Influences

This week I've been thinking about the people who had an influence in my life when I was little (like birth through elementary school). I think back and I was surrounded by good people who wanted to build me and help me become a better person. As I pondered on these people, I realized just how much of who I am stems from how I was treated by them. I am so grateful that I was born into my world with my people. So, here is a list of the people and places that have influenced my life, in no particular order:

1.  My parents, Ted and Carol Erikson. They are good people who have worked hard their whole lives and never complained about it. I really credit my "Pollyanna"ish attitude to them. My house was a happy one with happy people. They helped me learn the value of work and I've never been afraid of working. They also quietly taught me that I can do anything but never pushed me into anything. They let me experience the consequences of my choices - good and bad. I could go on and on but this would be WAY too long.

2.  My grandparents, George and Gloy Messick and Bob and Elma Erikson. I LOVED them. I LOVED to be with them. I LOVED to talk with them. My Grandpa Messick worked a million jobs while I was little. However, he didn't complain. He just slept when he could. I loved working with him. I learned that work can be very difficult yet fun with him. Grandma Messick taught me pull taffy (which I could still do if I wanted) and to quilt (which I could also do if I needed to). My Grandpa and Grandma Erikson loved me. I knew it and I always felt very safe there. That is how all children should feel by their grandparents and mine will because of them.

3.  Rexburg, Idaho. Rexburg was a safe place for me. I walked with my aunts to town to buy candy at V1 so often. I sat on the edge of the window and held on as my mom drove from my grandparents' houses to ours. We rode our bikes to school, once a year, without an adult. We walked to Primary through Porter Park. We played in our front yard as kids on Highway 33. NEVER did I feel unsafe. Rexburg was just a good place. People watched out for you too. Like one day when I left school, at lunch, and walked next door to Arctic Circle and one of my grandma's friends saw me and then later told my mom. I knew people were watching me so I tried to make good choices.

4.  My teachers. I LOVED Washington Elementary. I'm a teacher because of my teachers - well not all of them. But, they all made me feel that school was a good place. Never did I want to stay home from school. I LOVED Miss Jones. She taught me Spanish and the Ukelele and challenged me to write to a million, which is a lot of numbers. Mrs. Hill, my very favorite teacher in the whole world, made me love reading. Not, that I enjoyed it through high school when I was forced to read certain books, but the kind of reading you do for fun on a squishy pillow in the reading corner. She is the main reason I teach. I thanked her for her influence about four months ago. She didn't remember me so much but I remember her positively and that is all that matters.

5.  My good friends - Kristy Siepert, Shannon Hardy, Marilyn and Marlene Erikson, Ruby Ward, Lucy Barzee, Jenny Williams, Cindy Westwood, Hiedi Sullivan and Connie Ricks. We had so much fun together. It was all good fun. All but one of us lived in the same Ward. I guess you could say we did everything together - school and church. I bet my parents never worried about me when I was with them because we were all just good. We influenced each other to be that way. That's what good friends are for. I still love them all even though I have lost contact with most - outside of Facebook.

6.  My mom's Ladies. My mom is a beautician with a shop in her house. Each week the same ladies came to get their hair done. They were like grandmas to me. Many have passed on but even when I was older I found myself drawn into mom's shop to sit with them and talk. I remember several of them cuddling me in their arms while they sat under the dryer chair or letting me read a book to them while their perms were processing. Sometimes they'd even bring me little Christmas gifts. They probably loved me (and my sisters) as much as I loved them and I bet they didn't know how much a part of my life they were. I couldn't wait for Fridays and Saturdays to see Ila McBride, Gen Smith, Doralee Thomason, Sister Bills (a teacher that let me check papers on the floor while her hair dried), Carma Ricks, Ardella Freeman, Aunt Mae and Aunt Blanche, and so many more. They were so good to my mom, too. Not all her ladies were, but these ladies were.

7.  My sisters - Wendy, Cristy, and Vicki. I LOVE them. They are my best friends and that's the way sisters should be. I loved playing house, school, and barbies with them when I was little. Before all of us became teenagers, I don't think we fought much. We were just good friends and accepted each other as we were. I just remember liking to be with them and never feeling lonely. They are all good women and mommies now. 

I wish that all children could experience my childhood. And as a child, I thought they did. But, unfortunately, I now know that they don't. I've been so saddened to learn of  the environments that my students come from. I try very hard to be positive in EVERY situation in my classroom because I am sure that there is someone in my room who does not feel safe, comfortable, and loved when they leave school. I hope that I am and want to be an influence in their lives like all those people were in mine.

Life is Good - and I am SO blessed.

I Love Christmas

This year I took a different approach to the decorations at our house. I did it in stages over a 5 day period. It was so much less stressful. One day was the tree. One day putting on decorations. Another day the wreaths and garland. Then the next two days were spent spreading out all the rest of the stuff. I had plenty of time to think things through. It looks so much more festive. I'll try to do it that way again next year.

We decorated gingerbread men for the tree. That was going to be a lot of fun until everyone had A LOT of homework that made it impossible for them to decorate with me. I ran out of ideas very quickly but managed to decorate about 30 various sized men. They look cute on the tree. Maybe next year someone will be available to join in the fun.

While we were at Thanksgiving, Trent's mom and dad gave us all an early Christmas gift. We received a Temple Square Christmas Village. It is beautiful! Adri and I had seen it in a magazine and loved it. We wanted it but figured this wasn't the time of my life to purchase it. And then, our wishes came true and we now have one next to the tree. LOVE it!!!! Thanks Mom and DAD.

Tomorrow I begin teaching origami to 28 second graders. I'd better get to bed. I'm going to need my patience.





Life is Good.

Why I Love it So

This week, in school, I have been giving a math test to each student. It is an interesting test that is supposed to tell us how students will perform in math in the coming years. It requires students to think beyond what they have been taught and use strategies to solve various types of problems. Most of the questions are difficult for the students but with some thought, many of them come up with the correct answer. The test can be administered by aides or by the teacher. Since I currently have a "Teacher-Candidate" (as BYU-I calls them) I have been able to give the test. It is one on one and takes about 15 minutes per student. I have learned so much by watching them test.

Two particular questions have stumped most of the students. (Since it is a state test I would NEVER use the actual problems, so the numbers have been changed to protect the identity of the original numbers.) So one problem went like this: "Are both sides equal?" and the problem looked like this 44+35=43+36. Most of the students said, "No!" One student said, "Mrs. Grant, I don't even know what the heck the word equals means!" I just laughed and laughed. Another problem was "What should I add to the blank so that each side has the same amount?" It looked like this 23+4=___+5. One of the students thought about the problem FOREVER. Then she answered "Well it has to be 27 and that 5 is just WEIRD!" Again I laughed and laughed. I love these kids.

Teaching about the equal sign is so important. We'll start that when I begin teaching again.

Life is Good - especially in this 2nd grade room.

Chicago - Yes Again!

Now you may think, "Didn't you just post about Chicago last November?" and I will answer, "Yes I did." And again, Trent and I have gone to Chicago. Actually we went in October but it has taken me this long to remember my username and password to blog about it. Trent and I had a marvelous time. If you haven't been to Chicago just for fun then you oughta go. It is a great place.

We just happened to land on a very rainy day. We took the "L" into the city and luck would have it that one of the stops on our line was having a fire and so we had to transfer. We opted to take a bus to another line. The bus was so crowded and I don't think anyone was appreciating our luggage. Forever long later and a million conversations in foreign languages overheard, we arrived at the Red Line and got to our hotel. It was a perfect location.

For two days the weather was horrid. Winds were so strong that boats in the harbors were dashed to bits, skycrapers were closed, trees were knocked down, streets were closed, and people were asked to stay inside. We couldn't stay inside so we made the best of it by going to the Broadway production of Mary Poppins and The Blue Man Group. They were both AWESOME!!!! I could totally get hooked on Broadway shows.

Trent then had two days of a conference and I was left alone to fend for myself. I survived and learned to read a bus schedule and train route. I took a lot of pictures and did a lot of window shopping. I touched my first $600+ pair of shoes (purple Kate Spade) and looked at my first $2300 pair of shoes. I bought neither. I moseyed on over to Payless and bought a more comfy pair of shoes than the ones I was wearing. I also walked into hair salon and got my hair cut because I was having a bad hair day. And finally, I took a kayaking architectural tour.

As always, I was ready to come back but Trent wasn't. So, the offer is open - Anyone want to go with him? He'll leave tomorrow.

Making the most of a yucky day at the Picaso.

Normally the waves don't crash over the breakers. This was after the terrible storm.

Looking toward the northeast from the Willis Tower Observation Deck.

Trent demonstrating how cold it is out at Navy Pier.

Me - freezing. Stopped to buy gloves earlier. Sweatshirt right after.

Looking straight down from the Willis Tower. Kinda freaky!

This is one of my favorite shots of Chicago - from Millennium Park.

I can't even explain this. 108 headless giants walking. Hmm?

Famous Chicago Theater sign. Love this theater district.

The Bean or Cloud Gate , as it is officially named. LOVED IT!!! Lots of smiles here.

These are some pictures from my kayaking trip. The water was disgusting. Thank goodness there was no possibility of falling out. I bet just touching that water could cause cancer or burn your skin off.

This is Trent's dream home. He'd love to live in one of these.

This was the largest barge I have ever seen. It was making its way to the Mississippi.

Isn't that a lovely view. Never see that while kayaking our rivers.

Two sand barges being pushed along by the tug. We had to wait for it. Very SLOW!

My guide. He kayaks everyday all year long. Jealous? Sorta.

I love this building. It is curved just like the river.

If I put every picture in that I took then this blog would be so long. I had such a good time with Trent. I'm glad he shares his love of this city with me. Thanks Buddy!

Life is Good - even in Chicago.

Harvest Creations

Harvest break and and inch of snow on the ground has made me feel crafty. Actually, the craftiness was brought on by a desire to cover the windows so I didn't have to look out at the snow. I miss the 80 degree weather we had last week. I couldn't think of anything socially acceptable for covering windows so I decided that small decorations would have to do. While the girls cooked spudnuts (Idaho donuts) with the cousins and Grandma I made a wreath, ghosts, and bows for the neices' hair. Good times.

These ghosts are made out of a styrofoam cone, gauze, and added gadgets. I think the skinny one needs a mouth. I'll do that tonight.

Turn sideways to get the correct view. My neices and nephews helped design it. We had a great time. And it looks very Halloweeny.

Life is Good  - and a craft day here and there is kinda fun.

Time with the Girls

As I continue my catching up posts, I throw this one in, messing up the order of things, because we had such a good time. One nice thing about Harvest Break is that we all seem to be under the weather with some kind of crud that we got from school. The two week break gives us a chance to get over it all. Since no one was feeling great, and it was rainy, we spent time in the kitchen together. McKenna needed a salad for a team dinner, Katy needed cookies for her soccer game, and we just happened to have pink cupcakes that needed frosted. We laughed and talked and had a marvelous time. We'd do it again, except, we really don't need that much junk food around. Today has brought more rain and will bring more time together and so more fun, fun, fun.

Aren't these cute? 

Pink frosting, pink mint wafers (Pepto tablets would have worked even better but didn't seem right), smushed strawberry Starburts, and black frosting were all that was needed. We tried different tails but couldn't make it look right.

I also wanted to post THE BEST chocolate cookie recipe ever. My friend, Toni, gave me this recipe. It was her mom's recipe and she had gotten it from the Parker School cafeteria. We LOVE it. They stay soft and are even wonderful right out of the freezer. Try them and let me know what you think.

GRANDMA BONNIE HAWKES' FAMOUS YUMMY COOKIES

4 cups DARK brown sugar (must be dark)

1 1/4 cups butter (don't use margarine)

6 eggs

6 cups flour (I usually have to add 1/2 to 3/4 cups more)

1 tsp salt

2 tsp soda

3 tsp vanilla

coconut (I use about 1 cup)

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I use the whole package. The more chocolate, the better.)

Cream sugar and butter. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to sugar mix. Add coconut and chocolate chips. Bake 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

Life is Good - and kitchens are a great place to build memories.

Family Kayaking Day

Now that school has started, I'm so behind on my blogging. During this Harvest Break I'm going to get caught up on many things - blogging, cleaning, and playing. First up. Family Kayak Day. After I took my friends with me one day, they decided that we should all go again but with our families. So we did. And we had a blast. A couple of mishaps, a cave exploration, dead deer carcasses, and delicious food just added to the fun. This could become an annual tradition. I hope it does.

Twelve kayakers and one rafter made their way down the Warm River run toward Ashton. Most had never kayaked before and survived. Poor Shaunna was suffering from a very freaky bruise that had taken a horrible turn needing a constant wound pump. Not wanting to be left behind, we fitted her with a raft that worked perfectly. 

The three big boys all tough and stuff. Big Dakota fell out many times and then was very exhausted for football practice after. It was worth it though.

Taking a break to dump the kayaks after going through the rapids. This is also a great place to take a swim in the water or climb some rocks.

Karen Ili and Lia. Karen purchased two kayaks this year and went a million times. So glad. I always need more kayaking buddies.

 My buddy Shaunna in her comfy raft. She got pretty good at the paddles. Next year, for sure, she'll be taking the a kayak.

Life is Good - Good friends make it even better.