Danger Do Not Go Beyond This Point!!

Darren, Don and Perrin. If you look closely you can see a child point and then disappear. He decided it was wise to find a rock and cling for dear life. We got quite a few laughs out of this one, thought I'd share the smile.

The video stops at a convenient spot. He says he's not cursing. (I can say I might have said too much had I been there).  I was watching from behind the "Danger do not go beyond this point" sign.

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle was beautiful of course, but you can't really capture it in a picture.

The walkway around the pool was gold plated. Now we know how it feels to walk on gold.

Morro Bay

Thanksgiving weekend we drove up to Morro Bay with Darren's brother and his family. The drive alone was fantastic.

We even drove along the coast for a few hours. So that what real California beaches are supposed to look like.

After we got to the hotel, Darren and I took a late evening walk down the street to the bay. We saw seals, an otter, pelicans (it was fun to sit and watch them catch fish). We didn't have the camera that evening, but thats OK they waited for us 'till morning.

The night before this picture, Darren and Don had taken a walk and decided it would be fun to eat the prickly pear. Well, Don came home with cactus needles in his lip and tongue. Here is a picture of them standing next to the culprit cactus plant.

Check out all this salt water taffy!!!!

Happy Anniversary!!

3 Years ago on October 21, 2005, Darren invited me to join him on a triple date to celebrate his birthday. I knew him a little from institute, and he had helped me with some chemistry stuff I was struggling with for my anatomy class, needless to say, I accepted the invite. Tyler and Darren picked me up, along with Tyler's date and we headed off for an enchanted evening of dinner and a movie. On the way, Darren randomly turns to me and says, "you like meat right?" I smiled politely and said "I don't really eat meat." ........."seriously?" He played it off, but he was panicked. 

A few minutes later...

     Darren: "hey Tyler, MG"

         Tyler: "MG? But I thought"

Darren: "MG"               

They called Bryson, the third guy on this triple date. And the code talk continued.

Found out later Darren had a great meal of Carne Asada planned at 

Ancho's. We ended up eating at Macaroni Grill (MG) and had a wonderful night...

And so started one of many magical evenings...a year later we got married....2 years later.....

Macaroni Grill lets you write all over the table!!

mmmm...mmmm....Darren and I split a meal together. Usually I get the pasta milano...to die for!! But this was really good last time Darren got it and I ate a lot of it. 

I am so excited to eat!! That face is because I know I am gonna eat it all!!

Silly stories.....

Well, so far the Ocean Class is enjoying the new year. We've had many fun experiences and can't wait to enjoy what's ahead.... here are just a few silly moments.......

First off, let me point out that Ms. Tiffany is not an easy name to say. Especially with a Ms. Toni in the morning. Names get tough. While working with the children I've acquired a variety of names.....Ms. Neurf (not to sure how that one came about).......Ms. Teeny (Ironic, a am teeny).....M. Talalala (said with a slur).........and my absolute favorite...makes me giggle every time...Ms. Tickle me.....I just can't get enough of these little guys.

Our first two weeks of school were "all about me" we gave children many opportunities to explore themselves and how they are unique.  For one of our activities I cut out a face shape for each of my ocean friends. I sat all ten of them at the table and brought out the paint. "Today we are going to paint faces" I said. My friends cheered uncontrollably. "Wow, " I thought, "who knew they'd be so excited (little did I know.....). I turned my head (oops!) to grab the face cut outs. I turned back to unrecognizable children? They had painted their "faces". ......... Well, I couldn't be upset, after all, I said it. So we sat and painted faces, including Ms. Tiffany's face for the rest of activity.

No injuries so far, although sometimes I don't know how we manage that. Especially with our future QB. His current sport is baseball, which isn't so bad. But it was football, we have one soft football outside. When this little guy has it, everyone on the playground is playing football.... tackle football....... even little sally building castles in the sandbox is playing..... my friends are innocently standing in the wood-chips when BAM!!! They're tackled to the ground. I frequently explain to my friend the QB that some friends are not playing and its not a choice to tackle. (of course he feels bad, its all in fun to him)

to be continued......

50 Random Facts!

Alright so I was tagged a few months ago by my "sister in law" to write fifty random facts about myself. Well I'm back to being super busy and I have about a dozen things I need to do right now. So, what better time to sit down and write about nothing. I tend to do this when I have important things to do. Here we go......

1. I am happily married to the love of my life Darren Parker Gunnell.

2. We hope to have four or five children one day.

3. I have been Back packing in the High Sierras.

4. Within nine years I moved seven times.

5. All of those moves were within 6 miles of each other.

6. I was in cheer,

7. I was a band nerd. (clarinet)

8. I was home schooled  the last two and a half years of high school.

9. I graduated four months early.

10. I got my first job, at an insurance company, at 16 and kept it for almost 5 years.

11. My dog was attacked by a mountain lion in december of o3. I ran out with a towel on my head screaming, probably scared the crud out of the mountain lion, and scooped up my baby. A few stitches for my dog and some valume for me and we were all ok.

12. Thanks to #11 I now know Valume makes me hallucinate. 

13. I wore my first pair of stiletto heals on my wedding day. Did pretty well on them too, if I do say so myself!

14. I can honestly say right now that I love both my Jobs!! (Jealous??)

15. I love to read. My favorite books are those about history. Some all time favorites....

-Work and the Glory

-Prelude to Glory

-Children of promise

-Anne of Green Gables

-Peter Pan

16. I watch Peter pan and Beauty and the beast all the time. Although I am currently waiting for Beauty and The Beast to come out of the Disney Vault.

17. I love to dance. I am not great, only 2 years of lessons. I recently confessed to my husband that I still put on my ballet shoes when I am home alone.

18. I was teachers pet all the way up to 9th grade. In high school I was a punk to teachers. (Why I was home schooled.) 

19. Many of my friends from high school did not graduate. 

20. I have had the same best Friend since fourth grade. We don't see each other much but when we do its like we are still in fourth grade we just laugh.

21. I am a very messy eater. Actually I am a messy everything. Every project I do seems to be messy. I guess I am in the right career.

22. Ironically I married the neatest person ever. Even when he eats nachos he manages to stay neat.

23. I love to listen to music.

24. I have never died my hair.

25. OK, who thought up fifty? Thats a lot!! These are gonna get dumber and dumber. I'm running out of random facts!!

26. When we were little my sister and I had our own language. I finally learned to translate our conversations for my mom.

27. I cannot say no!! My brothers are the best at taking advantage of this!!

28. I can BS an A paper in 15 minutes. (Yeah, I know its not something to be proud of, but its come in awfully handy)One time my college professor had us go home and write a rough draft of our mid term paper. I didn't get the memo. So on the day of the mid term I wrote my mid term paper on the process of preparing for a mid term paper. My professor enjoyed it and gave me a 99 and three quarter percent.

29. Being surrounded by deep water petrifies me. I discovered this when I went wake boarding in Utah. I Jumped from the boat into the water and froze. I played it off though, no one knew...till now. I will still go in the water, it just takes a lot of will power.

30. I can't shop for clothes. I would love to go out and buy a new wardrobe. Once I'm shopping though I get bored. Used to drive my sisters nuts. (my twin sister is a fashion designer. Her life is clothes, imagine that)

31. I am sooooo stalling....... I have a ton of homework and lesson plans to do!!!

32. I love to watch comedies. Without a paddle and Tommy Boy are two of my favorites.

33.I have always (and still do) wished for a motorcycle. Don't know if I will ever have one, Or if I could ride it if I did. But I can still dream.

34. I am totally boring the heck out of my fellow bloggers!!!!

35. I was in the play mid-summer nights dream in high school. I was Cobweb the fairy.

36. I was in bell choir in eighth grade. Yep! Thats right! Bell choir, with all my friends. It meant a free trip to disneyland! We had a blast all year!

37. I have pen pals in france and botswana Africa.

38. I have only had 3 boyfriends including my husband.

39. I cannot sit still. I have to keep myself busy in classes and meetings.

40. I have only sat through a few movies all the way through.

41. I love to color. My brother bought me a coloring book and my own set of crayons for christmas last year.

42. I get home sick very easily. I still miss my family. Even though I live 10 miles away from them and see them every weekend. I miss my husband when we don't see each other all day.

43. I am a people watcher.

44. I am easy going but I can be OCD about some things.

45. I'm almost done!!!

46. I have worked in the ER. (don't regret it but I know its not for me!!)

47. I am a romantic!! & I day dream a lot!!

48. I love wedding reception food. Don't worry friends!! I go to support the bride and groom too!

49. I clean when i am stressed or upset.

50. I am done!!!

I did it!!

Tiffany Gunnell:

Riverside Community College

 Early Childhood Development Center

Ocean Classroom Teacher

Thats right! I am now a teacher!!! Beginning August 25th 2008 I will have fourteen of my own two and a half year old students. I am so excited. Those children are so precious. The entire center is so supportive but without the energy and love of those kids I would be useless! Wish me luck I'm a little nervous!

One last picture...

Although we have enjoyed our sunflower, it was time to say goodbye. But before we did that we wanted to capture just ho big this thing was. It all began with a seed too.

Our zucchini plant went crazy. We have Zucchini coming out of our ears. Good thing Darren loves my Zucchini bread huh. Good thing Zucchini freezes well too! It also gave us the opportunity to share.

Ocean Classes first EARTHQUAKE!!!

Today at work I was able to share a first earthquake experience with the kids. We were eating lunch, and chatting away about farm animals when suddenly the whole room starts to shake. Ms. Toni looked questioningly over to me and I looked to the kids. They were all looking at me. (Maybe because I am in charge of putting together an emergency preparedness plan by fall. You think they know that? Later I told Ms. Toni that that earthquake was unscheduled. Emergency situations are not to occur until fall when I have all our plans worked out) 

So we have a class full of 3 yr. olds experiencing their first earthquake. We calmly told them to crawl under the table. Little Carter, curious as he is, looks under the table and tells me there is nothing under there. Well by this time the quake is over. "that was the earth shaking. next time that happens we need to get under the table just in case things fall off our shelves" I told them. Kieren looked up at me in excitement and said "when will the earth wiggle again?!!"

Mean while next door in the Barnyard (4 yr. old) class children and teachers are screaming. Apparently Gabby had fallen off her chair Just before the quake and thought that either she caused the quake or that it threw her off her chair. Either thought is not a comforting one.

The Bear class never even felt it. They were stomping and dancing around when it happened. 

All in all, the RCC early childhood development center survived the earthquake. Apparently though I have my work cut out for me with those plans. We had some teachers rushing outside, and others telling the kids to stand against the wall. (Best bet is under the table right?? I mean the ground is still shaking outside)

I stand all amazed!!!

This orange sunflower is from our garden

Isn't it gorgeous!! I had to share this rare beauty 

with all of you.

Our sunflower plant is now taller than our bathroom

window!

Our garden has grown so much since the last post. 

We have at least four or five zucchini growing and 

lots of tomatoes. This heat has been rough on it.

Especially since neither of us are home very often 

to water. I am amazed at what can become of just a

small seed.

Hurray for Darren!!

Darren was promoted to supervisor a couple weeks ago. When he applied we were afraid he would be given a job at the San Bernardino or Ontario hub. Fortunately, Darren's hard work and integrity got him a job at the riverside center. His shift is the same, just al bit later. He seems to be adjusting well to the new responsibilities.  Its different to see him leave all dressed up as apposed to wearing dickie shorts and an old T-shirt.He is such a hard worker.We truly are blessed.

I was have also given a new job; at the preschool. I will still work with the kids in the morning but in the afternoon I will work in the office. I will be working with the NAEYC accreditation staff. I am so excited. I meet with the site supervisor this week to find out when I start.

Darren and I are both a little nervous to see how our schedules are going to work together. We know that things will work out fine though.

High Sierra Trip

I realized I never posted our biggest hiking trip. Here we are in the Sierras, at Box Lake.

It was so beautiful. Even looking at these pictures, I still can't

believe we were up there.

I caught my first (live) fish up there. I was so excited. We ate mostly fish up there, we had a few dried meals, but dinner relied on catching something each day. I thought I would be brave enough to gut my own fish but....yuck.... so Darren did that for me. We filtered our drinking water right from the stream with a pump. It was hard work but the water tasted so fresh. 

Hiking

Over the summer of 2007, Darren and I were able to spend many of our weekends hiking, in preparation for our trip to the Sierra Mountains. Hiking was a new experience for me. Darren however, is a natural. His family nicknamed him "mountain Goat" when he was younger because of the way he scaled the trails with little effort. I think I slowed him down a lot; of course he never lead me to believe so.

                                                       Baden Powell

                                              

                                                            

                                        Tahquitz Peak (My Favorite)                                      

               

               

               

                                                    Alder Creek

                                    

                                       

Looking back on this one we can smile; but it was a tough weekend.

              

Our Garden

A few months ago, I planted some sunflowers in a small planter outside our studio apartment. In just a few weeks we had green sprouts everywhere. Now those green sprouts have blossomed into gorgeous yellow sunflowers. 

Last week, we were given permission from the wonderful couple we rent from, to plant a garden. We were so excited we got started as soon as we could.

When we started the ground was hard as rock. Eventually we were able to plant. We now have a bell pepper plant, cucumber, zucchini, two tomato plants and corn. I also transplanted my Irises from there pots into the back corner.

We are so proud of our beautiful garden and enjoyed the time we spent together to create it.