BIG & Little!

 This is all about my "little sister" Ashley!

The last couple of years I have been thinking of becoming part of Big Brothers Big Sisters and when I moved to Austin I decided to go ahead and make it happen. I don't remember how I found out about the organization or why I wanted to be a part of it, but I'm glad to be involved!

I met Ashley in September of 2010 and we have been having loads of fun ever since. She is a crazy energetic, very smart, talk til' she drops, ball of 7 year old joy. It amazes me every day the things that young kids think about and I love their honesty, though brutal at times ;). We hang out about once a week and do whatever sounds like a good time to Ashley. We love the movies, the Zoo, the park, coloring, making yummy desserts and oh so much more! Mya, my dog, is a little afraid of her (I think the excitement is a bit much =)), but Ashley loves taking her for walks and making her do tricks. I guess Mya will just have to deal.

Sometimes I wonder what kind of impact I am having on her and if I am making a difference. I try to be a good role model in everything we do. I even set up our dates on a monthly "budget" so she knows things cost money. She knows we're on a budget but I don't think she gets the concept of where this magic money comes from. It just appears every month in her eyes, ha! One step at a time I suppose. I hope little lessons like this will help her to mold into a strong teen and adult.  I can only hope that as she gets older and has to go through all the troubles middle school and high school bring I can be there help her make the right choices. I think I lived in a bubble as a child but it terrifies me that she's only 7 and talking about boyfriends and girl fights?!?! That seems crazzzy to me! I know that our talks will soon be rougher than slug bug competitions and playground drama but I'm excited to be part Ashley's life and aspire to make a diffrence in it!

Weekend Recap and Back to Zorn!

First of all, it is FREEZING cold, in May?! Due to the extra warm April we've had, I have been mentally prepared for summer time since about March...with 46 degree mornings, I may not survive.

In any case, before the dramatic weather change, this weekend was a great one! I felt exhausted coming into work Monday, just how I like to start off my weeks ;-).

Friday: (work on Zorn - Lasted all of 1.5 hours but it counts)

Back to Zorn I go!

I've decided to move back to Zorn for what feels like the billionth time, I just can't get enough of Zorn, Texas! I tried living in Austin for a year but I just don't like it. I feel envy towards these "austinites" being all trendy doing the trendy Austin things (SUP, Zilker Park, Town Lake, etc). I mean it sounds dandy but I just don't quite fit. I tried the Town Lake one time and it was crazy crowded and all I did was stand in awe in amount of people and all that they were doing, never went back. There are some parts of Austin that are fun, but not enough to keep me living in an apartment where my dog is trapped all day and people continue to try to be "my neighbor". No thank you.

Long story short, I'm moving back to a quieter, calmer, more country scene. I've also decided some renovation is due for my little home...

Taking down most of the dropped ceilings in the house

This is what they look like now...



My bedroom, no more carpet, no more dropped ceiling, new paint job




Overwhelming really...




First room to be changed over and my little helper (Mom) in the back!


Dad is also building a fence and had to handle a rather large plumbing issue, its like 2 steps forward, 3 steps back, more updates to follow:).

Moving on with the weekend...

Saturday:
Raquel and I finally stopped being LAZY and got some work done for our continued Fitness endeavours, yay! We talk all week long and then when it comes to our "work days" we don't contact each other knowing that we both don't want to go and just wait until the day passes and then laugh at how we pretend to not be doing  it on purpose, "oops, I totally forgot...dang"!

Saturday night, we went to a River Revival in Martindale and that was fun. Caleb's grandfather helped start this and they continue it each year, very cool. Great food, good singing, testimonies, good stuff. Laura came down to join which made it all that more fun!

Sunday:

Sunday did not start off well...my little Mya/devil dog killed one of my parents cats and they found it in the yard. Then, when I strolled downstairs all chipper and ready for my coffee, my dad informed me I needed to go bury what my dog had done. OMG, can we say sob fest. I couldn't keep it together, luckily dad came and took over. I just can't believe my dog is a secret killer!!! You could lay a cat in front of her and if I'm standing there, she'll pretend she doesn't even see it. Leave her alone with a poor cat and its a different story. BAD DOG!!!!!

After the drama that was my Sunday morning we all packed up and went to the lake to spend some time with the fam. Aunt Patti and Uncle Darryl were in town from Colorado. They are so fun to be around and I wish they would move their little selves to Texas! Super fun day, a little time at the water, played a little chicken foot :),  and watched the norther come through...brrr. Why can't this cold weather bring some rain with it I just don't know.

Back home, with my devil dog constantly in my sights, Laura and I finished the weekend by a good talk to  solve the world's problems. Then right as we were going to bed discovered BIN LADEN WAS DEAD, whoa! Such a historical moment in time...and I found out on Facebook...what a different time we live in.