At least my pantry is ready for 2011!

This...

became

this...

One project down a brazillion to go!

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

Man, I needed THIS one.

If I get a Flip camera for Christmas...

...I'm totally going to do this! I will dance like the dickens in as many places as possible.

(I've also heard that is brings happiness so, I'm trying it! Just thinking about it makes me smile.)

Then I'm taking all of my family to Disneyland and we are going to do this!

So, if Santa hears and grants my wish, who's coming with me???? I'll need backup dancers ya know!

Why I feel a little sad today...

1. Poor Melissa has a broken hand.

2. This

3. A major lack of moola here:

(but my son-in-law, Tyler, has assured me he will accept a plate of fudge rather than a video game for Christmas)...just kidding...he didn't say that.

4. I got locked out of my house tonight without my shoes or a bra on.

5. My throat is doing one of these.

6. The parent Christmas present my First graders made has the paint totally chipping off as it dries. No time to redo them. Maybe I will have the kids write them a letter and give them hugs and kisses for Christmas instead.

7. There is nothing good on the tube tonight.

8. This book is amazing but it does make me a little sad!

9. I miss all of the family who won't be here this Christmas.

10. My dogs stink!

Waa, Waa, Waa! Tomorrow will be better.

My Peeps!

One of my fondest memories will always be of the Grandview Nursing Home in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. My mother worked there for many years and I would spend hours there after school waiting for her to finish work so we could drive home.

I loved sitting in the supply closet and sifting through her bottles of beads, baskets of yarn, glue, and Artex paints (remember those?). You see, she was the activities director there. She taught those "old folks" how to bead and basket weave...yes, basket weave! She played all sorts of games with them. My particular favorite was BINGO. "Under the O 'clickety click'" (that's 66 in case you don't speak "BINGO"). I loved it there.

At the time, I thought that those old people kind of smelled funny and, in the beginning, I was a little frightened of them. They said wacky things and made interesting sounds. However, I loved watching my mother interact with those older people. She had a way of making them smile. I knew that they loved every minute with her...and she with them. Maybe that what made it seem so magical to my childish eyes.

Well, now I know that, while my mom was very special in her ability to work with the elderly, SHE was the one being blessed. It was the people she served that were REALLY serving HER! I understand that now because I have the privilege of spending an hour every Sunday with my own group of older friends. Terry and I teach the Gospel Doctrine class at Cove Point, a retirement/care center here in Provo. We get to talk about the Old Testament and Gospel truths with those who really "know" and tend to teach us far more than we could ever teach them. I absolutely LOVE it.

Some of you may remember how petrified I was to give the first lesson a couple of months ago. I almost suffered paralysis of the knees just minutes before standing in front of those blessed people. Now, I can't wait to get there every Sunday afternoon. You really should be jealous. I mean, just LOOK at these friends of mine:

Oh my! I love her!

This is my friend Fran who said to me after I taught my very first terrifying lesson:

"I didn't get ONE thing out of that lesson!"

If I'm not on my toes, Leo will give the entire lesson with just ONE

of his astounding answers.

John is one of the most amazing men I've ever met.

His body is tired.

He moves slowly.

His mind is alert.

He is a teacher.

Sheila tells me a story every Sunday about her years of teaching

Special Education.

Her friend (I can't remember her name at the moment...shame on me),

always has a comment about my shoes.

The comments usually begin: "I used to be able to wear shoes like that..."

Don't you wish you had my "job"?

John the Mayor (NOT John Mayer)

Today our school had a Parent Party. It was a party where parents came to school and read with their children. It took place from 8:30 am-9:10 am. It was a HUGE success! I can't even begin to express the feelings I have when I see parents taking an active roll in their children. Simply reading a book to them and then letting them read back to "show off" what they know. It makes my heart literally beat faster. And I won't lie by telling you I didn't tear up a bit watching the entire scene. To see more pictures and read a bit more about the morning go here. You'll see some awesome looking pajamas too. Did I mention it was a pajama day as well? Perfect.

As for this blog post, I must relate the humorous scene in my classroom today. We were picked to have the mayor of Provo, Mr. John Curtis, spend the entire half hour in our classroom. I know! What an honor, right? Or was it?

The organizers of this big shindig had extra parents, grandparents, school district members, and community members lined up to fill in for parents who couldn't make it. So, Mayor Curtis picked out Rebeca. All of the adults in the room were very excited to see the mayor sitting down with our little Rebeca to read. Touching, right? Or was it?

To Rebeca, it was just another adult invading her personal space. I whipped out my camera to take a picture of the two of them. No matter what I did or said, Rebeca would NOT smile. I felt like those seriously overthetop girls who take the pictures at Kiddie Kandids. Still...no luck. So, I made my rounds to the other duos in the room and circled back. As I came closer, Rebeca looked up at Mayor Curtis and asked in such a disgusted voice, "Who ARE you?" (The tone was more like "Who the HELL are YOU?" but we don't allow swears in our class!

The mayor held out his hand to Rebeca and said, "I'm John". She shook his hand and was just fine after that. I thought about it and it finally dawned on me that "John" was just some adult trying make friends and he didn't even ask her if he could.

I'm happy to report that the two became fast friends after that. I would look over at them and find them giving high-fives, laughing together, and pointing/sounding out the words in the book. At the end of the read-a-thon (which I think is so funny that they called it a read-a-thon when it was only 30 minutes!) I asked Rebeca, "Now do you know who was reading with you?" "Ya," she said "He's John!" Duh!

So cute.

At the end of the time, everyone received a donut! Yum! The school ordered 1200 Krispy Kreme donuts! We had 300 left over. I'm wondering how many donuts a person could eat before blowing up!!!

Rebeca with her new BFF John.

Me with John

23rd For My Little Bird!

I was the first to touch this beautiful woman. I carried her for 9 months and SHE has carried me ever since. I love my daughter and I've been so lucky to have her in my life for the last 23 years.