Day 12: Music

Can I just tell you that I don't love my Advisory class everyday. But today, they won me over. So we didn't raise enough money to go to the Sub-for-Santa Assembly (our auditorium isn't large enough to fit us all). We do, however, have a TV so we were able to watch the happenings from my classroom. Ok--so the sound was cutting in and out and people were positive. It made me so happy. One girl asked (every time the sound cut out) if she could go see if it was working on another teachers TV. I told her we would play charades instead. HILARIOUS.

Then,this group came to perform and we seriously couldn't hear a word. I started singing "Silent Night" (partially as a joke because I have a horrible voice) and a few chimed in, until, eventually, we sang the rest of the period. It was hilarious. I just love them.

Also, another plug for music--Ann, my friend who used to teach here until she decided to do bigger and better things with her life (AKA--be a mom) gave me and some friends tickets to her husbands concert. Their name is Eclipse and they are seriously INCREDIBLE. We talked and talked about it on our way home. Thank you so much Ann! I adore you (and miss you HORRIBLY!!)

Here is a clip from Eclipse (courtesy youtube.com):

Day 11: Teeth

I got my braces off yesterday. Enough said.

Actually, enough not said. I requested a blue retainer with a Y in it. I'll show you all at a later time.

Day 10: Humor

I love laughing. I love when others laugh. As a matter of fact, that's why my students have officially and completely won me over. I can't help but laugh at them. For instance, see the following example:

7th Period. My class room. Discussion on--actually, I can't even figure out how we got to this subject (reminds me of Ms. Massey in high school. We'd always get her off topic).

Me: (we were talking about a hybrid of instruments from Latin America that have been blended to create new instruments. One was made out of an armadillo. I told them that my brother, in Argentina, ate an armadillo and that he said it tasted like a blend of chicken and fish).
Student 1: Chicken and fish?! Gross!
Student 2: Dude. Chicken and fish? How can he tell the difference? They are both poultry.
Student 3-31ish: giggle. really? huh? what'd he say?
Me: (laughter) really?
Student 2: Why are you laughing? Aren't chicken and fish both poultry?
Student 4: Man! Poultry are birds.
Student 2: Yeah! So fish and chicken are......OHHHHhhhhh...Wait! They're both white
(discussion continues)
Me: I'm so glad I have you in my class. Just think of all the entertaining things you've said this year. (We then proceeded to go over all of his funny moments. Oh wow.)

Funny story #2
My cousin Marisa is staying with me. I had a White Elephant party tonight. She came up with the GREATEST idea in the world. Buy batteries. Take out the batteries. Put in a slip of paper that says, "batteries not included." So, today, the girl who got my gift didn't even laugh. So I thought maybe she didn't get it. Somehow we ended up showing the thing to the gift and I just seriously thought it was the funniest thing in the world and COULDN'T stop laughing. Oh man. Batteries not included. Battery wrapper. Get it?

Day 9: America

I LOVE AMERICA!!!!

America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. ~Adlai Stevenson

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ~Abraham Lincoln

Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may. ~Mark Twain

Day 8: EFY

I am SO grateful for the great friends I have made working at EFY over the past 5 years. You know who you are and I (most likely) adore you :) Here's a special shout out to my GREEN TEAM. Go Slytherin!!! I'm excited for our weekend reunion (and werewolf...naturally)!

Day 7: The Gym

Well if you know me, you know that I claim to be athletic, yet I don't exercise. Well, I haven't in the last 5 years. Things have changed lately though. It all started with a little gained EFY weight (gotta love the blue BYU coordinator card), a "free" seven day pass at Golds, and about 13 annoying phone calls from Golds which began the moment after I typed in my phone number online. Did I mention how annoying they were? When asked if I join Gold's, I asked if that would mean no more obnoxious phone calls. They said "yes" and I signed for 39 months (Oh, when you join a gym you usually sign up for a month to see if you actually like it? That's weird. Ok, maybe I'm weird. But I got a great deal!).
Anyways, I LOVE going to the gym. I mean I'd love it more if it was in my house or if the weather wasn't cold in between my house and Gold's, but I enjoy it.

Yesterday, I learned what I always thought. I'm not a yoga girl. I also learned something new. Yoga makes you SORE!!!!!! I'm dying. Really. It hasn't even been 24 hours yet...
I am grateful for the gym (but not so much for Kristen and Billy who dragged me to yoga...).

Day 6: BYU

Yet another reason why I LOVE BYU (and miss it dearly). Harry Potter on the Bell Tower. Good job, BYU.

Day 5: Prophet on the Earth

Oh Holy Night

http://new.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng&bcpid=605542470001&bctid=693347140001

LDS First Presidency stresses true meaning of Christmas

December 5th, 2010 @ 10:47pm

By Carole Mikita

SALT LAKE CITY -- More than 20,000 people filled the LDS Conference Center Sunday night in for the annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performed traditional hymns and the three leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke, emphasizing the need to concentrate on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of the Christ child.

"While it's true we can find materialism and anxiety at Christmas, it is also true that if we have eyes to see we can experience the powerful message of the birth of the Son of God and feel the hope and peace He brings to the world," Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency said.

"Let it be a time of forgetting self and finding time for others," said the President of the LDS Church, Thomas S. Monson. "Let it be time for discarding the meaningless and for stressing the true values. Let it be a time for peace."

Pres. Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency talked about service and the joy that accompanies helping others.

"You can give him the gift of doing for others what he would do for them. Many of you have already done that and felt his appreciation. It may have been visiting a lonely widower," Pres. Eyring said. "It may have been joining with others in a project to help those in need."

The First Presidency urged Church members during the next few weeks to draw closer to the Lord, their families and their fellow man.

Day 4: Finally!

I finally found a table I liked and it was delivered this morning! My camera got wet in the Panama Canal so I can no longer take pictures, but it's counter height and black with one of those spinning things in the center :) I think it's much larger than this. Have a great weekend!

Day 3: De-Iced Windshield

I LOVE when I wake up and my windshield has NO ice on it. (This is a special surprise in winter).

Gripe: Why don't 9th graders know how to multiply without a multiplication chart? America these days... I'm really annoyed.

Happy Friday!

Day 2: Sweet Notes

This was on my note with Sprite and treats. Adorable.

To: Mrs. Anderson
thanx for always helPing me and caring about my grades you are a awsome teacher! my favorite thanx for all the candy if i added up all the candy you gave me it would make a meal! but it's good motivation :)

early merry Christmas

love,
ur favorite student in the whole school


(PS: I don't teach English. Just saying...)

Day 1: Gratitude

Funny students.

Everyday, I eat oatmeal. I cook it and put it in a dixie cup so I can hold it and stay warm while I drive. Well, today, I didn't finish it and threw it away in the trash can inside my classroom door.

My students are going CRAZY when they walk in.

"Ms. Anderson, what you eatin' in he-uh?"
"It smells GOOOODDDD in here!"
"You makin' us pancakes?"

They're hilarious. I need to be more strict with my 3rd period, but I just start laughing too much when they say things. Oh wow.

I am grateful for those crazy little people.