Let Me Catch You Up

First off, I had spring break. I mean really, those words are always a start to a great story. Spring Break: Junior Edition, consisted of a trip back to the home base. For the first weekend at home, mom and I fought the traffic all the way down to Houston to visit my aunt and uncle and to help my cousin and her family move into their new house. So we spent our hours playing with the kiddos, unpacking boxes, and catching up on extended-family time. Always good stuff.

meeting my cousin's 3 month old daughter for the first time

Mom and Elliot

so precious

Did I mention my cousin has a fantastic pug named Sydney? You can bet I had oodles of fun with her.

she's smiling!

And of course the trip was accented by the eternally perplexing and mind-numbing experience that is Buc-ees. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I feel half joy, have sadness for you. Buc-ees is a gas station slash convenience store, but it is so much more. First of all, it's huge. As in larger then you're probably thinking the word "huge" even alludes to. Second, it has everything you could ever think of, and many thinks that you never could. (enter beaver nuggets) There are stuffed animals, kolaches, Buc-ees boxer shorts, grilling equipment...need I go on? Hopefully these pictures will communicate the essence of Buc-ees more than my words are capable of.

outside Buc-ees

giant plush animal, anyone?

The following week was filled with little adventures. One of my favorites was our visit to Klyde Warren Park. Dallasites know what I mean, yes? This is a new park in downtown Dallas that the city is very proud of, and rightfully so! Why? Because it is built on top of a freeway. Yes, on top of a freeway. Over the past couple of years, they basically slapped some concrete on top of a part of the free way that dips down below street level and turned it into a sort of extended  tunnel. Throw some dirt, grass, and trees on top and you've got a park! But in all reality it is a fantastic park. It has a very modern design with the sidewalks criss-crossing every which way, sun chairs and little tables are scattered all across the lawns. There's two long gravel walkways framed by a collection of miniature St. Louis arches, there's a dog park, you can even rent equipment to play croquet, ping pong, and put put golf. And best of all, there are food trucks! The sensation that is sweeping the nation has finally made it to Dallas! The trucks ranged from hamburgers and hot dogs to sandwiches to Viatnemese food to ice cream. We chose the Viatnemese food truck, but only because it had mint lemonade. Which was phenomenal. Did I mention that it was 85 degrees this day? Straight up sweltering. That's Texas for you, 85 degrees in early March. Yikes. This temperature spike also resulted in my first sunburn of the season. Summer is the season of sunburns for me.

Other highlights from the week included a much needed hair cut, a pedicure, plenty of card playing, and even more coffee.

Klyde Warren Park. See the freeway?

goodbye split ends!

pedicure day: this was the hardest decision I had to make that day.

cards cards cards

all hail the latte

The first week back at school has been fairly eventful as well. PostSecret came to my school. For those of you who know what that is, I think you can agree that's pretty cool. I certainly found it interesting. 

Post Secret, Frank Warren

I don't know if I've mentioned this before but Wednesdays are my observation days. I'm an Education major and on Wednesdays I go into a third grade classroom, work with the kids, and observe how the teacher runs the class. It has its ups and downs, some days are hilarious and some are mind-numbingly boring. Last week while I was at the school, the kids were testing, so I was left to grade papers. While trudging through reading response questions over a passage about folktales, I came across this gem.

Question: "what characteristics do many Americans admire?"

Correct Answer: "bravery, generosity, kindness, etc"

Student A answer: "the great lakes"

Student B answer: "laser vision and piranha teeth"

I mean really. You've got to give the kids some credit for just being so darn creative! 

The last thing I have to catch you up is  a 12 hour dance marathon that my school puts on every year. The idea is that we dance/stay on our feet for 12 hours to raise money for cancer research. This was my second year to do it, but I only did a 6 hour shift. All the same, it's loads of fun! I mean, how often do you get to participate in a dance marathon?! As one of my friends pointed out, it's practically straight out of Gilmore Girls. But unfortunately, ours is not nearly as adorable as theirs. 

Me with my little, Colleen, getting ready to start dancing!

Welp, I think that's pretty much all I have to update you on. All I have left to give you for now is...

a picture of Delilah for good measure.

Ciao!

The Jogger's Wave

You know that saying "it's the little things?" I do. And I use it a lot.

For example, my roommate just made me an adorable monogram for my computer. It's the little things.

Or I love that when you're out jogging, you can wave at every jogger you pass and they'll wave back at you. No matter who they are and no matter who you are. It's the little things.

Or what about those awesome holiday themed college care packages from your mom? Ya, those too. Especially when they include the infamous JD's Cookies. It's the little things.

And finally, re-vamping a blog. Yes, my blog got a little makeover! Or maybe just some touch ups. Either way, it looks a little different and I'd like to think it looks a little nicer.

It's the little things.

Airplanes and Thai Food

Hey guys it's me, Bonnie. Before I jump into the major story for the post, let me let you in on a little secret: I'm really excited. If you know me, you know how absurdly much I like Ben Rector's music. It's an unhealthy amount of liking. I was first introduced to his magnificent music the summer before my freshman year of high school by my sweet friends Madeleine and Ann Marie. That was way back when, when he was known by no one. So unknown that he had time to do a private "concert" for a small private school in Texas. We're talking six years ago. I like to believe I'm one of the few who knew him before he was known. Needless to say, I've loved him since but have never been able to see him live. And believe me, I've tried. I've monitored and followed every single tour he's gone on. I've tracked every show he's had. But not once has it worked out for me to see him. When I'm in Texas, he's performing in North Carolina. When I'm in North Carolina, he's performing in Texas. When I'm in Italy, he's performing in North Carolina...again.

But y'all.

I checked his website today and he has released his spring tour schedule and GUESS WHAT?! He'll be in Raleigh in April. And now, SO WILL I. I'm so pumped. No really, I'm so pumped. I jumped out of my chair and danced around the room when I read that. I mean, guys, I GET TO SEE BEN RECTOR. And on top of all of that, he's announced that he will have a new record coming out this summer. I just can't contain my excitement. If my all caps could be any bigger, they would be. And for those of you who live in a box and don't who this groundbreaking musician is, here's his website and his facebook. Because you should all go buy his music and tickets to his concert.

I mean really. How could you not love this guy?

Moving on to the chunk of this post, the latest big event in my life was this: I went to Ohio. Dayton to be exact. If I haven't already mentioned it, my oldest sister (Caroline) is on tour with Shrek the Musical as their Production Stage Manager (aka the coolest job on the face of the earth). While her job is mind-blowingly awesome, she doesn't get much time to visit. Also, this is her second year touring with Shrek, and as life would have it, it had never worked out for me to see the show. To solve this, I had toyed with visiting her sometime this semester to spend time with her and get to see her show, but was having a bit of trouble working it out.

Cue other older sister (Mary Catherine). MC, in her creative brilliance came up with a much better idea. She schemed a beautiful plan and we decided to surprise Caroline at the end of her two week stint in Dayton Ohio. MC drove to me Thursday night and then we were on the road by 5:30 the next morning. It was a six hour drive (which for the Walker family is nothing to be concerned with). After making the trip we showed up to Caroline's hotel around noon and sat down in chairs in the lobby. Her boyfriend (who had helped with the plan) and she came downstairs and we popped up like to over excited prairie dogs. She looked up, saw us, looked back down, then did a major double take and yelled "WHAT THE?!" It was hilarious. She kept  asking how? and when? and why? etc. Surprises are so much fun, y'all.

this is what we look like at 5:30 am

first light in the mountains of Virginia

It was a fantastic weekend. On Friday we went to the National Air Force Museum (which who would have guessed that would be in Dayton, right?)  If you ask anyone in Dayton what there is to do around there, that is response numero uno. You would think it would be dull. And you would be wrong. They have the landing capsule from Apollo 15. They have several sky high missiles and rockets. They have a stealth bomber. They have the plane that dropped the fat man and the little boy in WWII. And they had four of the five Air Force Ones (the fifth is the one currently in use). And what's more, we got to walk on and through the Air Force Ones. Yep. Meaning I stood where Johnson was sworn in after Kennedy's assassination. Talk about awesome. Another favorite part was the R&D section. It was half of a hanger, and all the planes were really crammed in there, so much so that nothing was roped off and we were allowed to wander and weave all around. You could walk under wings, under bellies, heck you could get nose to nose with the plane that went faster than the speed of light. If you're ever in Dayton: go.

boarding Air Force One!

planes planes planes

Of course we also got to see Caroline's show which was awesome. It was great writing, great music, and if I may say so, seemed very well managed (see what I did there?) If it's coming to a town near you, it's well worth the ticket. Check out their tour schedule here. Another highlight of the weekend was eating at one of Caroline's favorite Thai restaurants. Last summer, Caroline traveled to Shanghai and Thailand with Shrek and she said this was the most authentic Thai food she's ever had outside of Thailand. So, way to go, Dayton. Apparently you have cool airplanes and good Thai food. Who knew?

in our seats ready for the show to start!

backstage post-show

on Caroline's tour bus

Now, I can't close out my recounting of my time in Dayton without providing you quite possibly the most significant detail: there was snow. Everywhere. It snowed on Friday on our way into Ohio and the snow stayed for the whole weekend. I mean piles of snow. I'd never seen snow like this. It was that snow that blankets everything and then sticks around for days, slushing the streets and nasty-fying the cars. I'd heard people from the North talk about what a nuisance snow was but I never believed it. And I still don't believe it. But I can see how they would believe it.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend and it was so settling to have time with both of my sisters. The three of us hadn't been together since last July, so it was long overdue.

bundled but happy! 

Caroline in front of her theater and MC and I in the snow. We don't have any theaters in front of which to stand. 

And that's what's been going on with me as of late. Now let me close with one more thing. This, my friends, is a word that just jumped into my list of top 10 favorite words (maybe I'll explain that whole thing later) courtesy of the aforementioned Ben Rector. I'll leave you with this:

Curmudgeon.

Ciao.

We Are the Phi Mu Ladies

With January comes every sorority girl's favorite time of year...RECRUITMENT! Four magnificent days of recruiting new sisters and one wonderful bid day to celebrate it. It was especially nice to jump back into being at school by spending all those days with my sisters.

my little, my big, and me all dressed up for pref night!

sportin that phi for bid day

my big and I

love love love phi mu

we love our quatrefoils

class pictures

Really and truly pictures display that week better than any stories I could tell. So I'll just leave this post as is. Short and sweet.

Ciao 2012, Ciao 2013

Even though it was far from fun to leave Italy, being home for Christmas was wonderful. Unfortunately, my oldest sister was unable to come home for Christmas, and my brother and his wife spent Christmas with her family so our 7 person family was reduced to 4, plus Delilah. Of course. But Caroline got to skype in for part of the morning and we opened up our presents from her and even the presents for her that had been sent to the house. I love this picture of Caroline skyping in Christmas morning. The three sisters reunited! 

Mary Catherine opening a present for Caroline 

the Walker Family Christmas Tree

As I mentioned in my last post, one of my dearest childhood friends, Corinn, got married over Christmas break. It was such a joyous time to spend with her and her (then) fiance / (now) husband Micah and hear about how God had worked in their lives to bring them together. I could not have been more honored to be a part of this celebration. I can't even think of what to write to express how wonderful it was. The decorations were all handmade and were so precious. I even swiped some of those precious pom poms after the wedding and they're now hanging on my wall in my room. 

Corinn and the girls

the wedding party

Of course, after Christmas comes New Years. We may be 16 days in at this point, but I still can't believe that it's 2013. Absurd. But even more, I can't believe how much 2012 held for me. In short: 2 5Ks, 2 returns to Texas, a wonderful summer at camp, a great trip to Nashville to visit a sister and a friend, 1 full family gathering, 2 trips to Paris, 109 incredible days in Europe, 2 monumentally beloved new friends, 4 American visitors, and a joyous marriage. Blessings upon blessings upon blessings.

2012 in 16 pictures

And as is almost always the case, the first big thing of the new year is the trip back to North Carolina for school. The 19 hour drive from Texas through Tennessee and North Carolina is always a favorite of mine. It means long days on the road, great scenery, lots of coffee, and lots of quality time with one of the parentals. There truly are few things that I love more than a good road trip. 

saying goodbye to Texas and hitting the road with this cutie and two cups of coffee

lunch break on the river in the Carolina Smokies

Stateside

Y'all. I'm home.

Chances are most of you have already heard from me, but YES I made it home! My sweet Mom and Dad greeted me at the airport along with Delilah wearing her Christmas jingle bell collar. Dallas even welcomed me back with the cloudy and rainy weather that it knows I love so much.

The travelling went well, in all it was 23 hours from doorstep to doorstep, give or take an hour. Yikes, right? I struggled a bit with my luggage, because as you can see below, I had more than a couple bags. Granted, I checked two of them, but before I could check them, I traipsed (or rather trudged) around the airport with this leaning tower of luggage. At one point I walked backwards all the way through a terminal, trying to keep all my luggage stacked up straight. Quite a funny site. But not a funny site when it's 6:30 am. But on the bright side, I flew back to the States in style, sporting a chunky sweater, and matching my beloved Lindsey. Aaaaand 10 hours later I was on US soil, with a three hour layover (most of which was spent in passport control and customs) in Philadelphia.

me and my stack of luggage in the Rome Airport

loving our sweaters

just as I met up with my parents when I arrived at DFW

The next 24 hours were filled with what my Dad calls "Team Christmas" hard at work. My Mom and I bought the tree, put up the garland, put up the stockings, put up the tree, decorated the tree, set up the manger scenes, and basically Christmas-fied the house. If you know me you know I LOVE Christmas so this was just wonderful.

got the tree!

decorating. and LOVING it.

always a favorite.

As part of my Mom's Christmas present, my Dad and I got her tickets to Michael W. Smith's Christmas concert when he was in Dallas on Tueseday. We went to a Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant Christmas concert when we were little and my Mom loved it so much. Personally, all I remember from the concert was Amy Grant wearing a big red dress and then falling asleep. But since I was a little older for this one, it was a little more fun! A good Christmas concert is always a must. And we even got to meet Santa!

Mom and I at the concert

if you don't know who this is, we need to talk. 

In other news, my sweet childhood friend, Corinn, is getting married in 8 days. Crazy, I know. I can't believe it, but I am beyond happy for her and her fiance, Micah. They're wonderful. Needless to say, it was joy filled reunion when I got to see her beautiful face at a shower on Sunday. So. Much. Joy. Mom caught us mid-hug  in the picture below. So there's been lots of wedding festivities going on and still more to come. Today I spent part of my day at her house making flowers. She's so crafty and so creative the flowers are so cute. 

SO. HAPPY. 

aren't these adorable?

Lastly, the weather has finally turned here in Texas. On Saturday it was a high in the low 70s, but today the high was in the 50s. HALLELUJAH. After having cold weather in Rome, 70 degrees didn't exactly feel like Christmas, so I was extremely grateful for the turn for the cold. But because the weather is so odd here in Texas, the leaves are still turning and falling. Even though my beloved state is a season behind, at least I get the joys of fall, like these leaves that were in our driveway today. 

So in short, I'm safely home and celebrating Christmas in all ways possible. While I certainly miss Rome, I'm happy to be here. 

Ciao!