Spring Break!

I am finally on spring break.  Kind of.  I don't have student teaching this week but I still have college classes because the U's spring break was last week.  Lame.

Last week the middle school had their orchestra festival and my little kiddies did such a good job!  They had some issues here and there, but overall they rocked some orchestra socks!

Graduation is in three weeks-ish and I'm starting to feel a lot of pressure.  We have a ton of concerts coming up in the next two weeks and we haven't really had a lot of time to prepare for it.  Stress.  Also my senior recital is in one week and I'm not looking forward to that.  I think that most people look forward to their senior recitals and to you people I say, "Are you CRAZY?!"  That is all haha.

I can't wait till I'm done with school, but I'm sure as soon as I am I will miss it.  Maybe...

Busy

So, it's been a while since I have posted anything.  I've been so busy with student teaching and stuff that I just haven't had time.  And it's only going to get even crazier.  It's nice to be busy and have something to do though.  In the next month I have about 6 concerts and festivals, if not more.  Should be fun :)  My senior recital is coming up in about three weeks, and I'm a little worried that I am not going to be ready.  I suppose we'll see.  Send your happy productive thoughts my way!

Big kid pants

I'm starting to feel like a perpetual student.  I was thinking about it the other day and I have been in school non-stop for almost 20 years.  Am I seriously old enough to have done anything for 20 years?  Good grief.

Anyway the point of this is that I still don't know what I am going to do with my life.  I'm 3 months away from graduating from college and don't know if I want to actually teach music or go and get my masters in Music Therapy.  Ok, scratch that.  I really want to go do Music Therapy, buy a house, get about 27 more dogs, and work in a hospital helping people (maybe do research, we'll see).  There are two issues with this masterful plan;

1. I'm sick of school.  
2. I would have to move out of state to get that degree (which is not high on my list of likes) because USU is the only school that even has the program and they don't have a masters in it.  They also haven't decided if they'll let me get a second bachelors because it is too closely related to my first degree.  WHAT?!  Some people's children.

Stefan and I have been looking at houses and it's just really making me want to be a real person already.  I guess we're both just ready for a fresh start and wanting to start real life.  Help?  No?  Didn't think so. 

Anyway here's a cute picture of Almond.  Ridiculous.

Yes, she wraps herself up all by her lonesome.

Yay for Standardized Testing!

Needless to say, I REALLY hate standardized tests.  They're completely useless because they're written by some random dude in a cubicle.  I took the praxis this morning (which by the way I had to drive to Ogden to take because they don't offer it at the U and had to be there at 7:30.  SOOOO early) and I was cruzin along kickin butt until I got to the last like 30% of the test.  Did you know music education majors have to know how to produce and edit music?  I sure didn't.  I defy you to go to any college and find a music education curriculum that includes music production.  Now I'm all stressed that I'm not going to pass.  Really?  30% of the test had nothing to do with my area of study?  REALLY?!  Thank you American Educational System.  Oh well. 

I finally got to conduct the other day at school.  About freakin time.  I don't want to toot my own horn, but I did a pretty darn good job.  I just wish I had more time in front of the class without feeling like I'm imposing on the teacher.  He does so much everyday it's ridiculous.  Hopefully after this next concert it will be better. 

Anyway, I guess I don't really have anything productive to say haha.  I seem to be complaining a lot lately.  Maybe I'll just quit life and become a carny.  Stefan has tiny girl hands, that's fun to look at right?

Would you people quit calling me Mrs.?!

So I finally started student teaching.  I was so excited to do so, still am, but I think that my teacher might be a little insane.  Lets just suffice it to say I am going to have a lot more work (A LOT more) than I thought I would.  So are the students.  4 hour concert in 10 days that we're just starting to prepare for?  Bad plan.  I can just tell.

The teacher is insisting that everyone call me Mrs. Smith, which lets be honest, sounds a bit ridiculous since that silly movie.  It's kind of been an inside joke between Stefan and I and now I get to hear it a million times a day.  Is Lynae really that hard to say?  It must be.

High school seems to go by much quicker than it did when I was in it.  I am quite thankful for that.  Also, when did 17 year olds get so small?  I was looking forward to orchestra and teaching theory.  Little did I know I would also have a jazz band, that's right kids, the orchestra teacher has a jazz band.  With 6, I repeat, 6 guitars.  AND a bass guitar.  I think I might need to start bringing an IV of Excedrin with me to class.  And really big wire cutters, just in case my temper gets out of hand I will be able to cut their cords instead of just fantasizing about it.

I also need some kind of badge that tells people I'm a student teacher, so they quit looking at me funny.  Overall, it's going to be a crazy busy semester, but I can't wait.  And I can't wait to be done ;)

Holiday Time

Ok.  I'm one who loves the holidays.  I'm all giddy with excitement for the Christmas lights and snow.  This year though, I'm finding myself being grumpy about it.  Maybe it's because we haven't had much snow until last night.  I dunno.  But it drives me crazy that people spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on crap they don't need, when they can barely take care of the things they do need.  It's great if you have the money to buy your family the things they want, more power to you.  If you can't.  Don't.  The people that I admire most are those that can buy their family what they want, but still have the means to take care of themselves and can, and do help others out as well.  This season is about giving, but it's about giving with a purpose, helping others.  I guess I'm just sick of all of the selfishness of people and this is my rant.  Quit complaining about your money problems while you're talking to me on your Iphone, surfing the internet on your Ipad and driving your 60,000 dollar car. 

On a happier note, It's our anniversary on Monday.  These last two years have been crazy and awesome, it's celebration time!  We don't have anything crazy planned, cause we're broke haha.  But that doesn't matter, we have an awesome sister SHARON!  Who is so awesome and lets us use her company discount at Marriott.  Win.  Love you! 

I hope everyone has a great New Years.  Play with family and friends, be better this next year than you were the last :)  We're going to spend Friday at my Grandma's house with cousins I haven't seen in a long time, including one that just had a baby I haven't met yet.  That alone is exciting.  New babies are the best, they smell good, they're soft and they hold your fingers.  Great family, great fun, bring on the new year!

Early Christmas Fun!

So...turns out sleeping in on Christmas when you have 12 year old brothers is a no go.  We now get to wake up in time to drive from Salt Lake to Herriman and be there before 7 am.  A.M.! Early morning shenanigans.  It's ok though, that just means that Stefan and I are doing our Christmas stuff a day early.  Which means...TODAY IS CHRISTMAS EVE!  We opened our Christmas Eve presents, this is what Stefan gave me

Best. Christmas. present. ever.  Well maybe not ever, but it is definitely in the top three.  Along with the camera that took this picture and the pink bike I got when I was like 6.  I know I look a bit ridiculous, but are any of you as comfy as I am right now?  I think not.  As promised here are some Christmas pics.  You can see the one above but I'm gonna post more anyway.  They're not as sparkly as they are at night but meh.

I'm loving my train this year, it fits in our tiny apartment so we win.  Almond barks at it when I honk the horn, it's pretty funny. If you can see it in the gingerbread house pic, she also ate part of the "star" on top of the tree.  Stupid dog. 

Merry Christmas!!!