A Run-In With The Law

Yesterday I was sitting in the drive through at Wendy’s to try the new Spicy Asian Chicken, when all of a sudden a police car drove in the out driveway and stopped in front of my car. Another police SUV drove up next to me. Then another police car sped in the out driveway and stopped next to an SUV that was in front of me waiting for their order to be ready. “What is going on here?” I wondered.

“Everyone put your hands out of the car windows! Now! Hands where I can see them!” one of the offices shouted. All three officers walked cautiously toward the SUV in front of me. I just sat there and stared while the Wendy’s worker held my bag of food out the drive through window and stared too. The officers had three people, two girls and one guy about my age, get out of the car and sit on the curb. One officer started questioning them while another looked in the car. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, so I had no idea what was going on.

After waiting a couple minutes, I decided I should probably go. The Wendy’s girls asked if I could get out. I ended up backing out the drive through and exiting the in driveway. I still have no idea what it was all about, but it was my exciting adventure for the day!

You Like-a The Juice?

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Simply Orange
My favorite is the Orange-Pineapple.
Good stuff! Give it a try.

23 Questions You Probably Never Thought of Asking

1. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Push the snooze button
2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Greenish with maroon stitching
3. Whats the closest thing to you that's red?
A backpack
4. Did you meet anybody new today?
No, but I did talk to the mailman
5. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Cabbage Patch Kids
6. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Lick it
7. What are you listening to right now?
A movie playing on the television
8. Would you go sky diving?
I don't think so.
9. Do you like cottage cheese?
I used to like it with pepper, but now I'm lactose intolerant.
10. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yes
11. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
A piece of glass I found on the floor
12. Ever been on a train?
Yes. I went on a train in Michigan.
13. Do you have a cell-phone?
Yes - an iPhone. And I just got a Blackberry for work.
14. Do you use chapstick?
Sometimes. I like raspberry flavored.
15. Do you own a gun?
No
16. Can you use chop sticks?
No
17. Ever have cream puffs?
Yes, but I can't anymore
18. Are you sarcastic?
Sometimes, but I don't really like to be
19. Ever walked into a wall?
Yes, more than I'd like to admit. And I always end up with bruises on my arms because of it.
20. Do you have good vision?
Not really
21. What are you wearing?
A T-shirt with a skull and a rose. :)
22. Can you hula hoop?
Not very well
23. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yes. I used to climb out the bedroom window at my house where I grew up. No particular reason, I just thought it was fun. I climbed in the window at my old condo when I forgot my key.

New Job

Yesterday was my first official day at my new job as an Educational Technology Specialist. We had a brief orientation, talked about schedules, and got our new computers and Blackberries. (I still prefer my iPhone.) :) I'm very excited about the work I will be doing! I will be spending most of my time out in the schools working with teachers and helping them use technology in their teaching.

It was sad last week saying goodbye to my students, teammates, classroom, and especially my principal. I don't know if or when I'll be back in the classroom again, so it was hard to leave. I've been working with my principal for all eight years I have taught, and he is so great to work with, so that was hard too. But, I am excited for a new opportunity. I am excited to work with teachers and with technology. It's exciting to be using what I have been studying in grad school. I always like trying new things.

Last Week of School!

The last week of school was crazy and busy, as it always is.

Monday

9:00 am - 6th Grade All-Stars vs. Teachers Softball Game

2:00 pm - Dance Rehearsal

2:40 pm - Softball

I was pretty worn out after Monday's events, but they were all very fun. The teachers had an unusually good softball team this year! We won the game 23 to 13. Most of the students' points were scored toward the end of the game as the teachers began to tire out. :) We had some great fielding and some great hits. I was quite proud of the line drive I hit just inside the 3rd base line. :)

Tuesday

8:40 am - Rocket Launch

10:45 am - Awards Assembly

12:40 - View News Broadcasts

2:00 pm - Dance Rehearsal

2:40 pm - Softball

Tuesday was another tiring day. The rocket launch went very well thanks to "The Rocket Man" who came to help us launch. Those rockets went so high! Many of them ended up in the back yards and on the roofs of neighboring houses.

Wednesday

9:00 am - Beach Day

1:00 pm - 6th Grade Dance

The kids had a great time playing water games out on the field. Austyn was particularly entertaining during the water baseball game as he was constantly doing flips into the kiddie pools that were the bases so he could stay nice and wet. The dance was great fun too. We danced to all kinds of music and the kids got the chance to dance all of the decades dance routines we have been practicing for the last couple months.

Thursday

12:40 pm 6th Grade Auction

3:00 pm GarageBand CDs and Report Cards Distributed

We finished the year off well with our big sixth grade auction. All the sixth grade money the kids had earned throughout the year was spent on candy, sports equipment, supplies for jr. high, and technology items. They all went away with excitement for the summer, a little sadness saying goodbye, and nervousness for 7th grade. It was a great year with a great group of kids!

Girls Camp

I took a couple days off of work so I could drive some of my Laurels (16 to 18-year-old girls) to girls camp between their driver's education classes. After only two days and one night at camp, I managed to come home with a funky sunburn and some fun memories. The sunburn occurred because of a malfunctioning bottle of spray-on sunscreen. It wouldn’t spray on evenly, so now my arms are all spotted, so I look like a leopard, and my forehead and arms are striped. It’s not a good look for me. Oh well.

The theme of our camp this year was "The Road to Virtue". Our ward was named the Wandafizzle Triumph Biker Chicks. Diane, our ward camp director, had everyone create motorcycles using balloons, pool noodles, and duct tape. My bike was nicknamed "The Witch" because we ran out of pool noodles and I had to use a broom. They were so funny. Diane has to be the most creative person I've ever known. We wore green bandanas and brightly colored ponchos we made. Every time we were called to flag ceremony, we rode through the pasture on our motorcycles singing our ward cheer: "At the sound of TRIUMPH, on to victory!" We were so cool.

In the time I was there, we made necklaces with dog tags, decorated flip flops, did a service project, took a hike, made ice cream in cans, sang songs, watched a movie (Johnny Lingo), kidnapped campers then set them free by listing 15 great things about them, performed a skit titled "Poncho Libre", looked at the constellations, talked, laughed, ate, listened to our stake president speak, and bore our testimonies. It was a great experience. I loved getting to know the girls in new circumstances and surroundings. We have a wonderful group of young women!

Kid Quotes

Me: Why are you late to school today?
Student: Oh. I was pretending to be sick.
I love the honesty.

Test Question: Define the word nun.
Answer: A nun is a woman that worships God and lives in a convict.

Test Question: Define the word pilgrimage.
Answer: Arms for the poor?

Test Question: Who was Michelangelo?
Answer: Michelangelo died in the year of 1564 with many sculptures, pants, architects, and poems and much more stuff that he made and wrote.

Hired!

Shortly after receiving my Master's, I applied to be an educational technology specialist for the new school district. I found out Friday that I got the job! I am very excited. It will be different not being in the classroom next year, but I am excited for the opportunity to learn and try new things and to help teachers use technology more effectively in their teaching. So, only three more weeks of being a 6th grade teacher, then new adventures!

Master Katie

On May 8, 2009 I graduated with my Master's degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology! It was a wonderful day -- the sun was shining, flowers were everywhere, it was the perfect temperature, and the sky was a brilliant blue. My mom and her husband, Ron, were able to attend, and it was a pleasure spending the day with them. Following the two ceremonies, we met up with Andy, Emery, Michael, and Brian for dinner. It was great to have them all with me to celebrate.

I'm done!

Saying Goodbye

On April 22 my dear friend Derrick entered the Missionary Training Center. He will be serving a two-year mission for the LDS church in Toulouse, France. I am so excited for him and so proud of him. He is sacrificing a lot to serve others and do what he knows his Heavenly Father wants him to do. I wish him all the best and can't wait to hear about his experiences.

Before his departure, Derrick gave a wonderful, inspiring talk in church. Brian, Emery, and I were privileged to be able to sing in the church meeting as well. All who were in attendance would agree that it was a great experience to be at that meeting.

We were able to have Derrick and a few friends over for one last gathering before his two years away. We served French food, laughed, had good conversation, and made sure Derrick had a chance to play with his WiiMii before leaving. We had a great time.

Derrick will be greatly missed while he is gone. It is a comfort, however, to know that he is doing exactly what Heavenly Father wants him to do. He and his friends and family will be blessed for his willingness to put aside his life to serve others. I know he will be an incredible missionary.