It's what keeps me going......

The names of the people in this story have been changed to protect the identity of the innocent and not so innocent.

Girls like Diamond are what we call K.W.L.M's (Kids We Love The Most)! She needs A LOT of LOVE and attention. I told her she is going to give me gray hair by the end of the year. Here are some funny and not so funny stories about Diamond:

Diamond story #1
Diamond loves food. She talks about it, reads about it, writes about it, and even lies to get it. In fact the first week of school the front office pulled me out of class and asked if I was still hungry and needed anymore food. I was really confused and asked what they were talking about. They said Diamond had been coming to the front office for the last week asking for a box of granola bars.... "Mrs. Staples is really hungry and needs food fast."

Diamond story #2
Diamond idolizes another girl in our class named Destiny. Destiny is Muslim and wears a scarf to cover her hair for religious reasons. One day Diamond showed up to school with a pillow case over her hair. I asked her what was on her head and she said it was a hat just like Destiny's. I guess it pays to be cool!

I love my class this year but they kick my butt. They are an exact reflection of what I am feeling that day. If I am happy and energetic... so is my class. If I am sluggish and tired.... so is my class. They are giving me a run for my money but I love their guts!

Vermont Teddy Bear Factory

We had way too much fun in the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. We are lucky they didn't kick us out!
We tried to find a bear to represent every member of our family. Can you guess who is who??

#1

#2
#3
#4

#5
#6
#7
#8

"GRANDMA'S my name. SPOILING'S my game!"

#9

"Bear-foot and Pregnant!"

#10
#1 The Doc- Robert
#2 The Bikini Beach Bum- Anyone that love the BeACh ...aka ME!
#3 The School Teacher- Denice, Great Grandma, Betty, ME!
#4 The Business Man/Lawyer- Blaine, Jon, Josh, Ryan
#5 The Dentist- Matt, Kendall
#6 The Nurse- Jaime
#7 The Basketball Jock- Chris, Matt, Samantha, Steph, Josh
#8 The Grandma- Mary, Betty, Jamie, Denice
#9 The Prego- Taren, Steph, Sarah
#10 The Princesses- Julia, Karlie, Hailey

When I graduated from graduate school, Jon and Denice bought me a Graduation Vermont Teddy Bear! This is his cousin :)

Someday, I would love to collect these for my kiddos!

Labor Day Road Trip

Friday evening Robert and I jumped in our rental car without any directions or plans, other than the fact that we knew we were signed up for a race in Montreal, Canada that weekend. We have both been so busy that we didn't have much time to plan for it. Ironically, this was one of our favorite trips ever!
We pulled over late Friday night and found a camp ground. We set up our 2 person tent and slept. When we woke up we realized we had just slept next to the most beautiful lake (Lake George) in a cute, ritzy sailing town. It was adorable and I can't wait to go back.
We took the long route through Burlington, Vermont and Lake Champlain. I had never been here but Robert came as a child and has raved about it since. We stopped at the famous Vermont Teddy Bear factory.

Burlington is also the birthplace of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. We ordered their "Vermonster". We couldn't even make a dent in the bucket, it was HUGE. We have been on a no sugar agreement since April and this was one of our first indulgences! Go big or go home.. Right??!?

We love, love, love Vermont. Ps Lake Champlain was so beautiful I couldn't spare a minute to take a picture of it.

Montreal
(cute little skyline.. I know... NYC has warped reality)

The Race

1. We woke up 30 minutes before the race
2. Ran 3 miles to find the starting line
3. Luckily made it before the gun went off
4. Couldn't understand anything people were saying to us because everything was in French!
5. Perfect crisp running weather
6. Ran right through the city
7. Laughed all the Nordic Walkers
8. The race ended in the gigantic Olympic stadium
9. Ran 4 miles back to our car
   

We did it!

I felt like I was in France all weekend. Other than no Eiffel tower, there weren't any differences. I stuffed my face with my favorite .... Banana and Nutella crepe!
Robert stuffed his face with Montreal's famous fritz, gravy, and cheese curds... yuck!
Mark Twain once remarked of Montreal that "This is the first time I was ever in a city where you couldn't throw a brick without breaking a church window." Cosign. There were beautiful churches everywhere.

Bye Montreal and Vermont! Thanks for the best weekend ever!

JRWS in Utah

Robert could tell I was really bummed about not being able to go home with him this last week so He did his best to make me feel included by sending me pictures of all his activities.

Robert and his beautiful mom! She's lookin' young and gorgeous as always!

Part of the Staples crew. Welcome home Elder Staples!

Hanging out with the bros on their first day at BYU!

Reading and playing the piano with Karlie

Visiting the in=laws! Sniff, Sniff... miss you guys!

Cathing up with Taren and Jaime

Playing at the park!

This picture almost made me cry! Denice doing her magic in the kitchen! Oh, how I miss her cooking!

Utah, thanks for taking care of my husband for the week and returning him safely!

First Day Jitters

5 years later and I still get nervous before the first day of school. This last week was pure madness trying to get my classroom ready for tomorrow. With Robert's help and lots of long hours I think I am as ready as can be. I am really pumped about my new school. The stars aligned in order for me to land this job. Things that I love already:
-It is a lot closer to my house! (hooray for no more 5 AM walks to the subway!) Anyone that comes to visit is welcome to stop by!
- My school is located in the heart of Harlem, only 7 blocks from central park.
- My favorite soul food restaurant is just around the corner.
-I love all the culture in this neighborhood. Lots of people walking around in their African wardrobe.
- Harlem Success is the top preforming charter school in NY state! I am excited to be part of it.
-I am excited that my classroom will be named after UVU once again!
- I love my classroom!
- I love my coworkers!

It should be a really good year. Well,I have 24 rascals waiting for me to fill their brains with knowledge for college!!! Wish me luck!
Before

After

Thinking of you.....

Thinking of you.....
On your Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday Taren Michelle

***picture

Taren is one of my most favorite people on this earth. She is hilarious and is the only person that can read my mind. She would do anything for anybody. She keeps us laughing at all times.

***Being the corky girl she is, on one of her visits to NYC she pointed to a police box near my place and said "Every time you see this box, think of me." I laughed at at her and rolled my eyes. But without fail, every time I walk by it I think of her and smile.

This world would not be the same without you! We love you Taren!!!!

Charter Schools

For the past 2 years (going on 3) I have been working in NYC Charter Schools. I actually landed in charter schools by default. My Utah teaching certification wouldn't transfer over to NY so I applied for charter schools. I consider it fate that it ended up this way because I believe in charter schools' missions and my experience these last 2 years has been life changing. As of the last couple of years charter schools have been making a huge difference in education reform and frequently make the headlines. Recently two movies have come out about the charter school I work in! In the trailers you can see some of my students, my school, and my boss (Eva Mosqowitz).

http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/

http://thelotteryfilm.com/

And if you get a chance to see the movies, DO IT! Enjoy!