HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

So, I know that my birthday was a few weeks ago, but all of the great celebrations did not end until last week. I don't have pictures of them all, but it started out with celebrating with my family at home. It was so fun to see everyone. Thanks for helping me celebrate! Then I celebrated with my family in Ogden, which is always fun!

Round three was with my friends, and most importantly, combined with the Sugar Bowl. The night was made complete by an AMAZING win from the Utes!
Jill made me this way cute tile!

Jill and I make U of U bean dip for all of the Utah football parties!

Fun friends and Utah football, what more can I ask for!!!!!


The fourth and final round of the birthday celebrations was with the fun girls from work. We went to Desert Star Theater and saw "Home School Musical." It was hilarious!!! I am definitely going back to see more shows!

Home Sweet Home!

After a lot of hoping that the weather would cooperate, I made it home for Christmas break! Lucky for all of you, Santa was so kind and gave me a brand new pretty camera. I was so busy though, that I did not take too many pictures, which makes me sad, but here is what I did capture!




Since I only see Matthew a few times a year, I am
always so amazed at how much he has grown and this time was no different. I cannot believe how much he is talking. He makes me smile and laugh so much. I am the luckiest aunt ever!

What would Christmas vacation be without a little (or a lot) Guitar Hero!

Everybody always looks so serious when they are playing Guitar Hero!























This post would not be complete without mentioning the dog, Maggie. We all went and saw Marley and Me, which made us all love Maggie a little bit more!

Something is missing . . .

Well, as you can see from the picture there is something missing. Our beloved class fish, Phelps, passed away on Christmas! While, I am a little sad about it, and am not looking forward to telling my kids, there also has come a little relief. The kids loved him, but it was kind of a pain to make sure he was fed, his water got changed regularly and that he had a place to go when I was off track or out of town. So, my new motto is: NO MORE CLASS PETS!!!!!!!

This post is dedicated to Phelps the fish.
August 2008 - December 2008

Lost and not found

So I think that my camera knew that I would be abandoning it in a few weeks when Santa brings me a new one, because it up and left me. I have looked everywhere for it so that I could blog. I am sure that it is in the most obvious place but nonetheless I have ended my search. Sorry there are no pictures, but here is my life in a nutshell since Halloween.

Thanksgiving: I got to spend Thanksgiving up in Ogden again this year with my AWESOME family. I am so lucky that I have extended family that not only lives close, but treats me not like a cousin and niece, but like part of the family. It was yummy food, great company and some serious black Friday strategy planning.

Black Friday: For the third year in a row, we braved the crowds so that we could experience black Friday. While this year it was more for the experience (who doesn't want to get up at 2:30 in the morning to go shopping?) than actually buying stuff, it was still fun.

School: I am about to finish the second to last semester of my masters next week. It has definitely kept me busy this past month (and few years). It seems that when I am not doing stuff for work, I am doing stuff for school. While I have been frustrated with all the hard work and money that it has taken, I am REALLY glad that I have done it. I have learned a lot and definitely think that I am a better teacher and person because of the things that I have learned.

Work: Work has been as busy as ever, but I am finally on track break!!! While I love my job more than anything, it is really nice to have a break for a few weeks. The excitement of Christmas and track break has been building in my classroom all month long. I love that I get to spend my days with these kids who make me smile, and find such joy in little things like magic reindeer food and writing letters to Santa!

It's been a busy, crazy and fun month. I am looking forward to my favorite time of year and hopefully will have some pictures for you soon (please Santa)!

Once upon a time in a little house in the woods. . .

I know this is a way past due post, but I was waiting for someone to e-mail me the picture of the first grade teachers dressed up, but that hasn't happened yet. So you just get momma bear.
Papa bear, baby bear and Goldilocks are missing, but you are just going to have to trust me that we looked cute. A funny and not so funny thing happened that afternoon though. Goldilocks (Tina) and I were in the faculty room after school and noticed that there was a little boy playing outside of the school by himself. We went to ask him where he lived and ended up following him all over the neighborhood trying to find his house. Turns out he had left home without his mom knowing and had crossed a really busy four lane road by himself. His aunt found us and it turned out to be a happy ending. So Tina and I get back to our classrooms and realize that it probably looked a little strange that Goldilocks and a bear were chasing a three year old down the street! What a fun Halloween!

Happy Birthday To You!!!

I just wanted to say happy birthday to my little (big) brother! I can't believe that you are 22 already. Thanks for being such a great brother, friend and example!

Reba and Kelly!!!

It feels like forever ago that we bought tickets, but it finally got here. Friday night, my cousins and I went to the Reba and Kelly Clarkson concert. It was AMAZING!!! We seriously had great seats and loved every minute of it. They were both out on stage the whole time. They sang lots of songs together and then did backup for each other on a few songs. It was fun to watch them sing each others songs.

We got there early and there was a lady sitting behind us and she asked if we knew anyone else that would want to come, because she had a ticket she wanted to GIVE us. Apparently, she is a musician and had met some of the band members at a music store earlier that day and they had given her tickets. Her husband couldn't come and she wanted someone to be able to enjoy the concert. So, after a couple of phone calls, my friend (sometimes known as coworker) Ericka rushed down and was able to enjoy the concert with us!!! I am so glad Ericka came, and that lady was so nice to give away a $70.00 ticket! It just goes to show that random acts of kindness still happen, even in the most unlikely of places!!!