ITLS 4015 blog assignment

So, I have already decided that I am using a blog or some other type of online form to keep what my class is working on when I become a teacher. I especially hope to be able to post math lessons and whatever else would help parents and students keep up with what is happening in the classroom. I think that it will be a great resource for students that miss a day. They can go back and get the lessons and what they are maybe missing. It will also be a great resource for parents, especially for math. If there is homework that the students are having a hard time understanding the parents could get onto the blog and see the lesson.
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was little. I questioned my decision for a few years but have now committed myself and excited to become a teacher in a few years. The more time that I spend in the classrooms I get more excited. I can not wait until I get my own classroom. When I think about working I want this type of work. It seems fun, challenging, entertaining, rewarding and it allows me to still be a mom to my kids. I will be home at night, on the weekends, on holidays and during the summer. I am realistic and know that a teacher's job isn't an 8 to 5 type of job.
I have really enjoyed the practicum experiences that I have had this semester. I have been able to see two different classrooms in operation. It has helped me try and shape what I want my classroom to look like and what type of teacher I want to be. I haven't completely decided but I am getting a little bit better idea. One thing I know for sure is I will be using technology as much as I am able to in my classroom. I think that using technology will get the students more engaged and interested in what we are learning.

Three URLs for educational blogs that could be inspiration for me:
http://room9nelsoncentral.blogspot.com/
http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/
http://5thgraderocks5thgraderules.blogspot.com/

Christmas 2011 pictures

On Sunday December 11th, the kids drew pictures in Primary about a Christmas song that they were learning.

Beck drew a very good picture of baby Jesus in the manger with the Star.

Hunter drew a very good picture of the Wise Men following the Star to find the baby Jesus.

Gavin's teacher told him to draw an angel or a star. Can you tell what he drew?

It is Patrick Star!!!

I have been laughing all week about it. I don't know whether to look at it as we watch too much Spongebob or Gavin is super creative. I don't know who else would have thought about drawing Patrick when they were told to draw a star.

Blog

So I have been trying to figure out what to do with my blog.

At first I was going to try and share our lives with family that doesn't live close. But as I started Facebooking, I found that more of my family was on FB so I started using FB more. Then I decided that I was going to use my blog as a personal journal type thing and set it as private. I hope that I didn't offend anyone in setting it private and not inviting anyone to it. I didn't invite anyone. It was only me.
But now I think that I am going to try and do both. I still enjoy the way the blog is kind of like a journal. So right now, I plan on trying to post to my blog once in a while and FB to keep up with friends and family. As you can tell, I change my mind on things and have a hard time saying this is how it is going to be forever. So...........I am back for now. Don't plan on anything too big for a couple more weeks until my semester is over. I am going to be busy the next couple of weeks trying to get everything done that I have procrastinated until the end. : )

Hunter's Baptism

This last Saturday was one of my favorite days. The main reason was because my second son Hunter was baptized.

Here he is with his dad right before the baptism.

Here is a picture of our family before Hunter was baptized

It was such a special day because Hunter is such a fantastic kid. He has such a sweet spirit and was so excited to finally be able to be baptized. He set a fantastic example for his little brothers and now they are super excited to be baptized too. Hunter was excited because he knew all of the other kids that were getting baptized that day with him. There were 8 kids that were baptized that day in our stake. We were also very lucky and excited to have so many of our family there to share this special day with us.

After Hunter was baptized and confirmed we headed to our church and had a small breakfast.

Our family after the baptism

Stephen and I with Hunter

Hunter with Grandpa and Cindy Walker, Rose and Derek

Hunter with aunt Heidi

Hunter with Grandma Walker

Hunter with Grandma Draper (Grandpa Draper was lucky enough to be able to see the baptism but had to leave to go to work before breakfast. So he isn't in the pictures but he was there.)

Hunter with aunt Jenney and cousin Kandie

Hunter with uncle Nick and aunt Shauntae and his cousins Ethan, Austin, and Matthew

Thanks everyone for coming and sharing this special day with us. We are so very proud of Hunter and his decision and know that this only the beginning of a life long of wonderful decisions.

We love you Hunter!

The NEW me

I have never colored my hair in my entire life. I almost did when I turned 30 but chickened out. I am not really picky about my hair and I go a long time between hair cuts so I didn't want it to look funny with roots that needed to be done. But every once in a while I would look at someone's hair and think, "I would like my hair to look like that." With the help of my husband and sister-in-law, I decided to try it and get highlights.

Here I am before (don't pay attention to the basketball hoop behind my head)

Look how long my hair had gotten. (Jenney and I tried to figure out when the last time I had gotten my hair cut and we couldn't remember. So it had been a LONG time!)

So after dinner on Sunday, Jenney went to work.

This is after the highlights. Then Jenney cut my hair. I told her to take off about 6 inches. I was getting tired of laying on my hair.

Here I am after with just a fast blow dry.

The back

I wanted to see the difference between the before pic and after. Since I was wearing a barrette, I decided to see what I looked like.

Stephen says that you can see the difference better from the side. You really can see the difference.

Even though it is just a slight difference, I really like it. The biggest change I saw was on Monday, the day after. I decided to see what my hair looked like curled. Here it is. My hair has never curled very well and the curl usually falls out within a couple of hours. But I curled my hair and it stayed all day with only my usual amount of hairspray, which isn't very much. I was impressed.

Thanks Jenney! I love it!

There was some bleach left when I was done so Jenney gave Kylan some tips.

This was his first time doing anything like this to his hair too. It is subtle but he really likes it!

School lunch

My kids have always been excited to start first grade. There are many reasons but one of the biggest is that they get to eat lunch at school. This year Hunter loves eating school lunch.

Hunter also is always thinking of others and trying to make everyone happy. One day he remembered that his Grandpa Draper likes sloppy joes. Stephen and I are not big fans of these but Hunter loves them when they are served at school. So he invited his Grandpa D to lunch the next time they had sloppy joes. Even though Grandpa had to work that day, he took his lunch hour during Hunter's lunch time.

Thanks Grandpa! The boys loved eating lunch with you.

Another one of Hunter's favorite things is recess. He and his friends make up the cutest little games. Recently, they made up a game that requires them to put their legs into their shirt and walk around. You will have to ask him about all the details but he says that it is a really fun game.

Here he is trying to go down the slide during this game.

And of course the little kids love play at Hunter's school with him. They beg me everyday to do it.

This ended up being one of Hunter's favorite days at school because Grandpa Draper came and ate lunch with him and his little brothers got to play with him at recess.

Movie Madness

We are not huge movie watchers compared to some people. But we do like to watch a movie occasionally. This weekend was a movie weekend for us.

Saturday, while my mom and sister and her son were visiting us, we watched "Astro Boy". It was a really cute movie and my kids just watched it again today. Thanks mom for buying it for the kids. If you haven't seen it and you have kids, especially boys, you should check this one out.

Then we watched "Fantastic Mr. Fox". Weird. I did not really like it and actually did not finish watching it. I had heard that it was good and a must see. But I say it is one you could miss.

Then, last night, we went to the theater (we only do this a couple times a year) and watched "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3D. It was great. We all loved it. Beck and Gavin had not been to a 3D movie before and loved wearing glasses to watch the movie. I was nervous with taking Gavin but he was the best behaved I have ever seen him. It was a fantastic night. I recommend going and seeing this movie.

Here are the kids with their glasses after the movie.