Ok, so there are three new posts following this one. I have a few thoughts that I want to mention that don't necessarily fit in the other three.
1. I never realized how sexy fast cars are. Yesterday at the gym, "Fast and Furious" (the most recent one) was on. I haven't seen the other movies, but I am a big fan of Paul Walker. Vin Diesel is pretty good looking also, but he is very broody. I think action movies are the best to work out to because the speed of everything makes you forget you're drenched in sweat. Just going to throw this out there, I think the cardio cinema should be cooler. Anyway, it was pretty cool. Then, I went to the gym again later that night (I had to, I sucked it up all week long) and "Transporter 3" was on with Jason Statham. He's hot. I really like his accent. He drives that audi like it's nobody's business. Hot. Never thought about this before. I admit, I drove a little too fast on the way home. Just for a minute, though, don't worry.
2. Transporter 3. Really? totally not realistic. So lame at parts. Not so lame at parts. But I really wonder sometimes where people get their ideas.
3. I got engaged in my dream last night. It was awesome. Don't remember much more than that.
4. Going to the singles ward next sunday. Ahem. Nothing more to add to that. (Bama, it's your ward. Save me a seat.)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Ellie's Blessing
Today Ellie Kate Paul was blessed. I took Brayden home before Sacrament meeting started because his tummy was hurting. He got his tonsils out on Friday and had been feeling ok, but I think the pain meds made his tummy hurt. So we went home and watched "kid cartoons". Wow. X-Men just isn't the same with Hugh. Everyone said that Ellie did really well and the blessing was beautiful. Everyone came over for lunch afterwards, and it was good food and good times.
This angle is funny. Nice, Kat.
Ellie is such a good baby and has such big, beautiful blue eyes. She's also the only one to have had curly hair, I think. Such a doll.
Speaking of dolls, Audrey was in rare form. She's always a little ham, but she was ca-razy today. She knew she had the spotlight, and it was so funny.
She also does this thing where she puts her arms up with her hands by her face and shakes, like she's really upset or something. Sometimes her face gets all red and everything. It's so funny. It's also funny when my dad does it, but I didn't get that on camera. Maybe next time.
This angle is funny. Nice, Kat.
Ellie is such a good baby and has such big, beautiful blue eyes. She's also the only one to have had curly hair, I think. Such a doll.Speaking of dolls, Audrey was in rare form. She's always a little ham, but she was ca-razy today. She knew she had the spotlight, and it was so funny.
She also does this thing where she puts her arms up with her hands by her face and shakes, like she's really upset or something. Sometimes her face gets all red and everything. It's so funny. It's also funny when my dad does it, but I didn't get that on camera. Maybe next time.
Week One Down!
Well, the first week is over and I survived. Not only that, I took on another project and get to do the yearbook this year! I'm so excited, I loved doing yearbook in high school. I'll try and stay calm, though, Jenn. It was a great first week and I only had one really stressful day. I am teaching six periods, two of seventh grade and four of eighth grade. The eighth graders are really chatty, but we're working on that. Here are some pictures of my classroom:
The view from my desk. The students desks are actually all facing forward now. Some of the eighth graders couldn't handle being able to look at each other all the time.
This is the scrabble board I made that I love love love. My crowning achievement in crafty-ness.
I'm looking for more posters to put on the back wall. The kids want Michael Jackson. Their wish is my command. When it has to do with MJ.
The view from my desk. The students desks are actually all facing forward now. Some of the eighth graders couldn't handle being able to look at each other all the time.
This is the scrabble board I made that I love love love. My crowning achievement in crafty-ness.
I'm looking for more posters to put on the back wall. The kids want Michael Jackson. Their wish is my command. When it has to do with MJ.
Old story. . . Oops!
I forgot to post about this. On the 24th of July, the kids slept over at our house. Mom and Dad made homemade raspberry ice cream and we watched E.T. He was a pioneer of sorts. After the movie, we went to go outside and watch fireworks from the porch. As I was going up the stairs, Dad was laughing really hard so I asked what he was laughing at. He said the Brayden must have had a hard time swallowing the raspberry seeds (he has issues. . .just had his tonsils out on Friday) so every time he had one, he would grab his shirt at the shoulder and wipe the seed on his shirt. As he walked by, Dad saw the damage and was laughing. I had to take a picture, but he didn't know we were laughing at him.
We also took action shots on the trampoline.
We didn't need her head anyway.
We also took action shots on the trampoline.
We didn't need her head anyway.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Absolutely Phenomenal
I turned my computer BACK on right now at 11:30 to write this post. I just finished the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I stopped reading Harry Potter for two days to read this and I do not regret it. It is a book written in letters, telling the story of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands during WW II and I was absolutely enthralled. It was funny (I even laughed out loud a couple of times,) it was clever, it was utterly original, and I didn't want it to be over. Like everyone that reads it, I want to be a part of the Society. I want to be their friend. I really really do want to visit Guernsey. I am absolutely enchanted.
As I was reflecting on the genius of the author (it was the brainchild and work of Shaffer but when her health declined her niece, Barrows, took over,) I thought about how lucky I have been to love reading. For as long as I can remember, I have loved books. From the Babysitter's Club, Sweet Valley High and Christopher Pike to Toni Morrison and John Grisham, I love to drink it all in. While I was in school, I would often talk about how I was excited to graduate so I could read books that I wanted to read, not required (and often boring) texts. This summer has been one where I found myself with a lot of time, and I got to read a lot. I think I will start a running log on the side of my blog with books that I love. It will be right under Tracie's weekly self-portrait. (PS watch for that tomorrow). Here are the top five books I've read so far this year:
(in no particular order)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
So so so good. Inspiration for post.
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
(This book is the reason the list isn't about books I read this summer: Tracie read it to me on our way to Arizona right before New Years.)
The next book comes out in September, I believe, and I can't wait. I can't describe it, so I let someone on Amazon.com:
In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.
The Giver
by Lois Lowery
Can you believe I'd never read this? It really made me think. I can't wait to teach it someday.
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
I read this because the movie trailer looked so good and I wanted to read it before it hit the theaters. . . amazing. I do warn that there is some pretty harsh profanity and vulgar slang, as well as some pretty intense sexual moments. Not the reason I liked it. I think it was worth it, but working with junior high kids sometimes makes one desensitized to the f-bomb. As much as I loathe it. This book is so original, with a crazy twist and amazing detail. Let me know if you want to borrow it.
My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult
Same reason: wanted to read it before I saw it. It was heart-wrenching, very sad and moving. That said, the movie had the same basic concept and that is all. The book is so so so much better than the movie. Although Cameron Diaz and the two little girls did a great job, I really missed the character development of the other people in the book, especially the teenage brother. What a hellion. Also a huge twist, never saw it coming.
Last but certainly not least. . .
Harry Potter. . .books one through 6.5. I am in the middle of the Half-Blood Prince and we all know (or you should know by now) that J.K. Rowling has a gift. One that has enthralled billions all over the world and inspired kids to read. I nominate her for a the nobel prize. She has even impacted my dreams, a very disturbing one with Snape. I do have to say that one of the only good things about the movies is that I can always hear Alan Rickman's voice when I read Snape. And the british accent in my head is getting better every day. Tracie informed me that I have to watch the movies as a completely different entity than the books or it will make me mad, and since I saw the movie of the half-blood prince before I started the book, I was truly entertained. But T has told me that I can't go see it again because I wouldn't like it.
Wow. I can't believe how strongly I felt about all of these. I could write more, I'm sure. I love that I will have the opportunity to spend the next nine months helping students find that other world, where you get completely wrapped up in the text and time no longer exists. Like when I finished book five at 3:08 am and hadn't looked at the clock in three hours.
As I was reflecting on the genius of the author (it was the brainchild and work of Shaffer but when her health declined her niece, Barrows, took over,) I thought about how lucky I have been to love reading. For as long as I can remember, I have loved books. From the Babysitter's Club, Sweet Valley High and Christopher Pike to Toni Morrison and John Grisham, I love to drink it all in. While I was in school, I would often talk about how I was excited to graduate so I could read books that I wanted to read, not required (and often boring) texts. This summer has been one where I found myself with a lot of time, and I got to read a lot. I think I will start a running log on the side of my blog with books that I love. It will be right under Tracie's weekly self-portrait. (PS watch for that tomorrow). Here are the top five books I've read so far this year:
(in no particular order)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
So so so good. Inspiration for post.
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
(This book is the reason the list isn't about books I read this summer: Tracie read it to me on our way to Arizona right before New Years.)
The next book comes out in September, I believe, and I can't wait. I can't describe it, so I let someone on Amazon.com:
In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.
The Giver
by Lois Lowery
Can you believe I'd never read this? It really made me think. I can't wait to teach it someday.
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
I read this because the movie trailer looked so good and I wanted to read it before it hit the theaters. . . amazing. I do warn that there is some pretty harsh profanity and vulgar slang, as well as some pretty intense sexual moments. Not the reason I liked it. I think it was worth it, but working with junior high kids sometimes makes one desensitized to the f-bomb. As much as I loathe it. This book is so original, with a crazy twist and amazing detail. Let me know if you want to borrow it.
My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult
Same reason: wanted to read it before I saw it. It was heart-wrenching, very sad and moving. That said, the movie had the same basic concept and that is all. The book is so so so much better than the movie. Although Cameron Diaz and the two little girls did a great job, I really missed the character development of the other people in the book, especially the teenage brother. What a hellion. Also a huge twist, never saw it coming.
Last but certainly not least. . .
Harry Potter. . .books one through 6.5. I am in the middle of the Half-Blood Prince and we all know (or you should know by now) that J.K. Rowling has a gift. One that has enthralled billions all over the world and inspired kids to read. I nominate her for a the nobel prize. She has even impacted my dreams, a very disturbing one with Snape. I do have to say that one of the only good things about the movies is that I can always hear Alan Rickman's voice when I read Snape. And the british accent in my head is getting better every day. Tracie informed me that I have to watch the movies as a completely different entity than the books or it will make me mad, and since I saw the movie of the half-blood prince before I started the book, I was truly entertained. But T has told me that I can't go see it again because I wouldn't like it.
Wow. I can't believe how strongly I felt about all of these. I could write more, I'm sure. I love that I will have the opportunity to spend the next nine months helping students find that other world, where you get completely wrapped up in the text and time no longer exists. Like when I finished book five at 3:08 am and hadn't looked at the clock in three hours.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
BREAKING NEWS!!!
I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be teaching at Glendale Middle School, where I did my student teaching. I am so excited! I'll be a reading specialist, so I'll probably work with all grades. Not sure though.
That's all. SO SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!
I'll be teaching at Glendale Middle School, where I did my student teaching. I am so excited! I'll be a reading specialist, so I'll probably work with all grades. Not sure though.
That's all. SO SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
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