Foreign Language Week 2012

You're Connected......Now Communicate

Unintentionally, I don't write much about my job outside of my family. Today I will!

I am passionate about education and teaching students about different languages & cultures around the world. I love to see students make connections and see the world differently. I love to hear them communicate with each other using words and phrases foreign to them in their upbringing. I LOVE German!

Foreign Language Week was a blast and busy-busy-busy. During lunches, we had face painting- our honors art students painted the flags and countries from where our students come, a chopsticks and rice eating contest, soccer, and some other German and French games. The students enjoyed the Foreign Film Festival (where we watched the top German, French and Spanish movies made by students) and a Cultural Quiz Game Show.

On Friday, we had our assembly. I was in charge of it and was stressed out completely. Only 4 of my 11 numbers had come to the Thursday dress rehearsal and only a few more were there the morning of the assembly. Nobody canceled but several dancers bailed last minute.

My two MCs: Tanner and AJ

TWo of the choirs sang songs from Slavokia and another in Swahili (African)

Beautiful Dancing from Tahiti

Spain's Paso Doble

Incredible!

A Celtic Irish Dance: Stunning!

Native American Hoop Dance

Spectacular!

Tikwando from Korea

Hip Hop: America's Contribution to our World Culture!

The Finale: Several of our faculty coming out and singing "We Are The World" with images of people and places around the world. The choirs joined in and the audience did too.





What an incredible experience to be part of the greatest student body and tradition. I love where I teach. I really do!

Happy 40th Birthday Dave!

Figuring out what Dave wanted to do for his 40th celebration was a bit like figuring out what to do about the Middle Eastern crisis: just TELL me what you really want!

On Dave's birthday, we went out to lunch with Nate, Meredith, Yolanda and Dana at a little BBQ dive in Orem that was fabulous! Later that day, I made a special dinner consisting of crab-stuffed salmon, asparagus and yummy rice with peas. We made a white cake and topped it off with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for the birthday cake! Taylor was at a late play practice so the little ones sang and shared their birthday wishes for their daddy.

On Friday night, we drove with the Hults to SLC and ate at Flemings. It was seriously the most scrumptious food on the planet for me. On our way home, we laughed harder than I think we ever have. Thanks Meres and Nate for an unforgettable evening. We loved it.

On Saturday, I worked my heart out for a little "surprise" party for Dave with his family and friends. So many people came over to celebrate Dave's life and I am very appreciative for that gesture. Here are some pictures from the night:

FORTY THINGS I LOVE ABOUT DAVE

1. I love your smile: it is to die for!
2. I love how kind you are to others. It was one of the things which made me fall for you in the first place.
3. I love the way you snuggle with Alyssa (and our other kids as infants and toddlers) in the morning. It makes my heart still swell.
4. I love the vision you have for our family and our marriage.
5. I love how you treat me. You always make me feel like a million bucks.
6. I love when you send me messages about how much you love me. They make my day.
7. I love to see you work with the kids on projects, teaching them how to do things.
8. I love the excitement your presence brings our family when you walk through the door at night!
9. I love that you desire to know your Savior so much and study about him in the scriptures.
10. I love how you don't get mad at me when I am part of something breaking or breaking down.
11. I love how you never yell at me.
12. I love the smell of your clean skin.
13. I love it when you take time to read to the kids.
14. I love when you reach out for my hand when we are together.
15. I love to go out on dates with you; with you, it's always the best time ever!
16. I love how much FUN you are! It is always a great time when you are around.
17. I love your laugh! It is so invigorating and happy. It always brings a smile to my face.
18. I love how you support me with the dreams I have for myself. You make me feel like the smartest, most talented person in the world.
19. I love how tender you are with our daughters. They are so close to you.
20. I love that you know how to "handle" me! You are so good roping me in when I need to be roped in.
21. I love the way you kiss: best kisser on the entire freakin' planet!
22. I love that you are low-maintenance. You are quite easy-going.
23. I love your ability to forgive others. You really do magnify that quality of Christ.
24. I love your ability to see the best in other people! You are not quick to judge and are not critical.
25. I love how accepting you are of others. You elevate people's lives.
26. I love how hard working you are! You work so hard to be the best provider for us and this does not go unnoticed.
27. I love what a good friend you are to me and others. People are drawn to you for your many qualities and talents.
28. I love your ability to envision and execute your visions! During our 12 years, you have built incredible decks, water features, shelving, planter boxes, and so on. You are so amazing.
29. I love to see you rock out to your favorite music. You've got moves! :)
30. I love how much you love your mother. What a great example for our sons and daughters.
31. I love the way you lead our family prayer and the tradition you have created where, at the end of prayer, we have a huge family hug and say, "I love you" countless times to each other in our embrace.
32. I love all of the "stuff" with you: WOW!
33. I love your drive to complete not one, but two college degrees! That took dedication that not many will ever understand and yet you did it. Twice.
34. I love how much you respect my thoughts and opinions.
35. I love how patient you are with me and our children (well, sometimes with our children, but always with me!)
36. I love how the kids and I are the most important things to you in the world. You show us that through your words and actions.
37. I love the beautiful blessings you have given our children at their blessings and now confirmations as they are getting baptized.
38. I love your zest for life! It is contagious and real!
39. I love that you love to travel and discover new places.
and......
40. I LOVE that we are sealed together, forever.

Happy Birthday Dave!
I love you so much.

Fun Friday Family Night! Games and Pizza with Poppie and Grandma Barbie!

Each weekend, we try to choose a night to get out as a couple for a date and to dedicate one night to the needs or desires of our children. Some weekend nights, we let a lot of friends come over for a late night with the kids. Other times, we go out for a treat. And now, most every Friday night seems to contain our new-found love: board games!

This has been a dream of mine! I LOVE card games and board games. I grew up in a home where we loved to play and played with our cousins. We still do. Board games have been difficult to play in our family because we have constantly had little kids who grabbed and lost the pieces, ruined our boards during play and simply screamed when they weren't allowed on our laps, table or to touch. So we have hardly played. But that has changed now.

Right before Christmas, I had a feeling that Santa and our cousins might just be giving us a lot of fun board games so I went through our existing ones and threw out far too many because of missing pieces and boxes damaged so bad. I vowed to myself that with all new games, I would act as the "board game Nazi", meaning that children wouldn't be allowed to take down the games and play them without my supervision. Even though that doesn't seem fun, having our games in tact with a parent who is completely focused on the kids and creating a fun moment.

So here is my post about our past Fun Friday Family Night! We took pizza over to the grandparents and had a great feast of pizza and salad. Then the games began. Poppie really got into them. The younger kids loved playing their favorites with their grandparents (Hi Ho Cherry-o, Sorry, Candyland)while the older children played LIFE with dad on Poppie and Grandma's bed!

Hurray for Fun Friday Family Night!

President's Day Weekend 2012

Our three-day weekend was full of little experiences and outings here and there.

Austin (the bread hater) was all stressed out when his school had a "Sweet Rolls for Sweet Moms" because he just hates all bread-related food products. So I told him we would have a "Mom and McDonalds" instead. It was fun. Here is a picture of him climbing the wall!

Despite our many (and now-expensive) trips to the ER since October, we have been overall very healthy this past winter as a family. What a blessing! Having said that, Jaxson was quite fevered over the weekend and by Saturday, I just knew he had strep throat. When we went in to the doctor's office, Alyssa put on her best face for the doctor and kept cracking him up. ps- and yes, Jax did have strep.....

What I have learned from YOUTUBE

Hair braiding. Yes, I now watch youtube to find out how to create pretty hair. Here are a few things I learned how to do and how they turned out on my Taylor:

Water, anyone?
(Taylor, practicing having her own restaurant)

Happy Birthday to my brother, Jeff!

We invited Jeff and his awesome wife, Nicole, over a few days after his birthday for a BBQ (yes, in February) and some yummy dessert. The kids love their uncle and aunt. Nicole was especially gracious to allow Alyssa to put lip gloss all over her lips, face and eyes.

I Love This Country!

The three Kindergarteners at Ms. Julie's House!

Austin has the BEST Kindergarten teacher this year. Each week, she chooses a different theme for the students and packs it with poetry, activities, reading and math which relates to the theme. On the week of President's Day, Austin was able to learn about many of our presidents, dye a patriotic shirt and celebrate the great USA!

Valentine's Day: Lindsay Style!

I have such a soft spot for Valentine's Day because I love creating small traditions and memories for our family. On the 13th, I came home to a surprise from my husband: roses! I love getting flowers (but not too often because I'm a cheap-o) and so it meant a lot to me that he had thought of me that day.
On the morning of the 14th, the kids burst out of their rooms looking for the "heart attack" all over their bedroom doors! I love to make a big heart for each child where I write the words which remind me of why I love them. Last year, I taped their favorite treat all over the hearts. This year, I made super small bags of candy filled with a few Valentine sweets for my sweeties.
Since the restaurants are packed on the day of love, we invited several people from our neighborhood as well as Dale and Barbara to come over to our house for a few hours of food, games and laughter while all of our children went to another house with a babysitter loaded with party food and activities. It was a hit! But how could we miss, with such awesome people?