12 projects I'm going to make in 2012

I saw this idea over here.... and thought I'd give it a try right here!  (If I've done it right, the pictures should link to their somewhat original form... I'm hoping I've pinned them right on Pinterest!)

12 Projects I'm Going to Make in 2012

1.  Love this.  I made a similar one for the water cup that I keep at school with the lid and the straw (you know the kind?) with the school colors - but I love this idea.  Wouldn't it be cute to make a new one for each season?  Or month?  Or subject we're studying?

 

2.  How fun would this be?  Wouldn't this be a great last-day-of-school-shirt?  So easy and cute.  It'd be great for more precise work, and for those (like me) who are tie-dye dumb.  Bleach pen.  Love it.

3.  I have always wanted one of these!  They are so expensive though when you see them at boutiques or in catalogs.  Now's my chance...

4.  Another cute one to do with the kids in my class - maybe for Mother's Day?  These look so fun!

5.  Ok, so this might be a 'buyer' instead of a 'maker'.  But so clever.  Why didn't I think of this?  What book should I use?

6.  I have major cord issues at my house.  And at school.  And everywhere I try to plug in anything.  So handy.

7.  A travel essential.  So easy.  I hate how plastic-y travel bags get sticky and icky from a recently used toothbrush that you have to pack because you're leaving the hotel in 5 minutes.  This definitely eliminates some of that ick factor.

8.  So cute.  Basic hat pattern, a little embellishing.  I definitely need to make one for all the little Utes that I know!

9.  I definitely need this sign in my classroom.  I may change it up a bit and make one for the principal - "This school runs on ... Dr Pepper."  What's your favorite teacher addicted to?

10.  I've never made one of these.  Ever.  How did I get out of elementary school without this experience, let alone get a job teaching?  I've seen now that Martha Stewart has a nifty little tool to 'help' you make one of these, but I think kids were making them long before Martha's people got the idea.  I do like the variety of colors, too, and not just a classic white snowflake.

 

 

11.  This is way cute.  I was thinking of some different ways to dress up our craft booth at Midvale Days this summer, and thought this would work well.  

12.  I have seen these all over the web lately.  Sooooo cute and sooooo easy! 

Well.  There you have it.  My life's work for the next year.

Now all I need is several days off ... a few weeks off ... summer and I'll be set.

This, in addition to all the other works in progress and wannabe works in progress...  I think I'll start tomorrow...

Weekending - basketball style

I. Love. Basketball.  I love playing it.  I love watching it.  I love seeing little kids playing it.  I love the sounds of dribbling balls and swooshing nets and squeaky shoes on the gym floor.  I love the smell of new gym shoes and leather basketballs.  Not so in love with the other smells though.  Love.  It.

So with the looming NBA lockout, it seemed like a great year to get season tickets to U of U men's basketball, so that I could get my 'fix'.  Yes, they're slated to come in last in the PAC-12.  Yes, they started out the season a little on the rough side.  Yes, they got a new coach who drove some experienced players out.  But... they have improved a ton so far this season.  A ton.  They don't get blown out as often as you'd think.  And they really do play well at times - even for long stretches at times. 

It was quite exciting, then, last Thursday night when the Utes not only came from behind to win over Washington State, they won it in overtime!  What a crowd!  What a game!  What great plays down the stretch!  What great interesting thoughtful pointless commentary from the men sitting behind us!  Woo!  Go Utes!

Friday night, our neighbor to the south, Andy, gave us tickets for the Jazz game against Memphis.  Another team that started out rough, but are looking like they've found their groove.  They won as well, and in great fashion.

Back to the Hill for Saturday's Utah game against Washington.  This game was very back-and-forth, with a few lead changes, but mostly with Utah behind and then sneaking up, and getting behind and sneaking back up.  Well, they almost sneaked themselves into a win, but came up short.  Still, a good game played by a team that is improving game at a time.

Yup.  A good weekend had by all.

Gotta love it, baby!

currently...

currently...

listening... to the hum of my loooovely mini-fridge

eating... cuties

drinking... diet coke

wearing... school-uniform attire and shoes that i should not have

feeling... worn out

weather... sunny, waaaay too warm for january but who's complaining?

wanting... a few more hours in my day

needing... to 'prepare' my room for the fire marshall's inspection tomorrow

thinking... about what i'm going to wear to the ute's black-out game tonight

enjoying... the thought of the weekend

2011 Top 11

In no particular order... and maybe a few more, too...

Travels
1.  Disneyland at Christmas
2.  Colonial Williamsburg
3.  Washington, DC
4.  Civil War tour

The Theater
5.  Wicked
6.  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Movies
7.  Harry Potter Movie Marathon
8.  Breaking Dawn

Hobbies
9.  Reading
10.  Crocheting
11.  Crafting

Family, Friends, & Others
12.  Family
13.  Friends
14.  Others

Technology
15. iPad
16. New Camera

Experiences
17.  Relief Society at the prison
18.  Camp Spike & Wave
19.  Craft Booth at Midvale Days

Because of Mr. Terupt

I really, really needed a good book to read.  Something uplifting.  But quick.  This book was it! 

Because of Mr. Terupt made me re-remember that teaching is more about the tests-at-the-end-of-the-year.  It's more than the book-learning that goes on.  It's more than passing AYP and NCLB standards.  Sometimes being a teacher is just being a good person, helping students on their way in other parts of their lives besides the 'school life'.

The 'telling' of this book is through 7 different student narrators.  What a great, effective way to tell such a great school story.  Of course everyone sees and feels and experiences something different in class.  Yet the commonalities the kids share is incredible.

Loved it!

Totally recommend it!

Thankful - Linky Party

1.  What are you thankful for in your classroom?

My class this year - I love them!  A lot!
My Promethean board, Elmo and projector - I couldn't teach without them!
Books - a lot of them.  Never is "I can't find something to read" an option.



2. What people are you most thankful for?

My family - I wouldn't be where I am without my Mom, Dad, and Holly
My lunch group - I am sane thanks to Karen, Jami, Ryan, Vickie and Megan!




3. What 3 blogs are you most thankful for?

 What the Teacher Wants - of course!
Read This!?!? - my BFF's new book blog
Heartland Paper - to keep me sane!




4. What guilty pleasure are you most thankful for?

Diet Coke
Chocolate
Dancing with the Stars!



5. What are you most thankful for?

Family, friends, the gospel, a great job, health, and wellness!

still here

yeah.

haven't blogged for a while.

i'm sure a lot of really great things have happened...

school... 33 5th graders... who are actually really quite great...  just time-consuming...

40 books for the school year... most my kids are keeping up... me not so much... this is week 8... and at one a week i am about 3 weeks behind... but i have some really great books lined up...  the new ranger's apprentice books for example...

math class... reading that i skim... lesson plans to re-write... but a lovely wednesday evening that passes by fairly quickly... and the best part is that i can come to school the next day with new ideas for discussion in math.

history class... even more reading that i just barely skim... does anyone get through it all?.. doubt it!... but good knowledge... and my favorite for dinner - golden corral... ick...

crochet class... really great students that don't need lots of help so i can stitch too... coming up with projects that will work is a little challenging... but good...

the utes... started out the season great... and now i have no idea what happened to them... except to say that they could give me a scholarship to fumble 10 times in the last two games... it's probably a good thing that the most important game of the year was early on, and they played a lot better than they really are, and the cougs played a lot worse than they really are...

general conference... was good... lots of things i need to work on... but i have apparently a lot of time to do that now... and not just to 2012 like all my great students say every time someone reports a new volcano or earthquake in the world...  but i probably should be telling you this in person instead of sending it into the great cyber void...

so yeah.

see you in a few weeks... or months... or whatever...