merry merry

what a wonderful whirlwind the last few weeks have been:

car accident

new car

said yes

CHRISTMAS

teaching

holiday break from school

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas full of peace, good food, family, and music.

some days

this happened to me today:

bye best car in the world...

good things:

no one was hurt

I did not get a ticket

I have a jazzy rental car

I'll get to "up grade" (automatic windows?)

I didn't pay to get the belt replaced before this happened

my students wrote me adorable notes

my advice: don't get in car accidents

december thoughts

If an 8 year old is too busy to do their 3 page homework packet within a week, they are too busy.

I wish I didn't feel so obligated to be "politically correct" about Christmas in my classroom.

Nothing smells better than fresh Christmas tree as you walk in your front door.

Snow is beautiful in the mountains, on the playground, in the yard, on the trees.  But not on my windshield.

My parents give good advice.

I would like to watch: Charlie Brown Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, and An American Christmas Carol.

New coat = new outlook on life.

Samuel is classy.

The holiday season is fun, especially when you get to be around kids all the time.  They help me to see what it's "all about."

Happy Christmas, Everyone.

November Thankful List

I'm grateful for:

• my students
• my family
• my classroom
• clorox wipes
• books
• (learning by) teaching
• mail
• a warm coat
• chocolate milk
• modern medicine
• a car
• the gospel
• hot showers
• classic movies
• holidays
• dear friends
• the internet
• Africa
• home

three cheers

hip:

I survived conferences and had every single one show up!  I really enjoyed talking with the parents and seeing my students proudly show off their accomplishments.  They are fantastic.


hip:

I finally got my new skis mounted and waxed.   Now all we need is some snow!


hooray:

THANKSGIVING is this week!  One of my most favorite holidays because it involves being with family, making pie, watching the parade, and remembering all of my blessings.

cold + conferences

because of a blasted cold, I can't talk. and I inwardly feel a little like this:

but come tomorrow afternoon I'm going to feel awesome, put together, and pretty.  perhaps like one of these:

maybe I'll wear a tie to parent-teacher conferences...

in continuation

of Bryttin's post:

Brynn @ 22 years old: 
preparing for her first ever parent-teacher conferences as the "real" teacher
trying to get back into music/songwriting
eating school lunches and m&ms
making foot-stamp-stained glass turkeys tomorrow
getting excited for the holiday season
creating/working on some new projects

Today is

a milestone.

hip hip!

I'd like a vacation, please.

Today, I am willing to use my paid time off.  Any of these places would serve as prime destinations:

vermont

san fran

the macy's thanksgiving day parade

the redwoods

switzerland

heck, I'd even go to hawaii

anyone care to join?

mixed feelings

snow today. thinking about

love: skiing

hate: scraping my car windows every ding-dong day

love: coco lattes

hate: muddy slush on my pants

love: mittens

hate: black ice

love: lights at temple square

hate: snow before leaves fall

love: coats

hate: dry skin/hair/lips

love: holiday breaks

hate: indoor recess

and even though I should be used to it after living in Idaho, I keep thinking it's not even november yet.

To Miss Brynn

I think you are the best teacher in the world. I wish that 3rd grade would last forever. Only too bad for me because it doesn't. At least I have more time because it's the beginning of the year.

From, Claire


I wish I had a classroom full of Claire. Her adorable note made my day. (Plus, everything was spelled right and in complete sentences).

october love list

• autumn
• rainstorms
• friday fun day
• the art market
• phone calls
• third graders (some more than others)
• General Conference
• fall clothes
• PIE: making and enjoying
• peanut butter
• weekend detox time
• water
• hot showers
• singing with my students
• dinner at G&G's
• Rocky Road milkshakes
• browsing blogs
• a clean desk
• wednesday prep time
• open windows
• seeing Bailey sometimes
• having something to say
• new skis
• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle
• playing with lyv
• sleep
• changing leaves
• pumpkins

this boy I know

This is Samuel.

He's a handsome geologist from Centerville.

Samuel enjoys rocks, BMW's, books by Joseph Fielding Smith, spending time with his family, the band U2, and manicotti.

Things I like about him:

• he smells good
• he likes mountains
• he is kind
• he is a good planner
• he likes skiing
• he knows how to shop better than I do
• he sends me postcards
• he is a hard worker
• he is a good friend

short for my height and young for my age

A couple of weekends ago my family was in California. Bailey and I were walking down the sidewalk of the mall when we were stopped by a guy trying to sell hair straighteners. Bay let him try it out on her, and then he proceeded with his sales pitch. "How old are you two?" he asked. We told him: 18 and 22. "You are lying to me! I thought something like 14 and 16-- not 18 and 22!" We laughed akwardly.

During that same weekend, we attended my cousin's wedding. Some relatives who we hadn't seen in a while were there. They greeted me, "Hey sweetheart! How are you? You just look so cute, hon! How is school for you?" (Keep in mind that these girls are only 8 months older and 8 months younger than I am...) and I don't think they meant teaching school.

One of my students randomly came up to me the other day and said, "Miss Brynn, when my parents came to Back to School Night, they said you looked like you were 12 years old. How old are you?"

Again at school, my students were playing in my classroom for indoor recess and I was doing some filing. The school reading specialist came in and asked a student, "Where is your teacher?" I came over greeted her. She assured me, "Someday you will just LOVE being mistaken for a third grader!"

Even so, just for the record:

I have a college degree.

I work on a salary.

I have an educators licence.

I'm old enough to do this.

I guess I should be praying to keep my "youthful look" for many years to come-- it will be nice to be 90 and still look 50, right?

it's gonna be a quick game and I gotta get home for lunch

Only two and a half days of teaching this week. I love long weekends.

I especially love this weekend. It is my favorite time of year-- sunny days, crisp air, conference, family, autumn leaves. Ebelskivers at Nana's on Sunday morning. Naps. Projects. A welcome

break; time to breathe. Perhaps even time to ride bikes.

Teaching is hard, and, as I mentioned in an earlier post, good. Hard and good. But it has been mainly hard recently. I am now learning all of the things that they forgot to teach me in college. Like how to deal with kids who have ADHD, or what to do when kids are defiant, or how to coordinate parent efforts, or how to help when your students forget how to subtract, or how to not take it personally when your students don't care, or how to not spend every waking moment thinking about/doing stuff for school. Even so, I do love it. And my mom and dad are so supportive and awesome. My mom has been my saving grace-- she knows how to get things done. My dad often is my voice of reason. And, I think my friends still like me even though I've fallen through the cracks in so many ways. Love to all.

So. Life is busy and challenging and rewarding. Happy October this week.

September Love List

• Saturdays
• jonathon apples
• activities where my students are engaged
• maps
• my bedroom
• Ghana
• rainstorms
• warm cookies
• S.L.G.
• my classroom
• being well prepared
• books
• birthdays
• our paper mache globe
• long weekends
• the library
• helpful people
• free time
• back to school shopping
• new music
• third graders
• seeing friends
• chapstick
• ovaltine
• peanut butter sandwiches

hard and good

Some things that are hard and good:

teaching third grade

living in africa

saying goodbye to friends

airports

writing letters to missionary friends

math

using time wisely

keeping bedrooms clean

remembering stuff

telling 8-year-olds "no"

not speeding in cars

flossing

being on time

not staying at school until they kick you out

...especially that last one.

it's that time again...

the most wonderful time of the year. (and this year I have my own classroom!) 

may june july august love love love love list

(I'm catching up on my love lists that I was detained from typing while in Africa).  

• fresh fruit and vegetables
• going on pretty drives, especially in the mountains
• the farmer's market
• the Demodeaf School in Ghana, West Africa
• getting ready for school!
• hanging out with Bay
• warm nights
• barbecues
  
• new music
• getting my classroom ready
• my mom
• seeing Peter B live
• a nice long stint at Hebgen
• playing guitar
• painting toenails
• lemonade with ice
• creamies
• grilled everything
• swimming
• running water
• fast internet
• lyvie lou who
• school shopping
• riding bikes in centerville
• french fries
• globes
• friends around
• roasting perfect marshmallows
• reading books from my ever-growing list
• hot showers
• chapstick
• eating dinner on the back patio
• my bed
• frozen yogurt
• birthdays
• hiking
• students
• To Kill A Mockingbird
• family jokes
• peaches
• scooter club
• stargazing
• buying school supplies
• getting projects done

as good as it gets

Just returned from two dreamy weeks at Hebgen.  Life does not get any better.

home again

I made it home!  Africa was incredible.  

Gone to Ghana

Hey all!  For the next nine weeks, I'll be volunteering in Ghana, West Africa.  Keep up with the adventure, if you like.  Goodbye, America.  I'll miss you.

Tribute

"As a covenant-keeping daughter of God, she had prepared all her life for motherhood…
A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her…

Oh, that every girl and woman would have a testimony of her potential for eternal motherhood as she keeps her earthly covenants…

She knows that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution invented by man. She has the vision that, if worthy, she has the potential to be blessed as Rebekah of old to be “the mother of thousands of millions."  

Every girl and woman who makes and keeps sacred covenants can have a mother heart. There is no limit to what a woman with a mother heart can accomplish. Righteous women have changed the course of history and will continue to do so, and their influence will spread and grow exponentially throughout the eternities. How grateful I am to the Lord for trusting women with the divine mission of motherhood."  -Julie B. Beck, ‘Mother Heart’,” Liahona, May 2004, 75–77

Happy Mother's Day to my mom-- a perfect example of a mother heart.  I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate your example and sacrifice.  KYW.

hey hey it's may

guess what? I get to go to Ghana in ten days.  

yep.

Also: 

• tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo
• teaching this week: kindergarten and second grade
• my mom is awesome.  
• The Poisonwood Bible is good
• concert coming up on the 9th!  at Holladay City Hall.  please come! (it's free)
• got another shot today (hepatitis #2)
• Elder Bednar is wise and delivered a purposeful address.  loved discussing it with the Grovers.
• missing my dad. (he's in Texas)
• I love spending time with Kaite. she's going to DC for the whole summer and I will miss her.

May is like the first month of summer, but not quite.

songwriting

SO.....

I'm trying my hand at songwriting.  It is something that I've always aspired to do, but have always struggled with.  My dad, who is the most supportive father ever known to mankind, discovered a local songwriting class and let me sign up for it.  It is fantastic, even relaxing. 

We do these "object writings" every day where one person in the class sends out a word, and everyone responds with a 10-minute write.  It's supposed to be a bit abstract-- mostly just to get the creative juices flowing.  Here are a couple of mine. Could they be songs someday? 

Trees

Shafts of light land on the needlepoint ground where lodge pole pines stick up up up to the sky like pencils.  Perhaps they are skinny legs-- coming of age, layer by layer of rough bark.  They sit with me in blue knit shorts by the lake, and the sun bakes us both into brown.  And I've grown taller, as have they.  I could measure my life by those trees.  Summers where I am dashing down the pier and into the chilly water like a Countrytime Lemonade commercial, or gazing out the window as the squirrels take cover from the rain, or hearing tires crunch on the dirt road as my sister whispers to me, "We're almost there."  It's then that the trees silently stand-- watching, observing, logging my years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes.  Ever pointing upward-- like flagpoles, like toothpicks, like fingers.  And each year I go back to spend some time with them, and find out how we're doing.  

Sidewalk

In this foreign city the streets are narrower.  The sidewalks flow like rivers beside historic buildings where important people once lived, wrote, painted, or created.  They prance through spanning parks where little boys dressed like Christopher Robin bask in their childhood as though it were sunshine.  They dip into the business district where men in chalk blue dress shirts and loud ties smoke their cigarettes next to the sea of motor scooters, glancing at their watches, counting down to their nightly pub visit or cricket game or cozy flat.  The sidewalks lead to towering statues of old, presiding boldly over the city and its pigeons.  They turn into cobblestone squares, littered with musicians playing on makeshift instruments, street performers impressing the tourists, and groups selling food from all cultures prepared before your eyes.  They lead me into libraries and museums where (depending upon my mood) I can see evidence from VanGogh or Paul McCartney or Shakespeare or Jack the Ripper or a million others.  The sidewalks lead me along the riverbanks, across bridges older than my country, through parts of my soul that I didn't know existed.  They lead me away from childish things, toward meaningful relationships and wisdom beyond my years, filling in the gaps.  I want to fold them all up like a clean sheet of paper and stash them away in every pocket I have.  And as I get lost walking these sidewalks, I step off the curb where fat, white letters remind me to LOOK!

April Love List

• blossoms on the trees
• sunny days
• rainy days
• friends returning home
• home
• Lyvie
• camping
• substitute teaching (usually)
• s'mores
• playing games
• reading and finishing books
• peanut butter bars
• campfires
• swimming
• TULIPS
• new books
• going for walks
• watching intense basketball games (go jazz)
• crepes with strawberries
• walking around anthropologie
• art
• my songwriting class
• my mom (HAPPY birthday!)

Lately

• officially graduated from college
• substitute teaching
• tutoring 2 fantastic girls
• accepted an offer to teach third grade at Canyon Rim Academy (hip hip!)
• thrift store shopping for books and classroom stuff
• getting ready for AFRICA-- 24 DAYS
• putting together another concert- May 9th
• camping with the fam over Easter

Lots of very good things.

spring does not get out of order

...but sometimes other things do.  From the brilliant e.e.cummings: 

there are so many tictoc

clocks everywhere telling people

what toctic time it is for

tictic instance five toc minutes toc

past six tic

Spring is not regulated and does 

not get out of order nor do

its hands a little jerking move 

over numbers slowly

we do not

wind it up it has no weights

springs wheels inside of 

its slender self no indeed dear

nothing of the kind.

(So, when kiss Spring comes

we'll kiss each kiss other on kiss the kiss

lips because tic clocks toc don't make

a toctic difference

to kisskiss you and to 

kiss me)

epiphany #3

Tomorrow is really my last day of sixth grade and of college.

March Love List

• teaching
• springtime
• haircuts
• strawberries
• sleeping in
• family parties
• vacations
• making plans
• reading novels with my class
• Lyv
• cardigans
• popcorn and smoothies
• tulips
• postcards
• new clothes
• preparing for Africa
• sweetart jelly beans
• the Temple
• poetry (especially written by my students)
• globes
• skiing
• going on walks
• new makeup
• phone calls
• finishing projects
• camping trips
• looking forward to Hebgen
• learning new things

with flying colors

So many good things are happening in life.  

Not the least of which include: 

• completing and presenting my teacher work sample (I passed! and may now be a teacher AND a college graduate)
• being offered a (very good) position
• feeling like my students will miss me when I'm gone
• looking forward to camping over Easter
• B and E getting sealed this weekend
• Bay being accepted into the Governor's Honors Academy
• looking forward to Africa
• looking forward to getting a haircut on Friday

are you happy?  do you know it?  (clap your hands)

epiphany #2

I'll be gone from student teaching in a two weeks and two days.  

and then I go to AFRICA in May! 

but I haven't planned much for the in-between time..... what do I do?

go green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

(hope it's lucky)

join me

...for Pi(e) Day!

The details: 

3.14 (Saturday)

7:23 pm

at the Bowthorpe residence

bring pie if you like

call me if you are coming

epiphany #1

I only have 4 more weeks of sixth grade.  

happy?  sad?  fast.

you gotta be sincere

Bailey shared this with me.  So worthwhile.

green eggs and ham

Happy Dr. Seuss Day!   It was March 2, 1904 that Theodore Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts.  Today we pay tribute to his 105th birthday.  What a classy guy.  Did you know that the book Green Eggs and Ham was written on a bet that he could not write an entire book only using 50 words?  And now that book is the fourth best-selling English-language children's book of all time.  Pretty hip.  

Do you like green eggs and ham?  Do you like them, Sam-I-am?

I don't know what I don't know

Things I do know today: 

• how to teach astronomy
• how to drive a manual
• how to type using the right fingers
• how to play some chords on the guitar
• how to get ready in 45 minutes
• how to plan lessons
• that I like to talk to my family
• how to write essays
• how to ski
• how to listen
• that I need to clean my room
• that I miss London
• how to spell "definitely"

Things I don't know today: 

• what to do when students cheat
• how to keep my energy up after teaching all day
• when to clean my room
• what to teach in reading (now that we've finished The Phantom Tollbooth) 
• how to play chess
• when I can exercise (and how to get motivated)
• how to be witty
• about the economy, or politics
• how to cure cancer
• how to have a budget without an income
• how to redesign my blog

how was your valentines day? and president's day?  what else do you know?  tomorrow is friday.  84 days until I go to Africa.  

February Love List

• naps
• Institute
• strawberries 
• emails
• my computer
• phone calls
• reading
• nilla wafers with milk
• "family treat night"
• Signs of Hope
• teaching
• fresh snow
• valentines day
• president's day
• listening to James Taylor
• reading blogs
• crafts or projects
• homemade ice cream
• short day at school
• globes and maps
• warm showers
• new magazines
• hearing my students' ideas
• old movies
• Lyvia
• good music
• learning new things
• recess

vote

Hey all-- my dad (my biggest fan) convinced me to submit one of my songs to a music contest.  Please vote at this website.  All you have to do is register your email, and then you can vote for my song once a day!  Spread the word to your family and friends... I need all the votes I can get. Thanks for your support.

happy February

What a lovely month: groundhogs, presidents, and valentines.  In honor of the latter, here is a thought I liked from a book I've never read-- 

The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the mediocre and the vile can be transformed, and (c) doing that makes it that.  Loving makes love.  Loving makes itself.  We waste time looking for the perfect lover instead of creating the perfect love.  Wouldn't that be the way to make love stay? --from Still Life With Woodpecker, by Tom Robbins

January Love List

• birthdays
• pie
• skiing
• playing guitar
• when sixth graders get enthused about something
• teaching astronomy
• teaching reading
• just teaching in general
• fresh snow that I don't have to drive in
• my electric blanket
• wearing slippers
• sleeping in my own bed
• hanging out with my family
• leftovers
• phone calls
• good movies
• peanut butter in individualized packages
• good ideas
• pears
• getting ready for Africa
• getting together with old friends
• Lyvia
• old-school books (when was the last time you read James and the Giant Peach or Mrs. Piggle Wiggle?)
• playing games with B and E, especially "hand and foot"
• laughing
• singing
• socks
• resolutions

luckily

luckily, I'm feeling better today. (thanks to all for your well-wishes)  

luckily, I like sixth graders.  

luckily, my mom is awesome and she is washing all my sheets.

luckily, I found a refrigerator box that will eventually be a tollbooth. 

and luckily

tomorrow is the holiday!

all day

I have had the flu.  

I don't like missing out on sixth grade especially-- but also things like water, food, and the will to do stuff.  I hope you all are healthy and washing your hands a lot (because it is NOT fun to be sick).  

that sister of mine, she's a good mom

When I'm a mom, I hope I'm like my sister Bryttin.  

Bryttin is a lovely cook.  She always experiments with new recipes, adds her own special touches, and never fails to produce something simple and delicious.  I aspire to be as good a cook as she (though I am drearily far behind in that department...).  

Bryttin is amazingly organized.  Her basement has shelves with labeled boxes for my niece's toys.  Her kitchen is small, but she makes it work with a place for everything and everything in its place.  Her refrigerator is impeccably easy to navigate.  When I moved home, I had her come help me to organize and get rid of junk. She is the master of organization without being obsessive about it.

Bryttin is an active mother.  I think sometimes young mothers tend to use their children as an excuse.  Not Brytt-- she is always getting Lyv ready and taking her on interactive outings.  She is constantly out and about seeing and experiencing new things with her little girl; or, sometimes she finds fun things to do while at home.  I see some of that curiosity (and even a little mischief) in Lyvie sometimes and I love it.  

Bryttin is frugal.  I am amazed at the money she saves and the sensible way she shops.  I mean seriously--she's phenomenal.  Check out her new blog!  

Bryttin is always bringing our family together for dinners, parties, or even afternoons out running errands.  I love it when she brings Lyv down and we get to laugh at all the new things she is learning.  I love having "sisters night" and watching the world's stupidest movies.  I love watching the 24th of July fireworks on their back deck.

Here's to Bryttin--the greatest sister/mom/friend/wonder woman in the universe!  I hope you know how much I love you and look up to you.  

eleven days

...it is quickly approaching!

it's all in how you look at things

It is 2009!  Happy New Year to all.  

I'm teaching sixth grade and learning a lot.  I'm definitely not in third grade anymore...  It has been quite the adjustment, but I am looking forward to the experience.  I get to teach a unit on one of my favorite novels, The Phantom Tollbooth.  An excerpt that I found quite profound today: 

"Isn't it beautiful?" gasped Milo.  

"Oh, I don't know,"  answered a strange voice. "It's all in the way you look at things."  

"I beg your pardon?" said Milo, for he didn't see who had spoken.  

"I said it's all in how you look at things," repeated the voice.  

Milo turned around and found himself staring at two very neatly polished brown shoes, for standing directly in front of him (if you can use the word "standing" for anyone suspended in mid-air) was another boy just about his age, whose feet were easily three feet off the ground.  

"For instance," continued the boy, "if you happened to like deserts, you might not think this was beautiful at all."  

"That's true," said the Humbug, who didn't like to contradict anyone whose feet were that far off the ground.    

"For instance," said the boy again, "if Christmas trees were people and people were Christmas trees, we'd all be chopped down, put up in the living room, and covered with tinsel, while the trees opened our presents."  

"What does that have to do with it?" asked Milo.  

"Nothing at all," he answered, "but it's an interesting possibility, don't you think?"