Not your average Sunday experience

I took a nap before church today (we don't meet until 2:00).  I'm hoping that our actual Sacrament Meeting service turns out nothing like my dream.

Before church began, word was spreading that something was going to be different today.  As one of our leaders began the meeting, we were all asked to turn around and face the stage behind us.  I had a nervous feeling about this and as I turned, my feeling was confirmed.

A large screen had been pulled down and some inappropriate images popped up on it that were part of some music video.  Then Dustin* and his buddies started dancing for everyone.  I quickly turned my attention back to the bishopric to see how they were going to handle the situation at hand.  It was more than apparent on their faces that they were uncomfortable, but they didn't know what to do. They had sort of given the ok for this without realizing what they were agreeing to.  While they were debating, I went into the hallway and talked with some of my friends.

I know that several churches have dancing and singing incorporated into their worship services.   Just to clear things up for you, this was nothing like that.  

Once the dancing ended, I re-entered the chapel for our real Sacrament services.  As I went back to my seat, I saw that Dustin and his girlfriend had sat down right next to me.  Actually, they sat one apart from each other, so that I was in the middle of them. She asked me if I was mad at him.  "No, I am not mad.  I just don't think that this was the time/right place for that. Do you want to switch seats with me so that you can sit next to Dustin?"  We switched seats and that was that.





*Name has been changed

Feeling Loved

I have a student.  I'll call her Hannah.  She loves to give me things. I think that I've gotten something from her just about every day this year.  I have a strong feeling that her language of love is "Receiving Gifts."

Today, she gave me three gifts:

Her "guitar" from our instrument project 

A dolphin clapper 

A heart bracelet

As hard as she tried, I am sorry to say that she didn't win for the best gift-giver today.

That award belongs to the student who wrapped her gift in a paper towel.

 What could be inside?

Chips!!

I bet you didn't see that coming. 

Neither did I.
I should have, though.
This is the same student who gave me a mint.
Gotta love it!

A Common Thread

Can you guess what all these things have in common with each other?

Squishy things

 Stuffed animals

 Balls

Jewelry

 Pencils and Pens

Bottled items (nasal spray, body spray, nail polish)

Misc. Items (Duct tape wallet, Tic Tacs, fuzzy hair tie)

If you guessed...

a) things I confiscated from my students this year*

b) things that should not be played with during a lesson

or

c) things that have been causing my desk drawer to overflow

...then you would be correct!!

*I've actually taken more items than those pictured (if you can believe that).

Students can have their items back if their parents send in a note.

These are just the ones that they are willing to wait for until the end of the year. 

I am...

My cute, little students amaze me every day.  Since we started our poetry unit, they've been amazing me even more than usual .  I just give them an outline and they produce something like this:

I am an author

I wonder what to write next

I hear the mouse clicking

I see my story on the screen

I want to make it better

I am an author

I feel the rectangular keyboard

I touch the keys

I worry my story won't be good enough

I cry when it dosen't sound right

I am an author

I understand that it won't be perfect

I say "I can do it!"

I dream of my books in "Barnes & Noble"

I am an author

This one almost made me cry:

I am a solder's wife

I wonder if he will come back

I hear gunshots from miles away

I see people getting shot

I want him to meet our new daughter

I am very sad

I feel like my daughter needs her daddy

I touch and pinch myself to make sure im not dreaming

I worry that he will die

I cry when I touch our wedding pictures

I am very emotional

I understand that he wants to fight for our country

I tell my daughter that daddy is on a long trip

I dream of all of us in one small family

I am a solder's wife

Amazing.

Especially when you consider these were written by nine-year-olds.

**Ding!** I Win!

ME!

That's right, folks. I was notified this morning by an email, a phone message, and an enthusiastic co-worker making faces through my classroom window that I won a $20 Walmart gift card! Apparently, they really wanted to make sure that I knew I am a winner.

It was so exciting! I tried to play it cool after seeing the email, but once I listened to the message on the phone, I couldn't help but interrupt the children who were working hard to share my news.

I get entered in a contest every month for carpooling to work. I'm already saving on gas and car miles, and now I get this extra perk. Yay for carpooling and carpool contests!

I hope that I will win again. It's totally possible, too. I have a pretty good track record of winning things:

-I won a Walmart gift card last year for just being a teacher
-In college, I won a gift card to the mall for paying my rent on time
-Also in college, I won several CDs at a BYU Young Ambassadors Performance
-At a piano recital, I won a piano book

See, I told you.  I'm a lucky girl.


P.S. If you missed the reference from my title (which is most likely everyone besides my siblings), then you need to watch this episode of Arthur.

One Year Older

For my birthday this year, I couldn't stop thinking about was how blessed I am.  

I was so happy to be able to spend my weekend with people that I love so very much.  

On Friday, I got to spend the day with my amazing students.

One of them rallied her family together to decorate my classroom door for me.

Plus, it didn't hurt that it was pajama/read-a-thon day

(One of the perks of sharing your b-day with Dr. Seuss).

On Saturday, I invited two of the most non-morning people I know to go to breakfast with me.

And they came!

To thank them, I introduced them to the awesome bathrooms at Liberty Market.

 Jen had a great time in the "kitchen" stall.

And I'm not sure what sort of experience Tim had in this one,

but I'm sure it was life-changing.

Plus, Lydia was in town!!

Her super cute daughter brought "my baby" all the way from CA to me.  

I apparently am not quite prepared to be a mother yet because I haven't

invested in a car seat for Baby Iris. 

I also enjoyed a scrumptious dinner at Joe's Farm Grill with a few friends.

That picture is on someone else's camera and I haven't pestered her for it yet.

Another highlight was receiving the most amazing poster ever:

Oh, JTT.

I don't think I need to say anything more.

On Sunday, I had an incredible evening with my incredible family.

Those pictures are on someone else's camera, too.

I'll just say that you haven't lived until you've made pizza on a barbeque grill. 

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that it was a wonderful weekend!

Thank you to all of you who made all my birthday wishes come true.

That reminds me, I forgot to make a wish before blowing out my candles.

I guess I didn't really need to make one.  :)

Bonjour!

A few weeks ago, the following conversation went down in my classroom during a spelling exercise:

Teacher (me): The word is eject.  My friend will eject his movie from the DVD player.
Student 1: Did you just say his movie?
Student 2: Is he your boyfriend?
Student 3: Did you find him on google?
Student 4: No, match.com
Student 3: Is he a french model? Bonjour!
Student 2: Bonjour!
All students, all day, everyday since then: Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour!

After sharing this story, I learned that this french model line is not so random.

This morning, my boyfriend showed up in my classroom. He greeted me by saying, "Bonjour!" He continued to speak in French and soon the kids were shouting, "It's the french model!"  It was so funny. He was so into the part. I was cracking up the whole time.  I don't think I said a single word before he left.  There was much debate among the children over whether or not he was actually a french model.  Of course, France came up randomly like 4 more times throughout the day and we all laughed some more. The laughter continued when I read the card he had left with me:

"Mademoiselle, Ma petit cherie! I shall never forget that day in Paris! Your face was even more beautiful than my own...All for you, ma crouton jolie, ma croissant avec fromage. (my pretty crouton, my croissant with cheese)
Au revoir,
Jean-Claude Valjean
Model, Actor

I seriously doubt that the actor in the State Farm commercial could pull off such poetic language.