Thanksgiving

I'm sitting at my desk at school thinking about all the things I want to happen in my life--some I have control over--most I don't (at least to a degree). I have been worried and stressed and just not very happy lately. And then sitting here at school, watching my students work, I've come to the realization that my life is really good--not just good, but REALLY good. I have the most wonderful husband who loves me, who's patient with me and who is just simply better than I deserve. I have parents who support and love me, who miss me when I haven't seen them for a while, and who I can call (and when they answer) I can talk to and laugh with (or cry, depending on the day). I have siblings that are not just fun to talk to, but inspirational (no joke). I have a job I love--students that are crazy and silly and smart. I am so blessed.

There is a common saying that goes something like: "it is easier to focus on what you want rather than what you have," and I am definitely guilty of that these last few of months. But now I've found that spirit of thanksgiving, and I am overwhelmed by all the things in my life that I have to be thankful for.

So thank you, friends and family alike, for being you and loving me. Happy Thanksgiving.

Hogwarts Halloween

This Halloween we had the AWESOME opportunity to be part of a real-life Hogwarts! One of the girls I work with turns her parents' house into Hogwarts as a work party. I was lucky enough to play Professor McGonagall (scotish accent and all), Michael was Professor Snape, and our friend Chris played Vernon Dursley. Seriously, it was epic. The estimate was that over 1000 people came in the 4 1/2 hours that it was open. Here are some pictures, although we forgot our camera so I had to pull them from this blog...

Me sorting and the Weasley twins being the Weasley twins.

Hagrid, then Chris and his family for the night.

The whole cast

Michael as Snape, Snape, Severus Snape.

I spent the night "sorting" students into houses, Michael spent the night walking around scowling, and Chris got to watch his "son" open his 36 birthday presents and eat cake while proudly chortling. It was a night to remember. Oh, and we even got paid!

Minor Miners

For those of you regularly driving through Salt Lake County you've probably noticed billboards telling people to "Bring your minors to see our miners."  Advertisements for Rio Tinto's Kennicott Copper Mine.  Well today we got that chance to go on a field trip with all of Stephanie's 7th grade, utah history students, to the copper mine.

Did you know... the Bingham Canyon Mine produces about
one fourth of all the copper used annually in the United States!

Sadly we chose the wrong day (week even) to go up into the hills to the visitors center.  Snow was predicted at higher elevations, and guess what... the mine is at a higher elevation.  So we spent most of our time in the visitors center watching videos and examining dioramas in order to avoid the absolute blizzard that was outside.

This was no simple snow-day.  See that snow falling HORIZONTALLY!
Pretty much a blizzard up there.

I really enjoyed the educational experience and had fun being with Stephanie while she was among her students and fellow teachers.  I was able to snag a couple of pictures looking down into the pit which is so deep you can't even see the bottom.... at least not in this storm.

  

yeah, it was cold.

A Return to Middle School

So you know how people are always saying that the last thing they would want to do is relive middle school? That's what I do everyday! For those of you who don't know, I'm just finishing up my second week as a 7th grade history teacher. My school is called Providence Hall Jr. High. It's an IB school, which basically means that all the teachers are required to add a world view into their lessons. For example, I teach Utah history, so I've been teaching Utah geology/geography, and then I I follow up with basic geology and world geography. As I wouldn't have chosen to teach Utah history--it's great being able to broaden the curriculum into something a bit more interesting.

Here is the school 23 days before the first day

This is Providence Hall Jr. High's first year (new building and everything--although there is a Providence Hall Elementary down the street), and it's been really interesting to be there as school procedures, curriculum (as this is Utah's first IB school) and even bell schedules are worked out. (I think we're on our fourth bell schedule already.) The administration as well as the other teachers I work with are all amazing, and I can honestly say I would want my kids to go to this type of a school.

My greatest fear about starting to actually teach, was that I wouldn't really know what I was doing, but I feel really good about everything. I'm better than I expected at learning names, I've been staying ahead on my lesson plans, and I've been having fun. I guess I really did choose the right major! Whoo!

Me in my classroom the weekend before the first day.

trying to get ready

View of my finished classroom from the door

From the back of the room

Providence Hall (finished)

View of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple from my school.

Grass growing on the rugby field

Washington!

Better late than never (I hope you agree) and although this post is very late, I'm excited to finally write about our fun and exciting trip to Washington this summer. 

First, we had some excitement (AKA drama) as we drove up to my parents' house in Richland. Our car, which we had just gotten major mechanical work done on, was running weird--slow to accelerate, jumpy tachometer, etc. About 10 miles west of Burley, ID, it stopped. We thought we had run out of gas as the gas light doesn't work and we rely on the tripometer to fill up. We were just considering jumping the barbed wire fence to talk to a farm house when a ID State police officer came up behind us. He took Michael into town and brought him back with a gallon of gas. But the car still wouldn't start. We ended up calling a tow truck and getting towed to a mechanic. A very nice, honest man who gave me some hope for the gild. It turns out our distributor was missing a bolt, which caused it to come detached from the engine. Thus, our car died. After a quick bolt replacement, (and a lighter wallet) we were on our way again.

I was very excited to give my neices Madeleine and Lydia the tutus I had made for them. They were super easy to make and since both my nieces are girly-girls, I had high hopes for their approval. I wasn't disappointed. They loved them, and it was so fun to see them running around in them. We also brought our nephew Asher a BYU ball as a sort of we-love-you-too-even-though-I-didn't-make-you-anything gift. He loved it too, so it all worked out wonderfully. (It probably helped that he's inherited his mom and dad's obsession with BYU.)

Lydia, modeling her tutu

Maddie, being a ballerina 

Asher, showing off his BYU ball (thank you cheerleader hat threw it right to Michael)

Relaxing after FHE

Lydia on the slide

During the week that Michael and I stayed with my parents, we took Madeleine to Swim Lessons and Lydia to the park while we waited. Lydia, who will turn two soon, definitely has the strongest personality of any child I have ever met of that age. She knows what she wants and goes for it. We were kept busy running around after her from slide to swing to bridge to tunnel and all over again. Don't even get me started on her reaction when another little boy though he could have a turn on the swing. (And no, she did not want me to hold her doll so she wouldn't fall off the playground.)

What you don't know is she is actually reaching for her doll
that I stole in order to get her to look at me :-)

Laughing at Uncle Michael

Maddie "being pretty" after swimming lessons

Maddie "helping" me make cookies at Grandmas

On one of the nice summer nights we were there, we had a barbecue at a nice park by the Columbia River. Emma's the only one that actually went swimming (except for Teddy Bear). The rest of us spent more time talking, cooking and eating.

Teddy Bear

The Columbia... and Hannah and Emma

Tinker Bell (Italian Greyhound)

We also were able to make a trip up to Quincy, town of my childhood and home of my grandpa Ashby. It was nice being back on the farm. My brother-in-law Paul brought his remote control car and he and Michael had fun using the tractor to make a track for it. It got some good air off some of the jumps they made.
Of course, we also had a cookout and sat around listening to fun stories from Grandpa.

Grandpa Ashby on the tractor

Harry showing off

Talking about the war

Nice view of the jump Michael and Paul made

My younger sister Hannah had EFY in Tacoma, and Michael and I decided (sort of last minute) that we would take her and then spend the might in Anacortes at Michael's parents house. We spent some time in Seattle, visiting the Asian district and the sculpture park before heading up to Anacortes. The traditional Anacortes activities (kayaking, sailing and beach bonfire) had to be packed into one day, but we did it, and had a fabulous time.

China Town

Cabana beach

Yes, we're in love

We love Washington, and definitely look forward to the day that it will be our families official home.

...in the middle of the street.

We moved!
I know that news is so last month, but it's true! And this is my post about it.

Farm Gate is a great apartment complex.  Currently located in the middle of nowhere, it will be surrounded with residential developments within a year or so.  It also happens to be right next to Herriman High School, and on the road that leads to the copper mine. (I don't think it's the only road.. just one of them).

View toward SLC

Our Temple!

See how 'farmy' it is

The mine

High School football stadium

City Center in the foreground (with the weird roof) and Stephanie's school way in the back

and there's a pool  ^_^

We really enjoy living here.  We've been doing our best to take advantage of the fitness room and pool facilities.  It's interesting to live outside of the 'Provo bubble' and has begun to make us think that we are growing up... but we know better.

July Fourth

As soon as we got home from the cruise, it was time to celebrate our country's birth.  Wendy had us all over for dinner and games:

And then we celebrated with the traditional lighting of paper-wrapped gunpowder.

Newest addition to Utah's allowed firework list:

My awesome wife... 

-michael