Letting Go.

So I got my hair cut on Monday. I asked that only about 3 1/2 inches be cut and then put in some light layers. Well, my 3 1/2 in. is the same as some people's 6 inches. I was fine with the cut dispite the shock at how much was taken off. I have always hung on to my long hair as sort of a security blanket in my life and I think I needed someone to just cut it without letting me know. I feel good about letting go of the long locks and I think the cut looks really great and my hair feels really healthy! Please support me in the letting go process.

It is a little hard to see the hair style, but you get the idea.

My parents are in town!

My parents are back in town to visit. My brother and sister-in-law just had their third child (Ella Jane Wright) the day before Jeff and I went to Hawaii (so sorry I didn't write about her birth), so my parents are out being Grandparents. My brother is also in the play Singing in the Rain at the Hale Center Theater, Orem, so they are also being supportive parents.

Well, being the only child with a spare room they are staying with us for a couple of days and I LOVE it! Not only do I get spoiled and I get to spend time with them, my parents are so HANDY! I always have a few projects that I want to get done while they are here. My dad and I have a great time bonding at Lowe's or Home Depot and my mom and I often look though the fabric at Joanne's. Here are some of the things we have gotten done this week:

Installed a ceiling fan in my bedroom so Jeff can survive the rest of summer.

Before

Recovered my kitchen chairs. They were stained (before I moved in) and I couldn't get them clean (or at least to look like they were clean)

After

And, as always, we are still slowly repairing the hole in the wall. The plaster needs to be thicker then we thought so it takes a couple of layers so they will dry.

I am still working on re caulking the downstairs sink and a few other things here and there. My parents are wonderful to have around and I like learning how to take care of a house. Soon I will be able to install and repaire all sorts of stuff on my own. Thanks Mom and Dad!

My love of Hawaii

Here are just a few things that I love about Hawaii.

First, I love to float in the ocean. It is so relaxing to just let the waves rock me back and forth and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Jeff would get mad that I could just float in the water for hours and not get tired when he would have to tread water just to keep his head above water. I seem to have some sort of talent that most people don't have because my family last year felt the same way.

READING! I love to just sit around and read a good book. Well, I guess this isn't just something I like to do in Hawaii, but it did take a lot of my time. I finished one book and am almost done with the second book I took with me.

The beautiful scenery. I love that at just about any point on the trip I could have pulled out the camera and taken a lovely picture of the landscape. The colors, trees, flowers and plants are so beautiful . This picture was just taken as I was sitting at one of the shows at the PCC.

Shaved ice with sweetend condensed milk. Flavors: Banana, Pinapple, and Coconut. I don't think I need to say anything more.

Hawaii makes me happy. I love the people and the land. I am so glad I was able to share it with Jeff this time and I hope we make it back sometime, and maybe try another island.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Daddy's day dad. You are the best dad I could have ever asked for. I love all the memories and the lessons taught. I thank you for helping me become the person I am today. Also, thanks for all the help with the house, I didn't know that was part of the deal!

School is out for SUMMER!

This was given to me by one of my students on the last day of school and she had all of the kids sign it (on the back). This was one of many cute gifts I recieved.

Well, another school year has come and gone. I have felt that this year I was able to be a better teacher then I ever have been before because I had the time to track my students progress more then I have in the past. I also has an amazing group of kids. They were smart, creative, and always knew how to make me laugh. I think this is the first year I have been truly sad to see my class move on to third grade.

On a different note, I took full advantage of the beginning of my Summer holiday by meeting my sister Megan for lunch and a pedicure. I love getting pedicures because I get to relax and have cute toe nails when I am done. This time I even went with a design. It is a little hard to see all the details in the picture. Anyway, I have lots of plans for this "break" in my life and most of the plans have something to do with cleaning, organizing, or repairing the house and yard so wish me luck. Should be fun!

Sorry if feet gross you out.

Just some pics.

The oven arrived! I love cooking with my new oven and stove. I had forgotten what it was like to bake with an oven that kept an even temperature the whole time.

Speaking of baking, I never posted the pictures I took of myself making Easter bread. I think it turned out great. I had it for breakfast almost every day until it was gone.

BABYSITTING! Addie and Ian came over to play a few weeks ago so Sarah and Kenny could find some room to breath. We went outside in the backyard and they played in the grass while I BBQ some chicken for dinner. Well, Ian put a little soccer ball in his shirt and then said that he looked like mommy (My sister-in-law is pregnant). It was so funny I ran for the camera. Addie, of course, had to get in on the action too. We had a great night full of snuggles and laughs.

Saturday is a Special Day!

Yesterday was such a great day! It all started with Jeff taking me to FINALLY get a new oven range. (Please see Jeff’s last Moniversary post for the story on that one) We went to a couple of different places but finally settled on a GE oven range with four burners and a warming burner. It has lots of fun things it can do and the oven is so BIG! I can’t wait to get it and use it this coming Tuesday.

Well, not only am I excited about being able to cook upstairs again, I went online to check if my Praxis PLT test scores were up. Now, there is another part to this process which will make my excitement for checking my scores mean a lot more in the story….

On March 14th I took the last test I will need to get my level 2 license to be a teacher (more pay, not as many people looking over my shoulder, etc.). When I went into the room I wasn’t all the way sure what to expect. I had tried to get some practice things online but they either didn’t work or they cost money, so I was in for a surprise. The test had 25 multiple choice questions, 4 case studies which each had three questions and those questions had two parts each. I was to answer the case studies using short answer essays. It doesn’t sound so bad right? Well, try doing it in TWO HOURS! That was it! I was writing so fast I thought my fingers were going to fall off. My brain was spinning trying to think and write at the same time, and forget having time to read through the case study. I panicked half way though when I realized there was no way I was going to be able to answer all the questions. My last essay I wrote said “draw more” (it was a response to how to help a child with visual/ spatial learning).

When I came out of the test I was FURIOUS! I couldn’t believe they would give a test where there was not enough time to think or process information to a teacher who it trying to prove that she can give GOOD assessments. They were testing how fast I could read and write. I will just say that there were a lot a tears and Jeff had to give me lots of hugs (and do a little math to find out the probability of me passing).

Well, it has been over four weeks and I saw my test scores and I PASSED! There were more tears, but these were happy tears that were full for relief. I can still be a teacher, the only job I would ever want to have. I love my students and would be sad if I couldn’t teach any more.
Saturdays are a great day!