August Adventures

Since I haven't been really good at taking pictures lately here are just a few pictures from some fun adventures with friends in the last month of summer.....

A friendly Stay-cation

A beautiful sunset after a shopping date with Sister

Some more wedding pictures that were just waiting on my camera

On our way to Wet and Wild

Out on Mill for Brent's Birthday

School, School, School

and more school! :-) Man I love it! My Grad program started this week and I can not explain in words how excited I am but I am definitely going to try. During my first semester I am going to be taking 3 classes. One that goes all semester and then two that go for only 10 weeks on an opposite schedule starting next week. I have spent my week doing little assignments, ordering books and checking blackboard. I have definitely confirmed that I am the biggest nerd in the world.

SARRC school where I work is also in full session we just finished our 3rd week. We are really getting in the swing of the routine and really getting to know the kiddos. They are so fun and definitely could be on "kids say the darnest things". As my schedule seems to be getting busier and busier, I have also started tutoring and training for the next half marathon. I am definitely unsure if I will be able to do it all this fall but I am going to try my hardest...... so we will see :-) Happy Weekend!!! Enjoy some rest and relaxation..... that is what I'll be doing.

Kind of busy

School is finally back in session and definitely in full force. Hence the lack of blog postings and pure exhaustion on a Friday night (you know what I mean SARRC girls). But I am up to something new this weekend and week with a little bit of house sitting. It is always strange to stay in someone else's home, at least it is for me. Different sounds, different smells and different organization. It's weird to imagine yourself walking in that person's shoes.

It's super quiet yet peaceful....

It's stressful yet calming....

It's scary yet fun....

This week I am going to relax....enjoy the week and pay alittle bit more attention to the details before school, tutoring and work are back in full force.

ooooo there goes the sausage dog, barking away...... :-) She is such a goofy dog

Sunday Funday: Wet n' Wild

Last Sunday I re-lived my middle school summer. Em, John and I wanted to check out Wet n' Wild Phoenix. While the drive was a little far (I-17 and Pinnacle Peak) we had a blast getting pumped to ride on the slides, haha! We spent the day hopping from line to line checking out every slide. Our first ride was of course the racing slide. We are all way to competitive and yes I took second, John of course beat everyone.

My suggestion would be to bring water shoes and go during the weekday. The rides were ridiculous, so much fun and left me screaming at the top of my lungs. My favorite was the tornado.....

We spent the entire Sunday at Wet n' Wild so I was exhausted.

Time spent on rides: 30 minutes

Time spent waiting in lines: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Watching John frolicking in the wave pool: priceless

Something different.

Alright fellow bloggers check it out.... you are definitely tagged.

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as: My life according to (band name).

My Life according to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers


Are you a male or female?: American Girl

Describe yourself: Anything that's Rock N Roll

How do you feel: Waiting for tonight

Describe where you currently live: The apartment song

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Into the great wide open

Your favorite form of transportation: Crawling back to you

Your best friend is: Rebel

You and your best friends are: To good to be true

What's the weather like: Something in the air

Favorite time of day: Wake up time

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: Learning to fly

What is life to you: To find a friend

Your fear: Wildflowers

What is the best advice you have to give: Time to move on

Thought for the Day: It's good to be King

How I would like to die: Free Fallin'

My soul's present condition: I need to know

My motto: I won't back down

**Thanks Dana!!!

Weekend Relaxing/Organization Time

School is approaching at a rapid pace... I think the official countdown is 40 hours. I am so excited to start a new year and work my butt off to see amazing gains in our kiddos. Since school starts on Monday I decided to FINALLY get my life/condo in order. I spent most of the morning doing laundry, putting things away, cleaning, car wash and oil change. I am spending my weekend with the perfect balance of fun and organization. Since I have been stinking at taking my camera with me to reminisce my fun times (definitely makes it harder to blog) I will just fill you in on my fun activities in the last few days.

Parent Teacher Night: Got a chance to see old families and of course finally put names to faces for all our new families.

Competitive Volleyball: All the old college friends got together for some serious 4 on 4 volleyball. Lots of laughs but I have definitely lost all my volleyball skills in the last 4 years.... maybe I never even had them :-)

Drinks and Sleeping in!!!

---Going to Roosters tonight to watch Harry Luge tonight with the college girlfriends, can't wait!!

Wet & Wild: tomorrow Em, John and I are heading to check out the new water park in Phx..... yep reliving our middle school days. Should be fun hopefully I'll be motivated enough to snap some pictures to remember the fun times. I am off to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine :-)

Hope you are too!!

So I'll officially admit it.

Somewhere in between the craziness of friends, family and work I have been slacking on blogging. I haven't been able to blog as much as I would like too nor have I had time to put quality ideas in my computer. While I am still struggling to find time and feel positive and excited for people to read what I post I thought I would at least update with some amazing pictures (there's ALOT) from an event I will NEVER forget.

So last weekend one of my best friends from high school married a boy I've known since Kindergarten. They couldn't be more perfect together and I could honestly say I wouldn't mind being their live in roommate/1st child because they are so fun together. (Don't worry Mom I won't do it, I am still planning on hopefully finding a cute boy for myself) I was more than grateful and happy to have the chance of being a small part of their important day and we all

sure had a lot of fun joining in. As my Dad says, Party On!!!

And soooo the party begins

All the Bridemaids

Yea for the groomsmen gifts

Sooooo pretty.... just updating her facebook status

Rehearsal dinner

Pre-wedding pictures

The Beautiful Bridesmaids.... friends, cousin and sisters included

Everyone outside of the church :-)

The happy married couple leaving the church

The entire wedding party at the reception

My dollar dance with my Wiena

And she's down for the count, Go Rachel Go!

Vacations are finally over :-(

So as some of you might have heard, seen or know I have been in and out of Phoenix every weekend and finally all my planned vacations are over. As I finally got on the plane home from Minnesota, I sat down to think about everything I have been grateful for in the last month or two. While I was sad to leave Minnesota, I am excited; busy and nervous for what Phoenix has in store for me this year.

I had the most amazing time in Minnesota. I was reminded all about how I love the summers there. Where you can roll down the windows anytime of day and feel the breeze (not to hot or too cold). I was reminded once again ALL about the "Minnesota Nice". I am grateful for all my friends that took me in now that I don't have a home. From lunches with lifetime neighbors, trips to the airport, movies and ice cream with friends, caribou and all the wedding bliss in between. I am lucky that even after 5 years I am able to have amazing friends and family in both Minnesota, Arizona and even a few in Montana.

As I sat on the plane laughing at the cute old man next to me, I began to start to drift down to reality. I had to realize that tomorrow once again work starts, my oil needs to be changed, car washed, groceries bought and prescriptions to be picked up. I wrote down my extensive to do list and then felt completely overwhelmed.

Instead of freaking out, I put on the ipod headphones and thought about the next few weeks/months. (Hints the updated country music on the blog) My mind was filling with all the stuff to be done but also all the new things at work. We are starting school in exactly one week and I can't wait to start the new classroom with all the families. I have become excited and nervous just thinking about what lies ahead this fall. I need to constantly remind myself that I need to quit planning and start living in the moment.

After I got off the plane little did I know that Phoenix wanted to welcome me home in a big way...... I broke my phone and lost my luggage all within an hour of being home. Oh wait..... I just got a call from NWA that my bag is on the way to my house yea!!!!! Only 24 hours later!!! :-) Laundry time! Off to work on that to do list.

Biggest, coolest find

So I just found out about this new website called Rue La La. It is a serious discount designer online store and it is fantastic. It has different sales that happen only once during that day and once the merchandise is the sold the sale is off. Needless to say it is fantastic and I would definitely suggest this to anyone who has expensive taste with little to no budget. Someday hopefully I will be able to buy something....

Sale Today: Tom Ford Sunglasses ahhhhh