and claimed it wouldn't happen to me. HA!!! Go ahead Devin, give me an "I told you so." Not that I was particularly skinny before I got married, but for the most part my curves were in the right places. Now it might be strecthing it to even call them curves..maybe more along the lines of rolls... Many of you who may read this post have no idea what I am talking about, because you are one of those blessed people who are naturally thin and don't have to worry about it. Even some of you with kids... But for anyone who may know where I am coming from, it sucks! I have decided that a little friendly competition will be great for me, so I joined a team at work that is competing in a workplace Biggest Loser competition. They did this last year and several people from my office lost a lot of weight. Leave it to the State, right? Anyway, the contest goes from April 1 to May 28, and the winning team gets a prize. I hope that knowing that 7 other people are depending on me will give me that little extra push... We'll see how it goes. Everyone send me positive skinny thoughts! If only I had Jillian...

My Wish

If I could have one wish, it would be to be able to talk to my dog for one hour. We could resolve so many problems and misunderstandings, and everyone would be happier. Here is a list of things we would talk about.

Sonia:

-Chavez, it's not okay to go to the bathroom in the house, even if you are right by the door.

-It's pretty gross when you sniff other dog's piles of poop.

-Don't be upset when I don't let you lick my face when I've just watched you lick your privates.

-Barking is annoying unless it affects someone's safety.

-I'm never going to let go of the leash and let you get that bird, so don't pull on the leash and cry like someone's killing you everytime you see one, it's embarrassing.

-I'm being serious when I tell you not to eat our socks. It's not secretly a game.

-I don't appreciate it when you want to sleep with your butt in my face, and neither does your dad.

-It's weird when you follow us into the bathroom and stare at us while we pee. Really weird.

-It's ok to be friends with other dogs. They're not all out to get you. You don't have to be a tough guy. After all, you are a chihuahua... I'm not sure tough is in your job description.

Chavez:

-You kiss me too much. I get it, you love me. Geez...

-You go to the bathroom in the house. What's the big deal?

-You know I lick my privates all the time when you're not looking, you should either never let me lick your face or get over it already.

-It's really annoying when you talk to me in a squeaky, baby voice. Mom.

-If you didn't want me to eat the socks, you shouldn't have laughed at me the first time I did it.

-I know that one day you will let go of that leash, especially if I catch you off guard and charge really hard when I see one. I don't know what it means when you say I'm going to pull your arm out of the socket.

-You can't trust anyone!!! I will continue to bark at every dog I see. Except for Harley, I've investigated and he's ok. And Jib, sorry I bit you at Christmas, I'm a better dog now and I hope you'll give me another chance...

-I am a tough guy. Just because I bark like a girl and love my mom a little too much doesn't mean I can't kick some butt. Have you seen my face wrinkles?

-Stop dressing me up. I'm not a doll or a baby. I don't believe you when you say it's to keep me warm.

-I really just love you a lot and don't want you to be mad at me all the time...

So I realize that this will never happen, and I don't actually know what Chavez is thinking(obviously). And for anyone who actually read this post, sorry. Maybe if you have a dog you will understand.