We have 5 weeks of school left. I have been subbing since March 1st in Mrs. Nuuvali's 3rd grade class. It has been really hard sometimes but also the most fun way to spend 8 hours of my day and make money. I feel like I am in my element, and I hope that this feeling continues into real contracted teaching. I have learned that teaching and working with children can be a lot like dog training. No, I don't mean that in a degrading way, but Ripley has been having some intense training that has made a huge difference in her behavior. She has had so many less problems with submissive peeing and tearing up Daphne's toys, growling at strangers and being aggressive. And it's because she knows we are in charge, we will keep her safe and we have high expectations. You have to apply distance pressure and eye contact to show Ripley (and students) that you know exactly what is going on and they need to stay in line. There is more, and maybe I sound crazy, but it's true. My class makes me laugh, they make me aggravated to no end, and I love them so, so, so much. I am so excited to finally be a teacher.
Just Like Heaven-Except for the Screaming
Life. Updated. When I get around to it. Lots of screaming guaranteed.
Sunday, May 9, 2021
Long-Term Subbing, Dog Training and Life
Sunday, January 10, 2021
I GRADUATED!!!
Despite probably the weirdest student teaching semester thanks to COVID-19, I made it through and my diploma is supposed to be ordered next week, and I can apply for certification once my official transcript is here too. I was/am so happy to be done. I am substituting for the spring. I need to get Lucas to help me with my resume. I have a long-term sub job March through June (67 days!) which will kind of be like student teaching minus a full-time mentor teacher. And I am trying to wrap my mind around getting prepared for interviews and then doing them, without fainting or freaking out. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing, but I need to give off some kind of 'she knows what she's doing' vibe when I interview. Sigh. Scary stuff, but Heavenly Father has gotten me through one thing and over another hurdle and through several storms, so I know He will help me get through this. Below is a picture of me my last day of the semester, subbing as a librarian and dressed as an elf.
Intern in Mrs. Steiner's 5th Grade Class at Mary Mc
I wrote the title to this blog last March, not realizing I would never be back with those students. I didn't take pictures with them, and I was only with them for 9 weeks. It was such a good experience even though I was so terrified and had to slowly grow into it. Dusti Steiner helped me so much and gave me lots of chances to do my thing and then correct what she'd have done differently or what I could do to make it better. I'm at a loss for much else to say, but did want to mark those few months in time.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
2020-What Happened?
We haven't had much snow since the holidays, but Daphne and Shawn made a wonderful snowman back then. They are wearing cute hoodies their Grandma Laura gave them for Christmas.
Lily loves to sing and play piano cords. She is still rocking her short haircut. So crazy to think she is 16.5 and definitely wanting to be her own person but still our girl but pushing us away but wanting to keep us close. Teenage-hood is not a picnic.
Ben turned 11. I'm pretty sure I've been telling everyone he's still 10, but he's 11-last year of primary. He is rocking a long haircut still and is a total social butterfly. This quarantine situation will probably be hardest on him.
Daphne, who I have way too many pictures of, loves to have hair, jewelry and sometimes even lip gloss for church. Girly girl for the win.
Lily used chocolate fondant to make Daphne kitties for her birthday cake which Daphne explained to me in elaborate detail months in advance. Lily did great, but too bad Daphne doesn't realize how limited her mom's cake skills are.
Daphne loved her birthday and especially enjoyed adding the biggest bunny yet to her bunny collection.
My internship semester was a little rough for Daphne and I at the beginning. She has thrived in all-day kindergarten, and her morning and weekend cuddles helped me be more okay with the things I had to do.
Daphne with her Christmas blanket looking kinda cute but very serious.
Matthew had a drop-in awards assembly where he was recognized for his GPA as well as by Mrs. Brockman for being a dependable, kind, helpful student. I was so glad I could go and support plus not be late to my internship. What a kid!
A Matthew in his natural habitat with his natural hair.
Matt at his recital. He went on to get superiors at Festival. We are pretty sure this is his last year of piano. Cool story, though. Sister Call, his piano teacher, came over to tell me he really took responsibility for his lack of practice for several months which is unheard of in a student his age. He stopped blaming others, started working and pulled it off. Proud.
Daphne was allowed to play with Matt's cute pillow and made it bed, asking for me to take their pictures together.
Pure nostalgia-Lily is 16. Daphne is 6. Lily has been way into hair and makeup with all this time on her hands w/o school, so she decided one Sunday to do Daph's hair too. I remember Meredith curling my hair for church, school and family pictures when we were essentially the same ages. Little sisters feel so special when older sisters take that time to pamper them.
Enzo is adjusting to having us home all the time.
And the things that happen in my bathroom when Lily is bored. Hilarious because normally Ben is the one who does silly things to my room.
And that is a quick catchup of the start of our year in pictures only. Yes, Shawn is still part of our family. I feel like I should do a post just for him. He's a fantastic and tender boy who hears EVERYTHING and continues to be a great thinker and learner.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Spontaneity and December
This is the Mayan calendar we got for our wedding date when we were in Playa del Carmen for a cruise excursion. It now has a place in our office, along with some photos of Lucas and I on a few of our adventures (which he wrapped up as a Christmas present announcing taking me on a trip at my convenience).
Ben the party planner asked if he could please do a Christmas party for boys and girls, and so we did that early in December before the hoopla of the holidays got too intense.
We also had a perfectly simple (probably not for the planners) ward holiday breakfast. You can see shy Shawn off to the left and shy Daphne as the tallest in the front row, but they got up there and sang!!! Ben is officially too cool to sing with the primary even though he has a whole year left before going into YM.
Matt turned 14. He's such a fun kid. Old enough for facial hair which mortifies him when we point it out (I'm trying to stop) but so sweet and loving. I'm hoping boys don't dislike their parents quite as much as girls do during the teenage years (personal experience-I realize some people have kids who always think they're great).
Daphne and Shawn playing with some leftovers from Ben's party. Cute little Santa and elf.
Grandma Laura and Grandpa Jim came and brought lots of presents. Grandma EVEN crocheted Daphne's kitty a dress and blanket which is pretty impressive considering the visit was less than 24 hours. Their visit this year was a breath of fresh air during a very difficult month or two. It kind of felt like a grand kickoff to being almost to Christmas (though I still had a few more days until I was on break).
During December I would wrap myself in a blanket on the couch early in the morning and read the Book of Mormon by the light of the Christmas tree. So peaceful and centering-too bad I've given it up the last 5 days for sleeping in. Still might have a day or 2 before we take the tree down so I can revel a bit more in the great feelings it let me have when I was just wiped out and sad.
Just a random picture of Daphne dressing up as a sunbather, Moana, foxy tailed creation. Oh Daphne, this was the month we finally, FINALLY got your baby book done. Happy dance!
Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning:
Monday, November 4, 2019
Transitioning
I have gradually accepted over the last few months (and am OH SO THANKFUL for the fact) that I have been having a slow transition from my old life to a new one. The important things are still the biggest part of my life:
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Now's as good a time as any
My life is crazy right now, though, and I think I probably would have said that for most of my decades on earth. It just doesn't ease up, and if it is about to, then I get dissatisfied and problematize and look where I'm at. I am certainly leaning heavily upon my Heavenly Father and Savior to get through things right now. We have a lot going on at our house and in our family, and I don't get to stop and think too hard about it...No, I just keep going and think about it in the small spaces of time I'm driving or lawn mowing or falling asleep or waking up.
But right now, as I avoid reading yet another peer-review article for yet another class's reading response, I want to remember some of the beauty and loveliness in my life at the moment.
EARLIER, the rain was pouring and Daph and Shawn asked to play outside in the puddles. They donned rain jackets which we had gotten for the Oregon Coast and never had to use. Shawn carried his $3 Target umbrella I purchased him last spring. They played in the street gutters, Shawn in light blue and Daphne in yellow (duck), splashing and hollering. Lucas called me to come watch. I grabbed my phone after I saw their darlingness, but by then they had moved far enough away my phone would have gotten rained on while snapping a shot. I should have just drank in that perfection and gone to stood in the rain-no pics necessary. Soon Lily had to get in on the action because she cannot stand to be inside when there are puddles. Bless the child in that very teenage brain/body who wanted to come out to play. She took her sister across the street to where she knew there were even deeper puddles. They came home soaked.
BEN has the longest hair a boy of mine has ever had, probably the longest a boy in our extended family has ever had. His personality, blonde hair and blue eyes just delight me. That boy can just get away with a little more than he should, and I can't figure out why, but I love the odd one out element he brings to our family with his surfer dude casualness.
CHICKENS are way more fun than I would have imagined. Our four chickens are laying machines. I love those girls very much. You give them so little and they lay their hearts out, and I do appreciate that they speak up if they need to remind you of something like if Ben forgot to refill their water or if they are out of food. Fascinating little dinosaurs (as Lucas would say).
CUDDLES with Lucas in the early morning hours as I try to coax myself to wake up. I have been so worried about him lately as he doesn't feel good, and it feels so nice to just be in his arms and feel his warmth and know that at least that is okay even if everything else is not.
DAPHNE cuddles are also a part of the mornings when I don't have to head out to class or a sub job. Having her gone all day is convenient but, my goodness, it doesn't feel good to think she is in a screaming crazy mob all day. She is definitely learning a lot and seems happy, but I don't want her to grow up too fast or miss out on anything she should have had. Cuddles with her have been grounding since she was so wee, and I will miss those as she grows up and doesn't think they're the best thing ever anymore.
ELL substituting was the highlight of my short subbing career so far. I loved those kids. I see a possible future there, and it gave me hope for where I might fit into a school system.
RIVER WALKS. I know. Shocker. They are few right now, but they have been life affirming.
I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE and go inside and be reminded that Heavenly Father and Jesus have my back. They are here. They are with me daily, every minute. They will not let me fail at anything I'm not supposed to fail at, and they will love me just the same and pick me back up when I do fail. What comfort, and how important to remember the BIG, BIG eternal picture which is exactly what the temple does for me every time.
FAMILY. I love my sisters and brother, mom and dad, and, most dearly, I love my husband and children. I sometime wish, but am overcoming it, that life were different and I was the SAHM of my dreams, lavishing love and nurture upon our home and my children every hour they were home. I have never been that mom 100%. I regret that, but I don't know that with this husband and these kids that my life could have ever been different or that it was supposed to be. My kids mean everything to me. My husband is someone I want to hold on tight to and never let go...except, you know, sometimes because space is good now and then. I want so much to do right by them all, and it's not easy. It's another thing I have to rely on the Lord for, to guide me, to let me know when someone is struggling, and to remind me that even though I have so much on my plate personally/professionally, they are why I'm here and why I'm doing this. I love them. I can't wait until our next adventure together, and I will commit to making the day-to-day better and more adventurous too because we've been known to get into ruts which can be quite boring.
SO do I feel life is beautiful right now...I don't know...it's so intense and the lovely moments are so sought for but sparse, but I have seen some beautiful amidst my mess plenty enough lately, and for those times I am grateful.