Before school starts again...

As my Christmas break winds down I come to the realization that I have not blogged about any of the happening in our family since early/mid November.

With a birthday, a baptism, a ballet recital, and of course, Christmas, we have been fairly busy.  It was quite fair for me to say, on Christmas Day, that my break was really beginning (9 days after my last final).  So here a month by moth explanation of what has been going on here.

NOVEMBER

Josh turned 8 in mid November and he was one excited boy!  He always feels that he has to wait the longest for his birthday to come around (Kate is in June and Eric, October).  I try to explain to him that he waits as long as everyone else, but, well, you know how logic works with kids.

His favorite part was, obviously, the gifts, and he sat by them while everyone else around him played.  He was patient, while being impatient.

We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and when a child turns 8 we give them the opportunity to be baptized.  Josh made the choice to be baptized and we did this special event on November 20.  Josh was baptized by his Dad.  It was such a special day.  Brandon and I sure are lucky to have such a great kid like Josh as our son.  We are so proud of him for making this decision.

 For Thanksgiving, Brandon's Grandma came from Ohio to spend some time with everyone.  Here is a picture of her with all of her great-grandchildren.

DECEMBER

December brought in Katie's first ballet recital, the reality of finals, the threat of snow (at the same time) and Christmas!

Katie took ballet with Miss Sarah over the fall and LOVED IT!!  She tries really hard to do her best at each class and was so excited for her recital.  She even performed a solo!!  I was amazing to watch her dance with confidence and with pride.  She was not afraid and we all loved watching her.

The very next week brought my finals, the kids last week of school (with all of its accompanying parties/gift exchanges) and SNOW!!!!!

Thursday afternoon, the day before my last final it started to snow and it never let up!  The picture of the kids playing is from that same afternoon/early evening.

Don't you just love Albuquerque snowmen?  All in all, we received 6 inches up in the highest part of the northwest section of the city (where we live).  I studied while watching the news hoping for a delay at UNM so that my final would be cancelled.  UNM has a policy that if the final is cancelled for a delay or a school cancellation then your grade stands as it was on the last day of class.  I was good with that since my final was with my hardest professor in my hardest class at 7:30 in the morning.  No such luck as UNM was the ONLY thing running in the city on that Friday morning.  But, whether it be a gift for showing up to the exam or my incredible knowledge on the subject, I discovered that I did EXTREMELY well on the test and managed a B+ in the class (I had an 84 before the final).  I don't normally acknowledge my grades (because I doubt anyone really cares) but this professor is very difficult and hardly ever hands out A's.  I was happy!

Next up came Christmas. I had the great idea that I would make a lot of gifts for people and the kids.  Not sure that I will do that again.  So stressfull when you cannot devote a lot of time to making them before the 17th of the month.  But all went well and we had a nice Christmas.



So that is just all the big stuff that we did.  I also...baked through several pounds of butter, flour, and chocolate, took kids to various play dates watched a TON of college football (quack quack) and hung out with friends and family.  I also finished painting the bottom half of Katie's room and sewed some curtains for the half bath (that I messed up on and must redo), cleaned out closet and small rooms.  I read books that I did not have to report on or remember in anyway.  Brandon and I finally made it to Harry Potter and had some other time together (thanks Steph) to take care of things that needed to be done.  I also watched a ton of tv and learned to digi-scrap (thanks Steph).   It was busy, but it was good. 

And now, back to our regularly scheduled life.

The First Day of School

The first day of school came... and went. The kids are settling into their school routines.  But we are still missing some elements, such as a regular homework schedule.  I am expecting that this week.  Here they are, all ready to go, plus a little wanna-be.

Josh was very excited to get back to school, he was very vocal about it.  He got a teacher that is strict, but I know that she will be good for him.  He is a sweet, wonderful boy, but one that is quite goofy.  He often does not understand that there is a time and a place to be goofy.  I know that she will help him understand that.

Eric, not too much.  He did not want to go back at all.  School is rather boring for him and he said that he would rather be bored at home then at school.  Thankfully, he was assigned to the teacher that he really wanted and things are going more smoothly now.  His teacher and I are working on keeping him challenged, somthing that is a challenge for the teacher.

I have also had my first day of school, but no one took my picture (and I am okay with that).  Another busy term for me, but I am taking some really interesting history classes.  I am really excited to learn more about the events that my classes are focussing (U.S. History between Washington and Jefferson and World War I) on and even more excited to think that I might get to teach it myself one day.

The First Day of School

Today is the first day of school for Eric and Josh. 

Josh is excited, Eric... not so much.  But I think he will feel differently when he gets into the groove of things.

There will not be any pictures today as I am jetting off to Oregon with Kate this morning.  My Dad is having a really BIG birthday and we are going out to help him celebrate.

I will report on the kiddos first days when I get back as well as our adventures in the beautiful pacific northwest.  There will be pictures of it all posted on this blog, eventually.  I promise.

Teacher Thank You Gifts

Today is the boys last day of school (hooray?) and I spent a little time making their teacher a small thank you gift.  Both boys had wonderful teachers this year and deserved something special.

I took these simple wood frames.

And painted the edges to match the paper I had already selected.

Then I glued the paper to the frame without making any cuts.  I used Mod Podge.

Then I took my craft knife and cut around the outside of the frame, then the inside.  Sorry, no pictures of that.

After that I used the embellishments that I had to finish it off.  I used coordinating paper, some stickers that I found at Hobby Lobby(with a 40% coupon, of course), and two sizes of circle punches.  I also cut out the apple shape from the one paper because it looked good on the other.  I used glue dots and pop-up dots to give the project dimension.  To finish it all off I put in pictures of the boys and their teachers that I had taken earlier.  This was my finished project.

Here is a closer picture of each frame. 

(Please ignore the fact that I cannot take a straight picture.)

I am so thankful for all the work and effort these fabulous ladies put in this year for my boys.  They are so much better off after having them as teachers.  Thank you Mrs. Gale and Mrs. Parks for a great year!!

If you want more ideas for techers gift check out this link where you will find my idea and many MANY more!

realization

I just realized that instead of having a two week break from the spring and summer terms I only have one week for a complete mental unload.  I am so bummed.  How am I supposed to accomplish anything within a week?  Oh yeah... that is my realization, I won't get anything done.  Oh well.

Yes, I am cRAzy!

This is the last weekend that I will have "free."

What I mean by that, is that on Tuesday, I start my spring semester at UNM.  This is the last weekend that I will have not have the constant thought of homewook, papers, and/or tests on my mind until mid-May.

To add to it all, I am taking 18 credits this term.  Yup, you read that right 18 credit hours.  And I do know that I am absolutly insane.  Check me into Dammasch now!

I think that I can do it.  More importantly, I have to do it.  I have to carry two semesters of 18 credits to enter the teaching program fall of 2011.  I can get out of the other semster of 18 credits is I can get permission to take 9 credits this summer. 

On the positive end of all this I am taking some really interesting classes.  I am taking US Colonial History and US Political History.  I am especially excited about the Political History class.  So fascinating!  I am also taking Statistics, Economics, Educational Psychology, and Music Appreciation.  The music is my (hopefully) my "cake" class.  At least that is what every says about it. 

So, here's to my last "free" weekend. 

a quick note on finals week

I am in the middle of finals week and am procrastinating studying for my ANTH 101 exam by blogging about my finals thus far.

I got the best e-mails on Friday and Saturday. The first one was from Dr. Pressel, my Communication for the Classroom Teacher. The test in that class was last Monday (Dec. 7), which I took in the dark.  It read:

"Hi Becca -

Your grade on the test was 75 (perfect score). Your grade for the course is "A". Have a good holiday.

Dr. Pressel"

Yay!  I love "A's"  But I was expecting that one to show up in my inbox. The next one was a complete surprise. It was from my Geology professor who we called Tim because his last name is soo hard to say! This is what it said.

"Greetings,

This note was sent to you to inform you of your final grade. You have earned an A in the above referenced class and the final is optional for you. If you choose to take the final, you may potentially earn an A+. Your grade will be assigned in loboweb after all of the grading of the final has been completed.

Thanks for being part of the class and good luck during finals week.

Cheers
Tim"

This was an awesome e-mail to receive! No final in Geology! HOORAY!!!

Not having that final makes my life so much easier. His tests are intense to study for. By not having to do that I can focus my efforts in another class where I am teetering on the "A" or "B" fence.

I took another final this morning in poly sci. I loved that class and am sad that it is ending. I was really frustrated with the final because I completely for the methods used by pollsters to ensure that the polling results are accurate. I am so bugged that I won’t even look up the answers because I don't want to dwell on it. I will just wait until I get my grade and then see how bad I biffed it. All I need to do is maintain my "A." So send 90% thought my way!

my new adventure

About six weeks ago I received a very pretty cherry red legal sized envelope in the mail. It stated that the University of New Mexico was happy to re-admit me as a student for the Fall 2009 semester.

Since then I have been spending a lot of time getting the financial aid ready, talking with an advisor on campus, finding someone to watch Katie (thanks Stephanie), convincing work that I would not be available to work very much, and figuring out where to park (thanks Bishop Schaap!!). And I must not forget to mention all the time I spent registering, buying books, and my school supplies (that part was fun).

My new adventure starts Monday.

I am excited. I have always wanted to finish school, but often our circumstances made it very difficult. This time we are not going to let circumstances stop us. I. am. going. to. school. I. will. finish.

Financial aid will be my friend. Pell grants will be my best friend. It might have to pay our bills. We will make it work.

It will take me three years. Sadly they are not accepting to many of my Ricks credits. But it is only three years. It could be four, or five. It could be worse.

After all the struggles and stress I will become a high school teacher. I will be home with my kids during the summer and winter breaks. Home after school and available weekends to participate in their soccer, golf, baseball activities. Brandon won't have to work two jobs to make ends meet. Our family life will be better.

Only three years. I can do it. I am looking forward to it. Go LOBOS!

the FIRST day of school

Today is the day. It finally came. The first day of school. Not that I didn't enjoy my kids being home for the summer, but it was getting harder and harder to entertain them and the fighting was getting bad. In short, they were bored.

Here they are all ready to head out the door for the bus. I have always taken them to their first day of school, but this year neither of them wanted me to take them. I was disappointed, but I guess that it is good that they are so independent.

Eric claimed that he was not excited to go to school. I don't really believe that, I am sure that a part of him is excited to go. He was very reluctant to get his picture taken though! Despite that isn't he a handsome kids? SO grown up! He started the 4th grade today. We met his teacher last week and she was very nice. She said that she is not that big on homework as long as the class work is finished. Eric always finishes his class work and so I am very excited to not have to much homework from him!

Josh was super excited to be in the 1st grade. He is just too cute! He was very anxious to get out the door and onto the bus. He was the one pushing to go by themselves. We met his teacher last week and she seems very nice and very patient. That is a good thing for Josh. They will get along well.

So it is just me and Katie chillin' at home, at least until next week. That is when we make a big change around here. More to come on that later.

The next step

It has happened, the day J has been waiting for. The first day of kindergarten. I know that he was thinking that this day would never come. Especially because all the other kids started back on Tuesday. It was killing him to have his brother go off each morning while he was stuck here with me.

He was more confident then I thought he would be. He needed a little guidance getting to the playground. He found his teacher who told him where to put his bag. He put his bag down and went and played. All the while I am standing back watching. When the bell rang he ran to where they line up and in to the classroom he went. No goodbye, no hug, and of course no kiss goodbye. Now, I am glad that he has the confidence to go like that, but I needed to say goodbye to him! I had to go find him in his classroom to give him a hug and kiss and wish him a good first day of school. Then I left. At least he let me give him a hug and kiss. Eric will not let me kiss him, and barely lets me hug him. On his first day of school I could tell that he was embarrassed that I walked him to his classroom. He has been doing okay this week. I think that he wasn't ready to jump into the work part of school yet. But he is doing well.

Now today will be different for me. Just Kate and I. But I have the day planned. We are going to be busy and have fun. For next week to work I go.

J was already for me to take his picture this morning while I had to coax a smile out of Eric.