Small town girl in a large, large world

So much has happened in the past few weeks! We just found out tonight that Joe and Shirley's son Will and wife Bronwyn are having their baby boy tomorrow! Very exciting!! We went out for dinner at "Taste of Texas" and I sure got a great taste of Texas! It was probably one of the best steaks I had ever gotten...and as it should have been when considering the price of it!

Random fact of the week: we were driving back home from dinner Saturday afternoon when Joe said, "Hey, do you wanna see where Roger Clemens lives?". Well of course I said yes...little did I know, he lives two blocks down the road from where I'm staying....

On Friday, Yorkshire had their Youth Aspiration Olympic Celebration. Two words: organized awesomeness!! It was such a neat experience, and all of it was put on my parent volunteers. We all gathered along the fence underneath our countries flag. Once everyone was placed, we had Olympic music playing in addition to a bagpipe player as we marched in the parade of countries. After, we all sat down to listen to a true Yorkshire parent and Olympic Canadian bobsledder speak about his experiences and what the Olympics represent. Students performed a variety of their own national anthems and then students split off into "Olympic events." Events included gymnastics, equestrian, rock climbing (which of course us preschoolers did not partake in), 50 yd dash, kayaking, crafts, etc. verryyyyy organized! And the best part...members of each country brought in FooD to represent their countries. Soon many interesting things! I of course stayed in close proximity to the American table...and the brazilian table...surprising, I know. Haha! Let's just say I ate so much I felt sick by the end of the day! I took tons of pictures...it's too bad Iowa has such little diversity, because this thing was soo cool!

On Monday, I got to sit in with the fifth grade students as a guest speaker came into discuss the importance of knowing our personality type and how it plays a part in working with others in our society. It was so interesting to analyze the psychology behind the human being and to see it done in a way relatable to elementary students. Each of the students got to take a computerized personality test (DISC) and were able to review thier results. Very cool. Wish I could have done it! As we were studying each of the personality types I was envisioning myself in each category as well of some of my strong personality friends..haha. This was definitely one of those instances where we can for sure say, "yes, you will use this in your life!"

I received some cards this past week from some of the "other Hoefers'" and Kelci :) i also received a triathalon suit from Jolene...this thing is going to happen, ready or not!! But, thank you all. As I have found in preparing for this little triathlon deal, is I have to be an excellent planner with extreme flexibility. Yesterday, I planned on swimming, and ended up waiting forty minutes for a lane...which I then in turn ended up sharing with who was probably an ironman champ...he lapped me like five times in one of my laps. Let's just say my swimming endurance could use some improvement. I find myself stopping to rest more than I probably will get to on race day...oh well if I end up having to doggie paddle, I guess it is what it is. I'm just doing it to keep me motivated and moving, with all this delicious dinning and preschool birthday snacking I have been doing, lord knows I need the exercise just to keep stable!! 

I have to add that Mrs. Ogle is a very bad influence when it comes to my sweet tooth--we never have just one of the birthday cupcakes--we have to have TWO, and today, she discovered that there is ice cream hidden in the freezer.  So with the birthday brownies we had leftover today, we teachers are having a brownie sundae tomorrow...however, you don't see me fighting back either... ;)

A big shout out to all my Nashville bound friends...I hope you have a great time this weekend, and kick some 1/2 marathon booty!! I'll be thinking of you as I relax and chill by the pool eating scrumpits and holding my margarita ;) juuuust kidding!!

 Its hard to believe I have less than a month left...it is flying by! I am soo ready to see my family and friends, but will definitely miss those I have met and grown close with here in Houston. I'm sure my puppys back home probably think I'm never coming back home...I hope they haven't given up on me!!

Tomorrow Shirley has invited me to go to the Apple store with her tomorrow with the administration staff to check out the benefits of becoming a "Mac campus". I think it will be very interesting from an administrative stand point in watching all of the ideas that take place in making such a decision. Hopefully we are still on for that excursion...but if not, we have a new baby who has entered the world!!!