Look what the cat drug in

I got up this morning and found a bird in my livingroom. It kept running into the window and the mirror. While I was trying to get the frozen window open, it flew to the front door and kept running into it. I was finally able to open the front door and coax it to fly toward it. By bird. I checked the house becuase I was sure one of the kids had left a door open. But there was nothing open. So there must be a hole somewhere big enough for a bird to fly through! No wonder it is so cold in this house!

Did anyone see what I saw

I was watching Elder Worthlin's funeral Saturday, while I waited for an email from my professor, and saw a familiar face in the choir! Right there in the front row, the first man next to the women is a kid, now a man, I went to school with. I had to get out my year books but I found him. Depending on the year book his name is either David or Lyle Allen. MTC people are real people!!! I saw him again last night at the First Presidency's Devotional, front row, fourth man from the women,
Then at the end of the funeral, when the First Presidency and 11 of the Quorum of the 12 line up at the door and shake hands as the family leaves, I saw the Prophet shaking hands with one man like my teenage kids do. LOL I almost expected to see them bump fists!!
When I got home from school today, Steph was being extra urgent about me getting the car unloaded. I thought she must have to go to work or she wanted the car. As I was bringing in my last load she said "there is an envelope on the table for you." My first thought was okay so the mail came and there is something for me, big deal. Then taking into account her urgency to get the car unloaded, and I had asked her if she was supposed to work, I got more curious about the envelope on the table. Then I feared it was something from the courts, something more about the kids, visitation, my support.....When I looked at the envelop all that was written on the outside was "Karren" and poking out was money but I couldn't tell how much. I thought $20.oo. I was wrong! It was 10 times that-$200.00. No name, just "Karren." The kids were here when the envelope was dropped off but were pre-occupied so they didn't see who it was. Looks like they tried to desguise their handwriting 'cause it's real squiggley, like a sencond grader's. Thank you someone.

Science was better

Thanks for the suggestions Lori. I like the one about selecting a couple of students in the beginning of the lesson to gage student understanding of content so I can adjust accordingly early in the lesson.
I was really nervous about teaching the science lesson on Tuesday because all the students were doing was rubbing rocks together-for an hour!!! But it turned out really well. The students were engaged, excited, and active during the exploration phase of the lesson and attentive during the instruction phase. They had good questions that led perfectly into the next lesson. It was fun! My second science lesson, washing rocks, also went well.
However, my second Reading lesson and first Math lesson didn't go so well. I believe the content of the lessons is too easy, or in the case of the worksheet I typed, too hard. (Even though I took it right out of the teacher's edition) I should have used it as a whole class rhyming activity instead of an individual thing. But it is something I can bring out in a future lesson and do as a whole group activity. (maybe use "movie talk" where students answer as if in a silent movie-silent talking only)
I have either felt confident with the lesson or the classroom management. My goal is to have both lesson and classsroom management come togehter by the time I am done with this practicum. I think once the content of the lesson is up to the student's academic understanding I will half the battle one. I realize student behavior is not strictly based on a good lesson. But I feel that if they are interested they will be less likely to find other things to occupy their mind, hands, mouth, brains....
More to come as the practicum continues.

HELP

This blog is mostly for those of you who have more experience in the classroom than I. Today I taught my first lesson this semester. Can you picture a crash and burn? The lesson was a review for them but I didn't know that so the students were bored. Any suggestions? What classroom management techniques have worked in your classroom? When they have gotten loud and out of control what have you done to bring them back? I teach science tomorrow, then reading on Wednesday and alternate like that until Friday. I'm sure glad my advising professor didn't decide to come observe today!!!
Now some good stuff. Last week I asked Patrick and Stuart to give me a blessing because my back hurt. It more than just hurt, it was debilitating. I had hesitated to ask them because they were both just ordained an Elder less than 6 months ago, and I felt they weren't experienced enough to "say the right thing" so I could get a good blessing. I kept getting the impression to ask them because it's predicated on Faith not Experience. So finally I exercised my faith, got the blessing and am better. The lesson for me was about faith. It doesn't matter how long they have had the priesthood-it's the same priesthood whether the man has had it for 50 years or 50 minutes.
Last question, are there actually any "papers" involved in the mission papers? Paper as in-made from tree pulp. Stuart is supposed to fill out some forms online.

This is just a sample of the colors we have been seeing all week. They are so vibrant here. Check out my pictures for more.

Time to de-stress

Guess the stress balancing school and life is getting to me. I was looking over my schedule for next semester and realized I am going to have a lot of spare time. I'll have one class Wednesday night, another class Monday mid-day and the last class can either be Wed. mid-day or Wed. afternoon befor the night class. That's it. seven credits! When I was explaining to the kids, and thinking outloud about this I asked, mostly to myself, what am I going to do with all my time. I feel like I'll have a lot of wasted time. I can't really work in the school because the day classes are mid-day and I can't schedule any of them closer together because they are only offered during one time slot. To which Stephanie said, "Maybe you can de-stress."

Firsts

This was a weekend of firsts. Stephanie went on her first date! She went with one of her best friend's older brother's. (Brother to the friend she saw at BYU, Katie). A very nice, Utah-mormon family--not from Utah. It was a good date, one I hope she will hold as a standard for dates to come. Especially because I am sure she will date non-members. She seems to enjoy the idea that dating is for fun, "friends getting together to do something fun" not dating to find a steady partner. This could change as she dates more; or less and wants to date more. But for now she can enjoy having fun with friends. I wish I had understood the concept when I was her age. Poor Darrell.
Nathan was ordained President of the Deacon's quorum today. The past week was interesting to be able to guide him in choosing his counselors; to watch the process. "I don't think Joe and Timmy will get along if I chose them for my counselors." (They already DO NOT get along.)
Stuart was ordained an Elder and gave his first blessings the day before school started. The blessings he gave us were simple, basic, and tender. He cried more with each successive blessing as he felt and understood the promptings of the Spirit. Truthfully, expected the blessings to be very similar because of his inexperience. They were unique to each of us. (Oh, me of little faith.).

AMBER ALERT!!!!!!

HAVE YOU SEEN ME?

NAME: The Crazy Lady
FROM: Escondido, California
DATE MISSING: Monday, July 28 2008
LAST SEEN: "Utah Vacation"
DATE OF BIRTH: September 6
AGE: not too old and younger than her age
HEIGHT: taller than Leighann but shorter than Lynette
HAIR: brown
SEX: probably...she has four kids!
WEIGHT: none of your business...skinny...that is all you need to know
EYES: hazely green
DESCRIPTIVE FEATURES: Double jointed knees, pencil lead in eye brown, no ear piercings or any other bodily piercings (that I know of)

If you have any information or know where she might be please contact us immediately. She has been know to frequent other blogs, leaving comments but her specific whereabouts are unknown.

REWARD: A generous reward has been offered by her parents of salt, garden fresh vegetable, family group sheet and insect identification. If found blogging fresh homemade bread is included with the aforementioned reward.

I was just thinking

This summer I had a chance to do some things I haven't been able to do in quite a long time. Seemed like forever!!! I planted a garden and did some sewing. These two activities made me think about when I had more time for these things...like when my kids were small...like when I wasn't in school. Then I thought about all my sisters and how they are living their lives right now. Although I felt, I know that what I am doing right now is the right thing for me. Aside from that, I could see how "back in the day I was raising my family" and they (my sisters) were going to school, I was finding all kinds of great recipes and doing all kinds of fun things with my kids, and my sisters were making meals from a box (remember the mac and cheese?) and going nowhere for any length of time. Now I cook meals from a box, or the kids do, we go nowhere for any length of time and my kids pretty much are on thier own. Meanwhile, my sisters are finding all kinds of great recipes and doing all kinds of fun things with their kids. Just something I have been thinking about. I can't wait to get back to having time to do some fun stuff.

All I can say in a minute

School has started. Stuart says he wants to go back to school! We were assigned 300 pages to read for one of my classes-due Monday morning!!! Stephanie loves her biology class and Nathan is feeling pretty secure about getting around the school now. He doesn't have the normal 7th grade schedule. He goes to the eighth grade house for math and science so he travels around the school throughout the day instead of staying in the 7th grade house all day. I knew he'd do fine. All four of my kids have given talks within the last month and I've been told they did a good job. I thought they did, but I'm the mom, I think they are the best.
Sunday, Patrick finally told me that he is preparing for a mission within the next year! He plans to be leaving the end of next summer. Then, Wednesday, Stuart had an appointment with the bishop. He has also started preparing to leave on a mission within the next year! I am soooo excited that this is their desire. I am not sure how I will be able to help them pay for it though since Paul got over half of the money that was set aside for their missions. times up I have homework to do.

I now have a gallery

I have just figured out how to make photo albums so I can share my pictures with everyone too. Ahh, I just realized I don't know how to connectd my albums to my blog page. Maybe cause it's 3:00 in the morning. I'll try again tomorrow after church. That is if I don't loose it out there in www land somewhere .

All those blogs

Wow, I am really impressed with the blogs I am seeing--and hearing. The music is neat, some day I'll figure how to make my blog more interesting.
The first blog I know about was from Lori, so I have to say--look what ya started. It's so neat to see the family chatting and I really have enjoyed all the pictures. Being so far away from everyone I know I miss out on A LOT so it is really great to see everyone in the pictures you have posted. I want to learn how to do that too.
Since I finished my summer classes, I have dug up all my unwanted iris' and gave them away on free cycle. (Again thanks to Lori for the connection with that group) I am in the process of getting rid of all my unwanted lillies. The ultimate goal is to find enough room around my yard to have a garden here instead of 2 miles away in the community plots. It takes too much time to run out there everyday to pick peas, beans and zuccini. I'll probably still use those plots to plan corn and carrots; the things that don't need much attention. So far I have found 198 square feet. I'm hoping my raspberries and asparagas will produce next year. My rhubarb did great and this is only the first full year it has been in the ground.
I found someone to rebuild the porch on the rental side of my house. It became an immediate must do when a friend's foot went through the floor! This handyman is also going to scrape and paint the house. I might even be able to get him to finish the repairs IN the apartment so I can get it rented out this year. The rent will sure be nice. I have been fore warned, the handyman is a drinker and doesn't always show up when he says he will and he seems to always need a little more of his pay--to buy gas. He does good work when he works. He rebuilt the porch in one day. Then he got "sick" for the next 2 days.
Next Tuesday, Stephanie, me, my assistant camp director and ten girls from our ward are going to girls camp. The theme for this year is Step forward and take your place: Spiritual bootcamp. I found some green camaflauge with silver sparkles for the camp shorts. So, the assistant camp directer and I made shorts for all the girls for "ward spirit day." I'll have to post a picture of us all in our shorts, sparkles, decals and all. Steph is a fourth year camper so she is doing the special overnight. The fourth year girls paddle out to the island and spend the night doing some reflecting and testimony building.

Feels so good

Yesterday was a great day for us. Stuart was ordained an Elder, and, of course, given the Melchezideck Priesthood. It feels so good to have the Priesthood in my home again.
Patrick was ordained an Elder the Sunday before he went to the hospital the first time back in May.
It is so good to see them progressing in the gospel after all the ups and downs they have gone through with the gospel in their lifes.
Patrick also got his Patriarchal Blessing last fast sunday. I know he felt the spirit witness things to him a couple of times during the blessing because of the things we talked about on the way home from his appointment with the Patriarch. All I can really say is -I am going to be a grandma. (NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE) He has things to do first.
During our talk on the way home he said he felt for a long time that Paul was not the only one I would marry. That surprised me because I don't think he has ever read my blessing, and that is something I have felt for many many years. Right now I am pondering how I can head the admonition to "remember [my] first and primary responsibility rests in the home as a mother" and still go to school because now I need to provide for my kids. Somethings are so confusing.
As for the relax/don't work so hard...The kids and I went camping for the fourth of July. It was really nice, I could have spent another day or so. I didn't get any of the things done that I should have (homework). I just sat around the camp site and visited with a friend. Today I should have spent the day studying for tomorrow's test. Instead I spent 2 hours in my garden, did some home work at that same friend's (I needed to play some phonics games with her kids) then I tried to study but spent the last few hours weeding my flowerbeds. I don't know if it was relaxing or not. The gardening should have been but I kept thinking about the test I should have been studying for. Like I have heard it said, everything gets more important than finals. Oh well, I have all night. hehehe

So what do you think it is?

Ok, so, back in December around finals time, I took an hour out of my day to go to the dr. to find out what the bumpy patch of skin on my temple was. He diagnosed and treated it as a fungus. It imediately went away with one application of the med. Then during christmas break I got a similar but VERY itchy patch on my wrist. I went back to the dr's office, saw a new dr. and he diagnosed it as something I needed to see my family dr about. So I made the appointment, an my family dr. made a maybe diagnosis of scabies or dry skin; and treated both. The rash got worse, but I continued to treat the dry skin with the awful goo he perscribed, which didn't seem to make much difference. Yesterday I saw another dr, the fourth, a dermitologist this time, he diagnosed it as hives and gave me a year perscription for claritan and samples of the "new and refined zertec." Seems like they are all guessing. Anyone else want to take a guess. It is extreemly itcy-like flea bites-especially first thing in the morning and when I get hot or stressed. The itchy feeling comes before the little white bumps. They come after I start scratching and look like headless zits. The "zits" go away within 15 minutes of me not sctrathcing.
All this started after I took the moldy insulation out of my bedroom ceiling. The second dr. said the rash was not from the insulation since I was so covered up when I took it out. (Hood, gogles, gloves, cover-up suit, breathing mask...) Soooo, any guesses/diagnosis?

linking?

Can anyone help me with linking your blogs to my blogsite? I want to be able to go to your blogsites from mine, like on Randon and Lori's sites.

What's new

I have really been enjoying everyone's blogs. I have spent way too much time scanning through the Marutz's pictures, but enjoyed every one of them. It was fun to see Jacob walking and Belle with Belle.
Asside from spending way too much time on the computer, I have been revamping the apartment in hopes of attracting a better pool of renters. One couple came high on something! I have been doing the painting, stripping, and tub surround myself, so it's s-l-o-w going. A ward member/carpenter is helping me with suggestions for fixing the renter's porch.
I am also planting a garden this year. Stuart actually went out and helped me put in half of it. I had to quit when he suggested it or I fear he will never go out in the garden again. He planted the cantalopes-cause he loves cantalope. He got really excited when we were planting the corn because he thought the pink corn seeds would produce pink corn! he he. Then he wanted to plant popcorn! (He LOVES popcorn) I think he'd plant pizza too if he could.
Nathan came home Monday afternoon from a sleep-over and announced in a proud voice that he had just done his first all nighter; about 10 minutes later he was asleep.
My summer classes started yesterday. It's a good thing I started reading the text last month. The pace is soooo fast. We are discussing behavior and behavior modification methods. From what I understand we will be selecting a behavior in ourselves to monitor and a supposed behavior in a pretend student to modify. If this were during the semester, I think there is an actual student for each university class member to work with.
I'll see if the kids can put some pictures this week on during all their free time.

Spring Break

Well, it is supposed to be Spring Break. Monday we got about an inch and a half of snow, and Friday we got about two more inches. At this point in the season I am not shoveling it off the driveway though. It all melts within a day or two so I figure why kill my back when it's going to melt so soon. I'm so sick of snow. I am ready to plant my garden. I took a walk around my yard, cleaning up roofing debris from the re-roof job, and noticed I have a bunch of tulips and daylilies comming up. I couldn't tell if my apple tree made it through the winter or not.
I had all kinds of things planned for this week. Breakfast at 8:00, catch up on homework in the morning, free time in the afternoon to complete some of the projects around here, dinner together and a little more homework in the evening. Well, so much for the plan. We had breakfast the first two days. Then the plan fell to pieces. No one wanted to get up. Nathan got sick so he didn't feel like doing anything. Stuart spent the night at a friends and everyday on the computer. Stephanie slept in till noon or went babysitting.
The carpets didn't get cleaned, the table didn't get stripped, and the apartment didn't get rented, and my bedroom ceiling still has a big hole in it from where I took out the moldy insulation. Oh ya, and the homework is nowhere near being up to date. I did spend a day trying to fix the computer, after Patrick had already spent 2 days on it. It is definately faster but it still isn't right.
I have today and Monday to get the homework and projects done. I believe I am going to have to hire a handyman. I don't have the time or the know-how for the bedroom, the plumbing or the broken windows.
I did get my taxes taken care of though. So the whole week isn't a total wash.
Stephanie got her hair cut yesterday. She had enough cut off to donate to Locks of Love; and her hair is still shoulder length. I took some before and after pictures. She really likes her hair cut, just ask her. And "it smells so good."

Catching up

Since my last blog, Stephanie has had her wisdom teeth pulled, it has snowed and snowed and snowed and I think my car is fixed.
Steph's teeth were comming through but there was no room for them. Yes, she is a little young for this stage of the tooth game but that's typical for my kids. She is doing pretty good as far as the complaining goes, but she is still taking the vicadin a week after surgery. Not sure if that is normal. She says she is getting really sick of pudding and soup. She wasn't excited to go to school Monday with chipmunk cheeks, but she managed just fine.
The meteorologist says we have gotten more snow this year than he's seen in the last 10 years. That's about right. I remember one of the first winters we were in this house and having to lift the shovel about shoulder high when I was shoveling the driveway. I hope this is a good sign for my summer garden.
I really don't know what the real problem was with my van, other than age. I replaced the alternator again (second time in 6 months), and I was happy to realize it was still under warrenty. After I helped a friend put the new alternator in, we (he) decided that maybe the frost on the outside of the battery was why it wasn't starting. So after a night in the kitchen, I hooked up the battery and started the van. It ran for about 20 minutes and quite. After that I couldn't get it started , and ended up having AAA tow it to the mechanic. He just reset the anti-theft feature, and put in a quart of oil. The van has been fine all week. Boy do I feel silly for not checking the owners manual about the anti-theft.

Just trying things out

Hello everyone,
I think I just uploaded a picture of the court of honor that Stuart and Patrick received their Eagle Scout awards. Patrick earned his just before President Bush (W.) ran for a second term so he got his badge/pin but never had or wanted a court of honor. Stuart asked that Patrick be the one to present his (Stuart's) award to him. So, since Pat was there the Scout leaders arranged to present Patrick with his award at the same meeting. There were about four other Eagles awarded that night too. This all happened just before christmas.
Looks like it didn't work. I'll keep trying.
It has been really cold here lately, -12 plus a windchill. I thought of all you in California and other sunny, warm locations yesterday as I was shoveling the snow/ice off my driveway yesterday; dressed in about four layers plus my snowpants. Brrr! Lots of people didn't make it to church today, I suspect their cars didn't start or they decided it was just plain too cold to go outside.
Despite the cold and snow, there is a lot of green that can be seen in the state of Wisconsin right now! Go Packers. Although I am not a fan, I will be watching at least the kick off today. This game is being compared to the ice bowl of, I think, 1967.
I passed my latest class, which leaves me with 2 semesters and student teaching until graduation.

we had an exciting week

On Wednesday and Thursday a police officer knocked on our door to inform us that they were going to be doing some training in the neighborhood. (I don't know if that is a good thing or not) Within half an hour, the SWAT van pulled up infront of the house and the SWAT team piled out of the van and walked in formation behind the sheild to the house down the street. Stephanie took lots of pictures of Wednesday's crew. Hopefully she will upload them this weekend and I'll get some linked to here.

Gettin' started

Well here goes, I'll start with an intro. My goal is to update everyone within the few moments I find in my busy day.
I am taking a semester course in a three week time period so I can graduate a semester early. There's lots of homework every night. Then there are the kids' activities that keep me busy, not to mention church callings...
Pat, my oldest is in college, majoring in Athletic Training. I think he is a Sophmore. He has been on the university's swim team since he started college. He was a 3 sport athlete in high school and managed to enroll in 3 Phy Ed. classes his Senior year, as well lifeguarding each summer.
Stuart is a Senior and plans to go to Courdon Bleu culinary school after his mission to Japan. I am really proud of the way he has buckled down this year in school. He has also become quite the man around the house (car). It was a joy to see him exercise the priesthood and ordain Nathan last September.
Stephanie still loves school and is doing very well. Although she is finding the social life more exciting than the academics right now. She has been practicing her interior design skills in her bedroom. Everytime I peek in (that's all I am allowed), she has different things attatched to the walls.
Nathan is doing well in school. He has been put in two more-challanging classes and is getting the challange he needs. He still comes to sit on my lap once in a while (but never when he has company over), which I totally enjoy. I saw him reading Harry Potter again the other day. I think it is the 20th time for him.
Time's up.