Feeling Blessed

As a bit of a follow up from my last post I wanted to add a little about my tough student.  They decided to take him to the doctor and check him for ADHD and I sent them with a list of behaviors.  OH MY WORD! what a difference it has made.  He is a completely different kid for the better.  There are still a few behavior things to work out, but he is SO much easier to work with.  It has made my life so much better in the last few weeks.  You can now focus on what a sweet kid he is and how much he tries.  Yesterday he got to be Principal of the day and walk around and do the jobs of the Principal and make announcements and such.  What a great transition.  I don't agree that all kids should or need medication, but this little guy DEFINITELY did and it will literally change his whole life.  It quite possibly will keep him out of jail.

I have other challenging students in my class this year, but they only seemed to come out when I was able to get this other guy under control, they were nothing compared to him, but now I notice. 

In other news, I got to spend last Saturday shopping and wrapping presents with this cute little gal.

She was so cute wanting to tape everything and make it all perfect.  She kept giving me orders of what I should do and what she would do. She is a born leader :D.  My house is also finally looking the way I like!  Slowly things are coming together.  Andrew and I are so burnt out with all the construction that the last few things have just taken us a lot longer to get done.

 Very safe behind the while line.

 Uncle Kenny and Elizabeth looking for the train.

 My big sister Jenny and her boys. Ian, Jazzy, and Duncan...making faces (typical).

 Cute kids.

 Josi, Me, Elizabeth and Duncan.

 Favorite set of lights.

 Lizy, having a good time....for a bit. :D

 Man playing Christmas songs on the bagpipes.

 Duncan, trying to reach the handles.

 Cute Josi

 Finally happy because she gets to sit by Kali.

 Duncan was funny and sat next to a complete stranger and watched him play his game on his phone.....from a distance-ish

We went to see the lights at Temple Square.  It was very warm for this time of year and a Saturday night.  The place was PACKED.  Way too many people to be fully enjoyable.  It was also past Elizabeth's bedtime and she was a bit cranky.


A few new things going on at my house.  I have decided to get my Masters degree.  I am going to get a reading endorsement.  I have been thinking about it a long time.  I am not sure why, but I have felt prompted to do it and even though I'm not sure how we are going to pay for it, I am studying for the GRE.    I'm excited, but I know it will be a lot of work.

Right now I am also tutoring every Monday for my cute neighbor that is in my class. Kade Spencer.  At the same time Elizabeth gets violin lessons from another cute neighbor Camille Cardon who is a senior in High School.  She decided that instead of me paying her for the lessons that she wanted to train for painting lessons.  Every Thursday now we are having oil painting lessons,  it is quite fun. 

Andrew just waits while we get our things done.  He has been working on his websites.  Both dog sites (puppies and classifieds) are up and running better than ever.  We just have to wait while they get more and more people and traffic. 

Life is good.  Today I'm going to clean and just relax.

Hard Week

This was a hard week for me.  I have one of the most challenging students this year.  The poor kid really has a hard time.  His life and back-story have drunkenness, divorce and inconsistency.  Coming into my room after a week of being home sick was hard.  Throwing pencils, shouting out, throwing tantrums...everything.  Didn't finish a single assignment until I sent him to a separate room to finish.  Even then it took him two different sessions to get it done.  SIGH.  Friday was good.  After a phone call to mom, she is going to take him to the DR. to see if there is more there going on.  I really hope there is and that they can fix some of this.  The student can really be a sweet kid when he wants to be or can, he just has so many obstacles in his way. 

We are doing a training with the 7 habits of highly effective people.  We are going to try and implement it into our classrooms and I hope this will make a difference for some of the kids in there. 

Meanwhile here at home, things are great.  Andrew is working hard to get his new dog site up and running and has been given full reigns to run the OUTDOORSMAN.com site.  He is also doing some things that have helped the auction site.  I think he is feeling more confident in the future.

Elizabeth is doing great in school.  She is a great reader and is doing really well in math also.  We have to teach her to not hit the other kids when she is playing though.  She isn't trying to be mean, but that is how she has been playing.  Not okay.  She is a pretty sweet girl otherwise and is ALWAYs wanting to help and do things on her own.  I have to, on occasion, get after her for trying to help to much and bossing me around. :D  I usually run with it though and will just sit and guide her through the steps of how to do things. 

Last week we finished the 2nd  batch of Salsa for the season making about 14 quarts.  I am going to make jam today.  Andrew wants me to save them for smoothies, but our blender broke and the raspberries are taking up a lot of room in the freezer, so sorry Andrew, jam it is.  I am thinking a lot about Christmas these days.  I have some big plans up my sleeve so I better get off the computer and get to work, I only have about 6 Saturdays left. 

You know you are an elementary teacher when.....

• You give kids you don't know "the look" in public places.
• You forget that you are still wearing your "crazy hair" to the store after work and wonder why you are getting a lot more attention than normal.
• You keep special hats, socks, costumes, and colorful clothing around knowing you will probably wear them more than your swimsuit. 
• You habitually shush people and realize you are with adults and get embarrassed.
• You completely understand why Halloween is a High Substitute Day.
• When someone asks you a question, you counter with another question.
• Your pretty sure you should be given rights to diagnose ADD or ADHD
• You have hand sanitizer in 4 corners of any given room.
• You start labeling all of your stuff including pens. 
• You feel that pinterest should count as professional development hours.
• You have no problem asking people for donations anymore.
• You feel robbed when you find out how much busing costs for a field trip.
• You take charge of other people's kids and have to apologize.  
• You go crazy when you can't take charge of other people's kids because you are used to being in charge.
• You watch cartoons so you have a frame of reference.
• You feel old everyday because your students don't know who Michael Jackson is.
• You get invited to Birthday parties, Soccer games, baptisms etc.
• You attend more meetings than the President, probably.
• You believe you could be a data analyst.
• All you want for Christmas is self-sharpening pencils with never-ending erasers. (And no, mechanical pencils don't cut it.)
• Applying for Grants is like making your Christmas list.  
• You secretly and guiltily rejoice when that one kid is sick. 
• You love your job.
• You still think you should get paid more.

Lee Reunion 2014 - Paris Idaho/ Bear Lake

Summer Fun :D

http://youtu.be/mF8_e7p4Aac

Happy birthday!

Birthday at the jump zone

Violin for her birthday

Frozen!

Cute in curlers

Swimming with dad

Licking birthday beaters

Thanks Krystal!

http://youtu.be/lgYfatqdaOY

Funny video of Lizy the pragician 

Thanks to papa Steve and family. We got your horsey gift :)