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Monday, March 18, 2024

Weekend

 Friday I met Emma at Ulta after work.  I told her for my birthday I wanted to go make-up shopping and I wanted her help.  That girl hates a clothing store, but she navigates Ulta like a native.  She steered me away from brands that were "not great" and when I was looking at one brand, she walked away and said, "They test on animals."

She asked me what my "goals" were.  I didn't know.

I was clearly out of my depth.  

We got some things that I may or may not be able to use properly and I got a teeny tiny bottle of Gucci perfume that I loved.  (Teeny tiny so I wouldn't need a second mortgage.)

It was fun.

We had a little time so we walked next door to Nordstrom Rack.  We both found some cute cute shoes so that was even more fun.  Chipotle was close, so we walked there for dinner.  I feel an ease and joy being with Emma that I wouldn't have believed possible when she was in junior high.  She is a good time. 

I went to use the bathroom and when I got back to the table, she was looking at her phone with a kind of stricken face.  I said, "What's wrong!?!" 

She said, "I want to be at that beach."

Mark and Adam were at a beach, flying a kite and sending videos.  I was glad that was the only tragedy in her life at the moment.

From there we went to Clarissa's school to watch the play she directed and last minute played Jack's mother because the actor that was supposed to play her quit.  

Clarissa started the drama program from scratch and I was so impressed with her.  Most of the students had never been in any kind of show before, but they were up there on stage, singing and acting their little hearts out.  At the curtain call, I looked at all those happy faces and the stage crew lining the wall and I thought, "Clarissa did this!"  One person can make a difference in their corner of the world!

We sat by Marianne and Hyrum and Liberty and you've never met a more appreciative audience member than Hyrum.  

Saturday I did my little household chores and reorganized the last bathroom drawer and went clothes shopping.  When Adam used to regularly go to London, I would paint walls and move furniture.

Now, apparently, I shop.  (I don't have anyone around to help me move furniture anyway.)

Jamie and Holly and I went out on the town Saturday night!  We got burgers at Chom and in the car Holly got really mad at one of her kids over the phone.  He's 13 and we bonded over parenting.  I told her the gem of truth Geri shared with me:  if you can let your sons live between the ages of 11 and 15, you can do anything.  Jamie and I promised her it gets better.

It was fun to ride to Salt Lake City together and chat and listen to BTS, which Jamie insisted on because it is her daughter's favorite.  Her daughter is currently serving a mission, but BTS keeps her close to Jamie's heart.  

Who am I to doubt my life coach?

The Bored Teachers comedy show was 95% percent hilarious and 5% rude.  I think in balance, that is too much rudeness for me and I wouldn't recommend it or go again.  I think comedians who don't need to resort to crassness are the truly humorous.  

I had a good time with my friends though.  And it was fun being with so many teacher friends.  In the elevator in the parking garage we were all comparing which schools we taught at.  They are my people.

I was asleep when Adam got home, but he woke me up, as instructed, and I was happy to see him.

On Sunday we watched the Relief Society broadcast commemorating the birthday of the Relief Society during church instead of later.  I loved it!  Those are even more my people.  I loved being reminded of truths I know and feeling love for the women sitting shoulder to shoulder with me in that room, love for my mom and sisters and daughters (including Anna!) and granddaughter and grandmothers and nieces, and love from my Heavenly Father.

As Sunday afternoon progressed, I felt more and more worn out.  I took a restless nap and finally called off Sunday dinner.  When Adam got home, we snacked and took a drive.  My requirement was that I wasn't going to get out of the car.  I was just tired.  It was really nice to be with Adam again.


Friday, March 15, 2024

Grateful Friday

Mark is on spring break this week so he joined Adam in going to Anaheim--for work, no Disneyland unfortunately.

I suggested maybe there are barbers in SoCal.  Doesn't it seem really fun to be my offspring?


They are sending me sunny updates and pictures, but I'm not without my own good time around here.  Last night I had dinner with Marianne and Robert.  It seems like every time they are in town, Adam is not and I'm sure Robert would rather have dinner with us rather than just me, but he is nice about it.

(Also, I forgot to give Emma's name at the restaurant.  I said Thelma and when they were bringing the food, the guy called, "Elma?"  I said, "Thelma?"  He said, "Alma?" I said, "Thelma, with a th." He said, "Oh, Telma."  I said, "Sure...."  In the progression of phonics instruction, CVC words are first, followed by blends, but digraphs are third!  Why does everyone struggle with my very phonetic name so much?!?)

Tonight I'm meeting Emma for shopping prior to my birthday, we'll get dinner and then go to the play that Clarissa is directing at the school where she teaches.

Saturday I'm going to a Bored Teachers comedy show at the Eccles in SLC.  I'm going with my friends Jamie and Holly and I couldn't be happier about it.

In between all that I'll putter and do my little tasks and Adam will be home Saturday night.  

Life feels pretty good and I'm grateful about that.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Gee...thanks

Yesterday one of my girls brought a Chinese jumprope to school.  They didn't exactly know how to do it so I taught them what I used to do at recess.

I showed them how to put it around their ankles and then stretch it between two girls.  I demonstrated for  them the jump routine I knew (Marianne taught it to me in our old playroom/Enoch's room).

One-two-three-four in out in on.

One of my girls admiringly said, "She is old, but she can do it!" 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Serendipity

Adam and I often drive by a vintage shop in Pleasant Grove.  On Saturday I said, "I want to go there sometime."

Adam (because he's always game) asked, "Do you want to stop right now?"

I declined because I had to prepare to host a party.

Yesterday I got home and the cleaners were still at our house.  I decided it was my moment.

It is a little store with even smaller booths, but all the pretty things gave me the hit of dopamine that I've been missing by not going to Snohomish, Washington on a regular basis.

In the winter I have lights on the mantle and then when I change stuff out, I take away the lights, but it still gets dark.  I decided I wanted a lamp.  At the vintage store, I got two lamps because I liked them both and I was not sure which one I would want to use.

I decided I liked this little guy on the mantle.  Still not sure about the overall arrangement....


I put this one on the piano.  Still not sure about the overall arrangement....


I found a few other tchotchkes but my favorite find was this:


It's a 1926 copy of the book!  Adam read Winnie the Pooh aloud to me when we were dating.  Our children adore it and now Braeden and Anna read it to QE.  She loves it too.

It's kind of our family book.

Also, it delighted me because it was from a school library in Maine.


The thrill of the hunt!  I love finding treasures I didn't know I needed.

I came home and Adam was home.  He had come home early to prep for bishopric meeting.  He had noticed though that the disposal under the kitchen sink was leaking.  He took it all apart and spent about an hour cleaning and reassembling because it was really gross and stubborn.

When he was finished, he asked me to fill the sink and let it drain so he could make sure it was not going to leak.  I said, "I'm impressed you even know how to do this.  I would have no idea how to fix that."

He said, "Well, first I get a little mad and then I figure it out."

I guess that's a good formula for success!

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Professional Development Day

On Saturday at our little party, Jamie confessed that she was stressed about our PD day.  She said, "I am supposed to be making a presentation that has a theme from The Bachelor and I've never seen the show."

I said, "If I know you, it will be amazing."

Jamie doesn't do anything halfway.

It all came about when people were a little punchy from a long meeting and leaning into alliteration and when someone said we were going to talk about data at our PD day, someone else called it a date with data and Matt went with it.  Make it Bachelor themed!

But he put Jamie in charge.  She said she went around the building and talked to anyone she could about the show so she could make her presentation. 

We had a short break and she marshaled the coaches and set up lights around the library and had rose petals and champagne flutes on the tables and Matt wore a suit. (He was quick to point out he was not the bachelor, but the host.)



They came around and poured us sparkling cider.  And then Jamie gave a really great presentation that was just about data but it was very helpful and well done and data matters to us so it was good.

Everyone got a rose at the end.  

Later, after Matt had changed back into casual clothes, he gave us a presentation on RISE test ethics (that's our state test).  One of the teachers said, "This was a perfect opportunity to play the clip of "Let's Get Ethical" from The Office."

Matt said, "OK, fine.  Play it." And she did.

School can be heavy sometimes.  We have lots of really struggling students and lots of heartbreaking situations.  It can be hard and exhausting and a lot.

It can also be really fun.  When you have that many creative people who bring their whole heart and soul to their job and don't take themselves too seriously, it is a good time.


Monday, March 11, 2024

Weekend

I know you've been on pins and needles, but I think I finally got the rug situation resolved.

The second rug I bought was a better size but had a weird stamped on design and looked thin and cheap.


Friday night Adam and I went to At Home to look for an alternative.  We walked past the seasonal display where there were a few fake plants mixed in with the bunnies and ducks and Adam said, "Oh, maybe I should look at fake plants here."  (He is low-key thinking about decorating the bishop's office and I'm over here saying put me in coach because I want to decorate it, but he's giving me a solid maybe to everything I suggest.  Also, it hurts my heart a little that he doesn't want a real plant.  He thinks he would kill it.)

I said, "The fake plants are over there." 

I turned one way and he said, "The sign says bathroom stuff is over there."

I said, "But the bathroom textiles are over here."

I got two rugs with the intention of sewing them together.  No one in the world has a bathroom like ours apparently.  

Next stop was to look at fake plants and the plants were exactly where I thought they were too.

We have been to At Home maybe six times ever.  I had never looked for bathroom rugs or fake plants there.  How do I have stores I rarely go to easily mapped in my brain but not roads I travel every day?

We were stopping at Trader Joe's on the way home and Adam took a road that seemed like a strange choice and I asked, like I often do, "Where are you going?"

He said, "State Street."

And sure enough pretty soon there we were on State Street.  I know where places are (as long as I have been there SEVERAL times) but I only know my one way to get there (unless I have been there MANY MANY times).  Adam has it all mapped in his brain like I have At Home mapped in my brain.

I don't have to tell you which brain is more useful.  But hey, let me know if you are wondering where the bathroom rugs are at At Home....

Here's our bathroom now.  I gave up on the sunburst rug idea although I really liked it.  I sewed those two yellow rugs together and that is the end of that.



Saturday we stopped at Chipotle for lunch while we were out doing errands.  Adam approached a table of PGHS baseball players.  They looked slightly guilty/nervous when he approached their table, like he was going to tell them to quiet down or something, but he said, "My sister is at Spring Training and she's been sending me pictures of herself with Major League Baseball players all week and here I am with the PG baseball players.  Can I take a picture?"

They laughed and said yes.


Will kids someday look at pictures of themselves and wonder why they were always holding up fingers in  various arrangements?  I don't know.  I wonder now and I will wonder then.

We stopped by my classroom because I got a new iPad and Adam helped me set it up and clear out the old one.  I showed him the biome pictures my students had created and he gamely admired them.

Saturdays with Adam are my favorite.

Saturday night, he worked on his talk for church and I had some of my friends over.  We had a good time.  One of them referred to someone as a homeschooler and another covered her eyes in horror and I said, "Hey, I homeschooled my kids!"

Whenever I mention that among my teacher friends, you never saw anyone backpedal so fast.  I understand where they are coming from because a lot of the children we get at school who were "homeschooled" were not taught a thing.  I want them to widen their worldview a little though.  All homeschoolers aren't crazy.  (And it is a little fun watching them squirm.)

We talked late and the time changed so that was not great planning.

Sunday morning after changing the clocks I look at most so I wouldn't be confused, I went to our 9:00 AM church.  I didn't have time to change all of them.

It was our ward conference so Adam spoke.  He was nervous about it but he did very well like I knew he would.

Clarissa and Liliana came as well as our kids.  Shortly before dinner, Liliana got a phone call and it was my mom.  She had been trying to call me, but my phone was among the missing.  I love having my phone on Do Not Disturb and then forgetting where I leave it.

(My family members don't love this trait.)

My parents were in Salt Lake for my mom's appointment this morning so they came to visit.  It was a great surprise.  Emma brought a pie that she had made.  She went to a vintage store with some friends and bought a cute pie plate and said it was crying out for a pie so she made one.

Adult daughters are a pretty good gig.

I had Adam reprise parts of his talk and we had a good gospel discussion.  My parents told us about some new missionaries in their area and one of them is our kids' third cousin on the Dahl side.  I got on Family Search and tried to map out how we are related to him on both the Dahl and Gardner side and any time I delve into the Gardner side of family history I feel like I need to leave bread crumbs so I can find my way back out.

Every time I look into it, I get it figured out and then it is so convoluted that I need a refresher.  I mapped it out on a paper so I understood it and then I explained it to everyone and my dad said, "I still have no idea."

Good thing I'm not a teacher or anything...

  

It is often remarked in our family that the Gardner/Egbert genes are strong.  It's because they kept marrying each other.  I'm surprised I only have ten toes.

An actual photo of the Gardner family tree


Friday, March 8, 2024

Grateful Friday

I didn't not become a teacher so I could do little art projects along the way.

We're having a contest at school decorating eggs.  Each class was given an egg on cardstock to decorate and each teacher was given a tiny wooden egg to decorate.

Here is my class's egg (every student made thumbprint flowers) and my little Mondrian inspired egg:


I loved how excited my students were about the project.  I told them about my idea and they oohed and aahed like the great audience they are.  I told them I'd order the ink from Amazon and they asked me multiple times a day if it had arrived. 

No.  It is supposed to arrive Thursday.

A few hours later...

Is the ink here yet?

When it was ink time, I teased some of them, "Now if you mess up, it will ruin the egg for everyone."

To others, I said, "I will help you, don't worry."  And I guided their little thumbs. 

I love this time of year when I know my students well and I know who likes to be teased and who needs to be encouraged and literally have their hand held.

I also love how much they love Ramona!  We finished Beezus and Ramona yesterday.  I told them, "Tomorrow we will start Ramona the Pest.  It is one year later and from Ramona's point of view."

They wanted me to start right away.

I am grateful I get to be a teacher.  I really love it, even when it is hard.

The children are so sweet and cute and maddening and lovable.

Yesterday a girl asked me if she could move desks and sit by her friend.  I said, "No.  You will be too chatty."

She argued, "I'm chatty where I am now."

I said, "I know.  Moving you by your friend won't help!"

Also, on the way to lunch yesterday, my sweetest boy in the universe asked me what I wanted for my birthday.  I said, "My favorite thing is something someone makes.  I want a picture or a note or maybe some folded origami."

He got a small smile on his face and said, "OK, OK."

When the sweetest boy in the universe wants to give you a birthday present, you know you have a pretty great job!



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