Hostas, Master's, Collage, Cell Phone, Glass Museum, National Boards, House, Wyoming, South Dakota, Rain, Hawaiian Day, June, Mowing, France

The past few weeks have been busy. Go figure.

Over Memorial Day weekend, I flew to SD to attend my cousins highschool graduation party in Casper, Wyoming. My parents and I drove to Casper together. Family road trip 2008. It really had it all: rest area pit stops, wind (always windy in WY), gas station snacks, music, magazines and photo stops at the SD and WY border. It was a good time.

After that adventure, I prepared for another Master's weekend. I had a few assignments still hanging over my head. (P.S. Mom and Dad assisted with one of the assignments while I was in SD; team effort to decorate bubble bottles). Finally, by Friday afternoon I was ready to go to class on Friday night. It was a long weekend, but had a blast with friends. One of our creations is pictured below. My friend and I cut 1/2" squares of textures from magazines to create a masterpiece we titled, Love Holds You. We started and finished it during the weekend (while we were in class. we are multitaskers) and presented it to Tricia (the lovely gal in the photo).

This week has been full of meetings, projects, just something going on every night. Tonight (6/6) we were able to meet up with some friends for dinner. Really, it was the only night available. Tomorrow I am attending a National Board orientation at PLU. I have offically been accepted to the National Boards program and the orientation tomorrow is just one piece of the puzzle. The university will provide support and guidance throughout the process.

Eight and a half more days of teaching. With all the rain, it doesn't seem like summer yet. Today was "Hawaiian Day" at school and my toes were ice cubes because I chose to wear flip flops. What was I thinking? Afterall, it is June 6th!

Enjoy the photos!

Chair that I stripped and stained to prep for a Master's project
Tricia and the collage we made for her
Front of the "project" house, ahhh I love the white paint
My grandma and I
Mara at the Relay for Life

Relay for Life

Maggie (on the left) and I carried Mara around the track during the Relay for Life. Mara was thrilled to have us carry her. The day of the relay they recieved news that the tumor is stable! It was a remarkable day. (www.maraadams.com)

What did you do this weekend?

We painted. And painted. And painted some more. You see, our rainy weather put a damper on our paint job. One side of the house was not quite dry when it started to down pour. Let's just say, we had to repaint that entire side the next day. We are completely done with two coats of the main color. On Sunday, I was able to get two of the window frames painted as well. It looks sooooo good.

In other news....there are only 22 days of school left! It seems very crazy to me. I have never, I repeat, never, stayed in the same building/classroom two years in a row. This year, I am going to do it! Usually by this time I am in limbo of what can get packed and what needs to stay out until the end of the year. Not this year!

We (Richard and I and other teachers at my school) are going to be participating in the Relay for Life this weekend. We are supposed to be having really good weather which pleases me. We are doing it especially to support of Mara. (www.maraadams.com).

Any spare moment...

I am recovering from a Master's weekend. This class is "Art and Culture in the Community." I am officially counting down the classes I have until graduation....3! I am still working on various projects at various times to meet various deadlines and various criteria. At times it is overwhelming, but mostly refreshing that I have almost completed my Master's degree. A Master's degree. Who would have thought?!



After getting out of class on Sunday, I met Richard over at the house we worked on last weekend. Most of it was ready to paint. Richard had been down there a few nights and all day Saturday getting it just right for paint. We chose a paint color one night within 5 minutes. I know, I know, us making a decision that fast? Well, we had been mulling it over for several months and once the paint samples were in front of us, wham, there it was...an actual decision! We were able to borrow a paint sprayer (thanks Cheryl and Mark!) and let's just say I am REALLY good at applying paint! Who would have thought?! Anyway, within minutes an entire side was done and back brushed. It was instant gratification at it's best. We almost finished until we noted that one side, near the top, had not been primed. We have to go back to do that and a second coat which won't take too much time and I will get to have the paint sprayer back in my hands! (thanks again, Cheryl and Mark!)



Below are the pictures I took yesterday! (Before I thought I locked my keys in the Jeep, but that's another story!) See the previous blog for the "before" pictures.

Whew!

Talk about a whirl wind weekend! Friday night I worked on my final, final Master's project. It was a late night, but Terry and I plowed through. Team Domination! On Saturday, we met some friends to work on one of our properties. The exterior needs painting and we went to prime, caulk, nail, scrape. Not in that order. It ended up almost all "primer white." Richard and I will spray it sometime this week...hopefully. The weather was great on Saturday and now we need to have that same weather to spray. On Sunday, I worked on my paper that was due today (got it done before lunch today!). Maggie and I also went to a meeting with the France kids. I got really excited! Even though the weekend was exhausting, it was really productive. Now I have a few days to gather my thoughts for class on Friday night! Whirl wind.

Love that "Job"

I have always said, "I teach for the entertainment." I have to say, much of my day I am entertained with personalities and lightbulb moments. To me, teaching doesn't seem like a "job" it's just what I do.

The past few days I have had a few "teacher moments" which other teachers really get. Yesterday, a student read a book to me and then I asked him to choose a friend to read it with as well. He is in resource room and has difficulty with simple words. He selected a student to read his book to; a student that is an exceptional in all areas. Now, the best part is how they interacted. The higher student accepted the lower student's abililties and assisted in reading the book in such a kind, gentle manner. Amazing. As I watched them together it took all I had to fight the tears from welling up. A magical moment in my eyes. Yet another reason I love being in a classroom. I shared this moment with the kind, gentle student's mom today. She was thrilled. Overwhelmed. Wanting to freeze time. Truly amazing parents that are raising an amazing child.

Believe me when I say this is just ONE of the many moments I have the opportunity to be a part of each day.

Shake, Shake! 4 Master Marathon Months Left!

Today marks the end of another Master's weekend marathon! Four class gatherings left (May, May, June and July). The past two months the course has been Music. I was dreading this class the most, but it actually turned out to be super fun and relevant to my classroom. One of our assignments was to create a musical instrument. Last week, I spent some time creating maracas using a lightbulb as a form. It started out just fine until I realized I could buy a plastic pear, drill a hole and fill. But no, I kept going. Once the plaster of paris was dry, I added the brown color using a paper napkin. It started out just fine until I realized it looked like a potato.(first picture) But, I kept going. Finally, I added the design. (second picture) Now, it just looks like a half painted potato. But, if you shake it, it doesn't sound like a potato, it sounds like a maraca! It was quite the process and the end result was another completed assignment!
This upcoming week is Spring Break. I have plans to work on my final Master's project. Even though it is not due until the end of July, I will be gone for 3 weeks in between classes. Might as well continue the Master's marathon!