Happy Valentine's Day!!

Okay so this isn't the best picture, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day!!! My poor Juniors had to take a tested today...Hopefully they won't hold it against me.

Rock Climbing and 7th Grade Trip

Monday the 6th we had no school in was Constitution Day here in Mexico. A young couple in the area took us rock climbing...It was fun! I think Patrick and I should take up rock climbing when I get home;). Well atleast maybe he could belay for me. Anyways it was challenging and I should of pushed harder to make it to the top...maybe next time.




So the 7th grade trip to Chihuahua(2/8/2006) was quite interesting we checked out the Police Station and Academy, We visited the Palacio de Gobierno which is the governer's Palace, then we visited the University of Chihuahua, Lastly we took about 80 7th graders to eat in the mall. We got lost several times and the way they drive down here my life flashed before my eyes several times. They do not have the same bus safety rules...there were kids all over the bus...even in the luggage racks...it was nuts. Anyway on the way home I realized that I was going to have to regain control of the students...lets just put it this way they students cheered when the heard the strictest teacher was going to be on the other bus...but they probably wished that they had her on the bus instead of me...on the way home the last hour and a half was perfect! And the kids were safe! And my head could relax! Over all it was a fun trip and I learned ALOT!;)



Pictures from the bus...and another beautiful Sun set!

Ice-Skating Shenannigans!

I decided to take Ally (the girl I mentor) ice-skating on Saturday. Little did I realize that my complete lack of athletic ability would prove to be a problem! As you can see from the pictures, Ally and Courtney (my mentoring partner) had no problem making their way around the rink. I, on the other hand, suffered from my inherent lack of an inner ear - I couldn't keep my balance and there were arms, legs, and half-muttered curses everywhere! Maybe next time I'll take Julie and hold her hand...it seemed to work for the five year olds, who were faring better than I was ;) - PAT

Twenty-Nine Years Young!

Well, I thought that I should add some pictures to the blog as well. It has been quite some time! My roommate took this picture on my birthday. Julie had some flowers and a balloon sent to me...it brightened my day! The question is...do I look any older? Regardless, I definitely agree with the handsome statement ;)

In the second picture, my roommate Ken needed a costume for a masquerade party. I lent him my bowtie and my US Army Non-Commissioned Officer's sword. It definitely lent some realism to his costume. Fortunately, he didn't challenge anyone to a duel! - PAT

Making Pots on Patricks Birthday

Now I have caught you up to this last weekend…I spent Patrick’s birthday getting a tour from a man and his wife who make pottery like the ancientIndians, they gather their own materials (rocks, mud) and make their own clay and paint, they had pieces of ancient pottery of which they base their designs…It was cool to watch them…I bought one. Oh he even makes his own paint brushes out of his wives hairand a knitting needle…he teased us about needing our hair because his wife now has short hair.

Okay, so I didn't exactly make a pot, but I got to help shine one with a blue agate shone. I have no idea how it works but it does.





I am all caught up...for now anyway. I am not sure what we are doing this weekend...but on the 8th we are heading to Chihuahua City...with a 7th grade field trip...it should be interesting to be on the bus with a bunch of 7th graders. It is about a three hour trip south of here. I will let you know how it goes.

After Paquime...

After Paquime we went and listened to the EAC students play again at a catholic church in Casas Grandes. It was beautiful and interesting. (1-21-2006)

This is me in front of the bus we were on. I match the bus…actually I didn’t plan it…it is just my outing attire, I think I will try and wear something different for our next outing, because I just noticed that I was wearing the same thing in the next group of pictures I am going to post.

EAC Concert and Paquime

This is Jane and I at a concert at the Academia. Eastern Arizona College’s Orchestra and Jazz band came and preformed foe us on 1-20-2006. They were pretty good. There are a good number of the academy’s students go there after graduation.

The next day we went with the EAC students to visit Paquime some Indian ruins in Casa Grandes and near by city…Paquime actually means Casas Grandes…Big Houses…Because the ruins used to be about five stories high…you would be able to tell that now but they are still pretty cool.
We took this after we had been to Paquime while the EAC students set up for their concert this sign is on the road to Paquime sort of in the middle of Casas Grandes.

The ruins were cool I wish we could have gone in more but I understand that they need to be protected from tourist like us. Check out this plant below. It had all kinds of names carved in it…we didn’t add our name to it.