Tuesday, August 31, 2010

House Update

Our bedroom, featuring my new computer!
Laundry Room
Beautiful new shower - definitely my favorite part of our house
Our faithful little $6 toilet, who's been with us through it all
This is where the sink is supposed to go... someday
Messy storage closet full of tools
Our new vintage chairs which I adore
Trusty old couch, the only piece of living room furniture that survived the move
Our new stove and old hood, which we are replacing today

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Profesora Andrea Woodard

I've recently decided that I'm in love with the fall. On Tuesday afternoon, fall unexpectedly fell in my lap. It was cool outside, there was a gloriously brisk breeze, and everything just smelled like fall. On top of that, fall carries with it the most exciting time of the year: the beginning of a new school year! I love starting school! I love the promise of new beginnings and new classes. I love that the stores full of rows upon rows of school supplies in every shape and color, and I love the fact that there are frantic parents everywhere trying to grab that oh-so-important box of pencils or Hello Kitty folders. (Shopping for school supplies is one of my guilty pleasures). But most of all, I've noticed, I just love school. Summer is long and hot and boring, for the most part, and school means seeing friends and having a full and busy schedule. School brings with it a chance to learn and study and challenge yourself!

When I graduated in December, it took me a few weeks to grieve the end of my school career. For an academic and a life-long student like me, graduating was the end of my life as I knew it. But when I found out in March that I was going to become the Spanish Intern at Drake University this fall, I didn't expect to be so thrilled when I got here. There is something about a college campus that just captures me. The throngs of young people heading to class and dorms and social events, the passion for academia that you can just feel in the air, the big brick buildings and lush green lawns covered in statues and fountains and a history of intellectualism... these are the things that capture me and draw me back once again to this place where I feel at home.

A few weeks ago, before I realized my excitement for the fall or what was to come, Aaron and I saw a sign for school supplies (one of the first). Without thinking I immediately sang out "I can't wait for school to start! We need to go shopping for supplies!" Every year as long as I can remember, shopping for school supplies has been a given, but Aaron, in his usual realistic manner, laughed it off and answered "Andrea, what would you need supplies for? You graduated, you're not going back to school." This caught me off guard. No school supplies? How could it be? And how on earth could I survive this time of year without going shopping for school supplies? Then I remembered!

"Wrong!" I triumphantly answered him, "I need supplies for Drake this fall!" We both laughed and resumed our shopping trip, minus the school supplies (they weren't on our list - and besides, it's best to hold out until everyone else has bought theirs and then buy them on clearance, fyi). This conversation made me think, though, and it made me realize that the truth is that I will never be done shopping for school supplies. More than anything I hope the day never comes when fall doesn't mean time to go back to school. I love school; I always have and I think I always will.

All this to say, one week into my "job" at Drake, and I'm loving it. I thought I wouldn't like teaching, but standing up and leading a discussion for a classroom full of eager students is one of the most exhilarating (albeit tiring) things I've ever done. This environment is where I'm most comfortable and where I find my energy and my joy.

To be fair, you must know that a huge part of why I love my job is the fact that I get to take Arabic and German while I'm here. I'm so spoiled! Aaron pointed out this morning that very few people get the chance to do what I'm doing now. At the ripe age of 20, I've been given the responsibilities of a full-on professor, the chance to study, to research, and to lead group discussion in a truly academic way, while still learning and watching those who are instructing me in these tasks. I get to sit in on faculty meetings and spend time with some brilliant minds in the field of Second Language Acquisition. And on top of all that, I have the privilege of learning not one, but two, languages for free!

So, Fall, do your worst! You are beautiful and I welcome you with open arms. I am so grateful today to be in this place and to be so blessed by my Maker with a sharp mind, an amazing understanding of languages and a love for the intellectual, the academic. I am so content right now to be Profesora Andrea Woodard!

Friday, August 20, 2010

State Fair

A fun (albeit somewhat stressful) day at the Iowa State Fair with two adorable little ones... and their mommy
Layla the nurse with Clifford the big red dog

Petting baby turkeys
Flying on their favorite ride
Three little cuties in front of the big map

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Day on the Lake


Aaron's friend, Dan, and his fiance, Molly, invited us to go to the lake with them on Saturday. We were taking care of our adorable niece, Layla, this weekend, and we weren't sure if we should take her along with us, but in the end it turned out that she had more fun than all the rest of us.

She LOVED jumping off the boat into the water and, with her little life jacket on, we didn't have to worry too much about her ability to keep herself from drowning, although she's a good little swimmer anyways. It was a really fun time out on the water, and we even got Aaron to get in for a little bit! What a wonderful day in the sun.


The boys (Jake, Alex, and Dan) did flips off the back of the boat. Aaron made a great judge and handed out scores for difficulty and execution.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Alan David Mayen Giron

The newest addition to our family of A's, Alan David joins Arlin Lisbeth! Like Arlin, who shares Aaron's birthday, Alan has a special connection since he shares Andrea's birthday. He loves to play ball games and his favorite subject is drawing. He is an adorable 5 (almost 6) years old. He lives in Guatemala, just like Arlin, and we're hoping that someday we can go visit these two special children who have become a part of our family! We're so blessed and we're glad we can use our resources to bless other children. Isn't he cute?



Monday, August 2, 2010

Weekend Barbeque

Things I love: 

Cute nieces,


Sticky fingers,



My adorable husband,


Family time,



and big smiles!

7th and 8th Grade Late Night Party

Last Tuesday was the 7th and 8th grades' late night party at the church. It was a fun time, including pizza, a game of sardines, and  Night in the Museum 2. It was fun for us to continue to get to know the kids better, as we are going to be working with them over the next year, and it was fun to hang out with the wonderful Corey and Jennifer.