The Call Family

Well, school has been back in session for a little over a month now. Things are quite a bit crazier being full time. I spent most of the summer getting my room ready for the year. My theme is “Crayon”. On the second day of school I read the book “The Crayon Box That Talked” and we had a discussion about how we are all different not one of us is the same color as another. You can’t make a beautiful picture with just one color you have to have every color to create a beautiful picture. With that, here is a picture of what my room looked like at Back to School Night.

This is the bulletin board right behind my desk. The “C” made with crayon was given to me by one of my students a couple of years ago for Christmas and it went right along with my theme. I love it.

These are my class jobs. I had the students color crayons that had their names on them on the first day of school to use as job markers.

We have the “Teacher’s Assistant” who does whatever I need them to do. The “Inspector” who makes sure that the other students do their jobs and also checks the room at the end of the day to make sure we are ready to go home. The “Banker” who checks to see if anyone has lunch money or other money to turn in to the office at the beginning of each day. The “Mail Carrier” passes out papers for me. The “Photographer” uses my special camera to take pictures of the different activities we do in class for me to use to create a slideshow at the end of the year. The “Line Leader” leads the line. The “Librarian” makes sure that all of my books are put away nicely. And the “Hall Monitor” walks beside the class in the halls and sets an example of how we need to act in the halls.

This is my Math and Writing bulletin board. I created all of the posters on the Writing board. I think they turned out really cute. We are using this new method of writing called “4-Square”. It is a great way for the students to be able to organize their ideas and put them into paragraphs. I am loving it so far!

This is my “Classroom Rules” poster that I created. (I had a lot of fun creating everything for my bulletin boards and walls as you can see!)

This is my Reading and Calendar bulletin board. You can also see my bench at the bottom of the picture. My teaching partner from last year left it for me to use. It used to be white, I took it home and painted it black and changed the cover on it and it looks completely different. I am loving it.

As I mentioned earlier it is a lot crazier teaching full time than I ever expected it to be. The first couple of weeks were a blur. I felt like I didn’t have enough time to get anything done at work or home. Things are starting to settle down now that I am getting the hang of things. I am loving having my own room and being able to do things my own way. I feel like I have more control over what happens in my classroom.

The biggest downside to teaching full time is having to leave my kids all day. Luckily, we have a neighbor who does day care in her home. I took Avery and Kaden over to meet her about a week before school started and they loved it so much they didn’t want to come home. I am so thankful to have such great people taking care of my kids when I can’t. I am so grateful that my kids love to be there. Avery asks me every day if she can go to day care and play. As hard as it is to leave my kids every day I am extremely grateful that they love to be there and that they are being loved and taken care of.

Avery, Kaden and I went to the American Fork Steel Days parade and carnival with Grandma Christiansen and Aunt Nicole this year. Daddy and Uncle Blaze had to drive to Bear Lake that day to pick up Avery’s new furniture (a post about that will be coming soon) so they were not able to join us for the fun.

Grandma Christiansen and Aunt Nicole waiting for the parade to start.

Me, Avery, and Kaden waiting for the parade.

After the parade we walked over to the carnival. Avery enjoyed riding on the carousel.

Last year, Avery rode on this roller coaster and hated it. She wanted to try it again this year. Again, she hated it. After about the first time around she was crying to get off. I think we will be waiting a while before going on another roller coaster.

The train was one of her favorite rides. I really wanted to put Kaden on this one with her, but he had just fallen asleep. Maybe next year.

Avery enjoyed riding on the flying saucers.

When our tickets were all gone Grandma gave Avery a couple of dollars to play the fishing game.

Avery chose this cute little lion as her prize.

We had so much fun at the carnival and look forward to going again next year!

On the Fourth of July this year we went up the canyon for breakfast with the Christiansen family as we do every year.

Uncle Travis and Sadie made boats out of paper to float down the river.

Avery threw hers into the river.

Unfortunately, they got soggy and got stuck along the rocks.

The rest of the day was spent with the Call family and watching fireworks at Thanksgiving Point.

After our Homestead trip we decided to take the canyon route home and stop by Cascade Springs. Avery and Kaden loved it! Avery and daddy enjoyed looking for fish together.

Kaden saw the water and immediately pointed and said, “wa-wa”. He loved it!

My cute family.

Me and my kids.

Avery with daddy.

WE had a great time walking around Cascade Springs and enjoying nature.

Back in June we had our annual trip to Homestead with the Christiansen family. Avery loved playing on the playground.

Her favorite part was having Great Grandpa Christiansen give her “underdogs” on the swing.

Skyler loved having people play his favorite games with him.

Kaden loved playing outside with Grandma Christiansen.

We did our annual craft. This year it was decorating scripture bags. Avery loves to draw and color. She did an amazing job decorating her bag.

This is the front of her bag.

This is the back of her bag.

Here is my bag that I decorated.

When we were done decorating out scripture bags Avery let me tie a jedi braid in her hair.

We love going to Homestead every year. It is one of my favorite traditions. Thank you so much Grandma and Grandpa Christiansen for making it happen each year.

For Avery’s birthday this year Grandma Call gave Avery Swimming Lessons along with a swimming suit, beach towel, and goggles. Avery has been so excited to start her lessons. Here she is on her first day.

I love those goggles on her!

Avery loves the water and learning how to do new things.

Avery’s teacher had them sit on the side of the pool and pretend that they were flowers. She would splash water on them and they would grow and then jump into the water.

Avery’s favorite part of swimming lessons was playing on the kick board. We had to go out and buy her one after her first lesson so that she could practice with it.

Here she is on her last day of lessons. She has learned so much and become so brave in the water.

Her teacher tied the “noodles” on each student to get ready to go over to the big pool.

Walking with her class to the big pool.

Here she is with her certificate for taking swimming lessons! I am so proud of her!

Kaden enjoyed going to swimming lessons and watching Avery. On the last day Grandma and Grandpa Christiansen came to watch Avery swim. Kaden and Grandpa found a potato bug to play with.

Kaden loved the potato bug!

Kaden found a couple of friends who had trucks to play with. He had a blast!

Thanks Grandma Call for giving Avery swimming lessons!

About a month ago Avery was in a dance production with Avondale Academy. The production was titled “12 Dancing Princesses”. Avery has been practicing for months for this performance. She did an amazing job!

After the performance I was able to take her up on the stage to get some pictures of her in her costume. Isn’t she a cute little princess!

Oh how I love her!

I am so proud of my little princess!