Bug Season

It is official! The bugs have invaded New Orleans! I walked out the door this morning to a swarm of pesky mosquitoes chasing me and stinging caterpillars dive bombing from the trees. Now, I have experience with mosquitoes (can we say 100% deet...) but these caterpillars are another story. Apparently they invade every year too. No lie---we have hundreds maybe as much as 1,000 of these stinging caterpillars in the tree in front of my house. They have also found their way onto our cars, porch, and fence. I make a mad dash to my car whenever I step out my front door. Yikes!

When I had free time....

I enjoy being creative by coming up with crafts for kiddos to do or by doing my own crafting. One of my favorite things is to take something that has been tossed aside and use it to make into something interesting or useful. Here are my latest works:

Shotgun house made from door panel, sliding lock, door hinge, and stained glass.

Lighthouses made from painted door hinges.

Shotgun house made from granite piece, wood scraps, old watch, and belt buckle.

Can't sleep....

I don't usually have this problem. When I am stressed my answer is usually to go to sleep then worry about it later but I haven't been able to turn my brain off the past couple of nights. Just this week I have decided that I am not going to get an Add-On degree in Deaf Education but will just get my Master's degree in Early Intervention. This means I will take 2 classes this summer and 2 in the Fall then graduate in December.

The second decision I made this week is the one that is stressing me out.....drum roll please.......I have decided that I am going to look for a teaching job for the Fall. I know this does not sound that big but I have now been preparing for this moment for FIVE YEARS and it is time. There is a new charter school opening in the Fall and I REALLY want to work there. So now I am working like a crazy person to put together/revise my portfolio (lesson plans, behavior plans, intervention plans, classroom environment, resume, references, research, cover letter, teaching philosophy, etc.) as well as trying to prepare for what questions I may be asked to answer in an interview (God willing, I make it that far).

On top of it all, we have a girl from Teach for America staying with us and telling me about all these people who are in town interviewing for teaching jobs and all I can think of is "they better back off my school". Not to mention that I have two weeks of classes left and am trying to finish papers and projects before finals start.

Eek! No going out this weekend...or sleeping

French Quarter Festival

The French Quarter Festival is Louisiana's largest free music event, a three-day local music showcase scattered throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. There are music performances on 17 stages which feature every genre from gospel to jazz, from funk to classical, from Cajun & zydeco to brass band. The community festival also features the "World's Largest Jazz Brunch," which are the festival food booths operated by nearly 70 local chefs and restaurants throughout the festival weekend. Here are some of the highlights:

Mary Anna and I sitting at one of the Riverwalk stages on Sunday.

Mardi Gras Indians. Really neat tradition and history. They only dress out three times a year--Mardi Gras day, St Joseph's day, and Super Sunday (and for concerts). This tribe is called the Wild Magnolias. 

Saturday I spent some time at the festival with a family from church. These are their two adorable kiddos making funny faces after I asked the to smile. Haha! 

Not a Morning Person

Is it wrong that I want to hurt the Mission's team that began working on replacing the tin roof next door at 7 this morning???? So thankful these guys are here but 7am... Really?? Let's start with something that doesn't require tearing out loud tin sheets and the use of hammers only 10 feet away from my room. I'm going to need an extra cup of coffee this morning.

March Madness

The month of March was crazy! I went to a good friend's wedding, Jordan came to visit, I went to visit my mom's family, the rest of my family came to visit, then spring break, and another good friend came to visit. Whew!! I can't believe it is April already.

My friend Alicia got married! Alicia was one of the girls in my program at Auburn and we all developed a bond as we experienced the trials of earning our degree. The night before her wedding another one of the special ed girls got engaged. Hooray!

Jordan and I at the St Patty's day block party near my house. My little brother is so big!

St Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter

Beignets at Cafe du Monde. Part of the whole Beignet experience is wiping off the powdered sugar all over you. :)

Sunset on the Mississippi river

Katrina and Sarah snuggled together on a deflating air mattress

Please pray

My friend Sam's roommate, also named Sam, was critically injured last night when a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit Sam while he was riding his motorcycle. I don't know Sam's roommate but it breaks my heart that he is paying for someone else's bad decision and it angers me that the driver was previously arrested for drunk driving but, after pleading not guilty, was not convicted. I can't imagine what emotions his friends and family are experiencing right now. Please keep them all in your prayers.

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