Hope your Christmas is wonderful!

Michelle

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Memories in Black and White

Although these pictures are not pictures of my memories, they must have been very important to take pictures of, especially before the days of digital cameras, or even cheap 35 mm. My dad's mom lent this book to my mom and she asked Jason to scan some pictures in. Every time I look at the album, I find new things.

(my Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma, Lawrence & Zella Sessions)

This is my heritage, my history. 

(My Great-Grandma, Zella Sessions)

Pictures of many people I don't know, 
and some who I know and love. 

(My Grandpa, Dean (left), and my Great-Grandma, Zella. I did not know my grandpa loved photography)

Some I've heard stories about, 
others I have now asked about. 

(Look at all of these happy faces, and awesome swimwear)

They look so young, 
younger than I've ever known them. 

(My Grandpa Dean and Grandma Anna Sessions a.k.a. Ann)

They make me proud. 

(My Grandpa Sessions)

(My Grandma Sessions)

I'm proud of my heritage.

(The family store in Clearfield, Utah)

Michelle

Thursday dance outfits

I have decided to let Jenna somewhat pick out her outfits for dance. The last time I did it was so much fun. She even let me take these pics with my phone. Of course she had to pose and then approve them.

Michelle

Merry "Fish"mas!

Thanks mom for the cute idea for my outside bulletin board!
Thanks Jason for digitally drawing the Santa Hats!
Thanks Silhouette machine for cutting so smoothly!

Michelle

T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L

Jenna has been working very hard on her Thankful book in school. Today she finally brought it home.

I'm Thankful for Tai. He is sweet.

(Tai is Jenna's baby cousin. She gets to play with him almost everyday)

I'm thankful for hugs because they're cool.

(But of course they're cool)

I'm thankful for air. It is important.

(Why yes, it is important.)

I'm thankful for Nickolas he is fun!

(I'm guessing this is Saint Nicholas, and not some boy she likes)

I'm thankful for kissing.

(I'm hoping she means that her mom and dad give her kisses, can you see the lips on this one?)

I'm thankful for Francis.

(I think this one is self-explanatory)

I'm thankful for unicorns.

(Aren't we all?)

I'm thankful for love.

(How true this is)

I can't say I could add much more to her thankful list. She did a great job. As a proud mom/first grade teacher, I must tell you to check out her beautiful handwriting.

Michelle

What to do with a skinny little girl

Jenna has recently gone through a growth spurt. So, while she has grown a couple of inches, her waist has stayed the same. This summer she was still able to wear capri's that she wore when she was 2. Up to this recent growth spurt, the adjustable waist pants were fitting ok. Well, now with her new growth, the adjustable pants for her height are still too big around the waist. My poor child walked around in floods for 2 weeks while I figured out what to do.

Last year I discovered that American Eagle had a children's line, it's called 77 Kids. While there are no stores for the children's line near by, there is the online store. I refuse to pay full price, especially at a store where I feel full price is too high. ($30 for jeans for a 6 year old is too much in my eyes.) So, I've ordered some clearance stuff here and there for Jenna, but since she has been able to fit in some regular clothes, I haven't ordered a ton. Well, her recent growth spurt changed that.

I found that the slim pants will stay up on her. I ordered her 2 pairs of pants that were on clearance (and then I used a 40% off coupon as well). They both fit pretty great. I had also found 2 pairs of levi's in the clearance in the next size up. Along with that, the long sleeve shirts have long enough sleeves and are long. Did I mention how cute the clothes are?

Well, I ordered some more pants for her and a really cute puffer jacket for Christmas. Hopefully she won't go through another growth spurt before the winter is over.


Michelle

Wordless Weds...stolen from Evonne

For those of you who don't know who these men are...watch Fox on Wednesday nights. Thanks Jen for the pic

Michelle

So Excited

There is something I've always known I wanted to do. Ever since I was in 3rd grade, Mrs. Godfrey's class and wrote my first "play".

Since that time, I've known I wanted to be a writer. In 4th or 5th grade, I won an award for writing a poem about an ant. I continued to write through junior high and my goal was to be the yearbook editor. Ironically when high school came, I didn't want to be a part of the year book. Instead, my senior year, I wrote for the school newspaper and was soon picked up as a sports and features editor. I also joined the school's debate team. For those of you who know me, it comes as no surprise that I rocked at student congress.

When I got to college, I put my writing on the back burner, to become a "business woman" who would break through the so-called glass ceiling. I even thought about international business. What grand dreams. Well, I managed to land a scholarship on the school's Forensic's Team. Now, for those of you who don't know...I'm not talking CSI, this is forensics, as in being able to prove things through speech. Needless to say, while my intentions were good, I was never very good at the college level. I tend to blame it on the trauma I went through during that first year of college: my best friend was killed in an accident, I had major knee surgery that included cutting and screwing a bone together, followed by a second surgery to tear the scar tissue (in between the 2 surgeries were months of agony while the physical therapist tried to tear the scar tissue without surgery)....

But, the Forensic's team made me realize how much I loved communications as that's where the public speaking classes were. I soon found myself writing again as part of my degree, this time for the college newspaper. I wrote feature articles for the WSU Signpost for 2 semesters. Some of you may have been interviewed by me.

Well, that was in 2002-2003 and it has been 5 years since I've done much journalistic writing. I've been busy, but have really missed it. So, when one of my favorite scrapbooking sites, Scrapjazz, was looking for some new writers, I jumped on the chance. Yes, life is crazy busy, but I think that this will be a great outlet for me. I'm tired of writing academic papers and want to be able to have a little personality.

It will probably be a couple months before you see anything from me, as you write in advance, but I am so excited to be a member of such a great group of writers/contributors. My articles will be on Scrapjazz and also Scrapbook.com.

And the best part....I'm paid in scrapbook supplies!

Michelle

Dancing Diva

Jenna loves to dance. So, when soccer was over, we promised her we would sign her up for dance. Lucky us, one of the most awesome little girl dance teachers and someone I've gotten to know over the past 5 years, had spots available! Jenna was so excited that she got to be in Nicolette's class.  Not only that, but she's not required to wear a dance uniform, like her other studio did. This leads me to this...

Sorry about the blurriness, I told her I just wanted it for my phone. She seriously said, "mom, you won't email this? And you won't put it on Facebook." If you can't tell, she has bright pink leggins' underneath. It's quite a cute outfit actually.

I picked her up from dance today and here's how it went:

Me: What did you do in dance today?
Her: Danced
Me: Oh, well like what kind?
Her: different kinds of dance
Me: Ok, well, did you do tumbling
Her: Yes
Me: What did you do in tumbling?
Her: tumbled

I see my future with her as a teenager coming too soon.

Michelle

I admit it...I'm a Gleek

Only other Gleeks will understand the trauma I have gone through the last 2 weeks while this so-called National past time called baseball World Series takes over my air waves. I found myself getting a migraine last weekend, and I'm pretty sure I can nail it down to Glee withdrawal. I am now wondering if the Swine Flu outbreak in my classroom coincides to when this ironically funny tv show was taken (and I mean TAKEN) off the air. I am now waiting not-so-patiently for the new episode to show up on www.Hulu.com so I can watch it.

I do have to admit a few things here: I know their voices are way over "synthesized" while they are singing, I also know unless you are my friend Erin from the great state of TX - no class is like that in real life. I also can tell you what definitely addicted me was Mark Salling's (Puck's) performance of "Sweet Caroline". That is what made me feel the overwhelming need to take my lunch to run to the store to buy the soundtrack. It's not even a full version of the song...but man oh man, what small things can make me happy.

In between SEP's (Parent/Teacher Conferences), I have been shamefully listening to songs I don't think I would've ever listened to before, but when Matthew Morrison (aka Will) sings "Bust-A-Move", it makes me smile and laugh and forget about the long day I'm having. Lately I have really been grooving to Kevin McHale's (aka Artie) "Dancing With Myself".

Yes, Lea Michele - aka Rachel Berry, still drives me nuts, most of the girls in the group still do. Thankfully, the guys on the show make up for it. I haven't had great TV eye candy since Noah Wyle left ER.

I guess it all comes down to the fact that I can now embrace my nerdy/geekiness and proclaim my love for musicals, all while feeling cool.

If that's not enough of an endorsement for you, Jason likes it - it's on his Hulu queue. He doesn't even like musicals or any of the music the sing, but he finds it quite entertaining.

So tell me,

Are you a Gleek, too?

Halloween

wait, we had Halloween? I didn't even post any pics from Halloween? Jenna was so adorable (as she always is). She was SilverMist from Tinkerbell. I didn't one a re-do of the last few Halloweens, where it's a nightmare for her to decide what she wants to be, so I called her from Walmart. The question was simple, which fairy do you want to be for Halloween. She told me the water one with the blue hair, so that's what I got. No tears, no fighting, no arguing over what she could get. On Halloween day, my mom told Jenna that she had some blue hair spray if she'd like to use it, of course Jenna was so excited. I was a little nervous, remembering our last outing with hair color - long story short, her hair was pink for 8 months. Thankfully, the blue washed out in time for church the next day.

Jenna was also bugging me to get a costume, so, on Halloween day, I went back to Walmart and instead of picking out a costume for me, I picked one out for Shaggy. Funny thing, he had it on for a few hours and never once acted like he cared.

As for the other characters in this picture: there's Princess Ariel, aka Alia.

Monkey, aka Tai

Landon (I can't remember who he was)

and a "Buck-an-ear" - inventive Brother-in-law, Jared

19 is close to 20...right?

I'm not going to put off the drawing until finding a 20th follower. I have found finding 19 is hard enough. I know you all have been dying to be chosen, right? Yeah, I thought so.

Now, before I announce the winner, let me tell you what they win....drumroll please...
your choice of scrapbook stuff or some glitter flower hair barrettes
and the best part, your very own autographed picture of Jenna

I know anyone would be excited for that, who wouldn't be? After all, getting anything free is always great.

So, without further ado, I put numbers 1-19 into the randomizer at random.com (I was going to have Jenna draw a name and record while she does it, but she's asleep and I'm not going to wake her up). I'm looking at my followers from left to right and numbered them. The number than came up was 1. I promise that it is honestly the number that came up.

Misty Choate, you are the grand prize winner.

Long few weeks

a Class of 18 first graders is enough to drive an adult to the insanity department...but I've have made it out of week 5 of school. They are growing on me, and I truly love all their individual spirits, even if that means I am called fat by a little girl who asks if I have a baby in my tummy...you can guess what that shirt I was wearing went.

I have decided, after talking to other teachers, that Jenna is the smartest 6-year old around. she enjoyed a great night with one of my friends and a former student. Jenna was completely nervous at first but from what I hear, she was bouncing off the walls most of the night. I think it's awesome that Shaylin likes to babysit because she is great at it. I'm hoping that plans will work out for the next plays. The one we went to tonight, "A Chorus Line" is definitely a miss - there was too much going on and nothing was ever ended.

This week I've got a class presentation of graphic organizers, only should take 15 mins, so I'm slacking on getting it done. I also have an all-day class I need to attend, then the day I need to make sure all my substitute stuff is ready for the week I still am hoping and praying on getting through.

Alia needs prayers and love of them right now. less than 8 weeks before her Make-A-wish and she's having surgery. Things are coming down to the wire for her make-a-wish, a little over a week away (just barely) - we really need all the prayers and good thoughts for Alia, her family, and her dr's

I also have on thursday a social studies text review of the core curriculum. That just needs to be typed:

p.s. 2 more spaces for followers, if you recruit a follower and let me know, they will be entered and you will be entered twice. (if you left me know)

The best reason to have a blog

I have spent the last 2 hours pouring over my blog posts from the past 3 years. I can say that my blog was pretty boring in the beginning...no pics? Come on now. What I really love is that I now have so much journaling for my scrapbooking for when I get around to it. I was reading and didn't remember half of the things we did and most of the silly things Jenna said. I also think it's so funny that I stressed out about Jenna going into Sunbeams at church, and now she's 6 1/2! So weird. She's grown so much in that time. Her face has gone from a round toddler-ish look to full-on child. I've also noticed how much I've grown. Lots of trials and lots of happy days. Some deep thoughts and some pretty goofy stuff. I could add at least 5 things to my list of 150 that I was tagged to do 2 years ago.

Work has been so much fun. I love the team I work with and the faculty is so great! They are so supportive and have done so much for me. They are willing to share with me and I have grown so much as a teacher because of them. I'm in a totally different environment going from a very low-income Title 1 school to a school where parents take their 7 year-old to New York for a week to go shopping and to see a couple Broadway shows (I swear I really thought these were just exaggerations until now).

It's late/early and I've had a long, emotional day so I'm going to sign off without adding any pics (sorry). But first....answer me this - why do you or don't you blog?

oh...and I saw the sunrise today and I wondered what in the world I was doing up before the sun...so not cool. I was ticked that I was up so early.

Jenna playing soccer

Am I a horrendously bad mother because I find :55 of this video so funny? Probably because she is exactly like me...that accident insurance may come in handy yet

rubber ducky derby excitement

if you ever get the chance to attend the Make-A-Wish Rubber Ducky Derby - you should totally do it. It is so overwhelming to see all the ducks in the lazy river and all the survivors. Today we got to go and be a part of the whole shin-dig. One word - awesome!

I'm going to try to upload one of my favorite video's here. I really hope it works. Just like all of you, one look at Alia and every volunteer, photog, and reporter were all asking who that amazing little girl was. I'm so proud to say that I'm her aunt. My favorite moment was caught on her family camcorder, so I don't have it...but as they were hauling all of the ducks out of the river, Alia was bending really far over the rope trying to give the ducks kisses. A volunteer asked her if she wanted to get in the big bucket with them, of course Alia said no, but she held out her arms and they filled her arms with ducks and put one of her head. She would've spent all day playing with those ducks had they let her. She was also quite upset that her mom didn't win the car - it was funny.

This video is of Alia with Waddles, the Make-A-Wish duck - she was totally dancing with him, more than we've seen her animated in a long time. Check out her oxygen cord, being pulled tight. So cute.

As for us, we had a blast being able to be there. I went down 2 waterslides with Jenna...ummmm....ouch, but she had fun. We also went into the wave pool and got hit with the waves. Jenna also got to spend some much needed time with her uncle Russell (my little bro), he's leaving for a stint in Iraq or Afghanistan tomorrow morning. One week in TX, then off he goes.

my favorite boards. It has my noise meter on it, growth chart, tooth loss chart and then on the other side has rules for listening and I'll be putting up their photo's there.
my classroom is up...and I'm exhausted. So, here are some pics from my class and then also one that my mom took of Jenna after eating icecream

The bulletin board outside my room
my reading corner, my mom was reading to Jenna
My board behind my desk, I need to add more to my fishing net



my classroom is up...and I'm exhausted. So, here are some pics from my class and then also one that my mom took of Jenna after eating icecream

yes, it is a huge classroom and I'm so excited about that. Hopefully my sanity will stay in tact after the first week.

Only 4 more followers until a winner is picked. I found some way cute stamps from Autumn Leaves (I think)

Rubber Ducky, You're the One!

Everybody sing with me now, even if you won't admit it, you know the song by Ernie. If you don't shame on you. I used to sing it at the top of my lungs with my little brother, Adam, just to annoy my dad. That and "C is for Cookie"

Anyway, lately, the whole family has been obsessed with the little plastic yellow ducks. Not just the regular bath tub ones, but all the different decorated ones. Tonight we found the Sonny and Cher look-alike duckies in the bag of ducks. Yesterday, Suzanne received a shipment of over 100 ducks! It's ducky heaven (which we also have a ducky for).

If you don't know the reason for our ducky obsession, Make-A-Wish is the answer. Every year, the Utah chapter of Make A Wish holds a Rubber Ducky Derby. This is the 21st year of the derby. Since Make A Wish has so graciously accepted Alia, my beautiful and inspirational niece, as a Wish Child, Alia and her family wanted to do something for Make-A-Wish in return.

Alia has never had a birthday party because her true b-day is in January. Not quite the conditions for a child who can have severe complications from even something as small as the common cold. The past year and a half have been really hard and she has had one of her lungs removed and had a broviac "installed" to keep her on some really strong antibiotics. Well, Alia wants a b-day party, but she has so much she wanted to sell duckies for the Make-A-Wish foundation. That is where our adventure begins.

Alia's birthday party has turned into an actual media event! A newspaper reporter from the Standard Examiner has called and asked questions. They will have a short write-up announcing the fundraising going on at the party, announcing Alia's own website for "selling" her duckies. Then, they will also be there on the day to take pics and do a full write-up for the newspaper. How cool is that?

Anyway, if you would like to sponsor a duck in Alia's honor, her website is www.ducks4Alia.com

those of you outside of Utah, we know the top half, donor half, will not let you change your state from Utah - I was explained the reason, but don't remember the whole reason why...but the billing information will let you put in your state and billing will work perfectly.

Party planning has just gotten more interesting. Last week I did an quick photo shoot of Alia with about a dozen rubber duckies so we could get her invites sent out. We also did an event posting on Facebook. They've had such a great response to sponsor her duckies. She's already sold over 20 at $5 each. Her goal is to sell 100 - I'm hoping for a lot more.

Alia has had a lot of input into what she wants, her list includes: duck pond where you use a fishing net to catch ducks in a swimming pool, a bouncy house, and since she's into Monster's Inc right now, she wanted bowling with Mike W. as the ball and Randall on the pins. Jared (Alia's dad) painted some awesome eyeballs onto some green playground balls. My mom made a bean bag toss where she painted a duck. Seriously, this is a major b-day party.

There will also be popcorn, shaved ice and cotton candy for treats. Robby and Crystal have been working with a rental company to get the stuff for a really great price. Charlotte has been helping get games together....see it's a big family effort. We even had my aunt, Judy, write a poem that we used on the invites.

I am so thankful for such a supportive and giving family. It has been a great opportunity to teach Jenna about giving. Today Jenna asked if how she could earn $5 to buy a ducky. I also got the opportunity to go to the Make-A-Wish office and you could just tell dreams really did come true there. So cool.

What happens when...

You use a laptop for your main computer?

-You lose your camera cord and then you lose the card reader you bought for the camera because you lost the camera cord. But then you find the camera cord, but then you misplace it again because the computer can come to any room you want. I don't think Jason would like me to buy another card reader...guess I'll have to clean

So, yes I have some great pics to share with you guys from the rodeo, my field trip to Gilgal Gardens and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Oh and my car's trip to see my cousin, the mechanic, when it decided to stop blowing cold air home from said field trips.

So, some quick updates....

1-School officially starts in less than 2 weeks. Pray for my sanity with a classroom full of first graders

2-Jenna will be in 1st grade - so crazy. It seems just like yesterday...

3-Alia is getting her Make-A-Wish, which is officially to see the whales, but will include all that Orlando has to offer.

4-I still need 10 more followers. At the end of Aug, I'll do a drawing for those who are there and will send you something nice because I'm nice like that

5-I got 2 of my summer grades, both of which were A's - go me! I have one grade left to find out about.

and last, an observation if you please

6-when swatting at a pesky mosquito, one must take into account how long one's fingernails have grown and also how tired one is. If this swatting action is not thought out, one's nail may get caught in the hole of one's nose when the mosquito flies close to it...causing one's nail to hurt one's nose. Now...this is not speaking from experience - of course

I need more followers

yes, I need to feel the love :)

As of right now I have 9 followers and I love each of you dearly and appreciate that you actually want to follow my blog.

Well, I've decided I want more followers, so I've decided that once I get to 20 followers, I will do a little drawing aka blog candy. Yes, I will send it to wherever you are - aka England, Singapore, Costa Rica, Canada, and of course the US. I haven't decided what the prize will be. I might even give you a couple of choices since I know that not all of you like the same things.

Hmmmm...I wonder how much it would cost to ship 6 year old :) - only kidding, don't call DCFS on me just yet.

My guess is it may be:

-scrapbook stuff

-Sophie Kinsella books

-flower hair clips (probably without glitter)

or maybe a box of Pasta Roni

It's really just getting pathetic and sad.

You know the friend that everyone says shaking their head laughing, "only you could have something like that happen, only you"? Well, I have decided, I am that friend.

Yesterday I decided to make a couple hair clips with flowers on them. I had pulled my hair back in a ponytail, using lots of hair glue so it would hold and I needed a big flower to put on the side of the ponytail. I must say, my end result looks pretty cute

Anyway, I used the hot glue gun, no burns! Score one for me. Put in the eyelets, didn't gouge my finger - 2 points Michelle, no points hair clips. I decided to spray some glitter on the hot pink one (lower left). I have 2 types of spray glitter, one I keep in my bathroom to spray in Jenna's hair - it washes out. And then I have the second type that I usually spray the flowers with, it's an actual spray paint. We were leaving soon and I know the second spray takes forever to dry so I decide to use Jenna's spray. We get it at Walmart for way cheap in the party aisle.

I put the flower on the floor in my bathroom and push the button down to spray the flower, giving it that nice glittery look. I do a quick once-over spray and it looks good so I take my finger off the nozzle/button thingy. The spray keeps going! I try to tip the cap the other way to see if it will stop, nope, but I do succeed in getting the nozzle/button/cap thingy to come off. But did it stop? No!

So, I put my finger over the top of the little straw thingy sticking out, in milliseconds, my finger is freezing cold and I have to take my finger off. My finger is now cold, sticky and has a nice glittery sheen to it. Thinking quickly, I turn the tub on and put the can under the water, maybe it's just stuck. Nope, still going strong.

By this point, I have glitter on my flower, my carpet, my fingers, and now my bathtub (which is enclosed so the walls are also looking good). I try to remember when I bought this can and how much I had used, this is when I realize this can has a lot of glitter spray left. At this point, not only am I worrying about the glitter all over the bathroom, but I realize that my head is starting to feel funny, I'm getting a little high off of this spray. I also realize, this is why they say to spray in well-ventilated areas...ummm...this is the only room in the house without windows, it's in the middle of the house. I am breathing in glitter and my nose is also starting to itch.

Wait...how flammable do you suppose this stuff is? I have my flat iron and hot glue gun on. I can just see the news story now.

Using my problem solving skills that my teachers taught me in elementary school, I decide that my best solution is to get the can out of the room, but how? I can't wrap it in a towel or I'll have a glittery, sticky towel, and that conjures up memories of that joke about the mom going to the Ob/Gyn after using her daughter's towel with the glitter on it. (Although I would get a kick out of hearing that Jason had to go to the dr after using that towel)

Nope, can't do that.

Wait, I have a box I just got some scrapbook supplies in that I was planning to save because it fits 12x12 paper. I decide that I will need to sacrifice the box. I grab the box and put the can in it. The can is still spraying and I close the lid on the box as I feel high enough. I take it downstairs at which point I can tell the box bottom is leaking through. I made it out to the garbage can and throw the box in.

I now must not open that garbage can until after someone else does because I'm sure the fumes are awful in there. At least it won't smell like a mixture of dog poop, curdled milk, mildewy grass, and rotten eggs.

So, I guess I will need to add glitter spray to the object which have now attacked me.

summertime and the livin' is easy

This is the song that has been swirling through my head lately. I love Gershwin, which is kind of weird since I only have 1 Gershwin song on my iPod.

This is my first summer of being a teacher, meaning, I have about 2 1/2 months off of no "work". Sure, I've been thinking about work, looking things up for work, but I haven't had to go in to work. It's a weird feeling, but I love it.

I love being able to play with Jenna and getting to know her better. She actually gives the best advice and is so caring. She really wants others to feel loved and she hurts when someone doesn't like someone else.

I love being able to sleep in. Enough said there.

I love being able to take off to a beach for a week and not have to worry about taking off work. I've gone on (2) 1-week vacations and it has been great. I actually have a tan, something I haven't had in years.

I love watching others argue on Divorce Court..makes my life seem so easy.

I love listening to my dog breathe as he lays on the bed next to me.

I love being able to spend some time with Jason. I'm so thankful that he took this summer semester off from school.

I also love being there for big moments in Jenna's life, such as the loss of some of her teeth.

I don't know that I could ever be a full time stay-at-home mom and I salute those of you who can do that. I think that in a couple more weeks I'll be ready to get back to work...but until then, I'll continue humming some Gershwin.