Growing Up in More Than One Way

March was so busy! I was able to do my practicum in sixth grade and get out of BYU classes for a while. Because I taught Kindergarten last time, switching over to Sixth Grade had me all kinds of nervous. At first I was terrified and couldn't sleep at all. Every night was spent trying to fall asleep but not being able to because my brain wouldn't shut off planning lessons and worrying about the kids. But with time... it actually stayed the same. I didn't sleep much this entire month haha. What did change was my feelings about sixth graders and teaching kids that old. I absolutely LOVED Kindergarten and was so nervous that I would hate sixth grade and the sixth graders because they are snotty. What I found out is that they may be snotty and they may be stinky, but they are also sweet and hilarious. I learned so much about being kind and positive from those kids, and I learned a great deal about being a teacher. This experience really helped me to feel like I was coming into my own and creating a better sense of the type of teacher that I want to be. It was a very difficult experience and I struggled through it, but I am so grateful I had it.

These are some of the cute little presents I got from my class! They all wrote me letters to put in this book and because I played basketball with them at recess, they all signed this one for me. :) I love them!

We were also really busy at this time because we had just put our house up for sale. This was a really hard decision to make and we went back and forth for many months, but in the end after a lot of thought and prayer we knew that it was the right thing for us to do at the time. This meant that we had to get the house ready for pictures and showings, and had to be out of the house a lot so that people could look through it. We were incredibly blessed because this didn't last very long. Within a few showings we had multiple offers and were able to choose one that was even better than we had hoped. What a blessing! Then we had all of the paperwork to do and the time to wait out while they were able to back out if they wanted to, and then we would have to start the process all over again. After being on the buying end and the selling end, the buying end is by far the best.

This is the website with our pictures and ad for the house! The pictures turned out great, and so did the new handrails!

http://www.spotlighthometours.com/tours/tour.cfm?tourid=49787

March wasn't all boring though! It was my birthday and I was spoiled by my sweet husband. I had been looking at cameras for our trip to Europe and he was not interested in looking at them and said that they were just too expensive. I was still working on finding one that I loved and a great deal when I came home the day before my birthday and announced to him the kind I wanted. He said he would look later but didn't want to right now. I was confused because usually he plays along very well when I am so excited about something haha. The next day I opened my presents and THERE WAS THAT EXACT CAMERA!! I was in shock! And then, I was super happy that I picked the same camera he did or that would have been a sad day! I was absolutely in love with my camera. I came home from school (where I was sung to by all of the sixth grade classes) to a wonderful cake with shark shaped sprinkles, a note from my husband, and beautiful flowers. Then after he got home we went over to our sweet neighbors the Silvas because they wanted to take us out for my birthday dinner. I absolutely adore this couple. They are older and are far away from most of their children because they are Peruvian and most of their kids still live there. This also means that they only speak Spanish, so I talk to them and translate back and forth for Rusty. They are the absolute sweetest and we have loved getting to know them so well! Last month we took them out for a Peruvian meal at their favorite place in Provo. It was my first time eating Peruvian but I instantly loved it. And the waiter was hilarious and knew them by name so we had fun with him (he only spoke Spanish as well-love that ambiance!). This time we went to get some El Salvadorian food, which was also a first. We had papusas... and they are the best thing ever. Like a calzone meets a quesadilla. Only better, if you can imagine it. Along with calls and gifts from my parents and a dinner and date out with Jessica, this was a great way to welcome year 23!

 

 

Just testing out the camera!