ashapash

I made it through the tough week!!

3 reflective essays, linguistic diversity group paper and presentation, 15 page two-book analysis, educational philosophy, intro to ed. final reflection, practicum portfolio, practicum final reflection, integrated curriculum, integ. curric presentation, psych exam (all crunched between Mon and Thurs)

I slept for a total of 10 hours Sunday through Wednesday night (but caught up with 18 hours of sleep last night)

only my early childhood education exam and one porfolio to go!

we found an apartment and it is absolutely adorable!
across the street from capital center foods, parquet wood floor in the living room, laundry in the unit, beautifully colored walls (one bedroom is maroon!), general cuteness!

then we got burritos and jumped around a bit.
yayayay!

Instead of sleeping I am updating. oops.

I made it through last week (presentation, exam, paper that goes in my e-portfolio, being observed/evaluated at my practicum site)! I spent so much time at the library. I think I was able to make myself stay there for such long periods of time because I was stresssssed.
Social psych is incredibly interesting! I find myself getting really excited about a lot of the reading and wanting to tell people all about the ideas and experiments (so cool!!!). My exam went pretty well and we get to drop one of our first three exam grades (I will be dropping the 76. ew), so now I think I can shoot for an A or AB in the class.
I was really nervous for being observed at my practicum site but this went ok too! positive feedback!
On top of the school assignments, this week was extra busy with school/childcare site visits/observations, Thanksgiving dinner at my practicum site, babysitting. I definitely didn't get in enough sleep either.

Last night was relax time and it was perfect! Diane and I made a -just because- card for Joe and surprised him at work (that's some fine AIM stalking), then went to Ben and Jerry's (yummm coffee ice cream!) where we ran into Liz and Justin. We rented "Me and You and Everyone We Know." Good movie! That's where my new icon is from (I really like this shoe part).

Last night I remembered how nice it feels to cozy up with a blanket and relax. I feel like this week I've been doing so much going and not enough stopping and really relaxing.


ok sleeptime.
nightnight.

I LOVE today!! It was such a wonderful birthday!

*a super cute (homemade) card from natalie
*cards from my relatives
*phone calls from my grandparents, uncles and aunt
*phone calls from bob, stace, lauren and sara a
*a yummy treat from the apartment girls
*i found out i was accepted for the birthright israel trip over winter break
*only 1 class
*most of education buddies knew it was my bday (facebook!) so the majority of the class (including the teacher) wished me happy bday
*running into bryan on my way back from class. he was on his break outside of the bookstore, and he gave me a mix cd (300 songs! nothing i have!) and a copy of his favorite book. so nice.
*qdoba for lunch with my parents
*feeling cute
*birthday wishes from so many people!
*visiting with erin and amber
*passing out candy to neighborhood kids
*seeing natalie and some other kids i've babysat for (they're all grown up!)
*family time
*fun presents from the fam and relatives (an i-pod, very warm slippers, the new tracy chapman cd, super pretty fine tip marker/pen set)
*gorgeous scarf (maroon!!) and little bird ornament thing from diane
*gino's for dinner
*talking to john on the phone late tonight. we were going to try to meet up, he worked a long time on a card for me (and then it got too late/not safe to walk/sleepyness) so i will see him tomorrow. but ah. so sweet.

***smiling and feeling like i'm going to burst almost ALL DAY!!!

thank you everyone for making me smile so much today. you are incredible.

I am having a fantastic b-day so far!!!

i feel almost like i'm going to burst.
yay happiness!

1. Go to google
2. Type in "your name" needs
3. Type the first 10 results here

1. Ashley needs a new genre
2. Ashley needs an experienced family
3. Ashley needs a very patient, accepting and loving family that will give her lots
of time, attention and support
4. Ashley needs to move into the wetland
5. Ashley needs to chill and consider learning a second language... but he/she might
want to master english first.
6. Ashley needs to go: straight to Jesus Christ.
7. Ashley needs adoptive parents who are willing to work with professional resources
and advocate on her behalf.
8. Ashley needs one-on-one attention
9. Ashley needs outlets for expressing herself to her peers
10. Ashley needs to gain confidence
and "bee-lieve" in her God-given abilities. ...


that was fun. I need a lot. especially jesus, apparently.

update.

the weekend:
I went home on Saturday, mostly to clean my room and do laundry, but I ended up spending the night there. We ordered Chinese food for dinner (so good!) and then Elyse and I tried to watch a movie together, but I kept falling asleep. She also gave me a bunch of little presents, just because - it was so sweet. Sunday Diane came (yay!!!). Claire made us enchiladas for dinner and they were delicious - one of my new favorite foods.

monday:
Diane had the idea to make mailboxes for our doors, so we found a plastic lamp shade in the dumpster and cut it up. We brought out all of our craft supplies and started decorating them. I think they look awesome! After dinner, we talked and listened to some Dar (goodness).

tuesday:
serfed.
went with the roommies to the MU bash last night, but didn't stay long. Instead, we went to the Chocolate Shoppe for some ice cream.

music!

10.26 ben folds
10.27 matt nathanson (a maybe)
11.2 dar and girlyman

oh my. all in one week.

I met with my advisor and I think I'm going to try the 18 credit thing. Hopefully it won't make things too crazy because the additional class is Drama in Education, which I'm hoping won't be too bad. I'm just going to have to be awesome with my time management skills. I'm probably going to have to take summer classes for the next 2 summers, or I might have to stay for an extra semester after student teaching (or both? ehh) I might also be able to take a class though UW-Extension, which would help because I guess scheduling gets pretty tough now that I'm in the program and have to schedule around the time I'm in schools.

I bought my books and they look super interesting! one of them is called "early education: three-, four-, and five-year-olds go to school" -YAY. so exciting! My social psych textbook was $107 (boo!) and I spent a total of $321 on books. I know that's not terrible, but I didn't think I would be spending that much for the type of classes I'm taking.

I need to update because I haven't in awhile. Whenever I get around to it, I am too sleepy!

When I have internet again, I will update about
-camp, the end of camp, latenight, staff banquet
-cupcakes and hangin w/the girls
-anything else.

Tonight we went out to the Nitty Gritty for Mike's b-day. I had a really good time.
As of tonight, Mike is a member of the awesome hugger club (It's a pretty big deal. They have to be pretty damn good hugs to get you in.)

I have supercutie kindergarteners for 3rd session. They're going into kindergarten, so they are extra little :) I'm really happy because I was hoping I would get to work with this age group. (so this summer, I'll have done K, 1 and 2).

I donated my 10th pint of blood today!!! The most exciting part was that I had enough iron to donate. My blood didn't sink in the original test, so I was worried...but then it passed the spin test. Your iron level has to be at least 38% to donate (usually when they have to do the 2nd test on mine, I only have 35 or 36%). Today I had 39%!!! I've been eating Total for breakfast most days (because it has 100% iron!), so I think my efforts paid off.
The actual blood donating didn't go as smoothly as usual (not a huuuge deal because I've been really lucky and haven't really had many problems before). After it started, I was trying to watch the (soundless) tv that had a movie on, but I kept thinking about how there was a needle in my arm and how it felt kind of weird (bad idea!!). I kept thinking about it and then I started getting worried that I might pass out, worried that the room might start to dim, that I would start to overheat...
(this got the worst AFTER I was done donating but was still attached)

Then the nurse asked if I was feeling ok and I said I felt a little light headed. They put my feet up, head back, got me water and a cool cloth..and after a little bit, I was OK!

It made me a little scared of donating blood (or just that feeling). I think next time, I'll try keep myself better occupied (it's easier at big drives because there's so much going on). It was pretty deserted there today.

SO. I am proud! I spent some of my (1/2) day off doing something good :)
I need to drink lots of water tonight because tomorrow it's going to be 93 degrees and I will be playing outside all day. don't wanna feel like I'm gonna pass out. gotta be ready for the kindergarteners!

Tonight my sis made me laugh. She is a funny girl.


In other news, today I bought ANOTHER tegan and sara cd (their new one 'so jealous'). sooo good!!!

night.

two very nice days:

Tuesday night, I met up with Diane and Joe for dinner and the Tegan and Sara concert. We had dinner at Chins (very yummy!) and I was SO excited to see them (there was definitely some wonderfully excited jumping!). After dinner, we picked Dorise up and headed to the show. Tegan and Sara were awesome!!! I'd only heard three songs before seeing them, but they played my fave of the three (Not Tonight) so that was exciting. I picked up a cd (If It Was You) and I've listened to it so much since the concert. I think I'm going to try to get their new cd soon. I also got a supercute pin and a felt heart (for a fundraiser). It was a wonderful evening.

Today, I met Liz and Jenn for some Potbellys and then we went canoeing (with Justin too) on the lake. Jenn was stuck in a boat with me and my lack of canoeing skills but we had a super fun time anyway! We paddled out to Picnic Point, went on land for a bit, and then canoed more. Then we went to Espresso Royale (met up with Don too!) and did some shopping.

-
I'm kind of sad that I only have two weeks left of camp. The last two days of last week were so wonderful. I was so happy to be spending time with all of the amazing kids! I should've been tired. Thursday was an extra long day, Friday was the end of the session, but instead, I felt SO SO good.

Tonight I called Diane to make plans for tomorrow and then we both got super excited!!! It was absolutely wonderful. I LOVE LOVE LOVE phone conversations where you can really hear the other person smiling over the phone. My heart kept beating fast for at least 10 minutes after the conversation ended, and the good moodness has lasted all evening. THIS is what I've been missing.

ohmygosh so excited for joe + diane + tegan and sara!!!
and (because we talked about this tonight too) diane + abby + me + getting in line reallllly early + guitar playing and singing! + dar + girlyman!!!!!


yay for music and wonderful friends.

I am going to Tegan and Sara with Diane and Joe!!!
YAY! something super wonderful to look forward to!
next week!

DAR and GIRLYMAN ARE COMING!!! TOGETHER!

to the barrymore. nov 2nd.

Abby told me, and I screamed (even though no one was here to hear me) and jumped around a bit..and then I left Diane a super amazingly excited voicemail. Pretty much my favorite 2 musicians/groups at the moment. in one concert!!!!!! It sounds like Abby's gonna come in too!!

Abby + Diane + me + Dar + Girlyman = too much happiness!!!

Hooray for Maxwell Street Days!
I got a cute used shirt, a necklace and a (used) Semisonic cd, for a total of $11.
I also got some new (maroon and navy!!) shoes. on sale.

Tonight involved some crafting. (card stock + markers + sequins + felt + hot glue gun fun). It was wonderfulness. I can be such a perfectionist (even when it's for people that I KNOW won't love me any less if a sequin is slightly off center..). ooh well. I am pretty happy with what I created. There will have to be more of that soon.


night.

Last night I woke up at 3:30 AM because my allergies were really bad and I couldn't breath at all through my nose. I couldn't make it any better and got pretty upset (missing sleep, medicine not fully working, intense stuffy/itchiness). My mom was so caring and stayed with me til I finally was able to fall back to sleep around 5. She also made me french toast for breakfast this morning. She is so sweet.
I got some new medicine that will hopefully get me back to normal. yucky but under control allergies.
wohoo.

Today I got some school of ed forms and found out that my new advisor is one of my camper's moms. She seems really nice. I also got a super sweet thank you card from Natalie (Last time I babysat for her, I gave her a floss box filled with lotsa floss for friendship bracelet making).