I'm a Teacher!

The last 2 months have been a crazy blur!  Jevan and I moved back to Rexburg, and although it's not our favorite place to live, it does have some perks.  Those perks include:  $5 pizza at Little Caesar's (it was $5.99 in Cedar City), a large concentration of young married couples all in the same situation as us, (we love our ward and have already made some new friends and reunited with some old ones), CHEAP tuition for Jev and short semesters for a faster finish, (he should be done here in July or next December at the latest), Cable T.V. with NFL Network (they lied to use about having ESPN which made Jevan mad), and most importantly I have my teaching job! 

I have mixed feelings about teaching right now.  In all honesty, it's a love and...dislike relationship.  I know it's only been a little over a month, and it will get better, but I don't know if it's worth it to me to teach forever.  I love the kids and I love teaching more than other jobs I've had, but it's a lot of work, and it's constant work.  I never feel like I get a break from it, because there is always something more I can be doing.  I also feel like I could make around the same amount of money doing a different job for a lot less effort, so maybe I'm just lazy.  BUT, enough of the negative thoughts, it's really a great profession!  I couldn't ask for a better school to work at.  My Principal is amazing!  Probably the best principal I've ever met.  So nice and fun!  I also love all my faculty.  There really is little to no drama between anyone, and my teaching team is amazing.  I love working with the two awesome ladies on my team!  They seriously keep my sane.  They also keep me on track and always make sure I have everything I need to be a successful teacher.

Here are a few pictures of things that we've been doing!

We had our 2 year wedding anniversary in August.

We also got some new family pictures with Jevan's family.

All the boys.

All the girls!

Jevan's whole family.

The awesome BYU vs. Texas football game.  Pouring rain, delayed 2 hours because of  of lightening, but an awesome win!  Go Cougars!!!

 

My classroom on the first day of school.  It looks different now, but here is a brief glance of it.

Our new living room.  We bought that couch at Big Lots for pretty cheap and we'll sell it when we move.  It's nice to not have a couch covered with a blanket.  I made those curtains before our move, and I LOVE them!!!

Our entryway.  I made that "A" by the door too.  It's for Anderson, not Amy. ;)  All I really did was paint it, but I'm still proud.

Our kitchen!  I also made those "Family" blocks on top of our counters.  Well, Lisa made the blocks, I just put the paper and modgepodge on.  I've been feeling crafty and actually taking action on it!

Jevan's mom gave us these old barstools that actually used to be Jevan's grandparents.  They are so comfy, but pretty beat up.  I forgot to take a picture before I sanded them, but here is a before picture of our barstools.  Hailey helped me sand them and told me what to do to make them look good.

Here is the finished product!  Black may be boring, but it's classic. I love having the metal ring silver instead of a worn out gold.  Too bad they got a little scratched on our move.  :(  I guess they'll need another paint job!

Birthdays, Anniversary, and Whatever!

Last month Jevan and I got to babysit this cutie for a whole weekend!  I love my Quincy!

On the way to Scheels and Taco Amigo!  She was a trooper!

We went boating last month too.  We had fun wake boarding, jet skiing, and just chilln' in the boat.

Cute Hallie trying to fall asleep in that sweet life jacket.

 

 

Jev's younger sister Kammi graduated from High School!  (this one is a little out of order, but oh well!)

4th of July was a blast!

I really like this one actually for some reason.

I went golfing for the first time ever for Jevan's 25th birthday!  It was actually pretty fun!  Jevan was impressed with how well I did for my first time.  Maybe I'll actually take some lessons!  I got a 60, give or take a few strokes from the little kid line... Not bad!  Jev of course got a 40 from the normal line.  He's so good!

This was our best golfing picture.  I guess i thought something was funny?

Thinking of a birthday wish.

I got him this waffle maker that is just like his moms.  He loves waffles and has been talking about this one FOREVER!

Hogle Zoo for our 2 year anniversary!

Cool drinking fountain.

Huge stuffed animal!

We had an awesome anniversary!  We went to the zoo, In n' Out for lunch, mini golfing at Trafalga (where we got a sweet deal).  Mini golf, 10 arcade tokens (4 eaten in the stupid machines), and dip n' dots!  Those things are so good!  Then we went to Carrabas for dinner!  So good!

Wait, what...Rexburg?!

That's right, Jev and I are moving back to Rexburg!  It's been crazy these last few months as we have been trying to figure out where the best place for us is, and the best things for us to do.  We initially moved to Cedar City, because we thought Jevan would like going to SUU better, and I thought it would be easier for me to get a teaching job.  Boy were we wrong!  We liked SUU alright, and I did get a part time teaching job, but things weren't exactly how we thought they would be.  I had gotten several interviews for teaching positions, and they all went really well.  I tried really hard to meet with the principals before the interviews and study the kinds of answers they would want.  According to the Principal I work with right now, I came really close to getting several jobs...but, none of them ended up working.  I was pretty bummed.  Jevan is sick of school and remembered all the great resources that BYU-I had, and that he could finish schooling quicker and cheaper if he went back.  So...we decided, hey, let's see what we can do.

We decided that the only way it would be worth going back to BYU-Idaho was if Jevan could start this Fall and keep going every track.  We had already missed the application deadline by a few months, but when we called the school, they said they were being lenient, so we gave it a shot.  Jevan easily got back in on his original Winter/Spring track, but they are allowing him to start in the Fall on his off track as well.  (They're kindof desperate because everyone is leaving on missions with this new age change...at least that's what we think.)  So, we were pretty sure we were going back, but what sealed the deal was me getting a job!

It was a miracle that I got my job.  I literally filled out an online application, submitted it, and did nothing more to even get a call.  By a great blessing I got a phone call from the Principal of Madison Middle school, the next night, at 9:00!  It was so crazy.  He asked if we could do a Skype interview on Friday.  I was so excited, and agreed.  I then learned how to use Skype, and had my interview the next day.  It apparently went super well, because I got a phone call Monday morning asking me to be a part of their school!  I was originally going to be the 6th grade Science teacher, but given my current job and experience as the math specialist, he felt my skills would be better placed as the 5th grade math teacher. 

I wish I could have expanded my teaching experience by doing science, but given how I've already taught a lot of math, this will make my first year teaching much easier, which I am grateful for!

I just have to say that this whole experience is in no way luck.  I completely see The Lord's hand in this.  I have been praying for a job that is right for me and for Jevan to be happy in his schooling, where ever that might be.  I feel like we were meant to spend the time we did here in Cedar so that I could get some teaching experience and so that Jevan could better appreciate the schooling at BYU-Idaho.  Things have fallen perfectly in place and I just thank my Heavenly Father every day for these wonderful blessings he has bestowed upon us.  He knows what is right for each and every one of us.  If we just continue to work hard and do our very best, he will always provide and do the rest. 

Well, there you have it.  The whole story!  I hope you weren't too bored.  I'm just pretty excited to be moving forward and having an "adult" job, using my college degree!!!  Wish Jev and I luck!!

Fun Weekend With The Solomons

Last Thursday Jevan and I were talking about how we missed hanging out with our good friends Drue and Jane Solomon.  They used to live in Rexburg with us, but since then we have moved our separate ways.  Luckily, they only live in Logandale, Nevada, so they're really only about 1 1/2 hours away.  So, we thought, what the heck?  Let's see if we can visit them on Saturday!  It was awesome!  Friday night Jevan and I went to St. George, where we did a Temple trip with Jev's dad, and then went to Texas Road House.  It was my first time there, and it was awesome!  I especially liked the rolls.  I think I could've been happy just eating those.  haha.  Then we watched an edited version of a movie called 3:10 to Yuma.  I was so full and tired that I missed most of it by falling asleep. :(  But Jevan's parents loved it!  It's a Western drama...but they seemed to think it was a comedy!  haha.  Probably the same way Jev and I feel about the new True Grit movie (it's hilarious!). 

The next day Jevan and I woke up at 6:00 a.m. so we could start our 45 min. trip to Mesquite so Jevan and Drue could golf at 8:00 a.m. at this really nice golf course Drue works at.  The reason I'm mentioning all these times is because as we passed the Arizona state line, I suddenly realized that we were headed to Nevada....and they are in the Pacific time zone, which means we were a whole hour too early!  It was super lame, but we just stopped at Walmart in Mesquite, Jevan got some new golf tees and I bought Jane a baby gift.

Jevan then met up with Drue and I left them to golf while I drove the remaining 30 min. to visit Jane and their new baby Jedidiah!  It was so fun!  I got to hear all about her time at the hospital and her first month being a new mom.  Jed wasn't the easiest baby at first because he would cry and puke all the time, but it turned out it was because he has heartburn.  He's on medicine now and is doing much better!  It was great just to hang out with Jane and her new baby.  We have a lot in common and it was nice to talk to someone who thinks the same way as I do.  I also got to hold a sweet little baby and have him fall asleep in my arms.  Who doesn't like that??

Then the boys came back, we played a little Mario Brothers on the Wii, and went out to eat at a cute little diner type place called Sugars.  They had really great potato skins, breakfast, and hamburgers.  Drue grew up in Logandale, so he pointed out all the important stuff in this little town, like their only gas station, his best friend's house from high school, and a house that looks like a castle.  We met a lot of old people that would mumble stuff to us loud enough for us to hear them, but quiet enough that we couldn't understand them.  So we would just nod and smile.  haha.

Then we headed back to St. George to watch basketball and eat Cafe Rio for dinner before we headed back to our place in Cedar.  Sorry for no pictures, I should be better about that.  But it was a super fun weekend and I thought it worth the blog! 

Living in Southern Utah

As many people now know, Jevan and I are now living in Cedar City, UT.  Jev is going to school at SUU, and it has been quite the change for us here.  The weather is fairly similar to Rexburg, but the campus and town are SUPER empty!  I guess we never realized how over crowded BYU-Idaho was, until we went somewhere else.  We like the town well enough, but don't plan on living here for forever.  Main street has really cute lights it puts on the trees, but every entrance to a store or building parking lot has a huge dip!  Thank goodness we have a lifted Jeep, or else the front of our car would hit every time.  The biggest difference between here and Rexburg is the fact that boys can have long hair, beards, and everyone can wear shorts.  It was quite a shock for me when I went to church that first Sunday and met a guy, just like I described.  Jev's loving being able to wear shorts though.

We really like our new little apartment.  It's only a one bedroom, but that's all we really need.  It also has a washer and dryer, which is so nice to have!  And it's a decent price. :)  The weird thing about it is that our fridge makes kindof a fireworks sound...all the time!  We're used to it now, but it first drove us crazy!

While Jevan has been busy studying, I went and hooked myself a part time..well, less than part time, job as the Math Specialist at Three Peaks Elementary.  How I got it, I'll never know, considering I always hated math.  I guess I'm just good at teaching it?  I've also had a lot of experience in it and have grown to find Elementary math, pretty fun.  It's been a cool job.  I get to work with kids in every age group, 1st-5th.  I get my own classroom called the Math Center, and I get to work with a great team of Resource teachers to plan fun math activities and lessons.  The year is almost over, and now I need to decide if I'll stay doing this job for next year...I just wish it was more than 18.75 hours a week...

I've been job hunting like crazy, and I've had some great interviews!  But, so far, no luck. :(  I consider myself extremely blessed to even get interviews though, considering there are hundreds of applicants, and only 24 or more got interviews.  I feel like I always do pretty good, but the right job must not have popped up yet.  I just keep having faith that things will work out the way they are supposed to.  All I can do is try my hardest, pray, and never lose faith, and doors will be opened. :)

Sorry for the boring writing, if anyone actually reads this thing. :)  Here are a few pics from a family get together last weekend!  My older brother Todd graduated from BYU-Idaho, and then came to visit in Salt Lake with everyone else.  It was awesome!  I just wish I could've stayed longer than the weekend.  I'll also add some pictures from my birthday and whatever else has been going on.

This is my cute niece Jane!  She would smile super big, and then stop right before the picture took.  This is the best smile we captured I think.

Here is another picture trying to catch her adorable smile.  I thought I looked better, but she was smiling less, silly girl!

I snagged Macey, to be in a picture since I never get to see this cute girl.  She is getting so tall and growing up so fast!

Here are my beautiful sisters and beautiful mom. :)

This is a visit to my awesome friend Hailey a few months ago.  She lives in Provo, but every once in a while I get to go visit her.

Here I am on my birthday!  Jevan got me a blizzard for my birthday cake.  It was perfect!

Goodbye School!

It's weird to say, but I'm officially finished with my bachelor's degree!  I can't believe I'm actually done and can apply to be a teacher in my own classroom!  My student teaching experience was awesome!  I loved those 6th graders so much and still do!  I miss them like crazy, but hopefully I can get my own classroom this next school year and have new kids to miss like crazy. :)  Here are a few pics:

This is from July, right before I did my student teaching.  I decided to walk first. :)  I graduated!!

My handsome husband. :)

Some of the best friends ever!  I was so happy I could walk with them!  Brighton and Hailey. :)

My wonderful parents came all the way to Rexburg for me!

The cutest class ever!

They are all goofs!  Can you find me?  I'm about their same height!  haha.

 

 

My awesome mentor teacher, Amy Allen.

This is me with all the amazing gifts from my students.  My favorite was the binder full of their pictures with sweet notes from them all.

My last day of class was so much fun!  The whole class totally tricked me!  I was convinced that they kids were going to have a pop quiz in science during the last hour of class, so I kept hinting to them that they should study.  Little did I know that there was no pop quiz!  My teacher told the kids that when she lifted up the over head screen, the quiz would be on the board.  When she did that, instead it said, "We will miss you!" and they all turned to me and said "SURPRISE!!!"  It was so shocked I started to cry!  Then they had me turn around, and each kid whispered something they remember with me, or liked about me, and I had to guess who it was!  I was pretty good, almost guessing everyone, and they were way impressed.  Then we ate treats and I gave them all the personalized notes I wrote them.  I became a celebrity as they formed a line asking for my autograph.  We then finished with another game and a class picture.  I loved it all!  The other best part was getting hugs from EVERY single student, even some of the boys my teacher and I thought would choose a handshake, gave me a hug.  And then as soon as the bell rang some of the girls busted out their phones and got pictures with me.  I can't wait to go visit them again sometime!