Confession

I'm a loser of a blogger lately.  Sorry. (If you even care, that is)   And, don't go over to my school blog either.  It's just as bad.  (I even had a parent of one of my students call to see what was going on. "Why haven't you updated your blog!")


Don't know why.  I just haven't really had the "bug".


If the bug comes back...I'll be here for you.  In the meantime, enjoy the other 986,847,881 blogs out there.


Oh, and, THIS picture:

Video Chatting

One of the coolest things I've experienced as a teacher

actually happened this past Thursday.

After communication with my friend Becca and a couple of trials and errors,

we were able to set up a video chat between our first grade classes.

Becca is the computer teacher at a private school in New York City.

After teaching a unit about communication, Becca

wanted to set up a video chat with two of her first grade classes

and our class here in Provo, Utah.

If I follow the pathway back to where all of this began, I am astounded.

You see, Becca and I met on an online message board about six years ago.

We began commenting about each other's posts and something truly clicked.

I really liked this woman!

I had the privilege of meeting Becca on a trip to New York City back

in 2007 on a trip to visit two of my other online friends (Chelle and Pam).

We went out for Indian food.  Becca and I were instant friends.

We called each other the MormoJews.

Mormon+Jew

(I know...only funny to the two of us)

Then,

we met again in Denver for a Race For the Cure 5K.

Solidifying our friendship.

So...

back to the chat.

Because of the time difference, the only time we could connect was during half 

of our lunchtime.  I arranged for the children to have sack lunches that day which we

ate in our classroom.  That alone just about did those children in!

That was very exciting for them to eat together like that.

Then,

After a few technical difficulties (Grrrrr!)

we finally connected and had a wonderful visit with the first graders at Becca’s school!

The children were mesmerized. I was too.  It was so much fun.

Thank you, Becca.  Thank you First Graders.

We are very excited to be penpals.

Sarah Burke: 1982 - 2012

I don't know why this story of Sarah Burke has touched me the way it has.  I remember hearing about her accident nine days ago in Park City.  Maybe it was because she was a Canadian training in Utah.  Maybe it was because she was so talented.  Maybe because she is a fellow human being.  I don't know.  Maybe I do know and I don't want to really think about it.  Like maybe it makes me think of my own young adult daughters.  What do these mothers do when tragedies like this happen to their babies?  How do they live on after their daughters move on ahead of them.  Parents should never have to bury their children.  It should be the other way around.  My heart goes out to  Sarah's family.  Particularly her mother.  I don't know her personally but, today...our hearts touched.

To read Sarah's story go here.

23! Really?

We have a little saying in our family:  The worst thing about the day after your birthday is...it's the day AFTER your birthday!  Well, today is my youngest daughter's birthday.  I decided to prolong her birthday by taking it into the day after the real one.  Making the fact that it is the day AFTER her birthday and it makes it a little less difficult to have to wait another 365 days until her next one.  Follow?  That's okay if you don't.  I tend to have that effect on a lot of people.


Now...about Erika.  I realize that it is the proclamation of every mother to be amazed at how her child changes throughout her lifetime.  I understand that.  I understand that fully and completely.  When I look back at my Erika through her 23 years here in this mortal existence, I am just so darned proud.  I'm proud of the woman she has become.  She was an adorable little child (see below), a precocious teenager, a thoughtful young adult, a beautiful bride, a faithful wife, and now...a mother.  The only job she set her sights to being since she was a baby herself.  You MAY have seen a cute little baby picture or two on this here blog.  (Who am I kidding?  You HAVE seen a hundred pictures of that baby!)  Well, Erika is the mother of that little cherub.


To Erika I would like to say, I love you!  You have changed me.  I appreciate that you remind me how to be a better wife and mother myself.  You mean the world to me and I admire you in so many ways.  So many.  Thank you for being patient with me.  Thank you for sharing your little family with me (and with dad too!!).  Happy Birthday!

I made those shorts and headband
for little four year old
Erika.
I wonder where her natural waist
is in this picture!?

See?
Isn't she a beauty?

This is still one of my favorite pictures.
I had to include  it here.

Here's Erika with her amazing husband, Tyler.
Look at how beautiful she is.  Happiness looks good on
content, peaceful people.

And, finally...
This was the Senneff's Christmas card this past year.
Aren't they an adorable little family?

I think so too!

Thank A Teacher

I received this note in my teacher mailbox today.  I opened it.  Read it.  Cried.  Right there on the spot.  Little things like this keep teachers going.  This one will keep me going for a good five to ten years!  Thanks to my sweet little Shannon who is now a high school student.  It meant the world to me.


PLEASE...y'all need to think of a teacher or two you had in your past and write them a note.  It doesn't have to be long.  It doesn't have to be eloquent.  It just has to "be".  You  just can't believe the lift it will give.

Making Do

How our New Year's Eve celebration was a little different this year:

1.     Food:  Lobster, crab legs, shrimp, ribeye steak  Well, we always eat this on New Year's Eve but it's usually just my boyfriend and all alone!  We've done this since we got married.  Difference?  Our guests!
2.     Guests:  Melissa/Danny, Erika/Tyler, Terry/Me, ELOISE!  Difference?  I finally talked them into a party at OUR house...plus, they're old and married now and finally appreciate seafood like the food of the Gods that it is.   Ha!
3.     Countdown:  8:00 pm(ish)   Difference?   It's obvious isn't it?  We usually count down at midnight BUT...we had beautiful Baby El here and her bedtime is 8:00 so she had to go home to bed!
4.     No party hats.  Difference? I always have some sort of party hats.  Why didn't we have them?  Well, because I'm lame and didn't even think to buy them so I ran to my craft room an whipped just one up! (see above!)  Everyone was super jealous, let me tell ya!
5.     Games?  Just one:  Sequence.  Difference?  We usually just watch the tv parties.
6.     Resolutions?  Haven't written them yet.  Perhaps that will be a blog post in my near future.    Difference?  Ummmm.....no difference.  It usually takes me until June to actually get them written.

Three Little Memories

I have been noticing a lot of posts on Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, etc. about vintage toys from the 70's.  I decided that I had to get in on this fad.  I was a small child in the 70's.  In fact, the 70's decade was MY decade.  I was seven years old in 1970.  Being the youngest of six children and a girl after three boys (plus, seven years after the last child!) I pretty much had free range on getting the latest toy.  (sorry siblings, but, I was)


So, I've been searching the web for the last hour or so and have had many, many memories flood my soul as I relived my childhood through, of all things, toys!  (thank you youtube!)  So, here are a just THREE of the  many toys I found and specifically remember...maybe some of you will remember them as well!




1.  My Easy Bake Oven

This is the exact oven I have.  And by "have" I mean that I still have it.  In my garage.  I just showed it to Terry and he told me "never get rid of it".  I won't.  Remember how it cooked delicious little cakes by the power of a 100 watt lightbulb??  It smelled so good. Oh, and those sprinkles I put on at the end were ultra-delicious!  I remember feeling like a real-live-honest-to-goodness-chef.  At least that's what my daddy called me!  Bless you, Dad!




2.    Clackers!!


The sense of smell is one of the number one triggers of memory.  Well, it's true.  But I also believe that SOUND is also a huge trigger.  When I watched this (and other) Youtube videos, the second I heard the noise of this toy, the memories came-a-calling.  Painful memories, in particular!  :)  Those things could cause a concussion.  Maybe that is why they were banned at school!  I got super good at the tricks and could go for hours...just like this kid.  Behold!  I give you...CLACKERS!!


                                  




3.    Crissy!


"Everyone knows that beautiful hair makes a girl look beautiful"  REALLY??  I had no idea the marketing that went into Crissy!  This ad is full of the word "beautiful".  I counted the world "beautiful" 15 times in a 60 second commercial.  No wonder I HAD to have this doll.  What little girl didn't dream of being beautiful?  I adored her and loved her so much.  But, as usual, before it was even in my possession for one week, my brother Larry's dog, "Charlie" had chewed up her feet.  (I could never keep anything nice with that dog around!)  I can't believe my mother let him keep that dog!


                                  




Well, that was lots of fun.  I found LOTS of other toys to blog about but will only "bore" you with three today.  But, don't you worry...I will definitely do a Toys part two at some point.  But, for now, I'll let you digest these three little gems.  Do any of you remember these toys?  I KNOW I can't be the only one!


Oh, and by the way, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope that your 2012 will be the very best year of your life so far.  I plan on having a fabulous year with lots and lots of changes...for the better.


I love you all...
TamTam