Chrsitmas Vacation

OK, so today the kids were WIRED. I wish I could somehow bottle the energy. I would be a hero since the USA would never have a shortage again, Just bottle it, or mine it, or whatever from every kid every last day of school before Christmas holiday.
They were so on one, but it was very entertaining for me so I said nothing and just observed.

During a boy vs. girl game I heard two boys talking. "Girls are really neat." "Yea, they are smart, too." "I think they are clever...and pretty."

Later, when I was telling them they could choose a movie, before I could say the choices were "Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas" and "Toy Stoy" one student looks me straight in the eye and says---seriously---" Could you find something romantic with the holiday spirit?"

Additionally, if I would have known that thank you cards would be the must have item of the holiday season, I would have given one to each child. I always try to get thank you notes out before the students leave or, trust me, I will forget. So I am handing them out at the end of the day and ALL of the kids are standing around waiting for me to give them one. Not all the kids get a card, obviously, but I felt kind of sorry that I couldn't give them each one.

I was thinking, "If I could just get through school this week I will have smooth sailing for the rest of vacation." Fat chance. About 2:38, when all the kids were gone, I remembered that I am not done shopping, wrapping or cleaning for the holiday.

Oh well, Merry Christmas!

The good news is that Sarah showed me how to do this, the other good news is that I have the cutest grandbabies! The bad news is, I probably can't do this twice.

The DIET

Last summer I started a more healthy lifestyle. I exercise, eat better and get plenty of rest. My students are all aware of the fact that I am trying to be good, so I get bad looks if I eat a Tootsie Roll, crackers or even a granola bar. I have to justify almost everything I eat to them. They even say, "Mrs. B, you're going to ruin your diet," in this sing-songsy voice as they eat the cupcakes and cookies their moms pack for lunch. When birthdays roll around, they skip my desk when passing out treats. I am grateful, they are the reason-probably-that I haven't gained any weight this holiday season.
There is one student who is so excited for his birthday to come up. He devised a plan for me to get some of his birthday treats. He asked his mom to make 18 BIG cupcakes, and one little one--for me. I think its so cute.
So anyway, last week we were playing this game where they get to be the teacher. I told them at the beginning that I was only going to choose six kids to be the teacher, and that I would choose the kids who were following along and doing their best. Of course, they all do their best after that. We played it, it was very hard to choose who got to be the teacher, but I was choosing kids who needed practice mostly--this kid doesn't. When we were all done with the game he sat back in his chair, crossed his arms firmly over his chest and announced to the class, "Fine, now I am going to ruin Mrs. B's diet!" (Da-da-dum) I usually try to hide my humor, but I did chuckle under my breath, and I guess he heard it because he looked me straight in the eye and said, "I am going to tell my mom to make you the BIGGEST cupcake." I looked him straight in the eye and said with all the sweetness I could muster, "I don't have to eat it." I wish I had a camera, and I wish Sarah would show me how to post a picture if I ever did have a picture to post, because the look on his face was so hilarious. I knew I had foiled his evil plan, and it felt good.
All's well that ends well, I asked him this week if he was going to make me eat the BIGGEST cupcake, and he said he wasn't mad anymore. His mom will make me the tiny one--but I still don't have to eat it.

Blending words

At school we "blend" words by writing them sound by sound and then having the kids read them. The next step is for me to give clues about words and then have the kids guess which word I am thinking of. Sometimes, I have the kids make up a sentence about the chosen word.
On Friday, I wrote about 25 words on the board. I gave a clue for one of them and after the kids guessed it, I stupidly asked for a sentence. I thought even as I asked for it, that I could be in trouble, but hoped that maybe they would give a sentence about ants or grasshoppers, because that is the context of the word.
What was I thinking?!?!?


"Mrs. Behrend has been mating with Marki Poo."

Thanksgiving

Well, as the time approaches for families to gather and eat more than they should, it occurs to me that I need to take stock of those things for which I am grateful. In no particular order:
First, I am grateful to have been born into this time of the world's history. Sometimes it is really hard, but I don't think I would have wanted to walk everywhere. I'm glad to have technology like a washing machine, an electric oven and indoor plumbing. I am glad to be a member of the church, and to have had it in my home my whole life. I am glad to be married to the fabulous Marki Poo. I am grateful that he loves me back. I am so happy to have the priesthood so accessible to me by him and my friends. I am thankful for the possibility of an eternal family. I am grateful for the prophet. I love him. I am grateful for the leaders and teachers in my ward and stake.
I am grateful for my family. I get no greater joy than being with them, and no greater sadness than when I see their sorrow. I am even grateful for the challenges I have in my family because when things are not challenging I know they are really great. I am thankful for grandkids. They really make life worth living.
I am grateful for friends. I have good friends. They are supportive and kind. I have friends who I feel are like sisters to me.
I am grateful for my sisters. They are my best friends.
I am grateful for the way I was raised by my parents. They live simply but greatly. They are the best people. They love us all unconditionally, but expect us to be the best we can.
I am grateful that my grandparents are still alive and able to influence my life. I am so thankful for every day we still have them, and that my kids and grandkids know them.
I am grateful that I have a healthy body. I am grateful to be able to hear, to see, to taste, to touch and to smell. I am grateful to be getting stronger. I am thankful to be gaining physical strength.
I am so glad and grateful to be blessed to have a job I love. I am grateful that I have the "world's best class." I am grateful that the kids trust me and that they are willing to risk and try new things, even if they sometimes seem silly. I AM serious about education!
I am thankful to have a family at work as well as at home. I am grateful to be able to rub shoulders with teachers who care so much for what they do, and parents to would do anything to help their kids succeed.
I am thankful that I have a sense of humor. Life would be hard if I didn't find humor in almost everything. I am grateful to have learned how to laugh inside myself when my students or grandkids say something REALLY funny.
I am grateful that I was able to teach the Sunbeams for so long.
I am grateful that I live in a country where I could write a blog like this and not be afraid of negative repurcussions. I am grateful for the slow pace of Blackfoot, Idaho. I am grateful that most of the people I love live within two or three hours of Blackfoot, Idaho.
I am grateful that I have learned things in my life.
I am grateful that when I go to bed, it will be in a bed and will be warm.
I am grateful that I will be able to meet with my extended family on Thursday, and many more times during the holiday season, and that only a few of these meetings will be because of the holiday. Most of the meeting will be for more eternal reasons.
I am grateful that I can walk.
I am grateful that if I want to eat chocolate, I can. I am grateful that I have 18 little voices telling me that if I do, I will ruin my diet.
I AM grateful.

Conference Weekend

This weekend we had our traditional conference fun. We were lucky because Jeremy was able to come with his kids for a visit this time. They arrived very late on Friday night, so they weren't much fun for this grandma, except to say that they were deliriously happy to be here, emphasis on the delirious.
The next morning we woke up and some really heavy snow had fallen. Jer's kids live where snow is a rare commodity so they were so excited to see it. This snow happened to be perfect for building snowmen so they got right at it. Since I left my camera at school and since I don't know how to post pics, I am forced to keep in the photo album of my mind the picture of my three oldest grandkids, Mark, and Jeremy building the snowman with the snow coming down hard on their heads. It was almost six feet tall, had sticks for arms, a carrot nose, briquette eyes and buttons--and pink bow for its mouth--which gave it a decidedly feminine allure. The kids liked making it so much that they spent the rest of the morning rolling snow balls, which of course were too heavy for them to lift. When they were done, there was a collection that we have affectionately named "Snowhenge." They came in and had hot chocolate with marshmallow creme and then begged to go back out "to finish." When they had finished, there were more than 15 snowballs around the yard.
We were able to watch about 45 minutes of the first session before the power went out. I was so sad, I love conference. The power came back on just before the second session, so we got to watch that one.
Sunday morning is when we really have all the tradition. We had a fun breakfast, biscuits and gravy, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, eggs, muffins, and fruit. All of my family was here. It was great, and I loved the talks. Can I just say, I love President Hinckley? Well, I do.
Afterwards, we went to my grandmas and sang Happy Birthday to her. Just before Sunday's second session we came home and made sandwiches and more good food. Our conference party is better than Super Bowl Sunday.
I was just so happy! The whole weekend was awesome!

Show and Tell

I think if parents knew what goes on at show and tell, they would keep their kids home that day. One time a little girl passed out hankies and with a sob in her throat shared that "last week, we found a girl on the side of the road." She forgot some of the story, like that the girl was looking with her parents for her lost dog. I have had kids tell us about new babies coming to their family, sometimes a true story, sometimes not. Once a kid told the class that he was so excited cuz his dad was getting out of jail. Of course he was. Yesterday I had a good one. A student brought bait and told the class how to bait a hook. Yes, she brought the hook. Luckily, she didn't really do it, but she did say, "and you have to put it right here...just behind the dark part of the head."
This is probably why, when we began reading Charlotte's Web and we were discussing that sometimes farmers really do have to get rid of their runts, and I asked the class, "What do you think Fern might do if her dad does say he will kill the baby pig," (and I was expecting that since they have all seen both movies--that the response might be that she won't let him, and that the pig will grow up and become famous and make friends with a spider) ...that I was so tickled when a girl said matter of factly, "they will eat it." Yes, another reason I love second graders.

School

The first "week" of school is officially done. It has been fun, but I am SO tired. I came home on Wednesday and passed out with my head on the newspaper.
I have such a cute bunch of kiddos. They really are awesome, and I wouldn't just say it. They are kind, sweet, and they must think I am the queen or something because they hang on every word that comes out of my mouth. However, when I was teaching a reading lesson yesterday, I looked at them and they (OK, some of them) were literally face down on their desks. As a trained pro, I couldn't really laugh, even though I found it incredibly funny.
Also, I have told them that they never want to make me upset enough to use...the TEACHER FACE or TEACHER VOICE. I don't yell in class, or really ever even raise my voice, but sometimes I will get agitated. On those occasions, I always say, "If you think that was bad, you should see the real teacher face, or voice." In all my years of teaching, that has always been enough to make them mind their manners, but these kids want to see it. I even went and brought some of my kids from last year to tell them about it. Of course, they still didn't believe it, of course those students really didn't see it either.
I just thought of something, getting up at 5--OK, 5:28 and eating, then going walking could be making me tired. I was going to say scripture study, but my scripture study right now is consisting of "Discussions on the Book of Mormon." It is quite informative.

My summer vacation

Here is a brief report of girls camp and all the other fun events of the summer.
We took our 14 young women to Paris Springs campground the last week of July. This had been, up to that date one of the hottest, dryest summers in the history of Idaho. The trip down was uneventful. We stopped the the Paris Tabernacle to connect with our pioneer heritage and to have lunch. I think that we were among the first tours our guide had performed. He was doing his best to tell us all the historic features of the building, like that the ceiling was designed and built like an inverted ships hull. It was fascinating. Our favorite story was about the beautiful Indian princess Mountain Fawn. It happened that good ole Peg leg mangaged to get in good with the local tribes, so much so that he won the hand of our fair maiden. They lived happily ever after, right up until Peg Leg was given a second wife by another tribe. The two women didn't like each other much, seems like Peg was quite the catch, and wife number two killed the beautiful princess. Her tribe buried her in the mountains with her horse, her dog and two bags of gold. The tour guide said that no one has been able to find that gold.
After the tour we went to find the campground. We worked hard and got the tents set up and it started to rain, and it rained like in Noah's day. It wouldn't have taken 40 days to flood the earth if it rained like our first day of camp. The second day it rained. We were able to go to Bear Lake, and even though it was freezing, the girls managed to find fun. On the way back, it rained. It stopped eventually and we had fun around the campfire singing songs and telling stories. The next morning it looked like it might rain, but it didn't until after we moved camps. Yes, we moved camps. I won't get into it, but I maintain that if your email verification says you are in camps 1,2 and 3, you can assume that is where you are to camp. But no, says Mister Forest Service Guy, I actually paid for the camp they call 12. And no, says MFSG, we cannot stay, other campers will be arriving soon for camps 1, 2, and 3. So we moved everthing up the road to another, more beautiful camp. Thankfully, there was only minimal complaining, I tried not to, but . . . After we made new camp, it rained. Then the moose came, then it rained. We decided not to go back to Bear Lake, but to try Minnitonka cave instead. It was delightful. Cold, but fun and slightly claustrophobic for a girl like me. But the inquisitive mind I have was soon engaged in the interesting sights DEEP inside the cavern. I did not have a good feeling when they showed the fault line that runs through that area. Then, we went back to camp where we had a fabulous dinner and testimony meeting, and then, it rained.
The one good thing about camp is that it made some memories. I just hope they were good ones.
**The Parties**
Last Monday we hosted a party for our former bishop who is moving to Helena to be a social worker. They are taking a huge leap of faith in moving. I don't know if I could do it. Anyway, it was a potluck dinner, that is my version of a leap of faith. About 5 pm I started getting nervous that we would have 20 desserts and 0 main dish casseroles. It was close, but it worked out OK. I believe that a good time was had by all, and Rozla got 50.00 for not crying.
Saturday and Sunday was my little Oram reunion. Almost everyone from our family was there, and it was so much fun. It was laid back and we mostly just visited and ate, but it was more about just being together. My grandparents were so pleased that so many made the effort to come. I called my cousin Cody to do a few photos of the whole group, he did so much more. Almost every family had potraits done and he did the group thing. One of the favorite parts was when we had to call the neighbors to come and help with the 14 or 15 cameras family had brought. One of my neighbors was trying to figure out 3 cameras at once. I wish I had a picture of that.
And tonight we had our yearly block party. I just love my neighbors. They are such good people, we just barely got in the house from visiting with some of them. I feel so blessed to live here.

The walking has been fun, but just in passing, I need to say that the most disturbing thing happened at the greenbelt on Saturday morning when I was walking alone. An elderly man, who we see pretty often, was walking his dog. He stopped on the track just in front of me so I asked him if he was OK. He says 'huh' so I get in closer and ask him again, and he acts like he is going to shake my hand, but he patted me on the butt. My first reaction, after making a hasty retreat was, "He's just an old guy, he probably didn't mean it." But after I walked about another mile, and I could still feel his nasty hand on my bottom, I said to myself, "Self, he totally knew what he was doing." I have been receiving advice to report him, carry pepper spray or that I should have gone back and smacked him. The kind of disturbing thing is that a man who was at our block party tonight, and who is a grounds keeper at the golf course, described the violater of my personal space.

I have been going to the school many days a week, and I fear that summer is almost over. I am actually glad, I am so ready for fall. The cooler days, school, colorful leaves, warm soup, sweaters, the fair, shorter days. . . I wax wistful.

Summer Vacation

I have discovered the miracle of sweat. I love it. I have been walking with a friend for the last few weeks. In the early days, I thought it might kill me, but I am now up to 5 miles a day. I regret that when school starts I will have to cut back. Anyway, after my shins stop throbbing and I get "in the zone" I could walk forever. I don't actually love sweat, it is actually kind of gross, but I love how my body feels when it is sweating. This is so personal.

Next week is girls camp. I am kind of excited. We have such great things planned for the girls, and I hope they like it as much as I plan on liking it. The lack of a shower is kind of distressing, but I guess that will be ok, too.

After that is a reunion I am planning for my family. I hope everyone can come. It means A LOT to my grandparents, they call pretty regularly to see how things are coming. Hopefully everyone can come.

Then, yea!!!! Time to get ready for school. I am so excited for this school year, I don't even know why. I am excited to meet the kids, their parents and plan fun things to do. I just love the whole educational process! I love to learn and to teach. It's only about 1 month, I can't wait.

Yes, that is the rest of my summer vacation. There is a little weeding, a block party, a few trips to Utah and maybe camping, but that's it.

Obsessions

So summer is here, the time for abandon. At least in my mind. The school year finds me running like "a chicken with my head cut off." In summer, everything slows WAY down. Instead of staying on top of housework, gardens, and other things, I wait until I can do a lot in one day. I love the challenge. Its ridiculous and I know it, but I can't help myself. I guess it is how I relax.

But this year is different, kind of. I am getting ready for camp. I have chosen a princess theme for our focus this year. I think it will be fun. I have been able to delegate and the women in our YW have really done an awesome job in helping the girls (and me) get ready, so I haven't felt really stressed about it. However, on Tuesday I remembered that I forgot to order the crowns. Luckily, I got that under control. I also was thinking that there is a small chance that we may be camping in an area that could have bears. It is, after all, called Bear Lake. So I devised a brilliant plan of getting the girls--and us a bell to wear for noise. OK, so I love the princess idea, so I felt like I needed to make the bell applicable. Now, bear in mind that I am not a clever person so this is somewhat of a challenge for me, but I came up with it... they will be called "TinkerBells." This is so cute, but the bad news is that I only get like, 4-5 clever and unique ideas a year, so there goes two. Camp and the princess theme is fast becoming one obsession.

The next and more unnerving obsession, bordering on addiction is Charlie's dumb Nintendo DS. He bought a game called Big Brain Academy. I can't stand that he has a higher score than me, so I spend alot of time trying to beat him. It's pathetic. Right now, I have the record score of 1630, or an A-. I have him beat by almost 40 points, but he hasn't been trying. While I am ahead I can rest easy, but I have the feeling that my score won't hold, once he gets on it again. It is driving me crazy. Luckily, I began tutoring this week, so I can get my mind on something else.

I have also been obsessed with my classroom. I always feel like I need the better part of the summer to be really ready for the fall. This year my room was painted and I got new carpet, all good news, except for the fact that I had to move everything out into the hall. Everyday for the whole time we have been on vacation, I have checked to see if the carpet was in. Finally, last week it was done, YAY!!! But wait, I still can't get in. Our custodians are on vacation so everything is still out in the hall. Now I'll have to go in daily to see if my stuff has been moved.

Oh, yeah. One more thing. I have become obsessed with Harry Potter. I love the books. I have ideas about how it will all end, is Snape a really bad guy?!?!?, is Dumbledore really a goner, and who will die in the last book. Less than ten days and I will know. I can't wait. Today I saw a picture of one of my friends holding a box of books, and I am like, I know that I could get that read before next Saturday and get it back in the box. I could tell her that I could "preview" it. . . I know that almost no one gets the same thrill out of the sound a new book makes when it is opened for the first time in the way I do, so no one would have to know.

OK, I feel so much better now. Maybe the AA people have the right idea. "My name is Kathy, and . . ."

Summer

So, in the spirit of the 4th of July I will now exercise my right of freedom of speech. First of all, whoever invented menopause and then invented 100 degree temperatures, can I just say--"For crying out loud!" OK, enough of that. Next, for the right to bear arms. My family has a tradition of having a huge fireworks show each 4th. Every year it gets bigger and higher and brighter and did I mention higher, and possibly louder than the year before. So the newspaper ran a story about the consequences of using a certain kind of firework, the kind that goes higher and bigger and louder than the ones you can normally buy at a booth. Those consequences include confiscation, fines or possibly even ...?!?!?! Probably not OK for a law abiding LDS woman such as myself. So, since we had quite a stash at the ready, and others in the family brought more, I believe I have developed an ulcer. I almost had an aneurysm when a police car came by and slowed in front of the house. Thankfully, we had some of the more legal type in a box by the road, which the boys quickly lit. It was sort of a miracle that we didn't get in trouble, just before he came by, my 5 year old grandson was holding a Roman candle. The night went without serious injury to any of the "fire marshalls" and a good time was had by all.

Mary and Martha

While I sit here waiting for WalMart to download or upload my pictures, or whatever they do, I thought I would share my marvelous wisdom and knowledge. Actually, there isn't much of either, but I will say that yesterday when I was gazing out my front window instead of getting ready for church, I had this thought that Martha of the Mary and Martha story kind of gets a bad rap. Here's the story: Every second Sunday I invite my parents, grandparents aunts and uncles , anyone who may be within 150 miles, and kids over for dinner. I usually really enjoy it, and I did yesterday, as well. But here's the thing, we have been busy working, looking for our campsite, going to the temple and attending various weddings and receptions and my house was, to say the least, not immaculate. So I sat on the couch watching three squirrels running and playing in my yard and thinking of the day ahead and I thought, Martha was only trying to be a good hostess. She was working hard, and Mary, who was part of her household is sitting on the floor listening to the Savior. I would want to think that if He came over, I wouldn't want to do anything else but sit at His feet and be taught by Him. In other words, I want to think I am like Mary. However, if He had been there a while, I know that I would have wanted to prepare a meal worthy of a King. Is that so bad? And I think, poor Martha, she was only trying in the best way she knew to serve Him. She was stressed and probably really ready to put the hurt on her sister, and the Lord says that Mary has chosen the better part. So as I analyzed the situation of my day, I felt empathy for Martha and thought that everyone was being kind of mean to her. I thought, will I be able to choose the better part at church, or will I be so preoccupied with the house that I may as well not even go. Well, of course I went and enjoyed every meeting so much. In each class the Spirit was so strong and I learned old concepts with new eyes, but when I came home, everything was just as I had left it. I had recieved blessings at church of an open heart, but was still feeling so overwhelmed and just because I, like Martha, simply wanted to make a good meal and have it enjoyed by those I love. At 2:30 everyone came and we ate the best meal we have had in months. Everything turned out well, and everyone went home well-fed. But Martha was still on my mind. I was happy that I had had such a good day at church and with my family, but I still thought she had not been treated fairly. Then, last night while I was online, I went to lds.org and tried to find anything about the story that would help me understand it and accept it. I found one by a former Relief Society curriculum director that was written in the '80's. She herself had felt that Martha was serving the Lord in the way she felt most comfortable, and in the way she could best. She made the point, though, that the Lord knew her heart and still admonished her. I loved this quote: "The conversation that night was eternal; the calories were not." The author, Evelyn T Marshall, then speaks to the many things that pull LDS women in different directions. The bottom line is this for me, I do my best, but I need to maybe re-prioritize. I feel so much better about that story, I feel like I know what I need to do. So, its not so much me sharing my fabulous wisdom, as much as me just needing to put it down on "paper."

The second graders all think I am 30. That's why I love second graders.

A Glimpse into My Mind

Ok, I have been the ward Sunbeam teacher for 3 years (one class had more students than I had in school), but they just called me to the third most intimidating job for me in the church. The first most intimidaing job would be gospel doctrine teacher. The second most would be Relief Society president and the one that I actually have is...drumroll please...ward camp leader. I like to camp, I love the great outdoors, but I am so overwhelmed with this calling. So, today was my first big event to get ready for camp next month. I want the girls to come to camp, to want to be there and to feel the Spirit. I planned an activity where they answer a quiz, a questionnaire about themselves and chose a committee. Then I look down and notice that I am wearing TWO DIFFERENT SHOES!!! One was a flip flop and one was a slip on. It never fails to amaze me how stuff like that always happens to me. If I had any idea how to post a photo, I would show the world my ineptness. There you have it. Have a nice day!

School's Out (Revised)

The blog formally known as School's Out needed to be revised. I was either on drugs, drunk or extremely tired when I wrote it, and it didn't even make sense to me when I read it later. By the way, since I do not use drugs or alcohol, my bet is on extremely tired. What a week! We planted, partied, partied, graduated from seminary, partied, swam, partied, school, more graduation, and yes, all night partied. The last day of school came right in the nick of time. Today I got up and actually felt rested.
My attempt in the blog formally known as School's Out did not adequately articulate my feelings about how life is changing for our family. It is both good and not so good. Good because it is nice to know Kelsey is doing and choosing the right things, sad because she will leave and we will miss her. She is a fantastic daughter. Soon it will be only the three of us here and then Charlie will go on a mission. When Mark and I got together, I came with three kids. We never had those alone times, even our honeymoon was just one night in Pocatello. Time has sped by and now we are almost ... like our parents. How did this happen? I'm not kidding, just yesterday I was juggling a baby on my hip while preparing dinner. Going to soccer games four nights a week. Parent-teacher conferences for three hours at a time, as the parent. Going to bed late on Christmas Eve and waking up early so we could get all the pictures of the excited kids. Having kids with bad dreams climb into bed with us, and not getting any sleep after. "Skipping to the Lou, my darling" on Lena Lane. Swimming at Jensen's Grove and coming home and bathing everyone so they don't itch. Taking a crying baby, or toddler, or child out of Sacrament Meeting. Yesterday. Today I have five grandkids, a college graduate son, a college bound daughter, and I listen to my mom's music (and like it), I drive the speed limit and pay my taxes on time. In the not so distant tomorrow, I will sit on the deck with Mark, play with our grandkids and go to bed late on Christmas Eve and then get up early to get the good pictures. Yesterday happened so quickly, today is almost over and tomorrow is dawning.
School's out, but only for a while.

School's Out

Today was the last day of school. It was so hard to send my "babies" on their way to third grade. I have really grown attached to them all. Each one is so special to me in different ways and for different reasons. Teachers often receive gifts at the end of the year, the best one I got was one mom who said thanks with tears in her eyes. Her little guy struggles in school but has had a lot of personal growth this year, and is one I have grown especially fond of.
I spent most of the day trying to stay awake. Kelsey graduated from high school last night, and her class had an all night party. So at 2 a.m. I got up and went over and "played" with the grads. The party went until after five, and I couldn't really see any reason to go to bed, in fact I didn't think I would be able to get up, so I came home and read the paper, took a shower, then went to school. Oh, did I forget to mention that I didn't go to bed until about 12:30? I actually did pretty well until about 5:00 this afternoon. That was when I passed out. Luckily, Charlie was here to wake me for my meeting at 7:00.
So, in the fall, Kelsey will move and go to college, and I will get some new students. School's out, but not really.

Toilet Paper Anyone?

On Friday we had the grandkids over to spend the night. I was really tired and went to bed about 11:30, but had been asleep for over an hour. At 1:30 I heard Parker crying and went to find out what was wrong, and was surprised to find Mark sitting up with him. Mark knew I was tired, and Parker had had a late nap so he didn't go to sleep until very late. Anyway, I knew that Mark was tired, too, so I told him to go to bed and I would sit with Park. After a few minutes, Parker wandered into the living room, made a nest of pillows on the couch and settled in for the night. I didn't want to immediately move him until I was sure he was asleep and so I sat on the recliner and thought to myself, "Wow, if you were the kind of person who does that sort of thing, it would be a perfect night to go TPing." When my eyes adjusted to the light, I noticed the unmistakable white strands of toilet paper waving in the breeze. So just to be sure, I went to the window and yes, there was the most fabulous job of juvenile deliquency I have ever seen. Somehow they managed to get it up in the trees about 25 feet. Then it occured to me that Mark had been awake the whole time the crime was comitted. I went and woke him up and asked him how we got toilet papered if he was awake. I am actually his Toilet Paper Anger Management Specialist and so when I was able to talk him out of his ire, I reminded him that in fact, if he hurried, he could beat the sprinklers and get it while it was dry. This is why at 1:45 a.m. my wonderful husband was outside our home gathering the spoils of the two-ply nice stuff.
Then last night at Kelsey's grad party, a few of her friends slyly mention the TP in the trees. I say yes, but that we were able to foil the plans of the teenages who tried to ruin our Saturday. They laughed and enjoyed the joke, but when the party ended at 1:00 and I went in the back room for my prayers, it seemed the challenge was on! A little car with a noisy muffler pulled in front of our house. Since I was finished thanking my Father in Heaven for all of my awesome blessings, I sprang up and looked out the window. Yes, it appeared they were back for more fun. I stealthily sprinted up the hall and waited, yes waited, then turned on the front lights. Then, crawling on the floor, (try to make a picture of this in your head), turned on the side lights. Mark and I waited for about 25 minutes and they finally left. Alas, in victory comes the challenge. Now I feel we must wait up for the little criminals each and every night until they tire of the sport or we die of fatigue. Zach has a plan, it involves fishing line, I'll get back on that one.

Two days off!

I took two days off to just hang out. Of course I went back to school yesterday-twice. I will miss my little babies so much. They make me laugh. There is a little joke at school that I work my kids til they puke. It's a good story, but not one that is appropriate for here. Let's just say it was a little like Fear Factor in my classroom. I think the producers of that show should use jalapeno bagels for one of their stunts. And also, only one kid did throw up.
We have been planting lots of flowers to beautify our yard. It is going to make my hands fall off. We worked for hours yesterday and will today again.
Our home will be filled today with Kelsey's graduating friends. We don't know how many are coming, between 5 and 50 is our best guess. But it will be hamburgers and salad and lots of fun!
Next week will be fun, but packed with stuff! Last day of school for us, graduation, up all night with the party, getting ready for summer school. . .

I love teaching! Yesterday I had last recess duty and went out with my students. As always, they huddle around me like little chicks around the mother hen. I am not calling myself a mother hen. Anyway, recess came right after a cloud burst. The air smelled fresh and clean and I said, raising my hands up "I just love the smell of the new rain!" Just then the thunder clapped. The kids stood there with their mouths gaping and Luke said "Wow, you have powers just like a galactic overlord." Thank you, finally they know.

So now that I know how to get to my account, I guess I should write about my life again. School is winding down, summer is coming, my flowers are calling and I feel bushed. Kelsey is getting ready for graduation and getting on with her life. It is fun to watch the kids be so excited about leaving home. I am really not sure how I feel about that. Why do they want to leave? Lucky for them, I am such a young mother so I remember how it feels. She went to morp and came home for hot fudge sundaes with the most interesting group of people. These are not the kind of people you want your kids hanging out with, but I thought, "At least Mark and Charlie are here to protect us." Being the law abiding citizens they all are, at least they left before the city curfew.

Grandkids coming

Tomorrow is the big day, I get to see two of the sweetest kids in the Pacific Northwest. Their dad is bringing them for a visit for a week. It will be fun to see him, too. Glad to finally be on spring break. Parent teacher conferences are very time consuming, the preparation. I do like to see the parents. I am very lucky, the parents of my students are involved in their kids' lifes. Kids tend to do better when parents are into what they are doing.
Yesterday we took the whole school to see Meet the Robinsons. It was a great movie!

This is my day:
Go to school at 7:45 a.m., stay at school until 9:00p.m. Got to see the moms and dads of great students. I love them all. I will miss them when they go on to 3rd grade. They make me laugh when they say things like, "If you committed murder on yourself, would you have to go to trial and maybe get the death penalty?" True story.