March Madness!

I joined a bracket this year for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. I don't know anything about basketball, much less college basketball. I didn't even know they only have 2 halves instead of 4 quarters until last week. So I picked my teams primarily according to colors, mascots, the city the school is in, and just my general feeling about the school. I figured I was just going to give away my $10 to someone else because surely everyone else in the league knows more about basketball than I do. Well, I guess I chose some good teams because look who is in the lead! Just click on the link. Yep, that's right. I am in first place! I can't believe I am beating everyone else (and all the other people in the league know a lot about basketball). As of right now, I have either won the league or tied. I still have 560 points I can earn so I'm hoping at least one of my teams will win. If Kentucky beats UNC tonight, then I definitely win the tournament. I never thought I would get into this sort of thing but it is actually really fun and I can't stop watching the games! I'm already planning what I'm going to do with my $80. Perhaprs I'll use it to pay my electricity bill because it has been super hot here in Houston and the AC has been going non-stop :)

Weekend Fun!

I'm in Spain right now but I needed to catch up on some other blogging before I blog about Spain so check back in the next few days for a Spain update!

Last weekend, I went to Austin for a Special Education Conference and then to San Antonio to visit a family I used to babysit for. On Saturday, I took the 3 older boys to Fiesta Texas and we had a blast. We were there for 11 hours, rode a ton of rides, played in the water park, and perhaps had a little bit too much caffine and sugar and not enough food. I wasn't a very responsible adult and I filled them up with soda and by the end of the night, they were wired! On Sunday, we all slept in late and then went to go see the boys different schools and out to lunch. Then it was time for me to head back to Houston. Anyways, it was a fun and relaxing weekend and I loved hanging out with the whole family. Hopefully, I'll get to come to San Antonio more often to visit!

Here are a few pictures I took at Fiesta Texas-

Waiting in line to ride on of the roller coasters

In the car heading to Fiesta Texas

The boys and their favorite ride- Superman!

Watching the fireworks after a long day at the park

A small part of Fiesta Texas

Bayou City Art Festival/ Houston International Festival

I've been trying really hard this semester to get out and do things around Houston. I was so stressed last semester and I think part of it was because all I did was school and work. So, with my dad living here, it has been so much easier to have someone to do things with. During the month of April, we went to the Bayou City Arts Festival in Memorial Park and the International Festival in downtown Houston. Sometimes, its just really nice to get out of the house and enjoy the wonderful weather that we've been having in Houston!

The Art Festival

The International Festival- one of the bands that was playing

Downtown Houston- the weather was perfect!

Texas Wildflowers

A little bit of Texas

My friend Kristin came to Houston for part of her Spring Break this year. I had so much fun showing her the life of a Texan. We went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where we saw Brooks and Dunn. We also went to Space Center Houston to learn all about Nasa. I loved having her here and hope she comes back to visit soon!

The Rodeo!

Space Center Houston!

Kemah!

So I figured it was time to catch up on the blogging. I've been a total slacker lately (actually I've been really busy with school). Anyways, a couple of weekends ago, I spent the day with my dad out in Kemah on the Boardwalk. We ate dinner at Joe's Crab Shack, played carnival games, and just relaxed! I'm so lucky to have my dad working here in Houston. Having at least one member of my family around makes my life so much easier! Here are a few pictures to remember the day!

A Hugh Sigh of Relief!

The past couple of weeks have been really stressful because I've had some unexpected expenses and have somehow (its actually from eating out too much) mismanaged my money for the semester so I've been stressing about how I'm going to pay my bills (mostly credit cards, which is totally my fault) for the rest of the year. And as much as I want it to, money does not grow on trees.

On top of that, I either need to find a paying job for the summer or somehow get an internship where I can take class credit and get student loans to pay my bills but NOBODY is hiring. And I didn't want to have to ask my parents for money because they are fronting me the money so I can do a study abroad. Frustrating and stressful! So I've been praying and hoping that something would work out.

Well, yesterday I went to have my taxes done and turns out I am getting a HUGE refund this year. It's way more than I have ever gotten and will allow me to pay off my car and be able to put some money into savings. I seriously felt like I had won the lottery! I am so relieved. I start my Spring Break tomorrow and am so grateful that I don't have to spend my time worrying about money.

Through this trial I have learned a few things-
1. I am horrible at managing money (I need to join some sort of support group).
2. If I have faith and pray, things work out like they are supposed to. Even if I hadn't gotten a refund, I am positive I would have worked things out.
3. I should have never gotten credit cards (I actually knew that already but this has reaffirmed it).

AND I'M SO EXCITED TO BE GOING HOME TO CHICAGO FOR SPRING BREAK! THE WEATHER IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE 50'S DURING THE DAY! YAY FOR NO SNOW!

A Perfect Evening

This is what a perfect evening looks like. Hot chocolate and White Christmas.


Friday night was a perfect evening. I should have been studying but I needed a mental health break.