Dress Shopping!

Remember how my bff Jenn is getting married? I got to go with her and her mom and sisters to look at dresses on Monday. Thanks for the day off, MLK, Jr.! And for everything else, too. . .

So, it was so fun! I have only been dress shopping one other time, with my friend Bonnie who put together a wedding in a two weeks. We went to a dress shop that was on 7th east in Sandy, called Bridal Experience/Extravaganza/Excaliber something. They had soo many dresses to choose from, but luckily Jenn had checked it out online and found some that she really liked and wanted to try on. She had about nine dresses put into the room to try on, and narrowed it down to two. One was really pretty and simplistic with ribbons in lines at the bottom (that description doesn't do it justice, maybe I'll see if I can find a picture) but the second one was stunning. It was so fun to see Jenn's face the first time she had it one, you can see that the smile says it all! When another bride was talking to her mom about loving both dresses, Jenn's mom said "it is the one that makes you beam" which I thought was a cute way to describe it. She chose the second dress, saying "this is the one". I love how wedding dresses take on a persona, but we all know it's the bride's day, right?! She will look so breathtakingly beautiful as she walks down the aisle with the ruffled skirt trailing behind her. I'm excited to see Allen's face. And don't worry, I'll capture it on film. Thanks for letting me come!

Finally! Barn Bridals!

Guys, I've been wanting to take bridals by a barn forever. I asked Kami (my new sister-in-law) if her farm/barn would work for pictures and she looked at me funny. I guess there are different kinds of farms. Anyway, I am doing a wedding for Sharla, a friend of a friend (thanks for the referral, Lucky/Valerie!) on Saturday so I went up to Layton this past saturday and took her pictures and I loved how they turned out! I don't know what it is with me and barns, but it's just plain magical. Sharla is darling and her family is so cute! I'm excited for saturday, I know they'll be great pictures! Here are a few of my favorites:

Two Down, Ten to Go.

Weeks, that is! I have already finished two weeks of my student teaching! It went by so fast, I can't even wrap my mind around it. It's been rough at times, but the rest of the time, it is great! Well, as great as 8th graders can be. . . J/K you guys, j/k. I haven't cried, yet. I will admit, though, that I have had the "I am out of my mind" thought quite a few times. Seriously. But then I suck it up and get on with it.
I am teaching four periods, 1, 3, 5 and 6. It is so nice to have a break between everything (lunch is between 5 and 6).
The best story I have so far is when I called a kid a retard. . . I know, that is so bad. Nobody be mad at me. It just came out. Curb that tongue, Kathrin! Anyway. I was sitting in the middle of the class at an empty desk while I graded a couple memoirs and the kids in front of me were throwing stuff at each other. This was why I moved there, to maybe help them stop doing that. Anyway, a wrapper bounced off the kid it was aimed at and hit me and I threw it back at the kid on impulse and said, "you just hit me, retard!" It just came out. Like my word vomit. And everyone did the usual "ohhhhh!" and one kid gave me a knuckles/pound/stones. That's all.

I'll try and post more stories.

2009, Is That Really YOU?

Dear 2009,

I have been waiting for you for so long, I was beginning to think you were like a fairy tale that would never come true. The idea that I would actually be done with random classes and busy homework was just to overpowering to put my faith in. But, alas, it is true. You arrived late last night (or early this morning, however you "technically" want to look at it) and I might, just might, pee a little. So many things will happen this year! I start student teaching in THREE DAYS! What? Really? So soon? Yes, it's true. I will be starting at Glendale Middle School in south Salt Lake on Monday, teaching four periods of 8th graders. One class is an ESL class, the other three are English. I will be teaching a myriad of things, and I don't know if I feel completely ready. Also, after three months of student teaching, I will graduate on MAY 8. Yes. You read that correctly, I will be graduating from college. FOR REAL. There will be a huge party that night, stay tuned for more information. Among other activities, there will be a grand bonfire where I will burn all of my useless papers that I kept for some unknown purpose. Mostly linguistics crap. I never want to see another anything with the words "Morphology" and "tree" on the same paper.
Also in 2009, I myself will turn 29. On the 29th. CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT??? It's almost too crazy to even think about. Oh, that's of May, by the way. I should do something really incredible. Like kiss 29 guys or something. In 29 seconds. In fact, maybe I'll make it a(nother) goal to actually kiss a boy this year. We'll see. Maybe I'll buy 29 pairs of shoes? Or eat 29 scoops of ice cream? Oh wait, I already do that. In any event, it will be a B-I-G deal.
There will be a lot of other big things happening this year, like my first niece getting baptized, getting another baby (in the same family of many children) in May, getting a REAL job that will actually use my degree and will pay me more than $17k/ year, go on my first cruise, see my best friend Jenn get married (finally) (and I can only say that because, well, I can, and I'm almost 29) (oh yeah, and not married) to a man she is so happily in love with, go skydiving, and lots of other great things. I might even buy a house if the whole "teacher next door" thing pans out the way I want it to. So, really, most of my life-long goals will be met by next New Years eve, so I just might be translated. If it works that way. I might kick a dog, just to be safe, because I know you guys want me around still, because if I don't turn into a hermit and watch tv all night, I might have big parties at my swingin' bachelorette pad. Why don't we hear more about those? I guess I could call it my Old Maid Mansion or my Spinster Soiree Site. . . But I'm not really either of those, really, so I'll just call it "biph's place" or something equally special.

I hope that you guys will find 2009 to be equally as awesome, if that is possible (of course it is, sillies, don't get worried) and I hope all your dreams come true!

Who blogs anymore?

Well, obviously not me. Sorry to the three people who check this. But, school is over (HOORAY!) and I can breathe normally and so, here is a fresh new post. A lot has happened lately, but we'll just go over the highlights. Yesterday was my last day at Beehive as I prepare to do my student teaching in January. It's crazy to think I won't have a regular job; rather I'll be paying to work a standard teacher's workday for three months. I am grateful that I'm able to not work, that I'm blessed to live at home for free (or as my Dad put it, on deferred rent) and not have to worry about how I'll survive. I am excited, even a little nervous, to begin student teaching at Glendale Middle School (8th grade English) and I can't believe it's finally here!
In addition to being the primary chorister, I volunteered to do the Achievement Day activities withe the 8-10 year old girls in the ward. I feel so bad for them, they just can't find a leader who can stick and they haven't had an activity for MONTHS. So, they came over to my house Thursday night and we decorated cookies and took them to members of the ward. They were so cute, I love spending time with them! I was touched at who they decided to take cookies to, and they wanted to carol to everyone! Tracie went with me and it was hilarious. They were so funny.

Do I have redeye in that picture? I didn't edit it or anything.
Last night was our official Slack family Christmas party, the party everyone looks forward to. It was always one of the highlights of the season for me as I grew up and I love that we still do it, and it always brings a good crowd. The biggest tradition of the night, besides mom's Mexi-dip and Irene's cookies, is the Nativity that my mom helps the kids perform. It's hilarious to watch her, year after year, work with the little ones as she wrangles them on the stage, putting the costumes on and telling them where to stand. She's a saint to do it every year. Even now, as I was watching the kids and looking at the scarves they wore on their heads that are the same from when I was their age, it brought back floods of memories of gift exchanges, santa, fighting over who would be Mary (mom always took intense notes so there wouldn't be any squabbling) and playing on the stage. Now, all of my cousins have kids and they are the new group hitting the pinata and running around the gym. Last night was the first night in a few years that Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance, and it was so fun to see the kids' reactions! The first kid to sit on his lap, my cousin's son, when asked what he wanted for Christmas and seeing Mrs. Claus already pulling a treat out of her velvet bag, said "a candy cane." It was funny.


This is Audrey waiting to see Santa, then when it was her turn, she cried.


Here's the story on my poor Brayden's mega-lip: He got a cavity filled on Friday morning and after they got home, he was watching a movie. His mouth was still a little dead still, and while he was watching the movie, he just chewed that little thing to pieces. April walked in and his lip was all red and swollen. She called the dentist and he said it was actually pretty normal. Poor boy! He said it doesn't hurt, but isn't that crazy? It looks so painful!

Attention: New Favorite Movie.

Oh. My. Heck. Yes, heck. This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. Really, it had everything: the cinematography, the action, the romance, the comedy, the actors, the music, the everything. I laughed, I cried, I giggled, I swooned, and I even put my hands over my mouth like I've done since I was little whenever I was scared or worried during a movie. Not only were Hugh Jackman (oh hannah) and Nicole Kidman amazing, but the little boy who played Nullah, Brandon Walters, may just be the stealer of the show. He was so good, and he had never acted before! He stole my heart, with his huge brown eyes and long eyelashes, and what a smile! Phenomenal. I can't say enough good about it. See it. You won't regret it.
Not to mention: Best. Kiss. Ever.

I like my family.

I really do. So much in fact that I set up the old (not really old, I just bought it) tripod and went to town. Thanks again, Heidi, for being the pusher of the button.







Tracie wanted me to comment on this picture, but what is there to say? hott.

Oh man. I love these kids.


My parents are cute and my dad's 'stache rocks.

Laura is gross.

This picture cracks me up.