Europe: Part 1

Okay, so I realize I am terrible at keeping up on this blogging thing...I am not sure it will ever change either, because Facebook is so much easier to update, but I will keep doing my best! Anyway, Happy New Year!
I thought I would share some highlights of my trip to Europe in October/November of last year. We stopped at 6 different places in Europe and I will most likely have to do 6 different posts about each of those places, because I took WAY too many pictures!

The first place we stopped was Rome, Italy! Rome is one of those places that is totally unique because they have so many ruins from the ancient times there. You will be driving along the streets and all of the sudden, in the middle of 2 modern buildings, will be some ancient columns or steps or homes just sitting there! So interesting! Also, there is the center of the Roman Catholic church and all of its buildings and history. The day we got there, it was a Sunday. Apparently every Sunday at 12 noon, the Pope comes to his window in the Vatican Square and does his little sermon to all the people. Our hotel was literally a block from the square, so, you guessed it, we got to go hear him! We had no clue what he was saying and even left before he was done, but it was so interesting to listen and watch all the people there! We spent a day and half there and expored the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and all the old Roman City parts. It was all unbelievable! However, I think that since I have been there, I wouldn't really go back...I didn't feel really safe and it was kind of dirty, so definately not my favorite place in Europe, but I was glad I experienced it! Here are some pictures:

Back to the Grind...

Well, it's true...summer is over and life has moved on. I have been back to the grind for 4 weeks already and I'm in trouble, because I am already tired! :-0 I have good reason to be tired though..I started out with 31 kiddos and had that for the first week, but then one got accepted to a charter school and left...BOO HOO (YEHAW!). So, now I'm left with 30. And they are pretty good kids at that...they are growing on me as I come to know them and their fun little personalities.

As I mentioned before, I had to move classrooms and I had to do it all the Friday afternoon before the first day of school on Monday (August 20th). Let's just say I had serious flashbacks of my first year, when I was in the same boat and was very stressed on the first day, because I really wasn't all "put together" as far as my room went. Good thing the kiddos didn't really know that! :) So, I survived and 4 weeks later, I am going strong and getting used to my new room, even though it is so small!!

I did enjoy my last few weeks of summer though, spending a weekend in Park City, going on Trek with my singles ward (walking 14 miles in one day...phew!!), watching the Olympics (GO USA!!!), and enjoying the last few rays of sunshine! I also got to celebrate my 27th birthday on the 27th of August. I can't believe I'm that old! My mom came in and brought treats to my class. Then I spent the evening with my awesome family at Sizzler and had some homemade cheesecake for dessert! MMM....thanks Mom!

Anyway, I thought I would leave you with some pictures of the Park City girls weekend. Enjoy!

Oh...and it is official...I am a MASTER!!! :)

Summer Happenings...

Okay, so an update on summer so far...EUROPE is booked for October 27th through November 10th!!! AHHHH!!! I am SO excited! It is going to be tour style and we will hit Rome, Florence, Venice, Lucerne (Switzerland), Paris, and London! We are even going to stay a few days extra in London to see all there is to see! :) As you can see, I cannot wait!

For the first time, I am tutoring a little girl in math two days a week for an hour each time. She just finished second grade and struggles with math. My dad works with her grandpa and that's how I got the job. She is a DARLING little girl and just "chatters" away and is so excited to do whatever I have her do! It is really refreshing to have a kid be excited about stuff I am doing with them! Of course it helps that a week and a half ago, I got a new iPad for work and have been going to trainings on it. There are a lot of fun apps that I can download for free that have good math games she can play to get better at some of her math skills. I am excited to incorporate some of those awesome apps into my classroom as well!

As you can tell, I am (sadly) already thinking about next year's class and the things I am going to change for the better, but I am a LITTLE freaked out, because as of last night, I have 31 students in my class!!! AHHH! That is FOUR MORE bodies than what I am used to from the last couple of years! AND it ends up that I have to rotate rooms once again...yes, that's right, I gave up my beloved portable that I THOUGHT I was staying in to another 4th grade teacher that needed it more than me...tear. :( Needless to say it will be QUITE the adventure next year moving to a new classroom every nine weeks and trying to fit 31 little bodies in the tiny rooms I will be in!! Wish me luck and I will try to keep you updated.

Last Saturday I went on a hike with my family to Timpanogos Cave. It was my first time hiking that hike and seeing the caves! It was very fun, although I will admit, I was a tad bit sore in the hips from going DOWN the trail. Ironically, I would much rather go up than down because going down means you have to use a lot of muscles to keep yourself from going too fast! Oh well, I survived and had a blast doing it! Here are some fun pictures of that day:

Last week I also CUT MY HAIR REALLY SHORT!!! This is the shortest I have ever had it (besides when I was a tiny babe...)! It also got dyed ALL blonde! Here is a close-up:

It is really fun and easy to do! :)

Anyway, Girl's Weekend in Park City is coming up this Thursday through Sunday! I am sure I will have an update on that! Until then, happy summer!