January 31: Great Grandma

Today my extended family got together for a family reunion of sorts. The group included my grandpa's brothers and their families. These are people I know really well, which is kind of unusual. My grandpa's mother, my SWEET Grandma Alpha, used to have all of us over to her house on Sunday evenings. She passed away in 2000, and now we all get together only once in a while. My great-aunt did something really fun this time. She had all of us write down our thoughts and memories of my Grandma Alpha and send them to her. She put together a book of memories for all of us, including pictures.

Of course I cried when I started reading through it. Grandma Alpha has always been one of my FAVORITE people. She was a talented cook, artist, and she knew how to love people unconditionally. I really miss holding her hand and talking to her, but I know she is watching out for me still. I can't wait to read the entire book.

PS 18 days...

January 30: Game Day

No, this isn't a reference to the Super Bowl. 
(I don't even know who is playing on Sunday.)

My students got to have a game day today. They brought their favorite games to play with each other. The only rule was that they couldn't bring electronic games.

Can you believe they still had fun? In our world of PS2s, Wiis, and Nintendo DSs, who has time for board or card games anymore? Well, I do! I prefer a good game of Life or Monopoly to Rock Band or even Mario Kart.

I love to play games; strategic ones like Settlers of Catan, silly ones like Curses, fast-moving ones like California Speed, or slow-moving ones like Rummikub. I just bought a new game that I haven't played yet, it's called Set Cubed. Let me know if you are interested and we'll play!

PS 19 days...

January 29: Homemade Rootbeer

We made homemade rootbeer in school today. It was part of the culminating activity for our science unit on matter. The rootbeer was an example of a physical change and the kids made a silly putty-like substance that was an example of a chemical reaction. We had a lot of fun! I don't remember the last time I had homemade rootbeer. It was really good, plus the dry ice is fun to play with!

PS 20 days...

January 28: My Friend Em

Happy Birthday Em!

Emily is one of my very bestest friends in the whole wide world. We were put together as roommates during our freshman year of college. I was afraid to meet her because my room assignment showed she was from West Valley. I pictured a girl with three-inch-high bangs and gang stories to tell. 
I couldn't have been more wrong!

We stayed up almost the entire first night talking. It was one of those Anne of Green Gables moments; Emily is a "bosom friend." We were joined at the hip for most of the next three years before she went on her mission. We did lose track of each other for a little while after she got home and I had started teaching, but we found each other again almost six years ago, and it was like no time had passed.

Emily is such a wonderful person, I am so grateful to call her my friend. She and I can still talk forever, she is someone I trust with my secrets. I appreciate the fact that she lets me be a part of her family. I love her boys like my own nephew. I hope this birthday is the start of a wonderful year for her. She deserves it!


PS 21 days...

January 27: Dead Daisies

I love daisies. They are my favorite flower. I bought some to brighten my kitchen during the gloomy winter. Too bad I have a black thumb instead of a green one! Daisies are usually pretty durable flowers, but this picture was taken about a week after I had put the flowers on my table. I can't keep a plant alive to save my life. Sorry daisies!
PS 22 days...

January 26: I Cannot Live Without Books

The title of this post is a quote from Thomas Jefferson. I have the quote on a board that my friend Jodi once gave me along with a book journal.

It was the PERFECT gift because I have always been OBSESSED with reading. I would read instead of cleaning my room, I would read instead of doing my homework, I would read instead of being upset about being sent to my room.

The same thing even happens today. What you don't see in this picture is a bed that hasn't been made and laundry that needs to be put away.

These are some of the books I have on my TO READ LIST. A lot of them are children's books. I try to read all of the books I put out for my 5th graders to borrow. I'm a little behind with that right now, as you can see. The notebook on the top of the pile is my book journal. I write down the title and author of every book I read.

It's FUN to see how many books I read in a year, and it helps me make book recommendations to other people. So, if you need to know a good kid's book, mystery, historical fiction, or classic to read, I may be able to help you.

PS 23 days...

January 25: Heat Costs

I dread the arrival of my electricity bill each month, now that it's winter. During the summer it was really low, but as soon as the cold set in it SKYROCKETED. The problem I had was that I didn't know how my apartment was being heated because I have no furnace or heating vents. I called my renting management company to find out how the heating system works and if they knew of any way to lower my bill. What I found out is that I have a radient heating system in the ceiling, and that each room can be controlled separately with the attractive temperature gauges found in each room.

Call me crazy, but does a heating system in the ceiling seem like a STUPID idea to anyone else? Hot air rises, so does that mean that I am heating the roof and the surrounding air when I turn up the heat? The management company told me to only turn the gauges in the rooms I use most often, and to keep the others turned off. Too bad that's what I already do! The only ones above zero are in the kitchen, the living room, and my bedroom. I guess this is just one more reason to wish for an early spring.


PS 24 days...