the semester has ended and we are moving into reading days and finals. i realize that as much as i want each semester to be done i can never have that class back. i have learned a lot from my classes this year. how to manage behavior by assessing students and making a behavior plan, how to set up my classroom with positive supports, how to teach new behaviors, how to direct students through the transition process, how to teach student's with severe disabilities how to access reading, and so much more. i am scared to death of being a teacher, but my teachers are preparing me well. 2 more terms...so really just 1 semester. i have some more interviews next week so wish me luck. i'm also planning on visiting vegas and bakersfield next week. not a lot of time, but i will make it happen. i love you all and i appreciate all the encouragement that i get from you, my amazing family.

the conference was great and seattle was a pretty rocking place. very green and beautiful, but little sun. provo actually looks like seattle this week. nasty. unfortunately it rained on my birthday. great day by the way. lots of fun phone calls from you guys including quite a few from the zoo. went to dinner with some friends after the best buddies talent show.

and i have some really funny stories to tell about oscar and c, but those will have to wait...just to remind myself--crayons, pink limos, and more.

LOVE YOU!

fun pictures of seattle and seeing zach's family:




mc at donald's (as c calls it)never lets me down.

i'm a mess

I haven't signed with a district yet. One offer, but a weak one at that. They don't know what class I would have so I said I couldn't accept until I knew. And they don't have any high school openings so I doubt I will go there. I have applied at 2 others so I am just crossing my fingers. If all else fails, I student teach. Oh and I leave for Seattle tomorrow. I'm going to the CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) National Conference...basically for special educators. I'm pretty stoked to be going to a new place, learning amazing things, and hanging out with some cool kids from class.

Unforunately this summer is a joke and I really have 0 time to visit home or do anything fun, but I will try to work it out so I see the family often. It is going to be quite a shock to the system to not go home for the summer. About time I grew up I guess.

i'm like 5 years old.

Seriously, I don't understand how in 3 weeks I will be 21, in the fall I will be teaching, and in less than 4 hours I have my first interview for a teaching position. Not to mention other things that are blowing my mind and I can't believe are not far off, but really this is crazy.
I went to the Recruitment Fair on Friday and 2 districts told me they would set up interviews this week. I got a phone call this morning and my first appointment is at 2:00! My best friend in the program has an interview at the same school. We both want to work in the same setting (Secondary Life Skills classroom) so it was bound to happen that we would be looking at the same jobs, but we both really want each other to do well. I am extremely nervous, but also excited. The possibility of me getting this job isn't great, but it will be a great first experience!
Also blowing my mind, Kyle is going on a mission. Apologies to my other siblings, but I will probably miss him more than when you were out/away. I am so glad we took our trip to South America this summer to spend some quality time together and make some more memories. Kyle really is a great brother even if he drives me crazy sometimes--I just worry too much, but he has shown me that everyone figures things out in their own time and they are better for it. He is such a smart kid and I have confidence in his abilities as a missionary. I don't know if Peru is ready for him, but he will be ready for Peru. Don't ride any buses and don't drink the water. Love you.



PERU!

Life is grand.

No way.

I get to see him next week! 7 days!

What you know about me, what you, what you know about me...

Yes, that was a shout out to Christian.




Besides the occasional frustration, life is basically great. I work with an amazing kid and volunteer with lots more amazing kids. They make me laugh and I am consistently amazed by their capabilities. I wish you could all meet them. When I have a class of my own, please come visit. Never a dull moment.
The Best Buddies Ball was great. Our chapter had the biggest turnout even though we had to travel almost an hour to get there! I was very proud of everyone for making the effort.
Things at school have been picking up speed as expected. I have lots of things due next week that will all have to be crammed into this week/weekend because I leave next Tuesday to go home! Home in 8 days...see Zach in 9 days. As long as I can focus, I can handle everything that I need to do before then.
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I feel like I can get on a soapbox for a moment...Friday was a great day! I started it off by going to the temple and then the gym, all before 9:00. I then headed to Orem High and then Timpanogos High to volunteer in the classes there. I went to work after that and had a mostly good day with C...an 8 minute tantrum in which I was hit in the head, but he also sat in my lap to read a book and was way sweet. After that, I went to the mall to return some jeans...this is where it gets ugly...and I was waiting in line behind these nice girls. They were taking forever and I was trying to be patient, but then she wanted this sweater put on one card and the rest on another card. Not on my time. Anyway, she then swiped the wrong card for the sweater and said, "I am so special ed. I must have gotten off the short bus." I was enraged. What do you say in public to someone that is so ignorant? Nothing, because I couldn't say anything nice and there were lots of people around. Next time, I better have something amazing planned to say. I just wish there wouldn't be a next time.
The day ended okay though because Amy and I made dinner (it turned out gross, but it was fun) and Joe came over. And we watched Orange County. Can't go wrong there.

Sick Nasty Winter

Okay, it isn't that bad. I'll admit the snow is even pretty, but it is killing me. I got back late Sunday night and since I got to work yesterday it HAS NOT STOPPED SNOWING!! I swear there was 5 feet just yesterday, but I was informed by Utah natives that it wasn't so. At least a foot though. I had to drive to Orem for work this morning and it was BAD. I went out to brush off the snow and I was in snow halfway up my calves. It took forever, but at least there was no ice to scrape. I started to back out and my wheels kept spinning. I was praying because I really had to get to work and I was finally able to get out. I kept having to go forward and turn my wheels to find new ground so they would stop spinning in the holes. I definitely would not have thought of that on my own. Me driving in snow=bad news.
Anyway, I am back in school. It was super exciting to go to my program classes last night and see all my friends! Tati was there and she even went to the bookstore after class with me so we could keep catching up. Classes might be crazier than last semester, but they should be interesting and extremely exciting. Only about 8 months until I have a class of my own!
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Funny story from work this morning:
**Not my gerontology secretary job--I have another job working with a 4 year old boy with autism doing ABA therapy. I do that 3 times a week and work on campus 4 days. More hours altogether, but it is worth it because I love my new job. I would do just that one, but I can't because I need more hours than that one has.**
Conversation this morning:
S: C, my brother's wife had a baby this morning! Remember I told you before Christmas that my sister had a baby?
C: Yeah. That means there are 2.
S: 10 altogether.
C: Do you have a baby in your tummy?
S: Nope.
C: Just food?
S: Yeah, just food.
C: Did you eat cheese pizza?
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Past funny stories I need to catch up with....
I'm sure you remember Oscar from the class I volunteer in. I went on a field trip with the class before Christmas. It was Christmas Around the World with the BYU Folk Dancers. I was put in charge of Oscar.
*In the bus he asked me what I wanted Santa to bring me for Christmas. I said I would like a camera since mine was broken. He replied, "No, no, no. You go online to the website and click and then you get 3 days and 4 nights."
*I told him I was from California and I would be going there for Christmas. He said, "California. Cops. Dangerous, sticky cops." Not really sure what that meant, but I was cracking up.