It's over it's over it is...

Does anyone remember that Lisa Loeb song?....

Anyway. Finals are FINALLY over! I cannot begin to express my relief. This semester has basically been hell. Definitely the hardest semester of my life. BUT the good news is that it was the last real semester I will ever have. I took my last final EVER. To reward myself, I bought myself a massage. Apparently I have been carrying my stress in my upper back because I have been having extreme pain in that general area... My massage was amazing and a perfect way to spoil myself.

Sadly, I think my stress will return shortly. I begin student teaching on January 5th. I went in to talk to my cooperating teacher about the classes I would be teaching etc. He began throwing the following scenarios in my face asking me how I would react:

"What will you do when the kid with Aspergers syndrome starts crying uncontrollably?"

"What will you do when students talk back to you or swear?"

"We have one kid who gets up randomly and wanders and flails... what will you do in that situation?"

Think about it, what do you do? "Hey kid, pull yourself together?..." I do not think that would fly.

So needless to say, I am OVERWHELMED.

Soon, I'm sure I will have some entertaining stories.

I actually am excited. I think it will be challenging, but fun. I guess I don't need to think about it for a few weeks...

Especially because I will be HERE:

(Germany)

Merry Christmas!

Student Teaching...

Friday I found out where I will be doing my student teaching. I had been anticipating the meeting forEVER and was nervous and SO curious. I could only request my top districts, so I could have gone anywhere from Payson to Alpine. To my relief and EXCITEMENT I am going to.......LAKERIDGE JR. HIGH!

I am excited for many reasons.

1. It is only fifteen minutes from my apartment, meaning I won't have to drive far to get there.

2. Lakeridge has won best of state for years.

3. The teacher I am teaching for is GREAT.

4. I am a Lakeridge Leopard Alum myself.

5. After I am done, I will be DONE! woo woo!

Nap time.

Everytime I lay down on my mom's couch to nap, her cat lays right on my feet. It's okay with me though.

On my Christmas list:

Some divine items I am lusting this Holiday Season:
This movie is on DVD December 22nd. I. CANNOT. WAIT. I saw it 4 times in the theater... pathetic kind of? Oh well. I could watch it every single day. Love it.

I need this. Yes, need.

Aislinn is avidly against these adorable oxfords. I however, love them. Can't you picture me wearing them every day whilst student teaching? Such practical shoes for a teacher.

If you have never tried this perfume from Victorias Secret, I highly recommend it. I am out of mine and desperately need a new one. Besides, Allesandra Ambrosio is on the box and anyone who doesn't want to smell as good as she looks, is crazy.

Last, but definitely not least... The Fuji Instax Polaroid camera. Enough said.

What is on your list??

Thankful for Thanksgiving.

Lately my life has consisted of nothing but homework, papers, class, homework, library, homework... oh and driving people to the airport. I have not had time for anything else. I had to finish up some huge projects before this last weekend so I could go to NY with the fam! So the stress of the last few weeks paid off with a very short vacay. It is crazy though, I have had physical pain from the stress these last few weeks. In all my school career I have definitely felt stressed, just not like this. I have had body aches in my neck and back for weeks straight, a sore throat, a constant headache etc. Normally I wouldn't be such a baby, but I feel as though I deserve some sympathy. Anyway the worst is over and I am ready for Thanksgiving. We are having a family reunion at the cabin with my mom's whole side and I am so ready for yummy food and fun with the fam.
Anyway, here are a few pics from our little trip.
This was a window at Anthro. All their windows were so festive and gorgeous. Gotta love it.

It was a little rainy and chilly, but so fun.

We went to Monument Park (the new Yankee stadium) which was really cool. It is enormous. My brothers love the Yankees, but Hyrum was the only one who came on the trip. He is the cutest 14 year old ever. He is so sweet and nice...(and only a little spoiled for being the baby). We just love him.

I know I have said it before, but how great is family?
Since Thanksgiving is almost here I have been thinking about all the things I am so lucky to have.
My family: Obviously it has not always been perfect. But over the past few years we have had to really come together for each other. I have watched my parents deal with disappointment and heartache and still be willing to do anything for their kids. It is such an example to me because my first reaction is always anger. So this Thanksgiving I am thankful for their example.
Education: Even though my life is consumed by this right now and I complain, I really do love it. I know not everyone has the opportunity to go to school and I am so thankful that I have. It helps that I am almost done.
Where I live: I love Utah. I love the 4 seasons. I really do love Provo (excluding 7th North, University Avenue and Center Street).
I love my roomates, my ward, my friends. I love that I am SO close to my family. I do think I would miss it if I moved permanently, but I could definitely try something else out temporarily. (maybe in the near future?)
What are all of YOU thankful for?
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
(I have no idea why it is so tiny down here...it will not change no matter what I do.)

Sometimes things are not what you think....

Remember my baby? Zooey? Well she is not a she.... she is a HE! Zooey had to get her spay and de-claw this week and I was very nervous (refer back to my post on Maggie). I took her to a new place and they said they would call me after the surgery. They did. They informed me Zooey is actually a boy! Everything went well but can you beleive it? SO funny. Ais, me and my mom all had quite the laugh over that. I bought her on KSL and they told me she was a SHE! Hello, what am I going to do, inspect her to make sure? Besides, like I know how to determine that! Anyway It was pretty funny.

So everyone: meet Roosevelt.
I love him just as much as Zooey.

The going ons...

Lately. I have been crazy busy with school. I have high stress beginning every Sunday night until Thursday around 4 when I get out of my last class, not to return until Monday morning. Since I am taking every education class I have 9 KEY assignments this semester. A KEY assignment is pretty much a project. It goes in your portfolio as a teacher and is used in the hiring process. So they are MUCHO important. An example: I have to go into a high school class, observe for a day, teach an objective one day, and go back the next day to assess whatever it is I taught. You may think that would be it. Oh no. Then I must write a 15 page paper about my experience. That is just ONE of NINE assignments I must complete. No fun. I am learning a lot and really do like school. It can just become tedious at times.
Other than that I have been having lots of fun with my roomie, Bryn.

We went to the BYU vs. Florida State game and got slightly sweaty. My dad bought great tickets this year and we got free hats. So dorky.

We have been laughing our HEADS off with these funny fellas.

Scootin around town.
My friend who works for 97.1 zht gave us free tickets to Colbie Caillat. It was SO fun, and she was AMAZING live. and we may have fallen in love with her guitarist...

Howie Day opened for her. We got there just in time to hear "Collide".

SWEATY.

She is so cute and we had so much fun!