Another flower?? Meet Daisy!

Because we already don’t have enough on our plate!  We were running errands yesterday and Alayna was insistent on going to Petco.  Mind you, this is a regular occurrence.  But I had been telling her I would take her and she was extra pushy.  So, I gave in and we stopped in real quick to see the new guineas.  There were some cute ones but they are $40 so its easy to say no.  We paid for the rice pops and were on our way out the door when Alayna spotted a lady holding a guinea pig and wanted to hold it.  the lady said sure, explained she was adopting him and there was a female left for adoption- only $10.  Someone didn’t want to take care of her anymore (apparently their home is immaculate and pets make messes and stink- go figure). Anyway, she is beautiful, calm, and cuddly and Alayna paid for her and has promised not to beg me for anymore.

Tyler had the Homecoming parade, Homecoming game, and 2 marching invitational contests this weekend.

He also had a choir concert where he was chosen to be part of a small ensemble (called a solee?) and he was amazing.  We could hear him all the way in the back.  We will post the video.

Sunday, for conference, we had the sister missionaries over, which is always wonderful (both conf and the missionaries).  One of the sisters is a Navajo Indian from a reservation on the 4 corners! We had Carmel apples too!

This week was Star Wars Reads Week and we partied big time at the middle school….

(Our custodian let us borrow her life size Yoda. How cool is that??)

The good and the bad…

1. Turn-the-page Tuesday, the entire school reading time at the middle school, was cut this week.  Instead they have everyone doing team building.  We (me and the many teachers) protested, but the principal said no.  How can I be doing so much for reading and people keep making barriers for me?

2.  A mom came in and said that I AM magic.  Her son sat and read all that night instead of video games.  That’s never happened.

3. This was in my box…from the tech teacher.

Also, I am in love with the new show “Flash”.  Oh Marisa, you are going to love it!!

Wish me luck this week:

Monday I present in front of the foundation board to get money for books for the high school.

Tuesday is my huge presentation at the Eastern Iowa Reading Council Conference.

Thursday is book character dress up day- my outfit rocks.

Friday is edible book day at the high school- wait til you see my submission.

Saturday going to see Maze Runner for Tylers Sweet Sixteen.  Holy Cow- he’s almost 16??

Marisa 10/6/14

This week was kind of a crazy one!  We had Sister's Conference on Monday, Mission Conference on Tuesday, my comp was really sick for a few days, and then we had General Conference on Saturday and Sunday - lots of conferences!  We hardly even worked this week!  It was a pretty interesting experience, though watching general conference with our plastic chairs and a laptop, and this time I had to watch it all in portuguese :P  I understand everything, but its really annoying to listen to a translation.  Its already hard to listen to 8 hours of conference talks in English, but its waaayyy worse when its all in portuguese.  It was kind of hard to concentrate.  But I really loved that the 70's are now speaking in their own language!  Super cool.  

Well this week is transfers, and I was transferred!  This week I'll be transferred to my new area, Limoeiro do Norte!   I'll be opening a new area there, and I'll also be training!  I'm sad to be leaving Quixada, but I'm also excited to be opening this new area!  Limoeiro is also a group, not a branch yet, like Quixada.  But there are even less members there.  Its pretty close to Quixada I think - its in the "rural" part of Ceara.  It should be an interesting adventure.  

I hope you all loved conference.  We truly do have a living-day prophet that talks to God and teaches us the things we need to do to be happy.  All we have to do now is actually apply these things that were taught.  I love you all!!  Beijos!

McMuffins, Marching and More apples

Alayna is sharing what she is learning from her FCS class.  We got egg McMuffins this week!  Today we will have English muffin pizzas with the missionaries when they come over for conference.

Doing carmeled apples the Hart way…

Kayla attending the Women’s Conference

Tyler had 2 more competitions yesterday.  They took 1st place in both!!

Tyler is in the very front…

Alayna’s school picture:

The piggies say hi!

Wow- the dark stain makes a HUGE difference!

Hugs and kisses to all on this beautiful conference weekend!

Happy 10th work anniversary to Bob!

A special Happy 10th work anniversary to Bob!

We miss Kayla and Marisa!!!!  And we aren’t sure if Tyler lives here anymore?  I haven't seen him for days…

This is Kayla with some of her roommates?

We love when we get to Skype!

Tyler had yet another busy week.  Yesterday was the LM marching band festival where they did the final number but didn’t compete- then boarded a bus to go compete in the Marion Marching Competition where they took 1st place in the 4A division!  He looked so awesome out there!

(He is 2nd from the right)

We are slowly working on our house.  The recent project has been the downstairs bathroom.  I need to find a before picture so you can appreciate how awesome this is- all done by Bob: new wall color, stained wood, and new fixtures. Its gorgeous!

Yesterday, Bob, Alayna, and I had a fun day going to Newbo market (saw some of the Czechtober festival), went our for ice cream, saw Tyler’s performance, looked at homedepot for new flooring options, went to a book sale, did all the grocery shopping, and then watched Gorillas in the Mist (since I am talking about Dian Fossey and her beautiful gorillas in my booktalks.)  It was a great movie, but I cried.  Sometimes its hard to swallow what humans can do to some of Gods creations.

Rosie and Lily wanted to say hi!

(My fav pic of Rosie)

Well, I had an interesting week at work….

At the middle school I had the following happen:

1. Teacher/Dad walks into the library this morning: So, Mrs. Hart….I don’t know what kind of magical book voodoo you use to when you talk to kids. I have tried for years to talk kids into books and they never take it. Then, you bookktalk, and all of the sudden they are all on hold for the book. Last night, my son came home and told me he joined the battle of the books after you talked about it. I dropped my stuff, literally, ran over to check his head. I even went to the ER to have him checked because something must be really wrong. My kid has never wanted to do anything like this and he is reading like he never has before.

2. Teacher walks into the library this morning: Hey, do you know if our district participates in nominating Teachers of the Year?
Me: No clue
Teacher: Well, I was planning to nominate you.
MADE MY DAY

3.  I am up to 40 Battle teams!!!  I can’t even believe it- we only had 2 last year!  Bob helped me find a way to do a computerized bracket so I can organize it.  So exciting!

4.  I finally got my costume for Book Character dress up day.  I hope it will be as Epic as it is in my head!  Lots of kids super excited for it.

At the high school the following happened:

1. I set up my “Murder, mystery, and Mayhem” display.  Some kids came in and asked where the body outline was that I did last year.  I didn’t know anyone noticed I did that.  So some girls came in to help me do it.

2. A teen boy saw me carrying a huge pile of books and raced to help carry them to my car for me.  Then went on to tell me how he just loves what I have done to the library and that it is so inviting and comfortable now.

3. I am working hard to find activities that appeal to difficult HS students.  I decided to try an Edible Book Contest on Teen Reads Week.  I am surprised at the responses: one English teacher is having her class create one on the book they have been studying, the FCS teacher brought her whole class in-they are divided into groups and have to research and make an edible children's book that day.  Then I have had students coming in to show me pictures of what they are going to make.  I am so excited!!!

Bad:

1. Principal decided to move 6 more computers in.  So she brought in 2 mix matched tables and then hideous dirty chairs from Rockwell.  Now it looks crappy.  Not much I could say to protest.

2.  Then Friday she told me she cut all my funding- and it wasn’t done nicely.  I was devastated.  I already had to fight for $5000 for the middle school.  Now I have to go present to the foundation and beg for the high school.  I do, in a way, understand the rationale…

Apparently we are moving to the band room next year.  When I mentioned new carpet, she said, “Who is going to fund that”.  I wanted to say, DUDE YOU!  It’s a 40 year old carpet FULL of 40 year old band spit!!!  Then I asked about new shelving- same response “who is going to fund that”?  I explained that the shelves I have now are part of the original school from 60 years ago and bolted to the wall.  So she cut my entire budget to try and get funding to replace the shelves and carpet.  I get that.  but you NEVER cut the book funding!!!  Word got out to the kids and they are devastated.  “Just when we started getting used to awesome new books”!   So I am going to fight with everything I've got for more funding.  Its exhausting.

Lots and lots of good stuff!

Alayna started volleyball.  In her 1st game she made 2 points!

Tyler had a game and was busy with the play.  Btw- he auditioned and got one of the lead parts in the school play!  Way to go Ty!

(Hes turning the corner)

We had fun making carmeled apples last night using the honeycrisp apples from our tree.  They were messy but awfully delicious!!

We went searching for my teen dress up week costume and still no luck.  I am getting discouraged, but we had fun!

So, things at work have been great!  I would just like to say for the record that I am the master of presenting and motivating middle school students. Last year, we started a Battle of the Book club. I put up fliers, but we only got 10 kids to sign up, the boys tried to get out of it, but the principal wouldn’t let them quit. This year, I got my superawesome hubby to use my pics and music to make a slideshow. So, I showed the classes the slideshow and then performed my magic and told them how awesome it will be. Now I have 22 teams and I have only talked to half the school. Master? Yep!

THEN, I offered a READ & FEED time for Flex this week and had 4 periods FULL of kids reading.  I told them they could bring treats, blankets, pillows, and read anywhere they want.  They thought that was amazing- here are some of the places they chose:

(Can you see the kid behind the chair?)

I made the paper again- I actually took the picture:

And here is a summary of August on my wall- almost done with Sept.  We are kinda rockin it…

A week full of great things!

1. Kayla is off like Bilbo Baggins, excited for her new adventure  to BYU-I!  It was so hard to see her go.  I thought it would be easier when the 2nd kid leaves, but it isnt.  BUT, I am excited to see how this semester goes, what exciting people she will meet, and what classes she will like.  But Kayla, we miss you!!!

Here she is in her new apartment with her new décor! A special thank you to the Ribera's for driving her up and getting her all settled.  We are extremely grateful!!

2. Alayn won her 1st volleyball game!  Ill get pics of her next game tomorrow.

3.  Tyler auditioned for and made a lead part in the school play!  We are excited for him, but I don’t know how he will do it all!

4.  As I said in the previous blog post, we had a wonderful day with Mike Ritland. I went home sick (as my body cant take the stress) and after taking a sick day and sleeping 26 hours in 2 days, I could finally face the world again.  I do love good weeks!

5. We finally got to see Captain America: winter soldier, and as you can guess, it totally kicked butt!! Plus, our family is now hooked on the series “Once Upon a Time”.  What a fabulous family series. 

6. We also canned more pasta sauce, deep cleaned the house from top to bottom, did all the yard work, whew!  We also Mr. Tomatoes pants…

A message to Kayla from Rosie and Lily “We miss you!!”