And my giant brain will rule them all!

This year I had to renew my teaching certificate which I'm totally in favour of doing. I just didn't realize it was going to cost me almost an entire months salary. I've decided renewing your license is kind of a scam. For the first three years of teaching I'm evaluated four times a year. My principal observes me teach two small-group (reading usually) and two math lessons. He's welcome to come into my classroom any time he'd like but these evaluations have to be set up in advance and there are certain steps you have to follow. I've done very well in all my evaluations. I think evaluations are a great and a effective way to gauge how a teacher is doing. What I do not think is a good way to gauge how effective a teacher is are general knowledge multiple choice tests. Yet this is what I had to take this year and pay $$$ for the privilege of taking. I also had to be fingerprinted for what seems like the zillionth time. Between my student visa, immigrating, student teaching, subbing and teaching (no arrests thankfully), I've been fingerprinted more times than I can remember. Fingerprinting is not cheap, so that was another expense I got to add to my growing tally. When I asked the woman at the district why I was being fingerprinted again since I'd just been fingerprinted in 2009 when I was hired. She went on to tell me that her daughter had been molested by a teacher and for that reason, she was in favour of frequent fingerprinting and background checks. Um, what can you say to that? "I'm sorry? Would you like to swab me for my DNA also?" So back to the general knowledge multiple choice test. It was a lot like the ACT only I think even easier. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm smarter than I was when I was 18. I was all stressed out about this test prior to taking it (as I'm sure my coworkers can tell you because I talked about it a lot) but I couldn't really bring myself to study for it. I took the test and felt much relief when I realized I did know there were 50 states, that George Washington was our first president and how to calculate percentages (Duh. How do you think I figure out what 40% off 23.99 is at The Gap?) I had to wait a month for my results and I was able to look online and see that I'd passed. When I got home that day, I had this waiting for me in the mail.

It came with a letter of recognition. Here are some excerpts: "Your exception performance earned you a score that ranks in the top 15% of all test takers." "This honor will be indicated on all your score reports." "Your performance shows your dedication to high standards of education."
I honestly believe this test has NOTHING to do with my "dedication to education" or my ability to be a good teacher. It shows that I'm not a complete idiot but that's about it. I paid close to $300 to take this ridiculous test. Still, I'm going to frame this lovely certificate and hang it in our first grade prep room so that I might lord over the rest of my team with my giant brain. ;)
Oh stop! No keep going.
The girls took our annual trip to the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City this weekend. Thanks to Mark and Amanda Jones, we get to stay at Utah's only 5 star resort for Motel 6 (or less) prices. The spa was recently renovated so I decided I was going to get a facial. Now I will begin the story that will be repeated for many years to come...When I walked into the room I'd be having my facial in, my esthetician asked me, "Are you 25?" I laughed and said, "I'm 37". "You are?!"I asked because I can't use some of the products on people under 25. Do you just have good genes or do you take care of yourself?" "Um, I wash my face and put lotion on it." "Well, keep doing that." Then as she was getting ready to begin she asked, "Are those your eyelashes?" I said, "Yes." "Lucky you.", she said. Well, sister, your tip just got bigger. I was milking that story all weekend. "Remember when she asked me if I was 25? That was fun. I don't know if I'm old enough to be out by myself because remember, I don't look 25." I think everyone thought it was super endearing.

Eating yummy food. I really feel fortunate to have such great friends even if we don't see each other very often. I know they really appreciate my sweet and patient ways.

I hadn't had sugar for almost 8 weeks before this trip. I LOVE creme brulee and when Amanda ordered these from room service, I knew this would be worth eating sugar again. I made some obscene noises while eating it.

I think this was the best Stein trip yet. We learned there is a free shuttle to downtown Park City so we didn't have to drive to find me Alka Seltzer for my indigestion. The hot-tub on the deck was the perfect temperature and Amanda conducted herself in a very lady-like manner the entire time. Tisa and Kristin didn't steal cosmetics from the spa. No one wrote a naughty poem on a watermelon to leave for Gary the bell-hop and Sweet Kristin didn't puke during the night (she really didn't for the first time). Success!

Summertime blogging

Summer camp
Hanna is leaving for her first church girls camp today. She'll be gone for 5 days. I had to be mean mom this morning because she is refusing to take her allergy pills with her. They are "too big to swallow". I told her she couldn't go if she didn't promise me she'd take them. She replied, "Why don't you just let me be sick until I get better on my own?" Okay 12 year old brain, way to work! I bet everyone in your cabin will love waking up to your hacking cough at 6 a.m. as much as I do. I'm tired of being the mom of a 12 year old. I don't like being bad cop. Let's go back 10 years to when I had all the power except I'll gladly give-up the 5 a.m. wakings when I couldn't just lay in bed while they made their own breakfast. I guess each stage of parenting has it's good and bad. Right now I could do with a little less attitude and more gratitude for how awesome I am.

Summer Bra
It's not secret that I don't have much in the chest area. If it were socially acceptable I would never wear a bra. Ryan thinks this would be awesome and encourages it but you know how that goes. I hate how bras feel and the minute I'm home, mine comes off. Often I wear a cami under a loose shirt if I can get away with that. I've tried different bras but none are ever comfortable. The one I wear now is an expensive Walcoal that is padded and such. I think it creates a nice look but I wouldn't call it comfy. Saturday I was doing some shopping and saw this Shimera "day bra" at Nordstrom. I have to say, it's pretty fabulous. It's soft, has no hooks (just slips on) and gives my A's just the support they need. It's my summer bra. My only complaint is that it has no padding so you know, there is a bit of showage. Got it? I have some thin swimsuit pads I think I could put in if the need arises.

Summer kid
Since Hanna's gone, Grace and I are spending a lot of quality time together. Today we went shopping in SLC because that's what I've convinced Grace is fun to do. Papa came yesterday and Gave her $20 so she had some money burning a hole in her pocket. She also left her sunglasses at the Scottish Festival this weekend and, since I kind of hated them, I told her I'd get her a new pair. Just a tip, Nordstrom has really cute kid sunglasses for $10. Grace is fun to hang out with right now. She's pretty much up for anything and has yet to develop the tween attitude.

Grace wanted to take a picture of Buttons when we were driving to Wyoming. She made this mostly by herself when my mom was here in April. I find Buttons terrifying. The stubby arms are too much. Apparently this was a design mistake but it makes Buttons look like a double amputee that might be lurking under your bed at night. "Mr. Buttons? Is that you?"

"Keep going on and looking good"

We just got back from our yearly trip to Wyoming this year to visit Ryan's Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mike on their ranch. We left right after school was out on Friday because I was ready for some relaxing.
Here we are, ready for a great adventure.

We stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn in Lander because we are big ballers like that. I was happy with the hot tub and the kids were happy with the pool.

We got to Charlotte's on Saturday which was also Hanna's 12th birthday. Charlotte's present to Hanna was a private riding lesson with Cindy (Uncle Mike's SIL and expert horsewoman) which Hanna loved. Hanna told me that Charlotte is the "cool teenage aunt she always wanted." I thought that was a pretty big compliment since Char isn't a teenage by a long way. I can't really describe how much I like going to Horse Creek Ranch or really why I like it so much. There is just something about it that's almost magical. The scenery is like nothing else and it's peaceful. Mike takes the girls to Dirty Annie's every morning for french toast and bacon. Mike takes the girls out to mend fences and let's them drive the ATV. Charlotte and I suspect he let's the girls drive the car but they swear he doesn't. At night, we all watch Daily Show and Colbert with Mike and talk about how we'd all move to Canada if Sarah Palin was ever elected president. Or we watch a documentary with Charlotte and eat her delicious pan popped popcorn. Charlotte will make us dinner that usually the girls turn their noses up at, but they're dumb. Last night we had stir-fry with swiss chard, tempeh, brown rice, veggies and lemon. It was so good! No one else I know cooks like Char or eats so healthy or practices yoga so religiously. Which is probably why the girls think she is a teenager. She is a great example to me of healthy living and I learn something new from her each time I visit. I'm grateful that she and Mike are interested in me and my girls and open their home up to us.

Char and the girls at "The Depot". She works for the Burlington Northern Railroad as a clerk. Ryan's Grandma is in a nursing home close to Charlotte's and so we went to visit her one day. They were having a music program for the residents that night. Two men from local bands played guitar and sang country and gospel songs. It was really great. After, when we were saying goodbye to Grandma, she told the girls to "keep going on and looking good." Which I thought was a great saying.

Since Hanna had private lessons with Cindy, Grace and Mike did their own riding. Mike said Grace really took off this year. She rode all by herself, no lead, and he thinks next year she'll be ready to trot. Hanna and Cindy spent two hours catching and prepping horses before they rode. Mike's prepping is, "get on and ride."


Those glasses! Hanna thinks these are the cools and I had to laugh when Cindy suggested they be removed before the ride. She must have thought they were ridiculous also.

Mike had to drill new holes in Hanna's stirrups because she is so short. I feel for the kid but she has genetics against her. I really hope this is her summer to grow a few inches.

Ready to ride. They took a good hour ride and Hanna said she learned a lot. Cindy said she did good and Cindy's not one to give false praise.

I had to take a picture of the favorite in home entertainment at Charlotte's. These are the bands she uses to do yoga inversion poses. Here is Hanna demonstrating one. Usually they are swinging off the stairs or using it as a chair when we're watching movies. It provides endless hours of entertainment. On our trip Hanna got sick. She started coughing at 5:35 a.m. in the hotel room and continued for the entire trip. Eventually infecting me and Grace also. I stopped in Worland at the Paminda, where I overheard a man trying to get the pharmacist to give him more of something, "I'm sorry but I can't legally dispense that many pills." Ugh. I spent $15 on Mucinex pills but when I gave it to Hanna she exclaimed, "I can't swallow those!" Not only will this child not get a shot or give blood (without bribery) but she can't swallow a pill bigger than the head of a pin. I cut the pill in half and she did try but it ended in tears. I spent another $15 on Niquil and liquid mucinex in Greybull and she responded well to those. The next day we went to Cody and I forgot to take the medicine. So we had to stop in Cody and get more cough syrup because she was out of control. I think I spent over $40 on medicine on this trip! She's still coughing so I'm thinking she has the consumption and will probably need to be sent to a sanitarium.
Oh, here's the pose. Let the summer begin!