December 27, 2012: on the road again

The view of the Appalachians was incredible. It had snowed, and the trees were covered in ice. This was the best picture I could take out of the window of the car, but it's not too bad.

December 26, 2012: Da-dum. da-dum da-dum..

Beware the shark coozie!  

December 25, 2012: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Like I said, they are a little over zealous in NC.  These were some of Meg and Kyle's neighbors riding their horse and buggy around the subdivision.  I loved it.

December 24, 2012: Christmas Eve Disc Golf

Taking advantage of the good weather, Dad, Kyle, and I decided to play disc golf.  Meg walked around with us and tried to get Artie to come out a little sooner.  She is due Jan. 8 but would love for him to come earlier.  My goal was to make par on at least one hole, and I finally did on the last one.  That was after I threw my disc into a briar patch and bloodied my arms and legs retrieving it.

December 23, 2012: Christmas craze

After the long drive, we made it to NC.  We quickly realized it wasn't going to be a white Christmas- it was over 50 degrees outside.  The lack of snow doesn't stop the NC natives from being over zealous with their Christmas decor.  I think it makes them over compensate.  Those huge blow up decorations are a big fad.  This house had over 30 of them including an igloo cannon, a giraffe Santa, and a snowman hunter.  The funny thing is that in the morning, they all look like they have been slaughtered because all of the air is let out of them and they are laying on the ground.

December 22, 2012: Who's Left?

I challenged Jesse to a 51 game series of Who's Left (which is the slightly less white male dominated version of Guess Who.)  Loser buys the winner appetizers and drinks when we get back to Michigan.  At the end of the car ride, I lead 22-21.  We'll finish on the way home.  I can already taste my free sangria.

December 21, 2012: Sleeping Beaut

Tomorrow morning we begin our 16 hour car ride to visit Meg and Kyle.  I am pretty sure I just told Jesse to get all her gas out tonight before we start the ride.  Obviously she thinks her stink is amusing :)

December 20, 2012: I cheated, ok?

I didn't take this picture today.  I waited so long in between uploads that I can't remember which picture I did take today, so I just stuck this one on the blog.  I know I took it at some point, just not sure when.  

It's my blog, I do what I want.

December 19, 2012: Four calling birds

I couldn't help myself.  I found this new one at World Market.  Maybe this bird tree will become a therapeutic way for me to deal with my Ornithophobia.  

December 18, 2012: Dodgeball nearly-champions

Our dodgeball team ended the season undefeated.  Well, until the championship game.  I can honestly say the game could not have been more intense if White Goodman himself was out on the floor.  I have never seen a group of adults get more aggressive and crazy eyed than I did tonight.  Shockingly, I stayed near the back and hid behind the bigger guys on our team, trying not to crack up at the insanity of it all.  Unfortunately, we lost to the infamous black shirted team, coming in second for the season and losing the much anticipated free drinking party from our sponsor bar.  

 I had to mask my indifference as we exited the gym.  I realized I am not cut out to be on the competitive play to win teams!  Shocking, I know.

December 17, 2012: The bird family grows

We have now acquired three bird ornaments in three different holiday ornament exchanges.  Our tree will now officially become the bird tree.  Despite my extreme fear/hatred of real birds, I am loving our tree.

December 16, 2012: fashionista

I have heard that wearing a headband under a hat is a real fashion yes yes.  

December 15, 2012: Fondue Par-tay!

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like fondue!  Note to self: next year, to avoid a power outage, don't plug all the fondue pots into the same outlet.  Invest in long extension cords.

December 14, 2012: Bus stop shooting

I heard my first gunshots today.  I was driving to KFC for dinner, on the phone with my sister when I heard 5 loud pops.  I thought they sounded like gunshots, but nobody around me reacted to them.  All of the cars kept driving, and the man panhandling on the side of the road kept walking around asking for money.  I assumed I must have heard fireworks or something.  I drove about 50 feet further to the KFC, got my food, and looped back on the same road toward my house.  Right where I had heard the noises, police officers had blocked off the road, ambulances were loading someone in the back, glass was shot out of the bus stop window, and yellow crime scene tape was wrapped around the block.  I guess it really was gunshots I had heard.  I was less than 100 feet away when it had happened.  The shooting happened at the same bus stop I had waited at every day on my way to school before I had my car, just two blocks from my front door.  I knew I had chosen to live in a slightly dangerous neighborhood, and I like living in an area of the city that reminds me of the needs of the city and why I moved here in the first place.  But this night shook me up a little.  It amazed me that after hearing the shots, nobody really reacted.  Someone was hurt, possibly even killed, within feet of me and nobody, myself included, did anything about it.  I don't know if there was anything I even could have done, besides call 911, but I haven't been able to completely shake the unsettling feeling I have knowing that every day people are killed like this and the world just keeps going.  I worry that I am becoming hardened by the city and that things like this don't shake me as much as they should.  

December 13, 2012: Potted Potter

 

A broadway show that crams all 7 Harry Potter books into one 70 minute show. With only two actors.  Audience participation allowed. Harry Potter glasses on my face.  Friends who laugh at the same ridiculousness that I do.  It was a pretty good night :)  

December 12, 2012: cupcake deliciousness

Thanks, Abby and Esther, for bringing cupcakes to our last small group of 2012! 

December 11, 2012: My car in the daytime

I finally remembered to take a picture of my car in the daytime so you could see it clearly.  I love it!!

December 10, 2012: Grandpa

Before Grandpa died, he always had this lizard sitting in the back window of his cars.  When he passed away and I inherited his car, I kept the lizard there too.  When that car was totaled by the semi truck and I bought the Fiesta, I moved "grandpa" there too.  Now that I have my CR-V, I went to go put grandpa in the back window and panicked.  There was no place to set him!  I improvised, and hung him in the back seat instead.  There is no way I am driving around without him with me.  Thinking of you, Gramps!

December 9, 2012: Emojicon Addiction

Sydney and I are way too in to this emojicon phase.  

December 8, 2012: Holiday PJ Party

We had a holiday pajama party to go to and these hot onesies were almost the winners.  In case you were wondering, the foots of my pjs had fins on the back.  

December 7, 2012: Birdie love

We made them love each other.  How cute.

December 6, 2012: Getting Grabby at Piece Pizza

Ryan decided to cop a feel as Cary signed his cast.  You never know what is going to happen with these guys :)

December 5, 2012: Welcome to Chicago

The land of weirdness.   I have no idea what was happening.  I was on my way to small group when we saw this mini parade and oversized head.  I don't ask questions.  I just take pictures.

December 4, 2012: Christmas tree ballet

Every year we assemble the Christmas tree to Mariah Carey Christmas music and use ballet moves to put the tree up.  It all started when our old roommate Sarah had mono and we were trying to cheer her up by entertaining her with dancing tree assembly.  That was 4 years ago, and we still do it.  It's a family tradition.

December 3, 2012: Monster Head

These monster hats are really in style at my school.  I love them!  I want one, but I think that my students can rock them a little better than I could.

December 2, 2012: Cutest little babe

I borrowed this picture from my incredible friend and roommate of 6 years, Emily.  She texted this picture of my little niece, Leyla.  She is taking a nap with the little bear I made her.    I can't wait to meet her in a couple of weeks!

December 1, 2012: Perfect Match

Shopping for Chirstmas toys for kids turned into Ryan deciding he wanted this pony.  We didn't let him get it.  He went with legos instead.  Much better choice.

November 30, 2012: Les Mis

A group of us went to see Les Miserables on Broadway.  I have heard it is a phenomenal show.  I couldn't tell you from personal experience because I slept through most of it.  Shameful, I know.  I love broadway, but broadway on a Friday night is not a good idea for me.  I am SO tired by the end of the week.  Both Katie and I were fighting to stay awake but kept nodding off.  During the French Revolution scene, a loud gunshot went off, and both Kate and I bolted awake.  It was the most expensive nap I have ever taken.

November 29, 2012: Whatcha gonna do?

Some kind of bad boys action going on right outside my window tonight.  Book em.

November 28, 2012: Stashtastic

I just had to borrow this picture from Jesse today.  She texted it to me and it made my day!

November 27, 2012: Major Woops

On our way to dodgeball tonight, traffic was really heavy.  Come to find out, this truck crashed into the overpass.  That sucks!

November 26, 2012: My new car!

YAHOO!  I am the proud owner of a 2012 Honda CRV.  Yes, I may have had a nervous breakdown while talking to my mom about the decision which ended with sobs and me evaluating all of my life choices while my awesome mother patiently listened.  I am crazy, but we all knew that. :)  Regardless of the panic attack, I am 100% satisfied with my purchase!

November 25, 2012: At least it's not another picture of the vent

I really need to stop forgetting to take my daily picture until I am laying in bed.

November 24, 2012: Weirdos

There are no words.

November 23, 2012: Motherly reminders

Mom, Jesse, and Barry came back with me to Chicago.  Just as we had all settled in for the night, mom poked her head out of the room to remind me I had not taken my picture for that day.  I don't know if this is what she quite had in mind.

November 22, 2012: Thanksgiving cutie

Cam and his family came over for Thanksgiving dinner.  We spent the day running from his nerf gun and watching him pretend to play the wii.  He learned to say my name today.  Manny.  Love it.  Right before he left, he got his coat on...upside down.  I want to take him home with me.

November 21, 2012: Dance party

Students got to choose what they wanted to do for their party time.  We had snacks, movie, and a dance party.  As you can imagine, I cracked up the whole time. :)

November 20, 2012: Fall walk

What an awesome day to go for a walk.

November 19, 2012: Want some pie with that whip cream?

MMMM.  I love Thanksgiving leftovers.

November 18, 2012: Happy (early) Thanksgiving!

Cary and Katie dig into the ham.  Next up, the turkey.  The meal (and friend time) was a success!  I am very thankful for the new friends I have met and gotten close to over the past six months.  They have been a blast.

November 17, 2012: A family tradition

For the last few years, we have hosted a Thanksgiving meal the Sunday before Thanksgiving for our friends.  The night before, Katie and I rip bread for stuffing while watching Jurassic Park.  This year was no different.  

November 16, 2012: Party Time!

Congratulations, Second Graders!!  After nearly 3 months in school, we finally earned our party for good behavior.  It has been a long, trying journey at times, but I am really proud of the students' progress.  For being one of the "wildest" group of kids in the school, they have come a very long way!!

November 15, 2012: Emma made me do it

I swear, I am not addicted.  Emma wanted Chipotle.  Not me :)

November 14, 2012: iphone texting wonders

At small group tonight, we discovered Kristen finally got a smartphone.  Even better, she got an iPhone, which means she can text these cool icons to us.  Jennie introduced us to the concept of creating entire scenes. 

November 13, 2012: First snow

Two days ago, it was 70 degrees, last night, it snowed.  Just enough to have a tiny bit on my car this morning.  Crazy Midwest weather :)

November 12, 2012: Chicago Fire

I was almost a tv star.  

They are filming the show "Chicago Fire" outside of my apartment today.  Kate and I walked by to snoop a little.  We stopped next to two other people who were standing near the set as well.  I began snapping a couple of pictures and commenting on how I didn't recognize any of the actors.  We stood there for a few minutes when the director finally asked us to move so they could film.  I shouted to him, "Ok, but if you need any extras, we live in that house.  Just come grab us."  The filming crew laughed at me (shocker), but I know deep down they wanted us.  As we walked away, we realized that the two people who were standing near us were actually part of the show.  We were literally standing in the way, because as soon as we left, they began filming, and the two people were filmed walking across the street."

Kate said she would pay me if I turned around and ran down the street yelling, "FIRE!  There's a fire right there!"

November 11, 2012: Addiction

Addiction or unhealthy obsession?  I can't get it figured out.   I do know that I crave it weekly.  Every as I write this post and look at the picture again, I am wondering if I have enough time to run quickly before small group in 20 minutes....

November 10, 2012: Chess, Harry Potter Style

At the Showplace Icon theater, they just put these giant chess boards near the escalators.  I couldn't help but think about when Hermione, Ron, and Harry had to play the life size game of chess while in the Chamber of Secrets.  I love that after reading that, half of you are nodding your ahead in agreement and smiling at the memory, and half of you are rolling your eyes at me.  

November 9, 2012: fried egg burger

YUM.  A burger, bacon, chesse, avacado, mayo, and a fried egg, all on a pretzel bun.  Thank you, Cary, for introducing me to this deliciousness. 

November 8, 2012: Love song

One of my students gave me this song she wrote.  I think it translates to "Six days away I told you I didn't fall in love.  I told you I didn't fall in love so I made a decision.  I said no, you got me beating myself up.  I know I won't stay here."

Decently poetic.  She sang it to me and I about died.  Where do these kids get this stuff?  This is the same day when one of my other students yelled at me from the bathroom, "Ms. Kistler, I am going to be here a while.  I have so many poops in me right now."

Can you see why I love my job?