Summer Recap # 2: ...and on the eighth day, god created TEXAS!

I am supposed to pay bills on the first Thursday of the month, but I don't want too. So I thought it was time for another summer recap, because I am lame and did not do them after they happened.

I LOVE Texas! I love the people, the weather, and places to see. I also love that a lot of my extended family lives there. When I grew up in Florida almost every other year we would travel to see family there. Now that we live in Washington, it never happens.

So as a graduation present to myself I went and visited my Grandma and Poppa who live in San Antonio. Poppa took me to the river walk that has opened up more of the river recently. We also went to the Tower of the America's, which is taller than the Space needle by about 500 feet, and you can see so much more!

Me at the River Walk

A one legged pigeon. It was so gross I had to take a picture!

Poppa, and the entering the locks! 

the Locks filling so we can go up.

I got to steady the boat while we were in the lock. It was only Poppa , the  driver and I on the boat,

Locks opening. The locks were really cool, have learned about them in school, but had never seen a real one in action!

The Tower of the Americas

The view. The joke is that Texas is so flat you can see the to Mexico...

The Alamo!

Summer Recap #1: Graduation!!

Well, my last few posts have NO pictures in them, but I have tons of pictures to post! So, I am going to start with the beginning of summer and work my way to now.

Graduation, was in May! I am so glad to be done with school! I graduated with a degree in Material Science and Engineering with a Minor in German and Mathematics! Man, when you put it like that the 6 years seems reasonable. I still haven't mailed out announcements... I probably should do that. Maybe that will be my goal Christmas cards and Graduations announcements.

Here are some pictures from graduation.

Engineering Arch with my parents.

Just a little bit of sisterly love...

My Best friend came to visit!

Summer is over...

And it is a very sad fact for us. Brody took the summer off from school, which was wonderful for me during the summer, not it is not! School started a few weeks ago, and he is taking two classes again. Honors Calculus two and Honors English. He hates being the oldest person in his classes of mostly freshmen.

Other than School starting nothing new has happened in our lives. Although we have been doing a little bit of "home improvements"!

We recently sold our hideous floral couches we have had (we got them for free so convincing B to sell them and purchase new ones has taken some time). We had a full set; seven-foot couch, love seat, and a winged back chair. They did not fit in our living room, and I was done with them. I had dreams of covering them, but the thought of actually doing it, overwhelmed me!

Isn't that floral print lovey....

After selling our couches we got brand new black faux leather with a white detail stitching on it. Since I now spend more time at home, I couldn't stand that the curtains did not match the couches. So then began the redecorating. We got new curtains and curtain rods and rearranged a bit. I am working on the last few details and when I am done pictures will be up!

I haven't been the only one with a little 'home improvement' project. B has been working on a bike shed! He got all the lumber free from work, it was a GIANT pallet. He broke it down to make a floor, and three walls. He now has plans to make a roof and a door. I am excited because we really do not have room in our house for bikes!

Vacation!

I was FINALLY able to take a nice long VACATION! I do not remember the last vacation I took. I guess six years of college will do that!

This year I decided to take one. I was heading to Dallas, TX for a convention for work (Which was REMARKABLE!! I LOVE MY JOB!!!) Since, I was headed south I decided to see my Grandparents (my mom's parents) for a few days. I wish to be able to do that yearly now! They are so great! My Poppa took me to the 'new' river walk in San Antonio. We had a great time walking around and riding on the river. We also went up into The Tower of the America's and had lunch. I have lots of pictures, but this post isn't about pictures. It is about what I learned on vacation.

Being away from home and worries about life, opened my eyes to some trees I couldn't see through the forest.

I have the BEST Husband EVER

Fort Walton Beach has not changed in 12 years...

Some people are just rude as sin!

Some people are nice as pie!

My mom needs to tell us more about her childhood

My Poppa still believes!

Some people are blinded by love

When sealing/closing a water bottle at a low pressure (sea level) and opening at a high pressure (not sea level or on a plane...) will lead you spraying your self and the person asleep next to you on the plane...

Getting picked up from the airport by some one in full police uniform it REALLY fun! Especially when it is a cousin you haven't seen in years!

Traveling alone with 2 heavy carry on's is HORRIBLE!

I hate automated toilets, faucets, and towel dispensers!

Try to save $100 and not checking any bags was NOT worth my SANITY!

You shouldn't try to shift an automatic while trying to pass... as if you were driving a manual...

Some people should not have offspring

Some people should worry less about their children

Some people should have thought more about the changes procreating would create...

I do not like long flights in bad weather.

I HATE airport security.

I actually like small towns!

My Husband is THE BEST husband EVER!!!

So vacation was good, but I am glad to be home!

Summer Reading!

I recently got a job as a nanny, where we go to the library one day and I read a TON of children books. That is all I do basically, oh and change diapers.... But when the kidos are asleep I can do almost what ever I want (well after tidying the front room and play room). Since I am done with school I thought maybe I could start reading some books out of my own free will and choice, not because I am going to be tested on it. Having just finished my first book of the summer yesterday, I decided to read more of, if not all, of the books on our bookshelf that I have not read or have started but never finished. So here is my list:

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
The Wrong Stuff by Phil Scott
Supersonic Saints Compiled by John Bythway
Famous First Flights That Changed History by Lowell Thomas and Lowell Thomas Jr.
The Flyers by Noah Adam

It isn't too long but I already started a new one today, but then decided not to finish it because it was about this women who is trying to decided whether or not to leave her husband... I guess I should have read the back before I got it...