23

according to my student James, it's my "lucky birthday"!

with luck, this year I will:

1. get married
2. learn a new skill
3. cook at least 5 new recipes
4. complete my first year of teaching and begin my second
5. organize my living spaces and clear out my closet
6. spoil a new niece (and an old niece)
7. learn a new song on the guitar
8. attend the temple monthly
9. go on a road trip
10. take a satisfying hike
11. wakeboard at hebgen
12. decorate
13. read 3 books I've never read before
14. develop (and live within) a budget
15. make my "africa book"
16. learn to quilt
17. host some successful parties
18. write a song
19. write in my journal regularly
20. reorganize my classroom and teaching stuff
21. exercise regularly
22. floss more often
23. get in touch with at least one old friend

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. -Anais Nin

I'm no parent, but....

If you are a parent of an elementary aged child, please keep in mind:

School is NOT daycare.  If school starts at 8:30, it is probably not a good idea to just drop them off at the playground an hour early.  If school ends at 3:15, please make arrangements to pick up your child right around that time.  Leaving them at school for an extra half an hour is not a good choice.

It is not a disservice to your child to help them with (or "force" them to do) their homework.

If your child is in too many extra activities (ie. art, dance, music lessons, sports teams, etc.) to get one practice sheet and 20 minutes of reading done each night, they are too busy.  Priorities?



okay.  that's my whole soap box for today.

december/january love love list

• milk glass
• ovaltine
• toyota carollas
• samuel
• my macbook
• road trips with bay
• dinner with friends
• craisins
• the holidays
• having decisions made
• mail
• paper snowflakes
• happy student artwork
• lyvie
• frozen yogurt
• hot rice bags
• neatly trimmed fingernails
• talking about Africa
• pandora
• books of all kinds
• italian sodas

it's a new year

new things are happening
like literature circles
and being engaged
and riding green bicycles
and teaching writing

cheers to 2010

merry merry

what a wonderful whirlwind the last few weeks have been:

car accident

new car

said yes

CHRISTMAS

teaching

holiday break from school

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas full of peace, good food, family, and music.

some days

this happened to me today:

bye best car in the world...

good things:

no one was hurt

I did not get a ticket

I have a jazzy rental car

I'll get to "up grade" (automatic windows?)

I didn't pay to get the belt replaced before this happened

my students wrote me adorable notes

my advice: don't get in car accidents

december thoughts

If an 8 year old is too busy to do their 3 page homework packet within a week, they are too busy.

I wish I didn't feel so obligated to be "politically correct" about Christmas in my classroom.

Nothing smells better than fresh Christmas tree as you walk in your front door.

Snow is beautiful in the mountains, on the playground, in the yard, on the trees.  But not on my windshield.

My parents give good advice.

I would like to watch: Charlie Brown Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, and An American Christmas Carol.

New coat = new outlook on life.

Samuel is classy.

The holiday season is fun, especially when you get to be around kids all the time.  They help me to see what it's "all about."

Happy Christmas, Everyone.