The New Do

For my birthday, Baker gave me a gift certificate to visit her hairstylist (a hint maybe?) I've been getting my hair cut at dollar places and I haven't been pleased. So today I decided to put my certificate to work and get some work done by a professional in a real salon. This is the first hair cut I've liked since I decided to go short, and I've had three or four.

Now if you'll excuse me, me and my sexy new self are going to dinner and mini-golf with a stranger.

Birthday Boy

I want to wish Justin a happy birthday today! He's a great person with so much to offer. Let me list some of the things I like most about Justin...

1. He's passionate about the things he talks about whether it's sports, legal stuff, religion, etc. I admire his passion for things.

2. He's easy to talk to. Sometimes I wonder how much he actually listens to me since I tend to ramble sometimes; but listening or not he's easy to talk to because he doesn't jump to conclusions or pick sides. I can say the kinds of things that I might not feel comfortable saying to other people. Example: if we're debating an issue and we disagree, I feel like I can be as bold and blunt as I want because he listens to me and doesn't take offense easily.

3. Justin is really good at listening to both sides. He definitely has his opinions and so do I, but instead of getting into a huge debate we listen to each others' arguments and take them for what they're worth. There might not be any convincing each other, but we listen to each other.

4. He's an incredible dad. His boys' eyes light up when he walks in the room. He wrestles with them, bathes them, reads them stories and I really admire him as a father. I hope I can marry a man who will father my children as well as he fathers his own.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN!

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to wish Dad a Happy Father's Day!

Birthday Girl

Happy birthday to my dear older sister. I think it's weird that I am old enough to have a sister that is twenty five years old! She's a fabulous person and although we had our arguments growing up, we get along quite swell now. On this day, I would like to share with her some of the memories I have of her past birthdays.

1. Kim had the chicken pox on her birthday one year. It was so sad. It didn't matter what present she opened next because she still felt miserable.

2. Once Kim opened all of her birthday presents, my birthday list was complete. I always wanted whatever she got and since my birthday was a little over a month later, I never had to wait long to mimic her little girl desires. (ex. She asked for Moon Shoes one year so I did, too. She asked for Whoppers on just about every birthday and even though I didn't like them that much, I asked for them too because she did.)

3. She got to celebrate her birthday alone last year since Chris was worried about which end to stick over the toilet. And because a good number of us had been flattened with a case of salmonella she didn't have anyone else to celebrate with.

And that's all I got. Thanks, Kim for being so great! I hope you had a wonderful birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIM!

Dad's Birthday

Happy birthday to my wonderful dad! He has taught me much over the years. Lots of the things I have learned from him come from the mistakes I've made and the lessons he's pointed out.

Here's a list of random tidbits about Dad:

1. He's quick with advice and knowledgeable about life.

2. He can help ease the pains a broken heart suffers.

3. He makes the most delicious chocolate cake I've ever had.

4. He grills a tenderloin steak better than any steak house I've attended.

5. Dad can do an amazing "Whoo-pa!" on the trampoline.

6. Dad has a fear of lightning.

7. He loves being the caretaker of his yard.

8. When he genuinely laughs at something, his whole face lights up and his eyes actually glow.

9. Dad prefers dark chocolate.

10. Dad will never go to Disneyland/world again.

This is the man who loves me unconditionally and who is unconditionally loved by me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

Twin Birthdays

Taylor and Braxton two years ago

Today was Taylor's and Braxton's 2nd birthday. They have recently relocated to the Salt Lake area which is quite nice because then I get to see them more often. We celebrated their lives with a BBQ and playing around in the grass. I think the boys were officially worn out by the time everyone left.

Braxton is very ticklish and if you catch him at the right moment, this kid will let you tickle him and play with him for quite a while. But this one is also very independent and if he doesn't want to play with you, he will for sure let you know. When this one allows it, I love tickling his little collar bones and tossing him in the air.

Taylor loves having a play mate and since I will do just about anything with him, he is no longer afraid of me! When they still live in Spokane, I used to have to reacquaint myself with him every day so that he would play with me. Luckily, that is no longer the case. My head is huge when I say goodbye to him because he laughs at just about everything I do.

Taylor and Braxton now

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR AND BRAXTON!

Hamilton's Fraser High School

Welcome to Hamilton's Fraser High School



The Main Office



It is compulsory for the students at Fraser High to wear uniforms-I am glad I didn't ever
attend a school with uniforms.

I have included some pictures of the whole school, but in reality I spent all of my time in the PE Department staff room, on the turf or fields, and in the gyms. I went to the main staff room most mornings for Staff Briefing but I really didn't experience a whole lot of the school until I wandered around a took pictures during my last week.

I think this is one of the math buildings. I think they have tried to categorize the buildings and put all of the math in one area and all of the science in another, etc.

Quad/Patio area where the students sat for lunch and during morning tea



And now on to my little world



The facilities here are amazing! They have four gyms (one complete with a rock climbing wall and equipment for gymnastics i.e. mini trampolines, mats, climbing ropes, etc.)



The school has two huge fields for the students to use



This is just one of them

There is also a large, fenced in turf the students use for field hockey, touch, netball, and tennis



This is where I spent all of my time (when I wasn't in class)



There are desks and drawers that go all around the room and each staff member has their own little space. The PE department staff is made up of twelve teachers and they were all fabulous to work with.

This is who is spent all of time my with (when I wasn't in class)

Candace Barker

Candace started teaching at Fraser about a year ago. She was always so nice and easy to talk to. She always asked me what my plans were for the weekend, remembered them, and asked me how they went the following Monday.

Michelle Tupper

Don't let this picture fool you. Michelle is actually 6'5" and solidly built. She moved to New Zealand from South Africa a while ago and is currently an official New Zealand citizen. She's a wicked netball player and prides herself in connecting with her students. Once she found out I was Mormon she tried to tone down her strong choice of words. I appreciated her efforts even though it only lasted for a day or so. Her intentions were thoughtful...

Keryn Barr

Keryn introduced me to Outdoor Education. She did a great job with showing me the ropes of the program and answering my questions. She's traveled all over the world (and when I say all over I mean all over, with the exception of the US and South America). She grew up in Hamilton and actually attended Fraser High. She's planning a trip to the US in the next year or so and I am hoping she will stop through wherever I am to see me.

Emma Grogan

Emma and I worked together in Sports Science. She gave me incredible feedback and was so willing to adapt her plans to help me out. She grew up in Christchurch and moved to Hamilton for a job. She started at Fraser as a reliever and eventually landed a full time position. As a going away present, she passed on the most awesome Baby Teacher/Reliever Survival Kit that was given to her when she started teaching. She was a great reference.

I really enjoyed my time at Fraser and I really enjoyed working with these people. We're having a little party tomorrow and it will be pretty difficult to say goodbye. I didn't mesh well with any of the teachers in Logan so saying goodbye wasn't difficult at all; it was more like saying good riddance. But this. This one will not be easy...