Busy again...

and too busy to blog apparently!

I have been in the midst of trying to get everything together for my next school stuff (online at www.rctc.edu for my AAS in HIT), which has been somewhat of a total and complete mess!!

I graduated, which I don't think I've blogged about either. It was wonderful yet sad at the same time. I made a lot of great friends over the last 2.5 years, and I'm really going to miss them!

Alex started back to school yesterday (5th grade, oh why doesn't the sky open up and swallow me?? I'm not ready for him to be this old!!) He got the teacher he wanted and is sitting right by one of his friends. His only downside is that his best friend is in the other 5th grade class. And yes, there really is only 2 5th grade classrooms at his school. He goes to the smallest elementary in the district, which I really like.

He's also going to try to be in the safety patrol. First he has to pass a test come Monday. Then we'll have to be at school somewhat earlier than normal. But thanks to the FlyLady, that will not be a problem!

More to come soon! I have gobs of pics and stuff to blog on!

Graduation finally here!

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Originally uploaded by mlochk22@

I finally graduated with my Associates degree on Friday, August the 1st, 2008. It only took me almost 3 years to complete my education, and I'm glad I did, yet glad it's over at the same time.

For more pics go here.


I just realized that the slideshow doesnt have all 61 pics, only 36, so I must fix that. You can see all by clicking on the pic of me that is linked to flickr.com.

Butterflies @ Ripley's Museum in Branson MO

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Originally uploaded by mlochk22@

I just had to share these. Yes, they were real...yes they are now dead and mounted for the enjoyment of the masses. I just think that they are spectacular and just had to share them with you guys. Plus, I'm behind on my blogging from being too busy, so extras to catch up!

These displays are in the hallway going to the bathroom, and some even in the womens bathroom (my dh informed me that there are a variety of pipes in the mens bathroom, not more butterflies/moths), which I did take a picture of.

I absolutely love the wings and how beautiful these things must have been in real life.

I have many more pics of these on flickr, so click and view!

Walking Stick of significance (to us anyway)

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Originally uploaded by mlochk22@

We had never seen one of these walking sticks before. Mostly we see the mottled brown or gray tree colored sticks. Maybe some green ones on occasion. But a yellow one with large areas of green and red? Heck no! we ain't never seen a christmas walking stick before!!

We searched the internet but discovered that there are only 2,500 different varieties of walking sticks (with more being found as we speak...), making an exact identification somewhat difficult. Luckily, we have friends. Friends with entomology degrees...

So we got hold of our entomologist buddy, sent a pic via email and got a response back from him. Too bad my hubby deleted it, cause it had the exact scientific name on it (which I'll never remember). I do know, however, that it is the male of the species, cause the female is even larger than it and that it prefers oak leaves and grape vine. If I remember correctly (and don't quote me on this), it's one of the larger species in North America.

Enjoy the pic, more on flickr if you'd like to see them!

Slideshow of Bugs

I just finished with my small (only 7 pics) slideshow of some of the different bugs we saw over our vacation. Didn't want to overwhelm anyone with the craziness ya know.



enjoy!