Homeless for the weekend

So, we were forced out of our place.  Yes, we pay our rent on time.  Early almost every month actually! Our wonderful landlords needed to replace our tiny little porch and our stairs because it had some dry rot. Which has been attracting frogs on our porch because of the bugs... so, we all know how I coexist with those little creatures. (In case you don't know...the answer is that I don't!)

So ever since I started dating Robert I've heard about this place called Camp Winton.  It is a Boys' Scout Camp that he went to and loved.  He has been talking about doing this "extreme camping" trip, which is right next to the beloved Camp Winton, since we were only dating. So since we had no home for the weekend (or at least no way to get up into our place) it was the perfect time to go try out this "extreme camping" thing.

We packed up as little as we could, borrowed my Grandpa's canoe and headed up to Bear River Reservoir.  Robert and I took the canoe down off of his truck, packed it up with our stuff and started paddling.  Three miles later we made it to the dam.  We then had to unpack the canoe and little by little hike everything up and around this cliff to get to the upper reservoir.  Needless to say the canoe was the hardest part.  Just Robert and me on steep ground.  It took us two and a half hours and I was exhausted!  BUT-- once you get to the top you pack the canoe right back up and start paddling for another two miles.  Since the upper reservoir cannot be accessed without a boat, you are practically the only crazy adventurous people there.  We saw only three people once we made it to the top of the dam.

So, there you are on this gorgeous lake, surrounded by mountains and where we camped, not a soul in sight.  It was truly beautiful and we had a great time just relaxing, eating, playing card games together like Gin and Split Pea!  Robert taught me how to tie all your food up in a tree and we had a blast just exploring this ridiculously silent nature.  Not to mention that as we were camping, our little place got an awesome renovation.  We plan on going again and want to make it a tradition, but I sure am working out more before we do.  Here are some pictures of our adventure.

Robert starting our Hobo Dinner's...YUM! Dad you are right... EVERYTHING tastes better in the woods! Why is that?

Such a gorgeous place.

We saw 4 different amazing waterfalls!

On our first morning there we went out for a ride to see what we could see...

My attempt to get a picture of us both...FAIL.

Out for a ride.

Our new porch!

Over double the size. Thanks, Lance!

Graduation

Yeah, I'm a College Graduate... and I was EXCITED!

So, obviously, I survived those last few crazy weeks in college. I finished all my papers, projects and other deadlines and got all A's but one B. Not bad for a busy last semester.  We had a fabulous ceremony on May 21st and enjoyed a delicious BBQ afterward at the Elk Grove Park with family.  The actual day was so surreal because it felt like a fun celebration but in the back of my mind I kept thinking I'd be back when the next semester came around.  That's just what I've always done.  One of my most favorite things about the ceremony was the unity you could see from my major.  The Deaf Studies major is such a tight knit group and we were all friends too.  We all signed the Star Spangled Banner and **waved hands** as our fellow graduate received the Dean's Award on stage.  I will definitely miss my friends, school and all the fun experiences I have had but I have learned so much and have had some great times!  Also, if you know me at all, you know that I am a huge ally of the Deaf community, obviously why I majored in Deaf Studies.  If you feel like reading one of my final papers here is my 15 pager titled, "Medical Biases Decide the Fate of Your Child's Deafhood".  As I had just finished writing this, I sat down and read it out loud to my parents to get their input. (Yes, I made them endure all 15 pages). At the end I was literally crying.  I am so passionate about the awareness of Deaf Culture and ASL.  The injustices forced upon the Deaf community are unreal and the worst part is that the majority of people have no clue what has been done.  Anyway, lets not get me fired up on that subject! As of right now, I am applying for any job opening I see.  I truly hope to go back and get my Interpreting Certification or by some miracle go back and get a Master's/Teaching Cred. so I can teach to Deaf children.  My internship was in a Kindergarten-2nd grade class and I just fell in love with it!...One day....one day...

My biggest supporter! Could not have finished without this hunky guy!

My two best friends...my sisters. Aren't they absolutely beautiful?

Deaf Studies Graduates and Dr. Vicars, Dr. Rayman and Dr. Egbert!

Oh do I love these girls: Lindsey, Becky, Libby, Torre, Sarah, Casey, Chrissy, Joey and me!

Robert's parents and youngest brother, Kyle came too.

The Gale Family & Popi who is also a CSUS Alumni!

Heather made these adorable "ILY" signs and my professors and other grads loved them!! My whole family was in the first row right as we walked in waving the signs.... I love my family!

The final stretch--

It is crazy to think that my whole college career has boiled down to the end and I am in a final sprint to home plate.

It took 4 years and one semester ( I took a semester off to get married!!) ....but still not too shabby.

In 19 days I have:

--One 15 page research paper

--Six 2-4 page papers

--Video project

--Two in class performances

--One 10-minute presentation

--Two finals

--Only Eight and a half more hours at my placement

I'm feeling quite stressed but I just remind myself, THIS IS IT!
Whew....I'll feel a lot better when this is all done.
I can do this....I can do this...I can do this!!!

Mom time...Is there anything better?

Seriously, what is better than having a day to hang out with your mom? I mean it.  If I could, I would weekly....I love my momma! This past Saturday the hubs had his very first golf tournament. My dad was on his team **brag time (by the way they got 6th place, on Robert's very first tournament!!! $35 each! Way to go babe.)*  So I thought it would be fun to do something with my mom that I haven't been able to do in a long time -- Antique shopping. I have so many fond memories of gazing hours on end with my mom and sisters at fun old trinkets and knick-knacks...some familiar and some just plain odd. I had such a great time! There was one thing I had my eye set out for though. A cookie jar. I have been needing/wanting one for so long so I thought this was the day I would find one.  When I informed Robert that I wanted look for a cookie jar he requested that it wasn't "lame" but "really cool".  He said, "You should get Chewbacca or Cookie Monster.  Those are cool."  After walking aisle by aisle at the Antique Trove, we did find some but not me at all, and by Robert's defintion..."really lame".  I thought that it was just not my day, until we walked into the second to last vendor's nook. On the very top of the shelf I saw white and an oreo cookie. I grabbed it down and found my very first cookie jar!  It was so me...I am a milkoholic!  I was ecstatic when I saw the price too.  Compared to other cookie jars we saw throughout the day that range from $50+, this one was only $29.99 in excellent condition... After a disappointing beginning of my day I was so happy to have found what I originally set out to buy. On another note...

The only disappointment of the day was that I found something I have NEVER seen before. I have always been in love with Edgar Degas-he is a famous French artist and sculptor. My favorite art pieces of all time belong to him. I have a blanket I adore with a replica of my favorite painting... One piece that is especially close to my heart is a sculpture called Little Dancer Of Fourteen Years. My uncle brought me back a postcard of her when he visited NYC and I have it framed. So when my mom said "No way! Look Emily!" and when I turned I saw a small replica of my statue, although the colors on it were different from the original, but I still loved it!  I knew it was mine as fast as I could run over and get my hands on it!  Though when I picked it up I realized my dreams were dashed. $135. No way could I buy that when I told Robert I'd spend $40 tops and on a cookie jar. I reluctantly put it back down but I have never seen anything ever that I have such a strong love for. As cheezy as it sounds, It's just a statue to a lot of people but this statue means so much more to me. It is my hopes, dreams, childhood and so many emotions packaged in a beautiful bronze girl.

One day though.....maybe one day.