T.G.I.F.... I think....

Okay, I am usually so happy for Fridays. But today made me wish that it was Monday. Here's what happened:

8:00 AM- I'm teaching the early morning math group, and I cannot get kids to participate. It didn't help that it was a hard lesson. So here I am, doing the teacher show, and the kids are either half-asleep or off in la-la land.

9:00 AM- School starts. I have three kids ask if the ski field trip note is due today. Every day this week I have reminded them that it isn't due until March 5. I have another student turn in book order money. I submitted our book order yesterday. Awesome.

9:20 AM- I have a student crying  because he forgot his math homework. Again, I am teaching this difficult lesson in math, and I have zero participation. However, they won't shut up when I ask them to get a red pen out of their desk. It takes a full minute for all students to turn to the right page in their math book. I have five kids who are making zero effort on the math assignment, even when I am sitting next to them and telling them what to do.
Me: "What's 3x3/5?"
Student: "9."
Me: "That's the numerator. Now you need to write the denominator and you're done."
Student: "9 and 3/5."
Me: "Try again."
Student: "9 and 9/5."
Me: "Look at what we did before. You just need to write the denominator below the 9 and the denominator is just staying the same, so write 5."
Student: "9 and 3/5."
Me: "Just write 9/5! Actually, I'll write it. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."
(This actually went on for much longer and with five different kids at the same time)

10:20 AM- I am working my butt off to get the kids to wake up. We are doing a fun vocabulary lesson, an interesting comprehension lesson, and the kids are barely awake. One of my kids who has been hard (who hasn't had a bad day in a while) had a terrible day. I had to remind him a billion times to stay on task.

11:20 AM- We start a science experiment. Now they're awake and won't shut up. I'm trying to give instructions and I have kids walking around and talking. I wait forever and give them a million reminders to get them to listen. At the end of our experiment, I have three groups who did not follow instructions and 10 other kids just standing by me looking at the experiment, even though I told them to sit down so I could explain everything. I was going to do a little activity but did a read aloud instead.

12:15 PM- I have 10 kids who are in from lunch today. I am frantically running copies of the science homework.

12:45 PM- We were supposed to use the iPads today, but there was no way I was going to deal with a million kids with their hands in the air because they didn't listen to instructions and are lost, or because their battery is low, or whatever other million problems I always seem to have with the iPads. We did a writing activity instead. Again, pulling teeth to get the kids to participate, and then when we are grading the assignment, I have 10 hands in the air at all times with questions like, "What if I put 'is' instead of 'are'? Do I still get it right?" We didn't have time to put scores in the computer because it took 20 minutes to correct the assignment.

1:00 PM- Little boy tells me he is feeling sick. I ask him, "Can you make it for one more hour? We are taking a math test and if you are feeling okay, I'd like you to try to stay to take the test. If you are feeling too sick though, I want you to go home." He says, "I think I'll stay."

2:00 PM- I am explaining homework and getting everyone ready to go home. We are all sitting and listening to instructions (five minutes left of school) and my sick boy starts throwing up all over his desk. All the other kids start dry-heaving while I walk him, with the garbage can, to the bathroom. I frantically tell the kids to get cleaned up.

2:05 PM- School is over, but I have a million kids still in my room, taking their sweet time getting ready to go home. One little boy had his papers taken out of his box by mistake by another student. I find him some other papers, and then miraculously, his papers turn up. Then another girl can't find her papers, I get her taken care of and the boy comes up to me and says, "Mrs. Fischer, aren't you proud of me that I didn't start crying when I couldn't find my papers?" AHHHHHH! Yes, I am proud of you because if you started crying I probably would have freaked out!

2:20 PM- Faculty meeting about the new testing that is starting in six weeks. Totally overwhelming. Too much information to process, and then the lady tells us that it's all probably going to change soon. Why did we have this meeting again?

4:00 PM- We start signing up for times to take the end-of-year tests. It takes 45 minutes.

It is now 5:00 and I am about ready to kill someone. Good thing it's the weekend right? Although I've never had a Monday this crazy...

Happy Birthday Kailee and Cassie's Farewell

On Saturday, February 15, we celebrated Kailee's first birthday! She was sooo cute and there were so many people there to celebrate her special day (which was actually on February 11). Of course there was lots of food, which the boys wasted no time giving to miss K. She quite enjoyed eating ice cream off of Randy's plate! She also dug right into her birthday cake! She had so much frosting all over her, I'll have to get the pictures from Kendra one of these days.

Birthday girl was so shy around all the people. We finally got her opening presents and she wasn't really interested until she opened up a toy with lights and sounds and then she was mad when they took it away!

One of her presents had this cute crown as part of the bow and she put that crown on and wouldn't take it off! She wore it and just her diaper while eating cake!

Harrison was pretty tired by the time the party was over.

After the party, Matt and I got to go to the Verizon store to update our phones. It is ridiculous how much phones change in just two years, and how much they cost! It is also ridiculous how long you have to wait to get someone to help you at that dumb store, even if you already know exactly what you want. We were there for almost two hours by the time we were done.

Then we got to go out to dinner with Lance and Kendra, Tim and Kamie, and Randy and Jenny. We decided as siblings that we'd rather spend time together than buy each other gifts for Christmas and everyone's been so busy that it took a while to find a night we could go out. We argued for a while about where to go and finally landed on Hires Big H. After Hires, everyone was craving some other treats, so we went and got churros. Yes, very random. I'm not sure where that idea came from. Then some people wanted Italian ice, so we ended up at some ice cream/shaved ice place in Sandy. Again, I'm not sure whose idea this was, but it was random and fun. The boys for some reason had to sit at the kids table. It was pretty funny watching these big guys get into those little chairs and then even funnier as they were all laughing hysterically at each other. If there's anything you should know about the Fischer boys, it's that they all think they are pretty funny, so when all four of them are together there is more laughing and giggling than 12-year-old girls at a slumber party.

Matt would rather be with his brothers than anyone else. It's a good thing I love the Fischer wives so much, otherwise we'd definitely have problems!

Even though our night ended fairly early, we were all home by 9:00, it was soooo much fun. I love getting together with our family and am so lucky to have such great in-laws.

The next morning was Cassie's farewell! I can't believe how fast time has passed! She did soooo great! I was so proud of how hard she worked to write a nice talk and share her testimony of the gospel and share her story of how she decided to go to on a mission. There were so many people there to support her, I couldn't believe it! All of our grandparents, with the exception of my Papa who is in a rehab facility after his shoulder surgery, were able to be there. My Grandma Decker and Aunt Diane both came, along with Grandma and Grandpa Norton, Grandma Fox (Jeff's mom), and Grandma and Grandpa Pullan (Laurie's mom and dad). That is the first time ever that all those people were in the same place! Cassie also had Jeff's sister and her whole family, many of our Norton aunts and uncles and cousins, Matt's mom and dad, a bunch of my parents' friends from our old neighborhood and even from the house in California, tons of Cassie's friends, and of course Alex, my mom and Matt and I were there. It was so fun saying hello to everyone and I think I hugged more people than I have in a long time!

After the farewell, my mom hosted a gorgeous brunch at her house. She had a build-your-own yogurt bar with doughnuts, orange rolls and sugar cookies. Everything was so good and looked so pretty. My camera had a dead battery so I didn't get any pictures. I couldn't believe how many people showed up to support Cassie. I loved talking to people that I haven't seen forever, like Kathy and Brad Collings, my mom and dad's friends from our Old Mill neighborhood, and John and Lori Witkowski, who have been friends with my parents forever. It made me feel so old remembering those times when I was little. I hope I keep in touch with all my friends so someday my friends will be there to support my kids when they are all grown up.

After breakfast, we got to stop by the rehab facility and visit my Papa. He just had his shoulder replaced and he is getting taken care of at the rehab place. I love my Papa so much. He is so cute. My Grandma told me she liked my jeans, and my Papa says, "She could be wearing a plastic bag and she'd still look beautiful." Can you see why I love him so much?

After visiting my Papa, we drove up to Midway for birthday dinner for Matt's Grandpa. Everyone else was already there, and it was fun to see some of Matt's cousins and aunts and uncles. I would love to build a house up there in Midway one day, it is so beautiful. Again, it was fun to see everyone and catch up and visit for a while. Matt's Grandpa and his wife, Ramona, are both so sweet. We love them so much.

Matt and I had a fantastic weekend visiting friends and family. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend down in Salt Lake.

Rewind: Valentine's Day 2009

Our very first Valentine's Day, back in 2009, when we were dating:

Babysitting that night for the McKinlays...

CTR 4 Stories

Matt and I weren't sure what to expect with four-year olds in primary. However, we have quite enjoyed ourselves...

• The first week we are teaching, I am trying to get started on our lesson and I was not prepared for how easily the kids get side-tracked. I am used to 10-year olds, and 4-year olds are very different. One of the kids stood up and said, "I have pockets!" Then all the other kids had to look for their pockets, show us their pockets, and discuss pockets at great length for at least five minutes.
•  We have been talking a lot about choosing the right. One of our cute boys is always telling us the elaborate ways that his brothers beat him up at home, and how that is not choosing the right.
• "Have you seen 'Frozen'?" "Have you seen 'Frozen'?" "Have you seen 'Frozen'?" Ask that question fifty more times, and you will feel the same way as we do after six weeks.
• The kids have all learned Matt's name. They love Matt. They have no idea what my name is. I tried to help them remember my name by telling them it's like the word 'story'. So the next week, Matt asks the kids my name, and one of the boys says, "Well, it's not story...."
• Matt and I give the kids treats for being good. Like being able to sit in their chair for five minutes, and walking to the bathroom, and actually going to the bathroom while we're in the bathroom, and being quiet during sharing/singing time. During singing time, one of our little boys walks over to me and says, "I have been singing for three songs! Do I get a treat now?" He is also the same child who will start crying if he wants to participate and doesn't get picked. Actually, we have a couple who do that.
• The bathroom. We have to use the bathroom at a different time than the other classes because our group is a little crazy. The first week, the boys and girls were going in the stall, locking the door, then crawling under the bathroom stall doors to get out, leaving all the stalls locked. Not to mention that they never actually went to the bathroom.
• One week, we were learning about God's plan and the war in Heaven. I had some little printed pictures of people and Jesus and Heavenly Father and one of Lucifer. I was telling the kids that we chose to follow Jesus and not Lucifer. I pointed to the picture of Lucifer and asked, "Who is this guy?" "JUICIFER!"
• We have to play "Follow the Leader" when we walk to the bathroom. Matt is always the leader. He will walk down the hall with his arms folded, and the kids have to also fold their arms. But to keep them interested in our game, Matt has to move his arms around and the kids have to watch to see what he's going to do so they can do it too. We look like the biggest idiots walking down the hall sticking our arms out to the side, then folding them, then sticking them out the other way...

We are actually liking our calling. I like that Matt and I get to do it together. I'm sure there will be more stories to post over the next few months!

House Updates... Long Overdue

These pictures have been long overdue. We have hit a slow time in building because there is really nothing left for us to do but electrical, and since we are doing it ourselves, we need a lot of help and it has been hard and slow. However, this week we finally were able to get started! Yay! (And I apologize in advance for all the pictures... they may look like they are all the same, but they are really different. I also apologize that all the pictures were taken in the dark. I haven't been to the house in the daytime very often lately, and when I'm there while it's light, we are working and I am usually too tired to take any pictures.)

Master bathroom

Lights in the master bedroom. There will be a fan in the middle. I talked Matt into wiring a light switch next to our bed so we don't have to fight at night about who has to get out of bed and turn off the light. Yay!

Lights down the hall

Second bathroom

Lights in the vaulted ceiling in the living/dining room. There will be a fan in here too.

A couple weekends ago, Matt and I framed the basement! All the lumber had already been delivered and payed for, so we decided to just frame it. We will also insulate and run basic electrical so when we finish the basement it won't be super hard.

This is the view from the landing into the east half of the great room

All the HVAC is done and passed inspection! This vent runs down the great room.

The west part of the great room

The furnace. Water heater will go in here too.

Storage room! I love how much space there is in here, and can't wait for Matt to build shelves for me to use for all our stuff! The organization possibilities leave me breathless. We are planning to sheet rock this room.

South bedroom- this is directly below the master bedroom. It has a huge closet. Definitely the best closet of all the bedrooms (besides the master of course)

Bathroom for the two bedrooms. There is a linen closet in the bathroom. Matt is pretty mad about how the heat was run right through this room. Another thing to do different next time... check the Manual J before you frame!

North bedroom. Most of the window is above ground, so this will be nice and sunny!

Under the stair storage and view of HVAC

Matt and I are very secure now with this fantastic deadbolt in our door to the garage...

Ok, so if someone wanted to get it, they could just go through the wall. I guess the deadbolt is not quite so secure right now... The sheet rock is supposed to go up on this wall soon so we don't have to worry about wire getting stolen out of the house.

Lights in the kitchen. We are going to put in a few more lights over the bar and are considering under-cabinet lighting (as a suggestion from our great, but light-crazy, electrician friend... we'll see). There will be a light over the window too.

This week Matt has finished putting up the frames for all the cans and has started running wire for the lights and outlets. Hopefully by Friday we can have most of the wires run for the lights, and most of the wires run for outlets, so next week we can pull everything into the box! After rough electrical, we will have our four-way inspection (actually more of a two-way inspection since the inspector already passed the framing and HVAC, so we just need the plumbing and electrical looked at). Then we can call the sheet rock guys and the insulation guys and start doing finish work! We have hit a snag, but once we finish rough electrical, things will start moving again! I'm excited that it's already halfway through February but way nervous too that we won't be done by summer!

Life

Since Christmas break, I feel like our lives have totally exploded into chaos. The first week in January I started my Reading Endorsement classes. They are every Wednesday night from 4:30-9:00 in Hyrum, and go every week from January 2014 through June 2015 (except this summer). I am still teaching pre-teaching math every morning from 8:00-8:30 and coach jump rope club after school Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, until 5:00. I was put as head of a new committee at school and we have had several meetings this month, not to mention the other committee that is starting to have meetings. I have also had A LOT of meetings about one of my students. I also just got a level 2 student from Utah State and will be getting a level 3 student from Utah State in my classroom. Oh and don't forget that I still work all day.

And that is just my schedule. Matt is working like crazy, and when he doesn't have work with Todd, he is working on our house. Every night after both our jobs are over, we go over to the house and work as long as we can. Sometimes we work until we run out of materials, sometimes we work until we have no body heat left, and sometimes we work until we can't stand any longer. Needless to say, everything else in our lives has pretty much gone to waste...

This is our "junk drawer". Everyone has one. Yes, you do. Ours is a table. All the books I'm reading, projects I'm in the middle of, cereal Matt can't put away, house plans, invoices, drinks, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure Randy's head will explode one of these days having such a mess in his house, being the neat freak that he is, but he has been more patient than I can imagine. Sometimes even Harrison wants to clean up after us. I look forward to having a lot of places to put all this stuff when the house is finished!

Again, another one of the things that we don't really have space for. The drinks have a nice little home on the floor next to the garbage can.

Matt and I recently were called to teach the CTR 4 class in primary at church. We have had many adventures in just the first six weeks of this calling, and Sunday has really become an interesting day for us. I will have to blog about some of our funnier moments later. But the picture below is our church bag. We have all the important stuff: the manual, iPad with music and other stuff we need on it, whatever materials we need for our lesson, and of course, Matt's treats that he so willingly shares with the kids in our class. We started with the giant bag of Skittles, but Matt had to have some variety so he bought the gummy worms/gummy bears to have too. We had to designate these treats as "Sunday Treats" so that Matt wouldn't eat them all during the week. I love being around such a grown up all the time.

Speaking of grown ups, apparently Matt gets thirsty while he is IN THE SHOWER. I have never been so thirsty while in the shower that I couldn't wait until I got out to get a drink.

I hope you enjoyed the little snapshots into our lives. We are so crazy right now, and I am so happy we are building a house and so happy Randy and Jenny are letting us live with them, but I really am excited for things to calm down.