Waiting around for some color…..

A few years ago I dragged my family out on a very cold February Saturday to a place called Wheeler Farm, hoping to see some signs of spring and a little color.

(My poor family thought I was nuts!)

We bundled up in our warm winter coats, hats, and gloves, and had ourselves a chilly picnic along side some equally restless looking animals.

 

Utah has had the mildest winter in many, many years.

“On the first Thursday in February Provo, Utah topped out at 70 degrees. Not only did this smash a daily record, but it was also the earliest in the calendar year it had reached 70 degrees in Provo in records dating to 1916. The previous earliest date was 19 days later, Feb. 24, 1995. Highs in the low 70s are average for Provo in early May.”

source

Some of our family living in New York and Vermont have faced record breaking snowfall this year.  They are still buried under many feet of snow.

Winter has really mixed things up this year,

but I’m still ready for some Spring.

How about you?

JoAnn

A little bragging….but Linda made me!

This is going to be one of those posts that I probably shouldn’t share…it involves a little bragging on my part, but my sister Linda said I had to (and I’m afraid of her-ha ha!).

Please feel free to log off at any time.  I know how people feel about those flowery Christmas newsletters that list all of your amazing, wonderful children and their multitalented accomplishments, as well as your success at the best work place in the universe, your perfect marriage to a six foot tall (and handsome, too) CEO, or a trophy wife if you are a male, and hint at your recently redecorated 5,000 square foot house.

Still with me?  At least you have been warned!

I feel hesitant to toot my own horn, so to speak, but on the other hand I do want to remember this, and it could have been written to any number of teachers who work with children. 

I always wonder what happens to those little people who pass through my classroom, but I seldom get to know. Many of my students move frequently and it is hard to stay in touch with them, so imagine my surprise when I received a message from a former student on Facebook tonight.

I’m setting the stage with a photo taken two years after this student was in my class, but one of the earliest I have on my computer.

Here goes:

Hi Ms. Clegg!
I have no idea if you would remember me or not, but I was in your third grade class back in 2001 at Redwood Elementary school. We held class in one of the portables behind the school building and there was a lot of construction going on with the new wing (new at the time).
I'm a student at BYU-Idaho now, getting ready to graduate with a BS in Child Development in a few semesters. I've been taking a family history class this semester and it has helped me reflect back on the people in my life who inspired me to find success.
I just wanted to get in touch with you and let you know that you are one of those people. I learned a lot from your class and from you personally. I remember that you were always an example of patience and kindness and that has stuck with me for the past 14 years. Haha! It's so weird to say that. It makes me feel old.
I hope all of those years have treated you well and that you’re still bright and happy. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and for all of the children you have taught before and after me.
Sincerely,
Megan (last name deleted for her privacy)

Guess I’ll go see who else I can find to share this with!

JoAnn

P.S.  #teacherpaydayswollenheadmoment

Grandma rewards….and consequences

I love being a grandma!

We got a late start in the grandparent business, but it was worth the wait.

We recently welcomed our NINTH grand child and she and her family will be here to visit in three (long) weeks.  We can’t wait.

Our oldest is only seven so it can be a wild party when they are all here at the same time!  Having adult grown up conversations involves using loud voices, frequent interruptions while trying to remember what you were talking about, and multi-tasking (often with a baby in your arms).  Kind of complicated, but always interesting.

We can’t believe how different each child is, and yet how much we love them all.

We received this fun note recently. 

We love doing puzzles, reading books, playing games, and cooking with them.  Recently we strung bead necklaces together.  Their comments as we play/work are priceless.

♥

Sometimes, being a grandma involves a few challenges.  Do you see the new towel rack in our tiny basement bathroom?  Hanging on the towel bar, our grandkids pulled it out of the wall, sheetrock and all.

It was an easy patch, and I like the new look better than the old.  I’d actually already been thinking that I wanted to change it- so this really was the nudge I needed.

Thanks, kid!

We often find things in new and original places after they have been here visiting.

Sometimes, we can’t find things at all.

We’ve learned to hunt in unlikely locations like the refrigerator, under the sofa, in the dishwasher, and in the toy cupboard.

When our children were little, our daughter Heidi and cousin Jon pulled up all the newly planted flowers in grandma’s flower bed.

(I’m hoping they thought they were helping.)

I guess it comes with the territory of being grand parents.  Are the inconveniences worth the joys of being a grand parent?

I wouldn’t trade my role for anything!

It’s kind of fun being the “spoiler” instead of the “disciplinarian”. 

Now I just need some good hugs.

Good thing we are having a family dinner tomorrow!

JoAnn

P.S.  Anyone have any motivational ideas for window washing?

#tiredoflookingthroughfilmyglass

An accidental new look….

(Cousins Karli, Joanna, Audrey, Liz, Reagan, and Kenni modeling Auntie Diane’s old hat collection.)

Sometimes I embrace changes.

But often, I hold on to something long past its usefulness.

Sentiment?   Maybe.

Comfort?  Probably.

Indecision?  Unfortunately.

I’ve heard that we actually become blinded to things around us and get where we don’t even notice them any more.

For example, a messy corner on a counter top, a stain on a rug, a scratch on a piece of furniture, a junk drawer, or clutter on a desk doesn’t call out to us as often as it used to.  Maybe its nature’s way of helping us cope with things.

This morning as I checked on my blog I was surprised to find that my background had been deleted or moved.

Huh?

I COULDN’T EVEN READ IT!

I had thought a few times that maybe I needed a change to my heading, but I always brushed the thought aside.  I didn’t know what else I would do, I didn’t have the time to redo it, and I’m not even sure how to go about changing things.

A phone call to my blog analyst (Liz) gave me the answer.

She had been cleaning out computer accounts and deleted one she didn’t use any more.  Yup, the one she used to create my background was on that account.  I guess they took everything with them!

Since she was literally on her way out the door for a few days, she helped me come up with a quick fix.

We might end up leaving the blog as it is now, or we might come up with a totally new idea, but the old look is gone forever.

These cute cousins (above) are just as sweet and lovely today as they were when we took this picture.  They are all grown up now.

This picture is one generation later-Liz’s daughter Maddie on her first birthday.

Change can be good, even when you resist it.

JoAnn

P.S.  Hat styles may change, but I still love the old ones.

P.P.S.  Maybe I need to have my hairstyle accidently changed!

One last look at the old…

A welcome change of pace

On Thursday and Friday of last week I got to attend The National Title One Convention held this year in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Along with several other teachers from my school, we spent two days at the Salt Palace learning new teaching ideas and practices, along side educators from all around the country.

It was nice to sit back and be the student for a while. 

(We all agreed that we needed the break-as our students probably did, too!)

We learned how important music can be in the classroom.  Well, we were reminded again how valuable it can be.  It seems that in the past few years it has been given less and less importance.  Music can help with the way the brain processes things; it is a tool to help kids gain focus and discipline (a great  help for those ADHD active students), and a catchy tune can cement a concept in our memory for many years.

It was a fun reminder.

We were emotionally fed and motivated as we listened to Stacy Bess, the teacher who wrote about her experiences teaching at a homeless shelter, or what she referred to in her book as The School With No Name.  Hallmark channel made a television movie about it. 

She reminded us that our students need caring, patience, and love.  They might not remember what we taught them, but we can impact their lives with our kindness.

We had a wonderful time wandering around downtown Salt Lake during our lunch break.

On Thursday we had delicious Mexican food at the Blue Iguana.

On Friday we wandered through Temple Square on our way to eat at The Lion House, famous for its down-home cooking.

I love how the old Assembly Hall is standing proudly against the newly constructed tower in  the City Creek mall. 

Sixty-eight degree weather made it perfect for February exploring. 

Can you believe we didn’t even wear jackets?

In Utah?  In February?

I think we all needed a time to step back and refuel. 

 

Now, if I can just keep my thoughts positive.

Have a great, uplifting Monday tomorrow!

I love this quote that Chip and Joanna Gains hung on a wall in a client’s house:

“Today is a good day for a good day.”

P.S.  Do you love their show “Fixer Upper”?

I

 

 

A little Quiz….and a prize

Looks like I really need to put some glasses on.

(We loved watching an Imax butterfly movie last Saturday at the Planetarium!)

In my recent “thinking about Valentine’s Day” post, I made another interesting goof up on the cookie recipe. 

(I warned you I was stressed from too much testing at school!)

My husband thinks I should leave it.

Maybe I will.

Can you figure out what I did wrong?

I’ll send a copy of “Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch” to the first person who leaves a comment with the correct answer to my mistake.  Please leave me a contact on my email so I have an address.

JoAnn

P.S.  The cute couple on the back fit right in with our family.

We should have shared our popcorn with them.

 

Oops!

My face is red!

I just noticed that I made a mistake on my ice cream recipe in the last post.  It is

PINEAPPLE SHERBET

Not Raspberry Sherbet.

The raspberry flavor comes from the frozen raspberries.

Sorry if anyone tried the recipe and had some very, very raspberry flavored ice cream.

* * * * * *

I love this picture of two of my little grandkids.

They are partners in crime.

They love to empty drawers, climb on furniture, color on the walls, and cause mischief together.

What one does, the other one does.

Aubrey fell asleep on the kitchen floor so guess what Zach did?

He wasn’t sleeping, but he still kept her company.

Looks like a great bond is developing between them!

I love it.

Have a great day/week!

JoAnn