Circus with some loves

So I took my cousin's kiddos to the circus the other night and met a few of my cousins and their kids for the show.  I obviously do not have kiddos of my own yet so I utilized "rent-a-kid" which is pretty easy in my family considering how many of them have young kids.  It was so much FUN!!!  WE started our night a chic-fil-a for a little dinner and ice cream.  Then we headed over to Will Rogers in Fort Worth early and the kids got to ride on an elephant and a pony before the circus started.  My mom rode with them so I could take their picture.  Yes all I got my mom to ride on an elephant! :) Then we got some popcorn and drinks and headed to our seats.  We had seats just a few rows up from the floor and it was AWESOME!  The kids loved all the animals, acts, and the funny clown that preformed on a trampoline and in a skit.  They were mesmorized by the circus..... precious Addisyn did not say a single word from the start to the end of the circus..... and she always has something to say.  Overall I would say it was a success and a great first circus for the little ones.  Brittany, Michelle, Mom, Parker, Walker, Grayson, Ashton, Autry, Addisyn I has so much fun with you at the circus thanks for coming to hang out with me.  I do have to say though it has been rather odd driving around with two empty car seats in my car for a week.

My North Euless Family

To my North Euless Family,

I just wanted to send you all a note to tell you how much I have loved working with all of you the past 3 years.  You have all touched my life and I have been blessed to work with such amazing people.  I have never felt so loved, supported, and as a member of a pretty neat family as I did at North Euless.  If you have not received your letter from Melissa to start the year let me be the one to tell you that special education has moved me to South Euless Elementary for the upcoming school year.  You have a wonderful new therapist coming into North Euless.  I know you will all welcome her with open arms just as you did me.  I have shed some tears over the move but want you to know you are not getting rid of me that easy.  I have asked Melissa to please keep me in the loop about showers and family nights, etc so I can still see everyone.  I know Melissa went to bat for me and really tried everything to keep me at NEE but in the end my services were needed elsewhere.  Thank you for all the ways you have supported me, helped me grow, made me one of the team and family, and helped me make all my students successful.  You will never know how much I appreciate each and everyone of you and the relationships I have made with you.  

Sincerely,

Katharine

Proud to be a BAYLOR BEAR!!!!

First of all we are so super proud to be Baylor Bears.... Robert Griffin III won the Heisman trophy tonight. It was very exciting to see a Baylor Bear be honored with such a prestigious award.

This is a picture from Baylor's campus during this past fall semester.....
I just thought this was a neat picture of the bushes sculpted into the interlocking BU.
This was the crowd storming the field after the OU vs. Baylor football game this year. It was the first time Baylor has beaten OU in school history and Lance and I were lucky enough to be at this game.... thanks to our good friends the Cheynes.
This is the picture our friend Susan took for us with the craziness going on behind us. Yes we used it for our Christmas card this year (very proudly I might add) sporting our green and gold along with our "bear claws".
Lance and I have loved every minute of this football season and cheering on our bears. There is finally some great things happening with our football program, create a alumni and fan following (called Baylor Nation) and to help many show their pride in their school. It is amazing how when just a few things fall into place like a great coach (Art Briles- which yes a friend of ours came as to Lance's costume bash birthday party) and several good players who work well together as a team (RG III, Kendall Wright, Terrance Ganaway to name a few) can bring a whole family/ group/ mass audience together to support a program and university that has been looking for something to boost support, boost pride, boost alumni, etc. This is a time that we have not seen for the bears since the 1980's. This is a time where we can brag that we attended Baylor University. This is a time where we can proudly say..... "Sic' Em Bears!!!!!!!"

What's been happening...

Well I went to New York to visit my cousin and her family. It was so much fun to see and experience the city how they see it everyday as resident New Yorkers. Here are just a few of my favorites from the trip just to give you a taste.

This is my cousin Monica who does everything by foot in New York with a 3 1/2 year old and pregnant. I know I know she is amazing and should pretty much be your hero like mine. I am not sure I would be as upbeat, pleasant and such a great host if I was in her shoes. She is pretty great and opened up her home and daily life to me with a smile every day!

I think this picture is neat because she looks beautiful pregnant, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and back and the city where their second beautiful baby girl (name to be determined) will be born in.

This is her funny, independent, and cute 3 1/2 year old Elle and I one day at the Central Park Zoo.

It was smurf week in NYC while I was there and each day in a different part of the city the smurf village was put up. Elle enjoyed her "smurf juice".... well it looked more like colored water but it was supposedly blueberry flavored. At least she let me snap a picture of her.

We ate delicious food the whole time I was there!!! But this was at a really good Indian place called Sapphire. The food was so good and very flavorful.

Anyway I had a great trip came home under not so great circumstances but was thankful for the time I spent with my cousin and her family before they became a family of 4. I learned a lot, had great conversations and experienced the city in a completely different way. Thanks Mon and Mathew!!!

Costa Rica

We went on our summer vacation this past week.... and we headed to Central America. Overall it was a great trip. Only down side was during our trip Costa Rica had a tropical depression in the area and it rained more each day than typical (of course we were there it had to rain more). The resort we stayed at was great and all-inclusive- even better. We spent some time on the beach, and in the pool, and reading under the huts. Overall just relaxing and and enjoying some time together.

Lance on the beach.... pre "Scuba Steve" adventures in snorkeling.

The hot springs we went to on our excursion to the rain forest. They were GREAT... especially since we were freezing after a horseback ride through the rain forest on horseback. (Pretty sure after the horseback ride it will be a little while before we are able to have children - ha ha ha. it is not like riding horses in Texas)

This was Lance and I on the zip lines in the rain forest. We saw howler monkeys and beautiful scenery.

Over all we had a great time and enjoyed a little of nature and the beach. The trek home from Costa Rica to Miami and finally to DFW made for a really long day of traveling but it was nice to have a week with my husband all to myself. He goes back to work on Monday and I will begin to pack for my trip to see my cousin and her family. I am sure I will have lots of pictures to share from that trip.