Age vs. Size

These are four of my 86 sixth grade students. If I were in this picture I would not be the tallest or the shortest. Even though two of these boys are small, they are very secure in who they are. They are little scappers in anything physical. They don't let their size get the best of them. They use it to their advantage. Both of the larger boys are so fun and really great leaders. I am lucky to be surrounded by them large and small.

Just Bein' a Mom

After all the many times I wanted to kill my kids, I am so grateful I didn't. They have turned out to be great adults. I love that they are friends and that they have spouses that all get along. (At least... as far as I know they do.) One of the greatest days of my life, was sitting in a sealing room in the Salt Lake Temple on the day the last of my children were sealed. There across from me were all my children and their spouses. While it is no guarantee of anything in the next life, it was an incredible, unforgettable moment that I will always cherish.

P.S. So glad my kids all look like their dad!!

You Heard Me?

I am always pleading with my daughter to write down the hilarious things my grandaughter, Ashlyn, says. She is four years old and has been cracking us up for years. This one really gave me a chuckle.

Amanda informed me that a neighbor took her kids and Ashlyn to the park. This is how the conversation on the telephone with Ahslyn and I went.

Me: "Ashlyn, I heard you got to go to the park and play with your friends."

***Silence***

Ashlyn: "Grandma, (pause) You live very far away. How did you heard me playing at the park?"

Sometimes I wish I could just get into her brain and see how it works.

Overwhelmed

Have you ever felt as though you can't possibly handle one more thing? I'm there!

Being a school teacher is a very consuming job. I love my students and they are in my thoughts all the time. My lesson preparations fill my brain night and day, as well as concern for my students academic and personal growth. Sometimes I just want my brain to shut off and it wont.

I also serve as our school's Gifted Facilitator. Along with that assignment comes district meetings, parent meetings, faculty training and the huge task of testing nearly 300 students a year. (I teach at a school with MANY gifted students) Meeting everyone's need can be overwhelming.

Since receiving my masters in technology, I am frequently asked to assist teachers in being successful with interating these skills into their curriculum to prepare students to compete in a global society as they grow. I love sharing this knowledge as I don't know how to teach without it. However, I tend to put others first and forget that I need time to prepare.

I love to continue my education with Professional Development opportunities, friend and I will be teaching an all-day history seminar dealing with the new Social Studies Core Curriculum in 5th grade. Time crunch is occuring, along with the weight and responsibility of being the instructor and giving these educators something that they can take to their classrooms and inspire their students.

Let's add my church responsibilities. I am currently the Stake Primary President of over 4 years. I was finally loving this calling when they called me to be the Ward Enrichment Leader. I assumed the Stake calling would soon go bye-bye, but was informed that it might be awhile. So, next week I am doing an enrichment meeting on Tuesday and a Stake Primary Leadership Mtg. on Thurs. Can you spell S-T-R-E-S-S???

Needless to say, the floors aren't scrubbed, laundry is piling up, and I just want to spend time with my family. ARGH!!

Look at my cute new blog design!

Thanks to my daughter-in-law, Amy, I have a cute blog. She is a whiz at Photoshop and blogging and helped me design this in no time at all.

Amy has been a great addition to our family. My husband picked her out for our son while he was serving a mission and had never met her. We encouraged him to meet her and ask her out. All it took was one date and he was a goner. She is so darling and witty and also amazing at making cute grandsons for us. Well, one so far... He is absolutely the cutest little boy on the planet. I probably check out his blog no less than 3 times a day just to see his cute Colby face.

I am so sorry that I am unable to post a picture of Amy, as I was threatened that if I did she would break all the links in my blog and make it ugly again. So, my choice is to have a cute blog. Thanks Amy!! (P.S. I also stole this picture off her blog!)

Oh My!

I am a very beginning blogger and I received two email comments tonight. The comments were from two people I believe have much more experience. It makes me wonder if I'll be a lame blogger.

My niece, Mary, gave birth to twin boys today. Braden was born weighing 2 lbs. 5 oz. with a length of 14 in. His brother, Brigham, was stillborn. We knew that Brigham had died a month ago, but the due date wasn't until December and we were hoping Braden would grow big and strong before his birth. He isn't doing very well at all and my heart is heavy. As a mother, I cannot even imagine how it would feel.

The twins had twin to twin tranfusion syndrome. This has been an absolute roller coaster ride for all of us, but most of us aren't in the front roller coaster car, so to speak, as Mary and Rob have been. We have to remember to have faith that the Lord has a hand in everything and pray that his will be done. It's times like this that help us put what is really important into the proper prespective.

My Blog is Broken

So, I'm sad because my blog is broken. My posts only show partially if at all. No one leaves me comments. I may have to take my marbles and go home!

Let's Start Somewhere

I read a lot of blogs...I might even be considered a blog stalker! So, I decided to start my own.

This has been an insane week. We had to get a new tire and fix a drain in our home. Neither were cheap. The next day, one of my students had a seizure in class and I had to call 911. He's doing fine now and I was able to talk through the entire situation with the rest of the students.

Everyone I talk to is getting whammied with woes. It just needs to stop, and life needs to calm down.