Tae Bo and Loving it!

The secret to how I managed to get back into my Wranglers. When teaching gym I started a morning program with my kids. They could come in twice a week and workout with me. As one of the perks to doing that we did different activities than we did in class. One of these activities was tae bo for kids. They loved it so I ended up using it in class too. Well, I loved it also. I continued using 2 or 3 times a week. What a difference. I just went out and bought a second DVD, it's his favorite moves. I had so much fun working out this morning. You can find them at you local department stores. The best part is I can do it at home where nobody sees, very little space needed, but everybody notices the results.

Back in the Saddle

Okay, not really in the saddle but it does kind of fit with what comes next...I promise.

Do you remember those favorite jeans that you hold onto because you just know someday you'll fit in them again? Yes? Well, I have held onto 2 pairs of my Wranglers (since 2003) just hoping that one day I really could say that I fit back into them.

Today is the day! I'm back in my Wranglers! They are still a tad bit tighter than I like but I can zip and button them without doing the pants dance :)~

Please pass the bacon...

In my math class we play a game that involves 8 pigs.



You roll them similar to dice and then depending on how they land you count the points. The kids love the game and always ask if they can play the piggy game when they have free time. It is one I also enjoy playing with them. When you walk into the classroom you may wonder what's happening because it's common to hear, "Pass the bacon." "Hand over the ham," "Bacon, bacon, bacon," or "Give me the pork chops." Can you tell that it is a bunch of boys?

So, you ask how can you score a game where you roll 8 pigs. Here's how it works...

A Bum Pig is one that leans against another pig and sits on it rear. These pigs don't occur very often and are worth 20 points. The kids love when this happens and they tend to call it a butter.


Chinny Chin Chin is a pig that lands chin and nose down. Again not so common so it is also worth 20 points. In the case that a student gets one of these and a few time multiple ones they usually yell "Not by my chinny, chin, chin." Then they also feel the need to let me know, no matter what I am doing at the time.


Four on the floor is the pig that lands standing. These are seen more often and are worth 10 points.


Side slabs are the most common so they are only worth 2. I call them side slabs because the kids always say that the person rolled a bunch of dead pigs. Again, can you tell it's a group of boys?


Piggy back is the last type of roll. This pig is worth 5 points and again the boys refer to it as a really dead pig.

Whoever said you can't have fun with a bunch of pigs? I don't know, maybe it's because I grew up on a farm but at least these are cute, little plastic pigs that don't smell. They are cheap entertainment and if you didn't know, teachers are really into cheap entertainment.

Winter Wonderland

Here is a picture of the winter wonderland outside of the window at my work. It inspired a fun activity for my kids. They were working on spelling, so after the jumping, the writing repetitions, the vocab, and the general filling out of worksheets I handed each one a large marker. Then we preceded to bundle up (let me rephrase that), the kids bundled up. Off we treked to the great outdoors...cold outdoors. They used their markers to practice writing their spelling words in the snow. They loved it and it gave me a great chance to see if they really did learn the words without having it right there to copy. It also gave me a chance to enjoy the beauty of the snow and gorgeous weather we were having.

More pictures to come when I have a chance to be at home more than a few hours where sleeping isn't the #1 priority.

Picture It...w/o pictures

The scene:
Sitting at Cameron's computer, washer and dryer going through their cycles behind me, snow falling outside, sipping hot cider (well, I can dream, it's actually Air Bourne), and catching up on old, current, and new friends. Did I mention I'm in my pjs (no, Cameron is not here, he's in Cheyenne)?

The happenings (as Mandi put so well):
~I'm working on discovering all of my allergies. Since moving to Whitefish/Kalispell I have learned of a few new ones and continue to experience the olds ones to a new level. One of the new ones is a cat at a house where I stay when the weather is bad and I can't get back to my apartment in Kalispell.

~Cory and Kim are coming up to visit and enjoy the ski hill on New Year's Eve! I am so excited to see friends from Great Falls. I think Cory was a little blown away by how excited I was when he called to ask. For future reference, any friends wanting to use my place as a free place to stay when skiing, don't hesitate to ask. I'm about 24 miles from the mountain. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to visit Great Falls since I moved. I'm hoping I might be able to for Spring Break.

~Genna's cyst burst and wasn't cancerous, PRAISE THE LORD! Although she experienced some pain when it occured she is feeling better and will get to spend the holidays and her 21st birthday with Mama. Troy is still in Iraq gaining some "On the job training" for the position he is cross-training to.

~Being the crazy person that I am, thinking that not enough of my time is taken, I'm going back to school. I will start the last weekend of January. It works similar to my Masters program and happens on Friday night and most of the day Saturdays. This one being a little bit different though because it's not one weekend a month the whole time. It actually works so that I go one weekend in Jan. and Mar., then every weekend in Feb. and April. I am going for my Special Ed endorsement.

~Do you remember back to where I had you picture the screaming and rapidly beating heart. Well the "Please don't do it" is coming true. Again, (sorry Mandi) you'll have to ask for an e-mail if you want more details.

~Song of Joy! I get to be in a choir again! It has been about 3 years since I've been able to sing in a choir. We are singing at church this Sunday. I'm so excited to spread the news of Jesus' birth through music.

~A laughable moment with one of my students. We gave our students a handmade card, snowman soup, and peanuts for Christmas. One of them said his thanks and I told him not to let it get out that I'm nice. Most students promptly reply with, "Don't worry I'll tell everybody." This student, quickly without hesitation replied, "They wouldn't believe me if I did." I was laughing so hard, as were the other students and the other paras. These moments are why it doesn't matter that I'm in a non-money making job.

~Wishing you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a BLESSED NEW YEAR!