Concussed?

Probably. 

Today I was telling a co-worker about how I slept so much this past weekend and I hope that doesn't mean I'm getting sick. She said maybe my body just needed lots of sleep. A little later she suggested maybe it's a concussion from when I hit my head really hard last week. I'd actually considered this, but said I didn't black out at all so that's not it. She told me I still could have gotten a mild concussion without losing consciousness at all. So I looked it up. And I think she's right.

When I say I hit my head really hard, I mean I hit it really, really, really hard. And it's so silly. I was bent over kind of in my washer Thursday night. When I stood up, I discovered (the hard way) that my dryer door apparently wasn't closed all the way. Rotten stackable washer and dryer. I crumpled to the floor in a heap and cried really hard. But I didn't black out.

According to the Mayo Clinic, most people don't lose consciousness when they get a concussion so they'd don't even realize they have one. Hmm.

On Friday it made sense that my head hurt really bad, but a concussion would certainly explain why I still have a bad headache, why my ears were ringing so much this weekend, and why I've been wanting to go to bed soo early. Good thing it's something that my body will fix itself! Our bodies are pretty nifty.

Ducky Pond

I love our ducky pond!! We went for a visit tonight, and it just feels so serene there. We fed our little duckies and went for a brief walk. The ducks are so fun to feed, and I love watching them grow (the babies from this year look like little teenager ducks now!).

I know our pictures are kinda blurry, but that's part of the reason I like them. It's so pretty at the nature park. We're kinda cute too.

 

I think this is my favorite time of year in Rexburg. It's still nice and warm during the day, but it cools off at night so you can open your windows and wear jackets. :) Plus, some leaves are starting to fall so the trees are colorful. And it smells good outside. I love it! I'm happy to have lived somewhere where we get to experience the changing seasons more. (Although a little...or a lot...less winter would be ideal.)

Back to School

I'm not sure if that should read "Back to School!!" or "Back to School..." Excitement or dread? Or at least wishing for a longer break? Maybe it's some of all of those.

Joshua and I had the same first day of school this year! Although that lucky boy gets to take college classes whereas I'm back in preschool again. . . .  ;) 

On Sunday I had the back-to-school jitters. Really bad. I'd met all of my kids during the week before, but for some reason I was feeling ridiculously nervous about the first day. I guess it's because I've never had to teach the rules before. Last year I had a great class of kids who knew the rules and expectations; I just had nothing to do with teaching those. I feel that a lot of how well the school year goes depends on how well the rules are taught and then enforced. And quite frankly, well behaved children = happier Shavonne. Thank goodness for my fabulous husband who was able to give me a blessing and help me feel better on Sunday night!

Joshua was mainly super excited for school to start! Also, just a little bit leery about Ancient Greek. He's off-track this semester, so he's only taking Ancient Greek and Latin II. Only. ha. His TAing and tutoring stuff is still kinda up in the air, but he should be a busy boy!

Well, we both survived the first day! Mine went surprisingly well. I feel like I deserve a pat on the back for a job well done in walking/talking my kids through the routine of our days and teaching the rules. It helps that preschoolers are so darn cute. Joshua's excited to be in his Latin class with only a handful of other students, and he's still leery about Greek. I suppose I've felt so much anticipation and relief with the first day of school because it's preschool. Preschoolers get excited for school! And teachers (at least this one!) are relieved when they've survived the first day.

Some Summer Fun

Yesterday we went on our first rollerblading adventure of the year! It wasn't really much of an adventure. We made it around Porter Park once, and then I was tuckered out. And Joshua feels like he has to relearn how to rollerblade. He hadn't quite mastered it last year, and it had been too long since we went last! With the weather cooling off some, it's our goal to go rollerblading daily.

Later in the day, we stopped by the park again to ride the carousel!! Since it's only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, we knew it was our last chance if we wanted to ride it this year. I love our carousel!

Joshua thinks he won the horse race.

Then we splashed around at the splash park. I like summertime. 

Today I was being nerdy and wanted to learn more about Rexburg's carousel. I read this on the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce website and wanted to share because I think it's cool: 

The Idaho Centennial Carousel is Idaho's only antique wooden carousel. It is one of 170 antique wooden carousels still existing in the United States. It has authentic carousel music from an organ run on paper rolls, providing old-fashioned original sounds. The carousel is housed in a new building at Porter Park.

This beautiful antique wooden carousel was built by Spillman Engineering Company of New York in about 1926. It began life as a traveling carnival machine. In 1947 it was moved to Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, Utah and then to Ogden, Utah. In 1952, a public spirited group in Rexburg were disappointed by a cancellation of their expected 4th of July carnival. They heard of the merry-go-round for sale in Ogden, Utah, raised $5,500 in cash and pledges and went down and got it. It was set up with 2 days to spare and the community had a wonderful celebration. Two years later a dome was built on it to protect it from the weather. In 1976 the Teton Dam flood waters damaged it severely and several horses were lost. In 1988 the carousel was dismantled and skilled craftsmen restored it. It was renovated by 1990 in time to commemorate Idaho's 100th birthday. It has 12 newly carved horses and 26 repaired horses along with repaired chariots. Music is by Stinson Band Organ Company in Ohio. The organ runs on a paper roll, providing the old-fashioned original sounds.

This carousel is a major attraction in Rexburg and a delight to people of all ages. It is considered a "jewel" of Porter Park in Rexburg. Although it is unique and has a rich history, it is not considered a museum piece but rather a working carousel for people to ride.

One Half

We celebrated Joshua's half-birthday this week! He might not have remembered that it was here, but I did! I hid his half-present and half-card so that he'd find them while I was at work. It was fun. He got half a package of cookies. When I got home from work we played a rousing game of hot/cold for him to find the other half of his present (the rest of the cookies), the other half of his card, and his other half-present.

I've felt bad that Joshua didn't get to blow out any candles on his birthday this year, so he had his choice of what to put candles in. He opted for just ice cream. Since he didn't want his candles to melt on his ice cream or his candles to melt his ice cream, he chose to have half a candle instead of candles for half of his age. And of course I sang him half of a birthday song.

 

I tried to get Joshua to agree to watch just half of a movie to celebrate the day, but he thought it was a better idea to watch half of a series. So we compromised with one whole movie. ;)  

I hope you had a happy half-birthday, Joshua!

Pick me! Pick me!

Rose, my manager, called at the beginning of last week to tell me that Connie quit and moved to Indiana. And I said, "Whaaaaaattt????" I was surprised, and it makes me really sad because I loved working with her! But that also meant her job was open. Apparently Rose had talked to the hiring people about me getting the job, and they told her not to worry because I would just notice the internal job opening and could apply then. But Rose wanted to give me a heads up and make sure that I noticed and applied. (It's a great feeling to know my boss wanted me to get that job!) So I applied. And I had an interview. And . . . I GOT THE JOB!! So now I'm lead teacher. Happy, happy day! 

And of course, with the job (and lots more responsibility) comes a raise! Woohooo!! I was up for a raise anyway, but I'm sure this is much nicer than that would have been. 

I'm so ready for school to start now. And also just a little bit nervous. (I already had a nightmare about the first day of school. But I know there is no way on earth it could ever turn out as bad as that dream. So that's encouraging.)

Do these pictures make me look older?

Because I totally am! Happy 23 years to me!! (We have my parents to thank for that.)

Joshua had good ideas to celebrate today: sleeping in and a relaxed morning followed by a picnic lunch in the park. We sat in the shade, and the weather was perfect!! Here's a view of our picnic:

I realize this is a horrendous picture.

And I still love it.

Our picnic was followed by a really long nap (not in the plan . . . we're just lazy). And then we hurried to tidy up our living room so we could commence the highlight of my day. We built a fort!!!

At this point it was already after 8:00. I kept complaining to Joshua that I'd never had dinner on my 23rd birthday before. So we hurried to go buy our Cocoa Bean cupcakes (we really didn't need an entire cake for just the two of us) and ice cream. Then we stopped to pick up Taco Time for dinner. I seriously think I could eat one of their sweet pork burritos every day of my life, and I would be so happy. The Taco Time guy even gave us two free empanadas! (Note to self: go to Taco Time around 9:15 at night when they want to get rid of food.)

We both really enjoyed our dinner. A lot. Seriously. I can't get enough of those burritos. And I was enlightened when Joshua said, "Taco Time makes me feel like a Mexican." Not sure what that means. But it was hilarious. And we should eat Taco Time more often.

Funny story . . . we got home from Taco Time and I was really sad that we'd forgotten to get a drink. We had no water in the fridge, and I sure did not want orange juice with my dinner. I probably whined a lot. So Joshua offered to get me a drink, and I heard him get ice out and run the water. I was really confused when he brought me a cup with just ice, but then he had me open an oddly shaped present. It was a bottle of IBC root beer. And there was more where that came from. Sneaky, huh? I was then able to resume being happy. :)

After dinner, I finally got to open my presents! And even better, I got to open them in a fort. Like I said, Joshua had good ideas. He sure knows how to make me happy!

So it was impossible to pick less pictures to share. We do know these pictures are completely ridiculous, but we were feeling super silly and now I think they're very enjoyable to look at. They make me laugh a bunch.

We always joke about how I would be so happy just to get Post-its as a present. And I was. But they were even better than that — Joshua put coupons for free back massages on them!

My "you can never have too much Scotch tape" face.

My "new" face — because they're a new kind of Skittles.

Just excited and surprised!

A "BIRTHDAY!!" face.

I've been wanting this Willow Tree. 

Joshua was going to buy it for me, but I found it at D.I. for $4! That's a steal. So I made him buy it then. Sorry to ruin any chance for that surprise! (But I did save us money.)

After presents, we watched Kung Fu Panda in our fort. We had pillows and blankets so we could lean against the back of the couch. Have a look at the inside of our fort:

Joshua sang me a lovely rendition of "Happy birthday" and we finished the night with my blowing out my candles!

Mexican Chocolate and Grasshopper — both heavenly!

I got them all in one big breath! (Not very hard.) That means my wish should come true!! :D 

Thank you, Joshua, for the spectacular birthday celebration! And all of the many other people who sent lots of love and birthday wishes!