Light at the End of the Tunnel

Did you know that I graduated high school nine years ago? College has been a long drawn out process. Here's the run down...

• Entered college as a Sophomore.
• I got a scholarship to Dixie.
• I lost it the next year.
• I still went to Dixie.
• I wanted to go into Communication. I loved my Public Speaking class.
• I took a bunch of classes, just because I could.
• I graduated with my Associate of Science.
• I went to UVSC.
• I wanted to work in PR.
• Then I wanted to be a paralegal.
• Then I wanted to work with criminals.
• I didn't really know what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I took a plethora of classes.
• Met Dan.
• Took a semester off (dating is hard work!!).
• Married him.
• Moved to Logan.
• Took a semester off, Dan was working on gettting his GED so he could be accepted to USU.
• Started at USU, and was told I could graduate in undergraduate courses.
• I studied Journalism, but hated interviewing people.
• Thought I wanted to be an English teacher.
• My ego got prego.
• Decided I didn't want to be an English teacher.
• Had Ellie.
• Moved back home.
• Started back at UVSC when Ellie was six months.
• Decided to go into education.
• Took the pre-requisites.
• I was accepted into the program without interviews (I just had really good grades, or they were just desperate for teachers...).
• I started going full time last year.
• I've done two field experiences: one in fifth, and one in third.
• Just yesterday I finished my Student Teaching in first grade...YAY!!
• I have two more night classes (and a lot of crap to turn in).
• I graduate May 1st with a 3.7....HOORAY!!

I'm so grateful for my family and friends that have helped so much during school. I wouldn't have been able to finish if it wasn't for Grandma GiGi, mom, dad, Ben and Debra taking Ellie for me. I owe them all big time!! With a teacher's salary maybe I could buy you all a pencil? :)

What's it spell?

My mom was talking about someone, and decided to shelter Ellie from one of the words she decided to use, so she spelled it, "h-e-l-l". Then Ellie chimed in with an "i-e".

I'm sensing a new nickname...

For the Talent Competition....

Some of you have already seen a rendition of Ellie's "Perfect Situation", I couldn't use that one in this competition...the clip had to be 30 seconds long, so you can watch hers here (she's #9). I haven't gotten the chance to watch all the clips (it is hard trying to decipher what song these little kids are singing), however there are definitely some golden nuggets, and you can't vote for Ellie until you watch clip 7 and clip 11, you will laugh...trust me. Then when you either want to vote for 7, 9 or 11 go here.

I'm a Survivor

*Situation was re-enacted for your reading/viewing pleasure.*

You bet I'm talking about me!! Everyone has a tough situation to overcome, mine came Sunday night. It went down like this...

The family was all snug in their beds. Ellie had been asleep for hours, and Dan was reading the Ensign (People magazine was waiting on my side of the bed). I was chatting with Dan about some of the day's events, for example we like to talk about how cute Ellie is (yes, we are just that obsessed with our kid).

While chatting with Dan, I started fiddling with the master bathroom doorknob. Dan told me that it wasn't working as well as it normally does. I figured that it was locking when it was supposed to be unlocked and unlocking when it was supposed to be locked. Then I fixed it, because I'm a genius like that.

Dan and I wrapped up our conversation, and I headed into the bathroom to take a bath (don't criticize, yes, I do stew in my own filth). I shut the door behind me. I then realized I forgot a towel. I went to open the door, it was locked. Now mind you, I am inside the bathroom which gives me control over the lock. I fiddled with it some more, and when it wouldn't budge I politely knocked on the door to ask Dan for some help.

What did Dan do? He laughed hysterically. I then asked him to get me a screwdriver so I could take off the doorknob. He took so long that I started using scissors instead (there are SO many wonderful things to pick a lock with in a bathroom). Finally I heard Dan go downstairs.

He came back to the door, and pushed a granola bar underneath it (isn't he funny?). He said he didn't know how long I would be in there, and he didn't want me to get hungry. It was funny at first, but 30 minutes later I started getting worried, and it may or may not have escalated toward anger (my story, I'll tell it how I want).

I started panicking...I really didn't want to have to call the fire department to have them bust down the door to find me standing in my underwear...what a sight!! No matter how long I worked on my end (because Dan was STILL thinking he was SO funny), I couldn't get the door unlocked. We tried scissors, a credit card, keys, and it wouldn't budge.

Finally, I got the doorknob off. Problem solved, right? The tongue of the door was still stuck, and I couldn't get it to move. Basically I could see Dan's eye and he could see mine. There were a couple of attempts to get the door opened that could have resulted in making one or both of us a cyclop.

An hour later, I bent the inside metal of the tongue, and when that became stuck I totally thought I was hosed, but after fiddling with the door some more it finally came out!!

Could you imagine what I would have done if that happened to me in the morning before I had to go to school? What would I have told my teacher? "Sorry, I'm locked in the bathroom and can't get out!!"

Dan wanted to take pictures during the whole ordeal, because it was just that funny (so he says), but I told him to wait for me to get out first (that, and I didn't need any pictures of me in my undies being posted on the web).

So there you have it...I'm a survivor. I lived off of a granola bar, and made useful tools out of bathroom instruments. I should have my own show. Oh, and our door is still doorknobless. Which is why Ellie was able to get this adorable photo op.

Need a Closet Organizer?

To make a little extra money during this economic crisis, I am now in the closet organization business....I'll be hiring out Ellie, she does a fantastic job (shoes are not color coordinated though...she's still learning). Let me know if you are interested. ;) By the way, don't kink your neck...I've tried 10 times to rotate the picture and it isn't working...BOO HISS!!

Now if you happen to be sickingly organized, besides thinking you are OCD, I do have another option for you. Daycare provider. Ellie is really good with baby dolls, which most likely means she is terrific with real babies too...

The babies are pictured during nap time....

Oh, did you think I was done? What about those hard to reach places? Ellie can do that too (I especially detest the cupboards above the fridge...really does anyone put anything in those?

Goals

Ellie: Watch this cool trick Mom!!

Me: Cool!

Ellie: Yeah, I've been practicing so I can join the circus.