Fallen off the face of the planet? No, silly, the earth is round!

It is back to school time! Quite literally - I just finished my second day and have to say it was quite hard to find the motivation in going back after the nice long summer. I was not looking forward to not having my kids (I was spoiled because the kids I taught last year I also did my student teaching with some of them so I got quite attached but I have to say I was pleased and almost brought to tears when the "favorites" came up to me after the first school day to say hi and give me a hug :) I love those kids quite frankly; they'll always be mine 'cause I taught them very first. This new crop of 4th graders is a tad bit different; I went from a class of 23 to a class of 28... You wouldn't think that 5 kids make that much of a difference, but that is 5 more places I have to try to spread my mind too... I tell my kids when we learn division how they have to help me help them because Mrs. Luke cannot split herself into 28 pieces equally, therefore Mrs. Luke is not divisible by 28. I am enjoying my new kids, I have one that had to show me her fossilized dinosaur poop the very first morning before school started (I have the kids bring in rocks for a lesson we do), I had one child proceed to try and "dunk it" in a teachers bulletin board display while doing the school walk around, and I had two girls tell me first thing that they were going to be trouble because they were best friends and would talk all the time. They make you smile, so thus far it has been fun - we'll see how happy I am when I have to try to get them to write, because their writing needs a lot of help.

On other news, Daniel was offered a foreman position from NC, and he has accepted it. He has been working in Duchesne since June and it is looking like he will be there for a while longer. He is enjoying what he is doing with working, and the added stress and responsibility. This of course means that he will not be going to school full time, but he will be taking online classes to finish. This is a great opportunity for both of us because neither of us wants to leave Carbon or Emery County. :) So we want to nonchalantly keep an eye out for houses that are for sale that are in a good neighborhood, on streets that are not busy and if we happen to find one we like, we may just buy it.

The new job is the only big change that has been going on in our lives, I will try to do better at keeping up the blog, but we are just two boring old married people... :) but enjoying life as much as we can!

Tick... Tock....

I know it has been well over a month since I have updated the blog, but hey who knows who even reads it?  So as long as people know we haven't died or disappeared off the face of the planet, then we're okay.  Since our last post nothing really exciting has happened worthy of posting about on a blog.

We did get our taxes done and it was nice to receive our tax return to turn around and use it to pay down our debt on the credit card because of being students who don't qualify for financial aid.. here's to working too much and barely making it... but still making too much to receive any form of financial aide that does not have to be paid back eventually!

On a happy note, I made it through this week!  It was a long one because we had our second go round of parent-teacher-conferences (luckily we only have to do them twice a year... but it makes for really long days when you teach all day, then have PTC, then when I still have to go the extension for my 2nd job)  Let's just say I got the best sleep the last two nights because I have been so tired - that I haven't woke up until my alarm!  I guess I should explain the lack of sleep too - about three weeks ago a fellow 4th grade teacher took a principal job out to Bruin Point Elementary, this was the time in which I also came down with that horrible flu that is going around and missed two days because of it, well feeling crummy and all I was doing my best to work with the other 4th grade teacher we still had to make sure the sub knew what she was doing each day in the classroom, and when you're still feeling crappy.. it is pretty hard to want to offer to help to do much more than I was capable of, but I did it!  Needless to say, I and the other teacher still working at CHE haven't been sleeping well lately due to stress, and tend to lay in bed awake for 1 or 2 hours before we actually have to get up... so now that they have hired a new teacher and she is getting into the swing of things.. it is nice to actually start sleeping a little better at night.. I think it also makes me a more pleasant and patient teacher.. :)  What can I say, when you're tired.. you don't want to put up with much.

Daniel is doing well with his studies, he is still staying really busy with school and working part time.  He is really enjoying his calling in our ward as Elder Quorum Pres.  it has been nice to see him grow and learn from this experience and see the man that he is continuing to become.  I think it is neat how each experience we have builds on the prior one and looking back it is quite something to see how we are being prepared for things later in life, whether it just be months, or years, but how we are being prepared to serve or take on different trials..  I know that I am very blessed to have a husband who is a wonderful example and help to me.  It has been so nice this semester to have Daniel working part time, and have a little more time to help out around the house because I am really rarely home.. so he has been stepping up with helping with the dishes and straightening things up - my man is awesome!

I hope that everyone is well!  Here's hoping that spring is around the corner, I'm ready to be out of the snow and the cold cold cold, my students are going a little stir crazy too.. so when we can, we get out and walk laps.. but the playground is like a swamp because of last weekends storm... and you would think that 4th graders would be smart enough to avoid the huge puddles... but just today I had one come into school soaked from the knees down because he "tripped and fell" into the puddle... boys!  Gotta love em' though, they make me laugh that is for sure!

We are still alive!

Life gets hectic and busy, and the blog gets pushed to the side because there is no time to post, but I will try to do better! I know the last post was in September, but not too much out of the ordinary has happened.

I made it through to Christmas break with teaching and boy was the break needed. They had us go to school clear until the Wednesday before Christmas... whoever thought that up is insane and obviously does not work with the kids. My kids were done the Friday before, and when they came back Monday all we did were basically Christmas related activities tied to reading and math. I also survived the first week back - and am now in the second week, and the cold that I caught from someone is making it more difficult - but I can say that I have made it through half the year without having to get a sub for a sick day - woot! woot! - knock on wood that the good health stays (planning for subs stinks!)

Towards the semester Daniel quit work so that he could focus more on school, but now that his semester this spring is not as demanding he is giving it a try again - I hope he keeps it to only a few hours a night - but he is the type of person that has a hard time when he is not working.

We both enjoyed the break and we were able to do some fun things together - including watching a whole season of 24 in a 2.5 day period over New Years, had some mad Hand and Foot games with family, and got to spend so good time with family. Of course the holidays never seem to be long enough - and I didn't even have to go back to my classroom to work on anything school related! It was so nice to make sure to plan ahead that I didn't have to worry!

This last weekend we had a fun adventure - I am currently teaching about Indians in Utah Studies and wanted to get some good pictures of petroglyphs and pictographs to show to my kids so we took a jaunt down in the truck to the Buckhorn Panel (Near the San Rafael Swell) and to another panel about 15 min out of Ferron (Rochester Panel - it was awesome! Pictures are below!) Daniel got some great shots for me to show my kids, when they hook my SmartBoard back up (hopefully tomorrow! cross your fingers for me! They moved it today so that I have room for the mini lab I'll be getting some time... ) It was a fun day to finally be able to get out and do something with the coldness and the weather - it was a nice sunny day, and I think I actually got a little sun.

We are still going strong in work and school. At night I facilitate classes at USU Price, some people think I'm crazy for doing this - but the extra $ helps with the student loan of mine we are paying on, and the debt we are incuring because of Daniel's schooling, plus I get to work on my lesson plans - so stay late at the school??? or come here and get paid to work and have time to work on my lesson plans??? You'd probably do the same thing!

Enjoy the pictures - I will try to do better at posting!
Daniel and I in front of the Rochester Panel - I've never been and it was so cool! A little bit of a walk, but worth it! I've never seen so much Indian writing in one spot!

Back to School... Back to School...

I know that school has been in session now for about a month, but I am just now finding time to update the blog.


Daniel has started into his second year at USU-CEU, and to say the least is rather busy. He is taking Physics for Scientists and Engineers (I don't even want to think about all the hard stuff they are learning!) Calculus, Chemistry, and Intro to Film, with two different labs added on to that! He is still doing his best to keep working - I worry because there are some nights where he goes without any sleep, or only 3 or 4 hours at most. I've started dreaming of the day that we can function somewhat normally - meaning having schedules that allow us to see each other at night, cook/eat dinner together, and wake up at a normal time together. However, as it has been for the last 2.5 years (only seeing each other on weekends if we are lucky), it seems it is going to continue for many more at the rate we are going...


For me school has started - and I am loving teaching. There are a lot of stressors and things to remember for a first year teacher. It is a challenge to keep up with it all, but on the days when I get to have fun with my students, see them succeed, or even enjoy a sepcific lesson that was hard to grasp or teach - makes it worth all the work! I started out with 25 students, had one transfer to Cleveland Elem. and one move to St. George on Friday - so I am now down to 23, which is a good number. My kids are good listeners and work hard when asked. They are awesome. My emphasis is in Lang. Arts, but I have found that my love is more centered with the Arts. I knew that already, but I am intergrating them into all the other subjects that I teach. Just today, because the kids couldn't remember how to count by 3's, we learned a song that helps us count up to 33. I have also been teaching the kids music in the afternoon, we rotate with the other two 4th grade teachers, so I have been teaching ALL of the 4th graders music. We are currently learning about beat and rhythm - and have been doing different activities with those. Last week we played "Who Wants To Be A Musician?" and today we found the beat in music and illustrated it by using body percussion. What excites me most is that my kids are learning and remembering things :)

Below are a few pics I've had for a while, that I am just putting up. Enjoy! Hope all is going well with everyone else and the busy world that we live in. I have found that I can't get too busy to not notice and appreciate the little things such as: hugs from a student, giving encouragement to a student who needs it, Daniel straightening up the house when he has a few minutes between classes, my mom and dad inviting me over for dinner when I don't have time to cook during the week, all these little things make life easier, more enjoyable, and remind us of the blessings we have and the things that need to be important in our lives.


My Reading Corner, Classroom Library with books sorted by genre. Love the containers that I found at Dollar Tree.


My awesome hall passes that Daniel cut for me, I sanded, and he offered to wood burn for me. The kids love them, and so do I! If you can't tell I sort of went with an "outdoor" theme - Daniel also built me a stool out of wood. :)


This is the "Welcome" bulliten board I made and put up - It is a Twister board game, turned out cute, each circle had one of my students names on it.



A saying that I have heard about teachers is very true, everyone knows that teachers are not paid enough for the job that they do. Money is not everything - it is the students and their achievements, or the unconditional love that I have for them, and they for me, that makes it worth it!

Busy Summertime..

My lack of time spent working on the blog is showing since it has been well over a month or two.. or three almost that I have not updated - but it has been a busy time.

In May we had a wedding, Daniel's sister Maegan got married so there were bridal showers, setting up for the wedding in and of itself, and then the actual wedding and reception. They are all married off now and getting their house put together - its surprising how slowly that comes together, I am still finding things I need in my house almost 2.5 years later!

In June my little brother Jared went through the Temple because he would be leaving about a month later on his mission. We also had another wedding, Daniel's brother Conlee got married, so that again was a busy weekend, and long. We traveled to Manti, then to Richfield, and then home again...

Daniel with his counsin Travis' little girl Morgan, she is a doll and a sweetheart - Daniel and I fight over her :)

July brings us to doing many things with our families, the 4th was spent in Richfield playing with the "cousins" Maren, Maddie, Brigham, Jake, Colton, Cassidy, Morgan.. and so on - Daniel found out that he quite enjoys playing poker.. with no actual money involved. While in Richfield he stayed up until 3 a.m. bidding against his uncles. Just this past weekend was Jared's "farewell" and he entered the MTC on Wednesday - he's going to be an awesome missionary, but I know that both Daniel and I are going to miss him!

Jared with our niece Reagan three nights before he entered the MTC - she was able to put a smile on his face!

The rest of the summer will be spent trying to figure out all that I need to get ready before school starts, I have done a lot already, but there is so much to do.. and a lot that you don't really know what to do until you've taught for a year and know what to expect - yay for the little (in this case, huge) learning experiences! Daniel has been working on building furniture (for others, and for my classroom - he's my handyman), and working many hours out to the Ridge Road Shop. We are planning a gettaway for this coming weekend because we haven't been able to go camping yet, pictures to come!

Hope everyone is enjoying their hot summer! Its starting to come to a close too soon!

Change is a good thing...

There has been a lot of change going on in our lives lately, most of it is good :)

Since the last post Daniel and I have both finished with school, Daniel made it successfully through his first year back at college and I am proud of him for it! He worked VERY hard this last semester with all of his homework and still working 40 hours a week, but he made it.

I finished up my student teaching in my 2nd grade class, and was sad to leave me kids - but it led me to bigger things. I graduated from USU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. I also applied for a job in the Carbon County School District and secured a position teaching 4th grade at Castle Heights Elementary. I am very excited to start preparing things for August, but have been putting the lesson plans off because I want a bit of a break before I dive in again. My classroom needs to be put together and is currently known as "The Boneyard" because it has been empty for 1+ years, so it has been a storage space for things not wanted by teachers. I am excited to get the stuff out of our little apartment and into my classroom so that it will stop taking up room at home! IF ANYONE IS GETTING RID OF BOOKS TALK TO ME FIRST! I need to build up my classroom library, so I welcome any books! :)

I wish I had more pictures from graduation, I do have some with my family that I still need to get. They are still on my parents camera. This is a cute one of my niece Reagan wearing my cap :)

Next bit of change is the fact that I chopped off my hair. I donated it again to Locks of Love, cut off about 15 inches, and donated about 12 inches. I needed a change, while I do like my hair long and curly, I wanted to try something new and different with this new phase begining in my life!

Daniel and I are doing well, just keeping busy, through the summer he is still working full time, and looking for other work to do as well. In his spare time he is going to tackle some long awaited log furniture that he has had designed to build for ages, if you are interested in some pieces give us a call, they are beautiful! Me, for now I will be getting my classroom ready and trying to get a job for 2 months... :) Take care and enjoy this cooler weather before the hot summer really hits!

Time Flies!

We are still alive and kicking we promise! We have just been busy to the max with our school lives that the blog and other things got pushed to the side. We are now sitting on 2 weeks left in the semester. I graduate on April 28th and finish my student teaching on the 30th. Daniel's finals week are over on the 30th. We are relieved to see that the end is in sight for both of us, this has been a grueling semester, I don't know how we survived! Daniel has been able to work 40 hours a week all semester and kept up with the requirements of school. I have survived one block of student teaching and hope that this second one will not kill me off! :)

We have been able to have a little bit of fun here and there on the weekends, which is the time that we have been able to see each other. During the week we see each other through closed eye lids because I am awake when Daniel is sleeping and I am sleeping when Daniel is awake and not home. Below is a picture from a trip we were able to go on for my birthday, we both came away with a set of elk horns, as did Daniel's sister Mindi. I have to brag a little bit, I spotted mine clear across the canyon where 1 horn turned into a total of 4. Needless to say my house is being taken over by shed horns once again! Its a good thing we don't have small children! :) Daniel would have a hard time parting with the horns, but at least I have helped contribute this year!