The sun still shines

It seems in austin the sun will shine year round. Its actually kinda nice. The worst part is that the air feels about ten inches thick. Its pretty dang gross. oh i am excited to feel the nice crisp air of washington state! seattle here i come... well just before thanksgiving anyhow!
Still loving it here. I am in a pretty big need of a washer and dryer IN my apartment, dand waiting list is to long! But if thats the worst part of being here i would say all is pretty dang good!
Work is work. I am getting great feedback from the parents about how the kids are doing and advancing. Not only that I am seeing it myself! From the ability to recognize numbers to repeating numbers and letters as well as following directions these kids are showing me new skills daily! Having a harder time with the boss but all should work out in time.
Rugby is still super amazing! The Bside is still undefeated and we have had a good number of games. We still have one game and two tourni's left so we will see how it goes!
With all the fun i am having here i do still miss seattle and seattle folk! esp my little punkers.. aubrie and liah i miss you babies! love you lots!

here is another pic from one of my games for folks back home...


and for anyone here in austin here is a pic of my favorite little punkers! its a little old but i love this pic!

Chillin in austin

Well things seem to be setting into routine here! The love for Austin has yet to wear off. Every week i think to myself how there is a whole city at my finger tips that I have yet to explore, come on self get out there! I have no idea where to start or what to see. Slowly but surely it will all come to me I am sure. This will be my first weekend without a rugby match, but in true rugby form it will not be a weekend without ruggers! Working at Marathon kids tomorrow for a REALLY long time. Then chillin with some ruggers in the PM. Followed by a day where i can sleep in... thank the good Lord for that. and then church and chill with more ruggers in the PM. Yay!

Last weekend was spent in Colorado playing rugby. A side had a pretty big match against glendale which we dont really need to talk about. The next day a side had another match against Boulder. I actually got to sub in on this game which was exciting. The end result is one that has left some folks pretty upset. After a rough game with non stop whistles the last try was not awarded to us... we lost by ONE. Not cool and really not fair. We followed that up with a Bside game which the Valks dominated. I started in this game sub'd out and the came back in. Standing on the side lines was rough. I hate watching my team play when I cant be in. I did enough of that with a busted knee. Plus they seemed to be having so much fun. all the subs stood on the side hoping to get back in.
the best part of the weekend was that we went with 29 girls. Seriously nearly two sides. thats amazing!

Here are some pics from my recent adventures
Here is my team in boulder... note the flatiron mtns in the background


and here i am with some ruggers at the airport

The things that happen at school

So I have had an interesting few days at work where some of the craziest things have occurred. Now remind yourself I spend my days with really little kids so it makes sense it gets so crazy!
I got to school just before 9am, fifteen minutes after starting my shift I took my kids from the breakfast table towards my classroom. One child has decided another teacher looks like his mom and when he sees her disaster strikes. Well he started crying because we were leaving her, he put himself into such a fit that he barfed all over me and the floor. seriously i had been on shift for fifteen minutes. Not a fun way to start the day. Oh but it didnt end there.
Just over an hour later we were outside playing. When one child wouldnt share a toy with a boy who wanted it the boy decided the best way to get it was to bite and that he did. Seriously dont bite. this is the same kid who bit me when i tried to put him in timeout. UGH there is now a perfect bruised ring on the poor kids arm from where teeth set in.
Lunch happend and then its nap time, at this point a coworker normally takes over and i go on lunch, but there was a mishap and the bosses needed to see a few of the workers so i put kids down for nap. Since it was me and not the normal person EVERY child decided to act up. One girl is screaming bloody murder for her mom, who works at school but was in the meeting. most of the kids are talking to eachother, one boy is standing on his mat and the biter is yelling in the face of a little girl. I finally pull the cryer over next to me to make her stop and things begin to calm down. right then a four year old stands up doing the universal choking sign. I am yelling his name and jumping off the ground going towards him. in my head i think... shoot i have not taken first aid... eeek. finally he answers and says i was choking on a penny. WHAT you are nearly five why would you put a penny in your mouth. OMG.
The day rounds out with a boy getting a rock stuck in his ear. Seriously kids these holes are not to be putting stuff in like that... seriously.

luckily the next day was a bit more calm!

Home?....

I am now in austin texas. A place I shall call home... atleast for the time being! Living in a cute little apartment... well it will be cute once my roomie and I put stuff on the walls and get all the furniture in! Working at a job where I teach early preschool. I teach a lot of socializing skills as well as the foundational things like colors and shapes. I pretty much love it! The place is rather new so the owners have a lot to learn but things are coming along.
I am playing rugby for the austin valkyries. I had to step up my skill level in order to play with them. They have enough ladies for two sides A and B. I have so far been the starting hooker for the bside. I have worked really hard to see the field and apply all that I have learned these past four years about the game! it seems to be working out.
I have been church hunting to see what church I shall call home. Seen a few really good churches still not sure which place I will settle in to!
Between work and rugby and church my life is full here. Full of stuff I really love so it really cant get much better! Things I am looking forward to is my next pay check as i can actually put money in the bank and possibly even buy a mattress so I dont have to sleep on the floor anymore!

Here are some photos so far

Gawfy and Me in Colorado!


Me in Co

Here are two photos from playing with the valks!

Gramma

A hard fight for sure! an amazing women.. thats a fact. With her last eight days of life spent in hospice my days and nights were spent there to. Time spent watching her fight.... struggle with her breaths and still an inspiration. I got to spend that time in hospice with my aunts. Getting to know them on a different level... still giving to us in her last days!

Toby I love you

Here is the video I had created in memory of Toby. Most of the family has it but just in case here it is.

His death still a huge mystery to me. I am sure it is to many. Left with so many unanswered questions I know my inquisitive nature will never be calmed when it comes to toby. An amazing man he was, smart, to smart for his own good thats for sure. A family man.. he was intentinal to every one of us. The last christmas toby was here he gave me a squeaky nun. It was a super funny gift to get, but you can bet i still have it. Why some may ask, did he give that to me. He knew i loved church and god and was super devoted, it made sense to him... it was so thoughtful. Going on that same theme one year for my birthday he gave me the movie saved. It was about catholic girls... i am a catholic, he thought i could take pleasure in the comedy that was produced surrounding the catholic religion. Always thoughtful. he didnt have to try to be he just was. Gotta love him for that! just wish he was still here or atleast the giant question of why and how could be answered...