YAY!!

Whoo-hoo!!!!

I am so excited!

I just found out that the class I was praying for a C in... I got a B-!!!

YAY!

I don't want to jinks myself but I pretty much just made it all through Sac State with A's & B's.

I think my Sac State GPA is a 3.4 but combined with my GPA from Gav, is a 3.04.

Today I'm praying for a productive day!

Do or Die, well not really die but I just need to get my stuff done.

I have to do 4 quizzes and write one final critique paper!

And then I'm DONE!!

FOREVER!!!

My brother Matt is flying in tonight, 11pm, so I better start working!

As Thomas the Train would say, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!!!"

3 More Days

This is me at the end of last year, when I used to study in to book store. A little more stressed last year than this year. IDK why though.

My friend Kelley posted on her FB today, "Man last chance workout no joke!"

These next few days of school are our last chance work out and if any of you watch the show Biggest Loser you know what a last chance work out involves.

You have to have drive, determination and stop for nothing and no one.

It is you against yourself!

It is a mental game!

I've been battling with my self and trying to deal with all my emotions about graduating in a healthy way.

I'm trying to be proactive and get my stuff done so that I can be free!

My list includes, finishing a take home final, 4 quizzes, putting together a recourse binder, a presentation and a critique paper all before 11 pm Wednesday.

Sounds like a lot but I have two days to do my stuff till my family starts to arrive.

Matt flys in Wednesday night, Nick flys in sometime Thursday and my parents are driving up Thursday night.

Think everyone else is coming up Friday.

I'm so excited and proud but I often get all emo about it and start to panic a little.

Everything I know in my life will be over.

Which is a good thing but can be scary.

A lot of new doors will be opening for not only me but for Ryan and I.

We get to finally be together again!! And we are SO excited!

Well last chance workout here I come, except no Bob and Jillian yelling at me.

I just keep telling myself, "Finish Strong, You're almost there!!!" YAY!!!

This is me the other day studying in the ARC - the 24 hour computer lab/study place. As you can see I've slowing hit my wall! soo DONE-ZO! This face says I am slowly approaching not caring! haha!

My graduation picture that was sent in my invite! Makes me feel like a big kid!

Thanks Family and Friends for all your love and support for flying and driving to come see me!

Last Week...

This Thursday marks my last day of classes of my college career before finals next week.

This week has been a trip and a half.

Its soo crazy to think that everything I know and am comfortable is coming to an end.

I had a great Tuesday and Wednesday, my friend Sandi came to visit me and Crystina.

We had the best time hanging out, talking and LAUGHING!!

Sandi and I even got motivated to go running and ran like 3.5 miles and walked another 3. We are warming up to run the Wharf to Wharf in July, from Santa Cruz to Capitola.

Sandi and I brushing our teeth and laughing at Crystina aka paparazzi taking silly pictures running back and forth. haha! It was funny!

I had the best time hanging out with my two BESTIES!! I love them!

Thanks for coming up to visit Sandi! You have been my Guardian Angel!

This was my First School Friend outing to SAC State night at the RiverCats Baseball game. I've know all of them for almost two years now. They have made my school experience that much more enjoyable and I've really enjoyed having a close group of friends at school.

My friend Julia and I at the Grad fair where we got our super cool discounted license plate frames and our cap and gown. Love ya girl!

This Wednesday, Meghan, Megan and me had our last school friend party. It was fun! We had pizza, chocolate covered strawberries and rice crispy treats and so much more junk food. Thanks Megan for throwing the party and for the leis!

Being away at college has definitely opened my eyes to a whole new world and allowed me to grow as an individual.

I was so blessed to find the major I loved and my passion - Child Development.

I walked around school today tripping out and remembering all the times I spent lost on campus and looking for my car in the parking structures and all I could do was smile.

I looked at the other students walking by me, on the same journey that for a lot of us is coming to an end.

I met so many people that I will never see or talk to again and some that I really hope that we keep in touch.

All and all my journey to the finish line of my education has been at sometimes a struggle but has been fun, exciting and just amazing.

I can't wait to show the world who I am and what I can do.

But I think I'm just mostly excited to be close to home again.

I Graduate next Friday! WOW!! Thank you friends and family for all your love and support!

My last day!

I got my head start at head start. I have had a great semester working with these kids. This was my first experience in a preschool setting. And I LOVED it! I've found my love in life!

These are the BEAUTIFUL faces that welcome me every Wednesday, with smiles and open arms. A couple of my friends were missing today which bummed me out.

This little guy James is one of my favorites although he can be a little bit of a bully. But how cute is he! The first day I met him he asked me if I could spell his whole name and so I did. I then asked him is that correct and he said, "I don't know, I don't know how the spell my name."

My two Princesses, Devi and Kamari. I love these little girls! We dance, play princesses, spin, sing and laugh. Of course I always have to be the "step-mother queen."

This is my buddy Brandon and behind us is Elena. The first day I met Brandon he told me, "I have 3 names, Brandon, JR and Junior." And he always feeds me compliments, which is always appreciated! Elena is always dressed to impress. All the kids want to be her friend and sit by her. She is so genuine and is the nicest kid!

Time to be SILLY!!!

Overall, my experience was AMAZING and I learned so much. I'm really going to miss these kids! They all have a very special place in my heart! There is something so cute about being called Miss Kristina or teacher. Can't wait to hopefully have my own class some day!

Monkeys, butterflies and bunnies...oh my!

Today my friend Kristin and I taught Creative Dance to 3-5 year olds.

It was SO fun!

We crab walked, jumped, and marched, pretending like we were monkeys swinging on trees.

We had to video it which is pretty funny!

I realized today that my dream job would be working with children doing movement and creative dance.

My heart was full today hearing the kids laugh and seeing them smile.

I love how kids are so free and don't hold back, they are so innocent and honest.

Roomies

Crystina and I met in 3rd grade and have been friends ever since! This year we had the opportunity to become roomies in Sacramento.

Living together has been so fun and we have had the best time!

We sit down together and watch shows on Hulu because we don't have cable. Or we watch Tv on DVD's. Currently we are stuck in a Sex and the City Vortex.

Sometimes we are silly and do retarded things like...

trip and fall because your toe got stuck in your pant leg- OZ

and see the stain on my right shoulder thats from sticking a spoon in the blender and having it explode every where! haha! We hangout mostly in gray sweat shirts!

This is where I do most of my studying and homework. Side bar, we never bought candles for the candle holders so we use them for cup holders.

Sometimes Oz studies at the table, phone check, soup check, coffee check, computer check.

The past nine months have been amazing and I'm not sure I'm ready for us to not live together anymore. We don't judge, even when one of us eats ice cream twice in the same day. I've loved every second of living with my bestie! Love you Crystina!

C and K all the way!!

37 hours down...3 to go.

Today I volunteered at Head Start, and the kids were in rare form. I'm guessing all kids have their days just like adults do but, man today was a different story.

Children not following directions, throwing fits, screaming, hitting, kicking! I saw it all today, well except biting! WOW! I've come to conclusion that the way these children act reflects right back to their parents. I understand that every kid is different and not exactly like their parents but definitely the product of.

There is a little boy in our class that has some serious anger issues. Today I was playing soccer with him just kicking a ball back and forth, and I tried to teach him how to stop the ball then kick it and he just yelled at me. So then I decided to just kick it and let him kick the ball however he wanted. Every time the ball would go pass me I'd just go get it but if my pass didn't go right to him he yelled. I tried to explain to him that he had to move to get the ball and in soccer the passes aren't perfect. The next time he passed to me, it went way far and was not even close to me so instead of getting mad like him I just said look we don't always pass it perfect not even you. He stood quiet and then replied can you please go get the ball. Did he finally realize he was in the wrong or realize to get his way he had to tone it WAY down and say please. I treat all these kids the same and don't make excuses for the way they act. I believe if you give them a standard and directions they can and will come around. They just have to know you aren't going to cave and that No means NO!

This same kid raises his fists at you every time you say anything correcting to him. So I asked the Lead teacher how are his parents and she said that instead of hugging the mom when she drops him off she says don't kick me that hard. WTF!!! Really.. who does that. Blew my mind. The kid is five and it hurts my heart that I don't think this kid knows what love is and might not ever know. Not sure if the past five years of damage can ever be undone.

I'm nervous to be a parent because I want to make sure that I can be there for them, to love them and snuggle them. But I know for sure that I will be an active parent, and be the parent not their friend. Everyone needs love and direction and when they don't have it crazy shit is more likely to happen. Being loving and holding your ground goes a long way.

I once heard that you should give and receive at least eight hugs a day. I'm even under my quota! : ( Tell those in your life you love them and even give them hug. You'd be surprised eight hugs doesn't sound like a lot but start counting and see how many you get.

the count down has begun..

Two more weeks of classes and then one week of finals and I'm DONE!

Graduation will be HERE!

And I will be done with school FOREVER!

This past weekend my mom took pictures to send in my invitations for my graduation.

It was so crazy to look at myself in my cap and gown.

I am proud of myself for getting through school! YAY!! About Time! :)

This Picture of Ryan, me and Sandi, was from my graduation at Gav. Even though it was just from a Junior College for my AA, I was soo happy. It did take me three years and were the three craziest/busiest years of my life!

Going on a park hunt...

Every Wednesday I volunteer at SETA Head start Preschool from 9 to 1pm. It is so fun and I totally love it. The class is about 20 kids 10 boys and 10 girls. They always have the best things to say and I laugh all day.

Today I was talking to a little girl named Devi and everything I said to her she said she didn't like so I finally asked her, "Devi is there anything you like?" and she replied, "Why yes I like muffins!" I laughed soo hard, because number one what 5 year old says why yes and number two muffins? So random.

We went on a walk today and the head teacher, myself and seven students set off for an adventure to the park. We both weren't sure exactly where a park was but I figured I follow her lead. Long story short we got lost and I had to call Ryan to google us to give us directions to get back. It was really funny. One little boy JR said, "I think we are going in circles." And all we could do was laugh because it did seem we were going in circles.

Along the way we found a heart shaped bush and we decided to take a picture. The little boy on the far right told me he loved me today. They are so cute and I love the time I get to share with them.

Running in Sac with Oz

Today after watching the biggest loser Oz and I set out on an adventure running to go pay our SMUD bill. Which is pretty much the same as PG&E.

Last week Oz thought of this idea and so I told her okay. Little did I know it seems a lot closer by car than on foot. It took us about a half hour to get there (note that Oz forgot what street it was on so we had to guess) And it took us about the same amount of time to get back.

In that amount of time we almost caused 2 bike accidents and got either honked at or whistled at by 3 different cars. I had to of course pretend to run into at least 2 signs! haha!

Above is a picture of Oz with the train going over and we were about to run threw that tunnel that we decide to scream threw for fun! Followed by Oz saying, "look dollar tree." and me saying, "what tree is a dollar?" Come to find out there was just a dollar tree bag in a tree. haha!

All and all Oz and I had a great time sharing stories, laughing and exercising.