a note

I found this not too long after Spenser left this afternoon.

I've been caught....

I'll always love you, Dr. Pepper.

This Cream Soda thing is just a phase, I promise.

Saturday at The Figge

We went out for breakfast today at Village Inn and had their V.I.B. deal.

So much foooood!!

(Not that we're complaining. ;) )

 I just realized that anyone who reads this blog

probably thinks all we do is eat...

which is only slightly true.

We do other things too!

Like walk off all that food in an art museum...

Right now they are featuring an exhibit called "Fins and Feathers" and it houses the works of children's lit illustrators.  Anyone who knows me knows I am a connoisseur of children's books, so to me the exhibit couldn't have been more fitting. Or exciting for that matter!

This Eric Carle work was in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  He has such a distinct art style of working with paper that was neat to see up close.  Also, fun fact: when Spenser was little, he employed Eric Carle's methods of artistry to illustrate stories he wrote.  Isn't that awesome?  If you're curious as to both Eric Carle and Spenser created their pictures, check this out! 

This artist is probably isn't quite as recognizable, but he's one of my favorites.  I l-o-v-e Arnold Lobel.  If you haven't read Owl at Home, go read it now! (Unfortunately the owl above is not thee Owl, yet they do have very similar visual characteristics.)

I don't have any pictures, but the exhibit also featured the works of another great- Leo Lionni.

We then tried our hand at our own original artwork...

 Bet you can't tell whose is whose! ;D

Shogun's

We were in a sushi mood Friday night so we decided to try Shogun's. 

To satisfy our sushi wanting we had the Ebi Dragon roll, which was

delish...

Shogun's gets our stamp of approval.

Can you spot the difference below?  It's a toughie. ;)

Hope your friday was fantastic!

On the road...

I've been traveling a lot lately! This semester I'm doing a field experience (very similar to an internship) and it's been taking me all over. I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity and am so excited to be observing and participating in this experience. 

As a School Psychology major it's so neat to be working with established school psychologists and seeing what many of the classrooms and kids that they work with look like.  Yesterday I sat in on an Early Childhood Program which is basically special-ed preschool and today I spent the day with a school psychologist.  We visited a few different schools and towns; we attended meetings both at the high school and preschool level, I observed her doing reading testing at an elementary school, and I got to learn about the research that she's been doing on Response to Intervention (RTI).  She will be presenting this research in a month at the NASP Annual Convention.  I was really impressed- research requires ambition and quite the time commitment!  I also really admire when people keep growing and learning in their field no matter how long they have been at it.

 

 

I hope I can do the same when the time comes!

Snowstorm

All winter break there was no. snow.

not.

one.

bit. 

So I think today Mother Nature's been making up for it. 

Actually, the snow started last weekend, but today was the first day it's been bad.  So here's to hoping that you're safe and warm & cozy at home.  :) 

Noodles &...La-z-boy?

Last night Spens and I got dinner at Noodles & Company.  We both tried their new mac dishes- chili mac for him and truffle mac for me.  Afterwards we went to Best Buy and tried out video game demos.  Then we went to La-z-boy and tried out their furniture.  We sat in chairs that not only power reclined, but also power dump you out.  We explored their selection of sectionals.  Lastly, we checked out their entertainment room display (last picture).  It was pretty awesome!  Inside on one of their couches, they had left pancakes to stage the room.  We're not against having a pancake or two while you enjoy a movie, but these pancakes were green! gasp!  Guess it's good they're fake. ;) 

penguins + xo

Last night my mom and I decided to bake cookies since we never got a chance to this Christmas. 

We did cut-outs of random, fun shapes-moons, lips, snowmen, x's & o's, apples, hands, and penguins.  My mom was the creative frosting genius.  I was busy rolling out the second batch of dough when she showed me her first perfectly frosted penguin.  Too cute!

I think we make a pretty good cookie team.

Here Comes the Sun

     Today I babysat for a family that I have known for a while.  This past fall they welcomed a new member to their family- a baby girl, Taylor.  And for most of the day it was just Taylor and I.  It's been a long time since I've babysat a baby, but I really enjoyed it.  Plus, she was so calm! Not fussy at all! 

     I was scheduled to get to their house early to be able to get the kids ready for school.  So early that I got to watch the sun come up before waking the kids up.  It was so pretty I thought i'd share some pictures. 

a trip back

I started out going to college at Knox.  Eventually I decided to transfer, but it will always hold a special value to me.  Plus, I have friends there that I greatly appreciate.  Today was the first time I was back on campus since I left.

The boys and I ate lunch at Jimmy John's and then I walked back to campus to see some former classmates while the guys roamed around downtown.  Galesburg is a small community, but I will give it this- it has some beautiful architecture.  I snapped the pictures above on my walk back to campus.  I visited with Lauren and Joe for the majority of the afternoon, though I did get to briefly see quite a few other people as well.

Cosmic Bowling

Last night we went bowling.  Though none of us are very good, it was a lot of fun.  Afterwards we got ice cream, and played Scrabble without keeping score.  This is why I love Christmas break!

New! Nothing But Zero Merch!

Last night, Adele and I stayed up working on new designs for Nothing But Zero gear. 

This is what we came up with- it's our latest creation to be released!

It is a hand-designed, hand-painted original.

Enjoy! 

There will be more to come!

Coffee break

Tonight I grabbed a quick cup of coffee with one of my oldest friends, Lauren.  She leaves for school tomorrow morning so it was great getting to talk to her one last time.  I always love seeing her!  I wish her the best for this coming trimester.  Hopefully I can make a trip to see her while I'm still on break....

Cheers!

New Year's Eve

Last night some friends and I rang in the New Year by making some goofy skits. 

We hope you appreciate them. 

Happy New Year's! Best wishes for a wonderful 2012!