chasing birds

We went to Wheeler Farm today for entertainment since russell is in FL for the week. I met up with an old friend from HS and let our boys run all over the farm-mostly chasing the bird. It was a blast. I got color to my skin and quinn got a good nap.

We went down to Cedar for my little brother's wedding.. hard to think he is THAT old.. man.....
and my other brother got his call to Nebraska for his mission. It was good to spend time with them seeing as they are all moving on in life. Korbin is going to miss his Uncles now that one moved to TX, one will be in NE. Good thing Joe will still be around...

I also officially have the part time job for next year. I will be teaching 3rd grade in the afternoons. My partner is one of the same teachers I worked with last year as a student teacher. I am REALLY excited and lucky to have gotten a job. 500 applicants for one position.. ikes!

Quinn is one step away from crawling and I am not sure how that happened--- he army scoots SO FAST! Korbin has to learn how to share and how to be MUCH more patient now that he is mobile.

I choose this

(this is what we woke up to after telling Korbin to go play down stairs while russ and I slept in)

So today is Mother's Day and it is still kind of weird to think that I am "grown-up" enough to actually be a mom.. let alone a mom to TWO kids... but in all honesty, I choose nothing else for my life right now.

I had a kid-less friend ask me if I miss being able to go do things without having to plan ahead and without hesitating my answer was no.

I don't feel that I am missing out on ANYTHING that is more important than being a Mom. I don't care about the 'sacrifices' that I make daily/hourly. Anything I have 'given up' is made worth it ten fold in the smiles I get from my boys. I'd have it no other way:

- Even if that means wake up calls at 3:30 am on a Saturday asking for 'mac 'n cheese

*true sign he is my child

- being told "you being mean- you go'n corner!" for not giving in and giving an extra cookie
- not having a clean and organized house or a clutter and crumb free car

- the never ending pile of laundry full of miniature outfits that you swore you just washed

- Sponge Bob and Cars over ANYTHING not animated

- the perfect outfit ruined by a LONG stream of drool and or spit up

- my days "off" from work starting at 6:00 am and filled with trips to the park

- trading Wingers or Olive Garden for Artic Circle bc they have the best play place

- getting 'help' to do simple chores that should take five min but end up taking 20 min

- seeing your kid get SO excited when you got them a surprise or tired extra hard to make them happy

- hearing "luff you mama" randomly throughout the day
- getting slobbery wet kisses

- seeing the look of pure joy come across Quinn's face when your eyes meet

- getting giant bear hugs from Korbin

- being told at 6:00 am that it is "wake up time" and asked if I had a good dream

- being asked to cuddle on the couch instead of going to bed

- watching your oldest give 'luvs' to your youngest without being directed to

- getting told you are "butiful' when you are feeling like a floppy whale

The experiences I have had from being Mom are and have been better than anything else in my life. As I see it the pros out way the cons every time.

It was bound to happen eventually

My students have discovered a new game..

Q: how many fingers am I holding up?
A: 5...duh.....
Response: NO FOUR ..... Plus one thumb.....

man that joke never gets old.................even after you get asked 10 time within one hour

As promised

Here's what you have missed since the last post of the kids:

- Took Quinn swimming for the first time

- Had to pay to go swimming for the first time (ouch)

- Russ went to Hawaii for 2 weeks for "work" (pictures say other wise)

- Russ survived a Tsunami

- Got a new wedding ring to replace the one that WE (I) lost

- Quinn learned how to roll over (wish he would learn how to roll over the the other way now to save from frustration)

- Quinn is eating big boy food (meaning he SLEEPS through the night)
- Took Korbin to Kanagroo zoo and he LOVED it (except the "scary guy" ones)

- Korbin went to Grandma's for a whole week

- My house stayed clean for a whole week

- Korbin told me to go sit in the corner

- Got "called" to the Primary to teach nine 6 year olds....................

- Contemplated signing up for a half marathon

- Ran 5 miles and made my decision to be largo for the rest of my life

- Have only 40 more days left of school left (this year went by SO fast)

One should not have to be told to stay out of the recylcing dumpster more than once...

I know I said that I would post pics of the kids next. but this was too good to not share-

So one of the students has decided that it is in her best interest to go "dumpster" diving. She was found in the dumpster on Monday "looking for boxes" and looking for answers for HW for forth grade next year. We had a chat about how unsanitary and unsafe that was. I assumed she understood why one should not climb inside a recycling bin...

Today she said she had to go to the bathroom.. I let her go and kept an eye on the clock since she has a habit of being easily distracted...10 min went by and she did not return- so I sent a responsible student to go and find her. She came back without her and said she didtn see her in any of the bathrooms. So I called the office and had them page her over the intercom... "insert name here.. Go back to class please......"
5 min later she comes waltzing in....
I pulled her aside and had another conversation with her and before I could open my mouth to ask she blurted out "I wasn't in the recycling bin Mrs. Nelson."
Me: Okay, where were you?
Her: The bathroom
Me: You were in the bathroom for 1/2 hour? Bc if you were we might need to tell your mom to call the doctor.
Her: No, I had to check the recycling bin bc i saw a bunch of kids taking a box full of stuff to dump in it.....
Me: You said you were not in the recycling bin
Her: I know- I didn't mean to fall in- it was on accident- (keep in mind this a LARGE dumpster that you would have to climb up into in order to get in)
Me: Okay, why did you accidentally fall into the dumpster?
Her: BC i was looking in to see if I could get the box
Me: Stay out of and away from the recycling bin

What is a polygon

I know all I seem to be blogging about is my class, but I have one more funny quote and then someday I will blog about the fam again..

So in class we are talking about Polygons and what defines a polygon, for those uneducated indviduals who forgot: A polygon is a closed (meaning the ends touch) figure without any curves (meaning all straight lines).

When it is time for the kids to go at the end of the day I make them tell me something they learned that day. One of my girl's informed me that she was infact NOT a polygon. I asked her to explain she said " because I can open my mouth and I have girly curves"...
I am pleased to say that my lesson was successful.

Dear Third Grade Students...where have i failed you

It snowed... snow is wet... snow is wet and cold....
Don't slide down the slide that is covered with wet and cold snow or you will be a very wet and cold snow covered person....



oh and to the girl in my class that wrote "those pants make your but look bigger than a elafant" and "Insert name here, I hat you! becuse you are a pig!".... and broke all the pencils in the poor girl's desk:

1. learn how to spell if you are going to write mean notes
2. dont write mean notes to poor girls who have self esteem issues as it is..
3. dont deny writing it when YOU SIGNED your name and you are the only kid in my class who writes her "b's" backwards
4. you get to spend recess with me now... lucky lucky me