.Graduation.

Was amazing!! :] I can now say that I am a college graduate!!!!! Its a huge accomplishment and for awhile I was defintely feeling it. But its going good! Saving up the money and going to move out here in a month or two. It feels good to be done! Ive excpected it :]

My awesome weekend actually started on Wednesday! I treated myself to three days off from work. It was awesome being able to spend the time with my family and friends. We started off with a girls day! Me, my mom, aunt Wendy and aunt Gena went to lunch and got pampered! it was amazing as always!

Then we had a bbq at the rental house. It was awesome food and fun times swimming in the pool. We played a little vball and I kicked some butt! hahaha. jk!!

And now blogger is acting dumb and it wont let me add more pictures... Ill finish this post another time! :]

Thoughts..

So with everything going on in my life right now you would assume that there are tonsss of things on my mind! You're right! :] Its stressing me out to no end too. Here's the list:

1. First I want to start off by thanking EVERYONE for helping make my graduation awesome! It was such a humbling experience to know that THAT many people would come to support me. My family and friends are AMAZING! I love them!! <3

2. I NEED TO FIND A SECOND JOB FOR THE SUMMER.

3. I NEED TO FIND A TEACHING JOB AS WELL
- With that I need to fix my resume and write a cover letter!

4. I need to take care of all the money, thank you cards, and organize all my stuff for teaching.

5. I wanna find an apartment and set a plan!

6. Now for the things on my mind.....

Missing things: Why is it I still find myself caring about certain people that I clearly can tell aren't my true friends. Its always been a competition for friendship.. Like who can stay friends with or rekindle old friendships the most. Who can host the best BBQs, have the most friends, most money, best pictures, funnest times, nicest house, get married.. it just all seems so fake and forced. I guess my problem is WHY DO I FREAKIN CARE?! I don't associate myself with those people anymore.. but I still find myself missing those friendships. Missing those people. Don't get me wrong, the people I have in my life are the best friends I can have, I just miss things and I can honestly say I don't know why I do. I chose this all.. I chose to not be friends with them anymore.. But when I go to someones wedding even after not being "in" the wedding.. and she cant even congratulate me when I graduate from college, it hurts. Whatever.. I'm moving on from that time in my life. All they are are memories.. great ones.

I'm still the same: When it comes to jealousy, not trusting, etc. This is something that I have tried so hard to change. I HAVE NO REASON right now to feel this way.. Its about everything, old friendships, material things, relationships... idk.

I'm a grown up: but I wanna stay a kid! For forever! lol. I want to be able to go to Spokane for the summer to visit my dad, Julie and Savy. I remember when I was young it got to a point when I wouldn't go as long.. or as much.. now I wish I could. I want to spend all the time in the world with my family. Having all my family here in AZ was my favorite... its one of the most important things to me now. My dad always said that back when I was 16, "One day you'll realize how important your family is. They are the only ones who will be by your side and love you." He was right.

I feel like I have so much more that's on my mind but I don't know what or how to express it. I know that even when feeling like this, like everything in my life is crazy, I am VERY lucky. I have a great family, friends, an amazing boyfriend, a college degree, plenty of money, food, water, air, bed, clothes, a job.. so I count my blessings. Because for what God gave me I am extremely thankful for.

Random Thoughts

So its one of those days when I feel like blogging but I don't know what to write about.. so Im going to fill you in on the random thoughts I have right now. :]

My weekend: It was a lot of fun!!! Like always! Friday, Mike and I met up with Tina and Cassie on Mill Ave. Mike had never been to Mill so we showed him around, a little, and then us oldies got bored and wanted to leave! Times have changed for sure. Unless its a special occasion, bars are overrated. Being 21 was tons of fun. I went to the bars with different friends every weekend, danced, drank, met new people, etc. Now all those memories are in the past.. Dont get me wrong I still enjoy going out for peoples birthdays or once in awhile. But the club/bar scene just seems so fake to me now! Id much rather be BBQin, floating the river, playing games or just socializing at peoples houses. I guess its apart of getting old! hahaha.

Saturday during the day Mike and I went to lunch at Dos Gringos, followed by apartment hunting, then finished our day with SUGAR BOWL! Ive wanted to always try their ice cream and it was DELISH!! And so cute inside!

Saturday night Heather and I had a girls night, Troy was included in on this as well! haha. We went to the park and played some BBall.. and then went on the swings! We talked about our moving out plans! I CANT WAIT!

And then.... PAINTED OUR NAILS RAINBOW COLORS! hahaha. Its fun being a girl!!! We are gonna show off our beautiful pigs on the river next saturday! Should be funny!!! :]

(aren't they purrttty!? haha)

Grad party: Is in two weeks!!!! Whoooop whooppp!! Its gonnna be a blast. We are getting everything ready for the party. There will be awesome food, an ice luge, swimming, family and friends! I can't wait!

Job: I really need to start looking. Here is where my procastination will get me at its best.. I already have a summer job but I would like to find something better.. Maybe a job I can keep throughout the year as well. But if not Im think I might want to Nanny. Ive always wanted to do that.. I heard theres a website with profiles of potential nannys.. I might do that.

Reading: I seriously can't wait till Im done with school and Ill have time to READ!! I still need to finish Breaking Dawn. Plus there is a list of books I want to read.. the time will come VERY SOON! :]

Plans for this week: are going to be a blast!! Tonight Im going to watch the Suns game with Mike.. Tuesday is Heathers Bday.. Wednesday Heathers friends come in town and its Cinco De Mayo.. Thursday we want to take the girls out to Mill.. Friday is BBQin time.. and Saturday is the RIVER!!

Mike: Well he's always on my mind lol. I think I have met the greatest guy in the world, for me :] I never believed there would be a guy that thought it was IMPORTANT to just make me smile.

Well now I just remembered I have something to do for school so its time to go!! Have a good day! :]

I VALUE LIFE AND THE PEOPLE IN IT.

(I will try to write this without crying! hahah!!)
Today I got an email from Megan, a girl in my block at ASU. It was reminding us girls about the get together we are having to celebrate graduating! Towards the end of the email it said this....

"I just have to say, I really cannot believe we did it! It has been such a long stinkin' process but we did it! It's kind of scary to know we aren't students anymore and have to go out and find "real" jobs. :) I honestly could not have picked a better group of girls to go through this program with. And I'm being honest when I say, if it wasn't for you girls I really would not have made it to the end! So thank you!!"

These words made me realize, even more than before, that it is the end of this journey. Now I am not a student anymore, all though I will be required to continue taking classes because thats what us teachers do! It reminded me that its time to make important decisions in my life. Decisions that will change my life. Its beyond scary for me, but I think Im ready. With the people who care about me most by my side, I feel I can do anything.

(The not crying thing didn't work!)

I wanted to take the time to thank people who have been there for me:

All (FOUR) of my amazing parents (haha): Without you this journey would have been 100% different. You were the ones who instilled the value of education, guided me when I needed it, helped with student loans, congraduated me when I reached goals, supported me through out it all no matter what the outcome was, listened to my many stories of the amazing students I worked with, listened to me vent about certain people I had to deal with, and through it all you were the ones who ALWAYS believed in me. And I thank you for that.

Jacob: My little brother, you helped me in ways you don't even know. Thank you for being someone I can go to, whether it be about school or just about life. I hope that you see, from my experience, that education is very important and to know you can come to me about anything. Im always here for you. Highschool can be tough! If I made it this far.. just imagine how far you will make it! Dream big :]

Little Crispy: My sister! Being only 6, it was the perfect age for me to experience some of the things I was learning first hand. You were the cute little kiddo I could talk to on the phone about what YOU were learning in school. While I was teaching young kids your age, they constantly reminded me of you, and how much I miss you. And you reminded me of why I love to teach and thats because of kids like yourself. Thank you for always putting a smile on my face, even though you're 3 states away.

My best friends (Tina, Heather, Cherish and Gino): You guys were always there to encourage me when I had doubts, listen to my stories, remind me of my strengths in both my profession and in life, provided a place to release my stress with a good time, and were always there when I really needed someone. Thank you for being there for me!

Mike: Even though you have only been apart of my life for a short time, I feel you are one of my biggest supporters! :] You were the first and only person to say you are excited to help me in the process of getting my own classroom! Saying that gave me a sense of TEAM that made me think, wow he's a keeper! Thank you for showing me that happiness is simple when youve found the right person.

The lovely lady graduates of ASU Early Childhood Program 2010!!: Having started the program without you I always wished there were more people in my block (there were 6 at the time). When I realized I needed to take a break and catch up on some credits, this caught me up with you girls. Im so greatful I did that! Besides not being AS STRESSED as I could have been I get to graduate with the most amazing soon to be teachers! Our stories and time, in the short time I have been with you, has been so fun! Christmas parties, Native New Yorker, crying over kindergarteners ;], venting, Dave n Busters, Chipotle, birthdays... I hope these don't stop! Megan will have to plan something in a few months, since shes the planner of us all! lol. Thank you girls for bringing me into your group and riding along in this journey with me!

My family, friends, mentor teachers, students, coworkers, ASU administrators (even though they arent all that great lol), Amber Bickes, and Kelli Ems:
You all helped me reach my goal of becoming a teacher. Something I have wanted to do for many years. Through this experience you have supported me, believed in me, inspired me, loved me, guided me, and I couldn't ask for better people in my life. So I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Without you I would not be where I am today. I love you all. <3

Second Post of the Day

I feel so lucky..
With you in my life.

Enough said. <3

Sea World.. and AEPA results!

Yesterday my family and I went on a day trip to Sea World for Jake's birthday. We have always been lucky to fly for free so it allows us to do some pretty fun things! Not only did we fly to SD but also got into Sea World free.. lets just say Southwest is pretty good to their employees!! Anyways, it was a great day with the fam filled with lots of laughter! Even though sometimes my family drives me crazy and Jake swears we should be a reality TV show haha.. I love spending time with them. Here is how our day went :]

We started our day with feeding the dolphins! It was awesome being so close to these BIG FISH haha. I was scared of course.. but I never let my fears stop me from missing out on awesome things! (FYI I have a huge fear of fish.. and this was a pretty big fish! haha!) I even touched it!! :D


Then as we were walking to the SLL (Sea Lions Live show) we noticed a huge tank.. so we thought we would check it out! It was the Killer Whales from the show Believe! After seeing the show I know these whales are incredibly smart. But I enjoyed watching them swim freely more than the show. They are amazing creatures.. in this picture the whales were teasing the birds. They were spitting out fish to the birds but the birds couldn't get the fish. It was great!!




Here is a picture from the show Believe. It was inspiring.. they talked about in life you can do anything you want. They pulled up a little girl from the audience and she got to see the whales.

Next was lunch. Whats so exciting about lunch? Well when you have a little friend like this just hanging out by your feet it can get interesting :] Jake said " Hey Ash, theres a bird under your chair" WELL I was expecting a tiny cute bird, but when I saw this huge DUCK I screamed! No body knows what my scream is like but my family, but I lets just say I got everyone in that areas attention. lol. (my brother scares me at home probably 3 times a week. I freeze and scream as loud as I can, then burst into laughter! haha.)

After all the exhibits were done we went on a whole new adventure, the rides! haha. My dad and brother had to talk my mom and I into doing them. They went first and swore they didn't even get wet! WELL with that said, it was a lie! We went on the Rapid River ride first, and we were soaked! We decided since we were already wet we would ride it again.. and then go on the Alantis ride. By the time we went on both rides twice.. we looked like we just came out of the shower with all our clothes on. We attempted to dry ourselves in these nifty little dryer thingys, but that only kept us warm for a little while. From 3pm- 9pm we were in SOAKED clothes. Nope they didnt dry at all really.. it was awful! Being in a plane ride with wet clothes was the worst. When we got home I was never so thankful for dry clothes in my life.

SEA WORLD was a great trip! I can't wait to go again and someday take my own family. I think thats a place you can go and never get tired of. (keep in mind we went on a Monday and it was a cloudy day. Id probably not think it was the best if there were tons of lines and what not!)

PS: I passed both parts of the AEPA!!

I can now be a certified teacher :]

Whoooop WHoop!!!

Great Weekend! :]

This weekend was one of those weekends that remind me of how lucky I really am :] My weekend started on Thursday when Mike and I went and saw the movie Letters to God. Let me tell you, this movie was awesome! Well the story was, the acting.. not so much! But I loved the idea of writing your prayers down in a letter to God. It was an inspiring movie and I loved it. We ended our night with one of the best bottles of wine (Mike bought the wine when we went wine tasting in Sierra Vista) and some good music on the patio! :]

Friday, I worked.. but Friday night Mike and I went to Applebees for dinner and then saw some friends Ive missed very much!

Last night we went to the drive inns. It was a lot of fun!! We saw How to Train Your Dragon and Hot Tub Time Machine. I fell asleep! haha. But it was something different, I havent been in years! I saw a shooting star :] Id tell ya my wish but then it won't come true.

Today I spent the day in the sun! First time this year we went in the pool! It was like an ice cube but lots of fun. Got some sun and relaxed. We watched Avitar, which was good! ( I guess this weekend was the weekend for movies! haha)

This week should be exciting! Monday has a lot going on.. I find out the results to the AEPA test tomorrow AND my family and I are going to Sea World for Jacob's bday! Ill update you on the results- only if they're good! haha. and post pictures of the Sea World adventures :]



Good night!!