32 weeks

Here's the baby belly update. Things are going just great. We bought our graco stroller/car seat combo yesterday! Whohoo! We also now have some plastic drawers for baby stuff in our room. It's lots of fun to get ready for the baby. :)

Aye Aye Aye

I am...pleased to be at home.

I want...water-I'm thristy!

I hope...I can relax myself during labor!

I hear...the thoughts in my head.

I never...eat an arby's sandwich without horsey sauce.

I wonder...if I'll feel spunkier when I get my hair cut.

I always...am excited when Brian comes home.

I usually...take my time shopping.

I search...for things to pick up around the house.

I am not...mean.

I dance...and I love it!

I sing...and listen to myself way too much!

I wish...to regain some of my outgoing-ness; I feel a little bashful... silly me!

I dislike...having the TV on too long.

I rarely...am upset.

I cry...not very often.

I jump...when I'm really excited!

I fear...delivery! ahh!

I have...the things I need.

I should...eat more often.

I dream...and remember them.

I need...to go to bed.

I love...being inspired.

Things I've Learned Substitute Teaching

1. All elementary kids will respond to the phrase, "1-2-3 eyes on me" with a resounding "1-2 eyes on you!" That's a lifesaver when you're in real need!

2. Turning the lights off will also miraculously get kids' attention and quiet them down (works for high schoolers, too!). 

3. It's good not to abuse these tactics or they'll probably cease to be useful (like if you take too much Advil, you'll build an immunity to it and it no longer works!). 

4. It takes a lot of creativity and spunk to keep a class' attention.

5. Kindergarten is the most labor-intensive! You can probably figure out why.

6. When kids come to you tattling, you can respond with a simple, "That's not very nice, is it?" and that will usually solve everything because they don't know what else to say. (Some things are just not worth tackling unless it's a real problem.)

7. I like doing high school because I can be really down to earth with them. 

8. I like elementary because it's fun when they get excited about things and they're not afraid to show it. They also adore the teacher and like to make you things.

9. Tactic for discipline: 1- ask the student to please fix their behavior then give them 10 seconds while you ignore it momentarily; 2- if no results, tell the student they need to fix their behavior and wait 10 seconds; 3- if no results, use a method of discipline (less recess, revoke privileges, send away, bad marks on the board). 

10. Sometimes the above tactic takes too much time and you just gotta stare down a student the first time you ask until they comply. However, I still don't think this is the most effective.

11. Reward, Reward, Reward! A lot of times, the best way to fix the behaviors of some is to reward the others. Focus on those doing good. Give stars on the board, stickers, whatever! That gives the attention to the good students (for once) and makes the behavioral ones want the rewards and do what they're supposed to. 

12. When kids are working on a project, give advanced warning before clean-up time or they won't finish up (and some still don't finish up). 

13. If kids get hurt, sometimes they just need someone to cry to; usually they're okay.

14. It's hard to see kids feel bullied. 

15. I need about 1/2 an hour to look over lesson plans and get acquainted with the room before kids show up.

16. If the whole class is getting out of hand, it's totally okay to turn off the lights and make them sit at their desk with their heads down for as long as they need.

17. Elementary kids love to tell you how things go and what to do (this is very helpful, but sometimes can get annoying). 

18. When at high school, I wish I could instill in them all a desire to succeed and do something great with their lives. Too often I see people who don't care and are just trying to skim by, if that. It's kinda sad. I'm glad I had a desire to do well in school.

19. I like going to schools in good communities (the students are usually better behaved and more willing to work). 

20. It feels good to drive home after a long day! (But I'm always thankful for the new things I learn with each experience.)

Christmas Spirit

Deck the Halls! It's Christmas time! On Monday, we put up our christmas decorations; I was so thrilled! Our tree looks a little silly with a couple scrap pieces of ribbon, but I had to have the ribbon on regardless. I love having white lights up in the house too (window, kitchen, etc); it gives a nice homey feel at night time. 

 

Also this Christmas season, I haven't felt overwhelmed or "disgusted" by all the christmas shoppers/shopping or by the omnipresence of good ol' Saint Nick. Though I never had any disdain for these things, they just always made it harder to concentrate on how/why Christmas truly came to be. Consequently, its meaning has been somewhat distant for me while growing up. Sometimes I tried to force myself to have a spiritual experience, but it never really came. I hope that doesn't sound too awful to you, but I only say it because this year is becoming different. As I've looked at our nativity, I'm reminded of a time when there were people who had great faith but perhaps were struggling for hope. Jesus became their hope and their strength. I can't imagine the impact he had on those humble people that night who had been praying for their savior. His impact should be (and is) the same today for those who believe in Him. That's a powerful thing to think about and realize. I'm thankful for the experiences I had while performing in the production of Savior of the World and BYU-Idaho. To be a witness at the birth of Christ among my friends (who are also fellow believers) has made this more real to me.