Testing Blues

I haven't posted anything in awhile, mainly because school has been sucking the life out of me. May is a stressful time of year for me (and probably many other teachers) as I try to cram every last bit of learning into my little lovelies in hopes that they will do well on the end-of-level tests. This year we are taking our tests online---I know this sounds like a great idea, and it is for some. However, the same students that randomly fill in the bubbles with pencil can now move much more quickly by clicking on any old answer that looks good. With much frustration, I watched one of my students move through a 54 question reading test in less than 10 minutes. Keep in mind that there were 7-8 passages that went along with the questions. Now, I consider myself pretty smart. I also consider myself a quick reader. However, there is no way in ---- that I could have read those passages and answered all the questions in 10 minutes!

May will soon be over, along with testing---only 14 more days to go!

Happy B-day Delaney

My girl is turning 14. She is already taller, smarter, and more well-read at 14 than I am at almost 40! She is an excellent pianist, who spends every waking extra minute on the piano. She is an excellent French horn player. She is learning to speak French. I can't believe that I-a girl who was raised in Sterling, Alaska riding horses and 3-wheelers & eating moose meat-am raising such a sophisticated kind of girl!

Since I have previously written about Delaney's "amazingness" I won't write another big, long list of the great things about her. I do want the world (and Delaney) to know that I thank my Heavenly Father each day for sending me such an amazing girl. I love her very much & am proud of the person she is. HAPPY B-DAY DELANEY!

Happy B-day Addy

Wow! Time flies when you're raising kids. Twelve years ago today we were living in Alaska when I went into labor with Addy. I called Darren to tell him to come to the hospital. He asked if I could hold off a little since he was in the middle of parent teacher conferences at school. Yeah right! Addy wasn't about to wait. She was determined to get here, and in the process broke my tailbone!

From the beginning Addy developed the nickname "Addytude" because she has always had a mind of her own and her own way of doing everything. As a baby my dad nicknamed her "Spider" because of her long arms and legs. My mom has always called Addy "Goober". Addy says a goober is a kind of fish or peanut, but she doesn't know why Nana calls her this! I have always called her "Addybug". Another name she has been called, but hates, is her full name, Adalynne Jane. She doesn't like this because she says I only say it when she is in trouble! She is probably right.

Here are some funny & great things about our girl Addy...

-She is extremely funny. Most people don't know this. People who see her at school and church are always surprised when I tell them that Addy is a clown at home. She has many funny voices (ask her to do the MotoMoto voice from Madagascar 2) and funny faces.

-She still likes to snuggle with me. I normally am not a "touchy feely" kind of gal, but I love snuggling with Addy. It doesn't matter where I am, she always seems to find her way right into the middle of my lap. I don't know how much longer she will continue with this, but for now I will enjoy it.

-She takes every opportunity to sleep on the couch. Every week-end, holiday break, & during summer vacation she sets up house with her blanket and any number of stuffed animals on the couch downstairs. She stays up late and ALWAYS falls asleep to the same movie-The Great Outdoors.

-She eats just about anything, but never seems to gain weight. Just this week we went to the pediatrician for 7th grade shots. Addy weighs only 82 pounds. She is in the 4 percentile for her weight & 87 percentile for her height. The doctor told me that Addy needs to eat more. The problem is, Addy already eats a ton, but she never seems to put on any pounds. If only I had this problem, I wouldn't be worrying about losing that annoying baby weight that has plagued me for the past 12 years.

Today Addy wants to celebrate her day with a movie day. She has her bed all set up on the couch. She has the popcorn popper ready to go upstairs. And, she has asked me to spend the whole day with her watching movies. What more could a mom ask for?? Happy B-day Addybug.

End of an Era

In preparation for our move to Utah 9 years ago, we bought a full size van (not a cute mini van) that would be capable of pulling a U-haul trailer. The van did a great job of moving our little family and our belongings across the state of Alaska, down through Canada, and then into Utah.

The van has since been used for trips to Southern Utah, Disneyland, San Diego, San Fransisco, the Redwood Forest, the coast of Oregon, and many other places in and around Utah.

It has been to girls' camp and scout camp.

It has been used to hall furniture, lumber, concrete, bicycles, lawnmowers, and more.

It has carried me up and down the hill to work for the past 9 years.

It has carried the girls to and from school, piano lessons, violin lessons, theater groups, book clubs, swimming lessons, sleep-overs, jazz band, and hundreds of other places.

As much as I have loathed this van over the past couple of years, looking back makes me cherish ALL of the memories the van has given me! As Delaney said yesterday, "We have come to the end of an era!".

The van is being passed on to another family member that has 3 littles. They need more space for these kiddos to ride in. As much as I have wanted to be rid of the van, I agree with something else Delaney said--"Mom, it's going to be hard to go to Grandma's, see the van in the driveway, and then drive away knowing it is no longer ours."

Good-bye van-hello brand new car. I am ready to make some new memories!

Living the Wild Life

Today was filled with excitement! The girls and their friend knitted with their "Nifty Nitters" while watching Nancy Drew. They really know how to live it up!

It's Official-Not Only Are Teachers Underpaid-They Are Over-Germed

Teachers are at the top of the list for the germiest jobs. We are above the trash collectors and doctors when it comes to handling the most germs. This explains why for many years my mother-in-law would come home from teaching first grade and hop right into the shower. This explains why I constantly have a runny nose & seem to go from one cold to the next. Why, just yesterday one of my little lovelies sneezed right on me! If you want to know whether or not your profession is in the top 10 of the germiest read on at http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5514726.

Bad or Good Hair Day??? YOU DECIDE

This was the result of 100 little braids that were left in for about 2 days and then brushed, and brushed, and brushed. She wears it well!