Taste Test Tuesday

I've been trying to come up with ways to keep my sixth graders engaged until the end of the year.  We have a good routine going, but it gets kind of routine.  We'll be studying Greek and Roman mythology just for fun and they typically like that.  But I read something in the newspaper about a daycare that had Taste Test Tuesday where they tried different kinds of food and then wrote about it in a journal.  Food is engaging, so I stole that idea.  

We had our first one today which focused on fruit.  I showed them the fruit and some of them couldn't identify the pears!  We had red pears that they thought were apples, and bosc pears that they thought looked moldy.  We also had papaya, mango, and star fruit.  They loved it!  All but one participated and tried everything.  The star fruit and the ugly bosc pears were the big winners, and the papaya was the loser, but it was devoured along with the rest and they thought the seeds were cool - like fish eggs.  Of course a few boys tried the seeds.

We're going to try different flavored waters as an alternative to sodas, different vegetables and dressings beyond Ranch, quinoa, ethnic foods (Cinco de Mayo is on a Tuesday), and we have a parent bringing us snacks from Singapore.  We might try popcorn with different toppings.  I need to come up with some other ideas.  I'll ask for help from parents. One of them was telling me about bread sticks made out of cauliflower.  That's another idea - sneaky foods.  I'm sure we can come up with healthy and interesting things for the next eight weeks. Anything to keep them engaged!

Weigh-Out

I just finished my second Meltdown Challenge.  Besides checking in each day and earning points for drinking water, getting some activity, sleeping 7+ hours, reading helpful tips or watching motivating videos, talking to my health coach, and posting comments, I was suppose to lose 3% of my body weight in four weeks.  I lost 5.6%.  I was shooting for 6% and could have done it if it weren't for Spring Break.  I had several lunches and dinners out, plus some treats.  I didn't lose even a tenth of a pound, but I figure maintaining was a big win.

Here I am, happy to weigh out a winner.

I'll be starting my third challenge on April 1st.  I have two or three more months to make my goal weight, and then I'm going to take my time transitioning and maintaining my weight. These challenges really help me stay focused and motivated.  

One Weekend Left

Just two days left until we all start back to school.  It's been relaxing, enjoyable, and beautiful.

Saturday - slept in and read books in bed.  I finished my third book this week.  I've started two more.  I wish I was a person that kept my Good Reads account current.  I never think I can write a review.  I should at least give the books I read a star rating.  I have a couple friends on Good Reads and I love reading their reviews.  I always want recommendations, but I'm not insightful enough to write a good review.

Terry and I went for a walk around the neighborhood.  I definitely need to start a new exercise and walking routine on Monday.  I was going to walk or workout all during spring break, but we ended up with just a couple walks.  I have more weight to lose and I'm sure more daily activity would speed things up.

I went to a bridal shower for one of the girls in the ward that use to be in YW when I worked with them.  She and a couple of her friends use to stay overnight in our bonus room.  It was fun to see her and her sister (who's first baby is due in two weeks).  They're both beautiful and all grown up.

I also attacked all the weeds on the side of the house, did the wash, changed sheets, and went grocery shopping.

Sunday - Fast Sunday.  It was a good testimony meeting. One woman shared that she has taken the word "discover" as her theme for the year.  I like that!  I want to use that in some way.  Right now she's trying to discover who she is. She said that one of Satan's tactics, that he uses against us, is getting us to change what we think about ourselves, and to change how we think our Heavenly Father sees us. She had been to a Time Out for Women and was working on discovering the truth of who she is, and how Heavenly Father sees her.  Good thoughts.

Another woman spoke on her testimony of family.  I liked that.  I think the family unit is one of our greatest blessings.  It's definitely one of mine.

A man mentioned that there are reasons for all things.  He was struck by a speaker last week that mentioned returning to church with her young daughter and sitting on the opposite end of a bench that was occupied by a man and his young son. Though she wasn't interested, the kids ended up playing and drawing pictures together during the meeting, and the couple ended up getting married and raising a nice family. There are no coincidences. The Lord is guiding all of us.

I struggling a little with Sunday School.  We have two different teachers that trade off.  One is excellent, the other is not even close to that.  Today we had a substitute and it was painful.

Why I Like 6th Graders

Sixth graders make me laugh every day.  They're witty and clever and kind of dumb and pretty smart.  Here's a sampling:

First use of the restroom sign-out board.

Students earn Way to Go Wagons to put in a monthly drawing for prizes.  I had a counterfeiter in my class.

Who does this?  How do you do this?

Wait for it......

Done!  Who even thinks to try something like this?

Left over butcher paper from an art project.  I asked him to put it in the recycling bin.  He up-cycled it.

I really love my class this year.  I love spending my day with them.  I'm actually excited to see them tomorrow.  Spring Break was great, but I don't mind going back.  We have some fun things planned.

Spring Break - Day 5

Just like on day 3, my lunch date had to cancel.  I pretty much repeated all of my inactivity of day 3, and it felt good. 

Spring Break - Day 4

I wish I had taken my camera with me today.  The sun was out and every tree was in blossom.  Before I left the house I had read for a couple hours, made some healthy cookies, caught up with a friend on the phone, and caught up my ironing.

Then I met Mary at the Boise International Market.  There's a big space in an old strip-mall where they rent out space to different people and groups.  There are places to eat Mexican food or Indian food, little markets like one from Bhutan, tea shops, coffee shops, hand made clothes, hats, bags, and beautiful fabrics.  Today we just explored.  I want to go back sometime to buy, eat, and experience more of the place.

Our next stop was in Eagle.  We walked around their old downtown and found lots of cute things in a home decor shop.  We wanted to try a new restaurant and ended up at the Bodacious Pig BBQ on the patio.  The food was great (or I was just hungry) and we watched all the people and bike riders enjoying the perfect day.

On the way back to Boise, I stopped and checked out the Model Home Furnishing store.  I thought I'd just see if they had a couch or chair that I liked.  I loved the whole store.  I found the couch and chair, plus pictures, rugs, light fixtures, bar stools, dining room chairs, cabinets, end tables, and more!  I want to sell everything and start over at my house.  They have really nice stuff and the price is amazing. It was fun to dream!

Final stop before home was a quick visit with Mom and Dad.  They had a little family news, and I scored 3 books, 3 tote bags, and a stack of catalogs....for more dreaming.

Day 3

Did nothing!  Okay, I did read, watched TV, soaked in the tub, and that's about all.  I guess that's a good use of a spring break day. 

Spring Break - Day 2

Another full day.

I started the day reading - half way through my book and almost finished with Alma.

  

Then I cooked dinner for the missionaries - had to run to the store.

Watched the grandkids while Stacey went to her doctor's appointment - they jumped on the exercise tramp and rode the exercise bike and played the piano and ate candy and cucumbers.

Met Mom, Nan, and Andrea at the movies with three minutes to spare - ate chips and salsa after, while they had dinner

Movie, 2nd Best Marigold Hotel - great music, colors, clothes, and old English actors - fun show.

Hurried home to dust and heat up dinner for the (sister) missionaries - chicken strips, salad, fruit, and mac and cheese.  They liked the mac and cheese, I ate lean and green.

Cleaned up after dinner and mopped the floor, washed the rugs, and watched The Voice.

Spring Break - Day 1

I'm a little overbooked, but it's going to be great.  I've given up on getting projects done, but I'm hoping to get the Unit 7 math tests graded, the house cleaned, my car washed inside and out, and some spring weeding done.

Today I had an early morning appointment with my dermatologist.  Everything looked good and she only found one little spot on my forehead and one on my back to zap with the freezing burning stuff.  I'm good until next spring break.  

On the way to Nampa, I stopped at Down East Home and Clothes. I wasn't very impressed, but I did find some little stools I liked, and a desk.  The desk is really small and simple, and on 1/2 price clearance, but it was still over $400.  I liked it, but not that much.  I'll keep looking.

In Nampa, I met Nan at Kierra's salon and we both got our hair colored and cut.  We had a lot of family girl talk.  It was so much better than being there alone.  Nan and I need to always double book our hair appointments.  I'll have to post a picture later.  I think Kierra nailed it with the color.  I like it and Nan says I look younger.

Afterward we went to Brick 29 for a late lunch, and a lot more topics of discussion.  I didn't get home until after 6:00.  Tomorrow is another full day, so is Wednesday, and Saturday, and a couple things are pending for Thursday and Friday.  I'll keep you posted.

Grace

We had an early Easter service at church, since General Conference falls on Easter this year, and next week will be Fast Sunday.  There was an amazing talk given on "Grace".   It was taken from Brad Wilcox's book, The Continuous Atonement, and on a talk that he had given at a BYU devotional.  We came home and looked the devotional up on Youtube and watched the whole thing.  He used an analogy of a mom paying for music lessons to explain the atonement, and it was so easy to understand.  If you're interested, here's the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLXr9it_pbY

Good News, Bad News

Good news first - It's the start of Spring Break, which is great.  Even better, I have my report cards done.  Best of all, I have lots of plans with friends and family, plus time to be alone and read or work on projects.

Bad news - Two friends are going through devastating experiences.  I'm so sad for them.  It hurts.  I pray for them every day, and their problems are never far from my thoughts.  I want to be a support and a true friend.  It's hard to think of what will help.

Temple and Dinner

Brent and Krystle came with Terry and I to the temple today.  All the bulbs were up and the trees were blossoming.  We finally make it through all the cards that Fredee gave us. Krystle and I did the last two Cowley sisters.  The lady sitting next to us was also doing a Cowley family card.  I talked to her after and she said that her Cowley ancestors descended from a Charles Cowley.  They settled in Richfield, Utah, where there are a whole slew of Cowleys. Her husband said that you never call anyone Brother or Sister Cowley down there, because there are about 17 of them.  They use first names.  I had to look Richfield up on the map. Now I need to look for a Charles Cowley.

Afterwards we went over to spend some time with Terry's mom.  We took all the fixings for tacos and a bunch of fresh fruit.  It was a nice dinner and a nice visit.  She was happy to see Brent and Krystle. So we spent a lot of time with family, here and beyond. 

St. Patrick's Day

My principal is Irish with relatives still living in Ireland.  She goes a little crazy on St. Patrick's Day, and it's a lot of fun.  We start the day with Irish soda bread, clotted cream (like whipped cream) and jam.  Everyone, who's feeling lucky, puts their name in a pot of gold and a little leprechaun pulls names for prizes such as lottery tickets, green bead necklaces, and boxes of Lucky Charms.  We have a potluck lunch of Irish stew, corned beef, cabbage salads, more soda bread, and green frosted shamrock cookies.  Everyone's spirits were lifted. Green is my favorite color, and it was fun being Judy O'Swainy for the day. 

High Council Sunday #1

Terry gave his first talk as a High Councilman today.  His mom and sister came, and Bry. He was nervous, but he shouldn't have been.  He had written a good talk and speaking should be easy for him.  He can talk without notes.  He knows his church stuff, and he's sensitive to the spirit.  His topic was on using daily spiritual checklists to keep us safe.  Here are a few he mentioned:

1. Prayer - Believe you will get answers.  Watch for them.  They will come.
2. Scripture study - Pray for enlightenment and you will have clear ideas come into your mind.
3. Physical exercise 
4. Healthy eating - You only get one body - take care of it.  After all, it is an amazing gift from our Father.
5. Smile.  Be happy.  Stop criticizing yourself and others.  

I liked this quote he used from Elder Jorg Klebingat of the Seventy:
"Take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being.  Stop blaming others or your circumstances, stop justifying, and stop making excuses for why you may not be fully striving to be obedient.  The Lord knows your circumstances perfectly, but He also knows perfectly well whether you simply choose not to fully live the gospel.  Spiritual confidence increases when you take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ daily."

He did a great job.  Now he has a couple months off.  He'll speak in the Oregon Trail Ward in May.  He'll have plenty of time to prepare.

Book Review

I just finished listening to this book:



and I didn't think the writing or the reader of the audio book were very good, but I really liked it.  The author also wrote Pay It Forward, and this book is also hopeful and makes you feel good about how good people are.  I related to it in part because the main character is a teacher who can't help but help out a couple kids.  The characters travel through several national parks and it also made me want to visit Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Yellowstone early in the morning.  I want to camp in the parks so that we can be hiking and seeing sites at first light, before the crowds.  I want to read all the information in the visitor centers, go on tours with the park rangers, and learn a little about science.  I don't want to be on a schedule, just stay until we feel like leaving, and have plenty of time to just sit and be and soak it in.  

I wouldn't recommend this book to others, but I really liked it.  I'm trying to figure out why.

Go For a Walk

Terry and I are out of the habit of our early morning walk.  We ride the stationary bike, do yoga videos, and follow exercises with weights from a Fit for Fifty program, but we haven't been getting out at 5:15 for an early morning 2 miles.  I miss it.

This morning we drove down to Bown Crossing and parked.  We walked across the Park Center Bridge and went for a walk along the Greenbelt.  It was glorious.  The weather was perfect and everything was coming to life.  We're just on the edge of spring.  We saw red-winged black birds, hawks, a woodpecker, and a rabbit.  I wish we could have walked on and on, but we had to get something else done on Saturday.  After spring break I'm going to push for our early morning walks again - and every Saturday, I want to be on the Greenbelt.

My walking partner looks a lot better than me in the morning.

So cute!  The click of the camera made him scamper away.

  

School Book Fair / Grandparents Day

This was the week that they turn our school library into a book store.  Kids shop during recesses and after school.  It's a big fund raiser where they earn $3000-$4000 for library books every year.  These are some of the books that were donated to our classroom by students or parents.  I'm so excited to get these read:

One Came Home- part mystery, part adventure, reads like an homage to True Grit.
A Long Walk to Water - dual stories, one in 2008 and one in 1985 in Sudan, based on a true story.

Inside Out & Back Again - based on the author's experiences, the story of a 10 year old girl leaving Saigon for America.
Navigating Early - How can Fred's daughter resist this cover? Reminiscent of Huck Finn, two boys set out for the Appalachian Trail on a quest for a great black bear.

I just started One Came Home and here's the first sentences: "So it comes to this, I remember thinking on Wednesday, June 7, 1871.  The date sticks in my mind because it was the day of my sister's first funeral, and I knew it wasn't her last - which is why I left."  I'm hooked already and will be reading all weekend.

Part of the great success of the book fair is the marketing plan.  This was also the week of kindergarten registration and all of the kids and their parents came through and bought. There was also a Bingo Night where you could escape the loud, hot gym and just browse through the book selection in the quiet library.  The best marketing ploy though is scheduling Grandparent's Day during the Book Fair.  Grandparents visit the child's classroom for 30 minutes of activities, bring lunches or eat school lunch, and then take their grandchild to the Book Fair.  For two and a half hours, they make bank!

I love having the grandparents visit our classroom.  I start a discussion and ask them to share some of their experiences in grade school, experiences in life, and wisdom they might want to share.  All the grandparents talk and share, and the students listen transfixed. There is always one or two that went to a small one or two room school, one who went to a strict Catholic school with nuns, and one that went to a big school in a big city.  This year, a grandparent had gone to school in Thailand.  Another grandparent had a band in high school and was the opening act to Paul Revere and the Raiders, at the fair in Portland. Grandparents talk about military service, travels, hobbies, and most of all, the importance of education as a means to a good life.  We had 27 grandparents visit this year.  Two came up from Roy, Utah, just to have lunch and go to the book fair one last time. It's a crazy day, but one of the best days.  

Kindergarten Registration

We had kindergarten registration yesterday in the gym and cafeteria.  Parents and almost kindergarteners come through and meet the teachers, the principal, check with the nurse, get a free book, visit the book fair, AND take a short assessment.  I always volunteer to help give assessments, because it's so sweet and sometimes funny to meet these little kids. Some of the girls come in Sunday dresses with their hair all fixed.  During the assessments, their parents have to wait at a table that has some reading materials, but none of them look at it.  They're all watching for clues to see how their child is doing.  They always do fine, but you can tell who's been getting ready.  They're suppose to know their letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and be able to write their name, trace a line, and color a square.  The hard questions are about rhyming words and a beginning sounds.  I showed one girl a picture of a mouse and emphasized the M sound - mmmmmouse - before asking her the beginning sound in mouse.  She said, "Eeek, Eeek!"  Pretty funny.  

Sunday, March 8th

I've decided that I'm not going to be the dumb one at church every week.  In class they ask for an example of a spiritual experience or an answer to prayer, and I can't think of any! Other people (and not only the intellectuals) make insightful comments that are deep.  I need to dig deeper and ponder.  That's why I've decided to step-up my scripture reading to scripture study, and to take notes during sacrament and the other meetings.  

So this was my favorite quote from church today:

Let us not be satisfied to live our lives without knowing Christ. The comfort of his Spirit enables us to walk a different path, in the direction we wanted to go before we came to this earth, a way that brings us more light, knowledge, ability, and joy each day. Finding this path and following its course is the only real treasure in life.

From Elder F. Enzio Busche - Liahona, Aug. 1980

New Challenge

We started a new Meltdown Challenge on March 1st.  This one is only four weeks and we're suppose to lose 3% of our weight.  I figure it will keep me on track through Spring Break. Hopefully it will help me get through the stress eating that comes at the end of the quarter with all the activities and assessments, and the eating out of boredom that comes when I'm working on the computer for hours and hours while clicking grades and writing comments.

After spending the three days in Salt Lake at a Take Shape for Life conference with his cousin Randy, our health coach, Terry returned to Boise, and Randy and his wife Jeanette followed to visit family and friends up here.  It was so fun having them come for a visit and to be able to meet them in person, instead of on a Zoom call.  We have a lot in common (besides being related), and they're fun to be around.  I would have liked to visit longer, but I'll make due with weekly check-ins while he's coaching me, Zoom calls, and online comments.  We'll know each other pretty well by the time I get to where I want to be. 

Art Night

Here are the promised pictures from my school's art night:

Every class does a clay project.  This is my favorite.  I want one of these for an olive dish.

I liked these frames and the quote next to it.

1st grade work.

I thought these were cool.  The top is cut styrofoam, and the reflection is a print.

Loved these.  They had all kind of animals - giraffes, snakes, birds.

I don't know the name of the artist that they studied, but the 2nd graders put all kinds of things in the picture with themselves.  I liked the girl with Kermit the Frog, but I couldn't find the pic.

Fourth Grade

My class studied and artist that made skinny sculptures.  Ours were made with wire and duct tape.

I should have learned the names of these artist.  These were self-portraits, but the artist we copied drew long necks and distorted features.

My art mom brought in an old typewriter and sewing machine.  The kids had to draw these with one continuous line.  I'd like to frame these for an office or sewing room.

I'd like to frame these too.

Out to Lunch

Stace and I went out for a long lunch on Saturday.  I've been dieting, so it was great to just eat, but a relaxing afternoon, a long talk, and my first visit to the Village made the whole thing even better. We ate at Zupas, a new sandwich/salad/soup place and I didn't go off my eating plan by much. My turkey artichoke pesto sandwich and berry salad were great.
It was pretty crowded and loud when we arrived at 12:30, but we found that if you sit around and talk for a couple hours, the crowd thins out.  We even had a celebrity sighting - Kellen Moore.


I never get together with just Stacey, and that needs to change.  We have a lot in common, and plenty of family stuff that we can talk over.  She also has a lot of ideas and projects going on that inspire me.  Right now, I'm inspired to clear out stuff and tackle some home decor projects over spring break.  I want my house to look like it's been staged to sell.  It was a great afternoon.  She did say that they're contemplating a move to Arizona.  It would be great for them, but I'll be regretting all the opportunities we've missed and all the long lunch afternoons we didn't spend together.

Freedom Weekend...not

Terry was in Utah for three days and I thought I'd have a wild weekend where I could do whatever, and eat whatever, and watch whatever, and wear whatever I wanted.  Not really a wild weekend.  I meant to stay up until 11:00, drink a diet soda without guilt, watch David Letterman for the last time, and wear my pajamas all day, but that dream just didn't work out....

The first night was a school night and I had grading to do.  Friday was a crazy, long day. 
My school has an Art Night which is a big production.  Every hall in the school is covered with black paper and student art (I'll post pictures later).  They have high school orchestra students come and play, and have Jr. high students from National Honor Society serving hors d'oeuvres.  I like seeing all the amazing art projects, but they're better viewed an hour before the event.  The halls are too crowded to even move in.  This year our principal wanted as many teachers as were able to come and support the PTO.  I left school at 4:00 to meet my visiting teacher partner for some visits, and then got back in time to get a parking place, and stayed until 8:00. 

I was exhausted when I got home.  It was too cold for a diet soda, and I couldn't stay awake. I did sleep in and had a relaxing morning, but Terry was anxious to be home, so he left SLC at 6:00 PM in a snow storm, and cut my freedom weekend short. It was nice going to church with him the next morning, but I'm still longing for a wild weekend of alone time.