July 26, 2013: Birthday celebration!

Kate threw me an incredible 30th birthday party at her dad's house.  Great friends, awesome food, water skiing, boating, lounging, laughing, talking, games, dancing, and tattoo sleeves. :)  Yes, I may still look like a 13 year old boy sometimes, but 30 is here!  I can't thank God enough for filling my life with with the people he did over the last 29 years.  

In tradition, here are my top 29 moments of 29

1.  Having a karaoke 29th birthday party

2.  Running the Elvis is Alive 5K

3.  Working with my new STEM students

4.  Meeting Arthur!!!

5.  Hiking in Starved Rock with my parents

6.  going on strike with the CTU

7.  going to the Chipotle festival

8.  Watching Joel perform at Second City

9.  Bringing marathoners joy and beer at the Chicago Marathon beer tent

10.  Running the Hot Chocolate 15K

11.  Sewing my first garment

12.  All those in home workouts

13.  North Carolina Christmastime

14.  Buying my new car

15.  Having a fondue Christmas

16.  Running Sydney's first 5k with her

17.  Hanging out with all the babies!

18.  Hustle up the Hancock with my students and coworkers

19.  Finding my first geocache

20.  Watching a cow give birth with 60 second graders

21.  Fasting through 7 with my small group girls

22.  Finishing the Tough Mudder

23.  Pulling carrots from the ground

24.  Kickball and the fun hangouts

25.  Going home and working on the farm

26.  Celebrating the 4th of July in Washington DC

27.  My surprise birthday party the kids threw at school...in June

28.  Hiking through the Smoky Mountains

29.  Celebrating my 30th at the Lake House.

July 25, 2013: Tigers

We watched today's game from box seats. (Thanks, Mike Rabe)!  Even though the Tigers lost, they won the last 3 games in the series so it wasn't too disappointing.  The food made the loss more bearable.  

July 24, 2013: Project Runway: Chicago

Kate and I spent the day watching episodes of Project Runway and sewing our own garments.  We had quite a few Tim Gunn "make it work" moments and in the end we came away with two fashionable dresses.  

July 23, 2013: Garden carrots!

We harvested carrots for the first time!  I have never felt like more of a farmer than when I pulled that beast out of the ground.  

July 22, 2013: Evening Bike Ride

This is my favorite place to ride.  It is peaceful and there are so many good views of the city.  

July 21, 2013: Kickball Champs!

Ok, not really.  We got 3rd place, but we had a good season.  We got beat by the worst team at one point, and we crushed the best team at another point.  Inconsistency was the name of our game. 

July 20, 2013: Back to Chi

I cried on my way back.  As much as I have loved this city, it was really hard leaving home today.  The last time I cried on the way home, I turned around a mile into the ride and went back home.  At least time I made it back to Chicago!

July 19, 2013: Sleepy Pops

Poor dad spent the morning in the ER.  Found out he has a kidney stone that he is waiting to pass.  Even while doped up on pain meds, he was able to "watch" the Tiger's Game with his eyes closed.  

July 17, 2013: Look at the geese!

We went swimming at the lake tonight and as you can see, Cam was really excited to see the geese.  This boy has been a blast to be around.  

July 16, 2013: naughty dog

I took Sadie for a walk tonight.  She rolled around in TWO different piles of stinky orchard grunge... possible dead animals or poo of some kind.  By the second time I was livid and before I knew it I was giving her my best "you better knock that off" glare and saying to her, "Sadie, I am not happy with the choices you are making tonight."  I immediately reminded myself I am not in school anymore...Praise the Lord for summertime!

July 15, 2013: Cherry Time

We started shaking sour cherries this year.  I love running or biking by the orchards and seeing the trees full of the little red fruit.  Can you tell I am LOVING being home this week??

July 14, 2013: mix matched limbs

I love summer evenings because dad walks around in shorts.  He wears pants all day while working outside, so his legs NEVER see the sun while his arms are darker than the Mexicans who work with us.  I told him tonight that he looks like a lego figure that got the wrong top placed with the bottom.  I tried to take a picture of him, but he ran away from me!  This was the best I got.

July 13, 2013: Homemade swimming pool

This bucket started out as the dogs' water bucket.  An hour into selling cherries, Cameron had turned it into his own swimming pool.  You would have no clue he is a hick kid born and raised in Tennessee!  ;)  

July 12, 2013: top model

Little Man Cameron stole my phone and wanted to take pictures with him.  I posed for him. Again, and again, and again.  This was shot number nine that actually had me in the frame.  

July 11, 2013: Farmin Family

I smiled when I saw these three knuckleheads rolling by on their way to pick up wood.  I love my family.

July 10, 2013: JAWS

I tried on this tank/swimsuit cover up today.  I almost got it except I realized it looked like Jaws was eating my crotch.

July 9, 2013: ironic

"Trees are your best antiques"- Alexander Smith

That's the quote printed on this iron bar painted etched with tree leaves "planted" in the "courtyard" of the movie theater.  Our city is weird.

July 8, 2013: More biking friends!

Chicago just got these really awesome community bikes.  They have stations like this set up at different points in the city and you can rent them and return them at any station.  These have been popular in other cities but we just got them here.  I am hoping this means I can get more friends to come biking with me!

July 6, 2013: ¡felicidades!

Congratulations to Amanda and Bertin on their marriage today!  In this picture they are lassoed together in prayer.  I want to find a Latin Lover so I can have this at my wedding too.  

July 5, 2013: "Hoot hoot...

"...Manders is cute."  

Or so says the card that came with this awesome sleeping mask I got.  

July 4, 2013: Independence Day, Baby!

We celebrated Independence Day in our Nation's capitol.  We watched the parade and went to the Capitol 4th celebration to see the concerts and fireworks.  Leyla was such a trooper.  She watched the parade from her dad's shoulders, smiling and squealing and banging on Derek's head like a drum when the bands went by.    We had so much fun!

July 3, 2013: I always wanted a special earring...

In less than a month, I will turn 30.  Obviously not new news if you have been following this blog.  My awesome family decided to present me with "30 days to 30."  Each day, beginning 30 days from my birthday, I have a little gift to open.  I have the most thoughtful family!  Some gifts, like the macaroni & cheese flavored lipgloss paired with a can of pepsi, the Ninja Turtles water cup, the pocket nun, or these french fry earrings, have been funny reminders of my little quirks.  Other gifts have been cute earrings and camping gear.  All gifts are thoughtful.  All are me.  

I feel so loved.  Not by the volume of gifts, but by the amount of love and thought that went into them.  I love that for the last 30 days of my 20s, each morning I am reminded of my family's love for me.  It's a great feeling!

July 2, 2013: lovely little lady!

...and her super cute momma!  (Have I mentioned yet that this is the best vacation I could have imagined?)

July 1, 2013: Smooth Criminal

We walked right out of the mall with these two outfits hanging on the back of the stroller...unpaid for.  WOOPS!  Mom set a good example for us by sprinting back into the store and righting our wrong.  

June 30, 2013: Hanging out

I can't look at this picture without feeling intense joy. 

June 29, 2013: Arthur Addiction

I can't get enough of this cutie.

June 28, 2013: Do I know you?

We finally made it to see the little man!!  It took him all of 3 minutes to check us out before he began hamming it up like his usual self. 

June 27, 2013: elk!

While driving to Cherokee for the day, we saw this elk on the side of the road.  The monstrous 12 point gnawed on grass quietly while we gaped from just outside the car. 

June 26, 2013: sunshine!

Our first day in the Smoky Mountains started a little rainy.  We donned our rain coats and hit the trails regardless.  It's a good thing we did, because we some some beautiful scenery.  This picture is after we walked into the first clearing where the sun was shining brightly.  Jess soaked it all in!

June 25, 2013: And we're off!

Let the road trip begin!

This picture was taken as Jesse JAMMED to one of the dance cds she made for us.  She was out of control.

June 24, 2013: Summer celebration!

It's finally summer!  Jesse and I treated ourselves to a celebratory dinner and drinks (courtesy of a very generous gift card from my student's parents) and kicked off our vacation in style!

June 23, 2013: Kickball nastiness.

You can actually see the pattern of the mesh on my shoes within the kickball field dust.  gross. 

June 22, 2013: hiking trip essential.

I began packing for our upcoming camping trip.  It is supposed to rain the entire time.  I think we could benefit from one of these.

June 21, 2013: a carrot!

Can it be true?  Are we really getting a carrot in our garden??

June 20, 2013: KABOOM

Forget the dynamite, this kid has moved on to TNT!

June 19, 2013: Bombs Away!

Since we are nearing the end of the year, the students were given plenty of time to finish their last few projects.  Once they finished, they had free time.  They could get on the computers, play math games with their friends, or have free art time.  I was entering grades into the computer when I heard this sizzling noise.  I looked up to find this student hissing violently.  He then threw his handmade dynamite on my desk.

He ran back a few steps and covered his ears waiting for the explosion.  

This continued for a good 15 minutes.  What is this kid trying to tell me, and do I need to report this?  :)

June 18, 2013: Green Beans!!

We harvested our first two green beans today!  I made one into a mustache and saved the other for Katie.

June 17, 2013: fancy hotel?

I drove past this hotel today and the sign says "Continental" in fancy letters.  Looks like a dump to me.

June 16, 2013: Laundromat

Our dryer is broken which means it was a long afternoon of laundromat and trip planning.

June 15, 2013: sicky

What do you do when you have had bronchitis for almost a month and you still have 0 energy?  

Watch A LOT of Project Runway.

June 14, 2013: Musical superstars

Our spring  choir program was today and the second grade sang the song "One Day."  I cried.  It was so inspirational, and they sounded amazing.  Music really moves this group of kids.

June 13, 2013: lakefront bike ride

I finally got the energy to bike tonight, and I was so glad I did.  The waves along the shore were huge and kept crashing over the breakwall.  My feet were soaked as soon as I stepped off my bike to take some pictures, but it was worth it.  It felt so good to be outside and active.  

June 12, 2013: love these girls

I can't say it enough.  I love these women.  I have learned so much about the Lord and about myself through meeting with them each week.  They know how to love, challenge, encourage, and call me out.  I can laugh one minute and cry the next, and they know exactly how to meet me in the moment.  Saying goodbye to three of them tonight was really hard!  I know that God blessed us and brought us together intentionally, so He will do the same for each of us going forward.  He is good!

June 11, 2013: Crashed again

I had great plans to bike along the lakefront today.  Still struggling with bronchitis, I was dead tired at the end of the day, so I took a 20 minute rest.  When I got up, it was raining.  I wasn't too disappointed that my bike ride was cancelled and had to go back to bed.

June 10, 2013: Sugar rush

Woah.  I was CRAZED for the rest of the afternoon and crashed when I got home.  Not expecting that.  I thought I had mastered sugar intake.

June 9, 2013: baby hipster

Snuck the picture without a skinny jeaned dad chasing me down and strangling me with his man scarf.

June 8, 2013: worst sale ever

Yes, dahhhling, come to this classy garage sale where everything is overpriced because I am too classy for you common folk. 

June 7, 2013: Walk-a-thon

Students raised money today for our school by completing their first walk-a-thon.  We had a blast just relaxing and hanging out with one another today.  I have such a fun group!

June 5, 2013: Bronchitis

I have been feeling really run down, and I have a cough that sounds like a doberman.  I finally went to the Walgreens Take Care Clinic today (surprise, I have a sinus infection and bronchitis).  As I was leaving I had to take a quick survey about my experience at the clinic.  The questions were ridiculous.  But, it's true... I can't imagine a world without Take Care Clinic.  Life would be pointless.