Home Again

I'm back from my trip to Denver! I had such a great time hanging out with Danica, Dave and their 2 super cute kids! I taught her 2 year old Jensen to say "crazy lady" and I was working on "make it snappy" but didn't have as much success! I also changed diapers and prepared bottles and entertained the kids while Danica painted up a storm in her new house! I know it doesn't sound like a vacation but it was a nice break for me and Danica just lets me chill and be myself. It's just relaxing to be with people who know you inside out and get all your quirks. The weather was sooo nice! I forget how much I love the DRY air and mountains. Both Danica and Dave commented on how lightly I packed! Mostly b/c they were both in my mission and remember the parade of elders it took to carry all my stuff (Dave may have been in that parade a few times too)! :) They are both such rad parents! I hope when I grow up and have kids I can be as much fun as they are! :)

When did I become a grown up?

Sssooo I am trying to come up with a plan for the next year or so...ie move out of my parents house! I'd like to buy a condo but it's going to be tricky doing it by myself without roomates. And I am trying to decide if I want to keep Clinique (my 4 runner) or buy something more sensible (you know like a 4 cylinder car that doesn't have 130,000 miles on her). And I went to the doc about my headaches and they are like "why are you here?" ummmm BECAUSE MY HEAD HURTS ALL THE DAMN TIME THAT'S WHY!!! And yes I said damn because damn it I am annoyed! They took like 5 vials of blood which caused me to become dizzy and light headed and almost pass out! I hate doctors! My friend Joanna saw me at church yesterday and said "you look stressed". And I realized that yes indeed I am stressed. Which is probably the cause of the headaches! I am tired of being responsible! I am tired of worrying about saving money and having a home and a "sensible" car and thinking about retirement! Being a grown up STINKS! I knew it was over rated! Did I mention that my grandma disowned me again? I can't decide if that adds to or takes away from the stress!!!

Not tonight I have a head- ACHE!

Sssooo I've been in trainings the last 2 weeks. I signed up for them and I am enjoying all the useful information. I'm really grateful that I finally chose a profession where I will never max out my intelligence. There is always something to learn and ways to grow as a teacher. My training last week was on effective classroom management. It stressed the importance of having procedures and routines in place and reinforcing those procedures and routines all year. It really does work well and I am excited to implement some new routines I picked up. But here is the funny part..... when all of us teachers are in a training we act just like our kids! Nobody raises thier hands and waits to be called on we just shout out. (even when the trainer gently reminds us not to do that) AND we all talk while the teacher is talking and I noticed alot of people don't pay attention to the trainers directions before we begin a group activity either! And there is always a rowdy group who disrupts the rest of us. I just think it's really funny because as teachers we can an do nail our students for this kind of behavior! We spend all our time coming up with creative ways to punish or reward for desired behavior, but when push comes to shove we all act like 9 year olds! Go figure!

So I got a HORRIBLE migraine at the end of today's training. It started as a headache and progressed due to lack of meds. It was nasty and I am still feeling it. My mom pointed out to me that I've been getting headaches almost daily and the days I don't get headaches it's because I've popped an Excedrin or a Zyrtec or an aleve cold and sinus (or a combo of the 3). So I am taking my mom's advice and going to the DR on Saturday and the eye doctor next week. Wish me luck because I am a little worried (this has been going on for about 2 months now I was just too busy to notice!) I am hoping it's just allergys but I guess you never know. I'm just tired of feeling crappy all the time! Not to mention I hate taking all those pills all the time!

PS I am listening to Disney Mania 6 on Itunes I just downloaded it. LOVE IT! Especially Kiss the Girl by Colbie Calliat! :) I have the heart of a 10 year old what can I say? :)

Shhh! It's a Secret!

Ok so since I've gone private I feel safe and secure enough to reveal something to all of you.......I LOVE CARTOON MOVIES! (whew!) I feel much better after getting that off my chest! :) Went to see Kung Fu Panda last Friday and I laughed louder than the kids in the theater! What can I say? It's good clean fun! I'm looking forward to Wall E coming out this summer too! Woo-hoo!

So I survived my last week of school! It was crazy busy! I've never been so tired in my life! I packed up my class on Thursday and went home and SLEPT! I don't really miss the kids yet. Most of them will be at my school in 4th grade and they will stop by and say hi. I didn't cry when they left either. Am I heartless? Naaaa just really tired! I am in trainings for the next 2 weeks and then I am going to visit Danica in Denver! I am looking forward to seeing Danica AND getting out of town because my family is driving me INSANE! (I still love 'em though!)

My Grandmother is doing better physically (no more pneumonia) but mentally she is not so hot. She kind of floats in and out of reality without warning. So you will be talking to her and all of a sudden she will say things like "I just had twin babies would you like one?" (no thanks Grandma I'm good) Why is everyone obsessed with me having kids?!?

My sister and I are............well let's just say I am glad she is going to be out of town for the summer. She wrote me a check that was from an account that was closed which was a little inconvenient and of course it does not occur to her to apologize and she forgot to reimburse me for the $5 check bouncing fee (sigh) I just keep trying to remember that Christ paid the price for ALL of our sins and I should quit holding a grudge but its a struggle sometimes.
So that's it for me! :) Sorry it took me so long to post, I've just been sort of brain dead with everything that's been going on!

Out of the mouth of Babes!

Sooo my class has been extremely preoccupied with the fact that I do not have any children of my own all year. Yes all year! Every once in awhile the subject comes up. "Why don't you got any children of your own?" My reply is usually "because I am not married" which of course leads to the question of why I am not married to which I reply "because my husband hasn't gone on sale at wal mart yet!". That usually does the trick and we move on. Not today! Today 2 of my kids informed me that I didn't need to have a husband. One of them even went on to say that I could have a "one night stand" to get a baby! (Holy cow! too many rated "R" movies!) To which I replied that I would be waiting for a husband. Well then they ALL had advice on how I could get me a husband! One suggested that I go to the beach to find him. And 2 of my girls recommended online dating services (eharmony and match.com). I was literally stunned and then I just started LAUGHING! They like to remind me that I am not getting any younger and so I need to hurry up and get me a husband if I am going to have kids! But the best comment yet came from this sweet little toe-headed blond boy in my class he said "Don't worry Ms. S they say that 30 is the new 20!" In my case it happens to be true too!!! :)

Appreciated

Sssooo last week was teacher appreciation week! woo-hoo! Every week should be teacher appreciation week but we move on. It was very nice. They had breakfast for us every day and little presents in our teacher mail boxes. I also got a gift from my class $100 gift certificate to outbak woo-hoo! And the card has some super cute pics of me and the kids from over the school year. I also got several gift cards in smaller denominations that I donated to my mom (you know like block buster and barnes n noble) b/c she is a teacher too but her school can't really afford to appreciate her the way mine can! :) I can't believe there is less than 10 days till the last day of school........time really does fly!

And in the spirit of teacher appreciation week I decided to buy a new electronic toy! :) I sold my sister my old laptop and newer Ipod and so I bought myself and Itouch. That thing is nifty! You can surf the internet as long as there is a wi-fi connection. And still listen to your music, watch videos and have pictures on it too! Needless to see I am having fun with it! :)

Seven Year Itch

Today is my seven year anniversary! Of what you ask? Of my Baptism! :) May 13, 2001. I was trying to think of something to do. You know a way to mark the occasion. But I was too tired to go to the temple. Not to mention I had a team meeting after school where I realized I am going to spend alot of money on my class for the end of the year party. I am pretty sure they should be throwing me a party but we move along. So it's been seven years since I joined the church. They have been wild and crazy for the most part. But I don't think I would trade any of them (ok maybe the parts where I spent too much time being in love with the wrong boy but doesn't really count) I have met some amazing people. There were some rad missionaries who helped me through my first year (Seth! Justin!). And then I served a mission and got to meet some awesome sisters who have been more of a family to me than my own at times! But mostly I got to find out where I came from who I am and how to get to where I am supposed to be! Its like climbing a mountain I guess. Somedays I feel like I am on top looking down and cheering. Other days I feel like I am at the bottom looking up and contemplating the long climb ahead. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. But I love the Lord and I know He loves ME! And I firmly believe with all my heart that everything happens for a reason (even spending all that time in love with the wrong person). And I am grateful for everything the Lord has blessed me with! I can truly say my cup runneth over!

This is the song I've been signing in my head!

I could wile away the hours Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head I'd be scratchin' While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain
I'd unravel any riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain
Oh, I would tell you why
The ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I never thunk before
And then I'd sit and think some more
I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain!!!!

More Zoo Stuff

This is a video I took of a baby sting ray. All the sting rays flocked to us and kept circling around and coming by. I couldn't figure out why they were so friendly until I realize that you could pay money and feed them!

Back in the Day

So what do you do when you have a day off from work? Go to the Zoo of course! And if you are me and my mom you go to the Lowry Park Zoo. I still call it "Larry" park from back in the day when I was knee high to a grasshopper. I can still remember animals in cages with bars. And an orangutan that spit at people. Well the monkeys have it a little better there now. Its actually a pretty cool place! They have a lot of hands on stuff there. For instance I got to pet some sting rays and my mom and I got our picture taken with a llama named "Angie" (seriously I don't make this stuff up! ):) AND I got to relive a piece of my childhood known as the Mold -A-Rama. It's a machine that makes a plastic mold of an animal right in front of you! When I was a tike it only cost a quarter, now it's $2.00. But I didn't let that stop me from bugging my mom till she gave me the money to get one! They have machines all over the park and I chose the manatee one (that's me holding it in the pic). Speaking of manatees, I think I could spend all day watching those guys and the snook and tarpon. I don't put alot of stock in astrology but I do have to admit that I am an aquarius, the water bearing sign. I have always been mesmerized by water in most forms. Oceans, lakes rivers, snow, rain, aquariums are so peaceful to me. When I can't fall asleep I listen to the water sounds on my radio. Works every time! Although I do HATE humidity! Go figure!

Also stopped by to see the wallabies for old times sake too :) Thank goodness these guys didn't hump my leg like the ones in Reno!