Art Festival

 The Art Festival is always a summertime favorite. (and the BEST people watching ever!)

Next to people watching ... the food.  It doesn't quite compare to derby food (no deep fried PB&J's) but it is right up there.

 See how much fun Kim is having!

 Festival backdrop. 

Sarah Z. She is one of the coolest people I know.  So glad we finally became friends. 

My 3 Days of Summer

 In-between terms I had 3 days of summer vacation.  I had to make the very most of it.  Thank goodness I had my sister in town to play along with me.  Here are my three days of summer: 

Pete, Em, and I hiked the Y.  I haven't done that since I was in college.  Great Saturday morning!  

 We live in such a beautiful valley!

 Kennecott Copper Mine with the kids.  

This was a first for me.  Did you know you can see the mine pit from the moon!?!

 You didn't think I would not do a project on my summer break. (everyone does projects on their break ... right?)

Before

After

I washed my car, watched movies, had some real pool time, and did some crafting with my sisters.

I believe it was a very productive summer break ... all three days of it.

Back to school I go!

Friday Photo

Need I say more!?!


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Friday Photo

Who says studying has to be done in the library!


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Ready, Set, GO!!!

 Yeah, I know, one year ago I was swearing up and down that I would NEVER do this again!  But then my competitive side took over and convinced me that I needed to run the Utah Valley Half Marathon again.  Why? ... try and do a little better on my time and have a race that I didn't want to die doing.  I signed up WAY early.  (I need the motivation of a race to make me train).  I will admit that I have been very glad to have the excuse of this race to go running.  It has been a bit of a stressful (to say the least) couple of months.  I actually got to where I liked running and was glad to have the stress relief it provided.

 Em, Gavin and Josh all signed up too.  It was so nice to have Josh to train with.  I love running at night but don't often do it (not very wise for a girl to run alone at night). It's much more fun to have people at the starting line ... and finish line!

It was a beautiful day for a race! Pete met me at mile 10 and ran the last 3 with me.  I am pretty sure I would have laid down and still be in the gutter on University Ave if he would not have been there prodding me along.  I definitely did better because he was running with me, he was a great motivator!  I felt much better than I did last year.  I shaved 5 minutes off my time.  So all and all I had a successful race. 

I won't swear off doing another one ... but I am not totally committing either.

Friday Photo

Kennecott copper mine.


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Change Is Hard

After 10 years of teaching I am saying goodbye.  1 year elementary, 9 years high school.  I am an art teacher -- that is who I have been!  I love my job! I love my school!  I love my classroom!  I love my people!  I have had the privilege of working at the greatest school.

In October my sabbatical was approved.  In February I was accepted into the grad program at BYU, In April I was awarded the "golden child." Word started to get out to the students in the spring.

This came as no surprise.  I had lots of time to prep myself.  It didn't make it any easier.  I knew packing my classroom and saying goodbye was going to be the  hardest change of all.   

My classroom has been like my own little studio.  

I am pretty sure I have had a dream job!

 I loved bringing my friends and family to my classroom to make stuff.  

It became a little tradition with my nieces and nephews.  

 It turns out that Kimi D. is a natural!  

"You really want to give all this up?" she asked me.

No, yes, I think so, I don't know!

 I have spent more hours of my life the last 9 years in this classroom than at home. 

I always loved the way my classroom felt.  I hope that my students did too. I am having a hard time imagining not being in my classroom every day. 

How lucky I am to have spent 10 years being a teacher at an amazing school.  I have made lifelong friends who have influenced me for good.  I am so grateful for that.  I hope that the mark that I have left on my school, students, and coworkers is a positive one. 

Change is good ... right?