I am a Teacher

I sit with my co-workers every day for our 40 minute lunch period. We talk about a variety of subjects. Some days the conversations are interesting and I really get excited about them, and other days we just talk about normal, boring stuff. Its nice to have some adult time every day to relax and unwind a little in the middle of the day.

The other day we were talking with the intern about the upcoming parent-teacher conferences and the other teacher at the table brought up an interesting point. To give a little background, we were talking about why conferences can be scary, and that you never know what kind of a parent might walk in and tear you apart. We were saying how sometimes its just really hard to not take things personally. So, this more experienced teacher says to the intern, "When people ask you what you do for a living, you don't answer the way most other professionals do." "You say, I am a Teacher".

As teachers we don't respond that we teach children, we say we ARE teachers. That is what we ARE, not what we do. And although it may seem a matter of syntax, I just have to say that I completely agree. When a teacher goes on vacation, she is still a teacher. When she drives down the highway, she is still a teacher. When she is at the grocery store, she is still a teacher. It is something you can never stop being.

In my family, I am the one that everyone comes to when they need help with homework. I really find it quite flattering. However, the point of the conversation was that everything a teacher has goes into their profession. I am a teacher seven days a week, and I really do work on SOMETHING for teaching EVERY SINGLE DAY. Yes, even on Sundays.

And so, in this day of the declining family unit and inevitable crumble of societal structure, remember to thank your child's teacher for everything that he or she puts into their profession. Teachers aren't respected the way they once were, and it really is a sad reality. With that said, I absolutely love my job. I'm glad I chose to be in this profession. I'm also glad my husband has a good job so that my salary isn't an issue. I love to teach. I've had some very difficult situations and experiences in my career. They have taught me a lot and the ways in which I've grown since I was an intern are quite astounding. I am extremely thankful this year that I've got a wonderful class of fifth graders and wonderful parents who volunteer and support my efforts as well. Those things really make all the difference. Especially since last year was basically the year from Hell.

Apples and Peanutbutter

One of my favorite snacks is peanut butter on apples. I also eat a plain apple each day. And, I very much like peanut butter plain. Peanut butter on anything really, is quite wonderful in my book. Perhaps I would do well to go without it for a while, see if I can lose some weight that way. As you can see, my boys are picking up on my eating habits.

Confessions of a Fan

So, as most of you know, a certain movie is coming out this week. I don't know what it is exactly about all of the trailers, and photos, and blogs, and websites, and all of the other hullabaloo, but I'm just very skeptical of this movie. I guess I just really don't understand why every single book that does well has to be made into a movie. I mean, can't we just enjoy literature for what it is? Every time I want to read a good book to my students, they all say, "we've seen that movie!" Arg!

I do plan on seeing the movie, but I'm just not getting my hopes up very high. I really think that the main character is TOTALLY mis-cast. She looks mad or frightened in EVERY SINGLE SCENE and that is so not how I pictured her. In fact, the author went out of her way to tell us that she isn't afraid. Did the actress not read that part???? From what I've seen the director has also taken some humongous liberties with the script and that's plain annoying.

I suppose I'll go into it knowing that the movie and the book are two separate pieces of art and try to enjoy each for its own beauty. (or whatever word you'd use in that sentence) I also know that it is one movie I can convince Colin to take me to. He's always asking questions about the book when I'm reading them. And while he won't actually read them himself, he will take me to the movie.

So, how about the rest of you? What are your opinions? Seeing the movie? Looking forward to it?

Uncle Stuart- pictures of the boys to be posted shortly. Be patient with me, busy week!

Ordinary Days

This is going to be a jumble of thoughts, I am sure. I just wanted to post about our last week at home. It has been such a wonderful break for me. I have really enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and all of the fun activities that we've done the past few weeks. The boys have been so much fun to play with and just spend time together.

I had a huge list of things to do before I went back to work and I probably got 90% of them done so I'm feeling pretty good about that. I am so happy to be a year-round teacher and get to have breaks in the middle of the school year so I can sort of feel like a stay-at-home-mommy for a little while. For that, most of all I am grateful. I don't think I could do this whole thing if I didn't have some time off just when I needed it. Perhaps we'll survive the next two years after all.

So, here are a few of the things we've done this week. It has been busy but we survived and I got enough done at work today that I don't feel COMPLETELY unprepared for Monday.

My friend Amber's blog has the best little quote on it, and it really sums up my reflective feelings of this week; "Sometimes extraordinary things can happen on the most ordinary days".

Evan is "the power napper" as Grandpa says. He takes these cute little short naps, never longer than 45 minutes at a time during the day. Oh well, at least he sleeps well most nights. Yes, I still swaddle him, or "wrap him up" as Daddy calls it. This is E at bedtime. Always swaddle at bedtime, that's my advice. I think its wise to swaddle until a year at least. If the blanket is too small, get a larger one, and these flannel ones are PERFECT!
We had a couple of extras with us on Wednesday. I've been helping out a friend in my ward who is short a sitter. Her little girls are just super cute and it was nice to have some extra playmates, but I'm glad I don't do it every day! Don't know how Tonya does it!

We had many a meal, and many a mess. Evan eats like a bottomless pit most days and he is sometimes a little messy. This day I took some photos to prove it. I think this is squash which isn't his favorite and may explain why more of it is on his clothing than in his mouth.

Yes we voted, yes I took both kids with me, and afterward we went to the post office which was, should have known, worse than voting! But we survived and paid the rent in addition in less than one hour, for which I was very proud.

Sorry about the missing shirt, but he took it off because it was dirty or something. Anyway, we are sitting down for lunch and Ryan starts singing "Ba Ba Black Sheep". He learned this in preschool and sang it perfectly. So I asked him if he would sing it for the camera and he was luckily willing to do that. He doesn't sing very loudly but it is perfect so you'll have to turn up your volume and listen closely.
Way to go Ryan!

Oh, and here's the afterthought.... I was trying really hard to remember all of the cute things that Ryan says when I posted last and of course I left some out so here they are:
Newtah= Utah (my cousin used to call it Mytah)
got forgot= forgot
Next Jordan= West Jordan

He's been really funny about our recent snow too. I guess my bad attitude toward it is rubbing off on him, although I thought I was keeping it to myself.
Anyway, we were driving the day it snowed and he said, "Mommy, why is there snow everywhere?". I said, "Because it's winter now Ryan".
"Well, I want it sunny back."
"Me too Ry Ry".

The next day the clouds had broken through and you could see the mountains. While we were driving this was our conversation.
Mommy- Hey Ry, what happened to the mountains?
Ryan- They're all clean. Why are they all clean?
Mommy- It's snow Ryan.
Ryan- Oh, yeah, SNOW!
Ryan- But why is there snow? Where is the Sun? I can see the sky is sunny but I want it all the way sunny back!

His exact words, I promise you.

latest ryanisms

Ryan wearing vampire teeth.

It's always a crack-up to listen to what Ryan has to say. He is constantly coming up with new and funny things to say and do. I think most that know him would agree. I often say that he's three with a vocabulary of a ten year old. He picks up everything. Here are a few of his latest.

ladies and jellovins= ladies and gentlemen

nem in nems= m&ms
trick or treat smell my feet give me good to eat= give me something good to eat
what about that? = what do you think about that? how about that?
shoo we?= should we?
night bugs= plaque (when talking about brushing his teeth in the morning)
your mom= grandma
your dad= grandpa
daddy's friends= Colin's co-workers
isolation= time-out
I'm so confused! = when he's confused
I just told you= when he's feeling not listened to
You freakin' butt= he says this when he's trying to be really funny and we have no idea where that one came from!
school work= Mommy's job
meaners= mean


Here are two funny things he did recently.

1. He gets really bored during the day when I'm off track so he likes to go over to our neighbors house and play with their toys. I was nursing Evan and he kept asking me if he could go over there. I told him "no" because I didn't want him bugging them. He was getting so frustrated by me telling him what he didn't want to hear. He told me, "Mom, say yes when I ask you if I can go over there". Then he would ask me again and I would say no. Finally he just walked out of the apartment and went over there. The neighbor asked him if I said he could come over and he said to her, "She said no, but that means yes". HA! What a little terd.

2. He was over at "my dads" aka Grandpa's house and grandpa was asking him if he needed to use the potty. He said, "I already went". Grandpa asked, "When?" and Ryan responded, "when the wind blows". I think he heard this at Tonya's house because I don't use that phrase very often but I think he meant something like whenever it happens it happens.

I am really amazed at how smart he is. What three-year-old totally understands the relationships in a family, enough to call grandpa and grandma "your mom and dad"? Maybe I'm just biased.
Lately his favorite song is "Do as I'm doing" and he sings it all day long. It has been beneficial in getting him to do his chores or tasks around the house. The other day I was singing, "Brush as I'm brushing, follow follow me".
I tell you this kid can keep me entertained for days! I sure will miss him when I go back to work. We just love him!