April Fooling

Cute fifth grade boy, class clown, with a fro that looks like a weeping willow, kept taping paper "fish" to the backs of students and made a humongous one for Mrs. Draper.

He made one for me too, but I always caught him before he could successfully attach it to me.

Walking out of the school, a coworker said, "You have something on your back." I smiled at the thought of froboy's stealth.

I have no idea when he could have done it, because it had to be after I put on my coat at the end of the day. When I removed the fish, fastened with duct tape, it had a note on it:
*
"Ha Ha
I got you.
--Liam"

(*pshyeah my cellular can't take pics. But I wanted to capture the shape of his paper fish and the glimpse of duct tape. The fish is now taped to my mirror, it makes me giggle.)

Shape Ups

How much would you have to get paid to wear sketchers shape ups for one week?




My sister's response was if she could tell people she was getting paid to wear them, she would do it for $20. If she couldn't, she'd do it for $150.

Daffodils

don't close up when it's dark outside. They just stay open, all night!



such a pwetty, fwendwy fwower.

blogger STALKAGE: are you a victim?

Whenever I overhear the word "blog" leaving someone's lips, I think of how badly I want to visit their blog!

So I did some stalkage and found a few of the ones I've been on the prowl for. (I always forget I'm on the prowl for them once I get online but this time was DIFFERENT!)

So go ahead, do some stalkage yourself. Check out my blog list and fall in love with the people I love. Isn't it fun when you are on a friend of a friend of a friend's page? so fun. Share experiences please.

Profundo

Sorry this blog isn't more profound.

You can find profound posts here and here though.

Oh Disney, you've done it again.

This is a video illustrating how Disney uses templates to produce movies. So interesting!

600 palabras

I am learning Spanish! I don't know if it will really work. But I have this itouch app that teaches me 100 words per day and so far I am retaining 75% of what I learn! So when I go to Mexico on Saturday we will see if it can be applied to real life...I will let you know how it goes.

Unless you hate children:

If ever you are having a bad day, just go where there are children. My bad days end at 11:45 when I walk into a second grade classroom.

silk ties dying on eggs!

Guess what happened last night.

I tie-dyed easter eggs!

But not like hippie craziness. Literally used a TIE to dye them. Turns out so beautiful and you get this big confidence boost like "wow. I am an artist."
borderline plagerism, but you get the idea.



HERE'S HOW!

Materials and Tools
Small- to medium-size raw eggs
Glass or enamel pot
Silk ties, blouses, or boxers, cut into pieces large enough to cover an egg
White sheets (or pillowcases or old tablecloths), cut into pieces to cover silk-wrapped eggs
Twist ties
3 tablespoons of white vinegar
Warm water
Vegetable oil
Paper towels
Tongs or spoon

Silk Tie Easter Eggs How-To
1. Cut silk into a square (or a piece) large enough to wrap around a raw egg.

2. Wrap a raw egg with a piece of silk, making sure the printed side of the material is facing the egg. Silk can still be used if it doesn't fit perfectly around egg.

3. Place the silk-wrapped egg in a piece of white sheet, pillowcase, or old tablecloth and secure tightly with a twist-tie.

4. Place the egg(s) in an enamel or glass pot. Fill pot with water to cover eggs completely. Then, add three tablespoons of white vinegar.

5. Bring water to a boil, turn heat down, and simmer for 20 minutes (longer if you plan on eating the eggs).

6. Remove eggs from water with tongs or spoon and let cool.

7. Remove silk from cooled egg.

8. For shiny eggs, wipe with vegetable oil after completing step 7.

Resources
Silk goods such as ties, blouses, and boxers can be purchased at rummage sales or thrift stores. Silk can be reused on eggs.

win a gift card already.

Just do this by midnight today.

My brother is the PR for the American Fork hospital so just go on the facebook page, become a fan, and post any basketball/byu related picture. You will then have the chance of winning a $25 gift card AND 2 movie tickets. There are only like 4 pictures so we have a good chance guys.

This is the picture I posted:



You can't even tell what is going on huh.

Current occupation...of my mind

Just this cruise my sister and I are going on. We got a steal of a deal steal so it just made sense. (cents?)



10 days away. And I feel like the past two days have gone by sooo slow. Sunday feels like a week ago. Can I just hibernate for 10 days do you think? Then the next time I open my eyes I will see:



magical things.

And my pops and I are going zip lining in the jungle! Of course my mom and sis are being wussies and won't go. "waahhh I can't handle adventures!" Those stinkers. Oh man I can't wait to have something else to think back on and just treasure.

twelve

I was teaching a small group of 5th grade boys today and as I was drawing shapes and congruent lines they started laughing...like they had this inside joke about what I was drawing.
me: Will you stop acting like you're twelve?!
boy1: I am twelve!
we all start laughing
boy2: I'm going to wet my pants!

Yep. Sometimes I have to re-realize that they are twelve.

Happy St. Patricks!

Oh how I love our fam tradition of St. Patrick's day.
Ever since I can REMEMBER we've always had

• corned beef (which daron referred to as "red cow" all night. "Hallie. Pass me the red cow.")
• cabbage
• carrots
• onion
• soda bread with raisins

Then we kind of just do these things out of the sake of greenness, not necessarily an irish thing:
lime italian soda...errr...lime IRISH soda
this cake junk...which I never love (no offense mom) but it's green! It's white cake with surprises of pistachio pudding and green whipped topping!

And of course beer on tap! JK got ya.

Some of the things that happened during dinner:

1. chasing my nieces and nephews around, pinching them. They were wearing green but who made that rule anyway.
2. My brother was disciplining my nephew: "That is why I have to be strong with you right now, Ty..." Ty: "But I'm stronger than you are!"
3. Seth bringing a "wand" and casting three HP spells on everyone. I couldn't stand it anymore, the kid needed more to work off of! So I had him get my iTouch, we looked up wrote down 18 of our favorite spells. His favorite is the Imperious Curse, one of the three unforgivable. (IMPERIO!)

Hope you wore green. Either way, consider yourself digitally PINCHED!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians! (no spoilers :)

Percy Jackson is a son of a mythological god! And for all he knew he just had adhd and other behavioral disorders (see how easily we can relate.) But he gets introduced to other half-bloods and mythological peeps! It's a lot of fun. They go on these quests to defeat evil.

Just look at these characters! Don't they look so interesting? They really are.



I got hooked when I had to sub for fifth grade. They are reading it as a class and while they were doing an assignment I started to read it. I kind of skimmed at first because I didn't want to commit to what I knew would be a serious addiction.

But here I am, having read four of the five books! Can't wait to start the fifth. The fifth graders see me with a different book every day and we have so much fun being nerdy together. One student just bought The Ultimate Guide; a handbook to the Percy Jackson & The Olympians. Guess what we'll be doing at recess tomorrow?

Loving this song right now

I let it sing me to sleep and when I woke up guess what?

It was playing in my head.

moments

my family was gathered in the front room, having an enjoyable conversation. I come out from behind the couch and pretend to shoot everyone.
brother: what was THAT?
Gina: that was Hallie.

At costco:
On our way out, in the "receipt check" line, I find it irresistible to push every button of the vending machines lining the wall. So I do, as quickly as possible.
I happened to be wearing my red pants that day.
Gina: "I think what you wear affects the way you act"

Dropping by Gina's apartment, we pull up to an identical Honda civic. (Gina drives one) It is gray. Gina's is dark blue.
Gina, on her way out of the car: "One morning I tried to get into her car thinking it was mine. I was so confused."
Mom: "For such intelligent girls, you two are totally ditsy"

This is what I think about the snow

Substituting kindergarten on Dr. Seuss's bday.

their real teacher told them yesterday that they were going to have a birthday party for Dr. Seuss today. And they had great expectations.

She gave me a video to show them, of the still frame shots of a boring dr. seuss book, does that count for a birthday party?

Not according to the cute lil 5 year olds. All the live long day and as I finally put in the movie, I never heard the end of it:
"If it's a birthday party there must be a CAKE!"
"Teacher where is the cake?"
"Teacher I'm HUNGRY!"
"Teacher when is the party?"

So I stopped the movie, apologized, told them the movie was the party. Poor little chillens. I would've made them a cake if I knew that is what they expected :) a red and white stripped cake. with a cat face. and whiskers. edible whiskers.

Another dose of vid for ye

So in watching that vid I posted last, I thought how cute taylor swift music video clips were. so my friend nat and I looked it up and we love it. So will you. Just watch it ok? And don't be mad that I posted three videos.

So last year

but I found this to be very clever and entertaining! It's the top 25 songs of last year all mashed up.



And I like 2008's as well:



It's good besides the random "disturbia" clips. Ew, right?

my gramma

has a key to the stake center.

Where's the nearest kinko's gramma?

"Oh, you don't need to go kinko's!" So she drove gina and i to the stake house this morning so gina could make copies of her resume and letters of recommendation.

kehehe sneaky gramma.

it's funny how you learn more about people after spending your whole life with them

that is how i feel on this trip with my sister. i have seen sides of her i haven't seen before and i love her more because of it.

I went on this trip knowing my needs and wishes would come second...for the first time in my life probably. the purpose of this trip was to make my sister's life as easy as possible. And after hours spent alone, waiting, while she was in interviews or visiting new sites that would be her life from now on, I realized these are the places that would tear us apart, move her away from me. And here I am, encouraging it all along.

roadtrips save my life

Hallie, what were you just doing?

Oh, nothing. I was actually just getting some lemons.

Lemons, huh. From the store?

Oh, no no no. Just outside! I picked them from my grandmother's tree and they are so ripe my hands smell like lemons and they are as big as a softballish! Now I'm going to see if her grapefruit, orange and tangerines trees are ripe.
...haha yeah. All ripe and I am eating them ALL!

Oh Hal I am so jealous of you right now! Anything else cool going on?

Well There is this bird that I woke up to...I thought it sounded like a car alarm. He's still chirping away! I found a video of his brother, looks like he's a clever little mockingbird!




well sounds like you're having fun in Arizona Hallie. Just out of curiousity, what temperature is it right now?

Let me see...oh, well it's only 9am but it's 56.3 degrees.

For favorite posts on Grandma/Arizona visits:
see here,
here,
and, my personal favorite: here

The Rec!

It was snowing yesterday so I got ready to go to the indoor track at BYU.
Well I called beforehand just in case and it was closed till noon =(
So my mommy gave me $4 to go to the orem recreation center.

I love the rec! That's what we call it. It brings back fond memories of swim team, childhood swimming lessons, oh man here's a good one:
I was like five and I was in swimming lessons. two of my aunts and my mom were watching us from the balcony and there was a metal railing right in front of them. I didn't want my aunt to watch me so I would move in a place and align the railing between our eyes so it would make her blind and not see me.

Anyways so flash forward back to yesterday. $4 for ONE visit!?!? What a load of [insert word of choice]! I went to the Zumba class where there were like 100 ladies dancing crazy and it was fun to just dance crazy. Then I'm like. I want to listen to my own music and do my own thing. So I did the elliptical next to an old man. I look around. There is no one my age here. They are all old people. Oh well though right?

When I got home I realized. I DIDN'T GO IN THE SAUNA! I really wanted to go! And I paid $4 and didn't go to the sauna! I really wanted to detoxify my skin. So I turned the shower on blazing hot and filled up the tub that way instead of through the faucet. And the air in there was so thick. So I made my own sauna of sorts. It sufficed. Prolly better than being in an enclosed spaced with old people. Yeah I'm claustrophobic too. Oh good I'm glad it worked out that way now that I think of it =)

2 oz, Medium.

My parents and I were watching the weather together.
Gina had just left, announcing how she was angry, but for no apparent reason.
Dad looks at me and says: "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine"
"You're holding your hand up to your forehead, something's wrong"
Something was wrong. He just didn't know what it was and I wasn't going to tell him...because he would share his opinion and that would make the situation worse.
"Want me to make you some of that fish?"
This is weird...my dad never cooks, let alone for someone else!
"Nah, I don't want that"
"How about some chicken" Mom offered
"I don't want any of that"
Dad, walking over to the fridge. "Oh, here's some hamburger!"
"Yeah, I'll just make myself something in a minute"
Pulling out his steak that he brought home from going out Tuesday "Have this steak! There's gotta be 3 ounces in this piece."
Took out weigher, weighed it.
"OK, two ounces!"
"Are you sure dad? Don't you want it?"
"Of course I want it but I want you to have it because I love you"
I almost lost it right there. Over a two ounce piece of medium steak. My dad is a sweetheart.

One of the best parts of being at elementary school

Is having an unlimited supply of Bill Nye available.



They have hundreds of episodes at my disposal.

What's wrong with you, Hallie?

I have yet to get into the olympics.

Is anyone really into them?

1:41

I'm not a fan of phone conversations.

I wondered what the average talking time on my phone was, so I averaged my last 50 calls. A minute and forty-one seconds! In that amount of time you can most definitely state why you called and/or what you want with me.

< 3

Happy Valentine's Day!

fake pregnancy

Yesterday I saw a commercial for this item:


Last night I had a dream that I used this First Response Gold digital test 3 times within two days and each time it said "YES." Still dreaming, I told Gina about it and she asked me if it was possible and I had to really think about it. I told her I couldn't remember. Then I went off about how it gets cloudy when you kiss people and sometimes you can't remember because it gets cloudy.

Reminiscent

I like work :)

I am getting to know the 5th grade kids that I read with, practice math facts with, etc.

Me: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
K: No.
Me: So you are the only child?
she thinks for a few seconds...
K: No, I do have brothers and a sister but none with opposable thumbs.
Me: What are their names?
K: Daisy, Timber and Mika

I don't ask about the thumbs because I don't want to be rude...

Later in the conversation:
Me: What do you like to do for fun
K: go dog sledding
Me: Oh you go dog sledding? With your dogs?
K: Yeah with Mika
Me: Oh so your brothers and sisters are your dogs?
K: Yes.
Me: What is your favorite food?
K: Sushi.

This girl rocks.

Oh how we love facebook

because it puts ideas in my head. Like, "hey, type your name at urbandictionary.com and see what it says!"

So I do. it has 3 definitions. The first one:
"The nicest girl in the room. Everyone is drawn to her because of her beauty and her radiance."

The second one is offensive.

but then I feel all better with the last definition:
"Usually one who plays with Dora the Explorer, and sings Hannah Montana."

I would have to agree.

Just life at the moment.

I am an aide at the school that I love.
My sister and I have already had a pretend fight in the hall...the assistant principal walked by. Hey, this is what they get for nepotism. Jk I really am legit.

rofl Gina just walked in with half her FACE numb because she just got back from the dentist.
"mom I don't fing duh twee was wun ovuh by duh conswucion...oh cwap." (mom i don't think the tree was run over by the construction...oh crap)
"dat's wasads bagg!" (that's wasatch back...referring to the weather forecast)
I couldn't stop laughing.
"staub!" (stop)

Watching Emma and loving it. I have to wait till Sunday for the final episode. Those jerks at Masterpiece Classics better watch it!

I am starting this diet thing...started yesterday. I did it last summer and was very successful. but there are side effects which include but are not limited to: anger, desire to commit homicide, brief episodes of drama, and vertigo. Because I love food so much but I have to control that love. So sorry in advance. NO I am not on drugs.

payday

Yesterday I received my first paycheck since my custodial job in August. I went straight to the bank and deposited it. What a beautiful feeling it is to have an income!


And yes I did start substituting December 5th and yes it took them this long to give me my first paycheck :) The anticipation and impatience made this occasion even better.

The Rotation System

I was helping my mom sift through her closet, giving up half of her clothes to DI. The determinig factor when I give stuff away to DI is "have I worn this in the past year?" and "Has it survived the rotation system?"

Rotation system? You may wonder.

It's brilliant. And I didn't think much of it until I told my mom about it. It's just one of the quirky things I do that is so normal to me, ya know?

• I organize my clothing into sections, as I am sure all of you do: a pants section, a skirt/dress section, and a shirt/blouse/tops section.
• I have my pants on the left side and my shirts on the right side.
• I wear what is closest to the middle...or as close to the middle as possible...can't wear brown pants with a bright green shirt ya know!
• After wearing that, I place it in the back of that section. So the pants would go behind all the other pants and the shirt would go behind all the shirts, farthest from the middle.
• When I do my wash, I place all those clothes in the back of their sections because I have recently worn them and the other clothes need a chance now!
• When I find a shirt is staying in the middle for a while and I never want to wear it, it goes to DI! Unless it's like fancy then it goes to the unrotated very very back section. Everyone has those right? hahaha lol. yeah you are totally saying "oh my gosh I have that too!"
  
• Same with Sunday skirts/dresses. The rotation system is my favorite for Sunday clothes because I can go to church confidently, knowing what I wore last week is not to be worn again for a while!

You need to try it. It really works. Dudes can use it for hats and ties and even socks as well! You can use it for anything! Celebs should use it to rotate through their houses and cars! Use it with the cereal you eat! The friends you hang out with! JK please don't.

And if you don't want to do this for yourself, do it for your clothes. because think how you would feel if you were a shirt always in the back of your closet. The rotation system would be your only hope to get worn.

My sister made the herald!

Yay for Gina! Finally in the spotlight after working all these years at a title I school. Congratulations, sister!

Masterpiece Classics: Emma

YAY! Emma was on last night and my mommy recorded it! I can't wait to watch it. Masterpiece Classics are dumb when that lady talks in the beginning but they are really actually quite good if you just fast-forward through it.

Next time Emma is on: Tues at 2am

So you can watch it recorded at my house if you want.

Conversation between my sister and I on the phone

Me: "Your piano students are here"
Gina: "Well I'm just down the road"
Me: "Well hurry UP"
Gina: "Make me some nachos."
Me: burp, hang up.

Typical of our conversations. Now that I think of it, I can't remember the last time one of us hasn't hung up on the other to end our phone conversations. I used to get offended, but now I think it's endearing and fun.

I'm gonna go make some nachos.

blind date gone blurry

My dear friend Alisa* called me up and told me I was going on a blind date with her date's roommate. We were going country dancing.

I don't dance very well when I'm limited to certain steps.
I don't dance very well when I'm attached to another human.
So I assumed my date would help me out and know what he's doing when it comes to dancing.

When I went to answer the door, I found Alisa, her date, and my date at the doorstep. Alisa attacked me first, then I saw the next closest person to the door. Alisa introduced him and I thought he was my date. Well he wasn't. He's her FIANCE. So I scream and get really happy! I had no idea she was even dating anyone. I turn around to see my date, at the bottom of the steps, being distant and quiet.

We walk to the car, he opens the door for me, so I sit in the seat. Well he started coming in too, so I scooted over just in time before he sat on me. On the way there he sat quietly while I talked in my high pitched excited voice to Alisa and her fiance that I had never met. Adam has been home six months, they have only dated 2 weeks, and they will be married june 21. "Good Alisa, you got him right off the mission, before he gets into porn." I took it back right after I said it. I am so AWKWARD!

Then I turn to my date "Is it Derek or Daron?"
"Daron"
"My brother's name is Daron."
no comment.

I asked him a few more questions, he's an electrical engineer major from New Mexico. He has 4 sisters and 8 nieces and nephews.

We got to the dance and Alisa and Adam ran off alone, leaving me with Daron. They came back and taught us a basic step, which we danced over and over redundantly for the next few songs. I wanted to die. I took over and led sometimes, spinning myself :)
We couldn't hear each other over the music, so we didn't talk. But one time I yelled "DO YOU EVEN LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC?"
"WHAT?"
I repeated the question.
he shook his head.
"ME NEITHER"
5 minutes later he asked "DO YOU LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC?"

On the way to the car we were talking about glasses/contacts.
to my date: "do you wear contacts?"
"no, but I should. I prefer having everything a little blurry"
"so you like not being about to see clearly?"
"yes"



On the way home, Daron quietly declares "I need ice cream."
I was the only one who heard him.
5 minutes later Adam said "Daron, did you say something?
me: "He wants ice cream"
Dairy queen was closed
We pulled into Wendy's
Daron: "I want McDonalds"
so we went to McDonalds
Alisa: "I'm partially lactose intolerant"
me: "me too"
so we ordered the 2 apple pies for $1
I got up to get napkins and when I returned there was a second straw in Daron's shake, pointed towards me.
me: "is that for me"
daron: "I have nothing to do with that."
Adam snickers

all four of us walked up to my door step and I hugged each of them.
Yay for blind dates.

*names have been changed

Nibbles

We caught him.
I saw the live mouse trap door closed (see picture in earlier post) and picked it up, tilted it from side to side, and DEFINITELY there was something in there. I was POSITIVE.

Well my dad was the only other person home so he drove me to the cemetery to set him free. So it felt like dejavu pulling out of the driveway, live mouse trap in hand, pulling up to cemetery, opening the trap door...waiting....

and he JUMPED out! and he was off to new adventures.

Driving home I was looking for reassurance that Nibbles would be ok.
"He won't freeze or go hungry, right? He'll find other mice to be friends with and they'll find plenty of seeds and dried fruits."
Dad: "Yes, he'll find friends. There's plenty of hawks, coyotes, and fox that'll find him."

Thanks, dad. At least the death of Nibbles isn't my fault though, right? his blood will be on the paws or claws of another.

Newsflash!

I got a job as a flex aide at Westmore! (where my sister works!) I am waiting to hear back when I start and what hours. But isn't that so exciting???

I also switched to my old ward! I am already loving it.

I am quite ready to get out of this town. Well isn't that a coincidence, because I am going to Zions National Park this weekend with friends! It will be so nice to get away and be a little warmer :)



I am going to see The Young Victoria a second time this week. Thank you, Veronica, for suggesting it because I wouldn't have thought the 30 min drive would be worth it! But it's worth it. and I'm making that drive again. and probably a third time.



Who would have thought Ruthie "pigface" draper from Dan in Real life and the mean old secretary from Devil Wears Prada could be Queen Victoria? And heartbreaker Mr. Wickham from Pride and Prejudice is Prince Albert? Well get used to it. because it's great.

If you'd like to join me and my friends, we're going to the Thursday matinee. Phone me.

a histerical mouse trapping

almost like a histerical pregnancy, but this has to do with mice. And live mouse traps. So not really like a pregnancy huh.

My mom and I went to Lowe's yesterday and got a live mouse trap. We've seen this mouse (we named him Nibbles) and you know how it is. Once you've named an animal, you can't kill him.

We usually see him at night, running from our pantry to underneath the oven. I actually had a dream about seeing him dancing in front of the oven, and instead of running away, he just let me lie down next to him and clap as he performed. The next thing I knew, I was petting him and cuddling him. And all of a sudden, he wasn't a cute little mouse anymore, he was the size of a cat.

So dreams and names have brought on this emotional attachment that could break my heart should his life be taken. So live mouse trap it is for our lil Nibbles.

I placed some peanut butter (organic kirkland signature, my dad's favorite!) in the very back and set up this clever mouse trap next to the oven. Well tonight. guess what. The door to the mouse trap was shut, enclosing Nibbles!

I lifted the heavy plastic container and got in the car with Gina, who chauffeured Nibbles and I to the cemetery on a hill, my favorite place in town.
"Oh my gosh!"
"what?" Gina wondered.
"I feel him moving!"
We approached the entrance to the cemetery and began looking for just the right spot. Gina put on her brights, lighting a cozy snowless little nook of trees and tall grass. I walked to the aforementioned place, carefully opened the contraption and waited. Nothing. What a scared little mousy! Then I tipped it upside down. Then I tried to look inside. I thought I saw something, but...nope.

Just the peanut butter.

Lil Nibbles tricked us all! He's still in our house. Mom said she heard him playing near the toys this morning so maybe he took a vacation from neath the oven. We'll catch you though, and give you a better home, Mr. Nibbles!

Dad in purple pants

I had a dream that I came down the stairs to find my dad wearing my purple pants. I looked at him with confusion, then he laughed and said "I just thought I'd borrow them to wear today!" So we laughed together. Then he did a dance as we kept laughing.

Watch this, it'll save your life.

How did it go?

it went.


I like that answer to that question. so clever.

my car has no heater, so as I was breathing on my way to american fork to substitute today, I could see my breath. because the car was not warm after 20 minutes of driving and that is just how it goes. It snows, it goes.

Interview #4, and four is my lucky number, so I am going to get this one. 6th grade teacher.

A new year, a new me.

I have so many resolutions and already this year is fantastic!

• One of my resolutions is to stop disliking people, or at least pretend I love everyone until I do get to that point.
• Another resolution I have is to be creative in my exercise routines so I will enjoy being active. If that is even possible. I guess we'll find out.
• And the last one I'll share with you is to be in the black this year! That means, according to dictionary.com, "operating at a profit or being out of debt (opposed to in the red)"

I am going to love this year! Last year is going to be really hard to compete with, what with going to New Zealand, kissing boys, and graduating! But I know I am going to love this year! I'm just going to keep saying it!

I accidently overdosed on pain medicine this morning. waited ~ 1 hr after each: 4 ib, 2 aspirin, 2 excedrin, then 2 aleve. Finally the pain went away!

that last post was depressing

so I'll give you a glimpse of my wonderful christmas. it really was one of the best ever. just enjoyable family times, simple, effortless, (that's a lie, but every effort was worth it) christmas.

Fondue. need I say more? rye bread dipped in cheese fondue. all the shrimp you could possible shove on the stick and still have them immersed in the hot oil. then chocolate fondue. I made angel food cake. taking it out of the metal wrap, I had the cake in one hand. not a firm grip, ya know? You always have to be on guard though, carrying anything when my brothers are around. and this is why. my brother nudged me just a tad. angel food cake turned devil. fell on the floor. of course I just picked up the used to be light, fluffy cake and broke it into bite-size pieces and of course we dipped the smashed goodness into the chocolate fondant. "Isn't this supposed to be more airy?" the murderer asked sarcastically.

Arrangements were made in the basement and the entire family stomped down the stairs to watch...the 9 grandchildren put on a nativity scene. I have never seen them all just...ya know...be calm. And they all were, each one acted their part in almost reverence. it was the bombest thing I saw this Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas, portrayed by the most Christ-like of all of us.

Then the look on my brother's face Christmas morning, when he unwrapped the gift Gina and I had bought him. It was a duffel bag he specifically asked us to get him, really the only thing he wanted for christmas. and since his wife, santa, and mom already got him something else, we were his last resort. He used all his manipulation tactics to get gina and I to show a hint of evidence that we got it for him. "Hey I saw you at Costco this week" was one of them. well he failed. and he honestly thought we didn't get him the bag. So that priceless reaction of pure surprise was truly a gift.

and I got everything I wanted and for the first time I can ever remember, I am not taking anything back to return. It's been a very merry week!

feel better now? I do.

It's just an awkward week.

today I found myself in the middle of saying "Merry Christmas," feeling really awkward, and not remembering what the next holiday was (New Years) so I ended up sounding like this:

"Merry Chrim---uhh...yeah."
5 seconds later
"Happy New Year!"

Close your eyes and envision with me for a sec. I guess you need to keep your eyes open to read, but after you read this post, close your eyes and imagine.

You have been done with school since Thanksgiving break. Since then, you've worked a total of 5 days...so not much going on. Then you got another week of "break" then you don't really know how often you'll be substituting when the "break" ends. So for all I know, I'll be on a break until I get a real job. no offense, substitute office. K now close your eyes and imagine. how crazy. I am going to be. you might say "that sounds nice, a long break. I really need one of those" no, you don't. too much break = broken

deck the halls with gasoline

I have been the runner up three times for teaching jobs.

I just found out about the third one and now this is my status:

Deck the halls with gasoline Falalalalalalalala
Light a match and watch it gleam Falalalalalalalala
Watch the school burn down to ashes Falalalalalalalala
Aren't you glad you played with matches? Falalalalalalalala!

When I sang it to my dad and told him it was my facebook status, his automatic, serious response was: "if the school burns down tonight, you'll be responsible! Your status will be all over the papers"

winning the hearts of the nieces and nephs

Lately I've been trying to be the aunt to my nieces an nephews that I'd want for myself. So I think back to the things I didn't like about my aunts and I have mostly good memories but the only bad memories are them telling me what to do. (as a little one, I like when they tell me what to do now.)

Well it's really hard to not tell a child what to do. Really. difficult. They aren't my kids! but the fact that I have this degree in telling chillens what to do makes it harder.

It actually works though. The less I tell them what to do the more they want to be my friend.

500 days of summer

was even better the second time.

This lady's Christmas decorations made my year

"Good news is that I truly outdid myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down:
"First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.
"Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder and almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that.
"My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard."

Oh come on,

Really?

I drove to highland twice yesterday.
Once for the first interview
back for the second!
one of two candidates.
Exciting, right?
Wow I totally got it, right?

nope.
Want to know how I found out?
An automated email the district sends when they close a job.

The song from wedding singer, "kill me" comes to mind. with replacement words for the swear words of course. don't look it up.

I'm ok. That class had 34 kids in it anyway. I don't want that! plus this gives me OPTIONS to live outside of this place I've lived for decades! So I'm looking into that.

Something to think about.

Is loving someone like making a new horcrux where you split your soul?

Tissue alert, nerd alert

Okay I realize that the only two things I post about are a. my dad or b. schoolish/kids stuff.

But those are the only interesting parts of my life so once I get more interesting things I'll talk about those things too. mmk?

a few years ago, as far as I can remember, there hasn't been a roll of toilet paper in our house. No toilet paper, just the empty metal roller.
A friend that has never been to my house before calls behind the closed bathroom door: "I'm out of toilet paper in here!"
Me: "Just use the kleenex!"
My dad prefers kleenex.
It's cheaper.
It's harder to not go crazy; you'll never use an excess amount of kleenex.
the sound of the swish when the kleenex comes out needs to happen more often.
And I don't know what else.

When we go on vacation, you will find a box of kleenex in his suitcase to use instead of toilet paper in the hotel bathroom. Where there is already toilet paper. so it's beyond the price, surely.
here's the best part: I received the following email today, sent to my family:

subject: Tissue alert!

	Inbox		X

Van Shumway Jr

1:52 PM (3 hours ago)

If you call Craig at Day's Market (375-7960) by 2 pm Saturday, you can order a case of tissues (same as those at our house--160 count per box) for only $1.05 per box. That means your cost per tissue is only 2/3 of a penny. Minimum order is a case of 36 = $37.80 + tax, payable when product arrives in a week or two.

|

Ethan

replied, 4:20 PM (33 minutes ago)

Nerd alert!

wah

My last day was yesterday. ;(
My second graders made me a book that I will treasure for years to come.
Here are a couple excerpts.

This one is from Jacob:

"You were very good at teaching. when ye you read you did it so good. I felt like I was in the story. you are sooo cool.
love,
spencer"

here is the back of his letter:
it says "santa" with an arrow and "the bowl of jelly" pointing to his abdomen. sooo good.


One student wrote using only question marks. Like what he said is even a question. jk lol giggle giggle


They gave me hugs and/or fives on the way out.
Wah.

No update on the job...they are looking at applications right now then interviews later...I just made that up. but I know they were looking at applications yesterday.

But do you realize what position I am in?
I will graduate. on the 18th. no matter what. There is nothing I could or couldn't do to prevent it. besides dying. which is something I've considered. that's a lie.

So I am sitting around today. And if I want I can just sit around the rest of my life! Cool. Great thing to think about. Nah I'll get a job (using my degree) and pay off all my debt. Then I'll spend whatever extra money I make on travel. Then when I decide to actually save money, I will. That's my plan.

cookies left on my doorstep

There was a plate of cookies with a note in my bathroom when I woke up. My dad typed up a label, pasted it to a post-it note, then put the post-it note on the note. It says "Left on doorstep last night. Has male-idiot written all over it." My dad rocks. I found more pleasure in his note than the cookies and the anonymous one-page sweet note. And I knew right off it was not from a male-idiot, i'd recognize that calligraphy handwriting anywhere. my friend roxanne. which makes this even better. because my dad totally dissed my friend.

Love you roxanne, thanks for the anonymous note and cookies.
Love you dad, thanks for looking out for me. For taking the time to type up a label to remind me that I deserve more than male-idiots in my life.

I'm going to literally explode

I threw a popcorn party for my class today. A few hours later, a teacher brought in some popcorn from another activity to share with us. After she left, I gave my popcorn to the classroom teacher (Becky.)

Becky: Don't you want it?
Hallie: If I have any more popcorn I'm going to explode.
My 2nd graders were concerned and asked if I would really explode.
5 minutes later, I walk around looking at the thanksgiving books students are coloring. As I pass Jacob, he explains his addition to the book (The large blue person sitting on the turkey, pictured below)



Hallie: Who is the blue person?
Jacob: It's you, exploding!
Becky came over to see: What's the green stuff, is she sucking the apples with a straw?
Jacob: No, that's the explosion coming out!
I was laughing hysterically, taking pictures with my cell phone. It's my cellphone wallpaper. I am glad I have one more day so today didn't have to be the last.

Update on the job:
You. Reading this. PRAY.
I applied for the fifth grade position yesterday and the principal will be calling in interviews starting next week. PLEASE JUST LET ME HAVE IT ALREADY!

the next three days are going to be a never ending interview.

I don't know if this is even going to happen. but I think my principal is on the prowl for a new teacher. And I think I am his #1 victim. He came in while I was teaching a small reading group and he and my classroom teacher were talking about me! Come to find out he was asking when I was getting my teaching certificate and if I would be good in upper grades!! Then he was all "I may just pop in a few times to sit in a some lessons this week" Uhhhh ogkaayyy? I am feeling prepared every day when I teach, so I don't think I am nervous for things in my control. I feel intimidated. And sometimes kids will do stuff and it's like "how do I respond to you?"
But seriously oh my heck. These last three days. I have to be awesome. Because I might get a job here. I am on trial. ah. Stop thinking about it! It would seriously be the best thing ever though.

treasures

A student wouldn't sit in his desk. When asked why, he said: "My desk is haunted"

Teaching a small reading group, one of my favorite little boys that looks like harry potter (NOT daniel, the one I pictured in my head.) had a pink smudge on his glasses. How he even managed to see I don't know. When I pointed it out to him, he said "Oh, that would be yogurt," and let me clean it off for him.

American Girl Magazine

Me: "Someone subscribed me to American Girl."
Dad, as if I accused him: "I did NOT!"

"It sucks to be you right now"

that is what my brother told me yesterday after I told him my plans for the next 3 months. He was joking, but he's got a point.

Here's my plans:

1. stay living with the parents
2. get a job to be a substitute teacher end of this month
3. get a job to be a full time teacher in jan when I get my certificate, if there are even openings. I will leave the county of Utah if I have to! That is a threat!
4. stay living with the parents

The only definite thing...is living with the parentals. The other things...just need to happen please.

I really love my life though! It doesn't suck too bad!

The 150th

I got a letter in the mail congratulating me on being in the top 15% of my graduating class at BYU.

I told my dad.

I asked him if he really thought I was in the top 15%.
"I'm not that smart" I said, walking away.

Shouting after me down the hallway: "Well, if you think about it, say 1,000 people are in your graduating class. You could be the 150th."

(laughing) "You're a jerk, dad." lol he always keeps things from getting to my head.

"Once I smelled sheepskins and felt like I was flying for a second"

Thank you, Jacob, age 7. We were reading a book about beagles and how they like to wear sheepskin sweaters. Then he made this comment. Jacob, you made my day. I had to leave the room I was laughing so hard.

kittens inspired by kittens

My bowl of Special K with Straberries didn't give me any strawberries this morning.

addict

Nasal spray, Cough Syrup, throat spray, and dramamine. Then excedrin in the morning. I love drugs.

I was reading "Teddy Bear" with the cutest little boy in my class.
And I asked him if he had a teddy bear. He didn't. Really? Nothing? Not even a blankey, something you can't go to sleep without?
No.
I was surprised at my response: "It's better to not have one. You don't want to get attached."

The perks of being sick

Well you get to stay home from school. And you get to sleep all the time and for as long as you want.
Then you get this mindset of "what do I do with all this time?" and do nothing with it. but you don't feel guilty for wasting time if it ends up that way. which it does.
You don't have to clean up. like gina is doing right now. thanks gina.
and...everyone treats you like a baby. which i love. (cough cough cough)
but to be 100% honest with you, which I think you will appreciate: I was really sad that I missed school today. Because I started taking over the classroom on Tuesday and my life is so good. Those kids are really nice to me and I like teaching.



Oh I read this cool thing to say to people with moustaches: "What's so important about your nose that you have to underline it?" Oh man I canNOT wait to run into someone with a stash and say that to them. Even if I don't know them. Do you dare me?

I butchered all my pants

So I have like 8 pair of pants. a couple black, one gray, a khaki, a brown, why am I listing this you don't even care.

Well one day I kind of lost it. I realized all my pants were too long. And they drag ya know? And it upset me. But my mom wasn't home to do it for me and I couldn't wait for her to get around to it. Started working on something. Couldn't focus. I just HAD to hem my pant legs! ALL of them. So I took my pants and I put them on one at a time. I measured a good couple inches beyond my heel and SNIPPED that point off all the way around. Snip. snip snip.

I've never used my mom's electric sewing machine. but it had thread that matched the majority of my pants and so I went for it.

No pedal. I was confused. But there was a button that said "start" so I pressed it. And figured it out.

Well it was really exciting, the speed of the needle and trying to keep up with it. Surprising, Hallie. One thing that hasn't broken that you've encountered. (patting ma back)

And there. I finished. But two pants needed hand-hemmed because the thread in the machine didn't match and I didn't want to go there. and it took forever to hand hem and made me anxious. Sewing machines rock too much!

Well I haven't gone through EVERY pair of pants yet. But. guess what. THEY ARE ALL TOO SHORT! I look like a friggin idiot every day. Good thing kids don't care. But Gina does and she makes fun of me everyday. Shameless.



So if you want to buy me pants, do it. size 8 petite/short. And you may comment curses to make me feel better.

Gateway Discover Museumy

Today I went on a field trip with my 2nd grade class to the Gateway Discovery Museum in SLC.



blew my mind. And I fell even more in love. with. children. They just bring so much joy to life and I am really glad I got to play like a kid all day. And that is how it's gonna be the rest of my life! No way.

2nd first day this year.

First conversation I heard as 2nd grade students were coming in:

Steve: You're an amateur.
Jack: WHAT?!
(Steve runs away.) That's not a word you hear in elementary school let alone 2nd grade.

I look up during writing time and Millie is pretending she's blind. Then she does this tricky hand motion to her eyes and she isn't blind any more. It's really entertaining. She does this often.

Richard: "Where's Dallin?"
Brian: "I think he's got the swine flu."
Richard: "I hope so!"

My teacher has candy, cereal, and/or pretzels in every corner of her room. I like this lady. I put an orange and green skittle in my mouth at the same time. It's a good combo, try it.

Well she gives out like one m&m or one skittle for good behavior/finished work. This happens several times during the day. Before she hands any edible item, a student goes around distributing squirts of with hand sanitizer. I'm taking tallies tomorrow for how many times the students apply hand sanitizer. That'll be cool to see. Very appropriate precaution.

rational

I was thinking about it in church today. How I have to do the Teacher Work Sample to graduate. It's due a week from tomorrow. Then I thought...what if I turn it in late? Like just whenever I get it done? They can't hold back my graduation date just for turning it in late. This is graduation we're talking about here. Graduating from college. No one is a big enough jerk to be like "hey, your TWS was a week late, you can't graduate."

lost and FOUND

Found it! I left my journal at church and the bombest girl in the ward took it home with her because she didn't want to leave it in the accessible lost and found.

nooooo!

Is there anything worse than leaving your journal somewhere? I submit that there is NOT!

Where people can just pick it up and read it? It's like leaving your soul behind! Here, just look into my soul and know everything I think about.

Bye 4th grade :(

I am exactly half way DONE!
I'd like to electronically say goodbye to Lindon Elementary. I will really miss those kids. How they tease me when I call the scissors "knives" and other accidental happenings that I can't think of right now.

Oh man those kids! Like the little skater boy who would always talk to me when he wasn't supposed to: "Miss Shumway, look at my emo eraser" "Miss Shumway, do you like my new shoes?" "Miss Shumway, smell this pencil." haha and another boy who was in love with me. And one boy that I avoided calling on because his comments always involved violence in the most awesome form. They all remind me of myself when I was their age.

I have three days off, the weekend, then I'll start 2nd grade at my sister's school! that. will. be. INCREDIBLE. What a ride I'm loving this.