2 for 2

I just got home from yet another busy day.  My days have been consumed with work, college, coaching, and homework.  I am found doing one of the 4, but whatever time I have for myself it is with Cory or getting some shut eye.  Yeehaw!

I have an assignment due tomorrow for my calculus course and it is already scaring me.  I hope I do well.  Being that it's a college course, it is pretty much doing it all on your own.  I am only taking this class because I need it to refresh my Calculus skills.  I took Calc in high school, but you know, the saying "use it or lose it" holds its truth.  I never thought I would take calculus or any math again, but then I switched my major to Chemistry and hey look, there it is as a requirement.  Good thing I work with awesome math teachers that can help me if I need it.

So going back to Tuesday against West High, my volleyball team won.  They were shaky at first because it was their first official game.  Once I took that time out and settled them down, they got out there and figured out the flow again.  We just played East High today and we won.  It was awesome!  The girls are getting better as the days go and I love seeing the progress they make.  I can only be proud of them.  The highlight had to be when my outside hitter, Dakayla, jump served.  We were way ahead, and I told her to jump serve.  She gave me a face like, you are crazy coach.  But she did it and made it over.  It was exciting.  I love how the girls are very supportive and cheery too.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY, woohoo!!

Busy Bee

Sorry I haven't written in here for awhile.  Life just got more busy, starting today.  Well it has been about 2 weeks since I have had my C-team girls.  We had our first Jamboree last Saturday and my girls did good overall!  We started off shaky from the nerves, but as the day went on, the girls finally found their groove.  I am impressed with our defense.  We just need to get those hits with more power.  The girls are a fun bunch, in fact, they are super energetic.  Coaching volleyball is the highlight of my day, besides hanging out with my husband.  We have our first game against West High tomorrow and I hope the girls do great.  All in all, I am very happy with my picks.  I can't wait to post the team picture :)

In the mean time here is a picture we took at the "beach" out of Lynn Ary Park.  We had to go outside  because the sun finally came out.  Gotta enjoy the sun while you can here in AK.  It has been out for the past week and it is wonderful.  Cory and I even splurged some money at Boston's restaurant and we got to eat outside.  Too bad the girls that were next to us were super obnoxious and they couldn't talk without cursing in every sentence.  I mean, geez, have some manners, ladies.  Anyways, we watched the movie, The Expendables, which starred a lot of action actors.  I have to say it wasn't the best acting, but the action was superb.  I guess that is what happens when you put a bunch of action heros in one movie.

Today I started my chemistry class at UAA.  I am only taking one class this semester due to work and coaching.  I wish I could be taking so much more, but next semester I plan to.  Guess I can't stress myself out too much right now.  I am very happy I can take a class at least, plus I need this class because it is a prerequisite to a lot of my chemistry courses I am required to take.  My professor is very intelligent;  she has a  bachelors in chemistry, a masters in biology, and she is doing research on mercury in the tundra.  She is from Uruguay, so she has an accent, which makes me pay attention.  Hearing cool accents is interesting.  Cory also started his classes too.  He is taking three courses going for a Bachelors in Technology.  So check me out, I am a married-college bound-teaching-coaching-lady.  Now, if only I could wear athletic clothes all the time.  Nike, Adidas, hook me up!

Final Cuts

OoOoh Weeee.  Today was the first day of work for the school district.  I am back at Dimond High as a special ed teacher assistant.  I am glad not to be the "new girl" of the staff anymore, but I still felt old being that I graduated from there.  Anyways, I am pretty excited for this year, because I have one year of experience under my belt.  Not so nervous any more.  I hope I get awesome classes with awesome teachers.  The students start school next Wednesday and then it is all down hill from there.  The next few days of work will just be a bunch of trainings, yup.

Tonight I made my last cuts for C-Team volleyball.  I am super happy with the girls I am getting, because the upcoming 9th graders looked promising.  It was sad to come face to some girls telling them they didn't make the team.  That was the first time I have ever done that, and it gets me all shooken up.  It is going to be a great season, hopefully no drama.  The girls seemed super excited to be on the squad, although some went down, some returned, and some were happily surprised.

Now that I have my own team, I can take some initiative and morph these girls into "amazingness".  My goal is to not only make them better players, but better people too.  Cory will be volunteering to help out during practices and games, what a guy.  His help will be truly appreciated.  <3

1 year down, forever to go.

Yesterday, Cory and I finally hit our one year mark of marriage.  (but two years of being together) Yay!  Amazing.  All day it felt so special, kind of like a birthday, you just know it is your lucky day.  I learned a lot this first year, especially living together with commitment under the roof.  We adjusted perfectly living together, he does laundry, I vacuum/clean around.  When I cook, he does dishes, when he cooks, I do dishes.  We are both pretty clean people, so there is never room to tell each other to "clean up".  I am sure glad he can put up with me and I love when he is around.  I learned that my husband isn't a "go out with the guys type", he prefers the gym, and he loves to take me with him.  Which is awesome, because he really keeps me going on days I feel super lazy.  He is a home guy and loves to be around me.  I learned no one will love me like he does and he treats me right, even when I am acting like a turd.  He will always be my support and he proved that very well.  I also learned he is much more silly than I thought.  He is a goof and I love it..he makes me laugh, a lot.

Lunch

But seriously, being with him, I know I grew better as a person, and that is what love is.  I learned how to stand up for myself, go for your dreams (don't let anyone stop you), budget money better (haha), and make more time with family (my husband loves family time).  He likes to invite my family members as often as we can.  Unfortunately, his family is in Oregon, but our hopes is that they move up here one day.

Yum, miso soup.

Anyways- we talked about what we would do for our One Year and we couldn't get a defined solution because it just depended where we stood financially.  I mean if we had the money, we would of totally had a weekend getaway.  So instead we stayed in town and I was woken up with a very sweet card.  He wrote a poem in it for me.  Let me tell you, he is a great writer and it can tear you up.  Better than any Hallmark card can say.  Then we went to the AK club to soak in the hot tub & float in the pool.  He then came with the idea we get sushi for lunch, which I can never say no to.  Sushi is always a great idea.  We drove to Haru and had some delicious sushi!  The people at Haru pretty much know us, first name basis, and they treat us great.  We used to go there every Friday, but since summer started, we haven't been able to splurge money like that.  Their sushi is THE BEST in town.  If I could, I would eat there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Larson's on wheels!! Watch out.

When Cory and I got home, we took a little nap.  We woke up and decided to get on the Campbell Creek Greenbelt Trail.  I rollerbladed and he biked.    I haven't thrown my fruit boots on all summer, so this was the chance.  We biked past Taku Lake and we even saw two red salmon in the creek from a bridge.  I spotted them and got excited.  I can't believe people can catch salmon in that creek.  I never tried it, but when I grow the patience for fishing, sure.  I just ask friends who fish to hook me up and they generously always do.

At Suite 100 with Mr. Handsome

There were reservations waiting for us at Suite 100.  Neither of us have been there before and we heard good things about it.  So we showered and got a little dressed up to eat some dinner.  He had steak, of course, and I tried their pork tenderloins.  We did like our dinner and dessert, but we weren't all that impressed.  I think our favorite fancy place is still Seven Glaciers, but we tried something new.  Sea Galley has to be second in the runnings, because not only do they have good expensive food, but big portions (Cory loves those big food portions, got to feed the muscles).  If we could have a redo on dinner, it would probably be go to Sea Galley, because after hitting the trail, we were starving.  Plus they have really romantic, dark booths.  After dinner, I surprised Cory with the slideshow I made him.  I told him to close his eyes and everything while I set it up on the DVD.  He loved it and I am glad.  He laughed at the videosnand reminisced with pictures I chose.

It was a great first year together, and a fun one year anniversary.  BTW, we stopped at New Segaya and Cory made amazing oyster stew using the crock pot.  I can't wait to have some for lunch.  He is the crock pot master.  Fresh oysters are expensive, which our wallets learned.  Oh what a day it was <3

Swimming!

Today I woke up and started making a slideshow for Cory.  I got the idea from this already made scrap book from Hallmark that covers the 1st year of marriage.  I thought it was so cool, I wish we had it to go along our days.  Although, I think this show will be so much better because I made it and it has some sweet videos and music!  Our 1st year anniversary is this Sunday, the 8th, and I decided to make him this awesome slideshow of our first year together being married.  I hope he likes it!  I can't wait to show him.  I don't know what we will do that day, but I am sure it will be fun.  It will be a special day for us.

Anyways, I just got back from swimming at the gym.  I invited my cousins and brother, which is super rare, because they don't have an AK club membership.  We had some guest passes so we decided to use them right away.  Actually, the manager was awesome enough to let us use one free guest pass for the 5 of them.  They had a blast!  Cory took Kadyn down the slide a couple times and he just loved it.  Kadyn is 3 years old, he is my cousin, Julie's, son.  I got to see Justin, my little brother, swim around for the first time, because last time we took him, he was afraid to swim around.  Last time he floated around and held onto Cory.  All in all, we just had a great Friday Night.  Time for a movie and popcorn =]

Work is around the corner

So I can't sleep right now because I am so anxious that everything is going to start and summer will be over.  Tomorrow I start coaching volleyball camp for the Dimond High Camp.  Should be fun coaching 6-8th graders and 9-10th graders.  I'll be doing that for the week to get me geared up for season.  The following week will be the start of volleyball tryouts.  Then the next thing I know, it is back to work helping students and teachers in the classrooms.  It is nice that work and coaching are all in the same place.  Super advantage.

I signed on to be the new C-Team coach back in beginning of the year and have been awaiting for season to start.  This will be my first "big gig" coaching at a bigger school.  The last couple years I coached at these private schools, Lumen Christi one year and Holy Rosary the other year.  I had probably 7-8 girls, just enough to fill a court and some.  Plus practices were only three days a week.  Wasn't exactly stressful.

I don't know why I am nervous, but it is probably because I will be working, going back to college, and making time for hubby.  Oh and we only have one vehicle right now.  I know things will be fine.  I just have to keep my groove and focus on what I have to get done.  I am excited, don't get me wrong.  I mean I am coaching at the high school I graduated from.  Something to relate to with the girls, plus I have been a teacher assistant there for the past year.  I never thought I would step back in that high school again, let alone work with my old teachers.  The staff is great though and I think I am still adjusting being their colleague and not a student of theirs.  One day, I will teach science and hopefully it will be at Dimond.  I was surprised to hear that half of the staff are alumni, which is probably why DHS is so unique and awesome.