Cousins...

We had a blast running through the maze gardens...Demante beat us in both the kid and adult mazes.

The old cliche...

Take the time to stop and enjoy life around you, you never know when it will be the last time. Cherish, enjoy, laugh, love the time you have with family and friends!

Serene.

This is a place where I could sit and read all day long. So peaceful!

Fountain shot.

Shelby, Aunt Theresa, me, Jake, and Demante playing by the water fountain at the Arboretum.

Playing in the Japanese gardens.

Walking through the Japanese gardens..Damante was scared we/Jake was going to push him into the water. That sounds like something Jake would do... :)

Amazing..

The twig/stick structure behind me was put together by many people with lots of sticks..very cool! It is on display during the summer at the MN Aroboretum.

Twins Fans!

Damante and Jake hiding in the twig sculpture at the MN Arboretum.

Where does he get his height from??

Jake, Aunt Carol, and myself enjoying a picnic lunch in the backyard. Are we, meaning me, really that short?

My beautiful Mom!

Relaxing in Aunt Susie's backyard with Sharon, Carol and Jake. Good times and lots of laughs. Family is so important...they will always be there..remember that!!

A wonderful surprise.

Always taking time to see my family when I'm home. It was such a nice surprise to see my Aunt Sharon...it has been a while. We both have the same middle name..Sharon Beth and Sara Beth...coincidence??

A day at the beach.

Awww...Gull Lake at GVL's beach...brings back sooo many memories of my life in MN.

1. Babysitting at such a young age

2. Playing while mom was working

3. Soooo many nights as a teenager with friends

4. Play dates with friends and their kids

5. Being lazy and reading all day long

Silly me....

So, I didn't bring my suit back to MN with me..what was I thinking? I love swimming, but that didn't stop me from getting in the water to play with Brenna.

Warming up.

Angie and Brenna warming up after playing in the water. Brenna loves the water....she is very brave as well!

Long time friends....

Teri and I getting ready to crash after a great day together! I have to say she is the friend I have known the longest...we were in Kindergarten together. Now, we didn't really become friends till a little later in life but she has always been there for me. A friendship that has been through thick and thin and will always last! I love ya girl!!

New baby Grell.

My good friend Teri and I had an amazing day together..we went and saw Heather and her new little guy Jack. Andy is going to be a great big brother, I just know it! Have we done this before Teri?

Remembering....

Angie came with me to Mike's graduation....thank you for that...otherwise I would have been sitting all alone and bored! 15 years ago....I was the one graduating...wow where does time go? I don't feel that old...but I kind of feel old talking like this...awww!! :)

He did it!

Here's the beginning of something amazing!

Family shot...almost.

Mike's graduation....where's Jake?

So grown up....

My little brother Michael has graduated...my job is now done...or is it just beginning? We are 15 years apart and have gone on many adventures together in our time....sweet memories!

Love it!

I was cleaning up the dinner table and Kale and I turned around and saw this...now I don't think he would do this with his mama around but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap the shot..it was so cute! :)

Restaurant toys?

I went to lunch with Keri and the boys to an amazingly delicious place in Brainerd called E Squared. It was all fresh, organic food...so yummy! Keri forgot to bring toys for the boys to be entertained at the restaurant but they found gloves in the bag and had fun with that. These are my kinda kids....don't need anything fancy to have fun. :) Love you Kale and Leif!

Minnesota

A walk in the Arboretum...what a beautiful day!

The old car.

When I grew up this car used to be at the park my mom would take us to...it is now at the park in Nisswa...brings back many memories of my little brother Adam!

So cute..

Brenna actually took this picture of us...she did a pretty good job for a 4 year old!

Walk?

Angie really got her workout..carrying Brenna for 1/2 of the walk. :)

Arboretum...

We took Brenna to the Arboretum and walked around...I was showing her a bird house...sadly no one was home.

Crayons...

We were getting hungry...crayons were an option....thank goodness the pizza came soon.

Lemon anyone?

Brenna and Angie being silly at Rafferty's. She did not like the taste of lemon at all!

Bachelorette 2010!

Good food, friends and many, many laughs!

Road Trip to Palmer Lake

Tibbit, Woita, Dooley, and I driving up to Anne's to watch the season premiere of Bachelorette!

So cool...

Lt. Coffey chillin' with me on the field at the Sky Sox Stadium.

Sky Sox...

My first ever "first pitch" at a baseball game. It was CPR night at the stadium and we trained 4459 people. It was amazing.

My favorite class!

My 5th and 6th periods of the day always seem to be my favorite classes when I have taught math. Here is my 6th period class, minus one who had to take the pic....I couldn't have asked for a better group of kids! I will miss them!

Do not try this anywhere....

Blowing off some steam in math class. It was the 2nd to the last day of school and we were doing our aerobics in math class. One of my favorite students Cece decided he needed to go to the bathroom and jumped over his desk....so me, being the responsible one...told him to do it again so I could get a good shot. My Assistant Principal didn't think it was so cool..but she laughed nevertheless....we have to have some fun!

My 7G team

Here's to another year of surviving middle school. This was my team for the 2009-2010 school year. Pat, me, Alex, and Gay, these ladies were amazing and I couldn't have done it without them.

3 superstars....

Alex, myself, and Pat for black pants, gray shirt day. So, to make things interesting the last 1 1/2 weeks of school we decided to coordinate our attire daily...the kids finally caught on! Hey, we do what we have to, to survive.

Play date at the park...

I met up with the Franklund's at America the Beautiful park one afternoon and this is Jack and I playing hide and seek. I just love this little man!

The best aides in the school....

Here are my 2 student aides...I had them last year when I taught 6th grade and they decided they wanted to be my aides this year. They helped me out so much....so we decided to have some fun and play chubby bunny. :)

For my mom....

Here you go....this is what my table looks like. Finally, I know after like 2 months of asking I got around to it. Come see it in person sometime, it's nice!

CPR

So much has happened since the last time I've posted but most importantly I've been involved in getting people CPR trained!

This is Torie, my lifesaver, and Kitty, Torie's instructor for being a lifesaver. Torie just renewed her certification and I'm so proud of her...I know it was hard for her to go through all this again even if it was on a dummy. I can't imagine the thoughts going through her head but she knows how much she means to me and I thank God everyday for bringing her to my rescue!

So, I have only 2 days left of school and let me tell you it has been a great yet rough year for me....the support at my school has been outstanding and I am so thankful to have such wonderful people around me.

This last week my good friend Wendy and I teamed up to help the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women event that will be held this Oct. 22. I am going to be part of a committee to raise money and get the word out on how important it is for women in particular to get their hearts checked. I had no warning signs that I can recall and no family history of heart disease to cause me to go into cardiac arrest. My life will be forever changed. I look forward to volunteering my time with the AHA to rock this thing!

My favorite event of the month was teaming up with the Colorado Springs Fire Department to host a CPR night at the Sky Sox baseball stadium this evening. The city of CS has now declared May 18 to be CPR day! We had approximately 4,459 people become CPR trained this evening and it was amazing. I started out my evening by doing interviews with NBC and Fox news channels...just sharing my story on how important it is to know CPR. It is such a good feeling. Then I was whisked off to by the CSFD folks to the field to throw out the first pitch....ok so I should have practiced...but I made it with only one small bounce...I mean it was 65 ft. :) Next as I was walking off the field...I had 2 more interviews to go...I really got the VIP treatment tonite it was great! I truly couldn't have done it without Torie..she was by my side the whole time....We are stuck with each other for life and I'm ok with this...she brings a smile to my face and is always looking out for my best interest....I don't know what I would do without her. She truly is the sister I never had! Many other great friends were in the stands supporting me tonite..Crystal and Christine were there to see my pitch ....and then were joined by my Colorado families the Franklund's and the Foss's. I'm very fortunate, thankful, grateful, honored, and blessed to have this wonderful LIFE!

I ended the evening by talking to the National rep for the Western Region for the AHA. He would like to nominate me to be one of the survivors to come to San Diego in December to be a part of something...I'm in no matter what it is....

My life has changed tremendously and I thank God for it everyday! I've been given a 2nd chance at life....why..I don't know..but will do whatever I can to make this world a better place!

Just me...

Instead of the nice pic of me in my Easter attire...looking all sweet....I thought this one is more appropriate because this is who I am....

Our new pose....

Trying a new pose....or just being weird...you choose.

Easter 2010.

The Giffin's came to church with me on Easter Sunday and then I spent the afternoon with them coloring eggs and going on a hike. I am blessed to have them in my life.

Me and my buddy!

Daniel and I being silly on our hike.

Easter Hike...

I went on a hike with Torie and the kids. I loved our hike in Palmer Park...would love to do it again someday soon!

Coloring eggs...

It's been a few years since I have colored eggs. I had a great time doing it with the Giffin kids this year! I even got to keep the ones I colored....

Love....

Walking around the park in Denver. Found a statue titled "Love". Love is good....whether you are giving it or embracing it...we all are LOVED!

Learning...

As a teacher...what a great statue titled "Learning". I think we all are teachers in some way or another....

Walking around Denver.

I went out and about on my little weekend away...it was nice! This was my time at Denver's City Park.

A little getaway....

A beautiful Sunday afternoon...I went into Boulder and toured the Celestial Seasonings Company. I have come to love tea since living in Korea and traveling Asia. Speaking of traveling...I need to get away!!