Pre-Birthday Fun

Yesterday at school we had a great PARTY for my birthday. I have a parent in my class who loves to do things for the teacher's birthdays, and I was the lucky recipient. I got to walk on the red carpet, wear a beautiful crown, and be the queen for the day. The kids were in heaven (and as crazy as ever).

Birthdays are a big deal when you are little. . . not old like I am getting. Regardless, I love all of the little presents that kids bring. I was a present "recycle" child also, so I guess it is to be expected. I got some random things like a seashell, an old pencil, a pack of smarties, a homemade bookmark, and lots of beautiful pictures.

I think the one that made me laugh the most was a present that I got wrapped in an old, used microwave popcorn bag -- she had put a crown inside of it. . . I am sure I will use that soon! She had decorated the outside of the bag, and told me not to worry that she had cleaned it out (see above). I love it when kids are just kids. I also got flowers, treats and cute little things from kind mothers of my students!


I have not (and am not) really looking forward to this birthday, but this helped me to remember to just chill out and have fun.

Continual Learning

First of all, it is past midnight and I should probably just go to bed, but now I am not tired. I guess that is what happens when your mind just goes, goes, goes.

Due to some recent meetings, and experiences that I have had I have been thinking a lot about the need that I have for "continual learning" I don't think this is normal, but I have never been able to just do one thing at once. Sometimes it even drives me nuts. I am in this constant quest to GO and LEARN and be DOING! At times it can get me into trouble because I will have like 14 projects going at once or forget about something that I said I was going to do. My mind just does that I guess. Sometimes my learning experiences are as simple as trying a new recipe or reading about how to take care of a plant or finding a good lesson plan that I can tweak for my kids at school. I love to learn!

Don't get too worried I am not going back to school for a PhD or anything (yet). I think that learning also provides social opportunities, which often I am in need of. Like a 1 1/2 ago a friend (who will remain un-named) and myself, took an adult ballet class. This might not seem like a big deal, but when you factor the pink tights and black leotards that were required it does become a little bit more interesting. Now, we both knew that neither of us were ever going to be prima ballerinas, but I loved that class each Thursday night, and I loved that other "adults" just like us wanted to continue to learn, even something as silly as ballet.

So, I am on the hunt for new opportunities to learn.....any ideas? I also thought that the following quote was great, and something that especially as a teacher I need to remember:

"Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you sill have something to learn, and this will mean all your life." --Henry L. Doherty

ps -- I still have my pink tights, ballet shoes and black leotards if you are in need of a little dance lesson just let me know! :)

Silly Zion's Pictures

I wasn't really scared about the cactus, but my eyes make it look like I was! It reminded me of the time when this girl in Jerusalem got "prickly cactus stuff" stuck on her tongue? What you say? That was my reaction too! We didn't have any run-in with cactus!

Yes, we took a picture of our feet. When you are wearing Chaco's you kind of have to! Where were Anna's feet? I am not sure!






I totally dropped my delicious homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwhich down the rock. . . sad! My arm would have been stuck if I wanted to retrieve it. Good thing we had some extra's and plenty of other hiking snacks. I guess it could have been worse I could have dropped my camera or something.

Zion's National Park Part #1

Okay, so I am sure you are getting tired of all of these "picture collages" but honstly, I can't make a slide show on my Mac, and on the computer at school where I am doing this, they block me from "images" because they are the school distirct, so you kind of have to deal with either a collage, or each one individually and so this is probably better!

On Friday we woke up early. . . oh wait, I woke up early (yes, I still woke up at 4:50, even on vacation -- i can't get my body to stay shut down even to sleep, oh well) and went to Zion's National Park. It was a pretty drive to get there and then we hiked to Emrald Pools, and just walked up by the Narrows etc. . . It was really fun. I haven't been to Zion's in a few years, so it was great! The sun was out and everyone had fun trampsing around!

Tuacahn

On Thursday night we went to see Les Miserable at Tuacahn Theater. . . I don't even know if I am spelling that right. Earlier in the summer when I was in St. George I had gone to see Sound of Music, and it was fabulous, so I was excited to go and see Les Miserable. It was good too, but surprisingly I think that Sound of Music was my favorite still. I forgot that Les Miserable is kind of a "dirty" show. Don't laugh! Seriously, there are just some songs that are a little bit on the "past Amber's comfort zone" level. I saw it when I was like 14 and it didn't bother me. I don't know if that means I am getting more sensitive or I was just not aware back then. The singing was fabulous and the scenery with the red rock in the background was way impressive! By the time we finished the show I was ready to be "not sitting" anymore!

Sitting time = 4 hours driving (okay like 3.8)

2 hours at temple session (with a little wiggling)

3.5 hours at Tuacann

For a grand total of 9.5 hours of sitting! Anyone who knows me knows that I don't usually sit for more than 45 seconds at a time, so this was somewhat difficult for me! :) Yes mom, I was shaking my leg becuase I was getting so antsy. . .

UEA First Stop. . . . Temple

On Thursday we began our journey to St. George. After lost keys, not being able to find my drivers liscence, loading my bike on my car, pakcing, doing laundry, packing more, finding out I had a flat tire and putting air in it with a gauge that didn't work, and so on and so forth we finally left! We got to St. George around 1 in the afternoon, ate, checked in at our totally quality hotel. . . seriously, it was disgusting, changed our clothes and went to the temple. I have been to the St. George temple quite a few times, and I love it. It is a beautiful temple. It was seriously like 100 degrees inside though. . . I don't know if it just because it is all old people from St. George who are used to the heat who work there or what, but we were all dying! As if it isn't hard enough to stay awake after you just drove for 4 hours and now you are sitting for another 2, add heat into the equation and that equals trouble. Regradless, it was nice to go to the temple. We took some pictures after. . . . It was a great start to our trip.

UEA Weekend

I have lots of pictures to post of our time in Zions, at the temple and just being together, so I will post those soon! I thought the spandex pictures would be the most important. Anxiously await!

Century Ride

This past weekend was UEA. . . which for teachers translates to 2 days where it is suggested they attend meetings, but they don't. Honestly, I went my first year, but I haven't gone since. This year I went to St. George and completed my first "century ride" -- crazy bikers like myself pedaled their way through St. George, to Washington through Coral Canyon up to Touquervile, down through Leeds, around Quail Reservoir, back into Leeds through Washington again and back into St. George and then into Snow Canyon. I didn't know that there were going to be SO many hills. . . . seriously, just when I thought I was done with the hills, there would be like 50 more.


Regardless, it was fun and surprisingly I finished and am not sore today. I wore two layers of "padded spandex" and still by the time the race was over I was "saddle-sore" Getting in the car and driving home from St. George after the race wasn't probably the best idea for my muscles, but I stretched lots and lots and now I feel good. I will go to Yoga tomorrow and that will help too! Maybe next time I should do a ride that doesn't have so many hills. Lets be honest 5 miles is a long way up hill let alone 100 miles. If I can do a century ride I should be able to do a triathlon right? These pictures aren't the best, but I will post them anyway!

This is when we finished the race and we still look great :) It is kind of hard to take pictures when you are on a bike, and you feel stupid asking someone to stop and take a picture of you. they would have to clip out of their pedals. . . so the pictures are lame.

Hee Haw Farms Field Trip

On Tuesday we went on a somewhat cold field trip to Hee Haw farms. It ended up being a fun outing. The kids were able to play in corn -- they were making "corn angels" go in the corn maze look at lots of fun animals go down a massive hay slide and pick their own pumpkin. By the end of the day I was tired -- thank goodness field trips only come around every few months.

Picture Day at School

I think that trying to take a class picture is a lot like taking family pictures. You are NEVER going to have everyone "looking good" or just plain old "looking" Oh well, I guess it is worth a try!

Last week was "picture day" at school, and so I took some time to snap some pictures of all of the kids loking all ready for the real photographers.

The Wednesday Letters

I don't even know where to begin with this. . . . I just started, and finished in the past 18 hours the book The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright (and there were 6 hours of sleeping, an hour of running, an hour of getting ready and I am sure a few other things interspersed, so really I finished it in like 5 or 6 hours). I bought this book a while ago, but hadn't started reading it until late last night. From the first chapter I was 100% hooked. It has been over 2 years since I started and finished a book this fast. (side note: the last book was Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, which I would also highly recommend, but they are both totally different)

Last night I went to a wedding reception for a good friend of mine, stopped at my parents house and after a few minutes of being there decided I wanted to be home, wrapped in a blanket, reading a book feeling badly for myself that I wasn't planning my own wedding, or with my husband and children playing hide and go seek on a cold October night. I think the past two weeks have been hard because I am finally facing the fact that it is probably time for me to start dating again, even amidst the serious social anxiety I feel. I need to own up to the harsh reality that my life is not where I thought it would be. If you had asked me five or six months ago where you thought I would be now, pretty sure I wouldn't have ever imagined that pulling out my fall and winer sweaters would be the highlight of my week.

Anyway, along with that lengthy, and probably somewhat unnecessary prelude, back to the book. As I began reading this book, my "feel sad" status changed a little bit and I started to soften -- it is one of "those books" Now I think that anyone who has not read it should. I couldn't put it down! Yes, it is a love story of sorts, but it is also a message of forgiveness, and patience, and family and recognizing that each of us is in charge of how choose to respond to the situations we are faced with in life --- wether the places we are in are a result of our own actions or someone else's, we still have the opportunity to choose what we will do with what we are given....and honestly, I have no place to complain about what I have. So, read it, or think about it if you have already read it.

Just one more thing. . . . do you think that I could ever find someone who loves me enough to write me letters every week. . . . wishful thinking, but it is worth a shot I guess!? :)

Gold's Gym

I cannot believe that I am even posting this. . .but yes, your truly has joined a gym. I never thought that those words would come out of my mouth. Mostly, I hit a point last month where I got so tired of not having anyone to run with (and being to frightened to run alone) and also finding that the only time I have to exercise is at 5 am....really, how many people will run with you at 5 am? I will tell you: NOBODY

So, for the past 2 weeks or so I have been going to Gold's at 5 am. It hasn't been as bad as I originally imagined it to be. I think that at 5 in the morning you don't get as many "crazys" at the gym. I am also trying to improve my workouts with a little bit of lifting weights -- I have never done this before and it is kind of out of my comfort zone. Those big machines just scare me, and honestly, sometimes I can't figure out the instructions. I need pictures to go with them.

So, don't be too surprised when you see me at the gym.....just remember I would much rather be running outside, or riding my bike or whatever, but that requires friends who also want to get up early early, and so far I haven't found anyone as crazy as me! (And yes, I do realize that waking up at 4:55 am every morning is not normal . . . and I may not be normal, but I am in pretty good shape!)

General Conference Part #2

These pictures prove what I was saying before about it not being the "calmest" most spiritual watching of general conference. There were pillow fights, crazy dinner times, rainstorms and my grandpa accidentally putting peanut butter on his garlic bread (disgusting). Regardless of the craziness it was so nice to get away. Now i just need to take some time to actually think about General Conference and what it means for me. Mostly, it was nice to just hear messages of comfort -- maybe I am just needing comfort, so that is what I heard.

General Conference Part #1

This weekend we (meaning my family and myself) went up to Timberlakes to watch conference at the cabin. Jeff and Lori were at their cabin and of course Kurt and VaLayne. Grandma and Grandpa also came up for the fun. It was a little bit rainy, but teh sun peeked through the clouds a few times. Watching conference with like 30 people isn't always the most "spiritual" time, but it was nice to be surrounded by family.

Apple Day

September 26th is a very important day in First Grade, and since the 26th fell on a weekend we improvised and celebrated this monumental day later in the week. For those of you who are unaware the 26th of September is Johnny Appleseed's birthday. Why? you might be thinking, would I care that it is Johnny Appleseed's birthday? Well, because of Apple Day of course. We spent the day on Thursday eating apples, making artwork with apples, reading books about apples, graphing our favorite type of apple to eat, and writing about Johnny Appleseed. I needed a day for first grade to just be "fun" so that I didn't want to quit my job and this did the trick.

The Wonder of Words

Wonder of Words

A friend sent this to me. . . you are supposed to answer each question with ONE word! Anyone can participate! How much of a wonder are you with words?!

1. Where is your cell phone? hidden
2. Where is your significant other?
3. Your hair? darling
4. Your mother? busy
5. You father? methodical
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? absent

8. Your dream/goal? family
9. The room you're in? colorful
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? loneliness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
13. Where were you last night? reunion
14. What you're not? non-emotional
15. One of your wish list items?
16. Where you grew up? pg (does that count as one word?)
17. The last thing you did? talked
18. What you're wearing? orange
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? never
21. Your computer? fingerprinted
22. What do you think of tags like this? fun
23. Your mood?
24. Missing someone? parents
25. Where would you rather be? biking
26. Something you're not wearing right now? earings
27. Favorite store? ann taylor
28. Your summer? core
29. Love someone? siblings
30. Favorite color? PINK
31. The last time you laughed? morning
32. Who will participate? sister