Minne - What?

Sooo...

Scott got two jobs offer a few weeks ago. One for Goldman-Sachs which would keep us in Salt Lake and one with Ostler International which would relocate us after moving to Minnesota for a few months for training. After a lot of prayers, tears and sleepless nights we've decided to take a chance with Ostler International. Scott will fly out in two weeks for two weeks of a pre-training and then if he likes what he sees - we'll move in April.
We will be very sad to leave our friends and family here in Salt Lake but we are excited for a new adventure. The new job will be a great opportunity for Scotts career and it'll be fun to see where we'll end up after our training in Minneapolis if all goes well.

I am a Shopaholic

Thanks for a great tip off from my blogging friend Mindy, I found out that Gap was having a 40% of sale on EVERYTHING yesterday.

I've been trying to be really good about not going shopping because we are trying to keep in our budget and save money, etc, etc. BUT i couldn't resist - 40% off!!

So.. i went. i didn't find a lot for me but the baby section, i gave in and found some super cute onesies for Benson and some tops for our nieces.. can't wait to show them! this one was my favorite:

There is something about shopping and getting great deals that just makes me feel soo re-energized! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LOVE good sales! Its like a high. seriously. I like to think shopping is my way of dealing with stress, and its cheaper than a shrink.

Scott says there is something wrong with the chemicals in my head...

.... which may be true...

Presidents Day

Today we celebrate Presidents Day...Heres a little background info on this great day:

Washington's Birthday is the official name designated to what many of us know as President's Day. During the month of February the birthday of two of our greatest President's takes place. Both George Washington who was born on Feb. 22nd and Abraham Lincoln born on Feb. 12th.

However, Washington's birthday has been publicly celebrated since he was in office, before Abraham Lincoln was even born. Much of the debate over the name of the holiday springs from the fact that state's can follow their own holidays how they see fit and many of them chose to also honor Lincoln, calling the celebration President's Day.

Presidents Day also means NO SCHOOL!

Here's to no school and may everyone's Presidents Day be as lazy as mine!

Memo to the tooth fairy

We all know the process of losing our baby teeth...you lose the tooth and put it under your pillow. When you wake up the next morning, there is money from the toothfairy!

Now only if there was the same process when baby teeth come in. The other day I thought Benson had a crumb in his mouth but it was a tooth! his bottom two teeth are starting to break through his gums! He is now 7 1/2 months old and just growing like a weed. we have been making it through the teething process with Tylenol AND Motrin.

Here is the latest picture of him. Grandpa and Grandma flew in from Hong Kong and we got to spend time with them - it was so much fun and we miss them already! Benson LOVED his grandpa and grandma

Student Teaching

I started a few weeks ago teaching World History and Government at Cottonwood High School. I will be there till the beginning of April. I know this dates me but high school has definitely changed over the last 10 years! I enjoy my Government classes a lot and actually get excited to go and teach. Unfortunately i can't say that about the 10th graders...its an endurance race with them.

Great things I've learned from student teaching so far:
- Kids can give you germs just by looking at them (I'm going on my third cold so far!)

- Cell phone and ipods are more important than anything else in the whole world to a 10th grader

- ALL high school-ers have a hearing impairment...you have to repeat yourself at least three times for them to hear you or understand the words that come out of your mouth.

- Students will lie about anything to get out class so they can walk the halls...which is way more interesting than sitting in class...those high school halls are just so much fun

- Lastly - high school girls can be nasty, hormonal and ravishing brats.

Mondays

Mondays are the worst days. Today was the worst Monday I've had in a long time. With the limited amount of sleep I got, losing my keys, leaving my lunch in the car to melt and having to drive two hours for a one hour class... I'm ready for the day to be done.

I should be writing lesson plans right now but obviously I'm not. I am supposed to have 65 days in the classroom and I start teaching next week. I'm still observing for this week and it has been a good experience so far. My biggest concern about this whole student teaching thing was leaving Benson. Luckily we have an amazing family who has helped out and so I always know he's in good hands. This week was so nice to get out of the house and do something that is my own thing but now that excitement is slowly dying and each day I miss Benson more and more... its only been one week.. it'll be okay.

at least that's what i keep telling myself. I wonder if he is going to be confused who his parents are now? what if one day I go into his crib to get him and he doesn't want me?

He's six months old now and is very aware of his surroundings...hopefully aware enough to remember who I am at the end of the day. 5 days down, 60 more to go.

Christmas Review

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. It was really nice to be home and not have to travel anywhere. A few highlights that we've learned from the last few weeks are:

1) Benson loves to watch his train go around and around. (and he can sit up now!)



2) I have very mixed feelings about the idea of putting two long waxed skis and having them buckled to my feet and "skiing" down a mountain. I'm not sure why people like to call it a hobby or a sort of recreation... I think of it as a great form for punishment though.

(no pictures for this lesson learned...no need to rehash past trauma experiences)

3) Eating desserts and adding either butter or whipping cream to every meal can lead to excessive weight gain...like 7 pounds of weight gain.