the air on my skin...

...and the world under my toes"

That is one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite songs... here's some more of it.  I don't know why I like it, actually...but I do.   

People walk around pushing back their debts
Wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets
Talking 'bout nothing, not thinking about death
Every little heart beat, every little breath

People walk a tight rope on a razor's edge
Carrying their hurt and hatred and weapons
It could be a bomb or a bullet or a pen
Or a thought or a word or a sentence

There ain't no reason things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I don't know why I say the things I say,
But I say them anyway

But love will come set me free
Love will come set me free
I do believe

 I apologize for my absence as of late.  Among other things, I started a new job!  This would be a third job for me and pushes my weekly hours of working to a nice 50-60 =) It definitely keeps me busy, but I love it.  I work at an elementary school about 10 minutes from my loft on the west side of St. Paul.  I love it because it is a school that has a lot of ethnic diversity and has kids on the precipice of a rough road ahead.  I know that is a strange reason to love it...but one of my passions are kids who come from broken or poor homes, who feel the need to prove to the world that they are not forgotten...which usually manifests itself in negative ways.  The 5th graders I've had the pleasure of working with are no exception.  I hear these 10-11 year olds say things that I never would have dreamed of saying.  The names they call each other, the knowledge they have of very adult-themed things...it amazes and saddens me.  And as exhausting, frustrating and ridiculously long my days with them seem, I thrive on touching these lives in some small way.  

Today one of the boys was having an attitude and I was being pretty straight forward with him, telling him to follow instructions and that I wasn't messing around and just because I'm pretty new doesn't mean he can disobey me.  He was NOT happy, and let me know.  During art class, I crouched by his table and said, "Look, Jesse, I've only worked here a little bit but I already know you have it in you to be an awesome kid.  So when Miss Brie asks you to do something, i know you can do it. "  He replied with, "Nuh-uh!  I'm a bad kid, and I don't behave and I'm terrible at art."  I insisted that wasn't true and that I had seen otherwise.  He told me, "Well the only kind of art I'm good at is graffiti."  So I asked him to show me what he can do during free sketch time.  So this is what he created.  

He was very proud of it and ended up giving it to me at the end of class.  I could see that not only did he like that I asked and appreciated what he could do, but that he had a budding talent and that it could be used for good.  

All that to say, I am enjoying it.  Not sure how long I'll be there, but it definitely speaks to my heart.  

Alright, on to more pictures and exciting events of the past weeks!

Karlina and her chips!

 kidlets swinging!

Miss K lookin cute and crazy!

Ender loves the swing...and especially loves trying to eat it!!

 

Pretty fall view of train tracks =)

My dear sweet friends heather and tasha came to visit me last weekend! it was so much fun to have girl time and hang out and catch up!

We went to one of my favorite lunch places here in St. Paul called the Cheeky Monkey.  It is delicious. And anyone who has visited me has experienced it.  You may want to come visit me, just to experience it too =)

MISS KARLINA TURNED 2!!!!

Karlina and her buddy Don K. 

K's bday was Puppy themed.  So she had a rice-crispy treat, bone-shaped "cake."  (She's gluten free, so it was perfect!)  And a little puppy-bowl full of gf brownie "kibbles."  And her own personal puppy standing nearby like he always is. 

 

 She was SO excited and loved the celebration!

The candles really captivated her, and she just crouched down and would look at them with this awed grin on her face.  

 Don K told Miss Karlina to eat the "bone" like a puppy.  So she happily complied.  it was so cute! 

Whenever she's wanted a piece of the leftover "cake" she says: Auntie, puppy bones pleeeease!

 Opening up her gifts. Lots of puppy-themed gifts.  

This is her showing her new car with a puppy that rides in the back seat.  Just like Auntie! (my puppy rides in the back of my car too!)

 

 

Here's my only new picture of Ender!  He loves bath time. and I don't think his eyes can get any wider!! 

 

This is Karlina's newest play-spot.  The other day, she disappeared and i heard her talking to herself somewhere.  I went in the kitchen and found her here.  She opens the corner cupboard and makes a little fort with the doors and then sits in there and plays "cooking" with the random dishes and such.  

 

 I love her.

So there's a little update on my life.  Stay tuned for more exciting events to come....

I mean, afterall, it DID snow today. 

WHAT?! yes. i did say snow.

I was hoping it would wait a little longer.  But it appears to be the beginning of the end.  One of my besties keeps reminding me how amazing winter is and that I'll just love it too.  

I'm looking forward to that. -ish.

=)