Polar Express Day

Polar Express Day! We wore our pajamas for the occasion.

Funny Faces.

I told them to pretend to work hard for the photo.

Hard at work Take Two.

I think this is the only 10 second time frame in which these girls were actually working.

messy vs. clean

This desk belongs to Student A. It is neat, clean, and orderly. Twice a day, my students are asked to pick up under their desks and clear off the top of them.

This desk belongs to Student B. Student B seems to have missed the memo on clearing off the top of his desk and underneath it. Sometimes I think my words go in one ear and out the other in regards to Student B. Oh how I love Student B.

Santa Fun Run Photo Op

Because I'm real into fitness, here's the 3030 prepping for the 5K Santa Run. Stretching is an integral part of the process.


Fully decked out in Santa gear. Facial hair looks fantastic on the 3030.


Kader also caught the vision of the Santa Run.


More stretching. I'm taking the 5K very seriously.


Finishing Lap 1 inspires a hearty raising of the roof.


Paigmy finishes the 5K.


Marianne comes in soon after in a full sprint.


Exhausted and surprised that I ran 5K. This may be the longest distance I have run in my entire laugh. Once again, I'm interested in fitness.

happy birthday, stister!

P.S. Happy birthday, Kels! I love love love you, my stister.

Halloween

Scary faces for their scary pumpkins that we decorated for the holiday. Notice the handiwork of the spider and the spider on the wall in the background. Thanks, Mommala!

Their happy 2nd grade faces with the pumpkins.

I had them write descriptions about their pumpkins like they were real people, and this was what one of the students wrote: This guy is not an ordinary guy. He sleeps in the day he attacks in the night you will not like it he will give you a fright. Bday Oct. 31st 2009 Booooooo Aaaaaaaaah

Dressed up for the school's Halloween Parade.

More costumes

The kids in uniform are "fouled soccer players."

On another note, my grandpa passed away earlier this week (scuba diving in Hawaii--whaaaaat?), so I will be in Oregon next week. If you're in Oregon, maybe we should hang out. Give me a call.

trash day

At home mom and dad are always there to remind me when Trash Day is. In Utah, seeing as I am supposed to be a responsible adult, I have to remind myself. Turns out I'm not good at remembering things, and neither are Paige and Marianne. It also turns out that when you forget to put your trash out on the street, the trash men don't take it. And when your trash (i.e. meat) is left in your garage for two weeks, you might run into the following problem: maggots. I have one word for this problem: EW. How do you clean up said problem? 

1. Put on appropriate maggot-cleaning attire. For some reason this includes sweatshirts and spandex. 

2. Spray maggots with your strongest cleaning chemicals. 

3. Get someone else to find a way to empty your trash can. Andrew may have sat in the trunk while he held on the trash can so Paige and I could drive the car to a nearby dumpster. What a trooper.

Moral of the story: Remember Trash Day.

the 3030

At the 3030 we grade hundreds of papers on a love sac

We eat cake right out of the pan.

We grill pizzas.

We make delicious enchiladas

And have perfected the art of the self portrait.

We wear colors that pop

And stir punch with large knives.

And drive 65 mph down the freeway like this:

Needless to say, the 3030 is the place to be

FYI

I got a job (insert sigh of relief). Starting later this week, I will be a second grade teacher at Rose Creek Elementary School. This means that I will be in Provo for another year. Here's to year five.

rah rah sis-boom-bah

Unearthing old  cheerleading uniforms proved to be entertaining. It's comforting that we can still fit in them. Kelsey and Amy=real skinny

Lucy enjoys being screamed at through the megaphone. Go! Fight! Win!

Lucy magnifies the sound of her breathing. Why yell through the megaphone when you can breathe heavily with your nose? Lucy=future cheerleader for sure

sleepover with aunt amy

Being favorite aunt requires many things. This may include gifts, like sweet Pokemon card holders from the Burger King. Said card holder ensures that Rafe loves me. He even insists on wearing it to bed.

As favorite aunt I also feed Berkley (this is tedious but necessary).

I also let Rafe run wild with the camera. I see a budding talent.

Berkley is easy to win over.

Even when I'm forced to dress her in boy pajamas that are much too big for her. Uncle Fester anyone?

I let Rafe attract the spiders on the porch glider while I sit safely three feet away.

graduated shmraduated

It's official.....I am now a college graduate. BYU was foolish enough to give me a degree, and as soon as the deed was done I high-tailed it out of there and drove back to Oregon. Now I am home all summer (is summer over yet?), and then onto bigger and better (cross your fingers) things this fall. Hopefully these "bigger and better" things will include me, Paige, and Washington DC. 

student teaching

Favorite quotes from second graders:

"She should be married already--she needs to find herself a man!"

One boy's nice note to another boy on his birthday: You are priity. Your eyes are priity.

"My brain doesn't work that way, it's at home sleeping."

"You'd be lucky to find a diamond inside a rock. You'd be rich--like you'd have $1000."

Girl: Cleaning my desk is really quite comforting.

Boy: Well, girls like house cleaning. Your desk is like your house.

All time favorite thing said by student: Hobos drink from puddles.

I'm in a sixth grade classroom now, and I'm going to be honest. They're not as funny as the eight year olds. I love them, but they're in that awkward stage and don't just blurt out everything on their minds. And they don't type "whore" instead of "were." Too bad. It cracks me up. Gotta love teaching.....right?

2 1/2 more weeks until V-Day (graduation).