March 31: Visiting Teaching

Tonight I met up with my Visiting Teaching coordinator to do our report for the month and get next month's groups ready. Being RS president has given me a better testimony of visiting teaching. I will admit that before now my visiting teaching record was intermittent at best. I was even worse at reporting to my supervisor. Now I realize how important it all is. As president, I can't go out and see every sister in the ward every month. I need the visiting teaching groups to meet and report back so I know what is going on in their lives. I would love to be able to celebrate all the accomplishments and help with every difficulty, but I can't if I don't know about them. I wish every sister could have this experience so that we would all be focused on the relationships that can be built through visiting teaching instead of just trying to get a quick conversation in on the last day of the month.

March 30: A Sweet FHE

The wives of the bishopric were in charge of FHE tonight. They shared their favorite dessert recipes and showed us how to make them. Yum! There was cake, waffle cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and other fabulous treats. Krissy and I were especially impressed with Sister Jensen's technique for making chocolate bowls. We decided we are going to try to make them for Sarah's bridal shower. We were all on sugar highs at the end of the night, but it was worth it.

March 29: My Sunday Schedule

Since being called as Relief Society president in my ward, my Sunday schedule has changed quite a bit. I used to take the phrase "a day of rest" quite literally. Now Sunday afternoon naps are a thing of the past. Today was one of the craziest Sundays I've ever had. We had a stake meeting this morning at 7 am (I will admit I dozed for a few minutes at the end of it), then we had meetings with our bishopric after that. Of course there were the three hours of church followed by choir practice. I had just enough time after that to run home and get the food I needed for our Relief Society Leadership meeting which started at 4 pm. After that meeting was over I had to quickly drive down to Draper for a family shower for Mike and Lauren (I don't think you call it a bridal shower when both the bride and groom are there). A couple hours later it was back in the car to head back for ward prayer. I'm exhausted even writing this all down. Luckily all Sundays aren't quite this busy!

March 28: Babysitting

Kim asked me to watch Zac while she and Jon went to the temple today. Hmmm...let me think about it...
Of course I said yes.

Zac and I had a great time today. We went for a walk while I pushed him in the stroller. Then we walked around my parking lot while Zac pushed the stroller. We played, had dinner, and cuddled in the rocking chair. So much fun!

March 27: Improv

The Improvables are an improv group that has been performing at Rodger's Memorial Theater in Centerville for a few months. I have a couple of friends from my ward that are part of the group. It has become an unofficial weekly ward activity for some of us to gather at Rodger's and watch improv. I love it because it makes me laugh, which is a great release after a long week at school. There are some games that make me laugh so hard I get tears. I have to say I really admire their talents. Anyone who can stand on a stage in front of an audience and think of funny things to say on the spot is pretty impressive in my book.

March 26: Relief Society Birthday

Our Enrichment night tonight was a celebration of the Relief Society. Tracy and her committee planned a nice dinner and some service projects. We tied quilts and made puppets for the Humanitarian Center. I appreciated the opportunity to do some service. It was a great way to celebrate the purpose of Relief Society--that is what charity is all about, loving and helping others. Having some fun while doing it is just icing on the cake.

March 25: President Reports

My students completed their PowerPoint presentations on U.S. Presidents today. We invited parents to come and see them in the computer lab. I remember when I did reports in elementary school. It was all done in my own handwriting on lined paper. I love that technology gives kids a chance to add some color and excitement to a report. Most of my students did a great job, I am excited to look over them.

March 24: My New Favorite Thing

I got this purse clip in Disneyland a month ago, but I just started using it, and I LOVE IT! I don't lose my keys in the dark recesses of my purse anymore. What a lifesaver! Plus, it's in the shape of Mickey and it glitters, could you ask for anything more? I don't think so!

March 23: 4th Term

This school year is flying by! I can't believe that I spent today getting ready for 4th term. It seems like yesterday that these kids were walking into my door for the first time. I really like this last term, even though it always feels like it lasts three times as long as the others. I like the pace we get to keep and how we wrap up the school year. Only 48 more school days...but who's counting?

March 22: Draper Temple Dedication

The Draper, Utah Temple was dedicated today. The dedication was broadcast to meeting houses all over Utah so anyone who wanted to participate could. It was a great experience to go to my building and be part of the historic occasion. The Draper Temple is special to my family. My parents live in the temple district so they've volunteered at the open house and they are going to be temple workers; plus my brother's getting married there in just over a month. There was such a peaceful, sacred feeling in the meeting this afternoon when we all joined together to sing "The Spirit of God" and listen to the dedicatory prayer. I can't wait to go do a session down there.

I didn't take this picture. It's from the Church News and it is of the cornerstone ceremony. It's the best I can do since you can't take pictures during the dedication.

March 21: Boy in the Striped Pajamas

I have a slight obsession with historical fiction that revolves around World War II. Is that morbid? There are so many great books that are centered around that time period though. Some of my favorites include Number the Stars, Daniel's Story, Traitor, All But My Life, The Book Thief, Parallel Journeys, The Devil's Arithmetic, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Tonight I watched the movie version of "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" with my sister. The book and the movie give an interesting perspective into the Holocaust. The story is told through the eyes of a young boy whose father is put in charge of a concentration camp. The boy is completely unaware of what his father does and befriends a boy on the other side of the barbed wire fence, a boy who wears striped pajamas. This isn't a lighthearted book or movie, you may shed a few tears like my sister did, but they really make you think about how we as a human race treat each other. I recommend both.

March 20: Fractions!!!

We are in the middle of our fraction unit at school right now. Fractions, for some reason, are hard for some 5th grade minds to grasp. Why does a bigger number on the bottom indicate a smaller fraction? Doesn't that go against basic logic? And, why do you have to have a common denominator to add or subtract, but not to multiply? I'm just glad I don't have to teach them how to divide fractions. I mean, multiply one fraction by the reciprocal of the other fraction doesn't really sound like division, does it? Yes, fractions are fun!

March 19: Celebrating Sarah

My good friend and secretary, Sarah, is having a birthday this weekend. We decided to take her out for dinner tonight. (Unfortunately, Krissy was sick, that's why she isn't in the pictures.) We had a great meal at Chili's and then we met up with Sarah's fiance, Joe, and other members of our ward to go to a musical. Rodger's Memorial Theater was performing "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and our friend Megan was in it. The show was awesome and we had a great time, even if Tracy and I had to sit on the opposite side of the theater from Sarah and Joe. Actually, that was really okay because we can only take so much of their cute engaged-ness. It's a good thing they get married in a month!

Happy Birthday, Sarah! You are an amazing person and I love working with you. It is a blessing to call you my friend.

March 18: Mrs. Utah

My friend Emily is Mrs. Utah 2008-09. She has been doing a lot of speaking engagements as part of her Mrs. Utah responsibilities. Last fall she spoke to my ward Relief Society and did a great job, so when my mom needed a speaker for her Enrichment night I suggested she call Em. She did, and tonight my sisters and I went down to Sandy to hear Emily speak on accepting and overcoming trials. It was a wonderful presentation. I admire her speaking abilities; I always get tongue-tied in front of a crowd, but she is in her element when she has an audience. Family, friends, and a great message--what a great way to spend an evening!

March 17: Lucky!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Don't you love the cool shamrock glasses? I only get to wear them once a year, but they always get a great reaction from the kids at school. I can only have them over my eyes for a little while though, because the world in green gives me a headache. I guess I couldn't live in the Emerald City! Normally, celebrations for St. Patrick's Day aren't all that special, but this year Emily invited me over for a special dinner. Emily loves to celebrate holidays, and she went all out for this one. She cooked all day and there was TONS of food: Corned Beef and Cabbage, Cabbage Rolls, Irish Soda Bread, Green JELLO, Potatoes, Shamrock Cookies, and Pistachio Pudding dessert. Holy cow! I did try at least a little of everything. I can honestly say now that I am not a huge fan of corned beef, but I did enjoy everything else. Thanks, Em, for a great night!

March 16: Stop for Yogurt

Frozen yogurt has been a favorite treat for my family for a long time. We used to beg our parents to take us to a little place called Paradise Yogurt when we were young. There haven't been many yogurt places around for a while, but my sister Kim introduced the rest of the family to Yogurt Stop a year ago. It quickly became a favorite.

Imagine how excited Michelle and I were when one opened in Bountiful. We went all the time until winter, but tonight was the first time I had been in a while. The best thing about Yogurt Stop is that it is completely self-serve. You can mix and match your yogurt flavors and toppings. If you want half strawberry, half peach with ten gummy bears and a spoonful of chocolate chips covered in hot fudge, you can have it. Or maybe you feel like a mixture of chocolate and mint yogurt with graham cracker crust, seven peanut M&Ms, and strawberries--it's yours! The sky's the limit. So, if you ever feel like frozen yogurt, just let me know. I'll be happy to go with you!

March 15: The Peacegiver

I first read this book last fall for a book group my friend and I were doing. It is an amazing book. The author uses an allegory to give insights into several scripture stories. He presents ideas that I hadn't ever thought of before and he uses the stories to show how Christ can help us through our difficult times. I loved the book so much that I am now rereading it and marking it up in the margins. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a way to find peace in their life. It is a must read.

March 14: Locked Out

Today was going to be a productive day. I was going to go in to school for a couple of hours and get caught up on cleaning some things in my classroom. I had it all planned out. As I was ready to leave my house I realized that I didn't have my classroom key. So frustrating!!! I even tried to call another teacher who was going into school so she could grab the custodian and have him open my door for me. She just missed him. Oh well! I guess that means I can relax and have the weekend off.

(That sounds good today, but I will regret it on Monday!)

March 13: Shoes: A Love/Hate Relationship

This post was prompted by the fact that more than half the contents of my shoe shelves were in my living room and I finally put them away today. The love comes from the fact that I have a compulsion to buy new ones all the time. I have to limit my excursions to Famous Footwear because I can always find a pair I like.
The hate comes from the fact that I hate to actually wear shoes, no matter how cute they are. I know its crazy, but I would rather go barefoot all the time. I can't wait for spring when I can wear sandals and my feet aren't confined in socks and shoes constantly. Hence the reason there is a shoe pile in my living room--I take them off as soon as I walk in the door. My sisters would tell me that I have to warn you when my shoes do come off. It's another reason I hate shoes: they make my feet smelly. I guess you are all now forewarned!

March 12: Some Well Deserved R & R (on the couch I hate)

So I have to admit that I crashed after the exhausting experience of putting on our program. I relaxed on the couch all night and just vegged. Boy, did it feel good-except for the fact that I hate my couch. It is ugly and only slightly comfortable!

So, why do I have it? Because it was free.

When I moved into my apartment I didn't have any living room furniture. My sister knew somebody who was trying to get rid of a couch and some chairs before moving. I went over and offered to pay her, but she said that I could just have them if I moved them out of her house. There's no better deal than that, so until I drag myself to RC Willey or some other furniture store, this is best it gets.
And when that day finally comes I will NOT be looking for a couch with flowers OR stripes.

March 11: 5th Grade's Excellent Adventure through American History

Today the 5th grade put on an amazing performance! I was so proud of these kids, they did a fantastic job. We have been learning songs and rehearsing since December, and today every minute was worth it. We memorized thirteen songs about events in American history and every student had a part of some kind. Some kids spoke about using the "time machine" to go back in history, some kids acted out the events described in our songs, and some had solo singing parts. Everyone knew their parts, everyone looked great in their costumes, and we all had a great time.

Bravo!

March 10: Praise for Generous People

This picture is of my praise board at school. My kids are encouraged to find qualities and actions of their peers to praise. It helps us to look for the positive in one another.

I would like to write my own praise note today.

We are trying hard to get ready for our big 5th grade production this week and the sound system in our gym wasn't working. We contacted Performance Audio about renting some equipment and the nicest guy, Terry, helped us out. First of all, he let us take the equipment last Friday, but only charged us for the two days we would need it this week. Then he took the time to make sure my friend would know exactly how to hook everything up and run it. The nicest thing he did today though. A guy from the District came to the school and showed us how to run our school's system with a remote. We called Performance Audio, and the nice man agreed to let us return the rented sound system and refund all of our money.

Who knew generous people still existed in the business world? If you ever need sound system equipment, I highly recommend Peformance Audio, they are great people to work with.

March 9: Rock Band

I was introduced to the game "Rock Band" last summer by some guys in my ward. I have played it with them many times since including tonight after FHE. It's a pretty fun game if I don't have to play the drums, I'm terrible at them. I do okay with the guitar on the easiest level, but I prefer to be the singer. That's not to say I'm great at it, I don't know many of the songs as a result of my limited exposure to rock music. The best thing would be if they would make a Country Rock Band version; I would probably want to play a lot more.

March 8: Ward Prayer Treats

Every Sunday night my single's ward gets together for an activity we call "Ward Prayer." It involves everyone answering an random question as a get-to-know-you activity (Where would you go to shop if you had unlimited funds for one hour? is an example), then we sing a hymn, someone shares a spiritual thought, someone else offers a prayer, and we have a treat that another person brings. Those who choose can stay to play games.

It is a typical single's ward experience, but it is usually fun. I had volunteered to bring treats tonight, so I decided to make muffins. Unfortunately, with my Sunday schedule, I didn't have time to make them before it was time to go to my mom's house. Luckily for me I have a nice mom who I knew would let me make a mess in her kitchen. I only took pictures of the boxes because I burned some of the muffins. I even had a timer set, but I guess that is just more proof of how bad of a cook I am--I mess up on muffins from a box. Oh well, people still ate them, but maybe next time I will just sign up to give the thought!

March 7: Kristen and the Tax Man

Isn't doing your taxes so much fun?! Well I'm lucky in that my tax man is my dad. Every year he puts a tax program on his computer and we all go down to do our taxes at his house. He helps me and all my siblings, his mom, and even some of our friends get our taxes done. Luckily my taxes don't take too long to do, but I really appreciate his help in making sure I've put all the information in correctly. Thanks Tax Man!

March 6: Joy & Luck & Yummy Food

Michelle and I went out to eat tonight at my favorite Chinese restaurant: Joy Luck in Bountiful. Joy Luck is one of those places where I get the same thing every time I go, even though Michelle makes fun of me for it.

Here's my dinner menu recommendation: You have to start with the cheese wontons for an appetizer to share. Then the tangerine chicken is the best main course on the menu, but sesame chicken, general tsau chicken, or teriyaki chicken are also good. You have to get brown rice instead of fried rice, it's so much better. You can choose to get the dinner combination if you really feel like an egg roll and a fried prawn, but ordering ala carte and sharing is a great way to go too.

Yum!

March 5: 5th Annual Math Night

Every year our school hosts a math night for families. Each grade level plans a different math activity for kids and parents to do together. It's a fun night even though it means I have to stay at school until after seven. This year 5th grade did a game called "Cover Up". To play the game you roll two dice. You can add, subtract, multiply, divide, or combine the digits to get a number on the board. The goal is to cover more numbers than your opponent. It doesn't sound too hard at first, but there are only so many combinations that will equal certain numbers, and it gets harder to cover numbers the longer you play. It's pretty fun though. We had several families stay to play for a while.

March 4: Mike is Engaged!

So it's been unofficial for a while, but my brother's engagement finally became official yesterday. Mike proposed to Lauren after sending her on an all-day scavenger hunt. I was amazed at how romantic my brother could be--he put a lot of time and thought into preparing a special event that they will both remember forever. I am so happy for Mike and Lauren. They are a great couple and we are so excited to have Lauren in our family!

March 3: Slippers

I wore these slippers at school yesterday for Dr. Seuss day, and I always get so many comments on them so I decided to add them to the blog. They're pretty cool, right? I think I got them for Christmas from my cousin many years ago.

How have they lasted so long? I am NOT a slipper wearer.

Some people love their big monkey slippers or their comfy moccasin slippers, but slippers make my feet feel claustrophobic. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. So today, these beauties are going back to the dark corners of my closet to wait for next year's Dr. Seuss celebration.

March 2: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Dr. Seuss Day is always a fun day in 5th grade.

We wear pajamas and slippers, eat breakfast, watch movies, bring pillows and blankets for a read-a-thon, solve crossword puzzles, and do math based on Green Eggs and Ham. How's that for a great day?

I love Dr. Seuss books because they have such great messages. You can learn a lot from the star-bellied Sneetches, Horton the Elephant, the Lorax, the Grinch, and even Sam-I-Am. Theodor Geisel was an amazing man who did a lot for children's literature. This is my friend, Mrs. Wood, who teaches 1st grade. Our classes are buddies and we got to read Dr. Seuss books together today.

March 1: The Amazing Race

So this isn't the BEST picture, but this is the BEST show on tv. I love watching people do crazy "ROAD BLOCKS" and "DETOURS" to get the clues that lead them to exotic places all over the world. I wish I could experience the joy of having Phil announce that I came in first at the "PIT STOP" and won a fabulous prize. I don't know that I could handle the pressure of being on the show, but I would love the opportunity to travel the world. Maybe someday I can do it for real, but for now watching teams like "the 'bama girls", "rainbow brite", and "mirna and schmirna" is pretty fun.