Ingrid Michaelson

When Stephen and I started dating I planned the most fun day for us during which we rode 50 miles round-trip on a tandem cruiser to swim in a reservoir and have a picnic.  It was in August and it was hot.  I had be training for a marathon and Stephen had been working in an office (not in shape).  Even though he was hating every minute of that activity he still put up with it and told me that he had a good time because we were newly dating and he liked me.  I'm glad that he still likes me and will still put up with some of my less logical ideas, like...

We went to the Ingrid Michaelson concert this week.  Round about the time we had been in line for two hours and it started snowing and I remembered that Stephen and I now work full time and can't just sleep in when we stay out late and are tired, I was wondering if this had been a good idea.  Luckily the concert did eventually start and Ingrid was so good!  We decided it was worth it but we probably wouldn't be going to too many more weeknight concerts from now on.





Stephen and I with my sister Ashley and her husband Zac. This was in line...before the snow.

Here is one of her music videos, she sang this song and (along with every song) it was excellent:

These are a few of my favorite things...from last week

Last week was busy and crazy as usually but there were some shining moments.

1. The Dyson Hand Dryer

I've heard of these and always wanted to experience one. Finally this week I was privileged to use a public restroom with the dyson hand dryer.  I guess I can be easily pleased but it was amazing.

2. Room Mother Angel

The most amazing room mother volunteered to plan and run my entire Halloween party for me.  I don't know who some of these parents are or how they became so fabulous but I need to find out so I can be this amazing someday.

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Stephen and I bought our Harry Potter tickets for the movie premier next month.  We're going to the imax show and my family is coming down for the occasion, I couldn't be more pleased about this.  I'm glad that Stephen will humor my Harry Potter love even though he's less than a fan.

4. iPad

As part of a technology-in-the-classroom push I was chosen with a few other teachers at my school to take a class about using ipod touch/ipads to teach.  I went to the first class this week and got my ipad!  I'll admit, I was skeptical of the ipad a bit when it first came out but after getting mine this week and playing around with it, I'm sold.  The best part is that they highly encouraged us not only to use it for school but in our personal lives as well and it's mine as long as I stay at my school.

Here is a somewhat blurry picture of my with my tickets and ipad....

We'll see what this week has in store.  I think the Ingrid Michaelson concert and the school Halloween parade should both be highlights, I'll keep my camera handy!

Withitness

I haven't had it this week.

It's midterm already, I know I cant believe it either.  This Wednesday we were to send our midterm grades home with our students.  Ever since I have known how to enter my students grades on our system I have been incredibly prompt and thorough.  Sending home a report should have been no big deal right?

Tuesday night I went to print the reports and had my grading scale entered incorrectly, no grades on the reports.  Wednesday morning bright and early I got to school and re-printed the grades, back in the saddle.  That day I got a new student and one of the other fourth grade teachers had a family emergency so I had 15-30 extra students in my room at any given part of the day, forgot to send the grades home.  Today, Thursday, I was determined to send those dang reports home and I did, sadly.  Not five minutes after the students left I had one come back with mom in toe and teary eyes because of a bad homework grade.  I had made a mistake on the way I entered homework grades and all those dreadful reports were wrong in a bad way.  I spent the next hour calling every parent and explaining.  

Notes to myself for the future:

Don't print grade reports the night before needing to send them, expect disaster and plan for it.

Tell the students that you have their grades and will pass them out at the end of the day.  The downside to this is that you will suffer the million reminders that you may have forgotten or may not be leaving enough time to get those grades to them but you won't be able to forget to send them.

Parents actually love when you make a mistake and love it even more when you call to tell them, their voice goes from the most stern and annoyed "yes, Mrs. Young..." to the most jovial chatting as they realize the call it's a complaint about their child.

Be understanding as a parent.

Get some withitness.

It's Autumn Time

Happy Fall!  This my absolute favorite season and here are some of the reasons:


It's incredibly beautiful outside.

Candy Corn is amazing but I am a true connoisseur and only Brach's brand in September and October will do (if you are a kindred spirit and also love candy corn try 10 seconds in the microwave, amazing).

The weather is the best.  I love when it rains, it doesn't happen a whole lot in Utah but your best bet is in the fall.

School stared and it's still fresh.  Teachers are still spry (or that is what I once thought) and the students are still clean and small and wide-eyed.

Halloween is so fun and I can't wait for our school's carnival where we all dress up and have a parade.  I a determined that Stephen and I dress up together this year, I just have to find a reason so that I can coax him.

Most of all I love the feeling that I get when I know fall is coming on and when it's finally here.  Thank goodness for living in a place with four seasons so that I can look forward to fall and get excited every year.