ENJOY

We wish you all a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day weekend.  

Yikes!

Three hours of sleep is not enough to function on and that is what I got last night due to this.  Too much commotion three doors down from us.  Half a dozen fire trucks, lights, sirens, people and news crews, not to mention the yucky smoke. 

The woman who rents the house has had questionable behavior there many times before and my sweet neighbor Lisa didn't call 911 sooner because she thought it might just be another fight.  

I guess I will have to try to catch up tonight.  Right, that won't happen.  Phil and I are packing so we can leave as soon as I am done with school tomorrow.  We are headed to the promised land, Wyoming, to visit my family.  

 

Picture Day

Picture day cracks me up.  You would laugh your head off if you could see a few of my kids today, especially the girls.  Wow, they are going to hate themselves in a few years when they look back at their "cool" 6th grade-ness (Have you seen You, Me, and Dupree?).  When I get them back I will black out faces and post to show you a few of the best.  

Rebekah

I realize this is extremely late but I had to post it.  This is a picture of my niece, Bekah, on the 4th of July.  Phil's family gets together at West Jordan Park and we eat a picnic dinner, play games, visit and wait for the fire works.  Bekah was 7 months old, almost to the day, and was mesmerized by the fire works.  She stared at them the entire time they were going off.  The 24th of July was the same scenario.  It didn't surprise any of us since he father is on the bomb squad at Hill Air Force Base.  

July 25th

Phil and I were lucky enough to accompany Cal and Mary, Phil's Grandparents, to the Provo Temple on July 25th.  We had a great day attending the temple, having lunch, and shopping.   Our time with them is heaven to me as I only have one grandmother who is still alive.  There is something magical about grandparents and I miss mine dearly but am lucky enough to have married in to one of the best families on Earth!  Thanks Cal and Mary for the family you have created and the example you are to all of us.  I love you. 

Play Date

I love nights like this.  We had gotten Kya home from a walk and Phil and I were sitting in the living room talking.  Kya got all excited and decided to go crazy.  Phil got down on the floor and played with her.  They are super cute.  It makes me laugh.  

Good Day

It is lunch time at Butterfield Canyon Elementary and my kids are now playing outside which gave me some time to fill you all in.  I am much better now than last night.  We had the wonderful opportunity to have Brad Wilcox (an author) come to school and do an assembly for the kids.  Later he came into my room and used my 31 amazing 6th graders to model a writing lesson for fifth and sixth grade teachers.  He is amazing and both the kids and we teachers learned a lot.  I love learning and this gave me the opportunity to realize that I need to do some more research on the writing process and making it authentic for my students.  I guess I will find some writing research books and begin my quest...at least it will keep me busy.

This is one of Brad's picture books called Hip, Hip, Hooray for Annie McRae.  If you want a good read check it out.  It's a cute book about self esteem.  Also, a week ago, he debued his new book There's Always a Way, Annie McRae!  We got to be the first school to whom he read it out loud. 

www.bradwilcox.com/

Empty

It's 4:53 and I am sitting at my desk wanting to go home but dreading what is not there.

I hate this empty feeling inside. 

It wells up every once in while and it just makes me cry.

I can't hold it in.

I have to cry it out and then go on with my day. 

Better luck tomorrow.

 

Pinkbench

I am not sure how many of you are familiar with the Farmers' Market that takes place each Saturday starting about 8:00 am at Pioneer Park, yes it is safe. 

 If not you have to check it out.  I love this place and besides the amazing produce I found the most amazing product.  I love the look of headbands but can barely stand to wear them as they end up cutting into my head by the end of the day.  As Laura and I were walking through I saw: A Headband That Doesn't Hurt, and I thought, "yeah right," so I stopped and had one put in my hair.  

I fell in love automatically and bought three!  

Check this out: pinkbench.com

Adoption Yard Sale

PLEASE...if you need anything, and I mean anything, plan on attending the Adoption Yard Sale.  Three of the wonderful ladies I work with in the Families Supporting Adoption group are having their second yard sale.  All of the money raised goes to their adoption funds.  This is also a great way to raise awareness of adoption and how much it has changed.  

Go HERE or HERE for the info!

Thanks in advance.

A brief run-in with Dyslexia

I looked at the calendar this morning and for one split second thought it was my birthday.  Nope, no luck, I still have to cook dinner.  It is only August 13...not August 31.  I guess a dinner out with my hubby can wait.  

FUNNY STUFF

For those of you who know, and those of you who don't, Phil and I are back in the saddle of fertility treatments and as I was searching for some IVF and AI info I found this comic.  In the midst of the storm it made me laugh.  More info about our upcoming adventures will be posted soon.  

Oops!  If the type is to small to read here it is:

"Is your husband good with his hands?"

"Of course he is.  That's how he made the twins."

HOME!

My sister, Ali, is back in the states.  I just got a text from her husband who was lucky enough to be there while she got off the plane.  They are in San Diego at Miramar and will come to visit SLC in September which is not soon enough for me!  

I LOVE YOU DIET COKE!

Gratification

This is why I love my job...even on bad days! Notice how my name is even spelled incorrectly and I do teach 6th graders.  The funniest part is that it is written on the board.  

I LOVE Fridays...and notes

Thank Goodness it's Finally Friday!  I can not tell you how long this week has been.  I really do love my new class.  They have quite an arrange of personalities, but none to overpowering...yet!  While I was benchmarking a few students before lunch the kids were working on a diagnostic math test (to see what 6th grade curriculum they already know) and I kept reminding them to quite down since I couldn't pinpoint where the noise was coming from.  As we were lining up for lunch one of the boys said, "I added the 'your class'", I just looked at him and had no idea what he was speaking about.  A few seconds later on the kids handed me a note and said, "I know the rule is no notes but this is a good one."  It was from my class and I will post it tomorrow as I need to scan it in.  It will make you all want to teach...even through the bad times.  I do love TEACHING and I do believe in the PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM!