Snow

We got hit with a snow storm so I had been stranded in my house for a couple days. I am definitely a people person. I got so lonely. Don't get me wrong...I loved being able to sleep in and relax, but I missed being able to hangout with my friends and family. I felt like a little bear going into hibernation for the winter . I stocked up on groceries and everything. A lot of things where closed down up here  yesterday so once you got out there wasn't much to do. I even saw that the mall was closed. Thankfully, Walmart and Target where open so we had somewhere to walk around. Well, I hope that everyones week is going great...any snowstorm stories?? Did everyone have a good Valentine's Day?

2007 Rocks!!!

I think that 2007 is one of my favorite years so far. I know that the year just started, but so far things are looking great. Here are some pics of things that I have been upto this year.

Trips to Starbucks

Cool pic taken by Rob

Good-bye Monica

Group Wishing Monica Good-bye

It's My fault we stayed up so late before the big snowboarding trip.

The view from inside the lodge. It was pretty outside but oh so cold!!!

Mudding :)

Should I get this hat?

Or this one?

Late night trips to ihop

Skating...pics of me skating got deleted

I am standing/ wobbling on my skates here, but you can't see the skates...

Almost Christmas

 I was informed today that I need to update my account bc I haven't been posting anything on here. I guess I got sick of getting on bc I wasn't receiving  any or many responses so it felt like a waste of time.

Anyway, I am having a great school year. I love my class. I am trying to figure out exactly what I want to do for our Christmas party. I don't want to waste a day of learning, but I also don't want to make it boring. Talking about Christmas this weekend, I went to 2 Christmas parties. Friday, I went to my Sunday's schools party which was a lot of fun except that I got a used baby thermometer for my white elephant gift. I don't see why someone didn't want to take it from me...it was soooooooo gross!! I had to hold back the vomit...sick!!  Anyway, I love hanging out with them. We took lots of pictures which i also enjoy! Today, I went to Kelly's family Christmas party which has become a tradition for me. Ian came with us this year which was nice bc we don't want her family to get the wrong idea about us...sick! I was super excited bc I got to talk to Billie on the phone!!  It was sad not having them at the Christmas party this year. After the party, Kelly, Ian, Tiffany, and I went over to Marc and Alison's house to watch some movies.

Here are some pictures from this weekend

Ericka and I both sporting the green.

Me super excited about winning RACKO

Cody, Trish, Autum, Emilie, Lizz, Sheri, and Marissa chillin

Blessing Christmas Party...Kelly, Tiffany, and I

Kelly, Tiffany, and Marc (part of my "adopted" family)

Ian and the scary dog

Living in the History Book

Today, on the morning announcements, there was a mention of 9-11. I decided to use that opportunity to talk to my 2nd graders about what happened that day. It was sort of surreal for me to realize that they were anywhere from 1-3 when that tragic day took place. A day that I will NEVER forget is a day that they don't even remember because they were too young.  I sort of felt really old at the time I was telling the story because the information seemed so new to them, but to me it was a vivid memory. I can remember almost every moment of that day. I remember on Sept. 1 thinking that the day was 9-1-1. Little did I realize that in 10 days there would be a far different meaning to 9-11. I was sitting class meetings my freshman year and hearing some of the guys talk about the Trade Centers being crashed into by airplanes. I remember thinking that they must be talking about a movie. When I realized that it was not a movie but reality it was a very shocking moment. I remember the school gathering around tvs in the dining hall for hours watching the events take place not sure what would happen next. Most classes were canceled for the day, but not my night computer class. I remember being so frustrated bc I wanted to be with everyone else and not sitting in the class. The teacher told us we could get out to watch our wonderful president address the nation, but the time must have been bumped up an hour bc we were just getting out of class as the speech was ending . The moment all those memories along with many others from that day and the days following came flashing into my head I started to feel old like one of my teachers from Junior High who always talked about the big flood that hit this area in the 70s. He talked like it just happened yesterday and thats how I feel about The 9-11. Anyway, I am sure that many of you can remember that day clearly. If you want to share your memories, I would love to hear them...from one history book writer to another

Update!!

I can't believe my summer break is already over  This summer was nice....very relaxing!! Kelly and I took a trip to Kingsport, TN in the middle of August to go see Dusty play baseball. I was very excited bc his mom and sister surprised us!! He didn't think they were going to get to come bc his sis had been sick, but she felt well enough to come  We all had so much fun down there. We got to see 2 baseball games. Dusty pitched the first night and won which was really exciting bc it looked like they were going to lose, but then they made a huge comeback! The girls all went hiking the next day! I got to take several crazy pics along the way so I was really excited about that :) Oh, I almost forgot...Kelly and I stopped at The Shrine of our Lady of Consolation on the way down. We saw a sign for it and decided to check it out...still confused which of the many statues was the actual shrine, but we didn't want to stop and ask. Sort of like when we went to Cooperstown a couple years ago and couldn't find the Baseball Hall of Fame :) hehe ...more updates after the pics...wanted to break up the monogamy of all the words

Kelly infront of the shrine sign

Me infront of shrine gift shop

Right after they surprised me

Waiting around after the game...Kelly has a rhino bug in her glove...

Us with the map of the hike we took

Kelly with the ball Dusty gave her

Dusty and I right before I left

A couple days after I got back from TN teacher inservice meetings started. I was so grateful to have those meetings bc I learned a lot about the schools rules and what would be expected of me and the other teachers. Talking about teaching....as of today I have been a teacher for one week!! I am teaching 17 second graders. I love teaching them. I feel so rewarded and such a since of accomplishment when I see them behaving properly or getting excited about something new they just learned.

Right before orientation....it's lopsided bc I had my camera resting on the pencil sharpener