So this will be a long blog because I am sick today in bed and hey, I have some time! (and I am a week behind!) I am a person who does not deal well with change, and if you know me, I like to have agenda and times, I am not one to be spontanious. So when my allergies get to me it is a struggle for me to relax because I am SO used to having a plan, and I never just SIT. But, thats the way I like life! To live it to the fullest and always being JOYFUL! My allergies hit me hard on Wednesday but I still went to school because I had tickets to the Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull concert that night...and there is NO way I was going to miss it!

I have NEVER worn shoes so high!!!

Killian and Kate

 Thursday night I had a babysitting job, but luckily the child went to sleep at 7 right when I go there so I was able to do some school work and watch Parks and Recreation, The Office, and Private Practice!!! So I was able to relax then. I really wanted to go to school on Friday because I had the kids making integer problems on Pumpkins and we made a Pumpkin Patch outside of our room!!! I will post pics on Tuesday of it because the bulletin board isn't quite finished yet!!!

Friday night I planned for a group to go country line dancing and I was looking forward to it ALL week!!! But I was so under the weather that I had to change my plans, watch the old footloose movie, and sleep instead.... grr...trying to be OK with the change. I also wanted to rollerblade and bike this weekend but that will have to wait for the next weekend I guess...change is ok!!!

"Happiness is in the Heart NOT the circumstance!!" I had to live by this quote this week!!!!

Ok, I just realized that I had not posted pictures from last weekend!!!

Last Friday night a couple of friends and I went to the Greek Festival in Montrose! It was a blast! The music, the smells, and the atmosphere all reminded be of this summer when Jess and I went to Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens!! Aleshia, Karli, Todd, Nina, Sam and I were able to eat Greek food and drink the wonderful Greek wine!!!

Beautiful Houston Skyline!

Aleshia and I!

BAKLAVA!!!

 Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon I had an overnight babysitting job for Hally and Bella! We had SO much fun! It rained that weekend, so before the clouds came in we went to the park, then enjoyed the thunderstorm! They LOVED listening to the thunder. By the time I put the girls to bed I was in bed also!!!

 Playing in the rain!

 The awesome fort we made!

 When I got off of babysitting on Sunday, Nina, Todd and I volunteered at the church bazaar! It POURED the WHOLE time!!! it was muddy and gushy....but it is something that is unable to be canceled because SO much work goes into it!! We had fun though!!!

After the bazaar I made homemade bread and "Biggest Loser Chili" which turned out AMAZING!!! Nina, Aleshia and I carved pumpkins and watched the "Its  a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

 My sunshine pumpkin...

 Ninas Owl Pumpkin

 and Aleshias Skeleton Pumpkin..

ok! So there is the update!!!!

Some things on my baking list:

Crepes

Apple Crisp

3-2-1 Cake

Depending on how I feel we will see if I can knock some of these things out!

-sunshine

Pumpkin Patch with the Pykes

I am trying to break into the photography business, so everywhere I am going I am constantly practicing!! I want to become a "traveling photographer". When the Pykes went to the Pumpkin Patch I asked if I could tag along and take some pictures! Here are a couple that I took. I tried to mess with the Aperture and Shutter Speed with each picture and I am still learning!

Thank you Pykes for being my FIRST family!!!

Minneapolis

Here is some pictures and some stories about my trip to Minneapolis to visit some amazing friends!!!

On the way to the airport I was on a shuttle with the Houston Dynamo team.....I was so excited to tell all my students that I met them!!!!

 On the plane ride instead of doing school work, or reading some of my Spanish books like I intended....I played Angry Birds for the 2 hours!!!

 Teresa and Reenie picked me up from the airport!!! We stopped by Mall of America for supper before picking Carolyn up from the airport!!!!! Great start to the AMAZING weekend!!!  :o)

 Saturday morning it took us a while to get ready!!! We had a sleepover and talked late late late into the night! Saturday morning was a gorgeous morning!!! We went for a wonderful walk on a "fall" morning. There were Oktoberfest celebrations everywhere, people in costumes, bands playing. The picture shown here is what is left of the Pillsbury factory after it exploded in the 1800's.

 The German band that was playing inside the old factory.

 Food Truck!!!! We got Indian spiced donuts....I am NOT a donut fan....but these were amazing!!!!!

 We ran into a farmers market and we decided that we would buy things to make breakfast in the morning. So we bought some rosemary bread, spinich, green peppers, tomatoes and onions.

 Beautiful view of the city!!!

 All 4 of us!!! Carolyn, Teresa, Reenie and I!

 THE BEST BURGER EVER!!! If I could have one last meal, it would include a burger, fries and a Diet Coke, and possibly some tiramisu for dessert....but that besides the point. We ate at the Blue Door and they have stuffed burgers. Mine was stuffed with jalapenos!!!

 Reenie....I forgot which presidents footprint this is?? do you remember???

Drinking Apple Cider from my new tea pot that I found in an antique shop!!!!

I LOVE apple cider!!!

 Sunday morning!!!!! Here is our wonderful breakfast with eggs!! ALL that we bought from the farmers market!!!

We also bought Champagne and Orange Juice and made Mimosas!!!!! BEST breakfast ever!!!!! In the 3rd picture you can see the bread in the background....we finished the whole loaf for breakfast!!!

You can also see the beautiful vegetables that we bought!!! :o)

To all my Houtonian friends......I felt right at home when I saw this sign!!! They serve POP!!! I was in a country where I could say "pop" and they knew what I meant and they did not give me confused face!

 Kettle Corn!! My favorite thing about going to Apple Orchards!!!!

 We went wine tasting....yes it was a vineyard and an apple orchard!!! We got dark chocolate with some of the wine choices!

 Our picnic! We bought fancy cheeses, nice crackers, apples, we bought a bottle of wine from the tasting. It was an AMAZING afternoon!!!!! I would love to go back!!!

 and of course we had to have chocolate!!!!!

We visited a small town before going back to Minneapolis!!! It was really cute and I LOVED their downtown area!! Cute buildings!!!

It was a wonderful weekend! and great timing to get out of Houston!!! It is also so nice to see friends!!! My flight was Monday morning at 6am... I got back to Houston around 10 and then went back to school to teach at noon! 

Other things going on in my life..... I bought my plane ticket home for Thanksgiving!!! I chose not to drive this time, it just takes too much time, and it is wearing on my car, and safety because of the winter weather..I wouldn't want to get caught in Oklahoma or Kansas because of ice or snow..and I also am going to a friends wedding on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I didn't want to be rushed to do the whole drive on Sunday...so to take the hassle out of travel I will by flying home Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!

Another thing going on this week that I am SO PUMPED about is the Spanish concert that I am going to on Wednesday!!! I am seeing Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, and Aventura!!!!!

I went to the Greek Festival last night....will post pictures soon!!!!! Reminded me of Greece but not as good as being there!!!! Oh what I would give to be back in Santorini....Nina and I already have a plan to move there and work!!! It will happen someday!! :o)

adios for now!

-sunshine