Aloha in my dreams.

I am wishing I was in Hawaii, or even that I had a tan like I'd been in Hawaii - thus this post shall be forever known as 'Aloha'.
You know, I forget that I even have a blog and then I read some of the posts (from months ago) and realize that I kind of have a boring life! Here is what it consists of:
 - get up
- get ready and go to work
- teach (which I absolutely love - I'll share some funny stories later)
- plan for teaching
- eat some food
- plan for teaching some more
- take Stanley for a walk (all while trying to stay upright on the very slippery roads because there are no sidewalks!)
- visit with Brento
- do some marking (while watching my shows)
- go to bed
REPEAT

hmmm. I love my life, and I'm not being sarcastic.

On Thursday this week, I had my 21 darling students working on some social notes, which are not my favorite (because it's boring for me waiting for them to write) and I think we all know it's not their favorite thing either, but sometimes a necessary evil. Anyway, we were all a little spent after a gruelling week of academia and we were having a blast. One of my gems, O, (who will probably host a comedy talk show one day because he is beyond funny) asked me if I like my job. Well, let me tell you it took me but a second to respond. I LOVE my job. I get the opportunity to work with young minds and spirits and they truly are amazing! Honestly, the things they think, they way they learn, the kindness they show, the youth and energy they share is so rewarding. Getting a paycheque at the end of the month is a bonus. I am constantly in awe at the compassion and concern they show as we discuss current events happening in the world and within our own community. Really, who else, but a teacher, gets to talk about everything under the sun on any given day? From politics to natural disasters to neuroscience to why a simile can help paint a better picture in a story, to the relationship between multiplication and division and how that relates to 'real life'. How does life get more real than when, as a child, you are learning what life has to offer?! I say again, I LOVE my job. Funny story: E. was finished some work and wouldn't stop talking so I may have suggested some tape to solve the problem so others could finish their work. Well it worked. Suddenly I had a note on my desk asking me if I could draw some lips on top of the tape. Well, how could I refuse such a funny request. So out came the red sharpie and I went to work. Well, the end result was hilarious and we captured that gem in a photo that will surely make the highlight reel at the end of the year.

As for life outside of school, it has been a rough couple of months. Early November we discovered that I was pregnant! We experienced a sense of joy and wonderment as we started to plan and think about a family of 3. However a short 3 weeks later, I had a miscarriage. It was an emotional time and I was happy to have work and directing our school Christmas concert to keep my mind off of it. It was a blessing in disguise that we were so busy. We feel strongly that we will be parents and it will happen when it happens. In the mean time, we are finishing our home and spending time getting our post-Christmas bodies back in shape. We've been hitting the gym and making good eating decisions so hopefully we'll be beach body ready by summer.
Life goes on and we are blessed!
Cheerio,
Jules

I cannot believe that 2 months of school are finished!! Where has the time gone. I totally remember as a kid how it took FOREVER for Halloween and then Christmas to come. As of right now, I'm making halloween costumes for Brent and I. I have also finished casting for our Christmas Play. What the heck?!?! I love my job - I love my students. We have hit our stride and are getting much accomplished. Today we did the most beautiful art project. It is a spooky tree silhouette in black with a beautiful dark sunset behind it with a full moon. I'll try to post a picture at some point, but they turned out beautiful! We have also been learning about Canada. So I realized the other day that my students didn't know that Alberta was between BC and Saskatchewan, that Ontario is next to Quebec. I scoured through the curriculum set by Alberta Ed and realized as well that nowhere in there did it require students to know this! I was appalled. How can these kids not know where we are in Canada, the continent, the world? So we went old school for the week and they had to memorize a map of Canada complete with Capital Cities, correct spelling, and capital letters at the beginning of each word. I haven't marked the tests yet, but I'm hoping they at least know how to spell Alberta correctly now!

We are off to see the movie "Pitch Perfect" AGAIN! It is sooo funny, if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend that you take the time. You'll build a six pack while watching a movie. :) 

Cheerio!

Jules

Week 2

Another week is done. It is Sunday night and I am ready to go for week 3. This will be a hectic week with PD and sub plans on Wednesday, and IPP day on Friday. I am hoping to hear all my kids read this week and set some goals with them for their reading. As for the home front, we are well. We spent a good chunk of the weekend setting up our new turtle tank and stand. It's so nice now! Hopefully they don't eat too many rocks! We also went to the funeral for little Thomas. What a sweet little one he was. His parents are amazingly strong and faithful! It was a good opportunity to reflect on the importance of loving and forgiving everyday. Until next week, be good, play fair and have fun!
xo
Jules

A long time coming...

Wow! It's been almost an entire year since the last post. I am going to try to use this as a journal of sorts. Here is a quick update on our last year:
- Dog is now Huge! We love him and he is just adorable - even if he cries when we stop to visit people on our walks. :)
- Half our basement is now renovated! Hooray for laundry rooms that aren't in the bathroom! Lovely job Wolsey Works. 
- We finished a school year and have started a new one!
- I went to Atlanta for a conference this summer trying to learn how to better teach reading and writing. 
- We spent a week in Fairmont with the Gilson family and it was a very relaxing and fun week. 
- one nephew and one niece have been added to the family. Beau Baker and Nia Haggarty. We love them both!
- We continue to love high school and our students' sports. We go to whichever town promises the most exciting match-up for football, basketball, hockey and baseball. Cheap date nights! lol
- 

I can't really think of anything else. We are happy, we love our lives and our jobs. We are grateful for our health and the blessings that sneak up on us. 

Cheerio,
Jules

unsure what to call this!

Hello world wide web.

I am feeling frustrated at the moment. I am feeling selfish for thinking there are things in my life that I want to have and so many are suffering with the loss of so much. Why must I be selfish?? How do I get over what I want and when I want it, so I can focus more and appreciate the amazing blessings I enjoy everyday! Any advice would be welcome.
xoxo
Jules

happy new year for me

Teachers get to celebrate a new year twice as much as anyone else!! I feel as though this post is the same every September! ha ha. Oh well, here it goes:
My class is amazing. I have great kids, great parents (which, believe it or not, play a HUGE roll in the atmosphere of a classroom!)  and work with some pretty incredible people!! I love my job and that's the end of the story.
As for home life, we have finished our fence all 300+ feet of it! What a job it was. I am such a slacker and don't quite have pictures of the finished product yet, but that will come. Brent is loving his job and paycheck!! Me too for that matter (going shopping in Kalispell this weekend to celebrate).
Our puppy Stanley is coming home to live with us this weekend! I am beyond excited about that. He has a house, a water dish and a food bowl. His kennel will be set up on Monday next week. It's going to be great. I hope he is as good here as he is out at my parents.
I am also very excited about a Christmas present I have gotten for Brent! It is so fun!!!!!!!! I know it is early, but alas, when you find the perfect gift it's hard to pass up! As for the rest of you... don't get your hopes up! haha.
Now for the most exciting thing that is happening on the home front for us. We are expecting to loose even more pounds in the coming future. To date Brent has lost 9 and I've lost 5 in 3 weeks. It is slow, but steady and the best part is, it's all natural!! No drops, no drugs, no special diet pills or name brand food. Just healthy portions, healthy snacks, healthy meals. I feel so great. 5 lbs isn't too much, but holy smokes it might as well be 100! I have energy, I don't hate all my clothes and life is good. Look for a new me by next summer. I'm very excited about it all.
Anyway, that's about all for tonight. I have to make a new seating plan for the kids tomorrow. It's time for the monthly switch - the bane of my existance is seating plans! ugh. nighty night world.
Jules

In Sickness and In Health: This may be graphic for some readers...

So I have always enjoyed good health. I have never had major health issues or the need to go under the knife. I didn't even have wisdom teeth that needed pulling! As we have been facing the challenge of expanding our family, I have had the unfortunate experience of seeing the inside of an operating room. F.Y.I. IT'S NOT AT ALL LIKE GREYS ANATOMY! Anyway, I don't recommend it at all. While the nurses and doctors were very kind and did everything they could to make me comfortable, I can't say I will ever look forward to it again. AND nobody told me that the regular BM's I've had all my life would come screeching to a sudden halt and that for the first time I would experience the inability to go number 2! Sorry that's gross, but I am feeling quite empathetic towards those of you out there who are plagued by constipation. It is an extremely unpleasant feeling! Anyway, I'm doing much better after some deliciously greasy chinese food, a bottle of Dasani water and a good walk around West Edmonton Mall. Thankyou Oriental Express!! That's all for tonight folks!