30 days flew by in September!

Family - Football - Homework - Housework - Work Work - Family - Football - Homework - Housework - Church Work - Family - Family - Family - Homework - Housework - Football - Family . . . .

That's my life and it's great!

Winning Team . . . . HUNTER!

The Hunter High School Wolverines finally got a win! Yes! The win over Granger was long awaited and well-deserved. Hunter led most of the game, but like last week the opposing team made a comeback. With only a few minutes left it looked like Granger would take the lead. But, a big Hunter defensive lineman intercepted a Granger pass and ran about 60 yard for a touchdown and sealed the win! The boys, the coaches, and the fans were so excited you'd thought they won the Super Bowl.

Willie had a great game. He moved back to right tackle since Michael's (center) foot has healed. The offensive line was the best it's been all season.

It was so nice to be part of the celebration for the winning team!

I am catching up, BLOG world!

September always begins with a celebration, our anniversary, September 1. This year marked 35 years of wedded-ness. We always try to do something with the kids to celebrate. So, Labor Day weekend we (our three-some family) headed out of the Salt Lake Valley, in the new family truckster, toward the Grand Tetons and Jellystone Park. We usually go to West Yellowstone for our anniversary celebration, but this year I wanted to do something different, so we booked a couple of nights at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Tetons.

It was a beautiful drive through Parley's Canyon, through Evanston then Woodruff and Randolph, the beautiful Star Valley, and finally Jackson. The Snake River was busy with rafters and kyakers -- and so amazingly beautiful! We walked around Jackson, had dinner at Mountain High Pizza and then off to the lodge. About 10 minutes out of Jackson, I let karl and Willie how there was no TV or wireless access in our little "classic cottage". After the initial shock, they were cool about it. About that same time, we saw three bull moose in a meadow which definitely contributed to a great trip.

The Jackson Lake Lodge is your typical National Park lodge in many ways -- rustic, tucked away off the road in tall pine wooded area. A key feature of this lodge, however, is it's spectacular view through 60 foot high windows of the Tetons. We didn't catch the view until the next morning and it was spectacular! We also saw a cow moose and her baby in the grassy meadow 100 yards or so from the deck of the lodge.

After a late night milk shake at the diner in the lodge we headed to our cottage -- a 3 minute walk from the lodge. Our "classic cottage' was quaint, clean, and 1950-ish with a few updates (compfy matresses and a ceiling fan). When it was time for beddy-bye, Willie wondered what to do -- no TV. So, I suggested we play games --I started out by asking him his favorite color. We both had a laughing attack over that question and then just played some dumb "I am thinking of . . ." games while Karl snored away. It was an awesome late night whatever.

Sunday morning we headed to Jellystone via Colter Bay. We spent the day driving through the park, getting out at key points of interest and ending up at Old Faithful about 15 minutes before its blast off - it always amazes me. There is a new visitor's center at Old Faithful -- very modern and exceptionally fancy clean bathrooms. We also walked through the Old Faithful Inn, sat on the front deck for a few, and watched the people. Willie tried to get to the rooftop of the inn, but couldn't find the secret passageway.

We had dinner back at the Lodge and enjoyed the lobby (wi-fi) for a few hours and then back to the cottage.

We got up early Monday and headed home via the Jenny Lake area. It is definitely one of our "to dos" next time -- a boat trip acorss the lake and a hike back. We made it back home in time for football practice and homework! A great weekend!

Happy Birthday!

My mom's birthday is today! If she were here with us, she would be 81. On any given day, if I allow my thoughts to zoom in on the fact that she is not here, I have to redirect and move on.


Today is a day to celebrate mom's legacy and remember her spirt and zest for life. Not a day goes by without feeling some sense of Mom's love for family, hard work, and the gospel. Our times together in conversation and activity resonate in my mind and heart.

Life is so temporary! Love the possibilities and opportunities it presents through family, hard work, and the gospel, and you will find peace, happiness, and sense of purpose difficult to describe in words on a page.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

First 2 Weeks of School

So, the first 2 weeks of school have come to and end; and so has the month of August. Willie is a junior, 11th grade, soon to be 17, driving to and from school, taking honors and advanced classes, taking aviation, playing football, going to church, and trying to eat and sleep when he has time.

Teachers are piling on the homework. One teacher in particular assigned 200 vocabulary words to be written on the front of 3x5 cards with part of speech and definition on the back of the card. Oh my! In what century do we live 20th or 21st? This is such an old fashioned assignment! This course also comes with worksheets! ARRGGGG!!!!! I'll bet that every student in the class has a "hand held" device and most of the devices are likely to have a data plan. Does the teacher know that the students can google any word in split seconds and find the definition, the part of speech, multiple uses, synonyms, antonyms, listen to how the word is pronounced, and more? I am not sure.

Yesterday, I sat in a meeting with key decision-makers for the school district in which I work. A discussion ensued regarding a new platform for instruction called CANVAS. It is a pretty slick program that lends itself to online everything for classroom teachers -- posting assignments, connecting to online texts, message centers, storage space for student assignments, submitting assignments, assessment, and more. I was actually introduced to the program this summer as it was the instructional platform used for Willie's online PE course. (Yes, he plays football, basketball, tennis, and all those sports entail, but he still needs PE Fitness for Life and a graduation requirement -- a topic of debate for yet another day.)

I asked a really stupid question in the course of the meeting as to the status of the roll out of CANVAS to teachers. I was told that the building principals have the information and they can get their staff on board when they choose. I was also told that the "district" staff over the program will do training on CANVAS at school sites from now until November. Well, those responses didn't satisfy me. I suggested that we blast the information out to all teachers and let those who are techno savvy the opportunity to use it now, today, to make their instructional organization more 21st century now, at the beginning of the year. Granted, we do have a few old duffers in our classrooms, but largely a well-trained ready to go with something new corps of teachers.

This final inquiry of the meeting was met with silence. After some time to process, it was explained by many in the room that doing what I had suggested would only look like "one more thing" added on a teacher's plate; it would be overwhelming and stressful for them; it would be too much to move ahead without the support of the education association; and a few more weighty excuses.

So, my conclusion -- it will be another century or longer before our education system moves into the current century. Years form now students will be searching Walmart (the only place their sold) for 3x5 cards made in China (the only place their made).

I can't get too discouraged because students in one of our high schools each have an iTouch and I read about a new school in Davis County where all kids get notebooks (computer notebooks)!

Football Game #1 -- Loss to Layton

Although Hunter HS football team had nearly 300 yards of offense and some pretty good defense in Friday's game vs Layton HS, they couldn't get any points on the scoreboard. There were good plays and yardage and then there were fumbles and interceptions. Relatively new coaching staff, juniors and sophomores playing in their first ever varsity game, and not knowing what to expect, etc., all contributed to the loss. However, they looked pretty good, especially #74, and I am hopeful there will be some "W's" this season.

Next up -- Pleasant Grove on Friday, August 26, 7:00 p.m.

Willie quote of the day . . .

"I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty pumped up!"

Football game tomorrow -- starting offensive left tackle is my son, not the squirrel in the photo.

Fotoball Game Saturday!

Willie is excited for a football game. The Hunter Wolverines have been practicing since the first week of July with plays and drills. Before that, there was conditioning. Tomorrow is the blue and white game @ 7 PM and then next week a preseason game vs Layton HS. You can read a nice article on the 2011 season if you like.

Schedule
August 19 vs LAYTON, 7 PM
August 26 @ Pleasant Grove, 7 PM
September 2 vs WEST JORDAN, 7 PM
September 9 vs Davis, 8 PM (@ Weber State)
September 16 BYE
September 23 vs WEST, 7 PM
September 30, @ Granger, 3:30 PM
October 7 @ Kearns, 7 PM
October 13 vs TAYLORSVILLE, 7 PM
October 19 @ Viewmont, 7 PM

Sickly Summer Day

Willie is not doing so well today. He has a bad headache, upset stomach, a mild fever, and no energy. He missed football practice --said if he went he would "pass out and die". I paid a visit to the football coach to let him know about Willie. I know it's tough when all of the players aren't at practice, but I didn't want to risk having my son get sick at football.

So, he's been on the couch most of the day. Hopefully, a good night's sleep will bring on a quick recovery.

Summer is winding down -- it's been busy and good. Not much vacationing or anything like that, just nice days and evenings. Willie's been working on an online class all summer and reading a book for honor's English. He hasn't had much free time, but I think he's had a good summer. We are going to try to cap it off with an unannounced trip somewhere (I think I mentioned that in an earlier blog).

For now, I just want my boy to be his normal happy energetic self.

July 25, 2011

Celebrating "Pioneer Day" is really an ongoing activity in my life. I am a native Utahan largely due to my pioneer heritage. Back 164 years ago, Utah and surrounding territories were not the most beautiful and popular tourist attractions around. On the contrary, the countryside was dessert land with a salty lake in the middle. Go figure! The only people who came here (to Utah) were those seeking solace and peace from some kind of persecution. They must have been pretty desperate to come. Some were lucky enough to ride in a covered wagon or later on (after 1869), they came by train. However, most of the early settlers pulled a cart and walked their way here. Some walked 1200-1300 miles from the most western point of civilization at that time. The Utah territory was an unknown, and to walk here -- through Nebraska, Wyoming, and over the Rocky Mountains -- pretty tall commitment and solid dedication.

Flash forward to today -- the pioneer legacy has withstood generations of time! The once forlorn desolate dessert land has truly "blossomed as a rose" (Brigham Young). I love this place (after all it is the "right place"). I have traveled near and far and each time I return to the Salt Lake Valley, I sigh and feel that sense of emotion that there is "no place like home"! I love the valley, the mountains, the salty lake, the buildings and neighborhoods, the people, and just about everything!

The painting in this post is call "Zion, Ho" by Minerva Teichert. It features a pioneer woman who turns and exclaims her excitement to those who follow at seeing the Salt Lake Valley for the first time! This message is never ending. I feel like doing the same when I get that glimpse of the valley from on high.

Friday, Willie and I took the afternoon to do some pioneering on our own. We visited the DUP Museum, stopped by the old Council Hall across from the Capitol, drove through the "avenues", explored the City Cemetery, viewed the valley from the University of Utah, and stopped by the zoo for a churro. Our activity, although a little weird, only confirmed my great love of the Salt Lake Valley and the blessing I have of living here. I will tell all who think about living here to come! It is amazing, those who settled here were truly inspired!

What happened to June?

So, it's July 5. Not a significant day, but clearly five days since the month of June ended. What happened to June?

School ended
Work goes on -- busiest time of year
Annie and Ross in a new house
Yard work and flower planting -- my house and Dad's
Fed the missionaries, not just 2 but 65 plus their mission president and other leaders
Willie's Eagle Court of Honor
Counselor conference at Murray High
Visits to the cemetery
Preparation for ASCA conference
Willie to Youth Conference
Father's Day
Karl microbiology class and lab
House cleaning -- my house and Dad's
USU basketball position camp -- two nights away with Willie
ASCA Conference in Seattle -- 3 presentations
Willie week-long basketball team camp in St. George
Shavy Jones
Children and grandchildren and nieces and nephews

Today, a day off! I am still in my PJs sitting here catching up on a few things. Willie is at summer seminary. Karl is at work. The sprinklers are on. Just a nice day to do nothing. I am just going to sit back and enjoy!

Observations at USU

So, I am currently sitting in the Taggart Student Center on the campus of Utah State University. Willie is here doing what he loves most, playing basketball (USU b-ball camp). This, however, is a different sort of camp where most of the participants are pretty good high school players who want to get better at their position -- post, perimeter, guard. I am spending my time wandering around the campus and making a pretty good attempt at getting some computer work done. Summer is a big part of the school year for me -- a time to get ready for a new year -- professional learning themes and activities, full-year calendar, materials and resources to support kids, and so on. I do a lot of writing, and thinking, and reading, and analyzing, and then pulling things together.

I have a table set up as my work station on the far east end of the second floor of the Taggart Student Center. Wow! There is a lot going on this week on campus -- high school cheer camp, high school leadership camp (student body officers), EFY camp (Especially for Youth), a conference for some kind of college administrators, and of course basketball camp.

I am listening to a group of high school leaders discuss "Snowball". I am not sure what it is, but it involves dancing and the group can't decide if it should be girl's choice or not. Oops, now the subject changed to what the group is going to do on the leadership camp variety show later this evening.

I love the opportunity to break away form the office, spend some time with my son, and do a little of uninterrupted work, too.

By the way, the Taggart Center is names for a former president of USU, Glen L Taggart. He was a pretty amazing individual. Click on his name and read an article written about him in the Ensign Magazine some 20 years ago. Glen Taggart is from Lewiston, Ut, born around the same time as my step-grandmother Frances. I am sure they knew each other -- Frances, a USU grad, was always very high on what the institution had to offer. There are many Eccles buildings on campus. Needless to say, the Eccles family has left their "money" mark on nearly every public college campus in the state.

Enough for now!

On our way to USU we saw a moose!

So we were just coming out of Sardine Canyon, not quite to the Wellsville exit, when low and behold, we saw a moose in a field on the right hand side of the road!!!!! I pulled over to the side and we watched. It crossed a narrow road to our right. We turned down the road to get a closer look. The moose went into a yard and some barking dogs scared it back out onto the road. We followed it and it passed in front of us twice! We tried to take a few pictures (with the phone), but it just kept moving. It was a youngster with his horns just starting to grow. How cool is that??!!!!

Eagle Scout!

29 merit badges + 20 plus nights camping + Super Scout Saturdays + hikes and bike rides + Jubilees and Courts of Honor + a bunch of other stuff and a project = Eagle Scout

(Willie is pinning a mentor pin on Grandpa.)

The Court of Honor was nice. Family and friends from the ward came to support Willie. The refreshments were yummy.

Okay, it's time to go back to school!

So I got home from work Tuesday evening and my son greeted me in this weird attire. He's trying to grow a few inches, so I suggested he wear a neck brace to try to stretch his neck a little. It was so much fun wearing the neck brace, he decided to add a nacho libre mask, an extra small junior jazz jersey, a sweat band, a crazy hat, football glove and arm guard, a thumb brace, hula lei, sun glasses, a boondoggle thing, and a lacrosse stick.

I think he's had way too much summer vacation time -- two days is too much. Time to go back to school!

School's Out!

Oh my gosh! I am so glad this school year has come to a close! It's been crazy, like mentally ill crazy, like out of control crazy, like more crazy than you can ever imagine. I have been a professional educator for some 33 years and I've seen all kinds of situations and worked with many, many students and their families, but this school year tops them all -- positives and not so positive experiences with colleagues, staff, kids, and parents.

The best part of my work is clearly working hard every day of each school year to make a difference for the 29,000+ secondary students in GSD. This school year my department introduced a tidy little planning guide for students and their parents. I think it is just about the best little planning guide around. Although it has been in draft form all year, it is excellent. I have had many opportunities to share it with students, their parents, staff, and community people. All reports indicate it has been very helpful in providing information on student planning and on all of the options and opportunities available to students in our district.

Ther is much work to do this summer to get things ready for 2011-2012 school year!

Elizabeth Ann -- Happy Birthday to You!

Oh, my! It's your birthday! How I remember the day you were born!


You are #1 in birth order, in grandchild order, and in many other orders. You are also number #1 in giving orders. I think that comes with being #1. You have amazing talents and abilities and add a touch of artistic class to just about everything you do.


Have a great day!

Molly Ardith -- You are 1

Molly is a year old today, May 14th. I remember sitting at the hospital last year on this day, at this time (3:30 p.m.) waiting for you to be born. It was taking you a long time to arrive, but you made a grand entry into the world when you were ready.

Molly is a very special little granddaughter -- she is named after her great grandmother. Happy Birthday Molly! We love you!

Wyatt -- You are 2!

My #2 grandson is 2! He is number two in order of birth -- and #1 grandchild, a ranking he shares with Elliott and Molly who are also #1 grandchildren.

The kid sitting next to Wyatt is my #1 son. He will hold that position forever!

My sweet little Wyatt is entering the age I love because 2 year-olds are little sponges, they soak up everything they see, hear, smell, do . . .

Happy Birthday!

Dear Mom --

It's been hard making the transition from talking to you at least once every single day to not at all. Sometimes I get this extremely empty feeling inside when I think about the night I got the call that you had stopped breathing and the paramedics were on their way to your house. I think about not taking a minute to give you a hug and put your foot on the stretcher as you were moved from your house to the ambulance. Then I remember a feeling of peace that came over me as I knew and could accept that your time had come.

Well, today is Mother's Day and you are obviously not where you can take a call or enjoy a visit and talk with me about how you are feeling, the weather, current events, the neighbors, the family, and anything else under the sun.

If you were here today, I would be excited to tell you about so many things that have been going on this week. I would tell you about Willie's concussion! He hit the floor hard on the back of his head a week ago in a basketball game, and he has since missed three basketball games and the region tennis tournament as a result. (Yes, the big tall blond grandson made the school tennis team!) I would also tell you about Willie's scout board of review this week and that he has earned his eagle scout rank. Our conversation would include me telling you about a phone call I got on Thursday to let me know Willie had been selected as student of the month for April and would be recognized in an assembly at school on Friday. I am so proud of him! I love my boy!

I would tell you about Annie and Haley! Annie and Ross are in the middle of selling and buying houses and Haley and James are hoping to get something going with a house this summer. Also, Haley is technically finished with her master's degree from USU and with just one more class will receive her diploma. What a girl! You will be relieved to know that James is not going to Iraq! I love my girls!

And, I would tell you that I went to the U of U commencement on Friday morning because Peter walked in the ceremony. You knew that he had finished his degree in December, but he's official now, B.S. in Health Promotion and Education. I am so proud of Peter! We would talk about the commencement speaker, Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie. His speech was inspiring!

I would spend a lot of time telling you about my grandchildren! Where do I begin? Elliott is growing up and he is such a good boy! Yesterday Annie and Ross had an early birthday party for Wyatt (2 years old) and Elliott was so well behaved about Wyatt getting all the attention and gifts. Wyatt is finally talking! He gives me kisses that end in a smack! Then there's Molly! I shouldn't tell you that she tried to climb up those dangerous slate stairs in her house. Arggg! Molly will celebrate her birthday #1 this week. She is just as cute as a button!

I go out to you house two and three times a week to check in on Dad. Oh how he misses you! He told me that he keeps thinking you have just gone away for awhile and that you'll be coming home. He is taking really good care of the house. He is very neat and keeps things organized. He does his wash every other day and the sheets every other Thursday. Dad is even washing your pillow case each time and places your special pillows and your pixie doll and your mouse neatly on your side of the bed. He's kept all of your things in place. I think he's only put your make-up and bathroom stuff away. He visits your grave at least once a week and usually takes a flower bouquet. We {all of your children} have been making sure Dad gets a nice dinner and has ice for his Diet COKE every evening. By the way, your tulips are stunning. We have had a long, cool spring and the tulips have been in bloom longer than I can remember.

Well, I don't think I can write much more. The tears are dripping down my face and I can't see what I am typing. Mom, I miss you! Please know that I am trying to be a good daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and more. I hope to always live my life like you did -- thank you for being my mom!

I love you!