Kaydee...

I don't think I've ever introduced Kaydee to you on my blog!

"Kaydee is a bright reverse-brindle Boxer with a great personality. She is the outdoor type who likes pina-coladas and long walks on the beach..."



Tee-hee Just kidding!

Here's a bit about her though:

• She's a Boxer.



• She is about 1 year 8 months old.



• She's very mature for her age... She's not hyper like a lot of Boxers.



• Her color is very rare. She's a reverse brindle.



• Mom affectionately (And sometimes not-so-affectionately) calls her "The Beast." She randomly destroys stuff whenever I leave her home alone. She doesn't like being left home! She even learned how to open the pantry door. She's getting better though... Not so much stuff is getting destroyed!



• She snores at night... A lot!

Yesterday evening I met with a friend, Abi, at a park in Onawa for supper. (Thanks Abi! I had a great time!) As I was leaving home, Kaydee gave me that look that said, "Please take me along!" Either that, or it was the look that said, "If you don't take me along, I'll destroy everything I can and you'll be sorry!" It's so hard to tell the difference between the two! :o) lol

Anyway... I decided to take her along, since we were meeting at the park. She loved it! And like Abi said, there was a certain safety in having her along! I always feel very safe with Kaydee because she looks mean... But she's not at all.

Last summer I brought her along with me when I took my brother, Caleb and my 2 cousins to swimming lessons. She was just 8 months old, but even then, she could tell when to be protective. As all the moms and kids walked by, she wiggled all over, anxious to meet them. But when some scary lookin' boys went by on skateboards, the hair stood up on her back and she growled as they went by. Yup, I love my dog!

Anyhoo.. Just thought you might like to meet Kaydee since I haven't had time to work on any projects lately to post about.

CYIA Pictures...

Okay... So finally... The long awaited pictures of CYIA! There are lots lore on the CEF website...

Some of the crazy staff girls!

Katie, Me, Jenny, and Anna

"Making Songtime Meaningful" class that I taught with Katie!

I love working with brilliant people... They make me look brilliant too!!

Clik and I

She was one of the dorm moms and I was her right-hand helper!

I was the big bad one who announced LIGHTS OUT!

Katie, Marylen, and I teaching the puppet segment. It was lots of fun!

Good 'ol Labor of Love... (AKA Chores)

Sneaking celery from the kitchen before dinner! Muahaahaahaa!

About halfway through, we had a "Western Night!" It was a blast! As part of it, we played the gameshow...

"WHEEL OF TORTURE"

**Said in my best announcer voice**

The idea of the game was that each contestant would come from the back room, one at a time. When we said GO, they had to lift each box and say what was underneath. The 5th box had a shocking surprise in it!

Nolan!

When each person would lift it up, he'd pop up and yell at them! It was hysterical! They screamed... Jumped... Screeched... Yeah, you get the picture.

Anyway... I was the... Ummm... Lovely assistant during the gameshow! :o)

Nathaniel, the rodeo clown. Yeehaw!

My dear friend Jenny and I!

I miss you and love you, Jenny!

So... I had a simply wonderful time at CYIA this year! Can't wait for next year!

~Nicole

I'm in the NEWS!

Hey!

Look who was in the news!

It's CYIA time again!

I know... I know....
It's seems as if I've dropped off the face of the earth.

My deepest apologies!

I've been in Central City, Nebraska for Christian Youth In Action (CYIA) Since last Monday. I've come here the last 8 years now. As a student the first 5 years and as staff since then. I really do look forward to it every year even though it's awfully intense and we don't really get much sleep!!!

In fact, this pretty accurately describes the plea of most of us by about the 3rd or 4th day!!!

Mountain Dew is my shepherd;

I shall not doze.

It maketh me to wake in hot and stuffy classrooms:

It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.

It restoreth my buzz:

It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,

I will fear no evil.

For thou art with me;

thy caffeine and thy sugar they comfort me.

Thou preparest a sugar high before me in the presence of mine teachers:

Thou anointest my day with pep; my bottle runneth over.

Surely attentiveness and concentration shall follow me all the days of CYIA:

And I will dwell in the land of Mountain Dew forever.

So there you have it! :o)
I'll update more about it later!