vegas, baby!

 a few weeks ago we were contacted about a teaching couple position with a reputable organization that works with at-risk youth. i haven't even mentioned it for fear that it just wasn't going to work out and it almost didn't! we initially thought {as did they} that we would go to their site in chicago, but that wasn't a good fit. we visited and got to see the program, but we simultaneously knew the chicago site wasn't for us but the position was. luckly, they had an opening in las vegas and i am pleased as punch to tell you that we were offered and accepted the position on friday!!

so yeah, we're moving to vegas! and although it's not a place we ever imagined living and it's so very far from family and friends, we are really looking forward to it! we've spent the last week and a half researching it and i think we're going to love it there! {goodbye debilitating allergies}

i'm so excited i could scream and so terrified i could run and hide {almost!} we just know that this is, without a doubt, what we want to be doing and an organization we can't wait to be a part of. we will be living in their facility, in a big house with our own quarters, and playing the role of surrogate parents to 4-6 kids who live there anywhere from 6-9 months. it's going to be stressful, it's going to be rewarding, and we just can't wait to get started!

we've gotten off one roller-coaster to jump directly onto another: we fly out there the last week of may to do some paperwork and check everything out, come home for a couple days and then head to their headquarters for a two-week training. then we come home and move to vegas in june. it's going to be crazy! and really, we wouldn't have it any other way. i don't think we could wait another minute to start this new adventure!

i could go on and on, but i'll stop for now. i've got so many other things to share and i'll be doing my very best to document this big change. thank you all for your lovely thoughts and comments, they really helped me stay positive on some tough days!

i love my job.

yeah, i love my job. i get to plan fun stuff.

and this year we're celebrating all kinds of random holidays, like skyscraper day, when any and all building is encouraged:

mini-golf day, when i set up a little indoor course, and gave each kid a ping-pong ball to blow through the course:

or elephant appreciation day, when we painted with our feet {inspired by these elephant artists}:

we have fun. and i can't wait until chocolate-chip pancake day!

last day of school cupcakes

today was the last day of school. we had so much fun! and one of the things i did with my kids was give out "awards" {you know, stuff like best laugh, mr. nice guy, miss congeniality, ect} so to go along with the little certificates i made up, i gave out these "award ribbon" cupcakes.

{fruit roll-up ribbons and white chocolate and sprinkle letters}

don't they look cool all together?

and if you're wondering how i carry all these cupcakes around, it's in this awesome carrier my mom gave me a few years ago. 3 stack-able tiers that fit inside a carrier with handles. very awesome. {and for me, a must-have}

t

they were a hit! and a lot of fun to think up. definitely not perfect, but then again, i wasn't really going for perfection :)

jobby

 so i started my new job this week {yesterday morning} and i already love it! i'm the program director for a childcare program at a local elementary school. i work odd hours {which i kinda really like} and i think it's gonna be a blast.

i'm not all about talking about work, but while we're on the subject, i also work with a young boy with autism on saturdays, and i'll be teaching violin lessons {my true passion} a couple evenings a week again soon!

i've come back from my vacation energized and excited about life.

i love being a part of little people's lives.