Teenagers are Funny.

It's time again for a "what's going on in the classroom" post. They've come up with some funnies lately, so I thought it only fair to share with you all.

** My kids were asked to design their own Utopia. I gave them several questions to think about and respond to. My favorite is below.

I reeeeeeally hope she meant horses.

** We were discussing the use of cell phones, and the subject of texting and driving came up. Oh boy did that open up a whole lot of opinions. One boy raised his hand to share a story. "One time I was driving with my friend and his mom, and she started to text while she was driving us. The problem is that she is Asian and she has squinty eyes. I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to see in the first place, but then she started texting, and I got scared for my life." (I should note that the boy telling the story is Asian as well...)

** We read a poem that talked about the moonlight and the way it makes everything look. I asked the question, "Why do you think people think the moonlight makes everything romantic?" (Now I realize that sort of question is a dangerous one with 8th graders, but I thought it'd be funny to hear their thoughts.) One boy's response? "Well, it won't matter if the person you're looking at is ugly because you can't see their face because it's dark." Hopefully he doesn't tell that to a girl.

 ** Overheard in the hallway: 

Student 1: "Man, what did you spray? I'm like dying over here!"

Student 2: "Axe!"

Student 1: "Well how many sprays did you do?"

Student 2: "Two! One for me, one for the ladies. That's how you do it, man!"

** And, when all else fails, and you haven't read the book you were supposed to read, just fill in every single answer with something about Chuck Norris. 

Nicely done, buddy. At least you got points for making me laugh.

Every day is an adventure in the junior high. Glad I get to watch it all unfold. Glad I don't have to live through it again. :)

Sometimes it's the little things.

I'm sitting here in a very thrilling teaching conference. And instead of listening to the award speeches, I thought I'd write a little post. (Because I can only take so much of the teacher jokes/humor...)

I was in the computer lab with my kiddos one day a few weeks ago, and I had this moment as I was gathering essays where I was like, "Oh my heck. How did I get here? How did I get to this point in my life where I am teaching 260 teenagers and actually loving it?!" And then I just smiled knowing that I'm where I should be. My kids are the best and I love what I do. And then it got me thinking about all the small things that make life wonderful. You know, things like:

* Fresh popcorn from the hot air popper.
* Time with Mia and Emmett.
* Skyler asking me to become a merit badge counselor so I could help him with the reading merit badge. Even though there are almost 18 years between us, a love for reading is something we have in common. I love it, and it makes me smile.
* Finally having a heater that works. Yay for a warm house!
* Girl's night out with my favorite ladies.
* Hugs.
* Making new friends.
* Reading. I have been flying through books lately.
* Valentine's Day decorations.
* Temperatures above 20 degrees. It practically feels like summer!
* Good converstaion.
* Making things. Being crafty.
* Diet coke.

It's been a goal of mine to notice the small moments that make life so much better. You know... kind of make the most of each day and live it to its fullest kind of stuff.

Another Year Down...

How are we to the end of another year already? Didn't 2012 just start?!? I guess it's time for my yearly review!

This year has been an adventure, and while nothing too big and life changing has happened, it's still a year worth reporting about! :) Here are some of the highlights:

* Starting the year off with a bang by jumping into full time teaching. And jumping between two classrooms for the first two weeks of that. What a wild ride!

* Moving into a new apartment in February. Finding one was an adventure. But... when the roomie gets married, and you choose not to live with the newlyweds, 'tis something that needs to be done. :)

* Turning 28 in March. (30 is just around the corner now! Eek!)

 * Finding a human molar on the floor of my classroom. No one ever claimed it as theirs. Siiiiiick.

* Going to Phoenix for Spring Break to visit the Hall family.

* Going to the Hill Air Force Base Air Show in May--- and getting completely wet and cold from the crazy rain storm. 

* Going to Nine Mile Canyon. Super hot. But... super worth it. So many cool things to look at!

* Jamming my foot into cement curbing in June. Being told it was probably a sprain. But then being told by another doctor that it was really a stress fracture and wasting spending the next SIX weeks of my summer in a walking boot, unable to do any of the fun things I had planned on doing.

* Finding out a couple of months later from two different doctors (and a gazillion x-rays and an MRI) that my foot was never actually broken, and that the first doctor misdiagnosed me. Aaaaaawesome.

* Turning something on the lathe for the first time. My rolling pin is pretty dang awesome, if I do say so myself!
* Spending a weekend in Park City with some of my favorite ladies.
* Buying a new car. Poor Nissy was about to bite the dust, so I bit the bullet and swallowed the idea of having a car payment again. So glad I did!

* Fun Halloween shenannigans with my family.
* Having Kelsey, Riley, and Emmett move in next door to me. 
* Spending LOTS of time loving and spoiling Mia and Emmett. Being an aunt is the best thing ever!

* Going to the coldest BYU football game ever. 

* Running a 5K to support the Huntsman Cancer Institute in honor of my Uncle Dean, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.
* Went sledding for the first time in six years. Why do I not do that every year? It was SO much fun!
* Feeling like an adult when I bought my own TV and washer and dryer. Being an adult is expensive!
* Letting Julie take me from blonde to brown--- and loving it! 
* Finally being able to quit my second job! I had a great 10 years at the doctor's office, but it was time to move on. Mostly I did it to maintain my sanity. And to have my nights to myself again. Happy New Year to me!!
* Ending the year surrounded by family and friends, and being reminded how much I cherish the relationships I have with the people close to me. Experiencing a death in the family brings a new perspective, and reminds me again just how blessed we are to have the promise of eternal families.
* And finally... LOVING all the snow we got the last couple of weeks of the year. Driving in the snow is not my thing, but I absolutely love, love, love, to watch it fall and look at the snow-covered world.

So here's to 2013... I can't wait to see what it brings! I am looking forward to finishing my Gifted & Talented Endorsement, finishing my teaching portfolio that will allow me to move to a level 2 license, spending lots of time with my family and friends, and just enjoying life and what it brings!

Football. Frigid Temps. Family.

It had been a couple of years since I had gone to an BYU football game. I came across a coupon that made tickets only $10 each, so I figured I might as well go! I talked mom, dad, and Skyler into going with me. Had we known the benches were going to be covered in snow and that it was going to be 27 degrees, we may have thought twice about going. It was still tons of fun, though! We bundled up, got hot chocolate, and cheered our mighty Cougars on!

Skyler was rather proud of his Angry Birds hat.

Snow removal was first priority upon arrival.

This flag was so cool. And totally perfect for Veteran's Day weekend.

The fam. We got a hot chocolate seller to stop and take the picture. Took him 3 tries to get a decent shot. Third time's the charm, right?

Ready to head home. My toes were totally numb by the time we left.

The snow this weekend was absolutely gorgeous. There is something extra magical about the first snowfall of the year.

Halloween and such...

Halloween is so much fun. I love working in a school and having the excuse to dress up. And... it's so fun to see the different costumes the students come up with. Always entertaining. There's always lots going on with our family, too. This year was no different. Take a look! :)

Mia suggested that I be a "happy witch" like she was going to be. My skirt overtook just about everything I did that day... that's what 26 yards of tulle will do! :)

Two very happy witches

Skyler's impression of an old man was uncanny.

Bambam and the witch

Me and Wilma. Sadly, Nicole (who was a bat), had to leave before we could get a sister picture.

It was another fabulous Halloween. I love the traditions we have in our family. Holidays aren't the same without our traditions, and I love watching the little ones in the family get into them now.

On a non-Halloween related note, I ran a race this morning! I was quickly reminded how terribly out of shape I am. But... it was for a good cause, and it was soooo worth it! My uncle Dean was diagnosed with brain cancer back in July. His kids put together a 5K to raise money to go to Huntsman Cancer Institute for research. It was a huge success, and they had over 400 people come out to run.
It was quite inspiring to see how many people came to support my uncle. He is an incredible man, and an amazing example to me. As I was running along the path this morning, I was convinced that I wasn't going to make it. My injured foot was screaming at me to stop, my legs were Jell-O, and I wanted so badly to be done. Just as I had that thought, I looked up, and coming toward me, was my uncle and my aunt. And then I thought to myself, "Come on, Loges. Dean has brain cancer. He's not complaining. Suck it up and finish this race." And so I did. I'm so glad I didn't turn around, and that I pushed myself and finished. Naturally, I was the last to finish from my family, but they were all there to greet me and cheer me on as I crossed the finish line! Sure do love them!

Kelsey-Me-Nicole.... post race... please excuse my somewhat disheveled appearance and red face. Not the best picture, but it's all I had!

Now begins my favorite time of year! TONS of family time, lots of school breaks, and lots of traditions, memories, and food.

*Also, new date post here. Get ready. It's a doozy.

Remember that dating blog I have?

Well, I posted a new post here. Go check it out. And please send in your bad date stories!!! I have a few more doozies, but I'd love to hear from YOU! So start sending! :) And tell your friends to send their stories in, too!

People these days...

So I was watching 20/20 this evening. (I know, a lovely Friday night activity. Give me a break. It's what you do when you're alone and don't have any plans, available/single friends, or anywhere to go.) The theme of the episode was the extremes people go to in order to improve their appearance. I. Was. Shocked. at the things people will do these days. One guy has undergone 90 surgeries in an attempt to make himself look like a real-life Ken doll. 90! Several people have had a feeding tube inserted in their nose to lose weight quickly. Girls are wearing corsets again to "train" their bones to be smaller.

It all sounds so smart and so healthy, right?!? I was flabbergasted. But the thing that caused the biggest question in my head was this: Companies are apparently desperate for advertising, so people are having company logos tattooed on their FACES. They do get paid for such a service (one Utah woman was paid $10,000), but I mean, honestly. Really?!? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. She has now spent over $800 to have it removed, and she's not done yet.

Speaking of extremes, I just saw Miley Cyrus on the Tonight Show. What the?

Source

Wheelin' & Dealin'

It's about time I post a student story... I don't think I have yet this year.

My classes begin each period in my room by reading silently for 20 or so minutes. Most of them are really good about it, and love the time they get to read. Today during 4th period, however, within the first five minutes of reading time, I discovered a few sneaky students occupying their time by, oh, ya know, just playing a game of cards... like it's no big deal and that I wouldn't see them (I mean, three of them had a handful of cards, all spread out, ready to play. They had put the deck in the middle of them and were set.). They forgot I have eyes like a hawk...and that their table sits in my direct line of sight. Haha. One of them made eye contact with me and he knew it was over. I confiscated the cards and told him he could come get them after school. Our conversation went as follows:

Me: Your cards are lovely, but reading time isn't exactly the most appropriate time to play them.
Student: I know, but it's the only time I can play them.
(As if this is a regular occurrence in my room for him---it's not.)
Me: Well, it's still not the time to play cards. Silent reading time is for reading. Silently. Not playing cards. You can come pick them up after school today.
Student: Sigh. Okay.

I would love to get into his head and see what exactly made him think that playing cards with his table mates would be an acceptable activity during reading time.... or at any point during a class. Thank you, teenagers, for making my job so entertaining.

Out with the old

And in with the new. I bought a new car!!! My old car, bless her heart, was showing signs of old age. The clunking and grinding sounds she was making just weren't making me happy, nor were they fun to hear as I drove down the road. They didn't make my passengers feel too safe, either. As Marianne put it, "Um, can you feel that? It's a bit disconcerting." Needless to say, as nice as it was not having a car payment, it was time.
I talked my dad and Skyler into coming with me last week, and a mere five hours later, I was the proud owner of a new car! :) And now I find myself looking for places to go just so I can drive in it. Oh... and can I just say that new car smell is one of my favorite smells on this planet? LOVE it.

Farewell, Nissy

Isn't she a beaut? *Currently taking suggestions for a name...*

*Sidenote-- new bad date post here.

Please explain to me

why anyone would want to purchase one of these.

And thank you, Facebook, for suggesting that I might perhaps wish to own one.