Our Last 9th Grade Lagoon Day

Beginning next year the 9th graders from Valley Jr. High will be at Granger High School.  That means we will only have 7th and 8th graders at Valley, it also means we lose our 9th Grade Lagoon Day.  It's rather devastating to those of us who attend Lagoon as "chaperones."  Really our only job is to make sure all the kids get back on the bus at the end of the day.  Other than that we get to go to Lagoon for free and they feed us lunch.  Not a shabby deal if you ask me!

We enjoyed a nice, warm, and leisurely day at Lagoon on June 4th this year.

One ride I made it clear I would not ride was Rattlesnake Rapids.  I had plans that evening and could not go home looking like a drowned rat.  Dave and Jacob applied enough peer pressure that I ended up on Rattlesnake Rapids, not once but twice.  We were in a fight for a little while.  The first ride it was just the 3 of us, so we were able to move about the raft as needed to avoid getting too wet.  The second time down the rapids we were put with 3 little girls who were not speaking English.  I ended literally over the top of one of the girls to avoid the waterfall.  I may have scarred her for life, but it was worth it, I came with only my bottom half wet.  No drowned rat here.

These charming students of mine stood by the sprayers as we went down the river and tried to spray us.  Luckily their timing was terrible and they were unsuccessful, but we got great joy watching them get soaked when it was their turn...

These were my Lagoon buddies for the day, Dave and Jacob

Our buses were 30 minutes late, so we had some quality quiet time sitting in the parking lot.

 



I had spent 15 minutes trying not to strangle a couple other students from another school who were beating each other and anyone within their reach with these stupid blow up toys.  When my students walked up with them they were threatened with their lives if they started hitting each other with them.

Every year our assistant principal, Shauna insists that all the staff members get together for an old time photo.  We actually have fun doing these pictures, and give good laughs in our attempts to remain modest.  Yes, I am a prude.

The 9th graders will be missed next year, but I think that is mostly because we will miss 9th Grade Lagoon Day!

Memorial Day Weekend at Yuba Lake

 Travis and I spent Memorial Day weekend with his family at Yuba Lake camping.  Camping really isn't my favorite thing to do, but Yuba Lake is the place to be.  Bathrooms, showers, a lake makes it all manageable.  We got down there Friday night and had lots of help setting up our tent and then played games with the family.  We spent Saturday just relaxing.  It was a little weird to have so much free time, we're not used to that.  We got to spend some time out on the ATVs.  Every time we walked in that direction we were immediately followed by some of the nephews. 

This little guy loved going for rides (even tried to take off on his own at one point).  So, we happily took him along with us a couple times.

I quickly spotted some waverunners at the little shop near the lake.  I told Travis that next year we will be renting a waverunner.  How can you resist something as fun as that?!

 For some reason the parents trusted this crazy driver with their children...

 

Have you seen a cuter group of boys?  I don't think so.  We sure have fun with all the nephews and nieces.

 

We had a great relaxing time camping, but were happy to be home in our own bed (a new air mattress is on the wishlist!).  I enjoy seeing Travis participate in his favorite activities.  We have nothing in common, but it's never a bad thing to try something new, especially when it's with the person you love.

May 20, 2013 Imagine Dragons

Concert time again!  Hooray!  Janelle and I got tickets to see Imagine Dragons at the UCCU Center in Orem.  A couple days before the show Janelle got really sick and offered her ticket to me.  Emma quickly took up the offer to join me and we spent the evening of May 20th together enjoying an AWESOME show!

If you ever get a chance to see Imagine Dragons live you definitely should!  They were fabulous!  Their music is awesome and I was so excited to see them in concert.

Travis' Birthday Gift

Travis' birthday was 6 days after mine.  My mom helped me to pick out a new grill for Travis and then get it to the house.  He seemed to be super excited about it, and only a couple days after he got it we were grilling.  We had elk steaks and corn on the cob for Sunday dinner.  It made me so happy that he liked his gift and that he uses it.  He is super great about making sure it gets perfectly clean.  We had to go buy all the accessories he felt he needed before he could use it.  I sure do love this guy!  Happy 30th Travis!

The 30th Birthday Celebration!

My birthday was in May, and just as in years past it was awesome!  I LOVE birthdays, everybody's birthday.  But, my birthday is just so great! 

My coworkers spoiled me again this year.  I had my annual birthday present hunt brought to you by Jacob (he always re-stocks my gum supply).  Juliene and Tina got me a beta fish appropriately named Roger.  They decorated the office with a banner and all sorts of confetti (the custodians sure do love my birthday too...).  Tina brought the most delicious cake.

Travis got me new workout clothes and the Justin Timberlake album and an iTunes gift card, which I've already spent.  We had a delicious dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and enjoyed some quality time together.

The following week I got together with some of my amazing friends.  They are so much fun, incredibly beautiful, brilliant, and just fabulous.  I love them dearly.  Since I met them they have not let one of my birthdays go by without a celebration.  I am blessed to have them in my life.  They have accepted each broken piece of me and helped me mend and become a better person.  I firmly believe that God placed these women in my life at my greatest time of need because he knew they would help me heal.  I love them!

30 is great so far! 

Mothers' Day Fun in the Sun

Back in April my mom said, "All I want for Mothers' Day is for everyone to go to St. George to stay with Mason and Taylor for the weekend."  Considering Travis and I had also been discussing a trip to St. George to get away for a bit we quickly agreed.  Since Friday the 10th was my birthday (aka a national holiday) I didn't want to travel until Saturday.  So, Travis and I got up early Saturday morning and made the 4 hour drive to Mason's house.  It was a nice relaxing weekend, nothing stressful.
When we got there we went and got lunch and went to a park with the dogs.  Shelby and Toby had time to play in the river (where we once again learned that Shelby is a big chicken).

She had to be coaxed to get in very deep.

However we almost couldn't get Toby out of the water.

After the excitement of the river Mason, Travis, Shelby, and I went for a hike on a trail not far from Mason's house.

It was a super warm day and we were only 3/4 of the way to the top of the bluff when Shelby laid down and refused to go any further.  We got the hint and headed back down.

Mason

St. George really is a beautiful area.  We enjoyed the short getaway.

Class of 2016

Here are my 9th graders.  As we stood outside for this picture on May 3rd I realized how glad I am that this school year is over.  Funny thought to have...  not at all sentimental. :)  There are some super amazing students in this group, and some super terrible terds.  It's been a good school year, it's gone quickly (I was slightly busy and distracted for half of it, which helped).  We've had a lot of adventures, had many successes and several failures.  We've learned a lot, cried a lot (we are at a jr. high), played, fought, grown, and matured.  Every year as each group of students moves to the next step of their lives I feel a great sense of pride.  I realize that most of them will forget me, but I pray that I've had some sort of positive influence.  I pray that I've given them some confidence and encouraged them to reach their goals.  There are so many students lacking the support I've been so blessed with in my life and I want to be that support for them.  Each student is capable of graduating, each student deserves to set big goals for themselves, each student deserves happiness.  My job is challenging, and on days like today I run out of nice and patience, but I enjoy my job.  I enjoy the conversations I have with my students, I love visiting with them on their birthdays, I love nagging them until they do what I know they are capable of, I love the excitement of success, I have a good job.  I wish parents and community members worked harder to teach these students responsibility, to teach them that they are smart enough and good enough.  But, until the world is filled with perfect parents I will do my best to have each of my students leave feeling like Ms. White/Mrs. Rogers believes in them and wants them to succeed.