I think I'm....

I thought I would leave you with this killer video while I am away in the Land of the Rising Sun. Koneecheewaah.....

This is the show that Beth, Ryan, and I tried out for. It is airing the fall. It is like a spelling bee with song lyrics. The music will play and when it stops, you have to fill in the next line. It was so fun! I am not sure yet if we will get cast, but even if we don't, I can't wait to watch it!

Beth's Visit

I can't tell you how nice it was to have Beth in town for the week! She is seriously the greatest. Here are the things I love most about her:

• She is a SHOPAHOLIC. We can spend hours in the stores
• She plays the piano like a dream
• She sings the wrong words to songs--"St. Elmo's Fire" in her language is "St. Devil's Bayou" Ha!!
• She has two different colored eyes
• She is loyal
• She is a firey red-head who tells it like it is
• She doesn't order soda with dinner...water only
• She loves to sing Broadway songs
• She is a great story teller and makes me laugh
• We talk on the phone almost everyday--she even wakes up early on her days off, so I can call her on my way to work. It makes my day!
• She is beautiful

Here are some of the best shots from her trip here:

That is Kareem Abdul Jabar!!


"I love Gene Kelly!!"


Auditioning for "The Singing Bee"--a new game show! We are such geeks.


Elvis was at the audition! Can you believe he got cut?!


Chosun Galbee Korean Barbeque. This is seriously the best restaurant in LA and lucky for us, Sean tutors the kids of the owners. So we always get gift certificates for unlimited food. Yum!


This was the biggest dessert ever--The Mother Lode from Jerry's Famous Deli--and Beth thought she could handle it. Not quite. :)


A view of the Santa Monica Pier


Beth is in heaven!

Santa Monica beach...beautiful day!

I can't wait for the next visit...we can eat even more great food and see more great sites!

iSummit

iSummit was so much fun! I really learned a lot of new techy skills...and we all know that guys only like girls with really great skills! Here are a few photos of my crew...This is where the conference was held--a super nice all girl school in Atlanta (Maybe you could tell that from the name of the school....eh?!?)

This is my posse--me, Earl, Shea, Tolu, Jessica, and Craig

I was told this picture was to be "couture"!!

The Tigers were in town playing the Braves and Jacob was showing support for his team.

We were awarded best school in the United States...or something like that! Heh.

iLucky

My new favorite number is 1393328...this is the ticket number that won me my new iPod Shuffle! Woohoo! We had a raffle at the end of iSummit and I won this little beauty. And it is green, which is my favorite color. This was the perfect end to a really rad conference. (I will have to load it up before Tuesday when I take off for the long flight to Japan!)

iGeek

I am here in Atlanta aka HOTlanta, Georgia for iSummit--a mac conference. I am having so much fun with my teacher friends--Shea, Jessica, Tolu, Craig, and Earl. We have been making iMovies, podcasts, using garage band and basically just learning how to be big geeks! I love it. (I am slowly, but surely becoming a mac convert.)

Defying Gravity

One of our first activities with the Dicksons was going to Wicked. It is playing at the Pantages Theatre here in LA. This was the second time for Beth and I, and it was even better than I had remembered. I think the boys even liked it! Beth and I have been singing duets ever since we left the theatre...

"popular...you're gonna be popular.."

Thanks to Janae that organized all of the tickets and got us a great deal! We had a great time!

The Dicksons are Here!

Sean and I have been trying to get the Dicksons out here to visit for the last 3 years. They have finally arrived! Beth and Ryan are two of our favorite people and it is super nice to have them for a visit.

Summah Time...

School's Out For Summer,

School's Out Forever!

~Alice Cooper

I've got to say, never before have I been so glad that it is June 13th! I will really miss some of my kids next year, but I am so glad that I get to look forward to a killer summer. THIS is why I became a teacher! Let the party begin!!

Yummy Treat

For Christmas, Sean got a gift card to pinkberry and we just finally used it. Talk about a party in your mouth! It is plain frozen yogurt, so it is not real sweet, but you can top it with lots of tasty toppings. I had pineapple, kiwi, and strawberries. Sean had oreos, strawberries, and mochi. I did notice that once you stop eating it, you get a bit of a weird after taste in your mouth, so I figure the best way to combat that is to just keep eating it! mmm....yummy.

Kaiser Chiefs

I just recently came across this band. It was recommended by my friend Shea and when I heard the first song on their new album entitled Ruby, I was hooked. They are super fun in concert because so many of their songs are the sing-along type. To boot, the lead singer had more energy than a kid with ADD sippin' on a Red Bull. We saw them at the Henry Fonda which is a great little theatre.

Let's Make A Deal

I don't know how many people know this, but I am a game show junkie and love the GSN channel--Lingo, Press Your Luck, Match Game, Card Sharks, To Tell the Truth, of course Price is Right, and the grandfather to them all--Let's Make A Deal. So, boy was I pleasantly surprised when Monty Hall walked into my classroom yesterday to see his grandson's country report! (He has aged a bit, but still looks great!) It made my day. Now Sean has met Bob Barker (even shook his hand) and I have conversed with Monty Hall--we can die a happy couple!

FORE!!!!!!!!!

The final session of my cake class was last night and this is what I created. This one's for you, dad!!



It reminds me of the good old days....driving the beverage cart (as the beer babe) at Bountiful Ridge. Fore!

n'sync

Yes. I do own this pair of rockin' shoes/boots. I picked these babies up for only a "Hamilton" in the LA Fashion District. I know. A steal! They don't get a lot of wear because I reserve them for special occasions, and just such an occasion transpired on Friday. The Annual Lip Sync Show at my school. The teachers always do the last number and if, I do say so myself, we tear the house down. This year's theme was the 80's (Anne, I wish you could have been there.) and included a great line-up: Rock Lobster, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Video Killed the Radio Star, I Want Candy, and of course the teacher's selection for this year: Word Up by Cameo. I was able to incorporate some of the moves I have picked up in Celeste's weekly hip hop class, so a big thanks goes out to her! (The photos are kind of dark, but trust me, it was good times.)

Can you see the shoes?

"Hey All you Sucker DJs....."

Wicked Fly!

Make Way for Masses

June 1st was the first Friday of the month, hence another critical mass. This month was the biggest posse so far--300+. At one light, we held the traffic up for 6 light cycles--sorry to anyone in a car at that light. I hope you didn't spontaneously combust! We were glad to have Kimber and Chad back for the ride. There were a few riders, however, that we could have lived without--the one with the white flippy hat that somehow kept getting into confrotations with all the drivers and refused to let some pass--dude, we are not trying to take over, just share. As Kimber said, "Can't we just peacefully co-exist?" (or something like that.) And the jogger--who was surely on drugs (because who could keep up with bikes for 15 miles?!?)dude, get out of the way, I bet more than one of us about took him out. I mean, you are more than welcome to join the mass, but watch out for the people on two-wheeled contraptions or they might run you over. And finally the guy drinking out of a large can in a brown paper bag, who got stopped by the cop. When the cop asked him what it was, he said "water." HA! We don't need any under the influence bikers, okay Lindsay Lohan! All in all, good times as always.
Kimber and Chad with their milk crate baskets--last time Kimber found a surprise in hers at the end of the ride.

Ashley drinking the water we were able to run in and get during the "Venice Round About" where the bikes circle about a hundred times and a few get off, stand in the middle and raise the bikes over their heads!


Sean was demonstrating some difficult tricks...

This first one is called the "Layout" because you are just laying it all out there.


This next move is called the "Crunch" because you just scrunch up into a little ball.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice Moooooooooooves!!

(Just after these photos were taken, a homeless man ran up to Ashley and said, "I'm gonna kill ya!" Ahh---Venice is one crazy place!)

Brady Takes the Plunge

Well, the Youngest Young entered into matrimony last weekend when he tied the knot with his lovely bride, Violeta. Their ceremony was in the Oakland Temple and it was also in Spanish--a little latin flavah! They looked great and it was a perfect day. It was followed by a reception at their church in San Jose.

Now Violeta's full name is:
Violeta Nino de Gusman Castro de Young


Look at those handsome boys: Chris, Kent, Sean & Pat

Pat & Lindsay and a view from the top


It was just 5 short years ago that we tied the knot--wow!!


My two beautiful sisters-in-law, Trisha & Lindsay


They are practicing their Michael Jackson moves--ow!


I would like to say that this cake was my creation, but it was all Lindsay--she's got skills!!

It seems a shame to cut into such a masterpiece.

After the wedding they were off to Napa Valley for a honeymoon...