Bloglovin & 25 Randoms About Me

I'm finally getting around to this....

I use Blogger Dashboard, so I haven't felt any sense of urgency to sign up for Bloglovin.

But, for my 21 followers, it's almost July 1st, so here you go :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
(Although now that it looks like you can still follow me even if I don't set up an account).

And, to give this post some substance....
I was cleaning up my facebook page recently and found this.
I wrote it in January of 2009.
But, they're all still true and I got a good laugh reading through these, so I thought I'd share.

So, here are 25 Random Facts about Me:

1. I have never broken a bone (which is shocking considering that I am a klutz)

2. I have a lazy eye and had to wear a patch over my left eye from the ages of 3-7

3. Laundry is my favorite chore (Dishes are a close second)

4. I have a shot glass collection from places all over the world

5. Every single birthday party of mine from ages 1-12 was heart-themed

6. In September of 2006, I traveled to 10 countries (including 14 cities) all throughout Europe (and yes, I do have a shot glass from each place I visited)

7. Growing up I had a strange obsession with toothbrushes

8. I can walk on my hands…for a good length of time

9. I am a hypochondriac (I won’t mention the number of times I’ve thought I’ve had cancer)

10. One of my greatest fears is being trapped in a fire

11. I call my dad Jimmy (Most people call him Brian)

12. I am tone deaf (But wish I could sing)

13. I won’t forget your birthday if you tell it to me once

14. I never had braces

15. I have a scar on my right arm due to “modular fasciitis”

16. My favorite section of the newspaper is the weather page

17. I blush easily…but it’s only because I have rosacea (I’ve been diagnosed)

18. I can’t wink (Don’t ask me to try – it’s embarrassing)

19. When I was little I thought my name was Baboo

20. I am addicted to coffee and get a headache if I don’t have a cup by noon

21. My arm span is almost 6 feet long

22. I’m allergic to bee stings and penicillin

23. I’ve never had a pet dog (and would be okay if I never did)

24. My closet is extremely organized (And when I was younger I might have had lists of all my outfits organized by season...you know, so I wouldn't repeat wearing outfits too close together)

25. I get riled up when people try to call me Becky, so I wouldn't recommend trying :)

So, there you are.
A little randomness for your Wednesday!

Welcoming Summer

Ah, sweet, sweet summer.

So good to have you here.

It was definitely a different year of teaching.

I started the school year off almost 36 weeks pregnant, taught for 3.5 weeks, and then went on maternity leave for 8 weeks.

It was hard to come back and reestablish a classroom when my students had spent almost three times the time with my long-term sub as they had with me.

In addition to that, I went part-time this year.

I am absolutely so thankful that I was able to do this (and will be able to continuing doing it), but it's an adjustment to not be at school full time.

I had to bring home a lot more grading than in the past...and with more on my plate at home now, it was a year of figuring out the balancing act.

Full-time teachers and mommies, props to you!
I had a great group of students this year though, which helped with all the transitions.

A student gave me this sign as an end of the year gift a few years ago and it cracks me up.

Not the only reasons for teaching, but definitely three perks to teaching.

June, July, and August are extra special for me this summer because it means that I get to be a full-time mommy.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my first week of summer.

Here are the highlights so far:

Jack and I are enjoying our summer mornings together.

Along with lots of playtime together.

On Wednesday we went to the fair with the cousins.

I love the progression of these 4 pictures above.
Jack is already beating up on his older cousin.

My sister hosted a Pioneer Woman Potluck on Thursday.

I made her Grilled Chicken Salad with Feta, Fresh Corn, and Blueberry.

Sounds a little wild with the blueberries, but it was actually really good!

And we've resumed our summer lunch dates with daddy.

This weekend the youth pastor at our church got married in the woods a few hours from where we live. Like, their ceremony was literally in a meadow.

So fun!

We spent the rest of the weekend with Jason's grandparents, who live an hour from where the wedding was.

Looking forward to many more weeks of summer ahead!

Father's Day :: 2013

Like Mother's Day, we split our time between Jason's parents and mine.

Again, what a blessing to be so close to our families.

The day was quiet mellow and there wasn't a lot to document.

But, I wanted to make sure to get some generation pictures with both sides of the family.

We started with lunch at Jason's parents.
 

I think Jason looks like his dad.

Jason does not think so.

 

We ended the day with dinner at my sisters with my family.
 

Lately, most people have been saying that Jack looks like Jason.

I've always thought he looks like me (especially as a baby).

But, more so, ever since Jack was a newborn, Jason and I have thought he looked like my dad.
I posted the above picture on Instagram and Facebook on Sunday, and finally people see it.
 

Jack is a mini-Jimmy!

  So glad I was able to get pictures of all my favorite guys together.

It was a perfectly mellow Father's Day.

MLB Draft Party

Last Thursday was the MLB draft.

I'm sure you knew that, right?

No, probably not.

While I love me some Giant's baseball, the only reason I knew it was the MLB draft last week was because we were going to a draft party.

You know, where you eat good food and watch who gets picked to play on what team.

Normally I really wouldn't care about this, since I only care about the Giants and no other team, really.

But...we were going to a draft party with someone who was actually being drafted.

Mark Appel.

So that made it pretty cool.

Mark grew up in Houston until middle school and then moved out to CA.

Him and his family attended our church for many years.

After high school Mark went to Stanford, where he was their baseball teams starting pitcher.

Last year, after his third year at Stanford, he went to the draft and went #8 to the Pirates.

He ended up not signing his contract and decided to go back and pitch his last year at Stanford.

So, this year, he was back up in the draft and expected to be one of the top picks again.

We were all hoping he would go #1 because the Houston Astros were the first pick, they are Mark's home team growing up, and that's where he wanted to go.

It was so fun being at the party.

So suspenseful.  

Here is the fan club, waiting for the draft to start.

Finally it was go time.

You can imagine our excitement when this happened!

Wow.

#1 pick.

It was awesome and so fun to be in the room with him when he heard his name!

(Sorry for the blurry pictures - I think my hand was shaking from all the excitement)

What's even cooler is that Mark is an amazing man of God.

He truly see's the baseball diamond as his mission field.

Last year when he decided not to sign with the Pirates, he got a lot of flack from the media.

But, this past year at Stanford, he pitched one of his best seasons.

And, he played a role in bringing four of his teammates to know the Lord.

When interviewed by ESPN after he was drafted #1 this year, he was asked if he felt some vindication from those that gave him a hard time for not going to the Pirates.

Mark simply quoted Romans 8:28,  "And we know that in things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose."  He then said he is simply excited for how God is going to work through all of this.

To God be the Glory.

Love it.

I might just have to become an Astros fan.

Or at least get Jack an Astros jersey.

Congrats, Mark!