Girls Camp 2008

I just got back from Girls Camp at West Piney. This is a church owned camp near Swan Lake that is beautiful and has many amenities. I recommend it for reunions, and ward parties. Amoung other things, it has tetherball, volleyball area, baseball, a fun hike, and the biggest slide! Before we went, we had been told to warn the girls of the dangers of the SLIDE!!! Under no circumstances were the girls to touch the slide with hands or feet while going down because if they did they might be seriously injured or worse. So before we left, I had decided not to go on it. The first night I watched twelve girls face plant at the bottom and I knew I had made the right decision. On the second night two girls from my ward begged me to ride it. After 30 minutes of cajoling I had the nerve to sit at the top and clutch the bars on the side for five minutes. I have taken classes at the gym that have not revved my heart rate like that. Finally I went

and screamed the whole way down.



I did live to tell the tale.



When Mark came last night I told him about it and even though the merry go round at public parks makes him sick he surprised me and went down THREE times!



The girls certified every requirement for their age, played games, laughed and best of all bonded with each other. We ate well. We tried so many different approaches to outdoor cooking like foil fajitas, bacon and egg in a bag, brownies in a relfector oven and in a few weeks we will try making cupcakes in orange peels. The girls made stronger friendships with each other and went on the most hilarious snipe hunt of all time. This is a quote that will live forever in our memories, "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!! THERE ARE SIX OF THEM AND THEY ARE CHARGING US!!!!!" The older girls even convinced the others to put toothpaste on their faces so that the snipes wouldn't catch their scent. This was on the SECOND night!





On the hike I fell down the hill, but since I am in such great physical condition I came away with only a few bruises.

Memories

I got this idea from Sarah and thought it might be fun. (Plus I was kinda bummed by only 2 comments on my last post. So play, okay???)

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

911-What is your emergency?

Today a woman called and told me she needed an ambulance.

My phone number is four digits longer than the one most people use for emergencies.

Well...I did pray today that I would be able to be of service to someone. Glad I could help. Hope everything works out OK.

Yea for me!

I just got back from running the green belt. 1.8 miles!!!!! The whole thing, first time ever! Maybe I can do the little 5k with my brother John, hmmm.....

Summer Vacation

OK, I have come to the conclusion that unless my life is chaotic I can't seem to get anything done. I did a few things, its just that I think I like the challenge of having bazillion things going on.

Today is the first real day of my summer vacation. This is what I have accomplished in the 16 hours I have been up:

I went to the gym--for 2 hours.

I did one load of laundry.

I warmed up a hamburger for Charlie's lunch.

I put some water on the lawn.

I watched two episodes of House Hunters.

I read two articles in the Ensign.

I showered at 3:30.

I am up at 11:17 writing this blog. I am kind of bored. I don't like it. I have been thinking about using my people skills to be a greeter at Wal-Mart.

Wait, I just thought of something. This must be why they call it a vacation. Except for the cooking and laundry, people go to far-away places to do what I did today.

And can I just mention--I really miss my second grade babies. Maybe I should have a picnic and invite a few over to play.

Tomorrow I think I will go to the gym, read the book Sarah gave me, do laundry, go to a baseball game, make dinner, clean the family room (maybe-maybe not) and catch two episodes of House Hunters.

Maybe I should learn to relax and like it.

Stupid Kathy Trick

End of year district teacher meeting-me running into the back end of my boss' SUV. That is all.

School Is Out

I know I say this year after year, but I am going to miss my students so much. These kids were just a different bunch.
They are kind. I could give many examples, but one just happened Monday at our buddy activity. I have a student who has a disability. The kids were playing "Duck, Duck, Goose." This student tapped a boy and he ran just slowly enough that she was able to get in his place. They really look out for each other.
They were funny. I think back on the frog incident, the stories they told, the books we read, the stories they told, show and tell, and oh yeah, the stories they told.
They worked hard. I can count on one hand the number of times they whined about doing something. They were troopers, even with the boring stuff like subjects and predicates. We finished our math books. First time ever.
This will sound weird, but they liked me--maybe alot. I got so many love notes. Second graders are not phony. They tell little fibs once in a while, but they are as real as the day is long. So anyway, when I get love notes telling me I am full of boloney because I love them more---what can I say?
So, it is the time when we put the desks out in the hall, take stuff off walls, find lost items, file away reports and close up shop until fall and the whole process is making me a little weepy. I love every class, but I haven't felt like this since my first year. This year has been hard in some ways, but I don't know if I have ever been so attached to my students.
Monday a boy comes in and tells me he's tired, do I want to know why? Sure I respond. He says he was up all night feeling bad and missing me already since school is almost over. He hugs me twenty times a day, and doesn't let go. I know just how he feels.