University of Houston Tour

Friday, Jaina had a tour set up for the University of Houston. She has been talking about attending the University of Houston for a very long time. We have given her our opinions about the area of town the school is in, it's not in the best part of town. I wish the University would be in a better part of town. But she really likes the school, and they have one of the best medical programs in the United States so I told her the only way to figure out if this school is the one you want to attend then you will need to tour it.

Friday morning before her tour we went to the Houston Guild Shop, a high-end thrift store. It was interesting, we saw used fur coats for 6,000.00 it was insane, but they also had other affordable things in there but not anything I was really interested in. They we headed over to Phoenicia Specialty Foods which is a super cool grocery store, bakery, bar and restaurant. We got lunch there; I had a Greek sausage warp that was not good and this pastry that looked super yummy but was not good at all. 

We got to the school and were the first one's there for the tour, got checked in and headed to our seat. There was about 30 people who showed up, a lot different than the 100 people that showed up for the University of Tennessee tour. 

We watched a short movie clip about the history of the campus and what all they offer to their students. then they broke us up in groups for the walking tour.

Here is what we learned.

Pros:

It is only 7,000 a semester!!!!

They are rated top #1 for their medical program in the United States and is only 10 minutes from the downtown medical center where she would most likely work. 

They have school twirling at all football and sporting events so she could try out. 

The school prides themselves on diversity. They have students from all around the world attend school there, all ages, all cultures, all religions. 

It is a commuter school meaning she could live off campus and commute to school or take online classes. Or she can stay in the dorms if she wants to.

Cons:

It doesn't seem as student involved as UT, but it also depends on how much student involvement she wants. 

The school is in the ghetto although walking around the inside of the campus felt very safe. 

All the buildings are separated and is a pretty big campus

She didn't know what to think.

At the end of the tour, she had mixed emotions. She really didn't know what to think. She likes the fact that it's in a big city and she could commute to school, and I like the fact that it seems very affordable. 

We have a tour set up for the University of Texas Tech during spring break and we will set up a few more if she decides to tour anymore. 

She is still up in the air about what her future we would LOVE to see her go off to the University of Tennessee, but I don't know. We have made it very clear that it doesn't matter to us. It doesn't matter if she wants to go to a junior college, big university or wherever, that this is her life and her path and she has to figure it out. I know what ever she does we will support her no matter what. 

Surprise Package at Allie's

Thursday evening, we were headed out to Mimi's for the weekend. Jaina had a tour set up for the University of Houston and we were also going to Mardi Gras.

We stopped at Allie's house on our way out to give him his Girl Scout cookies and chocolate bars and he had a surprise for Jewell. I remember when the girls were little Allie use to put surprise packages for the girls and hide them behind his coach for them to find. They still remember that. 

She got a couple shirts, candy and the cutest Axolotl stuffie and a few other things in her bag

The Axolotl had baby Axolotls in its belly. Super cute!

She played with him all weekend long at Mimi's

After her gift we headed to Subway for dinner and got to Mimi's house around 10pm. Once we got to Mimi's we were pooped and ready for bed.

January Randoms

January is one of those months that just well sucks, lol January and February are not fan favorites of mine. Cedar fever has ramped up and I feel awful. It's the pits.

Life update on school.

 For Jaina this is her down time from school sports and to just focus on her academics. We have been having lots of conversations about which college she wants to go to and what her plans are. She feels very conflicted on where she wants to go and what exactly her plans will be, but we will get there. 

Jolee, she is doing great. So far, her grades have been good this semester. She is loving theatre and has practice twice a week. Unfortunately, she will not be an Angel in the play. Even though she tried out and made the part she did not make it in as an actor because she failed last semester. She was really bummed but it's a good teaching lesson as to why grades are so important and why we are constantly on her about her grades. But with that being said, she still gets to participate and is the prop and make up manager. She really likes being the prop manager and is excited to help put make up on all the actors.

Jewell is doing great too. She missed the testing period for GT. She really wanted to test this year, but she missed the time frame but that's okay, she's still smart either way! She is whizzing through all her subjects, and she has a few field trips coming up. 

I can't believe we are on the downside to school!

Showing off her 100 she made on her math test!

We are still selling Girl Scout cookies. We have sold to all our friends and family, and we've walked our street several times. All our neighbors have bought from her. We are down to the last 13 packages to reach her goal!

Here are the patches she earned so far this year that she received at the Christmas party. Her vest is so full of patches we have been filling the inside of her vest. Hard work sure does pay off!

Over the Snow

Tuesday the roads were still icy. School ended up getting cancelled Wednesday as well and they finally went back to school, and I went back to work on Thursday once the ice melted. 

It was still pretty cold outside, but the sun was shining and some of the ice was melting

Jewell played outside again but not as much as the days before. I think by day 3 of being stuck in the house we were all over it. One "snow" storm a year in Texas is good enough. I'll take the hot and sweaty days anytime over freezing cold and stuck in the house.

She collected a big ice ball in a plastic bag and stuck it in the freezer and wanted to save it

Justin had to go into work. He said the roads were still pretty bad but by the end of day the ice had already melted a lot.

Thursday all was back to normal. The girls headed to school and I headed into work. Hopefully this will be it for the year.

 

Winter Storm Day 2

Monday, we woke up to a winter wonderland

The girls were so excited and immediately put their winter coats, hats and gloves on and went outside. Unfortunately, it was not snow but solid ice! So hard you could not even break it apart

But didn't stop them from getting outside in it.

I had to take a million pictures. I think snow pictures are so pretty

Tippy was trying to figure out what the white stuff is and why she can't go outside

Our street was solid ice

Jolee kept Stormi locked up in her room but buddled him up and took him outside to look at the snow. 

Such a cute picture of them :)

Looking cute in her snow outfit and new jacket

Justin took Jewell up to the hill on the other side of the street in and tried pushing her in a plastic tub, but it didn't work, instead they came back freezing

So, they just had a "snow" ball fight in the front yard

They were having a blast

We enjoyed watching them have so much fun

For the rest of the day, we chilled inside while Jewell went in and out of the front door a million times. 

Rusty is no fool he knew exactly where he was going to stay all day long, by the warm fire

Punkin too

Tooooooo cold and icy to do anything