Vincent Gap...Oh, snap!

FINALLY...an overnight hike has been accomplished!!! (pat on the back)
My friend, Andrew, included me in a Facebook invite for a last minute overnight adventure in the Angeles Crest Mountains. Naturally, I invited Dominic. The plan was to meet Andrew and his 2 other friends at Vincent Gap parking lot around 11am and hike to the campsite together. Dominic and I drove my car (which is a p.o.s.) and about an hour into our drive, it began to overheat. It was pretty bad. We ended up turning around, driving back to Dom's and switching cars. It was definitely not the way we wanted to start this trip, but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade :) Can you believe we saw one patch of snow on the way there? It's not even cold out. Weird.

We found the lot AND a piece of paper posted (by Andrew) up on the trailhead marker with MISTY written in big letters, along with instructions on how to get to the campsite. He even said they would leave arrows along the trail to help direct us. SWEET! Neither Dom nor I have ever hiked this trail. The arrows were very helpful and reassuring. We began our hike around 2:30pm and stopped about an hour into it for some lunch.

I think I was carrying about 40lbs in my pack, Dom had maybe 55lbs in his. Our trekking poles were EXTREMELY beneficial. They helped keep our balance over rocky, narrow, steep terrain. I didn't think that mosquitos would be a problem, but I was WRONG. Because I wore shorts and a tank top (due to the warm weather) I came home with 45 bites! I'm still scratching. Those suckers even got me through my top! I've got some on my back and one on my tummy.

We LOVE this freeze dried meal, Chili Mac with Beef :) MMmmmm...just add boiling water!

Roxy, showing us the way through the creek.

After about 4 1/2 miles of the HARDEST hiking Dom and I have ever done (mind you, we were told that this was a super EASY hike), we found the rest of our group camped out HERE.

How cool is it to come upon an old plane crash. I guess people over the years had written dates on the plane, and the earliest date our friends found was in the 70s. I want to look up any old news on this crash, to see if I can find out what the heck happened.

This isn't the actual campsite that we intended on hiking to, but Andrew & friends said they tried reaching it, but it's unreachable. This hike is not maintained at all, and at times we had trouble locating the trail. Dom and I even went the wrong way for a bit before running into 2 other hikers who did the same and were heading back to find the trail. This spot did just fine, and no one else was around.

Dom's making us dinner...which I think was something like BBQ chicken bits and gravy over mashed potatoes. It wasn't bad at all...and for dessert we had some sort of Mocha Mousse Pie...amazing!

After many swigs of Whiskey and a few beers, Andrew was demonstrating some sort of joke on Peter, the punchline being a swift knee to the groin! Aw man, he hit him right on target and Peter went DOWN! It was soooo funny, and Andrew didn't mean to get him too hard. Peter didn't get up for a while..moaning in pain.

The Polaks (Andrew & Co.) stayed up later than us, singing loudly along to Polish songs (funny). The next morning, we basically got ready as soon as we were up. The others left about 30 minutes before us. The hike back to civilization...was INSANE! It was all uphill, and it was hot. The bugs were everywhere (I wore pants this time) and we were still sore from the day before. Our legs were killing! We had to climb over a bunch of rocks and large trees that had fallen onto the trail. I thought we'd never get there. It took us 3 1/2 hours to get back, and we had to stop numerous times to catch our breath. We did spot a rattlesnake, coiled up on the edge of the path, waiting to attack. Once we finally reached the car, we were soaked with sweat, hungry and pretty pleased with ourselves for finally taking on this challenge.

That night and the next day, I could barely move. My calves were the most sore (which never happens to me) and my lower back and thighs hurt, too. More tough hikes during the week are definitely needed for better strength training for something like this.
Gooooo us!!!

First solo hike

Last week, I did something that I have always wanted to do, but have felt a little unsure and nervous about doing. I went on a hike all by myself. It's a little different for females to go out and do things like this without having a little concern for our safety, whether it's fear of wild animals or harmful people. Anyways, I have hiked Eaton Canyon to the waterfall numerous times and I decided to take MYSELF for a little hike.It was much more pleasurable than I had thought it would be. It felt nice to get away from everyone and my life for a few hours and just be out on my own, with fresh air, sunshine, nature and ME. I think it's so important to be comfortable with ourselves, enough to be alone, to do things alone and to be able to keep OURSELVES company and entertained. When it comes down to it, I'm my own best friend...so why not do something nice for myself? It was very refreshing. Don't get me wrong, I do love the company of a good friend. It's just sometimes, we need to reconnect with our soul and spirit without distractions and make ourselves the priority for once, instead of others.

I LOVE having water resistant hiking boots. Yes, they give me gnarly blisters on my heels if I don't bandage them up properly before the hike, but they allow me to tread on pretty much any terrain out there :) I've gotten used to looking like a lesbian in them.
And here we have our destination, the waterfall.
It was a beautiful day

My first weekend...

...OFF!!!
Yup, since I'm a teacher at a school, I get the holidays they do. I have 3 weeks off of work until I start teaching over summer school :)
I kicked off the weekend with a little night with the ladies. Nichole, Kasia and I watched the movie, New Moon. I just finished the book, too. Honestly, I wasn't crazy about the movie. I was falling asleep through it. I loved the first, though. I'm now starting to read the 3rd book, Eclipse. Woohoo :)
We had a little BBQ on Saturday afternoon with Nichole, Kasia and Victoria. Nichole made some great shish kabobs with chicken, shrimp, veggies and corn on the cob and potatoes.She made an interesting (but really good) appetizer. It's a bread roll sprinkled with walnuts and cinnamon and Brie in the middle, then baked. I made some Funfetti cupcakes :)
We liked splashing in the cuzzi, too :)

Kasia's birthday was celebrated (a week early) at J Lounge in downtown LA. We all had a great time dancing and sipping on a few drinks.Us? Reserved??? HA! Aw, just kidding. We're two classy broads :) Oh, and btw...I LOVE my new heels.
Just a handful of the lovely ladies that showed up :)
There's the birthday girl, shaking her booty on the dance floor :) Happy (early) Birthday, dear!

PaRtY dAy!!!

Friday was the LAST DAY of the school year (like I've said before) and we had our annual PaRtY dAy!!! We rent big bounce houses, have video games (rock band) set up in class rooms, and more activities set up down at the field. We also have a ton of food that the parents bring in for everyone to eat.

I took my usual place in the crafts room to face paint along with Miss Kathy and Miss Audrey. The theme this year was Hawaiin luau...which explains the Hibiscus flowers :) These are just a few that I did...our lines were LONG so many of them are a little rushed. We sat there for 4 hours doing this! Our backs were a little sore, but the kids LOVED their face art!

One of my student's mom asked me to take a picture with her kids, of course I agreed. While I was setting them up on my lap and posing with a great big smile for the picture, another student of mine (7 years old) was sitting nearby and studying my face. After the picture was taken, she says to me, "Wow, Miss Misty, you look REALLY pretty when you smile." She smiled real big when she said it, and seemed to be seeing me in a new light. I loved how honest and genuine and sweet she was. That comment made me feel really good, and made me think I should wear a smile more often. Thanks, Sophia :)

a job well DONE

In 2 days, it will be the LAST day of the school year. Wow, the time really did fly by. I started out with students who were average (with a few exceptions) in their artistic abilities and I helped shape their talents and direct their creative minds to become better artists than I had hoped for. Looking back on all the artwork we created together, I can't help but feel proud and accomplished. This year, I was on top of my game. Years ago, I incorporated more crafty projects but this year I focused my program on the finer arts. I introduced famous artists to my students and challenged them to use one of the artist's work as inspiration for their own recreation. Of course, I guided them through EVERY step and taught them art terms, theories and techniques. I also made sure to expose my little artists to different mediums to help broaden their imaginations and skills.

Here are some student examples of the projects we've done since the last time I've posted them.

This project took me weeks! I made clay handprints with my 4yr olds for Mother's Day.
Watercolor pandas with my 4 year olds for Father's Day.
I read the story Rainbow Fish to my 4 year olds, then we recreated the fish in the story with crayons and watercolor paint. We also added glitter to a few scales.

My 4 year olds made crayon and watercolor tulips for Mother's Day.
My 5 year olds used watercolor pencils to draw their swirly floral bouquets for Mother's Day.
The artist, Kandinsky, was introduced to my 5 year olds before recreating one of his color studies.
Here, my 5 year olds painted a cactus with watercolors for Father's Day.
I went over "negative space" with my 6 year olds. We drew the background (negative space) first, and the bunnies just...showed up :)

Here, my 6 year olds learned about the artist Jim Dine and then used one of his bathrobe drawings as inspiration for their Father's Day art. We used oil pastels.
I went over the artist, Paul Klee with my 6-7 year olds and we recreated his Castle and Sun with oil pastels.
For Easter, my 7 year olds recreated one of Magritte's works. The famous painting is of a large green apple in the middle of a room, but for Easter we replaced it with a giant egg. We used pastels and colored pencils and learned about how light casts shadows.
My 7 year olds used pastels again for this Georgia O'Keeffe recreation of a white shell.
My 7-8 year olds learned about Vincent Van Gogh and used his many paintings of sunflowers to recreate their own sunflower art with oil pastels. We were careful to try and copy his brushstroke techniques by making lots of little lines and dashes.
My 7-8 year olds used acrylic paint on canvas to recreate Paul Klee's Senecio, for Father's Day. We sponge painted a few of the final details at the end.
My 8 year olds recreated this Georgia O'Keeffe painting using pastels and watercolors for Mother's Day.
This was my FAVORITE project of the whole year. My 8 year olds learned about Vincent Van Gogh and they tried to copy his painting style using short lines and dashes with oil pastels. We recreated his Wheatfield with Crows, for Father's Day.
My 8 year olds recreated one of Laurel Burch's mystical horses using oil pastels and watercolors.
FABULOUS work, my little munchkins. I always refer to them as "munchkin land" and they get a kick out of it :) I'm looking forward to seeing what great creations we come up with NEXT year. I'll lose my oldest class to the other art teacher (who teaches the older kids) and I'll get a fresh new batch of 4 year olds. Have a great summer :)

some hand made love

I started this morning with low spirits. I showed up to work with no improvement and was eager for the day to end when it had barely even begun. To my surprise, two of my favorite little students (brothers Ethan, 4yrs old and Brandon, 6yrs old) came into my classroom before class started with these little hand made cards. They both had the most adorable smiles on their faces, they handed me my gifts and gave me great little hugs. I thanked them and they left. I then read their lovely words on the back of the cards and actually cried. It's amazing what power a little love and appreciation hold. It makes me feel like something I'm doing is actually shaping and affecting the lives of others in a positive and memorable way...like I'm important :) This kind and thoughtful gesture carried me through the rest of the day with more comfort.

That's ME painting at an easel :)

...and the back.

I love you, too, Ethan!

xoxo

kids are funny...

So all day today, I've been finishing up the last of my student's artwork that they're making for their Father's Day letters. I have to attach all of their letters (written in class) to all of the artwork they do with me. I read through them and wanted to share a few really cute and funny lines that some wrote to their dads :)

• "Thank you for rubbing my head while I fall asleep." -Emerson, 6yrs old
• "I like it when we do the conga in the pool." -Nicole, 6yrs old
• "I like to eat rice and bananas with you." -Ryan, 5yrs old
• "I know you can't see your colors well but deep inside you know your colors." -Wendy, 5yrs old
• "I like making cushion mountains with you." -Emma, 7yrs old
• "Thank you for giving me this kind of life. Thank you for loving me." -Chloe, 8yrs old
• "I would get you a new car, but I don't have that much money, so I will get you a card with love in it." -Jack, 8yrs old
• "I want to get you a ticket to ride a submarine on Father's Day."

Okay, so now....for a tearjerker. Prepare yourself.

"Dear Dad,
I wish you were here with me. I love you so much. If I had one wish in the whole world I would wish for you to be here. I wish I could be with you right now. I don't want anything else but you. I remember when we went to the zoo. We took pictures and we saw the animals. I also remember when you read a book to me. I felt so scared when you were in the hospital. When I was in the garden room, my mom said that my dad is in heaven. I felt like crying all day. Now, I feel a little bit sad, but now I feel better. I feel better because I know that you are in a good place. I miss you so much.
Love,
Madison"

I had no idea that this student of mine lost her father. She is 8 years old. I learned while doing these projects that ANOTHER student of mine (6 years old) also did, too, but when she was a baby.

These letters are priceless and so precious. I can't wait to read the adorable and meaningful words of my own kids one day :) Is it weird to say that I love them already?! Even though I have absolutely no clue as to when I will get to meet them??? Wow, so much love.

when i'm NOT watching WC...

I'm...

*teaching art to kiddos
*running at the Rose Bowl at 6am on a Saturday morning
*hitting up the $2 tank top sale at Old Navy (Saturday only)
*getting in line at REI's used gear sale, 5 minutes before they open it (LONG line!!!)
*giggling to myself while watching the 1st people in that line jump over items to race to the ones they want
*buying hiking poles for an upcoming trip
*making faces at THIS cute little baby during slower parts of the World Cup England vs USA game at Kasia's house...and eating her homemade burgers :) (this pic was actually taken at Target a few days earlier)*enjoying a bright sunny day at a co-worker's birthday bbq with Kasia, along with other good company and watching a friendly game of volleyball in his backyard*napping
*heading to the local sports bar with Kasia to watch the UFC fight (Chuck went DOWN!)...and to be hit on, annoyed, entertained, weirded out by a really drunk guy...which turned chaotic because other men in the bar had taken notice to this and would come up to us to ask if we needed him taken care of...yikes.
*sticking around the bar a little later to hang out with Dominic...and ending the night with him.
*waking up to the end of a World Cup game
*spending my Sunday at home to clean my room, do laundry, organize a bunch of junk, work on my budget, watch 2 new movies (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs...and Ghost Town), both of which I liked.*having a delicious homemade Sushi dinner, hosted by Dominic's sister and her husband at their home along with Dom's dad. Wow, it was really good :)
*ending the night with a book (New Moon) in my hand...i'm a little over 1/5 of the way through :)

With all of THAT....I've still managed to fit in all the hours needed to watch every World Cup game so far. I LOVE soccer. I played it for 8 years..and in high school. I miss it. I'm going to attempt to play it again, practicing with my brother and his adult league team until I'm confident enough to play on my own team :)

And guess what??....I've decided that I'm going to the World Cup 2014 in Brazil!!! Savings are beginning now. I've already got 3 or 4 others who are down for this, too. Woohoo!