It Gets Better...

I recognize that not a lot of people read this blog but I had to share this with however few people do read this, because I'm ready to start making a difference, however small it may be.

I don't like to push my opinion onto other people,

 but reality is that this is not just "my opinion" anymore. 

This is happening, things are changing and we need to change too.

 It's time that every LDS member emulates our ultimate example. 

It is not our place to pass judgement but rather to love and embrace everyone as our Savior would.

"Please watch. Please share. And welcome to the Mormon twenty-first century." -Joanna Brooks, RD magazine.

It gets better...but only if we help. 

I am ready to help. 

And I hope someday you will be ready too.

Devin and I went to Arizona to see Keeg, Linds, Asher, and Ruby. We had a lot of fun playing with the kids in the day and playing games at night. I love love love this family!

Don't be fooled by that chub, she is actually chubbier in real life.

Mariners vs. Giants baseball game 

Asher cheering. He was so cute!

The Little Reasons

Today I commented to one of my 1st graders how we were wearing the same color of nail polish. She got a huge smile and told me that she had noticed my nail polish the day before and asked her mom to paint hers the same color. I love love love my job for little reasons like this.

Favorite Things

Charging 1 cent for a mini marshmellows

My students' art

Class pets

Harry Potter Halloween

Reindeer unmentionables

Letters from students: "I love school because my techer teches me my techer is cyoet (cute)."

Making students write apology notes for not being a good friend.

"I am sore that I saib that you haed told you that you haed a mohoc. I am rele sore. I whont do that agen."

2011

Hawaii

St. George

Lake Powell 

Snowbird

AF Canyon

Newport Beach

Black Hole 

Milcreek Canyon

Zions

We had an amazing year. I'd say the most memorable things were Hawaii, graduation, starting law school/teaching, celebrating 2 years of happiness...and Harry Potter 7 of course. 

We have been so blessed and are exciting for the new year and all it will bring.

Elfie Strikes Again...

He Decorated our Christmas tree

Had a snowball fight

Celebrated our good behavior!

And read some good books

Can't wait to see what he's up to tomorrow! 

Also...want to make your life a dream come true the week before Christmas? 

Let me introduce The Grinch versus Santa Claus. Santa sent Elfie with presents for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If the class is great, Santa gets a point. If the class isn't so great, Grinch gets a point throughout the day. If the Grinch wins at the end of the day...he steals our Christmas gift. BUT if Santa wins, we get to open the present! They have been SOOOO good this week! A small blessing for having to even be teaching this week!

The Delivery

Today my students and I walked into class and there was a mysterious present under our christmas tree. None of us know how it got there. 

We decided Santa must have brought it through our classroom chimney. 

We found this letter inside the present...

So we opened it up and look what we found....

We named him right away. 

And then we worked hard and followed the rules all day so Elfie could report good things back to Santa.

Rumor has it that tomorrow Elfie will leave prize tickets on everyones desk for nice behavior.

I heard he also leaves notes for nice children...

You better watch out. Elfie is always watching!!!!