The last few weeks...

Our life took a hectic turn in June. As a teacher I always wait and plan for summer to catch up on sleep and relaxation. Yeah, so far that hasn't happened. I've been Busy, Busy, Busy, but so far "summer" has been very enjoyable. Here's a recap (I had originally written "quick recap", but, well, it's getting a bit long!):

*As I mentioned in the previous post, I'm working as a Mentor this summer - I currently have seven kiddos - and each kid gets thirty hours this summer. It sounded super simple to me, but I'm finding that these kids are busy and fitting them into a schedule has been a challenge. Plus, they all have different goals and things I'm working on with them. It's been a really positive experience so far though.

*Two workshops -- one on Poverty (check out Ruby Payne -- interesting stuff) and one on Differentiated Instruction (another valuable one with lots of things to ponder and try) - and with these workshops, I got two college credits (I'm already only six away from a lane change!).

*Out of the DI workshops, I got on a summer project with some coworkers from my middle school to work on differentiated lessons for the 7th grade English curriculum. They want to do all of the hours in June so they can get paid before school starts up again. So again, working with all of our schedules, (plus one with babysitter needs) has been interesting!

*We did tons of stuff with CLA, JPJ and JPJ's sister MJ, since it was MJ's first time in the US. CA and JPJ totally planned her trip down to what meals they wanted her to try each day to introduce all types of cuisine (although, they never made it to the most American place of all -- the golden arches). Some or all of us went fishing, to a local park, shopping, to wedding showers, to Church, to Itasca, etc. We all helped plan CLA and JPJ's big day and had a wonderful time at the Groom's Supper. Then, at 04:05 on 06-07-08, CLA became Mrs. JPJ in a beautiful and wonderful ceremony. I even got to walk down the aisle with JJ (who was the best man). We had an awesome time dancing the night away. MJ taught us Hindi dancing. Later I was telling (and showing) someone how MJ had taught me how to dance. She said, "Is that how I look??!" heehee

*We even got to go along on the trip to Minneapolis to drop MJ off at the airport. The day before we went to Valley Fair and had a blast! I heart roller coasters - the bigger and scarier the better. The day before we left it rained and rained, so we were searching for other things to do in the cities, but on the day it was BEAUTIFUL. Yay! But it was so hot and sunny, JJ got sick -- maybe a bit of heat exhaustion.

*In Minneapolis, we got to stay with our buddies TAF and MF. They have a GORGEOUS house. I'm so jealous. I know we'll get to a house at some point, but they're there. And it's wonderful! Yay for them! They've done a bunch of updates - the house was vacant for quite some time before they moved in - and they've been doing a wonderful job. I love, love the paint colors and the things they brought back with them from Thailand. It all fits together so nicely. Gush, gush, I know. While hanging out with the F's, I got to go to a scrapbooking event with TAF, her SIL AP and a friend K something (who incidentally is a former Miss ND)! I even got to meet Miss SweetiePie NGP (AP's daughter). We went to Archivers to use all of their stuff, watch some demonstrations, and eat some junk food. I finished six pages (not so many, but a great start since I haven't scrapbooked since January) and TAF finished TEN.

*In Minneapolis, we also got to catch up with nieceypoos MH and KC (M's hubby PH was working). We can't wait to come back to Minneapolis in a couple of weeks for the H's wedding reception.

*Then, on the way back home, we caught up with CLJ's sister (JG) at their wonderful log cabin house for J's husband JG's bday party. We met and got to know JG and JG because they were also in CLJ and JPJ's wedding. It's funny because JJ and JG have the same first name, so it was easy to reprimand them. But, if we wanted to keep them straight, my JJ became "Tall J".

*Today we slept in until after 10am and haven't done anything productive since. Ahhh, laziness, sweet laziness.

Really? Nevermind then...

This summer I am a "mentor" - kind of like a Big Sister, but through the public school system I work for. It has been going quite well so far. I'm getting into my routine and getting to know what I need to do for the kiddos. Yesterday all my plans went under water, literally, with the heap o' rain we got. So, in the morning I called the YMCA because most of the kids I work with have passes. I wanted to see how it would all work. The lady was really rude (I think she thought I was just trying to get in for free). At one point she said, "Well, I'm just trying to figure out what you're going to do here. We don't have anything for a ten-year old to do."

So, we went to the Public Library ... for two hours ... with a kid with severe ADHD.

C'mon sunshine!!

I knew it would only happen to me. . .

Today we had a fabulous day! We went with CA (soon to be CJ), JPJ and MJ to CA's family Church, which happens to be the Church they're getting married in. It is a small town Church and I was expecting something similar to my Farm Grandparents' Church, but it was quite big and modern. They are in the middle of VBS but for the whole family taught by a big family, headed by the father who used to be a geologist when he found all of this evidence of why evolution doesn't work and how science doesn't have to be opposite of God and the Bible - how nature shows God. Anyways, it was really interesting. After Church, we went to the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park. Without even planning, we went on Open House day, so it was free! Bonus! It was such a beautiful day. Our first stop was to the actual beginning where we walked across it on big rocks. Usually there are many rocks above water, but at this time of the year, there were many slippery rocks and some completely under water. I was the first one to start across. I thought I could just easily go with my flip flops on, so I started out and realized it was a bit trickier than I thought! At one point I lost one of my flip flops! It was quickly rescued by JJ. I made it all the way across and waited for MJ and JPJ to carefully get across. JJ, who was already in the water from the flip-flop rescue mission, and I started back to meet MJ and JPJ in the middle. I was following close behind JJ and I totally slipped and fell in the water. If you know me, you know that I HATE getting wet. I just knew it was going to happen to me! So, complete wet bum. Good thing it was sunny and warm so I dried out relatively quickly. CA happened to get it on film! When watching it later with JG, CA's sister, she said, "Oh! Look at that guy clapping and laughing! That's mean!" Oops, it was JJ. hehe Yeah, and I completely wiped out - legs fully up in the air. It was great!

After all of this excitement, we had lunch, and went on a tour of the park with several small little excursions to things like the largest red pine, which looked as if it had just been hit by lightening or a wind storm or something, because it is definitely not the largest any more. Then, we went to CA's family's home for some brats and mmm mmm blueberry pie and back home again home again. When we got home, I called my Grandparents -- 56 years of marriage today! Then we called up the B's to play a little lawn games -- that one where you throw golf balls at pvc pipe. The B's are the family who live upstairs and have cute little JB (who has a little crush on JJ) and EB. I totally had beginners luck and we won the first game (but lost the second one). JB enjoyed having me help her be the cheerleader. She just echoed me, but she does have a phrase from JJ that she says, "Boo ya Grandma!" heehee Also, when I was up, she'd say, "Miss it!" so I'd tease her that she was making me lose!

Like JJ just commented, how could anyone have more than a few friends? We have been so busy the last couple of days -- it's been so wonderful -- but so tiring!

Who ordered the strippers?

Last night was CA's bachelorette party and it was so much fun! Sometimes it's wierd when I don't really know a friend's other friends and family, but seriously, we all had such a great time. CA's sister JG hosted the event and we did lots of fun games and I even stayed awake for the movie at the end of the night (Monster-in-Law -- Michael Vartan is too cute)! We all wore our pj's and acted like silly sleepover girls. Yay! JG let it slip that when she was searching for party games on the internet, she found "Christian Strippers" - these guys that came to the party wearing like ten layers and stripped down to a t-shirt and shorts. Well, this just sounded too perfect for the bachelor party that was going on at our apartment for JP! So, a buddy (MA) and I decided we just had to do it! We put on a ton of CA's t-shirts and an extra pair of shorts and headed out (quickly because it was sooo hot!) to our apartment. On the way we planned our whole routine! We knocked on the door and I called out, "We heard there's a bachelor party going on!" and then MA said, "Who ordered the strippers?" We shut the lights off and jumped in the apartment with glow bracelets on. Then we started (kind of) dancing around and flinging shirts. It was so funny! We also threw our glow bracelets at the guys (we planned on putting them down their shirts, but figured that was a bit much). I think the most concerned looking guy was MA's hubby CA. He just was not sure what was going to happen at the end. (He's also our Bible study leader.) During the show, JJ leaned over to one of the guests (J something) and said, "Oh, I don't think you guys have met, that's CA's wife M." And in the midst of dancing, MA introduced herself. hehe At the end of the whole shebang, JP said hesitantly, "Well, thank you for the thought."

BBQ anyone?

We are the proud new owners of a webber grill. No, no, no, CPJ, it is nothing in comparision to your mighty grill, but it is a grill nonetheless. Here's the story of how we came to aquire such an aquisition:

This weekend, my parents decided to drive my Grandpa (and Grandma) around to various places important to my Grandpa - the place where his parents are buried, the place he went to school, the homes of his grandparents and their graves, etc. It was an important trip. My Mom even learned that the reason my Grandpa grew up Lutheran is his parents were Catholic, but the closest Catholic Church was too far and there was a Lutheran Church just down the road. Who knew? For my Dad, it would've saved a bit of trouble when they got married if he was already Catholic back in the day! : ) So, since they were on the road and only about an hour away from our home, they decided to make it a full weekend getaway and come visit us in the process. We planned a BBQ to celebrate the occassion and then found out my Uncle D would be in town from Denver celebrating his niece's graduation from a local high school. Even more to celebrate! Then, we invited CA, JPJ and MJ (JP's sister, who just got here from India to celebrate CA and JP's wedding). (You can see how the list is growing and growing!) Well, fast forward to Monday morning and enter the rain. Boo. We just could not hang out at U Park in the rain and cold - especially with my grandparents. JPJ and CA have a small gas grill which would be fine if it was just a few people and a few entres. So, we bought a grill. As JJ put it, "I can't believe we hadn't bought one sooner!" He does all the cooking, so I really can't argue. Even my Grandpa said I better hang on to him. : )

Here is the abundant menu from yesterday:

Grilled chicken
Hot dogs
Hamburgers
Corn with a butter spice rub
Apple salad
Watermelon
Cookies
Pop
S'mores

Yum-o! (Thanks RR!)

...Deep Thoughts with Mr. B...

Today at lunch:

Mr B.: "I wish I were a 20 year old girl."
Me: "Uhhhh.... why's that?"
Mr. B.: "Because then I could marry someone rich and divorce him for his money."

What would you like to say???

On my Christian blog link, they linked ... (I know... stay with me and it'll make sense in a minute) a site where Anne Jackson asks, "What is something you feel you can't say in Church or to other Christians?" What would you say?

Scrabulicious!

Last night we had basically our last Bible Study official get together. We hung out at P and MO's and had a wonderful time. I am definitely going to miss C and MA. CRA has been an amazing leader and I have learned so much from both of them. They are such gracious hosts. I could go on and on, but that is not the reason for this post! So we were at the O's and someone said, hey, we should play a game! Apparantly, my head started wagging ridiculously. I am a game fanatic. Any game. Doesn't matter. But, then, aa-aa-ah someone brings out a Scrabble game. I am seriously addicted to Scrabulous on Facebook. At any given time I have about 7-10 games going. Someone last night said, "Scrabble is such a nerdy game. Why would you ever want to play such a nerdy game alone with a computer on Scrabulous." I embrace my nerdiness! : ) I lost the first game. It is really difficult when you're used to just putting down combinations of letters until someone somewhere decides it's a word. That is so my strategy on Scrabulous. But, one thing I have definitely gained from Scrabulous, is I have most of the two letter words memorized. I can't tell you what most of them mean, but I know they are words. People challenged "jo" for example. Turns out to be a sweetheart. Who knew? The next game I totally cleaned house with an amazing come from behind victory with a word that is, to steal a line from RMS (my SIL LJ's sister), "small but powerful." (sex) -- The s was on a double word score so I got double from "trembles" and double from "sex". Yup. Life is good! Have I mentioned I'm working on my competitiveness? As neicey LJ, with all of her four year-old wisdom, says, "I would much rather play games with no winners or losers, but if there is a winner, I want to be the winner."

Movin on uuuup!

*Not exactly to the East Side though...

I'm officially moving next door to the special education room for next year. I'm so excited and nervous and worried and thrilled, etcetera! My job was posted last week, so I know it's official. There have already been applicants and it's a bit wierd, but I'm also excited to pass on info. about the foreign language job because I have loved it so much. However, as it is my last week as Mrs. J., the World Languages teacher, I thought it would be fitting to post a top ten list.

Top Ten Reasons Why I'm Glad I'm Done with being a Foreign Languages Teacher:

10. It is really tough fitting in four languages in nine weeks.

9. Keeping four languages (well five really) straight in my mind so that I can help my students keep them straight gets confusing! But learning them has been great fun!

8. Being a part of the Super Nova team - I have really enjoyed it, however, the meetings are once a week and some of our group members are just such... downers...

7. Teaching the same. thing. every. quarter. I feel like an 8th year teacher. This, however, is not such a bad thing either.

6. Getting to know students better -- not just for a brief time thoughtout the year.

5. No more just using my minor. Time to dig out the ol' master's work.

4. No more explaining to people how exactly I teach four languages and how I am not actually fluent in five languages.

3. Not so much correcting!

2. NO MORE BREAKFAST DUTY!! Yes, this one got two exclamation marks. It was a close second.



and... #1. I don't have to teach the German word for fat to 6th and 7th graders any more! (it's dick.... yeah....)

SS's Bachelorette Party

A supersweet para at my school is getting married this summer and a few fellow paras decided to throw her a bachelorette party, which was so kind. SS is not from here and was excited that people would get together for her. We met at the Blue Moose for a few games and appetizers. It is always interesting to see people outside of work. Some people, like WS, who had a whole bottle of wine to herself, were interesting to say the least! She kept calling the waiter, "Hey Cute Boy!" He dished it right back however. SS is definitely naive (in a sweet, Christian way). The first game we played was Their Story, Mad Libs style. It was a great game and very fun to hear their story, even if it was a bit distorted. SS asked people to share their stories too. JS shared how they had known eachother in high school and she had gotten some notes that she still has. NM commented under her breath, that she still has the kid her (now) husband gave her. : ) Then she opened presents. SS tried hiding half of the gifts she got, but people helped her show off the candy garter and bra top for example. For the next game, SS had to answer questions that her fiance had already answered. If SS got an answer wrong, she had to pop one of the balloons from the table decorations. Inside the balloons were "dares" to do at the bars later that night. Poor SS had to pop all of the balloons! She kept saying, "I know him better than he does!" Considering SS didn't know what a shot was, much less a body shot, I was interested to see if she completed her tasks (I ditched the group when they headed for the bars). KJ, one of the organizers, said that SS didn't quite complete all of her tasks, but SS seemed to be having a good time drunk people watching.

Adventures with the crazy, redheaded J's

Our friend RE first introduced us to the crazy, redheaded J's. They are a half-Canadian half-American bundle of energy super close family that we have gotten to know and love. The oldest, P, is a mechanical engineer working in the cities. Next is brother M, who is an electrical engineer working in Duluth. After that comes sister C, quite possibly the craziest of all, who is an architect in Chicago. And last but certainly not least is brother G, who just got his degree as an electrical engineer. If you can believe this, at one time all four lived in one house during college. Now, just G lives in town and we're thankful that he is continuing his education so we have some entertainment still for a while. His whole family was in town for his graduation this weekend. Thus, the adventure begins...

We decided to go mountain biking. With my new bike, I was superpumped. It was a b-e-a-u-tiful day - not too hot but sunny and lovely. We rode to Turtle River with P and C. C was suffering from, ahem, that special time each month - she was suffering very loudly and publicly, so I'm not worried about posting about it by the way. Finally she said, "JJ, you're going to be a doctor, what should I do?" Her brother P chimes in, "Well, you could just get knocked up and that'd take care of it." I just had to quote it because it exemplifies how they are not quite your ordinary family. : )

So, we get to Turtle River, get all checked in and stretched out... (I even have a picture of G stretching on P.) Then, we actually have to start biking. We start out pretty nice and easy. I'm really enjoying myself. Then, all of a sudden, an incline. My first one. No one tells me about switching gears or any of that jazz. I get to a point where I can't peddle any more. It's kind of embarrassing to have to get off of my bike and walk it up the rest of the way. I don't feel so bad when I see others doing it from time to time. Buddy JP especially sticks with me and offers tons of encouragement. Constantly, I just look to make sure I can see her bright blue shirt up ahead of me. Then, under the direction of GJ, JP and I accidently get on a different trail. It's really difficult. Like too difficult for my first time. I start kind of having anxiety attacks as I look doooown to my left and then to the little trail to my right. Eeks. I start slowing down, which makes turning trickier. (side note: When I had gotten out of this trail and could clear my head a bit - I compared it to snowboarding. Like I tell newbies -- you just have to go fast. It's so much tougher going slowly.) I seriously almost wiped out majorly twice. One time I ended up hanging on to a tree - otherwise, I would've gone dooooown the side. Another time, I started falling down - but was able to get off my bike in time to let my bike lay down so I could get back up to the trail. So, I make it out of the trail. JP does the thing that is the deal breaker for me. She offers sympathy. That just opens my flood gates and I start bawling. It was so embarrassing. G felt like a Jerk (with a capital J) and I felt really bad. Even P was a bit caught off guard. Poor guys. So, I compose myself and we set out to find C and JJ, who had taken the easy trail to the side of this advanced one. We find them tooling around and later JJ asks how things are going. Of course the floodgates open again. Grrreat. But, after some better (read: easier) trails, I regained some confidence and am really excited to get out there and try again. The J's mother had made a full homemade delicious dinner and we were invited over to eat. What a great end to a wonderful, albeit emotional day! Then, we got to see P and C load up P's camry with two motocross bikes and one mountain bike. Did I mention they are the crazy redheaded J's?

And can I just say that really? Really is Coco Crisp his real name? That might be my favorite name next to Lovie Smith.

Shhh! It's a Surprise Party for JP and CA!

I have just finished making the little favors for the surprise co-ed wedding shower for JP and CA. And, to borrow and rework a phrase from Larry the Cable Guy, "If you don't think these are cute, there's something wrong with you!"

We were planning for a wonderful bbq outdoors. But, the weather isn't quite cooperating. And by cooperating, I mean it's SNOWING. Yeah. We'll still have a wonderful time. JJ is making naan and tandori chicken and CA and MA (our Bible study host couple) are making hotdogs and hamburgers. Yum! And then of course the usual games and amusements.

Laaaast Track Meet

We had our last track practice yesterday and today was the last meet. It has been a really enjoyable season, but it is wonderful to have some free evenings. So funny stories from yesterday:

The kids were just a teensy bit crazy yesterday. They had trouble sitting still. They had trouble listening. They had trouble moving during the game (c'mon - it's track practice - expect some exercise!). This led to some of the coaches being a little on edge. We played flag football. Coach S. was saying he totally could've used flag football in 7th and 8th grade... "C'mon, I was just reaching for your flag." In a totally joking manner, Coach S. swung his keys at another coach Coach H., and it ended with a kid saying, "You just hit him in the bonkers!" It was funny. And then, Coach H. was by the equipment box waiting for the kids to be sent to him to put their flags from flag football in the bin. Coach H. happened to be wearing his flag football belt. Coach S. chatted about the track meet and then sent them away saying, "The first kid to get Coach S.'s flags off is the winner." The funniest thing was that Coach H. had no idea. So all of a sudden all these kids are running at him with their hands outstretched toward his ... "bonkers".?. The quickest one gets there and Coach H. kinda freaks and tackles the kid going at his bonkers. It was HIlarious. Coach S. and I left the kiddos to Coach H. who was staying late that night. I was still laughing so hard I walked right into the building with Coach S. and realized that it was the guy's locker room. Oops! (No one was in there, don't worry!)

Track meet today: Last one and a middle school was caught cheating. In two different ways. Really? I mean really? A middle school track meet? Alrighty then.

Oh! And I am officially a new special educator at my school. I have my first meeting tomorrow to find out who's on my caseload, etc. How exciting! Plus I don't have breakfast duty because of it! Double bonus!

Princess-Niecey L

I thought maybe I should wait for my SIL, Lyz, to post about this weekend. She is the MOB (not mother of the bride, but rather mother of the birthday girl) after all. Oh well, I guess I beat her to it! So some highlights from our weekend:

*Friday, we finished Sholay (a Hindi movie) with CA, JP and S?. And ate some gumbo made by JJ (yum!).

*Saturday we made it to AJ and LJ's (BIL and SIL) house in time for mini LJ's princess party. She was allll dressed up in a pink Sleeping Beauty dress made by her G'ma CM. She was so excited it was hillarious.

*Friend #1 comes. Niecey LJ yells "A's here - get a blower!" (One of her party favors was a little princess themed noisemaker.)

*Then, someone suggested she put her crown on. She said she couldn't until her party started (at 10:00 am and not a moment before).

*Lil' LJ and little bro BJ go downstairs to play with the friends who are there while waiting for the rest to come. LJ says, "Let's go on a princess adventure!" Someone says, "Yes!" with an arm raised triumphantly in the air. Any guesses who was so enthusiastically behind the idea? Brother BJ! Ha!

*SIL LJ has tons of games arranged -- she was so organized it was delightful. The kiddos had a blast with lots of different princess-themed non-competitive events. The party ended with foam crown decorating, eating a beautiful cake decorated and shaped as a princess crown and ice cream, and of course gift opening. LJ had an awesome idea to have two "thrones" - one for bday girl LJ and one for the person giving the gift. Niecey LJ knew who the gift was from, could immediately thank (and hug) the friend and the other girl felt superspecial.

*I helped SIL LJ at her MOM's Club rummage sale. When we got back, I triumphantly told JJ I didn't even buy anything! Of course, I'm not pregnant and we don't have any children, so it wasn't too much of a stretch...

*Later, the family bday party - complete with brinner! (Breakfast for dinner - source: Scrubs) We had pancakes - yum - and then LJ opened the rest of her presents with her cute quips "She's so clever!" when she opened her Great Gma's present, for example.

*We got lots of hang out time with AJ and the fam. It was fabulous! We got home this morning in time to go to Church to the latest service. It was about the Holy Spirit. I so enjoy Pastor Paul and the worship team at Hope. Yay Hope!

*Today, Sunday, the weather was so beautiful. JJ had to go study at the Union... boo finals week... but we walked there together and then I went for a jog (help work off all that delicious cake and ice cream!). Then, back to the Union and I finished correcting almost all of the papers that have piled up from this crazy, hectic last week.

*Now, finally, I have my feet up and my laptop out -- ready to scan facebook, get out the new book I'm reading, and get ready for tomorrow!

Why.... thank you?

So, more track stories. I got the pleasure of riding one of the busses today (my turn, darn!). We get on the bus and are waiting and waiting. The other bus leaves and we don't move. I'm like, what is going on? So I get up from my strategic middle seat -- right in the action -- and ask the driver if he needed something. He didn't realize I was a coach..... wait a second.... was I just mistaken for a seventh or eighth grader??

And that reminds me of another story. When I was doing my resident teacher internship in W, Our State, at an elementary school, one of the lunch ladies thought I was a student. Hmmmm, so there I was mistaken for a sixth grader or younger! I know I'm short, but c'mon! Hopefully people can guess within ten years -- especially when the teen years are in between!

Back to track, I just thought I'd update on the discus drama. So today the added danger was the high school team was practicing on the same field the shot and discus were being thrown. They did their warm-ups, and then guess, just guess what they decided to practice. Javelin! IN MY DIRECTION! I was like wha?? So now discs are being thrown to my front and javelins are being thrown to my back. What is this track world coming to? Of course they never even got close to me, but just knowing they were back there scared me!

Tomorrow I get to be Mr. BH, one of the gym teachers. What shall it be? Mat ball? Dodge ball? DDR? The hokey pokey?