Crafts!

Since I have finished Graduate School (yay!) and have not started working yet I have had more time for crafts. These are some necklaces that I made for my three favorite girls from Pacific. Without the help of Becky, Karen, and Katie I don't know if I would have made it.

Here are my girls and I at the coast last week.

Here are the necklaces and cards I made for them! I love that my crafty side is coming out again!

Technology

I saw this video a few months ago and just found it again. I thought I would post the video because it is really interesting to me, especially as an educator. How do I prepare children for jobs that are not even created yet? Or for a world that will look completely different in ten years? Watch and be amazed...

For more information, you can also look at "Science for All Americans."

Final Approach To Heaven....

After the last few weeks I was happy to get a little gift from one of my students. This gift really made me think about how quickly things can change and how lucky we all are and have our families and friends by our side. In my earlier post I told you about one of my sweet little students whose father, a pilot, was killed in a plane crash. He was a beloved father, husband, and friend. He had a very large and wonderful memorial service that I was unable to attend. At the service they gave out little light blue rubber bracelets (similar to the Livestrong bracelets.) I have talked with this girl quite a bit since the tragedy and she is doing remarkably well considering. Well, today she brought me one of these bracelets. It says "Scott Resnick Memorial- Final Approach to Heaven." This little gift brought tears to my eyes. She knew that I had been praying for her and her family since the accident. She told me that if I wanted it, she would like me to have it. I will wear it everyday as a reminder at how precious life is and how thankful I am for even the hardest of days.

Thank you Reilly... You are an inspiration to me. You are so strong, brave, and beautiful. Your dad left a wonderful gift, you and your three siblings. He will always be remembered~

Wow, will it ever end??

So, last week I found out that on Saturday May 25th one of my fifth grade students lost her dad in an airplane crash. She and her three siblings lost their father. Luckily they have a huge support system at their church and has a lot of family. It is just absolutely heartbreaking for these kids and their mother.

Then, two days later another one of my fifth graders had tragedy strike. Her stepfather is being charged with killing her two-month old sister. The baby had severe head trauma and was taken off of life support a day later. As soon as I heard this I started to cry. This is too much. What happened where a good father, one who volunteered at the school, could have this happen? How will this family survive this?

Finally, today I found out that another school in the area two more children were killed. Their father took them to Jackson Bottom Wetlands for a hike, shot them, and then turned the gun on himself. What in his life was so awful that he could not solve? What was so bad that he had to take his children's lives and his own?

I don't know even what to think. Children have so much to deal with already and then they are thrown these horrific tragedies. How as a teacher am I supposed to help? Oh, my heart aches. I just feel numb when I think about these three events.

Keep these children and families in your prayers please.

What Teachers Make....

Skunks and Girl Scout Cookies!

Wow, I don't think CJ and I thought our dogs were going to survive this week. Monday morning we woke up, let the Bailey and Tate out (the labs) and were getting the leash for Sammy (the Yorkie). Bailey and Tate came back within a few minutes, came in the house, and reeked. It was 6:05 Monday morning and they both had been sprayed by a skunk. We spent the next 45 minutes giving them "skunk baths." Contrary to popular belief, tomato juice is not the best remedy for skunk spray. If you ever need it: mix together Hydrogen Peroxide, baking soda, and a little dishwasher detergent. We had to douse them in that (outside), let it sit on them for 10 minutes, and then spray them off with the hose. We had to do this not once, but twice on each dog. Let me tell you, they hated us. They were so cold and so were we. However, we were not about to wash them in the house. In the amount of time that they ran in and we took them back out of our house smelled awful. It smelled for a few days even!

So, if that was not enough for one week, I came home yesterday to find three dogs enjoying 9 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. They had gotten into a box that was up in my office. When I got home all three dogs had enjoyed all 9 boxes. Freaked out that they were all going to die, I called Ali, my best friend who is a Vet. She has helped my dogs before and told me that I had to use turkey baster and give each of the dogs a good dose of Hydrogen Peroxide. All three were not happy with me. Finally after struggling with the two big dogs, CJ gets home and helps me give them more. For the rest of the night they were throwing up tons of cookies... Tate and Bailey even had some that were still in tact. Gross, I know. I took a picture, but CJ said that was disgusting and I was not allowed to post it. So, to spare you all, I won't. However, it was quite a night. I am glad to report that they are all doing fine today.

What a week. Hopefully next week will not be so eventful for us or our poor pups : )

Still alive and kickin'

So, it has been almost a month since my last posting! Wow, how time flies by : )

First of all, January 20th, 2009 was a day that will live in my heart forever. I watched President Obama be inaugurated with my first, second, and third graders. They (and I) could not take our eyes off of the computer monitors. It was such a historical moment that I will treasure forever. It was so neat to see 6-9 year olds fascinated by the event and history in the making. I am so inspired by that man, as millions of us are.

We then spent the first week of February in sunny and fabulous Cancun, Mexico. We swam with dolphins, went on a boat tour, got massages, celebrated with friends, laid around by the pool, shopped, toured the area, and ate wonderful food at some of the most amazing restaurants. It was such a nice way to relax and enjoy ourselves. See pictures below~

We got home and were so excited to see our pups. It is amazing how much I miss our dogs when we are gone. I do not know how I will deal with leaving children! I can barely leave my dogs for a week ;-)

I also found out two of my best friends are pregnant. One is pregnant with twins even! I am so excited for all of them. This way I can get my baby fill without having to get pregnant quite yet!

CJ and I went to The Melting Pot for dinner the Thursday before Valentine's Day to celebrate because he would be gone. We hadn't been there for two years and now we know why! There is just soooo much food, but it is so delicious. It was a great time, but I think I ate my week's worth of calories in that one meal. CJ also surprised me with two dozen long stem roses. Although we don't really celebrate Valentine's Day the way we did 8 years ago, it is nice to still go out just because you love each other and want to do it. That is why we celebrate it, but we try to do it more than once a year! We go because we want to go, not because Hallmark tells us to : )

CJ has been in Whitefish, Montana snowboarding with our friend Jay. He gets back tomorrow and I am very excited to have him home.

Other than that, life has been busy for me with student teaching full time and class. I have been sick and am still seeing my physical therapist for my back...ugggh! I just want my body to be healthy again!

That is all for now!