So today was a fun day because I got to spend it with one of my best friends, Kelli, and her mom. Kelli is pregnant and is actually due in 2 weeks, so it was nice to get to spend some pre-baby Jackson time with her! Although, I am SO excited for him to get here so I can see him and play with him! :) I got to go to her check-up appointment with her and listen to Jackson's heartbeat!! It was really an exciting moment! Afterwards, we ate some lunch and talked for a while which was really nice. Afterwards we walked around and did some shopping. It's been really nice having the summer off to focus on the future, and to spend time with such special people! Here's a pic of the happy soon to be parents (Kelli and Andrew) at their baby shower which Rob and I threw for them the first week of June! :)

The Phantom!!!

This afternoon was awesome because Rob and I went to go see one of my favorite musicals of all time - The Phantom of the Opera. I have loved this musical since I was a little girl - mainly because the main character (besides the Phantom, of course!) has the same name that I do!

I am always little a nervous going to see a live show because I am so used to hearing the amazing voices on the Cd's, but I am happy to say that the actors today sang beautifully! This was Rob's first time to see the show, and it was my third so I kind of knew what I was about to watch. Rob thought that the pyrotechnics and the chandelier flying up and down was pretty neat. He also thought it was awesome that you could FEEL the heat from the flames that were produced during one of the scenes. All in all, it was a wonderful show (of course I knew it would be -- which is why we bought the tickets to go!) Eventually, we would like to make another theater trip for possibly The Sound of Music, and maybe even Young Frankenstein (Rob's choice, obviously). I'm so thankful to have such a great husband who indulges my musical tastes!!

A day in the life of Meme

Well, I don't have any significant updates today, so I thought I would make a collage of my littlest kitty, Meme. This is a no joke picture look at what he does all day. It must be a hard life ;) Also, click the picture and it should get bigger so you can see the pictures better, and be sure to scroll to the right to see all of them!!

GREat day!

Yep. Today was the big test day - the GRE day!

It's interesting because the test I took was completely on the computer. The first parts were analytical writings - one analyze the argument (30 minutes) and one present your perspective on an issue (45 minutes). Then I got a 10 minute break, and came back to complete my test which was math and verbal. The most interesting thing about it being on the computer is that depending on if you get a question right or wrong, the computer will give you an easier or harder question. In the two study books that I used, they said the first 5 questions were the ones to focus on because if you got those right, your score would automatically jump up quickly. MUCH different than a paper exam, I would say! Anyways, when I was finished, I had the option to cancel my scores without knowing how I did, or I could submit those scores to schools! Scary! But, I did submit them and I was told what my score on the verbal and math were.. To share or not to share.. I ended up getting a 1010, which is well over what I needed to get into grad school at Sam Houston, so I'm happy. (Although if I ever have to take the test again, I know that I'll be focusing more on verbal!)

It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, even with all the studying I was able to get in beforehand, I feel like I should have studied more! I think I did alright, but like I said before, I wish I would have studied more but especially for the verbal part. The whole time I was completing that part, I felt really rushed and like I didn't have a lot of time. Math went surprisingly well - of course there were a couple of questions that were too hard... but.. not much I can do about that!

But, it's over! :) So now I just have to figure out what to do with my life! On Tuesday, I met with my advisor who told me that the route I was wanting to take is not going to be an option. What that means is that I am not going to be able to get my masters with a focus on elementary education. :( Bummer. But, they do have an option for me to have my focus be in French, and I already have a lot done for that route (I've taken all my state exams and don't have to take them again). So.. if I take classes this year, and then can get a French job next year - after that first year of teaching I will get my teaching certificate. After I have a year of teaching behind me as well as my certificate it should be fairly easy to take the tests needed to be an elementary school teacher and hopefully get a job. OR, I could find somewhere else to go for my masters; another school that would allow me to get my master's in elementary ed. So there's a lot to think about, and important choices that need to be made.. Good thing that GRE is out of the way so I can think a little clearer!

Fourth of July Weekend!

I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend - I know that we did! Rob got Friday off, so we headed to Bridge City after lunch. We played a lot of games that day as well as enjoy some good quality family time. We didn't stay up too late because the next morning we were going to get up early because we were going to go crabbing!!

I was super excited because I've never been crabbing.. Ok, I've been once when it was about 40 degrees outside, and the crabs were nowhere to be found! So, we woke up and headed down to the water. As soon as we got there I was pretty excited because there were crabs just sitting on the shore area sunning! We got everything ready by loading up our chicken bait for them. My father in law Sam was able to walk down to the shore, and pick up crabs just by putting his net in the water! He caught quite a few by that method. Peggy, my mother in law, was sitting on the dock with a couple strings with bait on them, and seemed to be catching crabs pretty well. Rob was helping net the crabs, but also attempting to catch some fish. Nothing seemed to be biting, but we did see quite a few fish making some splashes in the water. My sister in law, Kelly started out at a different place than the rest of us to try her luck there, came back with a couple crabs, and then we were all trying to catch the crabs off the dock. After a little bit, I decided to give crabbing a try, and boy was I glad I did because apparently my method of getting the crabs was brilliant! I stood on the deck and lowered my string and chicken leg into the water - just enough to barely see the top of it in the water. So, it wasn't on the bottom where the crabs were probably hanging out, they actually had to swim up and get the meat. And boy did they! I caught one crab after another! It was awesome! :) And then of course, everyone was trying to follow my method of "fishing for crabs" and it worked pretty well for Peggy. So, after about a two hours it was time to pack up since we had a bucket and a half full of crabs!

The only negative things about the crabbing that day were these: First of all, there was a bee that would NOT leave me alone. It was a big honey bee - which Rob continually said it would not hurt me.. but it kept flying right in my face. Thankfully I had Rob and Sam on my side trying to kill it everytime it came by. After Sam through a towel at it, it only came around a few times and then left us alone. Thank GOODNESS. It was really annoying. The second thing was that Rob got pinched pretty bad by the first crab we caught. It was right on his fingernail and skin, and it started to bleed. Poor guy :( But, even with those negative things, I still had a great time and would totally go again (and I hope we do!!)

The rest of the day involved moving some stuff for Grandpa, celebrating the 4th by eating hot dogs for lunch, and hamburgers for dinner. There were lots of people over for dinner, and once it was dark enough outside we went and shot off the fireworks we had bought earlier that day. I was excited because Rob and I tried to pick out some fun ones for the boys. I had found some champagne poppers -- where you pull the sting and then a little confetti strings pop out, and they were a hit for the little boys! We had a lot of fun and I loved the sparklers the most as usual. Rob thought it would be awesome if he continued his tradition from last year of lighting ten sparklers at once. It's actually pretty amazing, but I wouldn't recommend doing it - there is a slight risk of losing a hand. Once the sparklers are lit, they only last about 5 seconds and there's a big light. Pretty cool!

On Sunday we counted the crabs -- 88 total! They had been cleaned Saturday and on Sunday we cut them in half and seasoned them. I did try some and it wasn't too bad. But, it seemed like a little too much work for such a small piece of crab. Overall, it was a really fun weekend, and Rob and I enjoyed getting to spend time with the family!

Here's a few pictures from the weekend - others can be found in our photo album!

Here's the awesomeness of 10 sparklers.. I'm surprised I had time to this picture!

Christine with a crab!! Yay!!

Rob holding a crab -- Sam asked me to hold it just like that.. yeah right!!

A Visit to the Vet

Recently, we had to take Meme to the vet because he'd been having a lot of eye discharge (eye boogers!) and I was concerned that something could be wrong. His eyes had been acting like that for a few weeks, so Rob and I decided that it was time to get it looked at - just to make sure everything was normal. Of course, the day we finally got into see the vet, his eyes weren't doing any of the things we'd been seeing.. So, we had to put Meme in his little crate, and he didn't seem to mind too much, but he wouldn't really look at us!

Once we got to the vet, we checked in and waited.. We were then shown into our room, and the vet assistant came in to get everything ready for the vet to come in. We explained what symptoms we had been seeing, and we took Meme out of his crate. He was put on a small cold, metal table, and at first he seemed to be doing ok. Then, he started shaking, as if he was either scared or cold. So, in the event that he was cold, I asked the vet tech if I could get one of the towels we had in our crate and put it down on the table so Meme wouldn't be so cold.. The guy kind of chuckled, but said sure. At this point, the vet tech says something along the lines of.. 'So, your cats must be like your kids at home, huh?' To which I said -- Is it that obvious?? Oh yeah, I was like an overprotective mother -- for my cat. But, you must understand that we got Meme when he was a little tiny baby, so we've had that mother/son relationship building from when we first got him. I love our other two cats, but we got them when they were older so there's not quite the connection that Meme and I have..

So, they had to take Meme's temperature and not the fun way, so I think that made him not so happy (I wouldn't have been happy either..). So, the vet tech leaves, and says the vet will be coming in just a few minutes. While we are waiting, I'm trying to soothe my poor kitty who is obviously nervous... And then what does Meme do? Take a swipe at me! Then he started growling.. So when the vet finally does come in, I'm like -- Um, I would be a little careful because he's not very happy. The vet looks him over, says he's fine.. And since he is fine we can give him his next round of shots. Ok. Great. So the vet tech goes and gets everything ready, and come back in ready to give Meme his shots. With us in there! Aaah!! I look at Rob and am thinking - are they really going to let (or MAKE us!) be in here when they give him these shots!? My hand reaches for the door, and I say that I'm not sure I can stay in the room. But, they don't really care about me, so they get started with the shots. The first two were pretty easy/normal shots, but the third one was not. The third shot was different because it did not use a needle, but used a forceful push into his body -- they did this because there was a big dose . Let me just say.. it sounded like a shotgun! So needless to say, as soon as it went off and into Meme's little body, all the claws were out as big as I've ever seen them and he made a very loud roar! (Or as Rob and I like to spell it -- RWAR!) Not happy.

We paid, came home and opened the door to let Meme out and he did not move. He did not want to come out and when the other cats walked by or even got near him - you heard a hiss or a growl. After about a day of adjusting and recovering from the shots, things were back to normal - thank goodness! Let's just hope we don't go back to the vet anytime soon! (However..don't tell the cats, but, we're pretty sure they're going to be getting their front claws taken out.. I'm pretty sure we're going to have three cats who hate us by the end of this year...)

How are the cats doing?

Yeah, I know that question is on your mind.. My cats are everyone's number one priority! Well, Rob and I did go to the pet store and get a new litter box, as well as litter of course. When we got home that night, we moved the CatGenie out its spot and put in their new box. I must say -- they like the new stuff better. All this time I was trying to spoil them and get them a nice litter box that would clean itself a few times a day.. but no.. they like the one we scoop. Hey -- as long as they do their business where they are supposed to, I'm good. Since the new box, I've only picked up one accident - but I'm not completely sure how long it had been there because it was sort of hidden. Let's hope that's the last one of those I'll have to pick up!

Here's a picture of Meme laying down in the litter box as soon as it was put on the floor! Thankfully, he's using it for what it is meant for! (He says... But.. I'm cuuuute!!)

Speaking of the cats.. Here's a pretty funny fact... Did you know.. that I don't usually call any of my cats by their given names? Here are their other names...

Tuxie: Her other name is BUNNY. I think it's appropriate because she can jump to the highest parts in this house. All she does is jump. Therefore, Bunny!

The Meow: She has a few, but usually I call her Baby Girl (because she younger than Tuxie). Variations on that are Little Girl, Sweet Girl.

Meme ("mim"): He's had quite a few names.. We started out as Little Boy (for obvious reasons), and from there it went to Booty. I don't really have an explanation for that, but I think it was mainly because one, he's a little boy and also because when we got him, he was a baby and very playful. And finally, his name that has pretty much stuck. WOOTER! I think it went from booty to wooty, and then to WOOTER.. I say it so often now that even Rob calls him Wooter! (And when he is being bad, I've been known to call him Pooter! I'm so weird!)

I can only imagine all the names my poor children will get from me!!