My New.....

Since I got my job, I had been debating on getting a new car. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Buick, it's been with me since a learned to drive....such great memories accompany me in that car :) But it is hard being on my own and single and really not knowing anything about cars to keep up with it. I decided that I really wanted a new car that I would not have to worry about breaking down on me, or not starting on me. So, I started looking into new cars. I searched on the internet, went and spent hours test driving multiple kinds of cars, and looking for the perfect vehicle. I left for the dealer here in Vegas one Saturday morning not necessarily planning on buying a car, and left with my new love :) It is a used 2009 Nissan Altima. (Only had 9300 miles on it) It was a great price on the car and it was a step up from the base model, so I was excited to have some extra features. I loved the dealer I went through, Theresa was there to help give me moral support, and Dad was just a phone call away :) It was quite the experience, this car buying stuff....I felt so excited about it, at the same time I watched my savings disappear, and I now have the first major loan of my life. But when I look at my car, I love it. It's all of the little things that I keep discovering that makes me love it even more each day.

What happened to that great Buick??? I ended up selling it to one of my co-workers. They got a front from the junkyard and replaced it from my accident. They absolutely love the car, and seeing it in my school parking lot always makes my heart feel a little ping of love and remembrance. But, I am glad that someone else was able to find a use for the car that went through my family.

Christmas!!!

Our Christmas celebration started as roommates at the most wonderful Cheesecake Factory. We spent the time talking and laughing, prepared to all be leaving for home the next day :) Not to mention the excitement of having a two week break from school! These would be the lovely ladies I live with, they are all most amazing :)




After Cheesecake, we exchanged stockings and gifts....Yes, Laura gave me coal.....
One of my students made this ornament for me and I loved it!!
I surprised my dad by coming home in time to see his Christmas concert. It was an amazing concert, and I love my dad! It was fun to go with my family and see it :)I am quite disapointed in my picture taking at home for Christmas, because these are all the pictures I have to share....We had a great Christmas and Angela even decided to join in the craziness of the home life :) I enjoyed spending time with them and I enjoyed spending time with all the family. It was a much needed break from my crazy life. I love going home, and I love all that my wonderful parents sacrifice to help me (and others in the family). Thanks mom and dad for always being there for me :)

Liz Visits- Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was quickly approaching and all of the things happening in my life added up to me wanting a nice relaxing break at home for the holiday. So Liz decided to come down and visit me for the week of Thanksgiving. She needed a little warmth away from Rexburg :) So we spent the week together. She came to school with me and we spent a lot of time on the strip, watched The Variety Show, and had a lot of fun talking and spending time with each other. (It's not like we hadn't seen each other in a year or anything) My friend Leah had her mom, Aunt and Uncle in town and she invited us to have Thanksgiving with them, and I invited them to make their Thanksgiving at my house :) They were most amazing, cooked everything for us, and we had so much fun together. Here is our feast!!
Liz making a most amazing Apple Pie, Leah's Aunt and Uncle were so funny, they couldn't believe that we were making it homemade :PAnd as proof of me being worn out we have me, taking a nap, before the feast....

Accident

I got in my first car accident in November, luckily it was not a bad one. I was on the freeway on my way home in rush hour and just didn't stop in time...No one was hurt and he had a little tiny dent in the bumper of his truck. Unfortunately, it ended up a little more damaging on my car. He decided also that he had to call highway patrol even though there were no injuries and his car was basically fine. What resulted from it?? An expensive ticket and a mandatory traffic school (which is new-my friend who is a lawyer took care of my ticket for me and just told me the price and conditions). Anyways, the Buick with a slightly busted up front end, courtesy of me and my stupidity...

So You Think You Can Dance

My roommates got me hooked on the show So You Think You Can Dance last summer. We got together with another friend Alex and would have a party to watch it every week. So of course, when we heard they were touring and stopping in Vegas, it was a must that we go! It was a most amazing show and we had a little too much fun together :)

Happy Birthday Theresa

My most amazing roommate had her birthday in November so we got all dressed up and hit the town :) We went to Planet Hollywood for dinner, made human statues in Ceaser's Palace, walked the the Wynn and Encore, then posted ourselves in front of the Bellagio to watch several water shows-not forgetting our random dancing out on the street in between shows :) How I love my amazing friends and the fun that we have together!!The girls that I love to spend time with :)


Me, Theresa, and Andrea

Bite of Las Vegas

I love living in Vegas!! I went with some of my friends to Bit of Las Vegas back in October. They basically have a bunch of restaurants come and you can eat all this different food-it's like a sampling and advertising. They have bands playing all day. We sat on the grass eating all sorts of different food, talking and laughing and watching the bands playing. It's true- I saw Switchfoot, Plain White T's, Sara Bareilles, Ryan Star, and Christina Perri. It was a nice break from my normal everyday school chaos :)

Teaching

Yes, it has been a long while since I have posted. It turned into the kind of situation where I hadn't posted about multiple events for the longest time and so I decided I needed to wait, and before I know it multiple months have passed-very eventful months-and I had not shared with you the most wonderful opportunities the single life in Vegas has to offer :)

First of all, I blame my not posting on these beauties below:
These are my pride, joy, and stresses of my life! I was hired as a fourth grade teacher in October. They pulled five or six kids out of all the other fourth grade classrooms and stuck them into my room. The first few months of school meant 12 hour work days and little sleep. It was stressful getting my classroom up and running. Then it turned into being difficult to maintain my classroom :) These kids make me laugh, cry, want to pull my hair out, and teach me some of the most influential lessons a person can learn. I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to help these kids grow and learn. There are so many ups and downs in teaching and there is no guarantee of a job next school year, but for now I am loving every moment of my life and enjoying every smile my students bring my way.