Trick or Treat

Just so that I remember next year, I'm putting it down here.  We only had 2 teenage girls come trick-or-treating.  We didn't need the 3 bags of candy that we bought. 

Jinxed

We went to Stake Conference at the Columbia Village building.  We've been going there for years, and the past 6 or 7 sessions have been marred by a bad video feed.  It's not just jumpy.  Sometimes there would be no video for 20 minutes.  There were always technical difficulties, but it's closer than the Stake Center, and newer, so we just put up with it.  This time they decided to do two live sessions.  The talks and choir numbers would be exactly the same, but they would do one in the morning at the Columbia Village building, and then another in the afternoon.  We were sitting in the cultural hall and when they started, we couldn't hear very well.  Soon there were five men trying to get the speakers turned on in the back, but they never could figure it out, or maybe they were broken.  After straining to hear for about 20 minutes, we went into the Relief Society room to listen from there.  It was a little rowdy since the room is used by families with little kids, but you could hear over the kid noise.  There were several good talks.  I loved Annie's talk on obedience.  I'll have to ask her for a copy of it.  So conference was good, but the Columbia Village building is jinxed.

Girl's Get-Together

It was Santanna's bridal shower today.  We were extra excited because my mom, my sisters, and my sister-in-law were all going to be there.  My family could probably count on one hand the occasions when we're all together, so for the five of us, it was a big occasion. 

I drove Mom and Fredee there.  None of us can find our way around Nampa, but I had good instructions from Nan.  I thought I'd be picking Fredee up from Andrea's house, so when she met us at Mom's house, I had to get new instructions from Terry and Google maps, so I could find my way from a different direction.  Terry went over and over it with me.  I had everything memorized, and two maps.  The minute I got off the freeway at the second exit, I was lost.  I was told to get off at the second exit, but that was a mistake.  I had memorized the way from the third exit.  All of us were turned around in no time.  Fredee was checking out where the sun was so we could figure out what direction we were going.  We made it, but good thing it was kind of an open house shower, because we were and hour late.  Kim showed up 2 hours late.  She got lost too.  They had just finished.

Even though the shower was a brunch, we decided to celebrate the fact that we all made it by going to lunch.  I don't know the name of the place, but it was a French restaurant, in a little house, close to the old downtown.  It was very good.  I had the best ham and cheese sandwich on toasted cinnamon raisin bread, and a salad with the best house dressing, a very spicy basal vinegarette.  Everybody had good stuff. 

Afterward, Nan, Mom, Fredee and I decided to go visit Andrea and give her a report on the shower.  Fredee and I were following Nan, but followed the wrong car.  We were once again turned around and heading the wrong direction.  Thank goodness Nan called Fredee in time.  We circled around and found our way back to the restaurant.  Then we had to be led out of town.  I use to think if I just studied a good map of Nampa, I would get the hang of it.  Now I know that's not true. 

Poor Andrea wasn't a lot of fun because she couldn't laugh.  We didn't have anything too hilarious to report though.  We tried to just stick to the facts.  It was a great girls get-together.

 

Report Cards

Elementary teachers dread report card time.  More specifically, report card comments.  Our electronic gradebook is set-up with secondary teachers in mind.  It's not at all efficient for the elementary teacher.  Comments are to be individualized and data driven.  It often feels like a big creative writing assignment.  The first quarter grades require the most thought and effort.  The students have an early release on the last day of the quarter so that we have time to work on report cards, but that only amounts to an extra 2 hours.  I think I average between 12-18 hours on report cards.  A lot of teachers don't like report cards.  A lot of students don't like report cards.  The great students like report cards, and they don't need them.  This year I got a tip from another teacher on a little program that helps you with comments. 

On the last day of the quarter, I not only figured out the new program, but I was also able to get all my comments done in about 3 1/2  hours.  Next quarter I think I can cut that time down even more.  It was a pretty exciting day.  This is the first time ever that I wasn't working on comments all weekend.  I was able to celebrate by going to the Monster Mash Dance.

Monster Mash

The first sixth grade fundraiser of the year for EFT is the Monster Mash Dance.  Those who want to help have to commit to giving up 3 lunch recesses to make posters and decorations.  They also have to donate sodas or bottled water, and work a shift at the dance.  It's a family affair and everyone comes in costume.  We found the perfect DJ, had a photographer taking pictures for 50 cents, and sold 50 Domino's pizzas by the slice.  Keva Juice came and sold smoothies, and we had over 300 bake good items donated to sell.  The sixth graders didn't want to give up their work stations.  Those selling baked goods were really smooth sales people.  The clean up crew was amazing.  The big boys that really aren't into class work, definitely are into hauling tables and putting them on racks.  They vacuumed, put away chairs, took apart the stage, hauled cartloads of stuff, and didn't quit until every speck of straw gone, and the gym floor sparkled.  We had a big crowd all night, and they had a lot of fun.  The PE teacher had been teaching all the sixth graders the choreography to "Thriller".  We closed the dance with the whole floor moving in unison.  The best costume award went to a sixth grade boy that dressed up like his teacher, Mrs. McDaniel.  She wears a lot of bling.  In the end, almost all of the sixth graders earned $39 toward their EFT costs.  Not bad.  Quite a thrill actually.

A Quick Drop By

My sister Fredee dropped by this evening.  She had her cute, cute, grandkids with her and she didn't stay long.  She's a lot like my dad; a little hyper.  They never stay long when they come to visit.  Fredee didn't even sit down, but she did visit a bit.  She's in town to take care of her grandkids and Andrea.  She was delivering apples from the fruit stands down in Perry.  Good things can come from emergency surgeries.  She'll be here for about a week and we'll have more chances to talk.  When she leaves, I think Marice will be up to play nurse for a while.  I'm hoping Andrea has a full, but not real speedy recovery.  

Old Crows

I taught the RS lesson today.  It was on a conference address by Boyd K. Packer called Counsel to Youth.  It was a great talk, very hopeful.  I just wasn't teaching any youth.  The talk will be remembered by the Old Crow poem that he recited.  I guess the women in RS fit into the old crow category.  Here's the poem:

The old crow is getting slow.
The young crow is not.
Of what the young crow does not know 
The old crow knows a lot.


At knowing things the old crow
Is still the young crow's master.
What does the slow old crow not know?
--How to go faster.


The young crow flies above, below,
And rings around the slow old crow.
What does the fast young crow not know?
--Where to go.

BSU vs. Air Force

I wasn't at the game, but I was outside to see the four F10s from Mountain Home fly over the stadium.  It sounded and looked impressive.  This game was the first one that had us a little nervous.  They didn't have Air Force figured out.  We won the game, but they won our respect. 

Scary Mess and Liars

Mom and Dad weren't at the hockey game because they were taking care of Andrea, who was in a mess.  Her husband was in Seattle, the kids had gotten themselves off to school with snarly hair, and Andrea thought she was passing a kidney stone.  Thank goodness her Grandpa took charge.  They picked her up and took her to the emergency room, dropped Uncle Tad's name so that she got gold star treatment, and then stayed with her (without eating) for what ended up being a 14 hour ordeal that ended in emergency surgery.  It wasn't a kidney stone.  She wasn't fine.  Her husband made it to Boise right before they wheeled her into what the doctor described as a terrible, terrible surgery. 

The rest of the family enjoyed the evening at the hockey game.  You'd think we'd communicate better in this age of texting.  You'd think that Mom and Dad would ask for reinforcements, or at least have one of us bring them something to eat.  You'd think we could get updates.  Not this family.  I went to see Andrea this morning and she just kept saying "I'm good", while pressing the pain medication button.  Her sister in Denver and an aunt in Utah had already sent flowers.  Her supporting loved ones that watched the hockey game, five blocks away, while she was in surgery, didn't even know what was going on. 

Andrea was a bit out of it this morning, but she was worried about her grandparents.  I went to see them next.  They said they were fine.  They said they didn't even think about being hungry, or tired, or without medicines, or oxygen.  So many people in my family don't communicate...and they lie.

BYU vs. BSU - Hockey

Terry did not have fun.  He was cold.

My nephew is a freshman at BYU and is on their hockey team.  Who even knew they had a hockey team?
All the fam made arrangements to watch their games against BSU.  Who knew they had a hockey team?  Terr and I met Nan and Jim, and all Tate's family and friends at the game.  We asked where Grandpa and Grandma were, but that's a whole other story.  For this post, I'll just stick to hockey.

I don't really get hockey, but it amazes me.  I love to see all the guys gliding around on the ice.  It's impressive.  Then there's the little puck that they're all chasing and trying to control.  It seems too small.  Anyway, I like to watch it.  Tate wasn't a starter, but he was in a lot of the game.  We even got to see him get sent to the penalty box.  He didn't deserve it, but he ran into, or over, some guy and it looked bad.  I think it was legal though.

Tate's in the middle of this fuzzy pic.

BYU lost, but they played a better game.  They were ahead right up to the end, when they weren't ahead any more.

Kim and Tad hosted the whole team, about 25 of them, to a spaghetti dinner at their house the next day.  They had another game on Saturday night, and more of the family went, but we stayed home.  There was a BSU football game against Nevada that afternoon.  I just couldn't fit anymore sports into the weekend.  BYU lost again, only this time it was a solid loss.  Tate's mom said the BSU crowd was mean and rowdy the second night, so I'm glad I missed it.

Here's the whole team.

There will be plenty more hockey games to watch.  The season runs until April I think.  Tate will take a few years off for his mission, but he'll probably be back to play in 2014.

I forgot to mention that I made a batch of pumpkin fudge and put it in snack size baggies for the game.  I filled my purse with fudge and handed it out to everyone.  It was a lot better than the pretzels or nachos they were selling there.

Potluck and Prose Society

Book Club was at my house last night.  We were few in number (4), and even fewer had read the book (1).  I had looked up some information on the internet, and Terry had shared with me information from when he heard the author speak once.  We had a good discussion, and it's a good book.  I'd like to get it and read it sometime. 

Fore refreshments I had tried three different recipes from Pinterest, but I'll only make one of them again.  I'd been looking forward to these peanut butter brownies with pretzels on top.  They weren't very good.  But the pumpkin fudge...was fabulous!  As soon as I polish off the first 2 pounds I made, I'm going to make some more.

OMSI

The Micron Foundation paid for all the 5th and 6th graders in Boise to attend an assembly put on by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.  We joined all the schools from southeast Boise at Capital High to watch an amazing juggler explain laws of physics.  He was pretty funny.  I don't know if anyone learned anything, but some might remember the jokes, and some might try their hand at juggling.  It was an entertaining morning.  Once in while you need some serious entertainment at school.

Too Many Pears

The cannery announced that they were selling pears and apples - cheap!  They had too many.  I sent Terry out and he came home with 71 pounds of pears.  He wasn't able to get close to the apples.  Apparently the Mormon moms weren't acting in a humble Christian way.  They were grabby, forceful, and scary.  I was glad I wasn't there, and I was happy with just pears. 

We gave away sacks and sacks of pears to friends and relatives.  They were ripe, and so sweet!  I ate about 6 a day.  I couldn't get through all 71 pounds though - too many.  Something had to be done.  Terry loves applesauce and got on line to find recipes for pear sauce.  I ended up canning 8 pints.  I'd never heard of pear sauce, but it's a yummy, healthy treat.  I wish I had taken a picture of the bottles all filled up.  They were very pretty.

The Visitors

Most of one of my favorite little families came to visit today.  Hudson chose to run errands with his other grandma, but Hadley came and let me read books to her.  Pretty little Maycee came and didn't make a peep.  We got to hold her though.  It was good to visit with Mike and Stace.  They came to pick up their mail and stayed an hour.  It was probably good for them to get out and about.  I also have to mention that Hads was wearing the hand knit sweater we gave her.  Even if we hadn't given it to her, I'd say it was mighty cute.

RS is always fun.

It was Fun Friday at Relief Society last night.  Each year they plan an evening of crafts, projects, classes, quilting, dinner, and a cookie exchange.  I didn't sign up for any of the crafts.  I didn't make cookies or eat dinner.  I didn't listen to the "how to make a pie crust" mini-lesson.  I helped tie the humanitarian quilt for a while, and sewed a couple hooded towels for someone who was sewing machine challenged, but mostly I just chatted with the sisters, and laughed, and got filled in on a little scoop.  I stayed til the bitter end and helped clean up.  I got home after 10:00, with nothing to show for it, but it was fun.

EFT Parent Meeting

EFT stands for Environmental Field Trip.  We take the sixth graders at the end of the school year.  We didn't have to think about over the summer, but as soon as school starts, we start thinking about it again.  We talk to parents about it at Open House on the first week of school.  We've been to the PTO meeting to thank them for helping with the cost, and our team has discussed it at several correlation meetings.  Last night we had our first EFT Parent Meeting.  Mike did the opening and overview.  I was in charge of putting together an exciting slide show from last year's trip, and discussing costs and fund raising. Vonnie, as always, explained rules and expectations - both for students and our parent helpers.  She can say things that nobody else could get away with, and everyone is entertained. 

We take about 30 parents with us every year.  They teach classes, lead campfire songs, help on the ropes course, and much more.  This year we must have really sold everyone on the great EFT experience because more than 54 parents have signed up to come along and a few more have e-mailed their interest.  We're probably only taking 80 students.  That's a lot of supervision.  We're not sure how we can trim down the list to be fair, and at the same time, take the parents we want, without offending some, or hurting feelings.  I don't think it can be done, but we're going to have to do something.  Stay tuned.  

Big Day

Yesterday was a big day!  Besides Maycee's arrival, I went to Nampa to have Kierra cut my hair, which I really needed.  We had a good visit too.  Also, BSU played Fresno State.  We whipped them, of course.  Terr and I went to our friend's for the game; projected on the back of a big white sign.  It should be noted that we also had take-out from Cafe Rio.  It's hard to beat that - a baby, a haircut, a win, and a favorite dinner. 

Happy Birthday!

Our brand new grandbaby came into the world at about 6:00 this morning.  She came quick.  What a good little girl.  She's named Maycee Harper and is beautiful.  Actually, she looks just like her brother and sister did when they were born - a little dark hair and a cleft chin.  I'm betting she'll lose that hair, be bald for a good year, then blond with blue eyes.

We went to visit her and Mom and Dad in the hospital.  You always forget how sweet and soothing it is to hold a newborn bundle - soft and warm.  We didn't hear much out of her, except a sneeze.  She only opened one eye.  It will be fun getting to know her.  It was a happy birthday.

Look how tiny she is! 

Inservice Days Minus One

The first Thursday and Friday in October have always been inservice days for teachers.  Growing up we always had those two days off school.  I've taught in Utah, California, and Idaho, and every state has inservices on the same Thursday and Friday.  I've been to some excellent trainings on those days, and there have been years when I can't wait to have two days in my classroom to get caught up.  

This year our principal organized a workshop just for our school.  She did most of the Thursday presentation herself, and then brought in help for the afternoon session on engaging strategies to use in lessons.  Friday was a furlough day for Boise teachers, and many other districts around the state.  There were some professional organizations that offered workshops on Friday, but I bet they weren't very well attended.  I just made the most of Thursday, and then slept in on Friday.

I did spend time that afternoon setting up Shutterfly websites with my teacher friend Pam.  We're going to ramp up the old pen pal idea and have our students work on group blogs.  We're hoping to teach writing, computer skills, and social skills.  Pam teaches in a small town a little more than 2 hours away.  The plan is for both of us to take a field trip at the end of May and meet halfway.  It's a ton of work getting everything ready, but it's going to be a great project.  The kids are excited.

Conference Weekend

All Mormons look forward to General Conference, which takes place on the first weekend of April, and the first weekend of October.  It's a chance to watch church on TV, in your pajamas if you want.  It's also a time when we can receive guidance from our prophet and church leaders.  It's always a spiritually uplifting weekend. 

This weekend there was also a BSU game.  This was an important one - Nevada.  They're the ones that beat us last year in double overtime.  This year it wasn't even a contest.  The game was during the Saturday afternoon session of conference.  We don't have the ability to record the game, so we watched it live and recorded conference on the computer.  We also tuned in during half-time.

Sunday afternoon, Bry and Amee came for dinner and watched the last session with us.  We had chicken enchilada soup, and a real good visit.