30 day song challenge: day 1

I've decided to take this challenge.

day 1: your favorite song

now, this is truly an unfair question to any music lover out there.  I've got plenty of "favorite songs of the moment" or favorite songs that represent specific parts of my life.  but, when it comes to deep-down-songs-I'll-never-tire-of-hearing, I always go back to my roots-- songs and artists introduced to me by my dad.  so, here is (one of) my favorites:

secret o' life by James Taylor


can't ever get enough of my man James.

thanks and 24

twenty-four was an awesome birthday.

samuel spoiled me with perfume, books, pillow shams, and zupas.  friends spoiled me with lots of phone calls, text messages, and facebook posts.  family spoiled me with all of the things I love: waldorf salad, potatoes and gravy, books, cookie jars, t-shirts, phone calls from bay, and fires in the fireplace.  It was wonderful to church-nap-talk-read-enjoy delicious food, and not have to worry about work.  sunday birthdays are the best.
thank you, thank you, thanks.  

on "coming up short"

Sometimes I feel like if I'm being a really good teacher, I'm being a really neglectful wife.  Or, if I'm being a really great wife, I'm being a shoddy teacher.  Or, if I'm being a great teacher and wife, I'm dropping the ball with my church responsibilites, or I'm not exercising like I should be, or I'm being an obnoxious family member, or I'm letting friendships slide that I should be enriching. 

Do you ever feel that way?  There are times when I sit and think about moms-- and having to concern yourself with all of the above, as well as your kids.  Mothers, I salute you! 

The truth is, I think, that I am always trying my best.  That's all I've got; that's all any of us have got.  And even though it may not be enough all the time, we still manage to make it work and life goes on.  What I need to learn is to give myself and others credit for the things we are accomplishing!  And to pick up the slack and try again when I find myself coming up short in any aspect of life. 

Thanks for indulging me in a little self-reflection. 

In other news...

I'm having a "Math Matters" night for my students and their parents tonight.  I've been working really hard on it, and my mom has helped me out a TON.  I can't wait to actually have the event and see the results.  Plus, my students are excited for it!  That brings me a lot of satisfaction already. 

The big 2-4 is coming up on Sunday.  My grammy is making a big dinner and I get to hang with the fam.  The Grover Clan already celebrated last weekend-- it was fabulous.  I love birthdays!

Samuel is working hard in his last semester of school.  He deserves a lot of credit for being willing to finish his degree in Salt Lake so that I could keep my job.  He also deserves a lot of credit for making it happen-- coordinating credit transfers, graduation petitions, finding parking downtown, and driving to Provo once a week--even though he is pretty thrilled to have a BYU ID (which, he says, makes him an "offical" BYU fan).  Looking forward to visiting Rexburg in April for graduation!  Woohoo!

We went skiing--finally.  It was amazing.  LOVE being in the mountains and out of the smog, shushing down the Pioneer run, and eating peanutbutter and nutella sandwiches in the Jeep. 

In third grade, the word of the week is intrepid.  Yes oh yes.

one week

hello 2011

Well.

Christmas wrapped up to be a wonderful family-filled holiday.  We gifted, we ate, we watched It's a Wonderful Life, we drove from place to place.  We made a mess of our house (but in the most festive way).  Even now as I'm sitting here among the chaos, refusing to grade papers, and listening to the heater clank, I am overwhelmed by what a great season it was, and dazed that it is over already.

2010 has been good to me.  winter: birthday, skiing, olympics. spring: marriage, temple, teaching, seattle. summer: garden, tutoring, hebgen, cali. fall: samuel home, teaching, new york. and winter again: christmas, samuel's birthday, family.

2011 promises good things as well: samuel's graduation, teaching year 2 complete, national parks, hebgen. also, internships?, summer jobs?, artistic endeavors?  time will tell.

I am a resolution making kind of a gal.  Here's the beginnings of my list:

• increase my effectiveness and patience with my students
• exercise regularly
• attend the temple monthly
• organize the "junk room"
• learn how to meal plan
• be generally more adventurous
• live in gratitude daily
• make some new friends

cheers!  I hope 2011 brings you everything good.

happiness and cheer

fun for all at the bowthorpe pj party and candy day at grammy's.

samuel's birthday is today!

it's beginning to look a lot like

CHRISTMAS! (pictures to come).

at home:
lights up around our front door.
nativity on our mantle.
a fresh christmas tree that smells amazing.
new ornaments and a few old ones, too.
the beginnings of a santa claus collection.

at school:
puzzle piece wreaths.
the polar express.
the driedel game.
paper christmas light garland.
ebineezer scrooge.

at play:
brighton ski passes.
bailey gets home on friday. (woot)
family parties.
singing with dad and the 4 B's. 
SLG's birthday on the 22nd
3 weeks off of school

and so, as someone very wise once said: well hoop-di-doo... and dicory dock... and don't forget to hang up your sock!