Excited!!

On Friday I went "off track" which means I have a couple of weeks of vacation. This also signals the start of summer for me. Tomorrow is Memorial Day which also means summer. And this means all the fun summer activities that I look forward to all year are getting closer! Liz and I were talking on the phone about all the fun we are going to have when I'm home in July and I can't wait! We're going to:

Camp at Warm River - where I will sleep in a tent, read a book in the shade, not shower for days, smell like a camp fire and LOVE every minute of it!

Eat watermelon

Make popcorn over the fire and then tell stories of memories from our childhood and favorite memories of my grandma.

Ride the Merry-go-round!

Watch fireworks

Go swimming

Eat this delicious meal!

Hang out with my Grandpa

Go to the Playmill! A fun place in West Yellowstone. It's not Broadway but so much fun none the less!

Make Pizza pockets in our sandwich makers over the fire!

Float the North Fork of the Snake River!

Eat yummy tin foil dinners!

Visit Yellowstone!

This is one of my favorite spots!

Eat shaved ice.... and undoubtably a bunch more! I can hardly wait!

Last week of May

First here are a couple of pictures of the week... Liz took an adorable one of me and the girls on Tuesday but it is on her camera so it may never get posted but it will be in my book for sure! The rest of them are pretty run of the mill self camera shots of myself. My Friday picture is of a student, his mom, and I. I gave away my class pet to them. Guss is a turtle I gave to Nikkie as a birthday present and when she got married he became my classroom pet. He's been to three schools in three states with me and it was time I simplified my life and found him a better home! Maybe I'll Buy a Beta fish I think they are a little lower maintenance. Actually I probably won't get anything for a LONG time!

Anyway I mention this because the two most interesting pictures of my week can't be posted so here are couple others.

Last Sunday I had my heart set on tuna casserole but I didn't have any tuna. I always think I have tuna but I don't think I ever buy any so I made chicken casserole. It was pretty delicious and I think I may make this every time.

Monday May 24th it snowed!! Not a little sleet but huge BIG flakes that covered the ground with an inch of unwelcomed white cold stuff! When I got to work I made sure I got a picture because really snow late in May is ridiculous!

I love popsicles! This is how I eat them - at least 5 at a time. I just bought a box at Costco that might last me a couple of weeks.

And lastly here is my picture of today. I had a beautiful Sunday. I enjoyed every meeting at church so much. It was just what I needed today. The weather was beautiful and I should have spent sometime outside but I was just too tired. So I laid down and took a long nap instead. Still a perfect Sunday activity!

I don't have the good one...

It has been a quick week and sometimes I wonder about what I'm doing with my time. I can't believe there is only one week of May left. I'm going off track on Friday - the funny thing is I'm excited to have time off to play but don't feel in desperate need of a break from my students. I'm going to miss them when I have to say good-bye the beginning of July. So I decided that as part of my picture a day I'd take a picture with each of my students individually and write memories I have of them. When you teach school these students become a bigger part of your life than you ever thought possible. I enjoy them so much and can't wait to hear about all the amazing things they will do in the future. Part of the reason I state this on the blog is if I'm taking a picture with a student for my picture of the day it won't get posted on here. In fact I took two this week. But the really great photo of me on our field trip I took with the school camera and didn't remember to bring it home with me so I'll need to post it later.

On Monday I made another batch of cream puffs to enjoy with leftover chicken salad and pudding and strawberries. A very yummy dinner and treat!

Wednesday I hung out with Michelle and her family. They were in the middle of a lighting project and this picture is of Michelle and I on our run to Home Depot.

Saturday I went to a couple of friends' reception with a few other friends. These are all people from my old ward. It was a lot of fun to catch up with them. I imagine heaven to be a lot like a great big reunion of friends. It's interesting how one short phase of life can tie you to dear friends for life. It is actually really nice to think about.

Highlights of the week...

Here is what I've been up to this week - pretty much the same old stuff but life is good, so very good!

Pumpkin Cookies at Home evening...

Peanut Butter and Chocolate cupcakes at the Sweet Tooth Fairy with Maurianne equaled heaven!!!

A lovely non challenging book... I spent most of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday enjoying it. Also notice the great new hair cut.

Bowling with friends until 1 in the morning...

Michelle and the gang came over for cream puffs and played the wii.

I'm so excited to spend the rest of the week eating these yummy berries!!

My Mom

My mother doesn't read my blog but I wanted to post about her anyway and wish her a great day on this mother's day. I have learned many things from my mother and I love her dearly.

Here are just a few reasons why I think she's so great!

She has made me some killer Halloween costumes over the years! Here is a favorite from when I was little - I think I just loved having my face painted.

This year she out did herself with my Raggedy Ann costume. She took a children's pattern and made an adult size to fit me. She truly is so talented and every time we do a sewing project I think I should be learning so much more from her!

She LOVES to have her picture taken - only joking I'm not sure why she's not smiling and why I'm pulling a funny face.

We enjoy delicious food whenever we get together. Cooking is a love I got from her!

She loves each member in our family and loves to spend time with us.

More fun family time in Yellowstone. It is becoming a yearly tradition!

My mom will let me and every little cousin and grandchild roast marshmallows and catch them on fire and will not yell at us. She loves to eat them but doesn't care if I just want to roast them. I think I might eat one every camping trip. I would rather eat the cookies that we buy for smores without the marshmallow.

She'll cuddle you when you're cold and wet.

Watch the little ones while the "big kids" float the river.

My Mom loves to do humanitarian work. She is a great example of giving a little to make a big difference.

She always lets me taste test any goodie she ever made. - Usually we had to use spoons. I'm the one cooking here and that's why we're using our fingers.

I've been truly blessed to have such a wonderful mom. I hope I can be more like her. I'm trying my best to learn!

Graduation Day!!!

On Friday I did something I never thought I would do. Actually the whole doing something I'd never do all began 2 and 1/2 years ago. January of 2008 I decided to take the first of a series of classes that would certify me to teach gifted and talented learners. What is funny about this decision is I decided to take the class the day it began. It was a little spur of the moment which happens has happened with quite a few of my life changing decisions. To make this story short because a lot of the small details aren't that important I'll just say that by May of that year I had applied to Graduate school and was accepted in June. This meant a very busy four semesters as I went to school taking as many as 8 credits and as few as 3 at times.

Friday was celebration day as I finished all the requirements and have now earned another degree. Which really only means I'll get paid a little bit more over the years. Friday was a good day but it felt a little surreal. As I marched across campus with the other graduates and people clapped and cheered for us I thought that in reality what we had all done really wasn't a small deal. I kept thinking "Is this for real?" "Am I really done and do I really now have a Master's degree?" I felt grateful that I have had the opportunity to earn an advanced degree. Not only have I been able to juggle working full-time and school but I have been able to financially afford it.

When the ceremony was complete I was happy that I had chosen to walk in graduation. It helped me to feel like it was real and that I had really met my goal. It was a very exciting feeling and now I'm looking forward to new goals that will push me to grow and achieve other great things.

My wonderful family that came to support me!

My parents who instilled in me a desire to learn since I was very little. I was so happy they could be there to share the day with me.

My beautiful nieces who where so excited. They were jumping around and laughing and acting just how I felt inside. One of my favorite moments were when we were walking up some stairs and Emme was singing, "I'm going on a BEAR hunt goin' catch a little one!" She repeated it over and over and when we made it to the top of the stairs the professor that had been walking behind us chuckled and said, "Your graduating and she's going on a bear hunt."

Favorites...

I finally downloaded my pictures and instead of playing catch up I'm just going to upload my favorites. They won't be in any particular order and I'm not writing captions this week I'm going to bed early so I don't have time for it. I guess something has to give right - this week it's captions instead of rest. Have a lovely week!