I told you our ward likes to have dance parties.

So, our first stake dance ever was scheduled for this month. Our ward was put in charge, for obvious reasons (think DJ Hawk. No really, I think that's the reason).

We had a BLAST. After a month of planning, we all met at the church yesterday at five...shopped for the food--veggies and candy...set up...glowsticks in balloons hanging from fishing line on the ceiling--awesome. Cut out paper shapes (think Saved By the Bell) to put on the walls--not SO awesome, but still looked pretty cool, especially in our photo booth.

We finished decorating at 8:45, which gave us just enough time to go home, change, and run back to the dance!

The dance was sweet. We had a better turnout than we thought, people actually dressed up, and everyone was WAY into it! It was a success.

The dance ended at 11:45, we cleaned up fairly quickly, and I was in bed by 2am! Just like 7 hours at the church...nbd...it was worth it because it was fun.

My Presidency --I love these girls!

My Presidency + the EQP--we love him SO much.

The 33rd ward group!

Bishop let me wear his white rim sunglasses! It was a just in time, last minute gem. Makes me want to cry.

Our ward with the stellar DJ, Bishop Hawkins.

What a night, and what a ward! Don't want it to change, but I guess that's inevitable!

The truth is...

The truth is that my ward is awesome. One of my best things about my ward is that we know how to party! Specifically, the bishop knows how to party.

Not only can the bishop throw parties, he can DJ! What does that mean?....DANCE PARTIES!

Last week was our Back to School Bash! It was a blast.

Karly and I with the DJ

Karly and I partying!

Spence and I, in what is probably the scariest picture I have ever seen of myself.

I don't know why I couldn't stop making that face! But...it was an awesome party.

Karly and I being ourselves. But with slightly more awkward faces than usual. Probably because of the flash.

If you didn't know...

...I do have a life outside of teaching. I know it doesn't seem like it, because the only thing I can ever talk about is my class and the fun we have, but this is because I am LOVING IT.

It gets so HARD and so DRAINING! But it's so fun. I haven't cried once out of frustration (I did cry one day in class, but only because I was laughing so hard it moved me to tears) and I haven't even been tempted to yell at my class. That's good, right??

I am sooo far from being a perfect teacher, but for now I'm just trying. I'm trying to work on a couple of goals a week. Slow and steady wins the race!

See? I always end up talking about school no matter what!


(Photo Credit: Lincoln. I think)

Something exciting that just happened was our stake luau. My presidency and the EQP performed a dance from Fiji and, well, we basically rocked. At first we were thinking, "What the heck?? We have to perform at a LUAU?!" but eventually we got into the dance and decided to just have fun with it.

BULA!

Shenandoah!

Ooooh man. Such a good movie! This final scene is so good! I just love Jimmy Stewart. Watching Charlie and The Boy sing and cry...touching!

Loving it

It's a little sad, a little liberating, a little weird, a little exciting, and a lot different.

I'm not going to BYU in the fall.

When did I grow up?

But at the same time, I feel like I've been teaching for months (the first week of school is sooo long).

I love my job and I love those kids...I can tell that my love for them will keep increasing the more I get to know them.

I'll never have a first "first week of school" ever again.

I'm glad the only chance I got went so well!

Good thing I took Elder B's advice to "chill the heck out...twice."

Gem of the day

I had the kids fill out a "get to know you" survey for me today.

In response to the "Do you have any pets?" question, one of my little boys wrote the following:

"Yes, two girdles."

Huh?? I'm imagining a corset on a leash....

Pretty sure he meant "gerbils" but spelled it wrong and had a backwards "b." Funny anyway.

School starts Monday. What??

I know that all professions have things that are tough, things that are fun, etc, but I really love this quote.

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job."

Donald D. Quinn

Also this:

"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre."

Gail Godwin

Poor baby

Dear Car (I think your name is Timothy, but that just doesn't seem quite right),

I missss you. Mostly your air conditioning, your smooth brakes, and your familiarness (not a word. Roll with it). Please come back soon; I'm afraid to drive to Santaquin without you. And don't let this be the impetus for further problems!!

Love,

Me

PS: That temporary white Volkswagen will never take your place!