The best preparation for the RICA

So, I am in summer school, woop te do. I'm just as excited about it as you are reading about it. I sometimes feel like I'm held hostage by my hormones (the very ones controlling my fluctuating moods, appetite, and energy levels) and my future career educational needs. Neither one I can get away from. You cannot opt out of a 15 page research proposal when the horribly boring thing makes up 90% of your grade and you need that grade to get a Masters degree. That Masters degree will hopefully give you a bit more job security. So my life is so fun with all these exciting motivators.
So tonight I let myself have some ice cream. That is a big deal because I usually try to save dessert as a treat on weekends. Weekdays mean vegetables, fruits and sensibility. This is easy when you don't have much of an appetite, but guess what? IT CAME BACK! Funny how that happens. One bowl of chili does not satisfy anymore. This isn't anything new. In fact these appetite levels have a lot to do with my womanly cycles. I don't really want to get into it.
What I really wanted to write about is the book I accidentally got in the mail. I kindly asked Amazon for a used book on preparing for the RICA. Yes another test to see if I have enough brains to teach small children to read. A undergraduate degree, two teaching credentials and a masters degree won't reflect that I can do that, only some expensive test. It's $240. Again, I cannot opt out of that one, neither.
So back to the book. Instead of receiving 'Ready For RICA', I got a brand new copy of 'Energy Addict, 101 Physical, Mental, & Spiritual Ways to Energize Your Life.' Is God trying to tell me something? The packing slip says I got the RICA book so it is their mistake and I plan to return it, but the funny thing is I feel that 'Energy Addict' will help me with my over-all state of being much better then prepping for the stupid RICA. Don't you? On the back it boasts with bullets saying, "Take an Energy Audit to determine where your energy comes from -- and where you're losing it." Sounds good to me! I would like to have more options then sleeping. "Start every morning with a 10-minute 'thank-you' walk." Makes sense, but I'm a little afraid of my neighborhood and the pollution from the freeway next to my house. "Eat breakfast like a king...and dinner like a pauper." When I read this my husband asked what a pauper was, but then he thought I said Papa. Those were the only points that made sense. If I didn't have other fantastically boring text books to peruse then I would read the little self-help book and then return it to its rightful owner.
My advice? Hug someone today, especially if they are a teacher or student. Or at least pray for them. Hugs and kisses to all of your lucky work and play people!

French women don't what?

Yes, you have read it correctly, the book is entitled, French Women Don't Get Fat and written with wit and wisdom by Mireille Guiliano. I mean, the woman is going into her eighth decade of life, so she has the right to make such outrageous claims. Myself, having lived and visited in Europe a few times, have noticed how I trimmed down at least when traveling in France and Switzerland - so I was intrigued. When friends saw the title they mentioned that of course French women are svelte, they do nothing but smoke and drink coffee. On the contrary, in Guiliano's book she encourages water, not coffee, and wine during dinner. But, this French philosophy of eating, wants the readers to be conscience in every activity, whether it be eating or taking a walk.
If anything, this book is a refreshing read and NOT a do-this and you'll loose weight fast kind of book. It is a memior, cookbook and how-to book all in one read. Skim the chapter on vegetables (she really enjoys her fruits as well) because the whole book is worth a read. She pushes moderation rather then opting for the protein-dominate approach. Also, there were recipes, which I wanted to write about. I tried the baguette recipe, which I will not include here as not to get sued. It was so fun even if I scared Chris out of the kitchen (I was a bit too authoritative for his liking). When Grandma Bates used to visit or when I flew out to Kansas to see her we would bake and bake and bake. So, greasing my hands, removing my rings, and preparing my large cutting board with flour seemed natural. I have to confess, I wished I had my Grandma to help me when the doe was getting too sticky and a little annoying. After all the raising and needing and wrestling with the doe, four flat loaves were achieved. :) Mike was over for dinner (oh yeah, it was the same day we went to see Bjork!) that evening and we all had fresh baked bread with our beans and wieners. All in all, it's a book advising living simply and I am all for that!

Create Your Own Currency!

Crash Boom Bang! Yes, we went to see the infamous Bjork last night. What a great show! She is so unique and the audience was positive.
The last live concert I went to was the AquaBats with Mr. Mike Bates. I thought the crowd there would be friendly, but someone proved me wrong with flipping off the band and there were children present! Outrageous. No decency whatsoever!
Anyways back to Bjork - every time she would thank the audience with a cute, little Icelandic voice we would giggle. She sounded exactly the way we thought she would. She even said, "Mucha Gracias" even if she said it wrong it was still very adorable. We were trying to figure out if she actually addressed the crowd with "Hello Bay Areas!" Bay Areas??? Who cares, it's BJORK! The audience ranged in style; geek chic to hippy to raver style. Muy interestante!
Well, it was good to have something to look forward to and since I had to cancel my birthday party, it was sort of a delayed birthday gift. Chris and I had a good time holding hands and trying to stay warm together. Mike and his friend came along, which is always entertaining. Outings with Mike always turn into compulsive giggling, strange voices and physical comedy while whoever is not Mike or I try to act like they are not there. Chris knows to leave us alone when we start the hilarity because it is quite odd. For example, Mike would do the little Bjork voice, saying, "Don't let them do that to you!!!" and I would start with the penguin-like dance move Bjork performed for us on stage. I guess you would have to be there to appreciate it. If you have the chance to see Bjork live, do it! She is fab-u-lous!
Bye!!!

End of the Term Crazy

Hello People who read this blog! People like two friends, my dad and my brother! Thanks for the support!
So, as the title reads it is "end of the term crazy" time. Yes, I feel like I don't have enough time to feel sorry for myself because there is too much to do with 21 units. 21 units = Dropped-on-your-head-crazy! Yeah, who signed me up for that many hours? Oh, wait, twas I. I'm trying to fit in my masters classes while carrying a full-time schedule for my credential program. I'm not the only one sucked into this weird panicked, feeling like we have to get a masters or die feeling. There are way to many over-educated people in America.
In the meanwhile, real-life has reared its ugly head. My grandma had another large stroke making her progress in her right side disappear. She now is more affected in her physical abilities and her mental capabilities. I got the family duty of wandering the halls after it initially happened - sucked, but she's my grandma. We walked, stopped to cry here and there and then finally she fell asleep. A week after that I visited again and she looks so much better. Praise the Lord. Getting old must be rough.

You must be taking 21 units if:
1. The dark circles under your eyes get so bad that the bartender stops asking for ID.
2. You can symphathize with people who take crack cocaine.
3. You find yourself neglecting plucking your facial hair.
4. You're tired of hearing yourself complain about how much homework you have to do.
5. Every time you do a Number 1 it smells like coffee.
6. You hope your spouse or friend picks you up late for a date so you can do more homework.
7. You have To Do lists on the backs of both of your hands.
8. You really wish their was more hours in the day or you could suspend time like Evie in "Out of This World."
9. You gain 21 pounds. Just Kidding - I've only gained 5.


Right now, I'm allowing myself a little blogging and Small is getting in the way of my typping. Sometimes she'll walk on the keybord or now her head i s resting ont he board. Gotta go - bye! xoox

Bat Country

Thank you Hunter S. Thompson.

Fun little surveys - I'm an adventurer!

Hey Kids,
Here I am, online and wasting time. I got caught up in www.blogthings.com with their mindless surveys. I have already added "What Kind of Californian are You?" (San Diego) and "What Kind of Pinup are You?" (Betty Grable) to my Myspace profile, but I felt like this one described both Chris and I.

Your Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer

For you, travel is how you learn about the world. And you like to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks.You truly have wanderlust. When you're not traveling, you're dreaming about where you'll go next.And your travels are truly legendary - they leave you with stories you'll be telling for the rest of your life!

What's" Your Travel Personality?

sucked into myspace, kids

Here's my latest blog on myspace (don't tell anyone!!!). If you'd like to be my "friend" (*cringe*) look me up! Check it out (just go to www.myspace.com and 'search' for my name):

Educate Yourself

Current mood: contemplative
Category: News and Politics

Hello! I was recommended the following website to view by one of my professors at SFSU:

http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/6/index#

The shorts are all about 6 minutes long and full of knowledge. If you want to know what is going on that may not be in the 10 o'clock news, go and see what these filmmakers have to say. :) I viewed all of them and 90% rock.

As the bumper sticker says, "If you're not outraged you're not paying attention."

Peace!

Currently reading : Jubilee By Margaret Walker Release date: By 21 January, 1999

Jesus Land - Could not put it down!

Hello People! I am taking 21 units this crazy semester, but I still love to read for pleasure. I picked up Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres because, 1. The cover was a cute, retro photo of a blond, blue eyed girl, next to a smiling little black boy, 2. The title. When I read the back I found out it was a memior about these kids (the little boy was adopted by the little girl's parents) in the Mid-west. I'm always interested in people's stories and this sounded like it would be a very telling one. Boy, was it EVER!!! It's a hefty 300 pages or so and I busted that b- out in a week and we are in midterms! Click on 'Julia' and it will take you to her personal webpage. Please pick up a copy at your bookstore or, better yet, borrow it from your local library!

Teach Teacher Teach

Kids are fun, kids are silly, and sometimes inappropriate. The kids I work with as a Student Teacher are in a Special Day Class (SDC). This is the Mild to Moderate group. You know, Mild to Moderate Disability ranging from Learning Disabilities (LD), to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and emerging Emotionally Disturbed (ED). Are you starting to catch on to the prominent use of abbreviations?
So, let me rephrase that: I'm a ST working in a SDC with a Mild to moderate group of students diagnosed with LD's and/or ADHD, and some with the beginning stages of ED.
So Johnny (pseudonym) is really quiet and you often have to get on his level and constantly check to see that he hasn't gone into his own world. But this isn't an easy feat when Sam, Mike and Joe have ADHD and are up and down out of their seats and continually talking out of turn; hence drawing negative attention to themselves. For example, Mike starts making farting sounds in the corner and turn to him and say, "Be quiet, Mike! Points off for you (as I walk up to his desk chart and write, minus 10.)!" Oh, they are all on a point system, which I have mixed feelings about. At grad school we are taking Positive Support Systems. It is really Behavior Modification for Special Education populations. Focus on the positive, etc...
So I have been learning to use the "Speak to the Hand" method of settling these Talk-out-of-turners. Let's go back to Mike making toileting sounds during reading and I'm trying to get Johnny to comprehend that he needs to focus. I have been told to put up my hand in Mike's direction, not to make eye contact and say, "You are interrupting and it's Johnny's turn; you need to raise your hand to make comments." The ones that are in the lower grades (3rd) usually want to please and raise their hands. I just think it's funny that I get to use the "Speak to the Hand" method in my everyday work. :) Just imagine if you used that with your Dad. "Dad, you are interrupting right now, I'll talk to you in a minute." If your dad's anything like mine that would mean trouble with a capital T!

Those Inappropriate Robots!

Lions and tigers and robots, oh my! Have you seen the hoopla about the menacing Nite-Brite robots posted through out some of the Nation's largest cities?

Bomb squads were brought in and press conferences given because they feared these random, blinking robots might mean an impending terrorist attack. Yes, that is the very first thing I think of, too, when I see a brightly lit picture of a robot looking angry and using his middle finger. (I mean it is not the fault of the robot that he is being rude, he might have been made with only one finger.) Is our local government and police that on-edge and paranoid to not only get pissed off about it, but have every robot removed costing Boston a Lot O Money. What is weird about all of this is that they quickly found who was responsible and were still arresting individuals for placing the placards. Also I would like to know why they arrested those men when they knew, very well, the company responsible (the Cartoon Network)? Wouldn't you think after testing the first robot to see, if indeed it was dangerous, and finding it was just a board with flashing lights bulbs in the shape of a robot they would have re-grouped.
I find news stories like this disconcerting because it shows how crazy and paranoid people are becoming. But do you remember, about a decade ago, where the pie sign, like the one you need to find the radius of a circle, was found all around places like New York City. It was in sticker form, if I remember correctly, and didn’t have a convenient explanation for passersby’s to reference. The sign was quietly placed all over public property as a way to advertise an up-coming movie. This was very clever, and cool to those in-the-know. So why, I wonder, is an obvious, non-violent way of advertising (I.E.: with funny looking robots) so threatening? Maybe I should stop watching films like “The Blue Kite,” a Chinese film about Communism gone bad and “V for Vendetta.” Portrayed in those fictional (?) movies the hunt for terrorists turn into mindless witch-hunts. Thank the Lord, at this day and age, we can all be reasonable and never jump to conclusions about silly robot signs. Oh wait...

Good bye Stinky City

I know people love San Francisco. Probably those people who don’t have very high expectations. Living in SF was the first step into working and living in the Yay Area – more jobs = good thing. But living in a highly populated city like San Fran you have to lower your standards, unless you have oodles upon boodles of money. Bums are everywhere (will someone open, or reopen an insane asylum already?) = milk jugs of pee and human doo on the side walk. Or if you are lucky like Chris and I, poo doo right in front of the car door. I guess we were lucky it wasn’t smeared on our car, eh?
Trash is everywhere. And you have to move your car at certain times for “Street Cleaning.” If you don’t, they’ll fine you around $40 and they only succeed at pushing the trash around, not picking it up. The city is so crazy about cleaning streets they even stop traffic on the freeway to “clean” it. Weirdos.
The streets just smell, if not due to the reason stated above, it is odors wafting from the sewers – mmmmm, yummy! We temporarily discontinued our nightly walks because of the people on the streets of our neighborhood. Homeless asking for money, poo doo, druggies – it was less stressful staying in-doors. Well, our apartment wasn’t a cake-walk either, but haven’t I complained enough for one posting?
Being the Child-of-the-suburbs that I am, we have happily relocated to a nearby bed-room community. Not a bum in sight! God really answers prayers. With Chris’s new job he finally has health insurance – we are living the American Dream. I love paying rent. Sorry for the sarcasm. We will be moving twice in a month to a rental that is, hopefully, going to fulfill all our desires. And I’m back in school – back to ruining my eyesight reading a million pages a week.

DE - FENSE

Christmas was yesterday and it was very chill and pleasant. On Christmas Eve we went to Monster Park to check out the 49ers get beat by the Cardinals. Chris is actually a Cardinals fan and it was a little tricky being their fan in 49er Land. Those Niner fans are ANNOYING (can we say, Ghetto?)! This one guy behind us had no concept of consideration. He actually told, no, shouted at people to sit down if they were making their way to the stairs during a play. If I wasn't a passive aggressive person I would have told him to simmer down. Don't worry, we moved to a less verbally aggressive area. I just don't know why people feel the need to shout "DEFENSE", "OFFENSE", "BLOCK HIM, DUMMY!", when there are people hired to coach those millionaires running around on the field. My favorite moment with that problematic Niner's fan was when the main ref-guy had to check the monitor for a questionable play. The guy behind me went on and on about how it was a waste of time (mainly because it was a play against the success of the 49ers) and that the ref was a moron. I wanted so badly to turn around and say obnoxiously, "I love it because it builds anticipation." Chris and I silently high-fived each other every time the Cardinals scored or the ball was intercepted in their favor. Go Cardinals! Clearly, the better team won, but we would have been happy either way.

More Coffee at Christmas

Hello Everyone -
'Tis the season to think about Christ's birth and eat baked goods shaped like green Christmas trees. Right now I'm on break from grad school - time to blog! It's 1:30pm, I'm still in my PJ's and robe. You can say I'm in my own little domestic world right now. A world that does not really look at the time or worry about appearance. I just put on a second pot of coffee (I hope heaven's like this) and maybe I'll have the cat sit on my lap.
A few minutes ago I finished baking my homemade-from-scratch banana bread:

Christy's Banana Bread

Objective: To learn the sequence it takes to successfully bake bread from scratch.
To eat something banana-y.
Materials Needed: Listed ingredients, a large glass, plastic, or metal bowl for mixing, large spatula, oven set at 350 degrees F, oven Mitts, and a cup of coffee for encouragement.

Makes 1 loaf

Recipe:
2/3 over-ripe banana's (the spotted black ones you don't want to eat)
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder (carefully read the labels - there is a difference between soda and powder)
1/4 teaspoon salt (or just shake some in)
1 stick of butter melted (it's just easier melted)
1 1/2 tablespoon milk
*Optional: 1/2 bag of milk chocolate chips

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix wet then dry ingredients. Mix until most of the lumps are gone. Pour into baking loaf pan. Bake for about 50 minutes.

So, while I prepared the bread I was listening to two of my favorite CD's right now:
"Rocking the Suburbs" by Ben Folds (shout out to Jenna for burning me a copy yesterday while we had our knitting party where I learned how to knit around with circular needles!).
AND our (the Chris's) newest musical flavor: Theivery Corp. Super awesome, jazzy CD. A little cheesy at first, but after you make yourself listen to the whole thing, then you'll see why we think it's pretty dope.

Are You My Mother?

Maybe I have lost control of some of my basic characteristics since I have been a full time student or something. I have not been thinking critically about things and doing slap 'n' dash jobs of others. Case in point: My moldy toothbrush. How does one toothbrush get moldy? I clean the handle twice a day after I use the utensil. The mold not only lives in the toothbrush holder now, but in the crevices of the rubber handle. I just noticed this new feature a few days ago when it must have been developing for at least a week. How did that happen? Or more so, how did I let this happen? Well, I thought leaving my ritualistically device out in the open would air it out, but I guess mold is more prevalent in SF and this proves it. Instead of dipping the brush in some antiseptic, I opt for simply buying a new one. A new one that will most likely get moldy in my damp SF apartment as well.
Another situation made me wonder where my thought process has been lately. Chris and I were are Barnes & Noble and I was wandering around the book shelves a little drunk. We spend a good half hour picking out what we wanted; for myself a historical book on Marie Antoinette and Running with Scissors. Chris was saving his money for another time. When we reached the register I made my purchase, which went well eventhough my capabilities were a touch compromised. I noticed there where books with specially made tags. One had "BOY, AGE 5," another "GIRL, AGE 7" and so on. Putting two and two together my mind figured out that there might be a charity activity going on. I questioned the very patient young clerk about the books and indeed he said that these books could be bought and then they were put aside to be taken to orphans in local orphanages. Awesome, I thought, and I asked Chris if we could splurge on a book and he agreed. So I leapt at the chance to buy one of the books for a boy of five years. Are You My Mother? was a favorite of mine growing up, but I did not realize my ironic mistake until Chris and I were driving home. A young boy will be crying himself to sleep on Christmas because of my lack of forethought. Thinking optimistically, maybe he won't and he will love the book and cherish it as his caretakers will look on, shaking their heads disapprovingly. How could they give and orphan a book entitled, Are You My Mother? -a book about a baby bird who temporarily loses his mother, but then happily is reunited with her once again. Well, maybe one day that young boy will find his mother or a mother, who knows.
--- Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Christmas shopping!

de Young or Grad Ditch Day

Hello and welcome to Chris to the second power! I thought I would share my adventure with you. My friend Beth was driving to the City for a fieldtrip with her Spanish club students. So I emailed my professor to see if I could ditch out on class Wednesday and tag along. :) It was very fun. And, yes, indeed I'm in school again (fun and torture at the same time) getting two credentials. One in Special Ed and the other is a regular multiple subject.
So, we all went to the Chicano Exhibit at the de Young Museum. Very interesting. You have to go if you can. It was funny - Most of the paintings were from Cheech Marin's private collection. But the thing was these pieces are HUGE. He must have a big living room or something. Another cool thing was that these students spoke Spanish so I got some pracitce. We also took the Muni into Union Square and did a little shopping - that was fun hanging out with Beth. Oh, her husband came, too! Luke! The two pictures are of Beth and I and Chris next to the Naked Roman Soldier. Chris also took a pic of the soldiers "peepee," but I thought that would be a little much to post. Maybe he'll post it many ways. :)

Smally's Second Life

Here is the great and fearless (or stupid) kitty cat, Smalls.

Today she stayed out all day and didn't come in to eat.

We were worried and thought that it wasn't like Smally not to want some treats.

By the end of the day we called for her and walked around that block looking.

We even made LOST CAT posters and printed them out.

Just then, Mr. Chris thought to hop the fence and look in the abanboned house next door.

Sure enough, she came limping out and didn't even want to be held.

At least she's safe at home now and resting up, Poor Kitty.

My Raccoon Visitor

Here is our friendly nieghborhood raccoon at my side window (that, as you see, looks out to a fence about 10 inches away).

It was a Tuesday night and I was with my Stitch 'N Bitch friends in the living room when I heard some scratching at the back door. Smally was outside, so I thought it was her wanting to get inside, but there was no little cat waiting. Again I heard the scratching and flicked the lights on and saw Mr. Raccoon staring at me in the window.
I have never seen a raccoon that up close before and touched the window with my fingers. He placed his little raccoon hand on mine - too cute!

Merry Christmas

Christmas is not far off...

Enduring the CSET

First of all, test taking requires skill and I do not think it is the best way to assess one’s academic ability and knowledge, let alone their professional demeanor. I want to be an elementary school teacher. I feel I am smart enough (hello, I have a college degree – those do not grow on trees!), I also have the intuition and patience it takes to commandeer mass amounts of students at one time. From talking to different people, that is not innate to most adult, college educated individuals. Most people find other people’s kids annoying and would rather lose an arm then be stuck with 30 of them for 6 hours a day.
So why take these review tests? I mean, you should have had a grasp of general education when you graduated high school. Not only do I want to teach, and have to take the tests, (the CBEST as well!) I have to pay fees for each of them! What craziness! My family already paid my tuition and I graduated with honors – wasn’t that enough? The CSET cost over $200! It’s like I’m paying to be tortured by snobby Academics. Someone is making money off the fact that California needs teachers and taking it from poor grad-school hopefuls, like myself.
Okay – enough of being on my prissy soap box. This morning started at 6am. I made sure to have eggs and coffee and a shower. I was out the door with plenty of time to get to SFSU dressed in the recommended layers and soft-soled shoes. I go by SFSU’s exit on the 280 south everyday on my commute to work, but today I chose to follow NES’s driving directions. BAD IDEA! So I stayed on the 101 south and never found the 19 Avenue Exit and ended up in Burlingame! I was beyond mortified. I needed to be there at 7:30am on the dot. So I get off at one exit and could not find the 280 north only the 280 south. On the freeway still going south and agitated I call Chris, who wakes up to talk to me, now in tears. The next exit leads me to magically find North and I get to the campus right at 7:30! So I am running to the parking ticket machine to pay for my spot and one machine spits out my fiver, but, thank the LORD, the other machine takes it just fine.
Off to the races – now I am running around SFSU trying to find the HH building on my printed out map. When I get there there is no evidence of the CSET taking place. Looking at my test ticket thingy I totally misread the building and now running for building HSS.
Praise God, they let me in and I think the only people annoyed was everyone taking the test. I am usually one of those organized early birds looking down on the late, messed up life, kind of people. J Today I was a messed up person, but I got there and took the test!
The test in and of itself was complete “bollocks” (or “waste of time” for children under the age of 18 – my husband is polluting my vocabulary with British swear words!). I think I understood most of the questions. But the last written answer on Subtest II totally threw me and I thought the chart was not clearly marked. At first I wrote the NES test correctors a piece of my angered mind as my answer! And then after I calmed down while taking Subtest III, I had plenty of time to go back, erase my original “answear” and give the problem a shot. I hope they give credit for intelligent almost-the-right answers because I had forgotten the formula for probability. Bummer. But I was glad I could erase my previous written tirade about their ridiculous test and give it an intelligent try
Man, I hope the five hours of headache inducing test taking gains me a career in teaching other people’s kids.

Sun in the City

Hello Everyone! Happy spring time - I thought it would never get here. The spring brought many events, such as the fact that I got my butt in gear and applied to SFSU's Graduate school. I hope to get my multiple subject/special education teaching credentials together in one program! I get excited just writing about. We have decided to stay in San Francisco at the apartment we first rented. Chris still does not like that place too much - too many moths.
Also, Grandma Boots suffered a large stroke in her left frontal lobe and is now temporarily in a healthcare facility. Plans are in the works to find her a more familiar home to receive 24 hour care - maybe even in Mom's house!
May 6th was my birthday and we had a little party in Grandma's room and I think my favorite part was watching Grandma sing "Happy Birthday" to me! You have to understand that her speaking ability has greatly diminished even before this stroke. She cannot put whole sentences together and she was able to sing that whole song. This picture was taken this last Thanksgiving hosted in her Carmel home. We love you Gramma!
What does 26 supposed to feel like - well a lot like 25, I guess. No big thang except it is "my" day for a day. Chris did very well at spoiling me and I went out with Mom and Mike as well.
Talking about "birth" days - Lara had her baby, yay! Little baby Harper is doing just fine and was born weighing 8lbs. 4ozs. Visit their website for some awesome pics and videos!