Cutest kids ever!!!

My brother in-law posted some new pictures on his facebook page and I have to share. I mean these are these cutest kids.... I am not just saying that because I am their Aunt, I think I can be totally objective :)

Happy Moments...

Hello all. I survived another week and as you are reading this it seems you did to, congratulations to us all! This week was very busy and tiring. I had several IEP's including one that I have been dreading all year. That one went surprisingly well thankfully. I also had a couple of Ward Sing practices to attend. Wait, before you all start cringing and thinking what is going on... i am not singing in the ward sing. I am strictly back stage help. This is my attempt to become more involved in my ward, get to know people more. Now I am wondering what I was thinking :) I think that the show is going to be great it has just been a lot of commitment and a lot more this next week as well. Oh well. I guess life is made up of experiences, the more the better. Also I have discovered that a member of my ward has a diet coke fountain with good ice in her house, available at all times. I am now trying to figure how to make good friends with this family :)

This weekend will also be busy. I have a practice at 7:00 am tomorrow morning, I am trying not to think about it, and my St. Patrick's day dinner. Tonight was a boost for my mood though, I went and saw Duplicity. It was very enjoyable and not only because I got to stare at Clive Owen for 2 hours. That was very nice though. So as a way of sharing I shall post a nice picture of him here. Just take a look, it is sure to make you feel happier!



Now wasn't that nice?

12 and 13 year olds, necessary?

So this week has been a bad one at work. As you can see by my title, today I am wondering if we can't just skip the years 12-13 in the growth process or at least maybe like speed it up. Like maybe if we had a fast forward button on each kid and speed through those years in like a week. I think that would be great. Then they would emerge more mature, they would not steal my dry erase markers, they would not forget what I have told them 3 times before- about 30 seconds after I told them the last time, they would not demand my help and attention all at the same time, right now!!!! Really it would be so nice, I bet parents would go for it too. So if any of you out there know of a brilliant scientist looking for a new project please pass along my idea.

The big problem when weeks like this happen is Ms. Crandall gets more and more sarcastic (they tell us not to be at all, like that will happen) for instance here is an exchange that happened today, Me- "Suzy I have asked you repeatedly to not throw things in class, please don't do it again." Student- "But Joe did it first." Me- "Oh, well that's OK then because obviously if someone else does it first that completely absolves you of having to obey any rules. So apparently you are free to just ignore all the class rules from now on."

Yes I know this may not be the best teaching method but I did get a laugh from my students who understand sarcasm and the offending student was quiet :)

Update...

So, its been a little while again since you have been graced by a life update from me. The last couple of weeks have been good and bad... first the good stuff. Depeche Mode is touring this summer!!!!!!!!! Yea!!!!! I am a little excited. SO I called up Kim and told her that she would have the good fortune to go to the Boston or New York show with me and she said, "Are you sure you want to see them here, haven't you seen them enough." I will now give those of you that know me time to gufaw and say "What was she thinking?" To answer her questions, I have seen them 8 times and yes I do really want to see them twice this summer. If I could afford to go to the Vegas show too I probably would. They are highly entertaining!

Anyway in other good news this week I also got my JPASS results back. For those of you that don't know, JPASS is my teacher evaluation and I have to have 4 a year my first 3 years of teaching. If you do not pass you get put on probation and could lose your job. Anyway this semester my JPASS was being done by one of our Vice Principals, she is supposed to be the hardest JPASSer. I have not had her evaluate before so I was a little nervous. Then a couple of weeks ago she came in to observe me on the worst day possible. It was portfolio collection day and without going into the details is basically means chaos. After that I was seriously worried. The second observation went well but I was still worried. Also being the competitive person I am I get mad if I get less than I have before, even if I pass. I know it doesn't really matter but its how I feel. This week she came into give me my results... it was the highest JPASS I have ever received!!! I was so shocked and happily surprised. I do have to say that I think technology gave me a leg up on this one :)

The bad stuff lately includes a funeral for a friend's Mom which was very sad, I feel so bad for her and her sister. I hope they are comforted by all the prayers from friends and family. Also my own family stuff that I will not bore you with. It is more of the same crap I have been dealing with for many years now. Yea. It could be worse though.

Hope you all are having a good March and I will leave you with a bit of wisdom from the X-Files- Scully- "Nonsensical repetitive behavior is a common trait of mental illness." Mulder- "Are you trying to tell me something?"