Feeling Appreciated

Wow. Do I feel special? Check.

Yes, yes and oh yes!

This last week was teacher appreciation week, but there were so many things that made the week special and wonderful.

It all began with my sister Jody (who is one of my all time favorite people) flying to town. I am the recipient of an award for Alpine School District called the "Accent of Excellence" award. I was only allowed one guest at the banquet and Jody flew in just for the occasion. We spent days just playing, shopping, running and taking a break. Wow. So fantastic.

The banquet was on a Tuesday night and since Jody was the only one able to attend with me, I was able to get together with my other family that lives close to celebrate at a restaurant on a Monday night.



Tuesday was the banquet and Jody and I got all gussied up. Jody curled my hair and Aly did our makeup.






They gave me a beautiful corsage at the banquet. One of my students attended and paid a tribute and my principal and his wife were in attendance.





One of the sponsors actually presented the award after the student tribute and I had to also say something.











The rest of the week was teacher appreciation week, so I was spoiled for three more days. One day all of my students decided to give me flowers... metaphorically. They decorated me and had a great time. We give each other flowers (metaphorically) all the time in class (something I learned in the schools in Africa) so they decided to give me some flowers this time.





Then they decided to give me real flowers too! They each brought one single flower to create two beautiful bouquets. Another day they each brought me a piece of fruit to fill a huge basket. The PTA fed us wonderful catered food, which sure beat my usual cereal lunch.

Probably the best gift I received was a binder made my my teacher aide. She had all of my students write me a letter and draw a picture to accompany it and she put it all together in a nice book entitled Team Jensen. What a week!!

Spring Break Family Camp Out

For spring break, I went with some of my family down to Canyonlands for a three night camp out. We hiked through horseshoe canyon (which is the canyon where Aron Ralston cut off his arm) and found some totally sweet Pre-Anasazi Indian hyroglyphics dating to over 2,000 years ago. We also saw a dinosaur trace fossil. I have taught about fossils and Anasazi Indians in my class this year, so I had a great time showing my students some of the photos and telling them how I was able to become an archeologist and a paleontologist over the break.


The kids had an absolute time of their lives. They were such good sports and were sad to go home. Over the three days, we went through Little Wild Horse Canyon (slot canyons) and we went to Goblin Valley State Park. We went to Goblin Valley and played for hours during the day (kick the can, sardines, hide and go seek...). Then we went back in the evening with a full moon and flashlights. So much fun!




Little Wild Horse Canyon


Goblin Valley

We camped on BLM land, so we were able to make a fire and cook smores.

"100 Waffle Street"... The New and Improved Salt Lake City

In fourth grade, we cover Utah history. One of our main units is all about the Latter-day Saint pioneers that came to settle Utah Valley. One of my favorite activities all year is when we built our own handcart, bring supplies from home, pack it and make our way to the Salt Lake Valley.

The students bring many items that would potentially be packed in a handcart and we weight each item to make sure we don't go over the limit that each pioneer was allowed. Some items were very light and it was difficult to weigh them on my scale, so this student stood on the scale and we had her hold each item to determine the items weight.



Here are two of the boys ready to head to the valley!


The Salt Lake Valley when the pioneers came over, was just that... a valley. So, as a class, we metaphorically took our handcart across the plains and we traveled to the valley to create Salt Lake City. The students learn about the grid system of our roads and have to label them appropriately before we draw out plots of land for each student to build on. Some build homes and gardens, while others set up a grocery store, barber shop or a livery stable.

The day we were trying to label the roads, we were discussing how the temple is the center of the city and then all of the roads are named according to their location from the temple. For example, as you go one block west of the temple, the road is named 100 West. Two blocks east of the temple the street is named 200 East. I was trying to explain this concept to my students. My students often use the phrase "Never Eat Soggy Waffles" to remember which way is North and so forth. So when I asked my students what the street one block west of the temple would be called, one student yelled out "100 Waffle Street!"





We all started laughing hysterically. I decided that as long as the students knew that the REAL name of the street was 100 West, we would add Waffle street as part of the title for our classroom map in honor of this student. (Look closely at the pictures above). He thought it was pretty cool.







I was pretty impressed with how well our city turned out. We are leaving it up for a while. The kids have loved it. They also made mini handcarts that they wanted to park next to their homes and gardens. To finish up the unit, we took a field trip to "This is the Place State Park" where the kids got to pull a real handcart of their own.

Have I ever mentioned that I love my job?!

"We Don't Need No Stinkin' Truck"

So I finally purchased a table and chair set for my backyard. My roommates went with me and we were super stoked. However, the chairs wouldn't fit inside my car. We tried to think of friends that had a truck that could help us out. However, we decided we didn't need a truck. We are three incredible girls and all we needed was a little twine! Luckily I have a bike rack on top of my car, so we had something to tie the chairs to.

So there we were, parked directly in front of the doors at Big Lots with my roommate Aly yelling things like... "Anyone know how to tie a knot?" People would drive by really slow with their windows down laughing at us. The people walking into the store also thought it was pretty funny. As we drove home, Jen and Aly had both arms out the window holding on to the chairs to be safe. We were quite the spectacle, but the table and chairs made it home! It was awesome!

We don't need no "stinkin" truck!

A Little R & R

A couple weeks ago, my roommate Jen and I needed a little rest and relaxation, so we decided to take a trip to Manti. We were able to go do a live session at the Manti temple, which was absolutely incredible, we ate at a Ma and Pa diner for dinner and stayed at a little bed and breakfast place. The lady who owned the place dubbed herself as our serrogate grandma. It was a much needed weekend and we both came back with the rejuvination we needed. I highly recommend everyone take the time to do a similar thing every once in a while.





There was a celerium (sp?) at the bed and breakfast where Jen and I spent a few hours reading after church on Sunday



There was a great little piano loft area that we also loved



Here are Mr. and Mrs. Yardley, who we now think of as grandparents. We hope to visit them again soon. They do a murder mystery weekend at their place that would be so fun to do. They feed you a seven course meal and you play a game of clue virtually. They even have a butler type guy that takes your bags to your room. So much fun. I will go back someday.

Rocking Chair Friends

So I have this theory... the "rocking chair" theory...

I originally got said theory from my best friend Kim when we started referring to each other as rocking chair friends years ago.

I'll explain.

A rocking chair friend is the type of friend that when you are 85 years old, wrinkled and gray (or white in my case... I hope), you can still sit on the front veranda (yes... a veranda), rocking in rocking chairs, sipping a lemonade (or hot coco) and you can feel as though no time has ever passed since the days that you were giggling together in your college dorm room, your work place or your first apartment. Now realistically, you probably spent years and years without seeing said friend, but when you get back together to have your moment in the rocking chairs, it will be as though no time has ever passed.

That is how good of friends you are.

I was thinking about what it takes for someone to fit into this select category and through a conversation with one of my said rocking chair friends, I came up with the answer. In order for someone to become a rocking chair friend, they must have been willing to share their heart with me and I had to have been willing to share my heart with them. Only when people share their hearts with each other can they forge the bond that it takes.

It takes a lot for someone to show another their heart. It makes them feel vulnerable and possibly weak. I have shared my heart totally and completely with my rocking chair friends. They know my joys, my sorrows, my insecurities, my strengths, my weaknesses and they have seen my shout from the treetops with joy and they have seen me sob uncontrollably in times of sorrow. In those times, they have shouted and sobbed with me. Being willing to share my heart with said friends, comes from the fact that I know they will not judge me. They will accept that no one is perfect and they accept that we all have our good and bad times and they stick with you through them all. Everyone has the need to show their heart to people and I am very grateful that I have friends that have been willing to take a little peak into mine.

To all of my rocking chair friends

Thank You.

Pink Shoes

So I once said how every girl needs a pair of red shoes. I still hold to this sentiment. I have two pairs of red shoes actually and love them both. This is rather funny because growing up, my fashion is what you might have called conservative... REALLY conservative. I don't think I ever let the thought cross my mind to have shoes any color other than brown, black or white. Tan was pushing it.

Seriously.

No longer do I hold such a conservative view on fashion. My newest favorite thing is to own colored shoes. They spark up an outfit and brighten my day every time I look down and see a nice bright color on my feet. I have purple, yellow and of course, red shoes. Well, if you saw the picture from Valentines Day (see previous post), two of my favorite people and I wore a pink cardigan in honor of love day. As I got dressed that morning, I thought how fun it would be to have fun pink shoes to wear with my pink cardigan. Well, this of course came out in conversation throughout love day as Beka, Jamie and I discussed our collaborative efforts with the pink cardigan.

Today was Jamie's last day as a student teacher at our school. She brought Beka and I a gift. You'll never guess what it was...

okay, maybe you will...

Yes, it was pink shoes. Talk about a good start to a good day. I think that tomorrow I will wear pink shoes, regardless of whatever else I decide to wear on top. The pink shoes will make me happy. Beka got a pair of purple shoes just for the record. The three of us scheduled a time to meet up together at the mall in a few weeks. The purpose just being a reason to get together and see each other, but who knows, we might go shopping for some shoes... orange perhaps?

Thanks Jamie.