Mormon Housewife Blogs

Stephen came across this article written by a "young, feminist atheist who can't bake a cupcake" and loves reading mormon mother's blogs.  It's a really funny article.  If you feel so inclined...enjoy!

Click here to read the article (and don't ask why my links are no longer showing up as another color, of course I have no idea).

Jazz Fans... Be Impressed

Last week Stephen moved his office to Huntsman Corp.  On his first day of work there weren't many people around because of the holidays so he got offered Jazz tickets in the Huntsman Corp box, sweet right?  We got there and they had an awesome dinner for us and the first half of the game was great.  At the end of half-time one of the Huntsman guys there came up to us and asked if we wanted to take their FRONT ROW SEATS that they switch off, for the third quarter!  So begrudgingly, we accepted.  It was really rough.

Sadly, we'd met up straight from work and didn't have anything but the ole' camera phone but take a look none the less.

Just Trying...

I am so bad at blogger! I try not to change things on my blog because if I do I end up feeling like an 80-year-old trying to send an email. I have come to grips with the fact that my blog will probably never look as fancy as many of my incredibly talented friends but I can still try. I was supposed to grade papers tonight but instead I revamped the ole' blog. I am proud to say that I kept my cool and I am content with the finished product, simple as it may be.  We'll see how long I can stay satisfied.

Happy Holidays

It's been so wonderful to have time off work and be with both of our families!  I am very sad to see the holidays go.  Here are a few of my highlights....

We took this family picture just after talking to my brother in Argentina, it was so great!

My mom, sister, and I took a sewing class and made these stockings.  I thought mine and Stephen's turned out great (thanks to all of the help I received).

Stephen got me a sewing machine and table for Christmas!  I was very excited and I have already started my first project, pictures to come.

Las Vegas

Stephen and I spent Thanksgiving in Vegas with my mom's family.  It was wonderful, not as warm as it usually is but a step up from Salt Lake.  We had a great time being with family and not working, thank goodness for holidays.

All of the girls, we just can't go without some group shots.

(Kamie is a trooper, she stepped in dog poop with her bare feet right before this pic was taken and despite her red eyes still managed a beautiful smile)

Stephen and I still haven't quite made it to the adult table but at least the company is aging along with us.

Amazing

It was amazing, just amazing. Stephen and I went to Harry Potter 7 last night with some friends and I was like a kid on Christmas.  I highly recommend it!

  

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.