QUICK UPDATE

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1. All 4 performances of the class play are over with.
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2. My second big project with GCU was turned in yesterday. .
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3. My student's portfolios were finished about 1:30 this morning.
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4. Third grade report cards have been handed out.
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5. The 2009-2010 school year officially ended at 12:30 this afternoon.
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6. And after some quick homework of my own, I am off to Utah for a funeral and a family reunion (still not sure where I'll be sleeping tonight). I'll be joined by Andrew and Becca tomorrow.
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A week from Stressville, let me tell you. And I'm still waiting to catch my breath...
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CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION: READING WITH AN EMPHASIS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

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Mind-numbing textbooks
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Late, stressful nights.
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More mind-numbing textbooks
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Papers to type. Research. Works Cited. APA format. Bleh.
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Grad School.
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It's official. I have begun my Master's program. I never dreamed in a million years that I'd be heading down this road one day. I was soooo happy to be finished with research papers and textbooks for the rest of my life, and yet, here I am, starting all over again. Just saying the name of this darn program wears me out (see post title).
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And quite honestly, I pictured myself happily at home with two kids by now. All of this deviating from my blueprint is very discouraging. Has anyone felt depressed by nothing and everything all at the same time? But, I must keep repeating the mantra that has helped me find humor and focus through many past deviations from my plans.
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"The surest way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans."

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I mean, God knows what he's doing, right? Marrying Andrew was NOT on my plan. And yet, I'm kind of glad I did.
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Tonight, after tears, profanities, and several sincere announcements that I was dropping out (it's a long dramatic story I doubt you care to hear)...I finally submitted the first paper for my first class.

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Then, I informed Andrew that he was to take me on a date this instant, that he had to plan, and that had better be fun. With obedience highlighting his great wisdom, Andrew immediately grabbed the car keys and drove us to Cold Stone Creamery.
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We shared the Birthday Cake Remix, in case you were wondering.
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You'll all understand if my blog gets neglected more than usual, right? Can we still be friends?
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Wish me luck as I dig into this new phase of my life! And then send a prayer my way...or twenty while you're at it. Much obliged.
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8-YR. OLD RECEDING HAIR LINES

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In an opinion paragraph turned in by one of my very own, super-cute third grade boys:
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I think we should be able to wear hats in school. In baseball you need a hat. You need to wear it to show you have a game. You need to wear it at baseball practice.
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In winter it gets cold. You need to keep your head warm. On snow days you wear it so you don't get sick.
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You need a hat if your(sic) bald. You need to wear a hat so people don't make fun of you. Also, people will talk behind your back. That's why I think we should wear hats in school.
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I think he just about has me convinced. There are way too many balding 8-year olds at our elementary school.
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CATERPILLARS IN A CUP

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I ordered them from the Internet. For the children, of course. The aforementioned children were convinced they could tell each caterpillar apart. Apparently, the insects' unique personalities made this possible.

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Meet Frankie, Bob, Steve, Germaine Jacoba, and Frankie Joe George Cheese Bob III. At least that's what I've been overhearing these past few weeks. (How do they even come up with this stuff?)

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They crawled around their cup, eating, pooping, and building a disgusting mass of webs...until one by one, they hung head first from the lid like gymnasts. A week later, all five chrysalids hung in a happy row...butterflies baking within.
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At this point, I opened the cup, untangled the chrysalides from their webs, and pinned the lid inside this netted butterfly atrium. I didn't even gag!
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The darker they get, the closer they are to being baked through. By the time they emerged, each chrysalis was almost black.

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Even when we had a student on watch at all times, we missed every single emergence. It happens fast! But we were sure pleased to have all five turn into beautiful, delicate painted lady butterflies.

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They drink with their long, curly tongues from sugar water sprinkled on flowers or from fresh-cut orange slices.
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Our next step, is to set them free to their natural habitat. That is, if the weather will cooperate. It has to be above 55 degrees.

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Pretty, yes?

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On another spring topic, look at my tulips! We're starting to see some color!!

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Soon to follow will be my allium...or purple-poof-ball-Dr.-Suess-flowers...as I like to call them. Uncle Doug, I was glad to know what they're really called...but I still like my name better. No offense.
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FOR OUR LITTLE FAMILY

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"If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient. When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God's commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small and simple things."

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--Kevin Pearson

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EVERLASTING LIFE

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100% of my students are LDS. As a result, it makes for some very uniqe dynamics in my classroom. Fun comments like these are made almost daily.
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For this assignment, each student picked a topic to argue their opinion for. Most chose to argue the importance of video games, daily visits to Disneyland, or the legalization of Pokemon cards at school. But this young man chose to argue against swearing. From the sounds of it, he must listen well during primary. It warmed my heart.
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For those if you who don't read 3rd-grade handwriting-ese (of which I happen to be fluent in), here is the translation:
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I think that everybody should not swear. It will make you feel bad. You have a feeling you should not swear. It'll make you feel sick to your stomach.
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It makes you a mean person. No one will play with you. No people will want to talk to you.
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It might make you addicted to swearing. Everything you do you might get addicted. You will not have everlasting life.
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THIS DAY IS BANANAS, B-A-N-A-N-A-S

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1. I woke up on May 1st, pouting, and Andrew asked me what was the matter. When I explained I was sad that my birthday was over, he only laughed at me. No compassion.What-ever. Here's to making it last a little longer.
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My dad sent me an e-mail, listing other notable events occurring on April 30th. Some really important things occurred on this day in history. To name just a few of the coolest:
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This Day in History, April 3oth


* On April 30th, 1492, Christopher Columbus was granted a commission for exploration by Spain.
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* On April 30th, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States.
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* On April 30th, 1803, the United States more than doubled its land area with the Louisiana Purchase. It obtained all French territory west of the Mississippi River for $15 million.
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* On April 30th, 1945, the burned body of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was found in a bunker in the ruins of Berlin. Also that day, Soviet troops captured the Reichstag building in Berlin.
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2. My mom sent me this key chain for my birthday. Key chains don't normally fall into the category of: totally awesome birthday presents...but this does. It is a see-through locket with personalized charms inside. Love it! I couldn't have picked better charms myself to personify myself with.

• Camera (I am slightly obsessed with capturing everything)
• Teacher's Apple (Duh)
• Stack of Books (I have quite the collection)
• Paint Palette (My Associates Degree is in art)
• The Letter "R" (My First Initial lined with my birthstone)
• "My Man" in a Heart ( I really do love Andrew)
• Faith (See HERE)

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The key chain was only made cooler by the way it was wrapped. What a cute box!

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3. Have you played this game before? It is like Scrabble, but leaps and bounds better. Think fast-paced versus waiting-30-minutes-for-it-to-finally-be-your-turn-again.
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Andrew, Lane, and I are addicted. We've played a lot. The moment someone finally beats Lane though, it may lose much of its appeal (no pun intended). One more win out of him, and he may be living on the streets.
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4. On a totally unrelated topic, I NEED ADVICE:

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How do you teach the concept of honesty and trust to children, so that they reeeally, truly internalize it? I have a student who is on a daily basis caught cheating and lying. She doesn't seem to care about anything but getting caught. I have tried:

• time outs
• lectures and explanations
• expressing deep disappointment
• expressing anger
• prayer
• notes home (her mom isn't one to care much)
• a visit with the principal
• parables (boy who cried wolf)
• losing privileges

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And I have run out of ideas. Today, I had her stay in from recess, so that I could handle it, yet again. But I couldn't think of another way to address it. So, we just stared at each other...I guess I was hoping for inspiration to strike, but it didn't. So the bell rang, and I excused her. I know there are several teachers who read this blog...not to mention parents. Help me!
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QUARTER OF A CENTURY

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Today is my birthday. I LOVE my birthday. Andrew showed up at work with cupcakes for my class and a Jamba Juice for me.
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I LOVE my Andrew. And as you might guess, Mr. Ashmore is popular with the kiddies too.
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A special delivery surprised me a few hours later. How gorgeous are these?

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We laughed out loud at the card. I guess my Mother-In-Law knows me pretty well.

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Here's a special blog-style shout-out to Joel, Rhonda, Erin, Ryan, Gabe, John, Riley, and Laney. Congratulations on making the blog!
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Students piled little presents on my desk: candles, nail polish, bath salts, bubble bath, candy, stuffed animals, books, and warm fuzzy socks.
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Every homemade card was covered in child-styled tulips. I guess my students know me pretty well too.
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I must also blog about my new Bath and Body Works hand soap...

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And my new hat. I honestly never dreamed I'd own my owncamolauge...and be so happy about it. Idaho must be rubbing off on me.

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After work, I requested Lazer Tag. Andrew, Lane, and I spent an hour dominating games full of elementary kids. I haven't had so much fun since I don't know when.

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Back at home, the guys made me dinner. I'm not sure why, but I always enjoy meals more when I don't have to cook them. Or clean up after them.

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Completely on accident, Andrew and Lane both ended up wearing the same outfit today: jeans and navy blue polo shirts.

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It kept throwing me off! At one point, while I was distractedly working on something, Andrew walked by me with a friendly smack on my rear end. From the corner of my eye, I had been so certain it was Lane that I was this close to dropping him to the ground with my ruthless Tae Bo skills.

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Lucky for him, I realized the truth just in time. And we were all able to enjoy our Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches in one piece.

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Now, I'm anxiously awaiting the time to open these babies!
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Apparently, we are in need of some birthday wrapping paper. Though sadly enough, this paper still works. We had snow flurries this afternoon. On my birthday. In April.
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Oh well. I won't let it ruin my day. I'll all be worth it in July, when the rest of the country is at 110 degrees...and we're not.

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Now...bring on the Setters of Catan! Hope you all have a Happy-Birthday-to-Me-Day!

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