Alaska

It's official!  John will be spending at least 6 weeks in Alaska this summer commercial fishing with my aunt, cousins, and cousins' kids. From what I understand its a 24/7 job for 6 weeks... someone on the crew is always fishing. I'm so excited for him to have this opportunity.  It is something he's wanted to do ever since he met me and knew that my relatives do this each summer.  Also, this news means I haven't actually lied to anyone!  I've been telling everyone that he'll be in Alaska all summer for the past several months.  So thankful I didn't end up lying.  However, it does mean that I won't hear from John for 6 weeks straight.  I'm not quite sure how to handle that.  My friends better be up for visitors!

Busy Saturday

Well I checked many things off my TO DO list today.   Not as many as I would have liked, but they all needed to get done sooner rather than later because each had a deadline.

• Taxes... State and Federal.  We're getting a nice return from federal, but owe for state due to a mix up by our payroll person/computer. Thankfully we don't owe nearly as much as most of the other people at school
• Walk of Hope- I've been volunteering from afar for the 2012 Scottsdale RESOLVE Walk of Hope
• I finally compiled my list of items being donated for the giveaways.
• I e-mailed all the newspaper people to see if any of them would be willing to do a write up about the walk.  
• I finally registered for the Walk of Hope myself (I have a deadline in my head that if I'm not done with National Board I can't go since its the weekend before it's due.  GOOD Motivation!) 
• National Board... I wrote for 4 hours straight today.  I'm still not anywhere near to being done... but at least I have a decent amount written and sent off to be read by my coaches.  So thankful for the AZ K12 Center and their support through this process.  It is a process!  

Nope, the house still didn't get cleaned!  And the laundry is never all the way done, even though John tries really hard to stay on top of it.  Here's to a refreshing, relaxing, and uplifting Sunday.  We'll be watching the Daytona 500!  (yes we plugged the borrowed satellite box in for the big race!) 

National Board Update

National Board is a swear word at our school these days...

It's kicking my trash!  Literally!  I keep forgetting other things I've said I'd do or that I've already done.

However, progress is being made.  I finally have started watching my videos.  I had 20 minutes of tape for my science entry.  It's amazing!  The kids did phenomenal and I checked off everything they were looking for.  YAY!  Now to go write that up.

On the other hand, I've watched 20 minutes of the FOREVER (over an hour) I spent taping for my social studies lesson and I don't think it's going to work.  Even though there are some GLORIOUS moments where my kids really shine.  All the other kids not on film are SO loud you can hardly hear the ones you're supposed to be able to hear.  Maybe it will be better once I'm not watching it on my actual video camera.  Ugh... I cannot come up with a whole new lesson/unit to video tape this weekend and still have enough written for my self imposed deadline of next Friday, March 2nd!

There's so much more involved in all of this... but probably shouldn't be said in writing for fear someone will take it to my boss.  The DRAMA at school is completely out of control!

Third Grade Fashion

This conversation actually happened in my third grade class yesterday.

Here's the scene: students are supposed to be finishing up their biographies... 2 paragraphs about a president. We had already done most of the hard work. Students were also anxious for lunch and our early out day.

Boy 1 is in his seat turned around staring at boy 2.

Boy 1:Dude, why are you wearing those jeans with those shoes? Your skinny jeans look so much better with those shoes!

Boy 2: Man, why you checkin me out?

Ensue Hysterical laughter from the teacher.

Valentine's Day in 3rd Grade

So for my kiddos at school I ALWAYS make individualized Valentine cards.  They are ALWAYS home made and I always write a special note to each one of them.  Not this year.  It just didn't happen.  I've been too busy and something had to give.  Unfortunately it was that.  However... Pinterest to the rescue!  I've been pinning Valentine ideas for a good month at least.  I used these two pins for my gifts to my kiddos.  The owl bookmarks are adorable, and my kids and I are always needing bookmarks.   The other was a starburst printable.  I can't find the pin at the moment, but I knew I had starbursts at school and could dress them up with this quick and easy printable.  Thank goodness for Pinterest and "grandma" (my mom).  She spoiled them with pencils, cookies to decorate, and more!!  She more than made up for me not being all thoughtful and prepared.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Valentine brought me a dozen perfectly pink roses yesterday.  He's the best!

I hope you were as blessed as I have been!

Happy Birthday Arizona and LUSD#9

Here's an article about where I work and live. John's even interviewed. It's pretty neat to have the big city paper come all the way to our little town... even if it is from a newspaper in a whole different state.

To residents, Arizona Strip feels like different world - News - ReviewJournal.com