I'm already one day behind.....

My sister-in-law Paula has reminded me that it is National Blogging Month.... and I'm already one day behind but I'm going to attempt it and upload pictures later. :) ( This is all for you Paula.... consider it a part of your birthday present:) We have lots to report on so here is a brief list.

Friday, October 30: I made it through the craziness of Halloween at school. Two Halloween Parades, a party later and I'm still alive. So tired.

Saturday, October 31: Woke up late, did a little laundry, took the dogs to the park to play fetch and then.....................headed to the vet because Bunker BROKE his leg! Snapped the radius and ulna in his left front leg. $440 later we find out that they are wrapping his leg, giving us some pain meds, x-rays, and telling us that he needs to have a $1,200 surgery. WHAT?! Kids definitely seem cheaper than dogs at this point. We decided to just take him home and talk to OUR vet on Monday.

Sunday, November 1: Didn't sleep well because Bunker was whimpering most of the night and having to be carried outside to do his business. Made it through church and then remembered it was my Mom's birthday. Still happy but miss her lots. Went to dinner at my sisters, visited the cemetery with everybody, got free school stuff and then spent time with Adam.

Monday, November 2: Found out that OUR vet is able to fix Bunker for $300 and felt so relieved! Went to dinner with my Dad and sister to celebrate my mom's birthday and really enjoyed it:) Came home to an empty house and had some time to ponder. Good times and happy days. My mom is awesome and I'm so blessed to be known as her daughter! Just gotta keep looking for those blessings and being cheery.

Here pig, pig, pig, pig.....

That's right. I'm quarantined to my house until Wednesday. I have the H1N1 flu but it actually wasn't that bad for me. I mean I feel really congested and achy but my fever stayed under control and I never had to throw up (sorry if that was too much info for some of you:). Not to say that I want to have the Swine flu ever again, but I really hate feeling nauseated, so I'll take the body aches and congestion. The one downer is that I can't teach until Wednesday because I might still be contagious. I feel well enough to teach but the doctor told me that I have to use my sick days. I really, really, really didn't want to but Adam keeps reminding me that I can't be selfish and put other people at risk. I made up my sub plans, took my mask with me and headed to my school. It only took me about an hour to get all of my copies done and the classroom ready for my subs. On a positive note, I will have lots of time on Monday and Tuesday to catch up on grading and get some other units ready to go.
On a funny and slightly ironic note, I was checking my email and found an email from my Grandpa Tate about how to prevent the H1N1 flu, on the day that my symptoms really started to show. Funny... and if you received the same email make sure that you follow those instructions:) I had three students out with the swine flu a couple of weeks ago, so I either got it there or some random place. Who knows. Wash your hands and drink plenty of fluids people.

Happy Anniversary:)

So you know how Adam and I are hopeless romantics so here is a recap of what we did for our anniversary and other romantic holidays. (for your viewing pleasure)

1st Anniversary (2008)- Shooting at the range and a night at Little America
Valentine's Day (2009)- Shooting at the range
2nd Anniversary (2009)- Haunted Forest and dinner at the Melting Pot

We had a great time going to the Melting Pot and running through the forest from scary people. Now that we've done the not so usual anniversary date, I think this might turn into a tradition. Who knows? My gift from Adam was very sweet. He brought home a "husband and wife" Willow Tree figurine and The Christmas Edition of the Worldwide Ward Cookbook! I've been coveting this cookbook every time that I walk into Deseret Book and Adam knew it so he surprised me with a very thoughtful gift! Love you honey and thank you for helping me learn how to be the best that I can be over the past two years! I can't wait for the rest of eternity!

Jamie

I love my job!!!

Well, that pretty much describes how I feel about teaching. I literally forget that I'm getting paid most of the time until pay day comes and I remember..."Oh yeah. They pay me to do this!" Now I don't want you to think that there haven't been stressful days but 95% of the time it is a good day. My kids are great and quick to learn. It takes a lot and my hours don't end at 4:00 PM because there is still so much to do but I feel accomplished at the end of the day, like I've made a difference. I've been working closely with one of our small group autism teachers and we have two boys coming to our class a couple of times a day. They are great and I'm so glad to have them be a part of my class and to see my kids learn to love and appreciate them. Special Education is so near and dear to my heart because of my little sister Briana and I'm excited for the day when I can go back and get my special ed degree. I'm also glad that we have decided to have kids next year after I finish my first year of teaching. I don't know how I could be a first year teacher and be pregnant or a have kid.... that would be really hard. At least I have this year to get my feet on the ground and stock up my files:)
I had a sub for a half day this last week while I attended some training about our reading program. I would much rather teach while being sick then make a substitute plan..... it is so much more work because I can't just fill in the blanks when I get there. I do appreciate subs though because they have to interpret what I'm trying to write down:) Anywho, I feel so blessed to have my job and grateful for the talents that Heavenly Father has blessed me with!

All the controversy...

I just read President Obama's speech for students that he will give tomorrow and I am impressed. I understand people's fears of it being politically directed but I'm am impressed that the White House released it a day early so that everyone had a chance to read it and make their own decision. My school isn't watching it because we didn't really have enough time to get word out to the parents so that they could have the option to keep their kids home or send them to school, but I'm sure that if we would have had a bit more time we might have been able to show it to whoever wanted to watch it. (I am disappointed that the White House couldn't have let educators know about this a couple of weeks ago so that we could have done more to prepare.... that seems a little fishy to me but not a deal breaker. I really related to his remarks towards inner city students because of my experience at Dixon Middle School and the experience I continue to gain. I'm trying to figure out if there is a way that I can have my students read or see it but I'll have to talk to my principal.
I really believe that students, especially inner city school students, will benefit from this speech and I wish that they could have made this announcement a week earlier in order to give schools more time to prepare since we can't just "show" anything, whether it's from the President or not without parental permission. I'm also pretty sure that if they had given more time, more schools would be watching it tomorrow, even the ones that are staunch republican. (seriously)

I have great friends!

So for awhile I felt like I really didn't have "good" friends. You know, the ones that you can always count on. It started about a year ago but I really feel like I'm in a good place now and realize how many great friends I do have! Here is a little tribute to some of them. (P.S. Adam is my BEST friend, but that is a given.)

Brooke- My sister and best friend. She is always there to listen to my silly antics. I talk to her almost daily (it used to be daily before school started) and she knows pretty much everything going on in my life. She lets me spoil her kids a little and always feeds me:) Thank you for being there and tolerating my ranting and raving at times:)

Bekah- (not that she'll ever see this:) Even though she lives in SLC and is going to Italy for a month, we still talk and make time for each other. She was one of my favorite roommates and I consider her a friend for life! We are a lot alike but she is the better version! Love you Bek and will miss you when you leave for Italy!

Carrie- Again, long distances don't keep us from each other. She lives in Norway but we get to talk by google, blog, email and facebook:) She and I have been friends since our freshman year of college and she is also a friend for life! I miss being able to call her....daily. I sent her a package the other day and totally picked up my phone to call her before I realized that I couldn't.... I was a little disappointed LOL. Care, you are so great and know me so well. I'm excited to talk to you at Christmas, whether that's in person or by phone.

McKenna- We have only been friends for a couple of months but she is my kindred spirit! Again, she and her hubby are moving to Texas in a couple of weeks but we see them almost daily! She is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I've met in my life and I'm grateful to call her my friend! Adam and I will be so lonely and bored after you leave but are already planning a trip to TX! SK you are our besties! So many memories yet to be made!

Cami and Rachel- We've been separated because of internships for the summer but I'm so excited to have them back in town! We met in our first married ward and miss being able to see them each Sunday. So glad to have you closer now and can't wait to hang out.... and carve pumpkins in October! (minus the finger bleeding:)

Lacey- My life would not be the same without her! She is teaching just over the hill at Eagle Valley Elementary and she is a friend for life as well! We have so much fun together and laugh up a storm together! I know that I can call her and tell her about my crazy day and she'll have something to make me laugh! Hopefully we can teach at the same school one day! Lace, you are the best!

Heidi- Hello Lady! She was my trainer in the mission and although we don't see each other daily, we always pick up where we left off! She is so good to check up on me when she hasn't heard from me in awhile. We had many laughs on the mission and still keep it up! She's a life friend and one of the best dance buddies I've had! Too bad that Adam won't come with us... we danced up a storm when I was still single:) Thanks for helping me get "back into life" after I came home!

My grandma's and aunts- Losing my mom was and still is hard but I have so many women in my family that are always checking up on me and doing little things that my mom would do if she were here:) They are my angels here on earth!

Tress, Paula, Candace and Brooke- My sweet mother-in-law and sisters-in-law are so good to entertain me when we're together. We have a great time together and they are so good to find out what is going on in my life. I feel very blessed to have them as my family and know that they are always there for me! I really do consider them to be more like a mom and sisters and look forward to seeing them!

Kathy, Kim, Heather, Jill, Melanie and Michelle- My step mom and sisters were put into a hard situation when we blended families but they always make an effort to be involved in my life and develop a closer relationship. Blending families can be difficult but they are doing a pretty good job and have lots of patience. Love you guys.

So I do have great friends and sometimes I just need to focus on what I do have rather than what I have lost:) Thanks to all who are a positive influence on my life!

ONE Week and 27 faces:)

Maybe if I put a spoon on my nose the first day they'll think I'm a decoration in the room.........


Now I am down to a week before school starts... where did the time go? I seriously feel like it was just yesterday that I accepted the position, but that was 3 months ago. I finally got my keys last week and moved my stuff in today. We've also had new teacher training for the past three days but now we are apparently "prepared". (Whatever that means:) I feel confident that it'll be a great year and that I'll love my kids but it's overwhelming to try and digest all of the things that I am supposed to know about the school and the curriculum by next Thursday. Being in the portable is another story. There are some limitations out there that frustrate me but things will work out and we'll have fun.
My classroom is chaos right now but I'm going out there again tomorrow and Saturday to make it come together! I'll post pictures of course. I can't believe that I'm a real teacher... it's scary at times but exhilarating at the same time. We got our class list and I'm sending out post cards tomorrow so wish me luck and no writer's cramp:)