las vegas

I realized I never posted about my Vegas trip! We went to see Britney Spears, but used Katie and her upcoming wedding as an excuse for a bachelorette party. It was my first time there and I couldn't wait! We got in Friday afternoon and walked around, being touristy and going to all of the hotels and seeing that fountain that's in every movie about Vegas. It's weird seeing it all in person.

Heading to the airport!

 Where we were staying.

 Our view.

 Walking around the strip.

Obligatory hotel pictures. (Sorry)

 Waiting for us! From one of Katie's friends.

 It took awhile....

Of course we gambled after dinner, and I actually won! The slot machines and I became good friends, and I'm sure they miss me. 

 Watch out Vegas, I'm coming back for you!

The next day we spent the day at the pool. I always heard you had to get to the pool early to get chairs...I didn't really believe them. We got there at like 9 or 10 and there were NO chairs left. None. We batted our eyelashes and one of the workers found some somewhere and carried them to the pool for us. We spent they day laughing, meeting ridiculous people, and listening to awesome music from the dj. 

That night we got ready and headed to Planet Hollywood to see the one and only Britney! We were so excited!

We found a place to eat and sat and ordered. It was hot in there and I started not feeling well, and getting light headed. I jokingly (so I thought) said "I don't feel well. I think I'm going to faint." Well, I spoke too soon. Next thing I know I'm laying on the ground looking up at my friends in the lap of a random lady holding ice and wet towels to my neck and head. They called the EMS who immediately asked how much I had to drink that day. Fair question, we are in Vegas after all, but I only had 3 beers, hours earlier. They checked all my vitals, and everything but my blood pressure (it was some crazy low number) looked good. He said I could go to Britney, and I would faint once I stood back up. Or, go with them to the hospital to get fluids in me. I didn't know what to do, so I went with them. 

Fully embarrassed, annoyed I would miss Britney, and feeling guilty because Sheri came with me, we headed to the scariest hospital I've ever been to. I didn't want Sheri to come with me, because that meant she would miss Britney. However, once we got there, I was glad she was with me. It was like a psych ward in there! Lots of crazies screaming nonsense. All tests came back normal, other than me being super dehydrated. Right before I left the nurse came in to do an EKG and all I could think about was more money I would have to spend, and how tired I was. (For those of you that haven't fainted before, it takes a lot out of you.) I asked her why she had to do it, her response? "You know all those news stories you hear about football players just dropping dead? I'm doing this to make sure that doesn't happen to you." Fair enough. She did the test, and sent us on our merry way. 

We got back to the hotel, and tried to sleep for about 4 hours before leaving to go back to Austin. I didn't see Britney, but the rest of the trip was a lot of fun! Until we meet again, Vegas.

baby atticus

I've been living my summer life over here and just realized I haven't posted in quite some time. Sorry, not sorry. It's been a crazy, and fun, past few weeks traveling all over. It started with visiting the newest addition to my family, baby Atticus! I had an awesome week playing with Miles, and holding Atticus every chance I got. (When Miles allowed it.) 

Miles was really sweet, every morning he would come downstairs and quietly open my door and gently shake me to wake me up. Just kidding. My mornings began with Miles coming downstairs and screaming outside my door to wake up. I guess that's better than him yelling in my ear to wake up. I thought it was pretty cute that he wouldn't open the door. I would just yell back at him to come in so I wouldn't have to get out of bed. He would also help me put on makeup and choose my earrings. One day I got ready without him and he was very upset I didn't want to wear earrings. 

We did a lot of fun things while I was there, but you don't care about that. I know you're just wanting to see pictures of Atticus, and more of Miles. So here you go. You're welcome.

almost didn't make it back

So I wake up at 5 to catch the shuttle back to the airport at 5:30. I get downstairs and the lady at the desk is super flustered and saying the shuttles aren't coming and the airport is flooded. Excuse me. What? She finally is able to get some cabs to come but says she doesn't know if we will get in to the airport because of the flooding and wished us good luck. 

There were 7 of us crammed into a car for 5 passengers so we got to know each other really well as the cab driver kept ranting about the government and homeland security and the fact that the back way we were going was going to cause us to get pulled over and arrested. (For the record, the front desk lady said the police told her that was how people had to get in for now. This didn't seem to matter to the cab driver.) 

Of course at this point I'm assuming I'll miss my flight and I should've just stayed at the dumb airport. But it all works out and we make it to the terminal quickly. He then turns around and says we all owe him $17 even though we were told it was free. We told him that and he about lost his shit. At this point we were all anxiously waiting to get our luggage so we could just run inside and ditch him. He must have talked to someone because he willingly gave us our luggage and didn't chase me down as I very quickly grabbed my bag and left. 

I'm now just sitting here at the gate waiting to board. Fingers crossed I make it passed Rockford this time. 

i'm still alive

I was able to get a hotel room, so I called to figure out the deal with getting there. I asked if they have a restaurant or something at the hotel and he said, "no, you should probably eat at the airport first." (Rebecca asked if that meant they were out of food or there was no restaurant. Turns out they were out of food.) So I headed a few terminals down to Macaroni Grill and enjoyed a nice glass of Prosecco and dinner that wasn't terrible. 

I headed to where the shuttle was supposed to pick me up. Over an hour later, several calls of confusion, and very wet legs and luggage the shuttle showed up. All of the shuttles have painted ALL over what hotel they're going to. I don't know how I missed their sign. 

It was typed in like only a 42 font and taped to the window. How dumb am I for missing it every time it passed? 

We are about halfway to the hotel when people start turning around and going back, and we all start trying to figure it what's going on. Well, the road was flooded! There was a mustang stuck in the road with water up to the windows. I threw it out there that maybe we should turn around. You know (those of you that love in Texas) all of the tv ads that say turn around, don't drown? Apparently they don't have those here in Chicago. This dude drove through it full speed! I don't know how we made it through without stalling out. 

I made it. And my hotel isn't that bad! No toothpaste though. Oh well. 5 more hours and I'm heading back to the airport. Who knows, if you're lucky there will be a continuation of posts tomorrow.

chicago trip

I have been lucky. I have never really had a terrible flight experience beyond the occasional delay for an hour or so. Until this stinkin trip. On my way here the compass on the plane wasn't working so we had to wait for over and hour for them to get a new one. We then take off and land in Chicago. But wait, a lady from the back yelled "why are we in Rockford? We should be in Chicago!" I thought it looked more farmy than usual, but thought she was just being funny because of the compass issue. She wasn't being funny.  We were in Rockford and didn't land in Chicago because of weather. 

In case you were wondering, Rockford (home to the Rockford Peaches from A Leage of Their Own) is lovely this time of year. Although I'm basing this on just this picture. We sat there for about 2 hours looking out at blue skies. 

We finally land and do circles around the airport and, no joke, park off to the side. We taxied and sat longer than it took to fly from Rockford. It was ridiculous. 8 hours later I made it to Rebecca and Michael's. 

You might be wondering why I'm telling you this? It would be because I'm heading back to Austin tonight, and when I got to the airport almost all flights but mine were cancelled or delayed. Not long after, mine was cancelled. 

Because of really bad weather (and an early flight) it would be a nightmare getting back to Rebecca's and then back to the airport in the morning. As I wait to try to get a hotel room this starts happening. 

There's a possibility I'm sleeping here tonight folks. Get ready for a possibly amazing live blogging session. And if not, oh well. At least you've enjoyed this much. 

thanks for the reminder

I was wearing a dress to school last week when this conversation happened with an old student of mine:

Kid: Why are you so fancy?

Kid 2: Are you going on a date tonight? Ooh la la!

Me: How am I fancy? It's just a dress.

Kid 2: So you aren't going on a date?

Me: Nope. Sorry.

Kid: Oh. You need to get back out there Ms. Ewing! You need to date some boys!

kid writing

One of my kids have really picked up her game in the writing department. Below is a poem she wrote based on a William Carlos Williams poem we love: (click on the pictures to see the whole thing)

The second is the beginning of her caterpillar life cycle diary:

I called her mom the day she wrote both so I could read them. Her response? While laughing,  "Oh no...no, no. no, no. Can you email me those? Her dad has to read them."