Photos of my New House

I finally decided to take the plunge and buy a house. I found a cute townhouse in Bluffdale. The price was right, interest rates were low and it wasn't too far from work. It has three bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. I love the big closets (I was able to fill them right up!)and the small but fenced in back yard for Daisy

 

 

 

 

Another bonus was the nest of barn swallows on my front porch. There were four babies. I named them Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Moe

 

Last friday was "Learn to Fly Day" The babies all flew away without saying good-bye. Now Daisy and I can sit on the front porch without driving the momma bird crazy.

Some Assembly Required

I bought an elliptical. I knew I wouldn't just be able pull it out of the box and use it. I knew I would need to put a few pieces together. I figured the arms would need to be put on and the foot petal things and maybe plug in the screen. The Box listed a six step process. (See the photo above) I thought "No Problem."

1. Open the box.
2. Pullout the arms.
3. Pull out the cardboard.
4. Pull out the main part.
5. Read the instructions.
6. Voila it's ready to use!

I got to step one "Open the box." I ruled that step.
Step two. "Pull out the arms" I thought to myself "Hmm There are arms and a lot of other pieces ok, more than I thought, but I can handle it." I pulled out all the pieces carefully and placed them on the floor in carefully organized piles.
Step three "pull out cardboard" I pulled out the cardboard and found 1. lots of cardboard and 2. many more pieces in and around the card board. I gathered them up and placed them in my organized piles. At this point I no longer have any room on the floor of the family room and I'm still just on step 3. I filled up the space under the stairs with all my extra cardboard And moved on to step four "pull out the main part" I needed help with this part because the box was huge and the main part was very heavy. I also didn't have any room left on the floor. In order to get this part out I had to pull out boxes with the screen part and the instructions and all the screws and other such things to aid the next part. Step five "Read the instructions" (note it took me a long time to get to this step and it was late so I had to put it off for the next day)

Day Two
Step 5 "Read the instructions" Who writes this stuff? What?
Step Five "A" The first step says "Call for a tech to put it together" I called and found out it will take 5 days for them to get back to me. I Decide I will do it myself.
Step Five "B" look up the assembly video. Wow that just went right together. Fantastic, Apparently this is EASY to do. It only took 8 minutes to put together on the video. I gave myself 15 minutes since it was my first time. An hour later It was late again and I wasn't very far on the instructions. I wasn't discouraged yet, I was learning a lot (trial and error) and I had like 7 pieces assembled (only 25,000 pieces to go)

Day Three Step 5 "J" "tighten an M8x16mm patch screw (102) and an M8 washer(95)into each end of the upright axle (48) at the same time." (that is straight out of the instructions I am not making this up) There is a drawing and since I have several hours of experience with this, It doesn't even phase me. I found the right patch screw and reached for the M8 washer. There was no M8 washers. I had a lot of washers but none that will work. I carefully looked through all the parts again to make sure I didn't over look it. No Washer. Luckily they gave me a bag with a ton of extra parts. Guess what? no M8 washers. I raided my dad's stash of washers and found several that were close but not quite right. I decided to move on to the next few steps thinking that I could continue to work on it and go to the hardware store In the morning. The next 3 steps required M8 washers. I was done for the night. (and I had a headache)
Day Four Step 5 "P" "Home Depot" That is a huge store. Found the washers!! Step 5 "Q" through Step 5 "JJ" Other than getting grease on my hands and face from greasing all the moving parts I had very little drama.
Two hours later Viola Its ready to use. I am too tired to use it.
Thats a step for another day

Winter has come

My new digs

 

I guess it's time to write my annual post. When I started this blog I had every intention of writing once a week. I wrote 6 blogs last year, so I guess I have a lot to catch up on. Most of the last few years was filled with work and school. There just wasn't much to say and I was too exhausted to write anyway. I finished up with school in Late August then started my third year teaching first grade.
I've been living with the folks while I was finishing up with school. Now that I'm finally finished with school, it's time to cut the apron strings and move out. This past weekend I moved in with a great roomate (see the photo of the new place above) And I'm loving the fact that it's so close to work (it's about a three minute drive.) I'm having fun with my new roomate and getting lots of walks in since there is not a fenced in yard and I can't just let Daisy out when she needs it. I'll try better to keep you all posted on my life.

Summer fun part 2

Part of the summer fun was sharing my birthday with my whole Family! We had a Harry Potter party for the kids and went to see the movie. Even though these are old pictures at least they are different than the ones I have had up for 6 months.

 

 

 

 

My fun parents

Even though it is near the end of November I'm going to post some blogs about this summer. I thought I would post some pictures and keep the comments to a minimum.

 

 

 

 

I thought I would show some fun photos from this summer.
Mom had a tea party with The girls when they were here. Dad had a huge water fight. And the last picture was from fathers day.

Sublime Supplementary Snapshots

 
 

I thought I would add a bit of alliteration to these posts. I tried posting a new way and I could only upload 4 photos per post. We sure missed all of our family who were too far away to come for a Sunday afternoon. Thanks to Cathryn and Ken for having us all over. I didn't include the shots that were way too candid (sneezing, yawning or eating) so don't feel badly if you were there and your photo wasnt included. I had so much fun visiting. Can't wait till next time.

More Merry Memories

 
 
 
 

Fun in Farmington with Fav Familiy

 
 
 
 

My favorite New Years Eve quote:
Nurse: How are you?
Dad:Fine except for my gut.
Nurse: Whats wrong with it?
Dad: It was removed.

Dear Santa

My class wrote letters to Santa here are some gems.

Dear Santa, I hope you and your elves and reindeer are feeling good. I want a lots of Legos Star wars the clone wars.
P.S. Im trying to be good
P.S.S. I like apple sauce.

Dear Santa, How is it going in the north pole? All I want for Christmas is a Nintendo DS. I will leave milk, cookies and carrots for the reindeer. How are you doing what is your favorite color. Mine is red.


Dear Santa,
How are you doing. I hope you are doing good. How are the reindeers. You make me so happy. You are the best and please will you get me lego star wars.

Santa how is it going rite now im good rite now but I hope the reindeer are feeling well i Love you and all the elves I want a lot of munea (money) Please.

I Love Fall!

Here are some photos of Daisy playing in the yard.

Has it been 4 weeks already?

I was reading Janelle's blog and she has a list on the side that shows the blogs she follows and how long it has been since they last wrote. Under mine it said that it has been 4 weeks since I last wrote. That cant be true... It feels like just yesterday. Does any one else feel like their life is racing along like a runaway train?
Ok let me give you a quick update on my life. School started on the 25th of September. I forgot how exhausting it is to get the school year started and how much you have to do for the students at first. My day starts with "hi guys take off your backpacks hang them up and put your homework folders in the box." This sounds simple enough doesn't it?? In the next 2 minutes I repeat this 39 times. I have at least 4 kids go to their seats with their back packs on, 7 who need to tell me everything they did since they saw me last. 2 kids who hand me their backpacks, 12 who hand me their folders and six who are crying. All the while I say "Don't forget to hang up your backpacks.... where does your folder go.... Quit running around...you are ok... don't cry....Don't hit....where does your folder go....Don't put your backpack on the floor...Ok everyone I need your attention....Please listen!! take off your backpacks hang them up and put your homework folders in the box." Then I hear "Teacher what do I do with my folder? " AGGH! Similar event happen all day. Don't even get me started on the instructions to put their work in the turn in box and come to the rug.
But the good news is that we hired a new first grade teacher so I got to have 5 kids go to another class. I can't wait to see how life will be now. I feel like a huge stress is gone. maybe I will be able to relax a little. I might even be able to leave the school before the janitors kick me out at night. I don't think I've done that yet!

More summer fun

Here are some fun pictures from my birthday. I also included a picture of AZ. I didnt take any pictures of me while I was there because I was a sweaty mess most of the time. I had fun but I wouldn't want anyone to see what I looked like while I was there.

I had planned on writing a blog about it and it never got written

I've had good intentions about keeping up on my posts. I havn't been very good about it though as you may have noticed. I thought I would wait for school to get over then I would be a bloging maniac. This summer was a blur. I started out going to AZ to see Jeff, Allie, The boys and Jill. I had planned on writing a blog about it and it never got written. Then I had a nonstop barrage of classes I had to take. Basically I got up went to class, did homework walked my dog and went back to sleep. Jill anad Aaron came up from AZ and I had a little break from school We went to Lagoon (I had planned on writing a blog about it and it never got written.) Jeff and Allie came up and we had lots of fun. I had planned on writing a blog about it and it never got written. Then classes started again and The boys came to stay for a week. So My days went a little like this: I got up went to class, played with the boys, stayed up late did homework, threw the ball for my dog and went back to sleep. Now school starts monday. This year I am the team leader and the PTA community teacher representative. I have 27 students (I hope some move) things will be busy for a while. One day I'll have to write a blog about it.

I am trying to do better about writing on my blog. The other day I typed up a cute blog of funny things my students said then I couldn't get it to work so I've been putting it off again but today is the day. 

On Earth Day I gave my first grade class an assignment to write what they would do if they were in charge of the earth. Here is a sample of what they wrote.

If I were in charge of the Earth I would tell everyone to not litter and not to be drunk, and not to steal. Also I would tell them to be kinder to other people.

If I were in charge of the Earth I would Tell all the people to give me a lot of candy and 2 million crowns.

If I were in charge of the Earth there would be no police or guns. I would tell everyone to not pass the speed limit. I would make a rule no kissing and no chasing boys.

If I were in charge of the Earth I would tell all the people to bow to me and Joslyn.

If I were in charge of the Earth I would make everyone my maid and then I will get a plant.

If I were in charge of the Earth I would make people not fight and be nice. There would be no bad people in the neighborhoods and no battles. There would be no kissing and no guns, no passing the speed limit and no saying bad words.

Rock Star

My students wrote a poem for me today. 

The important thing about Ms. Young is that she rocks like a rockstar.

She likes her dog Daisy, The Cheesecake factory, and Hockey.

She can teach us and she can play her Guitar.

She isn't a baby but she is a nice teacher.

But the most important thing about Ms. Young

 is that she rocks like a rock star!

A Long Time coming

Well it's been since June since I wrote in my blog. At first I had some really good excuses for why I wasn't writing then life got busy and I put the blog on the back burner. I decided to post a blog to fill everyone in on the changes in my life since June.
When I last wrote I was working at Challenger as a Kindergarten teacher. I was finishing up the school year and getting ready to start a new job at Challenger as the art teacher. After school got out (June 12) I packed up my new car (a red 2005 Pontiac vibe) and took my trusty dog Daisy

for a road trip down to Arizona to visit Jeff, Allie, Jill, and the boys. I had a great time there and it was great to see Jeff and Allie's new house.
After my trip I did some grueling and time consuming graphic design work for The Be The Best You girls camp. Then I packed up again and went to San Diego. It was so fun to have the whole family together on vacation.

After the family vacation I decided to apply for the Alternative Routes to Licensure Through the State. I figured I would get the ball rolling and start the program Fall 2008. I sent in my application around July 12th. I got a letter on July 17th that said My application looked good and I should fingerprinted and have a background check. I sent these in the next day and I went to Vegas with some friends for my birthday. (July 19 - 22) A few days after I got back (Thursday) I found out that I had been accepted into the program and could start looking for a job in the public school system. I decided to call the Jordan school district to find out what I needed to do and was told to bring my resume, and three letters of recommendation to an interview the next day. I didn't have a resume ready because I hadn't really been planning to look for a job, I was just looking into this program and figured I had plenty of time to get things ready. I scrambled and got everything together and was ready for my interview the next day. I had a long interview at the School district and was told that My name would be emailed to principals as an available candidate for any job openings. I was told That it would probably be Monday before I heared From anyone since it was Friday afternoon at 4:00. I got home and immediately had a phone call from a principal who wanted to meet with me Monday morning. I wasn't off the phone with him for 10 minutes before I got another call from another principal who wanted to know if I could come to an interview right then. I went to both interviews and received offers from both schools. I took a job teaching first grade at Altara Elementary which is 10 minutes from my house. From start to finish the whole process of "Maybe I'll look into this program" to being accepted and having a new job was about 2 and a half weeks.

I spent the next month scrambling to get everything ready and started teaching at the end of August. During September I was busy learning how to do a new job, taking a class doing homework and studying for the praxis test. Life is finally settling down after a whirlwind couple of months. I'm looking forward to seeing my family for Christmas then It will be back to teaching and taking classes in January.