September 19

I tried making Cafe Rio sweet pork and dressing again today. The recipe was much easier than the last one and this time it tasted better. It wasn't exactly the same, but I still liked it. Of course, Chris doesn't even have any lettuce, pico or dressing on his boring plate.

September 18

Isn't Charleah silly?

And look! She is wearing her own hoodie! That doesn't happen anymore.

September 17

Chris and I both had a rough day today. To relax, we went over to his parent's house and got in their hot tub. We were only in there for about 20 minutes, but I was practically asleep by the time I got out. Of course, it doesn't take much for me to sleep on a Friday night after a long week.

September 16

Chris told me that I watch The Office too much. (Yes, this is a picture of my TV)

I do watch The Office an awful lot. But that is because I have seen it so many times, I can have it playing in the background while I am doing stuff.

I can grade papers and watch The Office and I am not distracted but I am entertained.

I finally ordered Season 6 today. It needs to get here quickly.

Ten points if you can guess what episode this is.

September 15

Hungry?

I love a good sandwich. And a good sandwich has to have tomatoes on it. And mayo. Everything else can be swapped out.

September 14

This is the picture that I got today while I was at work.

I love him.

September 13

I basically had a horrible day today. I love teaching, but it seriously is the hardest thing that I have ever done. I feel like I have said that a lot in the last couple of weeks.

I did cry. I'll admit it. Luckily I have great teachers all around me who are there to give me advice when I need it.

Anyways, Chris got me an IBC cream soda to make me feel better. Isn't he so sweet?

September 12

1. I like being on a schedule for the day. It kind of bothers me when I have to do things that I didn't plan the night before.
2. I usually don't drink during a meal. I save all of my beverage for when I am finished.
3. I have to have my keys ready. Every morning before I get out of the car, I have to have my keys out for the door to the school. I would have enough time to walk to the door and get my keys out as I walk. But it makes me too nervous to do that.
4. I love Icees.
5. I usually have to use correct grammar in texts. No thx, lol, u, r, ...
6. I don't like to eat in the dark. I hate those restaurants that make you eat dinner in the dark.
7. I can't drink the last cup of milk of in a gallon. It is gross.
8. I hate having the lights off in the bathroom. Ever since I saw the movie Darkness Falls I freak out if it is off. And sometimes, I have accidently turned it off and freaked myself out.
9. I can't read lips. Chris tries to talk to me silently, but I never know what he is saying.
10. I usually close my eyes when there is some kind of violence on TV. I just really don't like watching it.
11. When I go to a drive though, I have to practice my order out loud before I give it. Usually, I think my options out loud before I tell Chris what I want.
12. To cut things, I use the knife in my left hand. I am right-handed.
13. I hate those long intros to movies. They are so boring.
14. I don't wear pantyhose. I haven't in years.

September 11

Which meal looks more interesting? I'll tell you, the colorful one with corn and tomatoes and sour cream. Chris and I went on a date to Chipotle today. He doesn't get food like I do. He always says that I cover up my food with so much other food that I don't appreciate the taste. Um, I do. I appreciate more flavors that way.

September 10

This is my teacher computer. It is old and it's a PC. But it does connect to a Smartboard. I will have to do a post about that one day. Smartboards are interactive whiteboards and the students LOVE them. I wish we had them in school.

September 9

There are always fads in school and it is different every week. One week it was toy motorcycles. Silly bandz are still happening. I already have a collection of those I have taken up because the students flick them. This week it is spinners and ninja starts. The squares are spun so you can see the designs change. I finally had to say that if I saw them out in class, the it was an automatic color change. I haven't seen too many since then.

September 8

In 2005 our singles ward had a ward talent show. My roommates and I (this was when Charleah and I were roomies) did "I won't say I'm in love" from Hercules. It was way fun. And I actually sung it. Nobody else would be Meg so I got the courage to do it.

I am so young here. It is hard to believe this was 5 years ago.

Melissa's parents recorded it. We should get that from her someday.

September 7

Happy Birthday Sammie! And these are some of my favorite pictures of her.

Sammie is finally 21; she is old enough to be a supervisor at work and sell alcohol! I know that she is so excited about that.

Here are somethings I love about Sammie/memories about her.

1. She is going to be a famous writer someday because...
2. She is a fantastic writer. Seriously, I love reading her blog posts because they always make me laugh. And I love reading her book and I love the book ideas she has had since then and I really want her to write one of them.
3. She is as funny in real life as in writing. She is always making some comment that makes me chuckle.
4. I love her sarcasm and although I make fun of her, love listening to her stories about silly (stupid people.) 
5. She always surprises me with how smart she is. Part of her humor is her wit.
6. That one time I made her cry and then mocked her for it will definitely live in infamy forever.
7. She is very straight-forward and just knows what she knows and isn't ashamed about it.
8. She almost beats Chris when it comes to quoting movies. But maybe she could beat Chris. We should have a competition on day.
9. I can talk about books with her. And although she forced me to read Twilight years ago, she did recommend The Hunger Games, so it cancels out.
10. I do like taking pictures of her doing weird things, because it is rare. Like having a crab on her shoulder or making meatballs. 
11. Her obsession with certain things, like milk and oreos, is amusing. 
12. I would really like to see her in my class, because her facial expressions at some of the things my kids do and say would probably be really funny. She would be thinking "What the heck is wrong with these children?"
13. We always butted heads growing up, but we are totally over that now. Right?
14. Have you ever woken Sammie up? I wouldn't suggest. She will totally hate you for a while. I think it might be worse than Chris. 
15. She is weird because she doesn't like cheese or Cafe Rio.
16. One day, I will get her to run a 5k with me. But most likely Charleah will have to help me convince her.
17. Adison create the nickname "Heavy Hips" for her once. And he always made fun of her nose (which is not big.) He has since apologized for that one being a missionary and all. 
18. Also, she thinks she has a photographic memory. I think only Adison would understand this one. (Just joking Sammie.)
19. I don't like that she is taller than me.
20. She gets along exceptionally well with Chris. They are like lost siblings.
21. I love her style of t-shirt and jeans. I hope that she never has to get a job where she has to wear slacks and a blouse. 

Happy Birthday Sammie! I love you!

Add what you love about Sammie!

September 6

Labor Day. My first holiday as a teacher. We went over the the Kunz's and watched Mauren beat up MiCayla.  Just joking, but she does look like she is in pain.

We did play Cranium and it is a new version that has a Puppeteer activity. So Mauren was trying to make MiCayla be an astronaut without her knowing. It was pretty entertaining.

I can't wait for the next holiday, which will be Thanksgiving. But at least it is a whole week!

September 5

This is the Pacific Ocean. It was taken almost a year ago when Chris and I went to San Francisco. I love places like this where everything just looks so peaceful and beautiful. It reminds me of the verse in Alma that says "all things denote that there is a God."

Here are some more quotes that I've collected:

• No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. More worthy to be children of God. Orson F Whitney
• Seeds of doubt can destroy the hopes of almost all men and women
• We may not know; we cannot tell what pains he had to bear. But we know it was for us He hung and suffered there.
• We may never comprehend how He did it, but we must not fail to understand why He did it. Ezra Taft Benson
• Pure love leads to charitable acts of service and charitable acts of service lead to pure love.
• It does matter where you marry and by what power you are pronounced Man and Wife.
• We are happiest when our lives are connected to others through unselfish love and spirit.
• Stop seeking out the storms and look for the positive.
• To find real happiness, we need to look outside ourselves and serve others.
• Do not be so proud to think you are out of the adversary's grasp.
• Anger only destroys the pot that carries it.
• Do not fear. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.  Thomas S Monson
• Do not let the things that matter most be at the mercy of the things that matter least. 
• God does notice us and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Spencer W. Kimball
• When we concern ourselves with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves. Spencer W. Kimball
• If we follow in the Savior's footsteps, we can live by faith rather than by fear. Spencer W. Kimball
• If we seek true happiness, we must expend our energies for purposes larger than our own self-interests. Spencer W. Kimball

September 4

My first teacher supply store. It had so much stuff and I wanted to buy a lot of it. But I only got a calendar and some borders. It was so awesome and I wish I had more money to decorate my room. I think Chris had more fun than me looking at everything. He wanted me to buy the store. But I kept it to a minimum.

September 3

Did you watch it? I watched some it of. We went to Rancho Grande with Chris's family and we ended up being there for hours. Then we went to Chris's house to watch this. I fell asleep because, you know, I woke up at 6am and taught all day long. But, from the parts of it I saw, I think it is better than the parts of the first one I saw. Which was only about 20 minutes.

September 2

My first treat as a teacher, a cupcake. The student who gave this to me makes me laugh because she talks to me all the time. When I am teaching. I'll be up at the front asking questions and she says "What would you do in a Zombie attack?" Nobody else can here her, only me. She is a very smart girl with a reading level of 9.8. She also asked me what my reading level is. I just wanted to tell her it was higher than hers. But I didn't.

September 1

I am being unsafe, but it was raining so hard the wipers could hardly keep up. It is strange because it seems that the roads I drive everyday and very prone to heavy, heavy rain. Luckily it has only happened in the afternoon on the way home.

August 31

Chris got a new phone today. He is in love with it. He is sleeping next to it. Not just on the window ledge, but on the bed, next to him. It is a really nice phone and it is pretty. But he is so funny with it.

August 30

This is the haunted house of Magnolia. It is now being moved, so it won't be there to point out to my future children.

I don't know if it is actually haunted. When we first moved here the realtor said it was haunted when we drove past. And over the years, I have heard rumors about it. Nobody stays in it for long. We have seen people and businesses move in and move out over and over again.

August 29

A continuation of the post-its from before. Once Adison started drawing on the them, me and Charleah started drawing some of our favorite moments.

#1- The milk story which I have written about before
#2 "Stupid Power Steering"- Every time Mom drove Dad's truck, she complained about the power steering, especially when she had to back into the driveway.
#3 "Randi, get a life"- I don't even remember what prompted this. But Mom, Charleah, Sammie and I were eating at Sweet Tomatoes and Mom said this to me.
#4 "Why don't you go cry about it?"Probably the meanest thing I have ever said to anybody. Sammie and I were fighting about who had to clean the upstairs bathroom. She went upstairs to cry and I threw it in her face. As soon as I said it, I started laughing.
#5 "We can have..." Once Charleah and I were talking about what we can have for dinner. All of a sudden she went "we can have, we can have, we can have," like she was a broken record.
#6 One time we got back from camping and we were unpacking. I decided that it was faster to throw the bags up the stairs. But I couldn't get the bag to stay up there. I tried over and over again. Finally I got frustrated, saw Charleah and Sammie standing their watching me and yelled "Aren't you going to help me?" Then they started laughing.
#7 "Borrow Moms" Again, at Sweet Tomatoes. Either me or Charleah needed a knife and asked Sammie for hers. She must have been in a great mood that day because she wouldn't let us borrow hers and said "Borrow Mom's"

August 28

Ah, Chris and his sleep. There are few things more important than it. I love him to death, but I do not looking forward to having to wake him up. He gets so upset at me sometimes, but it can be funny in retrospect. Also, he talks. I know I have posted conversation before, but here they are again.

Chris: Did you put the rocking chair back into the stockroom?"
Me: "No."
Chris: "You better."
Me: "Why?"
Chris: mumbles "I don't know."


Me: "Chris, I am hungry and I can't eat until you are awake."
Chris: "I am getting up."
Me: "Chris it is time to get up."
Chris: "Stop, I still have a piece left in there."
Me:"What?"
Chris: "I still have a piece."
Still trying to wake him up.
Chris: "I'm going to pee on you." (He wasn't sleep talking for that one. He was totally awake.) But now he is back asleep.
Chris:"Stop trying to take a piece of me." Back asleep.


Me: Chris, you need to get up.
Chris: I can't.
Me: Why?
Chris: Because Randi said I'm not supposed to.


Another morning
Chris: (sitting up) Her name was Betty.
Me: Whose name is Betty?
Chris: (pausing)...I don' t know


Chris: Why did you say that Gwyenth Paltrow spends $150 mkaing fake eyelids?
Me: I didn't say that.

August 27

I drive 80 minutes in the car everyday to work. And one of the best things ever is books on CD. I have listened to 4 1/2 so far. And because the library system in the area lets me borrow books from all over Montgomery county and the Lonestar college system, I can basically get any book that I want. It makes the drive something to look forward to sometimes.

August 26

I love this picture. I just think we are the cutest little family. Adison is even there, because Mom is pregnant here.

August 25

It is HOT HOT HOT. Actually, because it hasn't been humid, it doesn't feel that bad. I do have to go outside for recess everyday, and it has actually been bearable. But I am excited for fall.

August 24

I hate this picture. But this is what the City of Navasota had in their newspaper introducing me as one of their new teachers. It also happens to be the picture on my school id. At least it is 1 inch by 1 inch.

August 23

My first day of teaching gives me my first picture drawn by a student of me.

Today was long and so tiring. It wasn't much different than I expected, but I did not expect the pain.

It must have been the stress and standing all day, but when I was driving home from work my whole body was in so much pain.

The kids were mostly good. We just did get-to-know-you activities, so I wasn't making them take hours of notes the first day.

This is how my day goes.

7:45-7:55 Morning Assembly
7:55-8:50 HR Math
8:50-9:40 HR Science
9:40-10:35 Math
10:35-11:25 Science
11:25-12:20 Lunch and Recess
12:20-12:45 Enrichment and Intervention (Still not sure what this is)
12:45-1:35 HR Social Studies
1:35-2:20 Planning Period (Kids in Specials)
2:20-3:05 Conference Period (Kids in Specials)
3:05-3:15 HR Housekeeping

So I have my HR class and then I switch with my partner and teacher her homeroom Math and Science. My second groups of kids were obsessed with when I would have children. They kept asking if I was pregnant, was I going to get pregnant, did I want to get pregnant... It was a bit weird.

Overall, it was good.

August 22

**This picture was taken 2 years ago. It was either taken by me or Chris. But it was edited by me**

In preparation for my first day of teaching, I found some teaching quotes to motivate me.

• In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work.  It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.  ~Jacques Barzun
• Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.  ~John Cotton Dana
• The secret of teaching is to appear to have known all your life what you just learned this morning.  ~Author Unknown
• The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself. ~Edward Bulwer-Lytton
• A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary. ~Thomas Carruthers
• A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations. ~Patricia Neal
• If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. ~Derek Bok
• Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best. ~Bob Talbert
• Education is not filling a pail, but the lighting of a fire. ~William Butler Yeats
• A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions
• Good teachers are those who know how little they know. Bad teachers are those who think they know more than they don't know. ~R. Verdi