Alexa Fix for my Mom!!!

My mom is getting really excited for us to come. Only one week left before we make the big move down to Las Vegas. I am starting to get really anxious and excited about going too. I have really gone back and forth about this decision. I love my life up here. I have some of the most amazing friends up here who I am really going to miss and it will be really hard to ever find another job that is as rewarding as working at Independence. Today was my last day of work and it was so sad to say goodbye to everyone and to clean out my classroom. Eventhough it will be really sad to leave here, I know that now is the time to head back to Las Vegas and settle there.
My mom left a comment that she needed an Alexa fix so here are a couple funny things she has said the past few days.
--We walked to the cemetery on Memorial day to watch my students do the 21 gun salute. It was raining and we were late so we were hurrying. Alexa looked up at me and said, "Mom, you better hold my hand. I don't want to lose you."



--Today Alexa got to go to school with me and help me clean out my room. She thinks it is so cool to go to school. On the way home she said to me, "I am so smart mom. I know everything that I know." I laughed so hard. She is smart!

Weird???

Wow dating at this point in my life is so weird. So I went on a first date yesterday and it was really nice. He took me to the zoo which is one of my favorite things to do. While we were there, who do we run into???? My ex-mother in-law who was watching Alexa. I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but everyone else in the situation felt uncomfortable.

My Adopted Children

I have had a very long, but very rewarding day today. At school we had an end of year assembly today and a dance. They did such a good job with everything that they did. Let me give you a little bit of a background for those of you I haven't talked to lately. I work at an alternative high school in Provo, Utah. I love it! The students have some unique challenges, but have overcome so much. I teach math and I am the advisor of the student council called Lion's Council. This is the first year that they have really had this program and so prior to this they have not learned the skills of leadership. Them putting on the dance and the assembly all on their own is such a huge accomplishment for them. As we were setting up for the dance I just looked at them as they were making the balloon arch and they were so proud of themselves and I felt like a proud little mommy. My cute little students have been such a big support to me through everything this past year. Although my job can be stressful and unrewarding sometimes, it has been a constant for me and I just love all the students and all the people that I work with. I am really going to miss everyone when I leave.

Tonight at the dance, I invited a friend to come and help chaparone(?) and one of my students walked up to him, went to shake his hand, and pulled him in. He whispered in his ear "that is my teacher, you treat her right or else." On my way home from the dance I was talking to my mom and she was talking about a garden that she was going to start planting. Some how the conversation turned to how most of the time, the seeds you sow don't grow until you are long gone and you don't get the reward of seeing the beautiful flower. I am so glad that I have gotten to see my students grow so much this year. They are such strong people and I have learned a lot from them.

Sorry about the whatever signs, but the student in the middle is the one from the story above. He has so much potential. He just passed my class this term for the first time. I am so proud of him!!!

Makeovers!!!

With Alexa gone, I have had a little extra time. Today was the Senior Banquet at school and so we all had to dress up. My friend Alice and I decided to get ready together. Sometimes she thinks that I am crazy because I like to get to curl her hair and do her makeup. (She doesn't like to do it!) We were going to dye her hair, but we ran out of time. We decided to spend our time playing Mario Carts on the Wii instead. I too have recently changed my hair back to blond. (Mom here are some pictures so you can see it!)

My New Blog!!!

Well I never thougth that I would start one of these because now I will spend way too much time on the internet. Plus I think my mom is probably the only one who is going to read this. (Hi mom!) I have such a hard time setting aside time to journal and never write down the cute things Alexa does and says, so this way I can show her my blog someday and she can see how funny she was. The reason I finally had time to start this tonight is because she is staying the weekend with her Grandma Traci. It is coming close to the end of the school year here and so there are lots of things I have to be at for work. She loves to go get to stay with grandma instead of having a babysitter each night. Plus now maybe I can finally get some packing done. We have only about two and a half weeks left here in Provo and then we are making the move down to Las Vegas.

Well I know this is a little late, but the whole reason I started thinking about making this blog was becasue Alexa said the cutest thing the other day and I wanted to remember it forever. Last Sunday, on Mother's Day I was a little stressed and expecting to have a horrible day. This was going to be my first holiday as a single mom and well Alexa isn't really old enough to think to do something for me. (I know I sound really selfish, but I just assumed it would be a tough day) We had a busy day and woke up early to take a friend to the airport and then headed to church. As we were walking into church Alexa looked at me and said, "Mom, it is such a beautiful day." I nodded my head and tried hurrying her into church since we were late. She continued by said, "It's because you are here." It just melted my heart and made my day. I love being here mom and little things that she says and all the hugs and kisses she loves to give make being a mom and loving her really easy.