Very Proud!

As you know, I am a teacher. I have a wonderful group of kids that I seriously love. I've tried hard to get to know each of them and let them know I care. I think I've succeeded. This past six weeks we have been working really hard on fractions. We've been adding/Subtracting, finding common denominators, equivalent fractions, improper and mixed numbers, decimals, and all that fun stuff. We would work and work in the classroom. I would come home at night and schedule my math lesson plan to the minute to make sure I was making the most of my time and that I was doing my lessons in a progression as to not confuse the kids. Well, after a lot of hard work my kids took this hard math test (that I do not write. It's given to them from the district). And I am so proud because all (but one!) made an 86 or above! That means that they only missed two questions! I wish I could convey to you how happy this makes me feel! Sometimes, I get so worn out and tired and it's when you see that the students have really learned something that it really becomes worth it. I had one student tell me on the way out to their car that he thinks he's getting a little better at math. It made me feel so good that he feels better about himself. These are no ordinary kids. English is their second language and they are all economically disadvantaged, so they are already have a lot to overcome. But they really worked really hard. I am just so grateful that these are my first kids. I just want to continue working hard for them and doing the best I can so they have a chance to succeed!

I am so grateful for how the Lord works. He knows the plan for our lives. I think my life is supposed to go one way and I find out Heavenly Father takes me another way that is so much more enriching and fulfilling. I am glad we don't know how life will work out. It would be boring otherwise and less challenging.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas time!

I love this time of the year! It is cold outside, but at least there is no snow. Christmas time is such a wonderful time to reconnect with friends and concentrate on important things. I look forward to the two weeks I have off coming up soon, because I really want to find something valuable to do with the time I have off. Lately, in church we've been talking about service in the community and I really want to do something with it. So, maybe I'll try to find something for me to do.

Taylor's birthday has come and gone! He is officially 24. I made him a cake on Sunday since last year I didn't! I'm a bad wife! But, this year he gets 3 cakes! So, I hope that makes up for it. On Friday we went to look at lights in downtown Fort Worth with his parents and it was actually really beautiful. We just bundled up and walked around. On Sunday, we had a family dinner with a funfetti cake with vanilla icing and sprinkles. And on Saturday, his whole family is getting together to celebrate his birthday. I think he's pretty lucky. I'm grateful for him and having him for another year in my life. I try not to take advantage of the precious gift of life.

I feel so very blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and to have my wonderful family happy and healthy. I'm also grateful to have great friends who make me want to be a better person. Even when trials appear in your life you can always look around and find wonderful blessings in your life. I think it helps you get over trials and realize how much our Father in Heaven really does love you. Have a wonderful week!

New Toys!!

So lately I've been really spoiled by my doting husband! In about two weeks I've gotten a NEW laptop and a wonderful NEW camera!

My laptop is really nice. I've never had my own laptop. So its been great to have one of my very own. Its a Lenovo Y550. I'd never heard of Lenovo, but my brother, Abinadi, is a computer guy and he recommended me to Lenovo and I have no complaints. Its a great laptop.






Now, my camera came as a sudden surprise. I mentioned to Taylor that I wanted a really nice camera. And then next thing I knew he bought one online with an excellent deal! I've always been interested in photography, but never really got a chance with it. I once enrolled into a digital photography class, but it turned out to be a class completely about Adobe Photoshop. I still enjoyed the class, but I thought I was going to take a photography class. Silly me.



Anyway, my camera is a Canon Rebel XXI 12.2 mpx. I've been taking pictures like crazy. I've become Taylor's own personal paparazzi. He's the only subject I have. I'm just playing around with it and trying to figure out lighting and all that. I'm planning on taking a continuing ed class in the spring on photography.


One great thing about nice cameras is that you don't have to wait forever after you press the shutter button. It instantly clicks and is ready for your next shot instantly. It always seemed like with my old camera I missed the moment I was trying to capture because i was waiting for the red flashing light to stop blinking and allow me to take another photo. Anyway, here are a few samplings of my shots taken with my new camera!. :)

Lately

This past week has been a lot of fun. Taylor and I went to his parent's house on Saturday to carve pumpkins. Taylor did a fabulous job of the headless horsemen. It looks really great! We had a fun time with our family. :)



However, what I really want to talk about is a website I was referred to today, www.etsy.com. It's a website where people buy and sell homemade crafts and I've fallen in love! There are so many wonderful, beautiful, creative, and neat things there. I just wish I could make them myself. Here is sampling of some things I found:





I wish I had that creative ability and skill. Oh, well! I'll just stay the happy consumer!

Happy shopping!

Now I am the Master!

I have a dominantly speaking Spanish student in my class. He understands very little English. He knows a few phrases. I pull him at the end of every day for English language instruction. We go over the English alphabet, we learn frequent words, the numbers, the early things. He's very receptive and eager to learn, but the language is hard. I don't blame him! Anyway, he kept saying something funny in our first few lessons. I couldn't figure it out. Our conversation would go something like this (lets call my boy Luke):

Aleni: Okay, its time to get to work! Go get a pencil and paper!

Luke: Yes, Master (in English with very thick Spanish accent)

Aleni: *puzzled look* Master?

Luke had already walked away. I'm thinking, 'am I a slave driver?' I ignore it and we keep working. After a while we're done.

Aleni: Okay, time to clean up! That was our English lesson for the day.

Luke: Thank you, Master (In English again with thick accent).

Aleni: Hmmm...you're welcome?

Well, now that I've gotten to know him well over 8 weeks I've pieced together a few clues.

1.) Star Wars backpack
2.) He checks out Star Wars books from the library...every week.
3.) Star Wars shirts
4.) I've overheard him trying to explain the 'force' to his classmates
5.) The other day I caught him playing with a ruler calling it a light saber (In English)

So, today, now with all this information put together I've realized he has been calling me 'Master,' what a Jedi calls his teacher/mentor. I'm trying not to seem conceited. But technically, I AM his teacher. So, today we had our lesson plan like usual, however, our conversation was a little different:

Aleni: Okay! Its time to work!

Luke: Yes, Master.

Aleni: *sneaky grin* Yes, my Padawan.

Luke: *blinks* *huge grin*

Apparently, Star Wars is a universal language

The Regular

I have recently become semi obsessed with blog templates and trying to make my blog extra cute. I keep changing the template and stealing stuff from other blogs. Its really become a huge waste of time, but you know what? I'm having fun, dang it! It also makes me want to get out the ole' scrapbook and try my hand at it. I have so many things I want to get into right now. I think I go through these fads, but these past ones have really stayed with me. I want to take a sewing class so I can make clothes (this is because I've been watching too much Project Runway), I want to scrapbook, I want to play the guitar, I want to have a cute blog, and I want to keep practicing soccer! So many fun things to do!

Anyway, I'm getting carried away with all my aspirations. Last weekend we had a fun gathering with Anthony and Angie! It was really nice to be with old friends. Its great making new friends, but there is nothing like old friends. I'm definitely an old friend kind of person. Not too much into making new ones. haha Just kidding...a little. Anyway, they came over with Shelby and we talked and fawned over Jasper (really cute puppy)and played Scategories. Scategories is basically my favorite game. I think they liked it too!




We had fun and laughed until it was way late for us old married folks. I've been really busy at school trying to become the best teacher I can be. I absolutely love my kids. Sometimes they're loud, but they are really good kids and they really do work hard. If they fail its going to be because of me, and that really scares me. So, I'm trying to do my best at being better prepared and a better teacher. They are so great and cute! We have fun. I love fifth grade. I never imagined I'd teach fifth grade, but things just fall into place and now I know how perfect the fifth grade really is for me.





Oh, and Pandora is awesome! I've been listening to it for a week straight. Whenever I'm home its on. Way better than radio. I've found a whole bunch of new bands that I never knew I was going to love. Thanks internet!

Till next time!

Practice

So, my family has a Thanksgiving tradition of about ten years now. I can't believe its been that long now! Anyway, our family tradition is in the morning we have a Turkey Bowl game. It started with my family playing against another and then it eventually grew into ward vs ward and it has stayed that way. I haven't been able to play one for a few years because I've been in Utah. So, this will be my first one back! Whoopie! Taylor and I are really excited. We are so excited that we went out for a practice this evening!

We haven't played since we played with the Gardners back in January! It has been that long. And I'm pretty sure I've gotten a lot worse. I wasn't good to begin with so now its just kind of pathetic. But that's what practice is for! Taylor is one of those disgustingly, great natural athletes (you can tell I'm not bitter, right?) and he just fell back into pace. Dad came with us and he coached us and we had so much fun! I didn't want to go home! And that's was WITH the 1000% humidity. The air was so thick I felt like I could eat it. It'll be more fun to practice once the air cools down. Anyway, I hope to get good enough in about a month that I won't be picked last! I just hate it when that happens....

And one day you wake up and its October!!

I can't believe its October! But everything says that it is: the temperature is substantially cooler, the leaves are falling, the sky is gray, department stores have Halloween and Christmas decorations, and jackets are needed. Fall has arrived!

There are so many things to update this blog on. I'm not even sure who even reads this. I am officially a teacher. I'm a fifth grade teacher at an elementary school here in Texas. I love it. I do believe it is the perfect fit for me. Every day I get dressed and drive 30 minutes to a classroom of 17 students and we have a blast. There are days that I wish I were home instead, but majority of the time I love my job. My kids are great. I'm very fortunate to have such a well behaved class my first year of teaching. However, I never realized how much behind the scenes work there was as well. I am not talking about grading or lesson plans, but just a whole other section I wasn't aware about. But you know, I'll just roll with the punches.

Taylor is doing well too. Right now he's taking a break from Tarleton and going to TCC instead and taking some classes he can finish there. Next semester its back to the long drive. He's now investigating medical school. My mother could not be happier. :) Taylor is very intelligent so I do not worry about him in the least.

Over the summer we have had so many adventures. We had a family reunion on the Seibold side, fishing with family, we swam with friends, I saw some old college friends, we went to the fair, my sister came down, and more! Actually, both my sister and two sister in laws had baby boys in a period of three months. So we welcomed three new nephews. However, these pictures only display my four nephews on my side of the family. They are all very precious!! Here is our life in pictures!



Dad and Aaron



Taylor and James



My mom with Ethan and my sister with Joshua



James and I first thing in the morning!



Taylor and Andrew swimming

Thoughts of a day in May

Today is a special day. One of my very closest friends is getting married. And I am so happy for her. I only wish I could be with her today. So far out of all of my closest friends I've only been able to make it to one wedding and that was because she decided to get married in the same state I was living at the time (that really helps). However, I wish her much love and happiness. She is a great woman and deserves a great life!




I love going to weddings though. Marriage in general is just so special. I am eternally grateful for Taylor. He is so funny and thoughtful. And he's also a hard worker. He thinks of others all the time. I love him! We both give each other a hard time for laughs and we share a lot of the same likes and dislikes. I also like that we do a lot of things together. We go running, fishing, walking, and we play the Wii. Its so nice to be with someone that you know so well and trust completely and that you can be a complete goofball with. By the way, Taylor does the BEST impressions. He's had me laughing with his different voices since we were in high school. I know that I am blessed.




Continuing on, I've decided to certify as a teacher. I'm going to do the bilingual EC-4. I'm actually really excited and feel really good about this move. Taylor supports me 120% in this decision and we feel confident about our new plans.

Also! We're going camping tomorrow! I'm way pumped for this. Texas has been warming up and it seems like the humidity has turned up a few notches overnight! But it still isn't way hot so its the perfect time to go camping. My brother is having a birthday party at a camp site near the Austin area and that's where we're going. Taylor got the day off tomorrow and we're going to leave in the morning. We finally get to use the tent my good friend, Kylie, got us. Hopefully, we'll get to sneak in some fishing, hiking, and swimming.


I love my life and the people in it. I am so glad to have such a strong home base of family and good friends. Being in Utah for two years has really made me appreciate being physically close to my family and friends and having people that I have grown up with just around the corner or only a few hours away. There isn't much to complain about.







Life is good.

Funny Things

So, I absolutely love anything cute. I was reading one of my friend's blog and it was about cute rats. Which reminded me of this website I saw on a television at a hospital this week. I remembered that I texted Taylor to remind me to look at the website when I got home, but of course I forgot.

Its called www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org

It really has some of the cutest videos of cute animals or babies falling asleep. I think I spent like 20 minutes watching videos of cute animals falling asleep.

Here is a taste of what awaits you...



And...



And this one has nothing to do with sleeping, but it is so darn cute!

All is well

So, the first good news I have to report is that I finally have a job! Thank goodness. Taylor and I are really grateful and happy that we finally got a job. I had a total of four interviews, but this one pulled through and I think its one that actually fits me the best. I am really glad. I don't start for a few more weeks, but I don't really mind too much. This means I can still play with Aaron (my nephew) on the days my brother needs a sitter and read lots and lots of books. Taylor is still doing school and he likes it, but he is quickly tiring of the long drive. I suggested that we could move to Stephenville, but I guess he doesn't mind the drive too much, because he said he didn't want to do that. We are happy with where we are now. We see our families often and we really enjoy that. Our next trip will be back to Utah! We're going to our friends Drew and Allyson's temple wedding in May and we're excited to see old friends again. So, until I have a funny story to tell...that's all she wrote!

Waking up from Laziness!

I cannot believe it has been close to three months since our last blog post. I cannot call myself a blogger. Well, we moved from Utah after I graduated and we are now back in Texas. And I have to say the weather has been an appreciated change. Just in the past two days the area was in the 80's! Although, today it is in the 50's, but its just the fact that I CAN have days like that instead of it perpetually being cold until May. Anyway, we do have a lot of pictures to post up and adventures to blog about. I don't know why I haven't been keeping up with this, but I promise we will be better! As far as updates, Taylor is going to Tarleton with a double major in bio-chem and animal science (he still plans on becoming a vet) and he is working again at First Command in tax services for the time being. It really is a great blessing because they were willing to work around his crazy school schedule. I am looking for a job and hoping to find one soon. At least we have money to pay our bills now, but we need money to save for things too. And to buy new clothes. Taylor and I have both mentioned the lack of work clothes we have. Anyway, I will be back to post pictures of our trip to Lake Texoma and other funny things that have happened to us. Anyway, until then!