24 years and we still got the heat!!

 It's crazy that Benjamin and I have been married for 24 years. 24...that feels like a big deal. 

We started the anniversary trip with a vow renewal with going to the Mesa temple. Very serendipitously Benjamin's mission president and wife were working at the temple. They are lovely people. I told President Udall I was praying for my son to have a mission president that he looked up to as much as Benjamin. It is my constant prayer.

We celebrated with a two night trip in Show Low Arizona. Lately we have picked small towns to visit. We love eating local food, hiking, catching a festival, market event and thrift stores. This time we had the added bonus of visiting with one of my favorite friends Alison Altop. Unfortunately her husband was off on a wildfire assignment. We met her for ice cream. It was great to catch-up. The next day we hiked, ate cinnamon rolls the size of our heads and caught a murder mystery movie at the theater. On Sunday we went on another hike, went to the only covered bridge in Arizona and caught church with Alison. We also ran into our friends Becky and Brandon Clark. It was great to see them and catch up. They were a fun couple that we hung out with in our early marriage. Time moves so quickly year to year. There kids are adults now, in almost 5 years we will be in the same boat. 

There are lots of things I would do differently in life, little things. I would change them because once you know better you do better. Who wouldn't want to do better?! Of all the things I would change one thing I wouldn't change is Benjamin. For a woman who often has buyers remorse this statement means a lot.  I love him for forever and a day.

When we got home the kids (Olivia and Holman) made an excellent meal, grilled chicken, broccoli, homemade mac n cheese and homemade rosemary bread. It was a perfect ending to a great weekend 💕

Labor on Labor Day Nana i!

 Nana always holds a several day celebration for her birthday. It centers around a service project. This year she hosted everyone at her and Papa's mission at Camp Zion on Mnt. Lemon. 

The Smith and Holman Jr's were there. Some slept in the loft others camped outside. It was lovely. We ate yummy meals, played volleyball, shot BB guns, used a bow and arrow, and played basketball. We all had a blast!

Mom and Dad showed the video about our ancestors Cornelius and Adriana Zappeij. The church produced a video about their service and sacrifice in Holland as they helped fellow saints in Germany. It was during a critical time following world war ll where relations were very tenuous between the two countries due to Hitler's regime.  The dutch saints gave their full potato harvest to their former enemies. It set the stage perfectly for the service we did the next day around camp. 

We painted several railings, steps and amphitheater benches.  

As always it was a great time. We sure love Nana (and Papa) and her constant energy and enthusiasm for life. She is a woman of faith and fortitude. She is our rock and we love her 💕

Holman's new job!!

 Holman graduated high school early so that he could go on his mission when he turns 18. He turns 18 in December so he has several months to work to save money for it. He applied to probably at least 20 jobs and nothing was progressing until finally he got hired at DQ. He is following in his sister's footsteps chasing the ice cream dollar! His aunt Lindsey has enjoyed taking pictures of him. 

Penny Wars...the fun stuff

 Things I love about my new school:

1) The size of my classroom. It's huge. And it has lots of natural light.

2) Shared lesson plans. All four kindergarten teachers literally have a connected lesson plan book. I don't have to write lessons!!! I just alter them a bit. It truly is a game changer.

3) The curriculum. I love Saxxon match. It's clear and concise. It provides the homework and the pacing. It's awesome. I also love that they have the students memorize recitations. They seem like really difficult passages but the students really do rize to the occasion.  I also love that during snack I read a chapter from a children's book. The book is obviously more advanced than what the can read but it helps them to be exposed to more vocabulary words.

4) My kindergarten team is full of lovely ladies. Each of us are just trying our best. 

5) I also really enjoy the creative aspect of teaching in general. We recently had a penny war. This means each class tries to raise money with pennies and dollar bills. Each class can sabotage another class with putting silver coins in other classes jars.  I decorated the jar with minions saying "banana fund". The kis loved it! And frankly I loved making it!

With all  these lovely reminders of what's great about my new job these are the things that contribute teachers leaving the profession.

1) increasing number of behavioral problems. Whether that's due to lack of socialization because of COVID or increased number of ADHD...these numbers have increased which makes an already emotionally demanding job even harder.

2) this follows the next point we don't pay teachers enough. Anyone who thinks teachers have it easy need to spend a day in class. I invited one of my student's parents to see how their child interacts all day. She didn't make it for even two hours. I said this has been a relatively easy day with you here....she dropped him off the next day.

3) the bottom line. We bend over backwards for one difficult student and the rest of the class is collateral. Every child deserves an education but not every education facility is appropriate for everyone. In the mean time I'm pulling my hair out. At the end of the day the primary teacher has no control over who is allowed to stay in the classroom. It is beyond frustrating.

 

First week of school August 1st

 Adrian started school on Monday, I started school on Wednesday (with the kids I've been at training for a week and a half) and Parkin started on Thursday. 

Adrian is at Hermosa Montessori. If you ask her how it's going she will say, "it's middle school" ....she finished her week by doing boat races in her school's pool.  Boats that can float people. That's right her school has a pool! Don't worry she has spunk and made sure to sink the boat of a  bully...while  he was on it..This one's got fight in  her!

Parkin is a sophomore at Sabino. He is in advanced drama and sign language and a really difficult math 😅 Owen Smith is a Freshman and Jared Howe is a Senior.  So awesome to have cousins at school!! He is also on the school's swim team. 

I started teaching at Leman Academy as a half day kindergarten teacher. I love leaving at 12:30. Its only been a week but so far the kiddos are super respectful. I have one student that literally might be the death of me, I hope he gets the services he needs. This will be my 13th year teaching, not sure how many more years I have left but will hopefully give the kids my all. 

This is a painting I did at the classical education model.

Weekend with the Smith kids

Having cousins in town is the absolute best! Swimming in a pool while it fills, face painting and wash walking. Summer days in Tucson at it's finest.

 

Slay Queen July 17th

This girl is a creative genius. She paints her walls, creates small miniatures and is constantly in motion. She brought in a spare desk and now she has even more space for her creations. I love this teenager and her artsy mind 🎨 💕 !!