oh fifth grade...

Well I had the pleasure (if you will) to work with 5th graders for the first time this week.  For my block 2 practicum I am with 5th graders at a school about 5 blocks from our apartment.

I'm not sure how well I like the 5th grade.  Maybe it is because they are getting ready for the big MAP testing this next week or maybe it's because I didn't get to teach a whole lot compared to my last practicum.  I'm not really sure.

I have a tough class to work with this semester.  The first words out of my practicum teachers mouth on Tuesday morning were something to the tune of "This is my toughest class in all the years I have been teaching, I just don't know what to do," and this was on the first day of me being there.  They are pretty far behind in reading, math, etc.  There are some health reasons, but really the class is just REALLY young for their age.

My first day there we were going on a field trip thought to Knife River Indian Village (click on the name for more information).  The field trip in itself was a great experience to get to be on.  I have always wondered how that would work and now I know.  We had to make accommodations on the fly for some students due to health reasons, but it was a great day.  I have never been there, so that was great to get to see.  It was about an hour or so bus (big yellow bus mind you) ride up.  I sat with the teachers on the way up and on the way back I was able to sit with some of the students and got to know them a little bit better.  One of the students and I had some great conversations that really blew me out of the water.  This little fellow knew so much about cars and trucks it was crazy!!!

The second day (Wednesday) that I was there I was able to give the spelling test (and then did not collect the papers as I thought they turned them into a basket or folder, but apparently not!).  I also worked with a student during the math lesson...and that was pretty much my day.  The power was out for about 2 hours and my teacher was in meetings for about an hour and a half  so we had an aide in the room with me.

It was an interesting two days of observation.  I go back again Monday through Friday next week.  They are taking their MAP tests next week and I am going to be able to for sure teach four lessons (Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies).  So I am very excited for that.  I am still unsure if I like the intermediate grades.  3rd (which is primary) was great, but I really don't think I'm too sure on this 5th grade business.  Hopefully as the year progresses my mind will change and I will enjoy the topics they are learning.

I'm staying open minded.......

Dad's 50th Birthday Partay!

My dad turned 50 this year (in August). We had a small party for him over Labor Day weekend, as this was a good weekend that both my brother and I were able to be home in Glendive. We barbecued and had cake. It was nice having all of us together again (as we also planned it so Brad could be there as he works crazy hours at his job). We haven't all been together like that for a very long time, so it was really nice.

Sarah made a golf cart cake for him and my sister made a mix in the pan cake (dad's favorite!) for the grass that it would sit on and it turned out AMAZING!!

They did a good job huh!

I made sure to get a picture with everyone that was there, since it's been so long since I've had a picture taken with them all =)

My dad and I

Grandma Maggie and I

Michelle (my step mom) and I

Linken and I

Lukas and I (he was being a goof)

 

Lily and I

Chad was being my photographer for most, but not all

My brother Brad and I

My sister-in-law Sarah (nicks wife) and I

My sister Kris and I

my brother-in-law (kriss husband) Charles

My brother Nick...

Okay that's better, Nick and I

Haha, it was a good time.  We played Wii sports resort (thanks to Sue!) later on that night and it was fun!  All in all, a good weekend!

Ashley and Ryan's Wedding

Yikes! I have been so busy I haven't been able to update this bad boy! I should be at an SEA meeting tonight, but my brain is so fried and full of information this evening, I think staying at home is just what I need, so sorry SEA I won't be there this month!

Labor Day weekend was so busy for us! We went home for my step sister Ashley's wedding on the 5th (mind you we were also invited to Lindsey (Chad's cousin) and Kristen (my long long long time friend) wedding on the same day!!! We had a nice time; we went with Nick and Sarah. It was great seeing my step dad as I have not seen him since Christmas if memory serves me right. It was a beautiful ceremony and the reception was fun while we were there. Poor Chad made a deal not to drink for two weeks with me because he's been breaking out in hives when he does drink, so it was interesting to see him not throwing back a few while we were in town visiting family!

Greg and Ashley walking down the aisle

Nick and Sarah

Chadder and I

Greg (my step dad) and I

The beautiful center pieces =)

Someday....

I ran across a quote yesterday; it stated:

"Someday is not a day of the week."

It really got me thinking. I say "someday" to Chad A LOT! Maybe he doesn't see it like I realized last night, but I don't think I will say it anymore haha.

He always says, "I can't wait to have a big house with a big yard to take care of," and my response is always, "someday."

or

He will say "I really want to paint my pickup" and my response again, "someday."

I just came to the realization that when I say someday, I don't have motivation. It is something that seems to far out of reach, so I just respond with "someday."

September 1, today, kicks off a new month and new attitude (so to speak haha). My "someday's" are going to become a day of the week, a month, or a year. Soon will not be put in place either, as it's not a day either =) I think it will give me more hope for the future and motivation to get there!

Just a thought for the day I was having today.

Think about how many times you have said "someday" to someone in your life. Maybe you haven't used the word and maybe you have. Ponder that as you are going through your day to day routine =)

Love it and it's FREE!

So, maybe some of you have heard of this website, but if not I'm going to share it with you!!

My favorite website to go to while editing pictures is called Picnik. http://www.picnik.com/

You can upload your photos and do all sorts of things to them. Here are a few of my photos that I have enhanced, added to, and added quotes to. If you haven't been to this website before, please check it out! I strongly recommend it!!!

This is my niece Lily =)

My brother Nick and his boys...

Chad and I =) I used the retro setting on the web site, thought it looked neato

This is a picture I took while at the swim meet in July in Glendive and I found this quote and thought it would go nicely. I put it into a frame that has two daisy pictures on the other sides, so it's FINALLY complete, two years later...wooops...now to mat the two daisy pictures....

Anyways! I really like this website and am recommending that you all check it out!

http://www.picnik.com/

Goodbye Summer!!

So summer is officially over. We tried to go back to Glendive at least once a month, sometimes we made it home a few more weekends then 1 though! The whole summer I was doing an online Earth Science course, which mind you wasn't fun at all=) So besides seeing family and doing lots of homework, here is a little recap of our summer:

May:

• I spent a week in a graduate class for Early childhood.
• Poor Sadie got spayed
• Softball started for Chad
• I did the Walk for Wishes walk with Heidi

June:

• LOTS OF SOFTBALL for Chad
• I started working full time at the ND Game and Fish Department, and Wednesdays and every other weekend at the YMCA
• Chad's dad had a heart attack, but is now doing much better
  
• My brother Nick's gang came up to visit
  
• Attended Jere and Erins beautiful wedding
• Chads softball team was in the McQuade tournament and took 5th!

July:

• Celebrated the 4th of July with the Nelson family and a few other families from the softball team
• Watched Linken swim in his first swim meet (I'm still so proud of that kid!)
• Waited patiently from far away to hear news that Michelle's surgery was a Success!!!!

August:

• State softball in Minot
• Finished up at the Game and Fish Dept
• I attended Julies bridal parties
• Got to go to the Dawson County Fair for the first time in 3 years!
• Pretty much started and finished my online class in 2 weeks =)
• My brother Nick's gang came up for a weekend to go school shopping
  

Today marked my first day of school for the fall semester as well. I went up to the university with a friend I haven't seen all summer and we got verified and picked up our GRADUATION APPLICATIONS!!!! That's right folks, I'm almost done with school! I bought my books today for my last semester of classes in my Bachelor degree career! I have to apply to student teach (September 12), pass my portfolio presentation and get accepted into the student teaching program, and I will officially be student teaching in January 2010!!! The end is in sight!

Also on todays agenda for me was to take Sadie to the groomer; she now looks beautiful:


And lastly today I got to go to the dentist. I finally found one that was nice and affordable (I use that term loosly as dental work is never affordable haha). So I went in today and had a tooth filled. I went in knowing that I would either have it refilled, as part of the old filling chipped out, or I would have to have a root canal done because it was such a huge filling. Thankfully for right now it's just a filling. If its still sore in about a week, I get to go back in and have the root canal done because it is very close to the root, so wish me luck that it gets better!!!!!

Classes start for me tomorrow (Tuesday) and I'm excited to get back into the swing of things. Chad's still plugging away at work full time, and I love him very much for supporting me as much as possible through school; I'm back to part time work now at the Y still (although I did just get a hefty raise!), so my full time job of household duties begins today =) I think he would much rather have me full time household duties all year round lol, as he hates doing the dishes in the summer, but I'm sure he will get over it =)

August's Adventures

Time has really flown by this summer! The month of August was crazy busy for us as we were either traveling or working like crazy or a little of both! So, that's why it's taken me soooo long to update this go around. A little recap of August so far:

the 7-9 we were in Minot for state softball, had some good games, but didn't place well. Here are some highlights from hanging out with the team and the games:

Garmin helped us find the Comfort Inn =)

Nate and Shay brought wigs for us all to show our team spirit in =)

We had a rain delay Saturday Morning for the game, when we got back to the hotel a few of us hit up the hot tub right away because we were drenched and FREEZING!

Here he is batting!

He also has quite a unique way of taking off after hitting....

Chad made it to third quite a bit off of his hits during the tournament =) good job Chaddy!

The weekend after state softball we headed to Glendive for Julie's Bridal parties. I spent part of Saturday at the fair with my sister Kris, her daughter Lillian, and my sister-in-law Sarah. Chad went to Sidney with his dad and little Cannon to spend some time with the Hoff grandparents. Later that day I went to Julies bridal parties and had a great time. Here are a few pictures from that time:

Lily really wanted to pet the chicken but was a little hesitant once she got up close.

This is what my dad makes...well oversees the production of I guess.

Julie didn't get very many questions right about Josh, but I give her props for getting the close answers to the aunts, uncles, and cousin questions!

We all had to bring a pair of underwear for her to guess who brought, well she figured out who brought a scandalous pair and wasn't too ready for the answer!

Ready to go out for the night on the town!