How much can we cram in 1 week?

On Monday, I went and did a 20 minute presentation to the school foundation board.  It was pouring down rain, I was exhausted, and it was hard to drive back to the school.  I had written a grant proposal since all of my funding for the high school was cut.  I felt I did a great job explaining all the wonderful things I have been doing for both schools.  I didn’t hear back until Thursday.  They said they were all impressed with what I have been doing, but only granted $1000 out of the $5000 I asked for.  I was devastated.  They even took away some extra grant funding from 2 years ago.  They said they are going to the superintendent to see if more funding can be available, but I am majorly discouraged.  Why would you cut the book funding??? Then this week the middle school principal cut the all school weekly reading time called “Turn the page Tuesday”.  What is wrong with these people???
Ok on to better things…Alayna brought the baby home this week.  She did such a great job.  She had a rough night, like they all do, and then she was home sick the next 2 days due to a massive head cold.

She is also doing a great job of taking care of all 3 guineas!  This is how they sit on her lap when she is on the computer.

Wish her luck- she gives her very 1st talk in sacrament meeting today!!

On Tuesday, I drove over an hour away to Earlville, Iowa to be the keynote speaker for the Eastern Iowa Reading Council Conference.  Talk about nerve-racking!  There were over 120 people there and I was nervous sick.  Thank goodness I had been preparing for months and practicing forever so I was at ease once it began.  It went great and I was even funny.  I am including the wonderful comments I received so I can look back on them when I have those rough days…
*To sum it up one lady came up and said, "I was tired and exhausted and didn't want to travel and come to this stupid meeting but you made every minute worth it!"
*"Hi Kris, I first want to thank you for the great night, I so wish my children would of had you for a teacher or librarian! My kids are 18, 20 and 21 and all of them were told not to read their favorite books or magazines which contained of hunting and sports. It makes me sad as an educator that teachers tell students that. I would love the websites you talked about last night, I think the students would really enjoy them. Thanks again for a great night!"
*Thank You, Kris!!! I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation last night - I felt completely rejuvenated when I left! You really should add writing a book to your very busy schedule as what you shared is so important and you have such an enthusiasm for literature - it would be a good read for sure!
Thursday was Book Character Dress Up day at the middle school.  It was a huge success and I am always so grateful to the adults who support me.  I was Maleficent when she was a little girl (hence the small horns and wings).  I was covered in a can of silver glitter (at one point my eyelashes stuck together).  I ran around with my electric swoosh wand being goofy and the kids just loved it!

See the glitter?


Friday was edible book day at the high school and even that was a success!!  We had 10 entries!  I didn’t compete since I didn’t think it would be fair, and really a student should win, but everyone kept telling me mine would win and voted for mine anyway.  We had over 100 kids vote and after school we had hundreds come in to taste test!  Here is my entry…



Here is our snowman- I call him Bart- made out of reams of paper.  AND one of our kids on the robotics team made him robotic arms!

Tyler’s play “Love on the Rails” was this weekend.  He did a fantastic job and I am surprised he was able to memorize all those lines!  We are super proud of him!


After the fight scene, being dragged to get tied to the tracks!