A Hectic November

November consisted of 5 days a week going to Riverton, to practice teaching and being around 1st graders.  I definitely realized that I love teaching and it is something I want to do. I loved that experience and I can't wait to teach in New Zealand. I now have about 29 days until I head out of the US and into a strange country to experience life as a New Zealander.  We'll see how those days go but I'm sure they will be filled with adventure fun and work.  I can't wait to experience it, since I have been waiting quite a while to go. Anyway, Finals are fast approaching and I'm frantically thinking, what things have I learned in this semester.  I have applied lots into the classroom and how do I express that.  We'll see!

Rosamond Elementary

I have now had 4 days of experience in the school.  It has been exhausting but so great! Friday consisted of Halloween and more Halloween.  It was way fun to be in the school for this holiday. All the students dressed up and we paraded around the school through the classrooms and through the gym FULL of parents.  Weaving in and out of lunch tables having other adults stare and video tape you is a bit of a self conscious feelings.We also had a class party.  I dressed up as Jessie from Toy Story. All the kids knew exactly who I was. It was so much fun!  It is really hard to plan lessons etc... but I love being in the classroom! I know that I'm in the right place for my major.

October flew right by!

I don't even know where October went! I feel like it was just yesterday that it was the 1st and now it is the 31st.  I can't even believe it.  This month has brought many things.  

October brought..... Stacie's fall ball games!

Nuskin had another convention this year and got STYX to give a concert.  Jill is so awesome that she got me and my roommates enough tickets to all take dates! It was really not our style of concert but it was fun to say we went.  I took Joseph and had an absolute blast!

Here we all are.  Stacie is with a friend (Joey) and he got two other guys to come and be Gracie and Tielle's dates.

Here I am excited to go into the concert.

 Here is Joseph and I waiting to go into the concert.  We saw my parents there and talked to them.  It was fun to see and talk to them.  They LOVED the concert, which was so funny to us cause we thought they would have left on the first song.

For FHE one night we built sugar cube temples. Here is Stacie's and my version of the Salt Lake Temple.

Another night we carved Pumpkins! Here is our way cute pumpkin!

Needless to say... The fingers are being held on with toothpicks.

Another thing that happened was Joseph took me on a date to the LDS Motion Pictures studio for a private tour given by him.  It is where he works and he has keys to almost all the rooms and buildings and privileged  to be able to do this.  We saw so many cool things! We walked through all the stages, saw the wood and metal shop, the outdoor villages of Kirtland and probably early Nauvoo.  I felt so special.  We even went up into the rafters of one of the stages and saw the huge ventilation fan. 

Some things that have happened have been wonderful, some have been great, some not so good, and some miserable.  I have had some great experiences and some character building opportunities.  October has treated me well!

Falling into Fall

Fall is here and school has begun to pick up.  I am busy this semester  but I feel that during the summer, I had a lot more to do in a lot less time.  I'm sure assignments and tests will begin to fly in but at the moment, I am liking this semester.  I have done many fun things so far as well as met many fun people.  I love the girls that I have become good friends with in my cohort (I have all my classes with the same people) and I am enjoying learning.  I love my new ward.  It is a good balance of different types of people, as well as different ages.  I like my apartment.  I am now living with 3 other girls instead of 5.  That makes all the difference in some ways.  I really enjoying having Stacie as my roommate.  She is so kind and loving. The best roommate! This week has brought many different things.  I love fall weather and I love the changing of the leaves.  Hopefully I will continue to love all the things that comes my way!

McMullin Family Pioneer Day

Jeff, Melanie and Henry came to town for Pioneer day.  What more could we do than have family day.  We began by planting the family garden.  Potatoes, Onions, Rutabagas and more.

Preparing the seeds

Planting the seeds.

Next we ate breakfast and then prepared for Mini Golf.  I had the idea to save money and create a course in our backyard.  Mom mowed it in and Dad and I created the obstacles.  

Henry preferred the water hazards.  Mostly just the sprinkler.  Forget toys, get him a hose and some water.

Here I am preparing for a hole in one I'm sure :)

What a great day! It even ended with homemade ice cream and Cherry Hill pie.

July 4th and Festival Days

Summertime has come and gone quickly.  Finals are awaiting me tomorrow and I can't wait to get to my "summer" (2 1/2 weeks long).  I'm excited to read children's book, enjoy relaxing, have some snow cones, drive home for some weddings and welcome a few friends back from missions (Kendall and Loaiza).  But, before I can look ahead, I must look back on what summer term brought.

First was the Balloon Festival.  Corina and I woke up early 6 am and rode our bikes over to meet Jill and Jamie.  We got there and saw only a few balloons being inflated.  We soon learned the wind was the problem.  They only launched 3 balloons and as we were waiting, Jill sent Corina and I off to buy some delicious orange rolls.  We arrived at the bakery to a great big line.  We waited and ordered 6 orange rolls.  They gave them to us in a box.  Since we were on our bikes, I stuck them into my so called backpack.  Corina and I couldn't stop laughing and she captured this picture.

Looked pretty funny I'm sure.  We got there just as they launched 2 balloons.  It was great.

It was a blast!

Next came the challenge from Jill for a 5k.  Farmington Festival days wouldn't be the same without running the early morning 5k. 

I have never felt so sick before a race.  Hence the fake smile. I wasn't as ready as I would have liked to have been but I did in fact break a personal record.  I came in at 32:29.  I was proud.  

We found Bart and Brooke Brooks after the race and got a family picture.  Nick also ran the race, but wasn't around for picture.

Then we set up a booth to sell Survivor Bracelets to help me get to New Zealand.  What wonderful family to help me out.  Here is the booth.

We sold a lot and it was a thrill.  It was the hottest 4+ hours but sure was fun to see people purchase bracelets.

I'm still making bracelets and selling them.  I'm not sure this business will ever end :)  Thanks to Aunt Jayne who donated the supplies and the idea!

Since Summer is Almost Over...

Well, I can't believe it.  It is August 1st and Summer term is almost officially over! I have almost made it through going to school for one whole year without a substantial break.  This makes for many boring nights spent in the Library but believe me when I say, January February and March will be cram packed with fun because of it:) New Zealand, I can't wait!

Well, I didn't finish the last post about Spring so I shall finish that and then maybe add some for summer.

This was suppose to be our couch warming party with our new couches.  They didn't come so we partied anyways with 4 couches (our neighbors and ours). The new couches came the next morning.  Rachel and I did have a great party with great attendance.  The ratio was about us two girls for 8 guys :)

This cute guy and his parents (Jeff and Melanie) visited, I think it was back in May.  What a great time that was.  He was big then, now he is even bigger.

Here was our family picture from then.  Mom says skinny in, dad is serious about following her directions:)

Fun times! (Still in May)

Roommates moved out :(  Sarah, Rachel, Me and Gretchen.  We sure got close in such a short time.  I was lucky to live with them.

Spring term ended and I lucked out.  Work let me off for a few days and we headed to California for much needed rest and a period of time out of Provo.  It was fun to see Jeff and Melanie and spend time.  Mostly though, I was just glad to not think of any homework.

New roommates moved in. Connie, Angie, and Kelsey.  Corina and I remained friends.  Here we are enjoying dinner together + 2 (Ben, a boyfriend and Corina's Cousin).  Good times were had and I will miss them too.