current TV obsessions.

School is busy. My life is the same as it always is. Lately I have been living for sneaking in hours of my favorite shows. I wanted to share some of my current obsessions, in case anyone is missing out!

First - HIMYM. ugh. so not happy with the ending. That's all I will say about that.

Big Bang Theory - ALWAYS makes me laugh. Sheldon may be one of my favorite characters of all time.

Grey's Anatomy - I will admit, like every other fan, it used to be SO MUCH BETTER, but I have been watching for so long, and I am so invested, I can't let it go. I watch every week, and I have been in love with Alex for years. I don't want to hear anything about him being a bad guy. He can't fool me. I remember the skin-to-skin care he gave that preemie. He's a softy! The drama never fails to suck me in!

Game of Thrones - b/c...obviously! I can't get enough of the twists and turns. If you haven't watched it, you really just have to give it a try. I didn't think I would get in to it, but I was sucked in. The characters are so interesting. Not to mention, it makes me HATE some of the characters. I heard myself saying "I hope her throat gets sliced next" during the last episode. Totally not my normal reaction, but I have such strong feelings about these people!

Finally, a new favorite: Silicon Valley - this comes on right after GoT, and I laugh so hard that I cry during the episodes. It's about this geeky guy that created an app/software/something or other, and he is trying to get his company going. The one-liners in this are just too great. Seriously, go watch it. You wan't regret it.

Easter 2014

This weekend Dan and I returned to good ol' BloNo for Easter with the families.

I'll let some pictures do most of the talking:

Friday we stopped by Dan's dad's house, then I headed to my friend's house to catch up and see her cute little girl.  I ended the night playing with that handsome boy on the slide!  Rylan is my brother's fiance's son, and I love that kid to pieces.  He is hilarious, cute, and so sweet!  I spent a lot of time with him this weekend, and I am so excited that he is getting more comfortable around me!

And yep, you read that right.  My brother's fiance!  Saturday morning, my baby brother proposed to his girlfriend.  Michele is a great girl, and I know they are going to be so happy together.  I am so proud of Josh for accepting Rylan as his own and being a wonderful father to him.  It is so cool to see them together.

Saturday my mom, Dan, and I went to the zoo with Lauren and the girls.  Cartwheels were done, animals were seen, and Aidan got her face painted to look like a zebra.  It was a good time, for sure!  Ms. Brenna Bug LOVED the monkeys.

Saturday night we went to dinner.  Chinese.  Yum.  And I finally got a picture of the whole gang ;)  I am one lucky aunt, that's for sure!

Saturday night also included Aidan's first motorcycle ride.  She absolutely loved it!  Bug also loved being pushed on the tricycle.  Tongue out = happy Brenna!

Some of our family from Ohio also came by on Saturday night.  They made a last minute trip to IL to see my grandfather in Peoria who is not doing well.  We stood around all evening telling stories and laughing.  I love when we get to see them!

Easter included church, lunch with Dan's nana, mom and her kids, and a few more minutes with that sweet boy.  We were playing with the windmills, and it was adorable watching him try to make them spin ;)

It was a great time, and I loved every minute of it.

Autism Awareness

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. I don't have a lot of personal experience with autism. It has not affected anyone in my family. But in my career field, school psychology, I see autism regularly. Even as a student, only being in the school 2 days a week.

Kids with autism have stolen my heart. There is so much uniqueness in the population, and there is a saying that if you know one kid with autism, you know one kid with autism. Like typically developing peers, kids with autism are all individuals. They have SO much to offer the world, and I learn from them regularly. I am also always smiling when I am around kids with autism. There is something about the way many of those students interact/experience the world that is eye-opening and funny. They always seem to put life in perspective for me by their straight-forward way of seeing the world and interacting. (again, in general, as no two people with autism are the same) I really hope that throughout my career, I can continue to interact with students with ASD so that I can help them to have better experiences in school. 

I encourage you all to try and learn more about autism today and throughout April.