FDOS

First Day of School.
Why is the first day of school so important? Is it because first impressions last so long even though they are so often wrong? I remember agonizing over my first day of school outfit every year(until i went to pantego and it was "hmmm, which pair of plaid shorts to wear?"). As a kid, we always got a new pair of school shoes and a new backpack every year and I would search for the perfect ones. Anyway, I guess my point is that things don't really change that much. Today is the first day of school (for like the hundreth time) and I have debated for days over what to wear. In the grand scheme of things, nobody cares but me. But, I even almost bought a new backpack last week-- luckily the logical side of me that says it is a waste to get a backpack to carry once a week for four months is ridiculous.

dessert

i know, two posts in two days is unheard of, but i wanted to share these before i forgot.
i love dessert and the one thing that i hate about dieting is having to give up dessert (or at least the good tasting ones). well, i have found two really good "diet" desserts that are super quick and easy so i thought i'd share:

the first recipe is from weight watchers. it probably took me three minutes to throw everything together. don't worry if you don't like coffee, you can't taste it. these are so good braxton cried when i wouldn't let him have a third one.

Dark Chocolate Cookies
1 (18.25-ounce) package devil's food cake mix
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee (at room temperature)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon water
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup chocolate minichips

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. beat with a mixer at medium speed 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides. stir in chocolate minichips
3. drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart on baking sheets. bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes or just until set.

this second recipe is from the south beach diet and makes an individual serving. it is definitely healthier than the cookies but still tastes good. once again it only took a couple minutes to make.

Peanut Butter Delight
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 packet sugar substitute

1. process all ingredients in blender until smooth
2. chill and serve

where did summer go??

even though it feels like i just started my internship yesterday, the ten weeks is over (actually, it was over last week, i just didn't post cause i'm lazy/busy). i really enjoyed working at vought even though working 35 hour weeks made me realize i don't really like working real world hours (but part of that could have been that after work i had to study every day so it seemed like longer days). my mom informed me nobody does and that i have to suck it up. also, i realized that i don't really want to climb the corporate ladder; i'd rather start halfway up. i was once again informed that nobody wants to and it is something you just have to do. all in all i learned a lot and really enjoyed the experience. i was hoping they would hire me, but there is not currently a job position available. however, maybe in four to six months. it is just something i'm going to have to pray about since God knows where he wants me. in the meantime i'm planning on substitute teaching for some money while i finish school. my last semester starts on thursday. Praise the Lord! the end is in sight. I know i just started my masters but i'm ready to be done. in case you couldn't tell, patience isn't really my virtue (but i'm working on it).
in other news, one of my professors emailed me to tell me that he recommended me to health planning systems (a health care consulting firm that works with UTSouthwestern medical center) for two of their job openings. one is a senior financial analyst position and the other is is a strategic planning analyst. i would love either job. another thing to pray about.

basically, keep me in your prayers that i would find the perfect job (if there is such a thing) and that while i'm waiting i would rely on God since He is in control. i have a slight issue with feeling like i have no marketable skills-- even though deep down i know i do-- and am afraid that nobody will want to hire me--which they will (i hope). i know God has a plan, I just sometimes wish He would put it on a neon sign for me. but i guess that would defeat the whole purpose of faith.

i went to oklahoma with a friend this weekend to visit one of my besties (and forgot my camera, of course). suffice it to say that we had a great time. it was really nice to just chill and relax since i really haven't gotten to do that all summer. i'm going to miss living five feet away from them and seeing them every day.

i'm still training for the half marathon and am getting kind of paranoid about running longer distances. in the past it would have been no big deal for me to just crank out the mileage, but i haven't seriously run in a while. the race isn't until december and my training program should have me prepared by november, so i'm planning on taking it slow and repeating weeks if i have to. really, i need to just quit worrying about it and run.

lastly, i LLOOVVEE the olympics. i would watch them 24 hours a day if i could. as it is i've watched them way too much. i think it would be really interesting to do a study on the amount of productivity in the world during the olympic games. my guess is that it plummets. also, i've decided that it would be cool to walk/jog around the great wall of china. since it is just over 4,000 miles long i could do ten miles a day for 400 days, which would take me just over a year to complete. maybe someday...

RODEO

a couple weeks ago brock and brax came for a sleepover while nate and ry celebrated their six year anniversary, so we took them to the rodeo. i love the rodeo! however, i was slightly disappointed because my absolutely most favorite thing is steer wrestling and for some reason i'll never understand they didn't have it. anyway, on to the pictures:

traditional pic of megan and i:

YAY!:

so excited! (btw, i need to practice this pose, megan is a lot better at it):

the only picture brock would take all night. every time a bull came out of the shoot he demanded i take a picture of it, but wouldn't let me take any more of him:


this bull would NOT move. it must have taken them a good five minutes to get him out of the ring:

precious braxton:

how can you resist this sweet face?:

chuckwagon races are greatness:

fun, fun:


team roping. they weren't very good:

brock got tired of his hat so megan borrowed it. fits pretty well:

braxton gave me his. yes, i almost have the same size head as a one-year-old:

phil and haley:

cowboy poker. the last one sitting at the table gets money. please note there are at least two cowboys and a table in this picture along with the three clowns:



in other news, the internship is going well. i'm working way more than i am supposed to be and i could really use a paycheck, but i'm enjoying it. i'm definitely ready to graduate. only five more months of school. lastly, i've decided to run the white rock 1/2 marathon in december. let the training begin.

update coming sometime

i have pictures from the rodeo last friday but i'm to tired/busy to actually upload them and post them right now. but, they will come....sometime...

top five lessons i've learned this week

in no particular order:

1. don't ride your bicycle in the dark. or if you do, watch where you are going
2. make sure the water bottle is fully closed before throwing it in the gym bag with the cell phone
3. if you're holding the window on your car up with tape and you live in texas, the tape will melt to the window
4. being a girl in a work environment dominated by men has its advantages
5. let it go

Aunt Awesome

i'm trying it out as my new name. i think it is better than aunt amanda. of course, when brock is being silly he calls me auntie mandi. anyway, being the amazingly fun aunt i am, when i babysat on thursday brock decided to put on a special outfit (the picture of the back is equally hilarious, but ry won't let me post it):
brock showing off his muscles... i'm sure he'll appreciate this when he is in high school

Precious, but ornery, braxton

brotherly love

popscicles are our thing.

and since i'm an aunt, not a mom, we eat popscicles in our underwear

wrestling is our second favorite thing to do, losing only to playing airplane (which will one day cause me to go into cardiac arrest if brock gets much heavier)

me and brockers

and of course brax had to have a turn