1-6

It's teacher work day.
That means the kids are home enjoying their three day weekend and I am here at school doing anything I can to avoid working.
I am struggling today. I have lots to do but just no ambition to get it done. So I'm here to give you the most random assortment of thoughts that has ever been about my life in this current point in time.

1. So Kolton is the breakfast maker in our household. In the mornings I'm always too busy dragging myself out of bed and taming my hair into submission to do more than grab a granola bar on the way out the door. So Kolton staged an intervention and I don't know if he knew what he was signing up for when he started, but now he's the official breakfast man. 

And let me tell you, he makes a mean smoothie. I feel like he is really selling himself short. He should be working at Jamba.

2. Speaking of Jamba, one day I was grocery shopping (maybe?) and Kolton was not wanting to be grocery shopping so to get himself out of it he suggested that while I shop he would grab us some Jambas. I was on to him but a Jamba can always win me over. So he went to Jamba and was having a hard time deciding what to order. (I know, totally out of character for him.) the kid working the counter asked if he could make a suggestion and told him he should order a Meeko's Miracle and then explained that it was one of his inventions that had been self-titled. So Kolton did it and guess what? It was the best ever!!
A couple months later the grocery shopping situation repeated itself and Kolton went to Jamba and ordered up a Meeko's Miracle. And everybody in Jamba was so excited about it. They were all peeking at Kolton from the back and telling each other what he'd ordered.

3. We started over on the Office. That Netflix was the best gift I could have ever given Kolton. Anyway, we finished The Office a few months ago and I have been begging Kolton to start watching it again and one day he gave in and now our evenings are super enjoyable. I love that show too much.

4. I do Scholastic Book Orders at school and I just love them. I am always encouraging the kids to order because I can get free books. There's probably an illegal term for what I am doing there, but I don't know what it is. But seriously. Over the course of this year I have currently got 31 free books. And they are good ones!

5. Speaking of school, it is going swell. This is always a hard time of year because we start feeling a little burned out but Spring Break is coming!! But the last couple months have really been fun. I feel like I was a big grouch for the first half of the school year because I was trying to train those kids and get them to behave. But we finally got it done and I feel like we understand each other better now. And probably I am still a big grouch but it really is a lot better and I have learned that being a grouch is worth it! The kids know when I mean business and they are respectful and we all just get along a lot better. We are starting our huge culminating research project and I am trying to take big, deep breaths because honestly this project is more work for me than for them. I need to find my chi or zen or whatever that word is so this project can be a good experience for everyone.
Also, I brought in some new beanbags for the reading corner and you would not believe the reactions I've gotten from the kids over a few beanbags. I have answered so many questions about them "Are they made out of pants?" (They look like jean material) "Why is your name on them?" (My grandma gave them to me for Christmas 10 years ago and I haven't sat in them since) "They have pockets!!" (Not a question, but they have decided that the pockets are probably for snacks.) Man, I really like these kids.

6. Kolton has been begging me to go with him on the roadbike. He says that since it's 50 degrees we should be good to go. I keep telling him to talk to me when it's closer to 70. Anyway, he took it yesterday to run some errands in town and had to admit that I was maybe right about the coldness factor. He said he was pretty frozen.

And that's my life lately! It feels good to get some of that out there.  

I should be embarrassed...

But since I have no shame, I am not. 

Over the last month I have attended two different dances that were definitely not held for my enjoyment. 

We had a 5th grade dance at school for an end of the trimester party. Mrs. Johansen taught the kids some ballroom and we had a little dance to show off their moves. It was hilarious and so, so fun.

I had the kids make some decorations and they dressed up all fancy like for the big day. This was the first dance the kids had been to so they were a little terrified once it started. The music was playing and the girls were sitting on one side of the gym with the boys on the opposite side all just staring at each other. 

That's when my annoying, bossy side came out. I started dragging kids out on the floor and telling them that if they didn't pick a partner in 10 seconds I was going to pick one for them. This scared most of them enough to go grab a girl. However, there were a few kids that I had to push to the girls side for every single song the entire dance. 

Along with the ballroom dancing we also did some fun songs like the Cotton Eye Joe and Cha Cha Slide which I just think are the most fun ever. 

Needless to say, by the end of the day I was a sweaty mess. I was trying to channel my inner Judy Polatis and also my inner Lewis Newman to make the dance fun. I was whooping and hollering and cheering and just really being embarrassing. If Kolton had been there I know he would have been hiding in a corner embarrassed to claim me. But I had fun and the kids had fun, so that's all that mattered. 

The next dance I attended was the Spring Youth Dance for the Beehives and Deacons. Again, I tried to channel my more fun side and also my bossy side got a lot of use. I was dragging kids out of the floor and dancing like a maniac and just really having a great time. The first dance I danced with Brevan who at the end of the dance as everyone was leaving the dance floor decided to try to dip me but had underestimated how heavy I am and promptly dropped me on my back in front of everyone. (I was a tiny bit embarrassed then.) 

Anyway, it was a good time and it made me remember how much I just love to dance. I miss going to high school or college dances with friends and just busting a move and not caring who saw. Now I have to live vicariously through other kids and try to make them have as much fun as I always did. 

Splat.

Embarrassing story. 

So the other day at school we had the Christmas music program. After the program the kids were instructed to stay on the floor and the teachers would come stand by them so the parents could sign them out right there and take them home. 

Well as soon as the final notes are sung I know I need to get down on the floor as soon as possible because I just know the kids are going to scatter. So as all the parents are still sitting in the audience the teachers start heading to their classes. Well I am marching over to my kids as quick as I can and keeping my eyes on them so none of them disappear. 

Unfortunately I was watching them a little too well because I completely missed the giant speaker that was right in front of me. I tripped over one of the tripod's legs and about landed on my face. My head was parallel to the ground and I took about 7 giant steps trying to regain my balance. It was touch and go there for a minute as time froze and I kept trying to keep myself  from sprawling on the floor. Everything was silent and the only sound I could hear was from the collective gasp from the audience as they watched my battle to not land on my face. 

I eventually regained my balance without falling down and with a face red from embarrassment gave the audience a thumbs up to let them know I was alright. 

Anyway. That was my embarrassing moment that will hopefully count for the whole next year. 

FOUR!

Heavens. 

It is crazy to me that Kolton and I have been married for four years. There have been a whole lot of ups and downs in those four years and I am always, always grateful that he is who I have by my side through all of it. 

So the other night we went on a date Christmas shopping. And it was just one of the best times I feel like we have ever had together. I don't even know why but we were just laughing and being together and we just really had the best time. I was talking to the lady who cuts my hair the other day and she was saying that in life we have a lot of good moments but the GREAT moments are rare and you have to treasure them when they come around. Anyway, that got me thinking that Kolton and I have had a whole lot of good moments (like a lot) and some bad moments and even some terrible, heart-wrenching moments. But we have had some GREAT moments too. And those few and far between GREAT ones are what life is all about. Our date the other night is what I would classify as a GREAT moment.  We were both just so happy to be together and I hope I always remember it. 

Anyway, while we were out eating we were a little too focused on waiting for our food because I was starving after a full day of school. So to take our minds off of how hungry I was I asked Kolton what we should talk about. He jokingly answered that we should list all of each other's favorite things. I took him up on that, much to his chagrin, but it really was fun. 

Here's what we came up with. 

Kolton's Favorite Things According to Jayci

1. Snowmobiling

2. Roadbiking

3. Climbing into bed at the end of the day. (Every night he says, "This is my favorite part of the day")

4. Being tough

5. Building things. 

Jayci's Favorite Things According to Kolton

1. Reading

2. Things that smell good

3. Doing things that bother other people. (Seriously though. He brought up the example of my first year of college when I left the clear plastic cover on my laptop just because everybody told me to take it off.)

4. Salt

5. Decorating the house

Anyway, today being our anniversary I have to get a tiny bit mushy but I  love that man. He is so good to me. We drive each other crazy, support each other, argue, laugh, listen, and are always there for each other. I thank my Heavenly Father every day that I get to have him in my life. We have been through the wringer this past year and especially over the past couple months and when I start feeling down and like I don't have anything to be grateful for I always remember that Kolton is the biggest blessing in my life and even though I may not have everything I want right now, I have him. 

The Blondes Are Back!

After two years all the blonde roommates were finally able to get together. 

Heather Warner came up from Texas, Amy from Provo, Kelsee from SLC, KyLeigh from St. George, and I drove down from Monteview. 

I drove down to SLC on Friday after school. It was terrifying and I really do not belong on more than a two lane highway. But I did miraculously make it to Kelsee's. They were having a Bad Movie Monday night on a Friday night and we watched Frogs on Netflix. It was also terrifying. (Not really. Actually, it was hilarious) The next morning Kelsee and I took off to find our little KyLeigh. We met up with KyLeigh, her mom, and sister and we all went to Gardner Village. 

We wandered around a little bit looking at all the stuff that we will maybe one day be able to afford. It was a cute little place and had lots of fun things to see. 

From there we went to Heather's baby shower where we met up with Amy and Heather and chatted and it was lovely. After the shower we decided a dinner was in order. We went to Blue Lemon and sat at this little round table and visited for hours. HOURS. It was fabulous! It was so great to catch up with these girls and also so bad because I had almost forgotten how much I missed them and then I was reminded and now I miss them even more! 

We have sure had some good times together and I hope that there will be many more! (And I also hope that they all see the error of their ways and finally decide to move to Idaho. Specifically Monteview.)

Class bonding and buggy flies

So we started school about 2 months ago. It's been a lot different this year! I thought I knew 5th graders inside and out but these kids are so different from my last ones! Anyway.  I Just haven't felt like I have bonded with these kids so well as the ones last year. Maybe because I've been more of a hard nose than last year trying to nip little things in the bud and train the kids rather than let them run wild and rampant. 

That's probably it. 

But the other day I felt like we really just had ourselves a moment. And it was over killing flies of all things. 

So we have had a serious fly problem in our room. They are awful and so buggy and making us all crazy. Well, the kids were supposed to be studying their spelling words but instead they were hunting around for flies. And it's not enough just to catch the flies, they have to get them alive and then rip their wings off and it's just a whole big thing. 

So a few kids were studying in the corner and I walked over and saw a fly running around on a kid's hand. I didn't realize he had caught it, ripped its wings off and made it his pet and since we have all been trying to kill all the flies when possible I grabbed a book and killed that sucker right in the palm of his hand. 

We laughed at that and especially at the look of surprise on his face when he realized I had killed his new friend. 

And with that, all sorts of fly killing stories came out. 

But my favorite one was when a boy told me that one time he was in his room reading and there was a fly buzzing around. He sat there with his book open for forever and when the fly finally landed on his book he slammed it shut, never opened it again, and returned it to the library. 

I died laughing. 

Just imagining some poor innocent kid turning a page in his book to find a decaying smashed fly just put me over the edge. 

I still laugh every time I think about and how proud the kid was of this story. 

And that's how you bond with 5th graders. 

A Fairly Fine Wedding Day

So my little Kenzie cousin got married in the beginning of September. 

Kolton was enjoying his very last day of grain harvest in the combine so he couldn't make it to the wedding, but I was able to go in with my dad. My mom and siblings left before us so we were cruising. CRUISING. down the Monteview highway to make it in time. I kept telling my dad that we had plenty of time and yet the speedometer kept inching higher and higher. I did not know it was possible to drive down the Monteview highway in that short amount of time. Amazing. 

We made it to the temple in plenty of time and it was a lovely little ceremony. Afterward we took pictures, killed some time and my birthday money at a little home boutique, and then went to the luncheon which was fabulous. 

Then everyone headed to Quenalee's house to set up for the reception and I chilled at Oswald's house and waited for Kolton to pick me up and take me down to the good ole Blackfoot fair. 

We had been invited by Shively's to go to the Demolition Derby again and it did not disappoint. We got there a little early and ate and wandered and picked out our dream pickup for when we can do things like buy dream pickups and it was a good time. Minus all the people. Holy hannah, it was packed. We were shoving through crowds like nobody's business and I just did not like that so much. 

When we finally sat down in the grandstands we settled in for a long show. It was fun, but definitely made more exciting by the boy sitting next to Kolton. Man, he was excited to be there. He was on his feet yelling and screaming and cheering and was so funny to watch. 

The derby was a little long again, but we had a nice time visiting with Shively's and just getting out of the combine, because it had been a while since Kolton had done anything so crazy as that. 

While we were at the derby Hansen's were able to finish up the grain harvest and it was just a real good day.