Summer Time

Life the last few weeks.

So...no recent pictures, I know I am a slacker. I need to start taking my camera out with me more on the amazing hikes I have been doing. My friend Wendy and I went today to the back side of Red Rocks, a part I have never traveled, and it was beautiful. Note to self, bring camera more often.

I have been busy with keeping fit and I am proud to say I have lost 11.5 lbs. in the last month and a half. The bodybug has kept me accountable for sure. One of the best investments to date. I will keep plugging away and keep you up to date. It feels good for sure!!

The other thing that has been keeping me busy this summer is my RESEARCH PAPER! Yes, the last class for me to attain my Masters Degree and it is a doozy. As I sit here with all the books, articles and notebooks around me I think...I have a lot of work to do. It is too late to do anything now though...it's late. ;) Tomorrow is another day and I will get it done then. My first draft is due Friday..I hope to have it in by Thursday to enjoy the 4th of July weekend early. So, I will gradutate this August with a Masters in Curriculum and Intruction with an emphasis in Space/Science Education. What's next you ask? Well, my PhD someday of course. I think that I would like to try my hand at teaching college level courses someday. I need to make a dent in my loan payments before tackling that beast!

On a side note, I am in the process of finding out how to become a HOME OWNER! It is scary and exciting all at the same time. I thought I found the house for me but am having sencond thoughts. Everyone has opinions and I appreciate them all but there are so many to consider..what's a girl to do? So, I will take it slowly and what ever is supposed to be will be. Hopefully before the end of the year...that $8,000 tax credit would be nice.

So, here I go..off to bed..read New Moon...and get ready for spin class in the morning. Please think of me. I am not intimidated by many things but spin class is scary to me! I know I will survive.

Love you all and thanks for reading my blog!

He is alive in VEGAS!

We went to an impersonator show and Elvis was one of the performers. He was nice enough to pose with me after a few camera glitches. :)

Side shot.

The new do!

Benihana!

We had a nice dinner before our show. Benihana was awesome.

MGM

I can't wait to see this performance. I have made it a goal to see all the Cirque Du Soleil shows in Vegas. I have 2 down now. :) Ka was amazing!!!

In the theater.

Amy and I waiting for the Ka performance to begin. We got in trouble for having our picture taken....woops!

The Grand Canyon.

This is the view from the top of our adventure! Yes, I am going to hike down this. Good luck to me!

No bug glasses!

I had to remember to have my photos without my bug sunglasses on. This shot was a little bright so I had to improvise. It works.

Amy rolling down the canyon.

This is one of my favorite shots of Amy. She is so cool!

Loving vacation!

Taking a break from all the fun!

Stopping to enjoy the scenary.

What a beautiful morning. We started our hike at 7:30AM and what a good choice that was. :)

We found a friend.

Amy was going to go climb on some rocks for a photo and noticed some falling rocks. Looking up this is what we saw. Hello Mr. Ram.

Enjoying the view down..

What can I say?

Proof.

I made it down to the 3 mile resthouse! My quads hurt. Who said going down was easier??

I have to go where?

Yes, back up that beast!

I survived the Canyon!

I can barely stand up at this point! I can't believe I made it but what other choice did I have! It is one of the biggest things I have ever done physically...5 hours. I rock!

I am so cool!

Mixing it up for the viewers. :)

Look...

You can be 4 places at once! Here I am in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona! Amy made me do this as well as the crowd standing around.

Here we go!

My faithful sidekick, Amy. She is a great traveling partner!

Our first stop.

Our first stop after entering the Canyon. What a view. It is so much more than a big hole in the ground!

How grand...

A picturesque shot of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim.

Having a blast!

Just enjoying the Canyon!

Scenic Overlook....

Hmmm..I am reevaluating my sunglasses! I feel like a bug! :)

Weirdo!

It's her first time through the Rocky Mountains. Does she look like she is having fun? I like this shot! Wolf Creek Pass 2009!

Coolin' off

It warmed us up hiking to the falls...so it was a cool break to hang out by the water.

Treasure Falls

A beautiful shot of Treasure Falls near Durango, CO. We hiked up to the falls. A good break to burn some calories on a road trip. Good thinking Amy!

On top of the world!

We took our students on a field trip to the top of Pikes Peak. We took the Cog up and the kids had a great time. They were awesome and I was so proud of them.

Braving the cold!

In the 5 or 6 times I have been to the top of Pikes Peak, I have never seen this much snow up there. In the background that is the top of the building towards the right. Amy, Scott and I braved the snow.

The Mission Pilots.

Just us girls, as Spivey would say. Getting ready to take the Cog back down Pikes Peak.

Windy day on the Peak.

So, a few boys were brave enough to venture outside with me. We walked around the top and I let them get close to the edge. They were pretending to be falling. It made me nervous! They had a blast and so did I!

A great team leader!

Anne and I posing for the camera on the top of Pikes Peak! Man, was it cold! She is an amazing person and was a wonderful team leader. :)

Some of my favs.

Don't tell them this but they were some of my favorite students. I won't lie, I was hard on them but they are great kids!

Avery, Marquis, and Remmon.

Who could resist this?

On our way down the cog and Joey is always entertaining me. He could always bring a smile to my face. :)

My crew!

As their official mission pilot I was in charge of these darlings! These kids always made me laugh...I will miss them. Oh, wait I will be teaching 7th grade next year, I will see most of them again! Yippeeee. :)

Leaving DIA.

This is where it all begins. I am at the Denver airport...waiting to head to Dallas and then onto San Jose, Costa Rica. I volunteered to get bumped from this flight and earned myself a free $250 airline voucher. I am looking to go to New York this summer. Any takers??

My new favorite airport!

So, if you ever have a chance, choose Dallas/Ft.Worth as a layover place. This airport was awesome! Go, check it out!

My first drink with my pookie!

My first day with my pookie in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica! Good times and good friends...what more can I ask for?

I spent a whole day here!

This was a beautiful beach! I should have taken more pictures to do it justice. Oh well, I remember it.

Going to the park...

Heading into the park to look for wild creatures and lay on the beach. I am feeling a little burned!

White faced monkeys....

They were so cute!

Bamboo!

If you know me, you should know that I love bamboo. So, if you didn't know, you just learned something new about me! Here I am in this awesome park and find an awesome bamboo tree! Speaking of this, I need some new bamboo.

The 3 amigos!

My wonderful tour guides Betty and Anderson. Thank you both for a great time in Costa Rica!

Loving the park!

Lovin' Costa Rica! Glad I found a sign so I could remember what the name of this place is called. I am getting old....I don't remember things so well anymore. They say after 3o....??

What a view.

Betty took a great pick before we left the park. I thank her for this shot!

Waiting for the bus...

Anderson and I waiting for the next bus to take us back to San Jose. I love this guy! Missing my pookie as I write this!

Panama City from afar.

Looking over at Panama City. Looks a little smoggy from here, but I loved it here in Panama!

My first walk.

My first good walk after riding on the bus from Costa Rica. It was a 16 hour trip. This was a beautiful walk with water on both sides.

City bus in Panama City

I loved the city buses in Panama City. They were so colorful and hey they are school buses! :)

Getting ready.

Waiting.

Tugboats and a yacht waiting to through the Panama Canal. I arrived at the perfect time because there are not always boats going through the canal. The canal still runs on the same technology that was developed when it opened back in 1914. Gravity....amazing isn't it?

My first boat.

This was my first experience watching ships go through the Panama Canal. What an amazing experience.