Zils Family

Maternity Pictures

2010-04-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pictures from my maternity photo shoot. Enjoy!

Does This Belly Make Me Look Fat?

2010-04-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

I think it’s really funny how just because a woman is pregnant, people think that gives them free reign to talk about their weight. Really? You think I’ve gained weight? Maybe that’s because I have a growing baby in my uterus! Do you think I have never looked down and seen my pregnant belly? I am aware that I am heavier than I was nine months ago. I am reminded of that every time I look in the mirror, step on a scale at my weekly doctor’s appointment, try to stand up from lying down or seated position, and by my constant aching back.

Just today, I was in the garage at my apartment building when I came across one of the tenants. He asked me how much longer I had to go, and I replied by saying that I have only three weeks left. Then he responded, “But you’re not even fat. I mean your legs and arms aren’t fat.” I took a deep breath, smiled, and said, “You’re right, I’m not fat, I’m pregnant!” hoping he could sense the sarcasm in my voice.

Or I can talk about the predictable joke by a certain someone (you know who you are). Every time I see this person they remark, “Oh, have you gained weight since the last time I saw you?” or “wow, did you eat a big lunch?” Hey, guess what Mr. Joke-teller? That’s not funny!!! It wasn’t funny the first time you said it five months ago, and it’s not funny now.

But the rudest comment I have received was from a tenant’s boyfriend. Unfortunately we were both in the elevator, so I couldn’t run away screaming. He says to me, “Damn, are you having triplets?” Seriously? Did someone just say that to me? Am I in a parallel universe? I respond by smiling (again) and saying, “no, just one boy in here.” As if that was not rude enough, he continues to say, “Well then, it’s going to be a twelve pound baby.” Really!?! I wanted to scream, “Excuse me; you have a belly and no excuse of a baby! I hate you; you are the rudest person I’ve ever met! And you’re ugly too!” But instead I just walked away amazed at what I had just heard.

Basically, when I ask the opinion of the only person who I care what she thinks about my weight gain (my doctor) and she says that I have done an excellent job and that she wishes all her patients could limit their weight gain to what I have, I know I am not the only one experiencing these rude comments. I am amazed at what my body has done in the last nine months, I am proud to have this body that allows me to carry and nurture my baby. I think I look great and am so happy how my body has reacted to pregnancy. That being said, I still do not want to hear your annoying analysis about my body. So, for anyone out there who is tempted to make a comment or joke about a pregnant woman’s increasing weight; just don’t do it! It was not okay to comment about a woman’s weight before she got pregnant, and it’s not okay now that she is.

Bring on the Burps!

2010-03-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

I got so many wonderful things from such generous friends and family, but in the end, the only thing I realized I hadn't gotten any of were burp cloths! In an ideal world, my child would not need them because there is no way he would ever spit up. And that probably will be the case (wink* wink*), but I thought I'd better have some, for those just in case moments.

So as I was strolling down the aisles of babies r us, I noticed that most of the burp cloths they sell are not much thicker than a heavy t-shirt. Then I remembered two of my sisters receiving gifts from their friends of burp cloths made out of cloth diapers. (It seems logical to me since those diapers need to be pretty absorbent). So I thought to myself, "I'll just make some for myself and have the most stylish baby and driest shoulder in town". All I did was cover the two middle seems of the diaper with cute ribbon/fabric and made a cloth border at the top and bottom of each. Also, the key is to buy the thicker of the two different kinds of cloth diapers that they sell. Here they are:

Baby Shower- Round Two!

2010-03-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my friend Heather threw me another amazing shower for all the friends we have out in the South Bay/ Long beach areas. Heather really out did herself. She had everything planned and decorated to the T. She really thought of every detail.

It was a co-ed shower, so Jude was able to enjoy it this time around. All of our friends came out and made our day really special. Even Todd (one of Jude's bestfriends growing up) was able to make it. Todd and his family live in San Diego so we don't get to see them very often. So, it was a big surprize to see him and his wife at the shower! We felt so blessed that day to have such amazing friends who enrich our lives. Thanks for making our day great everyone!

Heather determining the winner of the "Guess the Size of Lindsey's Belly" game.

Jamie, Me, and Stephanie

Summer and I

The Proud Parents :)

Cradle Bedding

2010-02-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

I finished making the bedding for our baby boy's cradle. The other day, my mom and I went to Jo Ann's fabrics. I am so glad I went there instead of going shopping downtown, because there were way too many cute fabrics to choose from just at Jo Ann's alone! After what seemed like hours of deliberating, I chose a very cute and sweet fabric. Then my mom walked me through the steps of how to make it. I could not wait to start the little project, and two days later, it was done! At least we know he will have a place to sleep when he comes home from the hospital!

Third Trimester Already!!!

2010-02-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

I am finally in the homestretch of this pregnancy! Today I am 28 weeks along, and technically in my third trimester. (Some of the things I read say I was in my third trimester before this week, so I don't know when it really starts). All I know is that I have only 12 weeks left until my due date and I can't wait to meet our little guy! I can't believe I will be a mom so soon! Hopefully this trimester will be as easy as the other two...

Definitely Growing!!!

Baby Shower!

2010-02-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, February 6th, my sister Jamie threw me a baby shower at my mom's house. It was such an amazing day, and I felt so loved and blessed.
One of the highlights was meeting my nephew, Eli, for the first time. I found out about a week before the shower that my sister Alyssa was going to be able to fly into town from Texas to make it. It was so nice to see her and her adorable baby boy. Seeing her made me realize how much I miss her and her cute little family. I can't wait for my baby to come so he can play with all his cousins! It was awesome to have all of my family in town, even if it was only for the day.
It was also really nice that Jude's parents were able to fly in too! We picked them up from the airport on Friday afternoon and dropped them back off on Sunday morning. We were able to show them a little around our new stomping grounds. We were able to go to the La Brea Tar Pits and some fun restaurants. Even though it didn't feel long enough, it was so nice to be able to spend the weekend with them.
And to make matters even more exciting, my Aunt Giselle came in from Vegas to be there! She totally surprised me and I was shocked! I really felt like I couldn't spend enough time with everyone, but I felt so special and had one of the best days of my life! It was so nice to be surrounded by loved ones who support Jude and I in this most exciting part of our lives.

Here of some pictures of the shower. If anyone has any, please share with me. I didn't take enough. My mom made the most amazing food and had her house decorated so cute for my little boy's party. She always does such a great job. Hopefully I can be like her one day. :) Jamie had some fun games to play as well. We were all cracking up by the middle of the activities.

Jamie, Andrew and Mom

Jude and I before the shower started

Amber, me and Christy

Playing games! Heather, Lora and Maren

Baby Eli. Just look at that smile!

It's a....

2009-12-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Boy! On friday afternoon, we went to our 20 week ultrasound. The doctor said that everything looked great and that he was forming perfectly. She also told us Zazoo was a boy! Jude and I were really excited! But really surprised. My Aunt Giselle (who always knows) and practically everyone else thought it was going to be a girl. We are so happy that the baby is healthy and happy. We cant wait to meet him!

20 weeks pregnant

My First Project!

2009-12-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

So, Jude bought me a sewing machine for my birthday. I really wanted one so I could get back into sewing. I used to sew back in high school, but was a little afraid I wouldn't remember how. So, it took me a little bit of time staring at the thing before I decided I needed to just go for it. I thought I would start on a few easy projects. My first project was making a couple throw pillows for our couch. The couch needed some brightening up. After all my hesitation, the project turned out to be pretty easy and a lot of fun! I even made the pillows with a pocket in the back so I can take the pillows out to wash them :) I better keep practicing so I can be a professional by the time our baby needs a halloween costume...

Oh, how I love you Joe!

2009-11-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

Trader Joe's does it again! They were out of my regular orange juice that I buy so I opted to buy a different kind. Both are the trader joe's brand and are not made from concentrate. So, I thought I might as well give it a try (even though this new o.j. only comes in gallon size). I was worried that Jude and I would not be able to drink a whole gallon of orange juice before we leave for Vegas and Santa Cruz for over a week. Boy, was I wrong. This orange juice is so delish that we will easily drink it up. There is only one ingredient (orange juice) and it tastes like you are bitting into an orange. I do love you Joe for all the healthy options you give us!

The Big Announcement

2009-11-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Jude and I are excited to officially announce that I am pregnant! I am 15 and ½ weeks along, and feeling fine. I was fortunate enough to get through my first trimester without ever getting sick. I was extremely tired, but that is to be expected. I am now starting to feel like I am getting some energy back. I don’t really feel different or even pregnant, so it doesn’t seem quite real yet.

My clothes are starting to get a little snug and I am starting to look like I just ate a very big thanksgiving dinner. I’ve gained 3 pounds overall and the doctor says the baby seems very healthy. (Although I would argue most of the 3 pounds I've gained are from all the chocolate and pumpkin bread I've been eating). Jude has been reading “What to Expect When Your Expecting” and reporting to me all the things I need to know.

It is so amazing seeing the baby in ultrasounds and hearing its little heart beat! We are dying to find out what the gender is (mostly for shopping purposes), and we will know in the next few weeks. We will keep everyone posted!

Picture of me at 15 1/2 weeks prego. Looks like I ate a big meal! I guess a could have brushed my hair too...

Picture of Zazu (the name of the baby until we know the gender) a couple weeks ago, at 13 weeks.

For my love of my husband (and the Beatles)!

2009-11-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everyone! Today is my favorite holiday of the year. You get to dress up however you like AND get candy! It doesn't get much better than that. The last couple years though, I just haven't been as festive as usual. Maybe Jude and I are getting old... Anyway, I thought I'd wish everyone a spooktakular day! (Can you tell I'm trying to be better about blogging?)

Broken Leg and Still Smiling :)

2009-09-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

We're Moving!!!!

2009-08-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Just in case anyone didn't know, we are moving! We are saying good-bye to the beach, and saying hello to the city! (At least for the time being)

Top Ten Reasons We Will Miss the South Bay:

10. Riviera Mexican restaurant (our favorite mexican restaurant).

9. The Surf and Skate Culture.

8. Happy Veggie (our favorite vegetarian restaurant).

7. Felling like a part of a community. Everywhere we go, we always know someone.

6. Bike rides.

5. Jude's short commute to work.

4. Our second family at Frascati (the restaurant I've worked at all through out school).

3. The Ocean breeze through our window every night.

2. The ocean.

1. Our friends. We have made such good friends here and we will miss you all so much!

So Cute!

2009-08-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

We were all so lucky to have Alyssa come visit for a couple weeks this month. It was so nice to see her and her two beautiful children. Lucy is so big now and has developed into such a cute girl, with a great sense of humor. It was also nice to see Alyssa's little pregnant belly since she never posts pictures of herself. She looked so cute. But the cutest thing of all was seeing Chase and Samuel play together. They have such different little personalities, but couldn't get enough of each other. It was so sweet to see them constantly playing together.

Karaoke!

2009-08-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

For Jamie's birthday we all went to Soop Sok Music Studio in Korea Town to Karaoke! Jamie was definitely the star of the night. She busted out all the good "oldies" that we used to dance to in my car on the way to and from high school. My favorite song that I sang was "I am the Walrus" although it was a lot more difficult to sing than I had anticipated. (Luckily Debi helped me with that). Jude only opted to sing one song under the condition that I got up with him; so we sang "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priests in honor of any Beavis and Butthead fans that may have been in the crowd. It was also fun playing my air guitar as Slash, while Nick sang as Axl Rose and Trenton was the back-up drummer.

Welcome to the World!!!!

2009-08-13T16:27:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to congratulate Ben, Jessica and their family for their new addition. Shane Bryant Henkel was born on August 10th around 12 in the afternoon. He was only 5 pounds 13 ounces. I think he was the smallest little baby I have ever held. He is so beautiful, sweet and precious. Hopefully Jessica can get some rest before their big move next week.

Summer!

2009-07-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yay! Summer is finally here! (and I already have a sunburn to prove it)

Summer! by LindseyZils featuring Billabong

Our Europe Trip!

2009-07-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun on our trip! We saw so much and traveled so much, that by the end of our trip we were absolutely exhausted! We will never forget this vacation. On top of seeing everything, we were so happy to be able to spend so much time together since we have been so busy with school and work lately. We feel blessed to have been able to share these experiences with each other.

London, England

2009-07-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

First, we started our trip in London. We flew into London without being able to really sleep on the plane. We got there the day after we left LAX because of the time change, but were determined to stay awake until that night to try to get on their time. So, after a long walk trying to locate our hotel, we finally get there only to find out that it is a complete dump! The fact that the room was about the size of my walk-in closet was not the bad part. Everything about the hotel was disturbing, from the help to the filthiness. Luckily, Jude told me only a few days ago that when he first went into the bathroom, there was mushroom-like mold growing. Gross!!!! He quickly cleaned it up without me knowing because he knew I would be even more freaked out than I already was. Keep in mind, that I have spent many a day in hostels. This was nothing like any hostel I have ever been to. (Alyssa, Funny Farm in Switzerland was spotless compared to this place). We felt like we were in a National Lampoons movie. We stayed three nights there. We stayed out as late as possible every night just to ensure less time in that place. Overall, London was cool. I definitely feel like we saw everything we wanted to, and probably don’t need to go back. The sights were amazing. The Parliament building, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey were truly breathtaking. We only saw them from the outside because we got there too late. It was weird because it didn’t get dark until around ten o’clock, and the sun would come up around four in the morning. The next day we went to the London Tower where the old castle grounds and the crown jewels are. We got to see a cool exhibit on Henry VIII, including his old armor. That night we went to our friend, Flora’s, show. She is finishing her masters in theater arts, and we were able to be there for her school’s final performance of her two year program. She is an old friend of Jude’s from Santa Cruz, and she was really happy to have us there to share that with her. She did an awesome job!

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

2009-07-01T16:21:00.001-07:00

After London, we flew out super early the next morning. Jude and I both had a hard time sleeping the night before in our London hotel, so we were really tired. So we get to our hotel in Luxembourg at ten in the morning. We were relieved because this hotel was like one thousand times nicer. So, we dropped off our things and walked around in the rain until we were able to check in. Luxembourg is such a cute place! Since it was raining so hard, we sat at an outside café for a long time, and we just relaxed. We met the cutest Cuban couple from Puerto Rico that we talked to for a while. Luxembourg was so clean and so nice. We loved it and didn’t want to leave!

Trier and Zils Inn, Germany

2009-07-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

The next day we got up and hopped on a train to Trier, Germany. Trier is where we were going to rent a car to drive up to the Zils Inn. We got our car, and drove up to the Zils place. It was only about twenty minutes outside Trier, and was in such a small village, that we decided to go back down to Trier for the afternoon. Trier is the oldest city in Germany. We saw some ruins from the Roman Empire, and a really pretty cathedral. We sat at an outside café and listened to a man playing the accordion while sipping on our coke light.
After a while, we decided to drive back to the Zils Inn. At first, it was a little scary driving up there because I’m not used to such small villages. But it was so cute and quaint. The lady who served us our dinner was not a Zils, but said the chef was. We later met the chef and she didn’t speak an ounce of English. In fact, we had a hard time communicating there because the only people who did know English knew very very little. It was really cool to be there. It was also nice, because it got us out of the cities for a while.

Munich, Germany

2009-07-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

The next morning, we woke up, turned our car in, and headed off to Munich for four days. It took us three trains to get there. But on that train ride, we got to see all of the Rheinland river valley. Munich was so much fun too! The morning after we got there, we went on this bike tour of Munich that Alyssa and I had gone on ten years ago when we were there. Jude and I loved it, and the tour was even better than I had remembered it. The next day was raining, so we slept in a little and then had lunch at another outside café. We walked around a little and went to dinner. At dinner we ended up seeing the British people that were on the bike tour with us the day before. They were young and crazy! They had all kinds of crazy ideas about America and Americans. It was quite hilarious. Our favorite was when one of the girls asked me, “Is it true that in America, the number one gift a husband gives his wife is a gun?” We had a lot of fun with them :)
The next day we went to Neuschwanstein, which is the castle of King Ludwig II in the Austrian Alps. This is the castle Walt Disney modeled his castle after. The bus ride there was about two hours. Once we got there, we went on a bike ride to swan lake and the surrounding areas. It was so pretty. Then after lunch, we hiked up to the castle. The hike was pretty strenuous and we loved it. There were beautiful waterfalls and foliage. Jude and I were in awe at how beautiful it was. This was one of our favorite days. We finally got up to the top and toured the inside of the castle. Oh, by the way, our tour guide was doing cheesy magic tricks the whole time. It was funny.

Prague, Czech Republic

2009-07-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

We woke up our last day in Munich to get on a train to Prague. It was very interesting how different the country looked as soon as we entered the Czech Republic. At first Jude and I kind of gave each other looks, like “what have we gotten ourselves into?” We finally get to Prague and walk to our hotel. Our hotel ended up being right in the heart of the pedestrian part of “Nove Mesto” or New Town. We went on an all day long walking tour the next morning. We had a really good tour guide who was very informative on the historical parts of Prague. There was just so much to see in Prague. It was a really cool city with so much culture and history. So of the things we saw were the Charles Bridge, the 500 year old Astronomical clock, and an amazing gothic Cathedral. The next day we spent our day wandering around and getting lost in the medieval streets of Prague. We did some souvenir shopping and Jude bought me a really pretty Garnet ring. (He spoiled me the whole time we were there). The next day we went on a self guided tour of the old Jewish ghetto. We went to synagogues and the old Jewish cemetery. It sounds morbid, but it was really cool. We ate at local restaurants and found the food to be really good. A lot of German influence.

Dresden, Germany

2009-07-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

After spending four days in Prague we got on another train back to Germany. This time we were going to Dresden. Our hotel was in a really good location here too. It was also in the pedestrian zone of the Old Town. We had a perfect view of Dresden’s biggest church from our window. The night we arrived, we went to a Spanish restaurant and filled up on tapas. It was delicious. The next day, we basically walked around the whole city. We were only there two nights, so that day was our only one to see the city. It is a very beautiful city on the Elbe River. A lot of it is newly re-done because it was bombed so hard in the War. They have rebuilt it in the exact way it looked before. People call Dresden the Florence of Germany. As we were walking, we stumbled upon a sort of ride that takes you up to the top of a mountain that over looks Dresden, it was an incredible view. We wished we were able to spend more time there. Our hotel and the city were so nice that we didn’t want to leave.

Hamburg, Germany

2009-07-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

The next morning we woke up and caught a train to Hamburg. We had two nights and one full day there before our plane ride home. By the time we got to Dresden, we were really tired. If you see our pictures, we look really tired. Although we were tired, we wanted to see Hamburg. Hamburg is a port city also on the Elbe. It has more bridges than Venice, Italy. The night that we got there, we went to the infamous Reeperbahn district and checked out the freaks! It was fun. We also saw some of the places the Beatles first played that made them famous. The next day we were exhausted! We slept in then took a walk around the big city. We were able to see a good part of the city without stressing about the details. Hamburg is a really big city with a lot of industry. The next morning we left early to come back home!

So, that was our trip in a nut shell. Germany is such a beautiful country. It is the greenest of all first world countries. You could definitely see this by seeing all the wind and solar power throughout the countryside. There were recycling trash cans everywhere, along with normal trash cans. Also, among all the bratwurst and sausages there were also plenty of vegetarian dishes for me to enjoy too, as one fifth of Germany’s population is veggie!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-06-30T16:45:00.001-07:00

Before I post anything about our Europe trip, I just wanted to write a special note to wish my Love a happy second anniversary! Jude, I love you more than the day I married you. At the time, I didn't think that was possible, but each day I spend with you makes me love you more and more. You are my best friend and the love of my life. I am so grateful for the support you show me in so many ways. You make me feel beautiful when I don't feel like it, and happy when I am feeling down. I feel so lucky to be able to share my life with you! I love you!

Fashion Police!

2009-05-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Help! I may have already asked some of you, but is it a total crime to wear black shoes with a navy dress? I am trying not to have to buy new shoes... But be honest, I can take it ;) The dress I bought is pictured below.

I have been bad!

2009-05-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have been bad at blogging, gardening, keeping in touch with friends, cleaning house, working out, reading for pleasure, and being a wife, daughter and sister (and probably anything else you can think of).
But I have been a great student teacher! I know that I have made a lot of things come second to my student teaching, but it is now over!!!! I worked day and night to do the best that I could do while student teaching. I have gained a very close bond with the teachers and students I was able to work with. I will never forget the experiences I have shared with them. I have not only learned a lot about teaching, but about life in general from my students. It is amazing the life lessons a little six-year-old can teach you.
Although I put a lot of things to the side, I feel like I have grown a lot from this experience. I feel like I have grown tremendously as an educator, and am confident in myself as a teacher. I now have the confidence to have a classroom of my own, and cannot wait until that happens! I have developed my own style of teaching through the example and guidance of my master teachers and other teachers I have met. I hope to always remember the feeling I get when I put my all into teaching. Thank you all for your love and support!

These are my first graders at Roosevelt Elementary in Long Beach. This was my first assignment.

My second assignment was at Emerson in Long Beach with fifth graders. (They were dressed up as colonists.)

METALLICA!

2008-12-19T13:59:00.001-08:00

Last night Jude and I went to the Metallica concert. I do have to say they were AMAZING in concert and right up there with Tool for the best concert I have ever seen! They played a lot of old stuff and a lot of stuff from their new album. They probably could have put on a five hour show with all their music. Rock on Metallica!

"Mom" Jeans

2008-12-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

Jude and I were walking out of our favorite restaurant, Happy Veggie, and happened upon this lady with the worst pair of mom jeans ever! I am posting this blog to vow to never wear mom jeans in my life.

Thanksgiving!

2008-12-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I heard a rumor that someone was saying that it is not summer anymore and that I needed to post more often. I took the hint. Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving. We had a great day with my family, Jude' parents, Aunt Lisa and cousin Catie there. We missed Jamie and Alyssa and their families though....
BOMB

The bomb

The bombs in training

And here are some more fun pictures:

Summer 2008

2008-09-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

I was able to do really fun things this summer. One of the highlights was going on a sea life tour and the Long Beach Aquarium with Aunt Lisa, Cousin Catie, and Bopa. It was such a fun day and we saw so many amazing sea animals. We even saw a few Blue Whales! I didn't get that many good pictures of the sea life because I was just too fascinated at the moment we saw them. Jude's grandfather shared with me some wonderful stories of his years spent on a submarine and serving our country. After we were done, we went back to Redondo for dinner so Jude could share our fun day with us.

I also had a wonderful summer with all my sisters and their children here! Alyssa, Samuel, and Lucy came into town for a couple weeks. It is so much fun seeing my nieces and nephews play with each other. Samuel has grown up so much since the last time we saw him, He has matured a lot and come out of his little shy shell. Of course Lucy has changed so much too! Last time we saw her, she was just a little baby. Alyssa was also able to be here for Jamie's baby shower! We all threw her a shower at my mom's house. My mom always does such a nice job with things like that. Lora Gibbs also helped out a lot. We had such a fun day with all of Jamie's friends, and I think Jamie really enjoyed herself too. We are all just so excited for this little boy to come!

Grandpa with Samuel and Lucy

Grandma with her grandchildren Jamie's Shower

Finally, something Jude was able to do this summer too! We were able to go to Santa Cruz for a long weekend at the end of August. We flew in the same night that Sandy got back from spending her summer in Hawaii, but unfortunately for us, Dana was still in Hawaii. It is always so nice to visit with Sandy and to see all of Jude's friends. They always make me feel like I have a built-in family in Santa Cruz. We mostly just spent time with friends and family, but we did have time to go on a beautiful hike. We hiked down to what is called the "garden of eden", which is located in this valley going down into the San Lorenzo river. The name of the hike explains just how beautiful it was. The Santa Cruz area is just so beautiful, and unlike anything we see here. One of the things I love about Santa Cruz is the magnificent nature surrounding you at all times. Whenever I am there, I just feel so much more healthy and gracious for the wonderful world we have.

We're back!

2008-09-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

So, I have to say, after that summer school class I think I turned off my computer and never turned it back on... until now. I just started my semester last week, and Jude started his the week before. We both have only one year to go! But, I thought I would share some of our summer with everyone, since I haven't been diligent in doing so

I guess I will start off with the beautiful weddings we attended. First we attended my cousin Jeff's wedding. The ceremony took place in a beautiful Catholic church in San Pedro. The bride, Mary, and the rest of the evening were just as beautiful. It was nice to see the whole family, although we missed grandma who could not make it. Here are some pictures of that day.
We also attended our friends Melissa and Peter's wedding. It was a perfect day for a wedding. They had it in Palos Verdes by the lighthouse. I had never been there before, but it was so pretty!

We also went to Chelsea and Trenton's wedding reception. It was at the Westlake Yacht Club, so it was nice for Jude and I to reminise about our wedding the year before. Chelsea looked beautiful, but unfortunately I do not have any pictures. (Jamie, maybe you can help me) They also had a photo booth, and we all enjoyed it. Maybe a little too much!

Going Insane!

2008-07-02T20:58:00.001-07:00

This is how I officially feel after working on this TPA for a week now! Who knew trying to become a teacher would be so difficult!

I will stop complaining now.

I Graduated!!!

2008-06-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

After a really really long time, I finally graduated from Cal State Long beach with my degree in Liberal Studies/Education and a minor in Science. Now all I have to do is finish my multiple subject teaching credential, and I'll be on my way to teaching! The credential process takes 18 months, but I am trying to do it in one year.

The robe is really not my best look. Why can't they make robes that fit small people? I was swimming in it all night!

Jamie's Showing!!! (finally)

2008-05-12T13:19:00.001-07:00

I took this picture a couple weeks ago of Jamie because I was so excited that she was finally showing her baby bump. I know it is probably barely noticeable to most people, but it really does show her little belly. I am so excited for Jamie and Nick to have a little baby, and I know they will be such great parents. I also know that I will be this baby's favorite Aunt! And yes, I got permission from Jamie to put this picture up ; ) Congratulations to Nick and Jamie again! I can't wait for September!!!!

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day everyone! Lets all try to go out and do something nice for the only home we have.

And always remember the three "R's": Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Peace and love to all.

Spring Break 2008!!!

2008-04-09T13:45:00.001-07:00

Last week I was off school for my spring break. I usually take this time to get myself organized for the rest of the semester and do other chores I don't usually have time for while I'm in school. But instead of doing something productive like that, I decided I would take a trip this year. Our friend, Alyssa, moved to San Francisco last year and we had not yet been there to visit her. I thought a mid-week trip up to San Fran would be a great idea since Jude was going to be at work and night school anyway. Although, I wish he could have come, we had a great time! We did a lot of eating, shopping, and talking...a perfect girly vacation. The picture above is obviously the golden gate bridge, and the one below is me acting like a dork in Chinatown. How can you not go crazy in all those fun shops?!

Happy First Day of Spring!

2008-03-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken at my school, Cal State Long Beach...

Happy St. Patricks Day!

2008-03-17T12:01:00.001-07:00

Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama

We're Here!

2008-03-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

So this is what happens when you start looking at all your friends cute blogs! But do you have to have a child to make one? Oh well, I thought I would join the cyber-crew anyway. We'll see how much I update it...

June 30th, 2007

2008-03-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

Some of our nieces and nephews

2008-03-14T10:41:00.000-07:00