In case you need a good laugh.......

Now that I have been through junior college, university, and now grad school, I have had my share of "end of the semester escapades"!!!!
This time, I finally thought I was prepared to get through the end of the semester without any adventures, but just when you think you're safe.....

I had my assignments ready, 1 printed off, the other one I thought I would do when I got to campus, where there is a free printing computer lab in the building where I have all my classes. I went up to campus 2 hours early, because experience tells me that when something is due, expect the unexpected!!!

And I was right, I walked into the computer lab, poised and confident to get my assignments turned in smoothly. I'd been there for a few minutes when I heard someone ask the lab assistant about "being out of paper." Sure enough, 1 large lab, 2 printers and no paper!!!!
Why they were completely out of paper in the middle of a campus, with a bookstore and other resources at hand is beyond me. It was like that time in Manila, no ice cream being served that day at the grocery store because- no scoop!!!


Back to today, they do have other labs, but they don't have free printing, you have to put money on your id card and use that. My card was broke- no money, and no cash, but I did have a debit card! I did manage to figure out how to get money on my card, printed off my work, it all turned out okay.... But what an adventure!!!!

Just for fun: here's a few more of my "turning in work adventures...." (most from end of the semester as well!!!)

• left my several page paper and my apartment key, inside the apt, and couldn't reach the mgr or any of my roommates. One of the back windows was cracked open, so my next door neighbor helped me break in! But then we had to get the screen back in- Adam Stewart came the next day to put it back in for me. Thanks, Adam!
• Once I had to peer review a paper- and I accidently threw it away! After spending 10 + minutes rooting through the campus recycling bin- (in front of a large computer lab crowd) I finally had to call the class TA and explain what happened. And I didn't even know whose paper I had! The worst part was explaining to my peer "why" I needed another copy of her paper!
• Once my the strap of my backpack got stuck in the wheel of a rolling computer lab chair. What is it with me and computer labs anyway???? It took me a few minutes, but finally I was able to track down some scissors so I could cut my backpack free and get on my way!

Enjoy some laughs at my expense- I don't mind!!!!!

Things that make me smile....

Here are some things that make me smile.....

• Sunshine!
• Breeze through an open window
• Freshly laundered sheets
• Fruit (any kind but grapefruit!)
• Chocolate chips
• Reading
• Sparklers
• Spoonful of Cool whip
• Laying in bed for a few minutes after I wake up
• Smell of flowers (tulips are my favorite!)
  

Adventures in Field Tripping

Yesterday we took the 14 kids from work on a field to Clark Planetarium. We had 3 of us teachers and 2 moms so it was a very manageable group.

How did the kids feel about the feel trip?
Well, my favorite response is as follows: A boy walked in the entrance and in all sincerity said, "Oh, my..... Somebody pinch me!" As if on command the boy next to him reached out tweaked his arm! Fortunately, it didn't phase the "oh my" boy a bit!

We only spent about a 1/2 hour looking at exhibits. The main activities were 2 movies, "Planets" about kids in a cardboard rocket visiting all the planets (the power of imagination!) and "Deep Sea" in 3-D! I have never worn 3D glasses before and thought it was VERY cool.

Not to mention all the stuff I learned from the movies. For example.....

• Mercury has the shortest rotation around the sun, only 88 days
• The planets are divided into 2 groups: rocky midgets and gas giants
• The sun is so big that compared to earth- the sun is a tennis ball and earth is a grain of sand
• The trumpet triton fish has poor vision but it catches prey with the sense of smell
• Octopuses (Octopi?) can change to look like it's surroundings as it travels on the ocean floor
• When sea turtles shells get to caked with algae, they travel thousands of miles to get "cleaned" by smaller fish who eat the alage

OK, that's enough. But isn't it always fun to learn new things?

One final adventure: my lunch. I was under the impression that the school would provide field trip lunches for students AND for teachers. But I never asked (note to self for future reference) and Charlene (head teacher) forget to tell me I had to order a lunch.
So at the snack, I decided on a hot dog (mainly because I heard on "Biggest Loser" that high protein items are better at a snack bar setting- laugh if you want to, it's okay!) but ahead of me were about five kids, each with a handful of change painstakingly deciding how much they could buy and counting out their pennies. Very cute!

I decided that I would be back at school in 90 minutes (where I had snacks) and I didn't want a hot dog bad enough to wait any longer. But a few kids refused to touch parts of lunches so I ended up with an apple, string cheese and wrapped sandwich. Normally, I don't support taking food from kids but in this case.....

Thanks Mom!

A tribute to my mom's goodness....
It's about 2 weeks till the end of the semester so lot's of due dates, finals, etc. I also caught a small cold and have just not felt great lately. However, I have 2 weeks of off-track time coming so I can't complain about the timing!!!!

However, by the time I got home from class at the U tonight, about 8 pm I felt sapped of energy. I perked up though after Mom had dinner ready for me and then I went in my room and saw an entire load of clean clothes (that I left in the dryer this morning) all folded on my bed. My energy level perked up even more and feel the love!
So.... Thanks Mom!!!!

Things I enjoyed today: 4/7/08

Here's what I enjoyed today.... I think I am going to try to make this a daily tradition! It's a good way to unwind from the day....
Was today an easy day- not necessarily. But enjoyable in snatches, most definitely!!!
1: My mom drove me out to school (usually there is a 15 minute walk involved) due to stormy weather
2: The smell of starch with freshly ironed shirts
3. A great hair day (truth be told, I like to look at good curls in the mirror!)
4. A sunny sky
5. Hug from a student when I got to work
6. Watching my students read their spelling words without my help
7. Making it through my special ed law class- Yeah, me!!!!
8. Standing in the corner for part of class- my legs dangle because I can't reach the floor! And sitting like that for 2 1/2 hours well, your legs get restless after a while....
9. That I have the ability to walk, and quickly! My mom asked me today if I could "saunter"- couldn't do it!!!!
10. A phone call from my niece, Jessica, asking for my opinion about getting her hair permed
11. Strawberries for breakfast!
12. A (mostly) clean room
13. Making my sister laugh
14. Watching tv with my mom
15. Having my dad pick me up from the TRAX station

Always something to enjoy....

Not matter what the daily circumstances of the day are, for me right now, it's trying to balance work, school, church, family and social life (and I am the one who chose to take those on) there are always things to be enjoyed. Here are things I enjoyed today:
-Watching baby Grace smile at me
-Asking Jacob if I could borrow his sweater (it was adorable!) and him saying he'll give it to me when it grows to be my size!
-Feeling so comforted and at peace during general conference.
-Eating a really good ham (not all of it- I ate it in slices)
-Going outside in spring-type clothes and not freezing
-Laughing at myself
-Visiting with Jessica and Katie about boys, friends and what to do after high school
-Singing one of my favorite hymns "How Firm a Foundation" and they sang all the verses

Any many more, but its getting late!!!

By the way.....

Some of you that I have communicated with lately via blog- I have not talked to in a while. Sorry about that.... But I wanted to add to my bio that between graduating from BYU and grad school at the U, I spent a year in Taiwan!!!!
I worked and lived there as an English teacher from June 2006-June 2007. Overall, it was an amazing, challenging, learning, rewarding experience. OK, just wanted to add that. Thanks!

Favorite things

Inspired by the classic, "Sound of Music" here are a few of my favorite things.... Perhaps not your typical favorites list, but lots of fun to write! And some info that's not "favorites" but I think is interesting. You be the judge!

Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite Yogurt flavor: Lemon
Favorite thing to do in the morning: Watch the "Today Show" (I rarely miss- seriously)
Favorite food: Any kind of fruit, but I won't eat grapefruit!
Favorite tv shows: Biggest loser, what not to wear, 24
Favorite hair product: Tres semme curl perfection mousse
Favorite feature: my hair

Favorite cereal: Plain, whole grain cheerios
Favorite season: spring
Favorite vacation spot(s) Boracay Beach, (Philippines) Melaka, Malaysia
Favorite fashion indulgence: A pair of quality, brand name sneakers (the only brand name thing I will buy)
Favorite tv channel: TLC
Favorite candy: Reeses peanut butter cups\
Favorite snack: Cereal with craisins and slivered almonds
Favorite song(s): Defying Gravity, (from the Musical "wicked) and "My little girl" (tim mcgraw)
(I like to think of them as theme songs for my life)
Favorite book: Letters for Emily, by Camron Wright
Favorite expression: Que duermas con los angelitos (sleep with the little angels)

Others bits of info

Dream job: Motivational speaker for those with learning disabilities and their families and/or a personal trainer!
Foods I consume quickly: a jar of peanut butter (just ask my mom!)
If I had to leave home quickly I would want to make sure I had: my journal collection

Sound familiar???

For anyone who has ever heard a child claim that they are too full to eat any vegetables, but then magically have room for dessert, here's a variation on the classic theme!

Part of my job is to take the students outside for morning recess. Before they go play on the swings, slides, etc. they complete two laps around the track. They can walk, run, etc just as long as they finish.

Today *Henry (not his real name) came up to me, the following is our conversation:

Henry: My head hurts too bad to walk around the track.
Me: That's fine then, just sit here by me and rest.
Henry: No, (trying to be convincing) I can still play.
Me: No, if your head hurts you'd better sit down and rest.

Henry suddenly gets up and starts to run around the track. Amazing!!!!

Post script & Pictures

By the way, the reason that my blog features pictures of my nieces and nephews, (aren't they cute???) and none of me is that,.... I have no pictures of myself! Perhaps that will change soon...

Carter & Ashley at Easter

Favorite pictures!

Life Lesson #1: Make time for what you love to do

As most of you know I tend to be a reflective person and am big on gaining life lessons and insights. So, here is blog life lesson #1! "Love what you have to do, but make time for what you love, but don't necessarily have to do." Make sense???

In other words, I realized that recently that I was nearing "special ed overload"/ how much time I was spending involved in special ed. Don't get me wrong, I love my field, love what I do, but I have other interests as well. So.....

My sister Deborah, (affectionately Depot) suggested to me weeks ago that since I love writing, maybe I would enjoy a blog. My first thoughts went my schedule/time spent followed by, "based on what I do, what I would I write about?" But now I look forward to the opportunity of a blog. Thanks, Depot!

Besides writing (I'm on journal volume #24), and working with kids, I love cooking, especially baking. Look for recipes and other cooking tips on my blog in the future! I love cooking because I feel such a freedom to make mistakes- if it doesn't turn out, oh well!
My other passion is exercise, and while I am an avid "Biggest Loser" fan, I really don't have any advice/expertise besides exercise is fun- yeah for endorphins!!!!

About Me

Right now I am a month away from completing my 2nd semester at the grad school at the University of Utah where I am studying Special Education. I never thought I would end up at the U, but I love it there! My professors are really willing to help students succeed and the things I am learning are really made applicable to the Special Ed field. If all goes well. I will graduate in August 2009 with my M.Ed. degree and special ed teaching license.

My main profession right now is teaching part time at an elementary school, grades 4-6. I work with students who have a variety of challenges ranging from autism, learning disorders and communication disorders. I love what I do because when you see a child progress, when they grasp a concept you have been teaching them (and teaching them.....) it feels incredible!!!!

My side jobs include tutoring my 7 yr old twin nephews 2 days a week, and I work 2 Saturdays a month with adults with special needs. I work for the Salt Lake County Parks and Rec helping with Saturday night activities, such as dances, movies, bingo night. I love being around the people- they are some of the most caring people I know!

The rest of the time I love to have fun and socialize! I love going out with friends, serving as ward relief society secretary, chatting with my siblings and parents, and playing with my 26 nieces and nephews! Yes, there really are 26 of them!