What Happens In Vegas...

What a wonderful trip with my BFF's (known them since the '80's). I love them so much. Everyone came in from a different state: Jen-Connecticut, Krysta-Texas, Sara-New Mexico, Me-Cali. We grew up together in Clovis and all ended up in Utah after high school, but then we went our separate ways. We hadn't seen each other in 10 years! That is way too long. Everyone is married w/kids (Krysta is expecting #4 and is 6 months pregnant in these pics-doesn't even look it). The is the best 4 days!! I love them so much! The next trip is planned to occur in the next 2-3 years. I can't wait. We will never go that long again.

...Ends Up On My Blog!!

Fun & Sun

Nothing like a fun-filled day at the lake with 4 jet-skis, a floating water trampoline, and 3 families! What a way to kick off summer vacation.

Creative Cookies

Every Friday I scrapbook with my friend, Michelle, for a few hours. She was my sister's friend, but she introduced us last summer when I got into scrapbooking. A few weeks ago she told me about this new printer she purchased that prints edible ink. I was shocked! I had never heard of such a thing. We got to talking and the ideas just started coming out (from her not me) about the possibilities. SHe is an extremely creative person-me not so much. I asked her if she'd do something for me to give to Mahkala's teacher and she said yes. So for $1 a cookie, she put each kid on a cookie and I gave it to her teacher as a end-of-the-year gift. She loved it. The pictures turn out great and, of course, I'm going to use her for Mahkala's b-day cake!

New Obsession

Last summer it was scrapbooking, which I still love, and this summer is rhinestoning. It's my new obsession!! I learned how to do it yesterday and I'm on shirt # 3. Poor Eric will soon be wearing rhinestoned shirts; he just won't know it because I'll do the back. LOL I went to this store and the lady sat down with me for an hour and taught me how to do it. It's not the glue on kind. It's the kind you iron on and they last much longer. I started small with Mahkala's name, but today I'm making a Twilight shirt for Taylor, but she doesn't know (shhhh). Hopefully, it will look nice. I may not be very good at it, but it's fun!!!!

C/O 2009

This is a week full of graduations. On Tuesday I went to Fresno High's graduation as a spectator for the first time. Normally, I'm down below helping grads line up. Once they march out the teachers leave and head over to DogHouse Grill for dinner and to celebrate. Since I'm not working this year, I was duty free. However, my best friend's, Aly, younger brother graduated from FHS so I wanted to go to that. I've known David since he was in 8th grade and I can't believe how fast it went by. I never had him as my student but I'd see him around FHS and he'd say, "Hello Ms.Maxwell." He said he couldn't call me Stephanie at work because it felt weird. LOL It makes me sad because that's what's going to happen with Mahkala-I just know it ): So congrats to David and I'm very proud of him.

Safety First, People!

One of the new things I tried this year as a "stay home" mom was crossing guard. LOL I still laugh when I think of it. I did it once a month and most times Eric went with me. For some reason pretty much every day I was on duty, it rained. This picture is from just last Friday. Yes it's June in Fresno and it was cold and raining! Crazy huh? It was 104 two weeks prior. Silly weather. It was fun, but there are some crazy drivers out there.

Last Lunch

I usually take Kala and a friend or two to lunch for the last week of school, but I took her today because next week is going to be ridiculously busy. I took Mahkala & her friend, Kassidy, to Sonic. They had their choice and yummy Sonic it was. They seemed to have fun, and Kassidy was thrilled she didn't have to eat her packed lunch-as most kids would be. I may have gotten a little teary eyed when I thought how this was her last year in elementary school-sniff ): (I took the pic w/my phone so it's not the best image).

Summer Challenge

Call it my New Year's Resolution for the summer, but I have challenged myself to read all the Harry Potter books this summer. I don't think it will be a huge challenge since I love to read and everyone I've spoken with liked the books. People look at me weird when I say I've never read the books. "You're an English teacher and you've never read Harry Potter!?!" First of all, it's not like we teach Harry Potter in the school and secondly, call me rebellious (my parents did!), but because it was such a popular fad I kind of strayed away from it. I'm weird that way. Somethings that become so much a part of pop culture turn me off and others I dive right into. Who knows why? Anyway, the though crossed my mind to read them and once I think of doing something I usually do it (therefore lies many of my mistakes in life!). This will not be a mistake though. I'm not buying them all because most my siblings or their kids have them. I borrowed #1 from my brother, Kent, last night and read half before bed. Luckily, Eric was in LA so he wasn't ignored. So far, I like it! Also, the last movie comes out, I think, in July so that can be my reward if I finish the books. I also must admit I've never seen any of the Harry Potter movies. The previews terrify Kala and she's never wanted to read those books, let alone any book. I've seen bits and pieces of some of the movies when I've been at my sister's house, but I've never sat down and actually watched one. So it'll go book #1-movie #1, book #2-movie #2, etc. Good thing I'm not working this summer (:

Surprise Trip

On Thursday Eric & I decided to take a quick trip somewhere fun. Disneyland? Nah need more than one day. Magic Mountain? Nah we were sick of that. Sea World? Nah too far and we've done that tons. How about Knott's Berry Farm! I haven't been there since I was about 10 and Eric hadn't been in about 7 years. So we told the girls to pack a bag, but didn't tell them why. We left Saturday around noon and started driving south. THey kept asking for hints. At Magic Mountain we got off the exit so they started going "Oooh Magic Mountain!" but then Eric got right back on the freeway and I said, "The hint is it's NOT Magic Mountain." I'm funny! So we kept driving and when we got to Knott's it didn't even really hit them until I said, "It's Knotts!. When I was about 10 my parents woke us up one morning and told us to get dressed because we were going hiking in the mountains. We were all so grouchy and angry. So we dressed in grungy clothes and they drove us to Mgc. Mtn. We were kind of excited but I remember my older sisters, yah you Susan, getting even more upset because they weren't dressed appropriately for Magic Mountain (teens have to look good at all times!). Luckily the girls were never grouchy and were good sports all the time. Good for them because Eric won't have any of that and he would've driven straight home. Back to our story-we stayed at the Knotts Hotel Saturday nights. We swam, ate dinner at Fuddruckers, and rented a movie in the hotel room. Sunday morning we got to Knotts at 10 when it opened and played all day. The park was empty and it was overcast with a slight chill. This is perfect since Fresno has been in the 100's and 90's, plus we don't like theme parks when it's super hot. We got to ride all the rides we wanted and some of them twice. We left around 5:00 to make it home for bedtime. The girls played, giggled, & watched movies in the backseat and were never grouchy. That's why I love that they aren't babies!!!!! THe one pic of us at the top of a huge drop on a waterslide was my idea. It was the biggest drop I've ever done. We got soaked but luckily we had extra sweatshirts (Eric's idea). It was a great trip, for a great price, and was tons of fun!! I must add-Eric is lucky he didn't get kicked out of the park! Most roller coasters take your picture sometime during the ride. When the ride finished Eric couldn't stop laughing. When I saw our picture I figured out why. He had lifted his shirt up all the way. Of course we had to buy that picture and it's on our fridge. I'm screaming, Taylor's arms are up in the air, Kala's making a silly face, and my husband (I'm so proud) is lifting his shirt up to reveal all. He said there was something on the news about how at Disneyland bunch of girls have been doing that and they are trying to stop it (luckily my husband isn't revealing what girls would be). It was funny and even the picture guy was laughing.