Fastest Isn't Always The Best

One of my favorite activities to do with my students is to give them a particular sentence structure (Adjective, Adjective, Subject Noun, Verb, Adverb, Adverb) and ask them to come up with a certain number of sentences with this structure in the shortest amount of time. I know that to any normal person who doesn't care about grammatical structure in sentences, this might seem like a stupid exercise, but it isn't. I'm not going to go into it too much so as not to bore you non-grammatically minded people.

Anyways, I split the class into small groups and gave the class the labels. I told the class that the group to finish the fastest with all their sentences in this particular structure would get a prize. Well, one group was trying so hard to go so quickly that the quality of their work was compromised...with quite a hilarious result. Take a look for yourself:

I tried to add the part at the bottom where it said that the student who wrote that sentence was trying to write "hungry" instead of what had actually occurred.

Needless to say, I was quite shocked and definitely hunched over laughing to tears. I couldn't contain it. I couldn't even get the words out to share with the kids that I was not laughing at the quality of their work as much as I was laughing at their unintended mistake. Once they discovered what they had said, they too were laughing pretty hard. We didn't discuss much further the remaining questions as that would have been pretty awkward as well as inappropriate.

I'm just wondering one thing: why does it matter how "hung" the hobos were while eating their hamburgers?

There's just some things you should leave alone.

Family Vacation

Here it is. After about two weeks being home, I have finally put together a little video of our trip.

We took a pretty big trip last year, but for some reason this year seemed like a bigger trip. Maybe it was because the girls are one year older and can do more. I think that was because we drove instead of flying. Last year we were able to take advantage of getting two kids on a plane for free. Looks like that isn't going to be happening anymore.

After our trip last year, Jason was desperately wanting to go visit his sister, Kelly, in Appleton, Wisconsin. It was then that I realized that Jason and I have not been out to Minnesota to visit my oldest brother, Ted in almost 10 years. I am pretty sure we had figured out this year's vacation about a year in advance. Luckily Kelly lived only about 5 hours away from Ted, so that made the trip very feasible for us. We also decided to do much of the driving through the night with hopes that the girls would sleep in the car. The longest ride we had been on with the girls had only been about 5 hours long, so we had no clue how they would handle a 16-hour drive to Wisconsin.

On Friday afternoon, I packed up the car and the kids and went to pick up Jason from his work. We left around 4:00pm and didn't arrive at Kelly's house until about 10:30 the next morning. With having to stop for both dinner and breakfast, and stops for gas, it took us about 18 hours to get there. It was a long haul, but we survived. I was impressed with how the girls did.

On the drive out, we ended following this huge thunderstorm all the way from Jason's work to Omaha, Nebraska. For that entire time, the girls were awake. They then woke up again around 3:00am and were wide awake for a few hours. We were concerned with how they would handle it, but they surprised us once again. Jason and I took turns driving while the other napped on the back seat in the van.

We spent our first day in Wisconsin walking around like zombies. The girls were fine; they slept in the car. Kelly and her husband, Jason, took us to Bay Beach in Green Bay on Sunday. That was a blast. It is a small amusement park that is designed for families with VERY reasonable prices. The girls had a lot of fun too. Meghan's favorite ride was the Ferris Wheel. A girl after my own heart.

On Monday, we were on our own. Both Kelly and Jason had to work, so we decided to take the girls to a movie. This was Jason's first experience taking the girls to a movie theater, and it was great. We went to see "Monsters vs. Aliens". We quickly realized that we weren't in Colorado anymore when we went to the concession stand where alcohol was for sale there in addition to the standard concessions. I had never heard of that before.

Tuesday we went to the Children's Museum in Appleton as Kelly and Jason both had to work again. We had a great time. I never had the opportunity to take the girls to a place like this before. I loved how they offered kids rain coats for the kids to wear when playing in the water room. We could have spent all day there if we wanted to.

Kelly was off on Wednesday, and although the weather wasn't cooperating, we decided to go ahead and drive to Lake Michigan anyway. It took us just over an hour to get there, and it sure was beautiful! I wish the weather was nice enough for us to swim! The sand was wonderful and the girls still had fun playing in the sand. We even managed to gather some shells for Nana.

We really enjoyed our time with Kelly and Jason. We ended up playing games nearly every night we were there. My Jason was so excited about the games we played there that he went ahead and ordered a ton of new games for us to play together. Kelly and Jason had a ton of great games that were good for two players. After dinner on Wednesday, we packed up the kids and the car, and we headed off to visit my brother.

It was wonderful visiting my brother and his family. They have come out to Colorado to visit several times, but we never had the opportunity to go visit them until now. What a memorable time it was. The girls LOVED playing with their cousins, Ella and Simon.

On Thursday we took the kids on a little hike before lunch, and then they got to swim after naps. The girls loved swimming in the pool! It was much better than our pool which is a little wading pool. Audrey sat on the ladder for much of the time as she wasn't used to how rough Simon and Ella were playing, but she eventually got over it and jumped around just like everyone else. Jason even got to play softball with Ted and his team that evening.

The cool thing about this trip is that we were able to share Simon's 5th birthday with them. How cool. On Friday we got to go to the Mall of America where Simon and Ella both got to bring a friend with them to share their birthdays with. Ella and her friend went on the rides and Simon took his friend to the underwater adventure. We took that opportunity to take the girls on the giant Ferris Wheel and to Build-A-Bear. The girls each got their own little puppies and named them Charlie and Ruby. After TONS of walking, we took the girls out for some ice cream. I was so proud of how the girls did in the mall. We told them ahead of time that we were not going to bring the stroller, so they had to walk the entire time. And they did.

We were having so much fun that we decided to go with my brother to the fireworks show being held at the High School by their house. Again, the girls did wonderfully. With Minnesota being much further North than Colorado, the sun sets much later than it does here. That meant that the fireworks show didn't start at least until 10:00pm.

I had found some glow sticks at the dollar store earlier that week, so I thought it would be perfect for the kids for the fireworks show. Each kid got a necklace and a bracelet and I only spent $3. Very cool. The fireworks were right in front of us and bigger than ever. The girls had never been to a show before, and I don't think we can ever skip one again. They loved it. There's nothing like being able to feel the pound in your chest as you watch the colors flash across the sky. It totally reminded me of all the years I would go to shows like this as a kid. Especially after being there with my brother. I had forgotten how much I miss being around him. Even though he manages to tease me frequently, I still miss him. That's his way of telling me he loves me.

Saturday we got to spend the 4th of July with my brother's small group from his church at a BBQ. These people totally lived in our dream house. Still within minutes from town, nestled off the road, surrounded by wonderfully large trees, nice large yard, and a beautiful house. Some day we will have something like that. That night my brother and Carolyn grilled some great ribs and put on a fireworks show of our own. That was fun.

It reminded me of "the good ol' days" when my dad and his brother used to put on shows for us when I was little. We could hear the "oohs" and "aahs" from my Nana the entire time. It didn't matter if she had already seen that sort of firecracker before, she would still "ooh" and "aah".

Sunday we went to Ted and Carolyn's church where we got to meet some more of their friends and support group as Ted and Carolyn go off and plant a church of their own. Congratulations guys! We savored our last moments with Ted, Carolyn, and the kids before we had to head home. What a great time we had. It made me miss them so much.

It's not that I didn't enjoy my time with Kelly and Jason, it's just different spending time with someone you grew up with. I know Jason would say he really enjoyed spending time with Kelly. Both parts of our trip were so wonderful and so fun. We had a great time.

We left my brother's house around 6:45pm and arrived home at 7:30am. Again, we were zombies that entire day, but we sure were glad to be sleeping in our own bed again. The cats were glad to see us home too. What a great time we had. There's just one problem...where do we go next year?

Audrey's Turn For Curiousity

I was upstairs on the computer yesterday with Jason researching information for our upcoming family camping trip.

After a few minutes being upstairs, Meghan informed me and Jason of something that had occurred that needed our attention. I quickly ran downstairs to find this:

Audrey had found some scissors that were left on the table and cut her hair. I was definitely less than pleased, but what do you expect? Thankfully she just cut some hair in the front that didn't look TOO horrible and not some hair near the top or the back of her head. The funny thing is that I can't exactly pull more hair from the top to hide it and make it look like she has bangs. Then she would be the only 2-year-old I know with a comb-over. I had a feeling it was going to happen eventually with one of my girls. I just didn't think it would be now. Oh well. At least it will grow back.

Job Update

I got a call back yesterday from Windsor Charter Academy regarding the job teaching sample. I didn't get the job.

It wasn't much of a surprise considering how things went last time. The principal called to tell me that "After viewing the lesson samples, we decided to go with someone who had actually taught 5th grade before." I was totally okay with it. It's amazing to think how far I had come. I did get an opportunity to share with her how I felt about things which was good for me.

I told her that I really appreciated the opportunity they gave me, but I also apologized because I felt like I didn't represent the best "me" there is. She said that they did have some concerns with my classroom management (not a surprise considering I already knew how they felt), but they did appreciate me coming out there. I then shared with her that I may have a more relaxed way I manage my classroom, but it doesn't mean I don't know what is going on. I just address certain things at different times. Some people may have a problem with that. I just do what works for me.

I then continued to explain to her that I didn't appreciate how the Dean was sitting in the back of the class and talking to the lady next to her. I said that it was very rude and quite distracting to both me and the students who were seated by her. The principal told me that the would address that issue, but who knows if it will be addressed. I am just proud that I had stood up for myself. It is something I struggle with from time to time.

So for the time being, I still haven't heard from my first choice school, but I still have a job to go back to in case nothing pans out for this summer. I'm just enjoying my time off with the girls. They are taking swimming lessons and having a blast. That is our big excitement of the day lately.

We are leaving for our big vacation on Friday. We are going to drive overnight to see Jason's sister, Kelly in Wisconsin for about four days, then we are driving to Minnesota to visit my brother, Ted for another four days or so. It should be a great time. We are excited. I will be sure to post bunches of pictures when we get back.

Class Reunion

Here I am 10 years after graduating from High School. I can't believe it has been that long.

My class reunion was this weekend, and I was definitely looking forward to it. I never really kept in contact with my classmates, so I was looking forward to this new opportunity to do better this time around. I was excited to show everyone how different I am and how much of a better person I am (or at least that's how I feel). I truly think I have really grown a lot as a person. I am happy with who I have become.

I know that in High School I was just like every other teenager: feeling pretty awkward most of the time and just wanting so badly for others to accept me for who I was. I find that not much has changed in that area. I'm just 10 years older, and still feeling the strong need for people to accept and like me. I have always been that way. What can I say, I'm a people pleaser. I will be that way until the day I die.

I never had that one true best friend in High School. Yeah, I had friends, but not that one true friend that would be there for me no matter what. That is still something I long for even today. In school I would find myself wandering from one group of friends to another depending on who I felt most comfortable with from one day to another. I think that is why I still don't have that one true friend. It does make me sad to see all my other classmates still hanging out with each other, and here I am still trying to find who I feel the most comfortable around.

I went to the first event last night not knowing what to expect. I arrived to find many familiar faces of people whom I was surprised to remember their names. What surprised me more was that there were many who remembered me. I just thought I was just "some girl" in the midst of our nearly 400-student class. There were a lot of people who I expected to see there, but many who I had hoped to see were not there. Many of the people who I hung out with were not there, and again I found myself wandering around and making small talk to people I knew, but we never hung out in school. I felt just as socially awkward as I did in school. It's funny how I think I have changed in 10 years only to find that I am just the same.

It didn't surprise me to find that the people who were freakishly attractive are still the same, but the only thing different is that they have found an equally attractive spouse with amazingly beautiful children. The token screw-ups are still just as much of screw-ups and already drunk within an hour of the reunion starting. There are the same cliques, and the same group of people who still won't talk to you even after 10 years.

I was encouraged, though by many people who were genuinely interested in finding out what I had been up to and what is going on in my life. That was nice to find. I was also surprised to find those who never took the time to talk to me before, were eager to talk to me. It's funny how things have changed...and how they haven't.

It was good to see some familiar faces, but I left still feeling just as empty and friendless as before. I still hope to find that true friend someday.

Living Life's Journey

Okay, so life lately has been pretty crazy.

School is officially out for summer and I couldn't be happier. I have needed this break. Over the course of this past school year, I have been feeling more and more prompted to leave my school. I love what I am doing and what I am teaching, but I have this strong sense that God is calling me to be elsewhere.

In April I interviewed at this school just about 15 minutes away from home. It was for a position where I would be teaching EXACTLY the same thing I am teaching now. Just a different school. The interview went very well; however, they decided to offer the position to another person. Darn. I was liking the idea of being there. Not so fast. They did say that I was one of the top contenders for that position and that they wanted to keep my information on file because another position may be opening up later. Well, nothing has happened yet, but it's only June.

Just last week I heard about a 5th grade teaching position at a school in Windsor. This is a school I had tried to get into in the past, but nothing had come of it. The thing that makes this story interesting is that this school is the same one I had dreamt about and blogged about here. I have had a few other dreams lately about this same school. I still don't know if God is calling me to this particular school, or if he is using this school as an example for the purpose of His message. My friend e-mailed me, and the next day I was at the school dropping off my application packet.

They called me in for an interview which I had today, and it seemed to go well. I think I was able to show a positive part of me that they seemed to like. It's just so hard when you have interviews. You never truly know what they think of you until you hear whether or not you got the job. The questions that really annoy me are the ones that say, "Describe your classroom management style." Ugh! That is such a vague question that requires such a specific response! I started bumbling over my words, but eventually came up with a reasonable response. I was feeling pretty good about things until they told me that they had already interviewed three other applicants and there will be three more on Thursday, and two more on Monday!!! Things aren't looking too great right now. I don't know. I hate dealing with this sense of uncertainty. I should be hearing something by next Tuesday. If I am one of the primary candidates, then I will go in and teach a mini-lesson to a random group of students. That I don't mind. It's just trying to shine enough and make myself stand out against so many others that are trying to do the same.

It doesn't stop there. I got a call about two hours after my interview from a principal from another school around here who wants to have me in for an interview at their school! Yipee! Yet another opportunity! This is also another Core Knowledge school which I had tried to get into about three years ago when I was pregnant with Audrey. That's another story. You say there isn't pregnancy discrimination, but it is alive and well! Three years later and another principal later, they give me a call. They are looking to fill both a 5th and a 6th grade position. I would love to do 6th grade again and teaching what I already am now, but I'll take what I can get! I have an interview with them on Friday morning. We'll see where that takes me.

I'm excited for the potential that there really is something out there for me and that those dreams I have been having aren't just sub-conscious makings of my own. I know the dreams are from God, but it's always nice when things come back around and I can see the confirmation of His promises. As for now, I'm just living life's journey. Wherever it takes me.

Outdoor Ed

Last week I took my class of 12 students to Outdoor Ed in Winter Park, Colorado.

This is something we had been waiting for all year. At the beginning of the year it seems so far away that we forget that it is happening. Being at a school as small as mine, we have to do some fundraising to earn money for the trip. Typically the trip costs a total of $2,000 to take a whole group of students.

This year I left the fundraising ideas to the class for the first semester, and after no money being raised, I decided that I was going to have to take a more active role. I hate that. I have enough to worry about and to add fundraising on top of that, it gets very stressful. What made this worse was that I had even asked for help from parents with no reply. I guess this is a perfect example of the saying, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."

After a brilliant suggestion, we decided to sell breakfast burritos every Tuesday morning starting in February. That was such a blessing! Not only did we raise enough money in three months, but we even had money left over!

We left for our trip last Wednesday, and we stayed until Friday after lunch. What a great time we had. The kids were great, the weather was beautiful, and we all had an awesome time. Thankfully I was able to take a school camera where I took TONS of pictures. Just yesterday I put all the pictures into a movie where I burned DVDs for all my students. Take a look at our trip here!

We took several classes about outdoor living skills, we hiked to an abandoned gold mine, visited a pioneer homestead, learned about beaver ecology, tackled the high ropes course 40-feet in the air, and so much more! I never had the opportunity to do a week-long trip like this when I was this age, but I have been privileged enough to be able to take a group of students every year.