Top 9 of '09

These are the Top 9 Moments of 2009 According to the Turney's

9) Sean goes on a mission!It was an emotional several days with my one and only brother preparing to enter the mission field. I'll never forget his farewell talk, when he was set apart, and those last few nights of the Marsden "children" and our antics. It was a monumental moment for our family and I'll never forget the look on Sean's face when he turned the corner not to be seen until 2011. I'm so proud of my brother and so grateful that he chose to serve a mission. He is a wonderful missionary and we love him.

8) Ski trip in Park City

I am not a skiier. When people ask if I ski I tell them that I have but I don't. This trip however was a lot of fun. I was able to go out once and really enjoy myself. Adam however went 4 times and was on cloud 9! Let me tell ya--there is nothing sexier than watching your husband race down a mountain gracefully and skillfully. Man, it was HOT! Everytime he got all dressed in his ski clothes I started sweating ;). We also had a lot of fun with the family doing kareoke, hot tubing every night, bingo, and mocktails. What a blast!

7) Trek back to the 'Burg

Not many people think of Rexburg as the romantic capitol of the world but Adam and I really loved going back to Rexburg. Adam knew it would be something I would enjoy but he didn't realize the feelings it would stir back in him to return to Rexburg. We loved every moment toget1her--Even the one when we got stuck in the snow =) but we especially enjoyed Craigo's pizza!

6) Trip to NYC

Adam and I still talk on a regular basis what an AWESOME trip we had to NYC. We loved visiting all the historic/national/famous places in the city together. I did pretty well for myself being 26 weeks pregnant we walked about 50 miles in 5 days! It was a great get away--just the two of us and I'll never forget it!

5) Hannah's Blessing Weekend

I felt so blessed, and so loved as both families traveled from California and Utah. Hannah had each of her living biological great grandparents and all of her grandparents (along with most of her aunts and uncles) to come watch her recieve a special name and a blessing. She looked so beautiful and I was such a proud mommy! Her daddy is so tender with her that while he blessed her she just stared at him. She is her daddy's girl.

4) Buying a house

We were so lucky and blessed to be able to buy a house at this time. We love it so much and we are so grateful for the opportunity to live where we do. It is the perfect size for us and the perfect lay out. We waited and saved a long time for this and we are so pleased!

3) Being pregnant

I was so blessed to have a great pregancy and to be able to conceive and carry and have such a wonderful pregancy. No it wasn't fun being pregnant--it never is, especially when you live in Vegas and it is 115 degrees. But I was so grateful and honored to have the opportunity and I often miss her wiggling around inside.

2) Graduations

Adam and I were both able to graduate and it was the second greatest moments of 2009. Adam with his Masters and me with my Bachelores (both in Education). We were blessed to be able to accomplish this without using student loans and we feel really proud of ourselves. We worked hard and accomplished something great.

1) Hannah's Birth

Hannah is the crowning achievement of my life and I am so blessed and honored to be her mother. We love her so much. Her birth was the second best moment of my life (right next to marrying her father in the temple) and I often replay the moment in my head. I had a really easy delivery (in the hospital for only 6 hours before giving birth) and labor and she has been a wonder baby. I've never known a greater love than that of being a wife and a mother and it helps me appreciate our parents even more now. Right before I gave birth one of the nurses said "there is nothing greater in this world than creating a child with the man you love and bringing her into the world." This has stuck with me but I should take it one step further and say there is nothing greater in this world than having the knowledge of eternal family and being able to share that with the man you love and bring our children into the world.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY OLD YEAR.

Treck back to the Burg!

For Christmas Adam surprised me with a trip back to Rexburg Idaho! It was so much fun, brought back so many memories, and we made some new ones too!
This is the apartment Adam was living at when we met... #308 Aspen Village

...and this is where I lived #201 Kensington Manor

This was "our spot" in the gardens. This is where he first held my hand and we had a "deep conversation" about what would happen if I hypothetically dated someone else and wrote off my missionary.

I love the gardens on campus!

This is where I lived when I first came to campus! I loved living in the dorms and I had some awesome roomates.

This is where Adam lived when I went to Russia...he spent many lonely nights crying in that upper bedroom missing his love ;)

This is the Benson Bldg. Where Adam and I met in Bio Lab 101

The BEST place to eat in the Rex! This is Craigo's Pizza! Best pizza west of New York...that I've had ;) I ate 6 pieces...Adam had 6 pieces + 3 pastas lol!

Of course we HAD to visit the temple! We weren't here when it was completed but we were so grateful for the announcement of the building. It's one of the most beautiful temples I've seen!

K-- Funny story...Adam and I wanted to go on this deserted road to a spot we used to frequent (my dad said "hmmm a deserted road in the middle of nowhere....I wonder why you went there..." No he didn't...and neither do you as you read this)

We turned the car around and got stuck in the mud. Probably a punishment for using the road as a make out spot when we were dating. Anyway we quickly repented and prayed. Luckily about two minutes after we said a prayer a man came up (one of the three nephites? lol) and got us out of the mud. Lesson I learned. Marry a man who will pray with you when you get stuck in a lurch...and also have enough humor to take pictures of the predicament while laughing together.

Christmas Vacation

Ever since Adam and I got married we have been involved in a holiday custody battle. Every other year our families get a turn with us on alternating holidays. This Christmas we were due to spend the holiday with the Turneys. Luckily for me, the Turney's decided to spend Christmas on Vacation. Their first idea was Paris... ahh Paris--I miss you. That didn't work out due to Kris's work. The next idea was Florida ("Who wants to spend Christmas in a tropical climate--Do they even have Christmas Trees in Florida?"--Kevin McCalister). Again that fell through.

Much to my (and Adam's) delight they chose to spend Christmas in Park City Utah. Home Sweet Home. Because of Kris's work schedual we will spend Christmas morning with the Turney's and drive out to Pleasant View in the afternoon to talk to my missionary brother and spend Christmas with the Marsden's too!

So far we have had a great vacation. I love spending time alone in the resort caring for my sweet Hannah. It is just wonderful to sit by the fire and take a vacation from Las Vegas, TV, duties of home, etc. watching the snow fall gently on the mountain behind me. I have had the opportunity to ski and actually had a lot of fun while Grandma and Grandpa Marsden babysat Banana. Adam is in heaven on his fourth day in a row skiing and looking forward to one more day of it tomorrow.

It hasn't all been about skiing-- we also sit in the hot tub every night while Nana tends baby Hannah, we've had mocktails by the pool, kareoke night, temple square/Joseph Smith movie, and Bingo for Holiday meal. Since 8 of us played we won a bag of apples, a gingerbread house, some candy, a pumpkin cheesecake, and Adam's victory--a Ham! So now we are all set for Christmas eve dinner! It has been a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to see what the next two and a half days will bring.

Mostly I'm looking forward to talking to my baby brother. That will be the best Christmas present! Yesterday on Temple Square we found a missionary from Australia and both Adam and I HAD to talk to her. It was sureal talking to this sister missionary with an Australian flag on her shirt knowing my brother was in Australia doing the same work that she was.

I have loved my vacation and I'm looking forward to much more :)

{Hannah Loves Santa}

Beautiful Girl {20 Weeks}

Oh Christmas Time!

This is Hannah's first Christmas and I'm a lot more excited than I thought I would be! All of the presents are wrapped and placed carefully under the tree. Hannah has been an exceptionally good child this year so she is sure to be visited by Santa Claus. It is the beginning of new memories, new traditions, and a renewed energy of celebration!

Although this Christmas is a rebirth there are bound to be some old traditions that are eternally linked to Christmas. I am excited to bring Hannah to Lesley's Christmas party to have her meet more of her family and of course Santa! Another tradition I will carry out is seen in the picture above.

My dad read 'A Christmas Carol' each year to me from 1993-2003. I believe we MAY have done it in 2004 as well. It has become a sacred tradition that I am anxious to share with my first born. I have never read it aloud until now. From 2003(or 04) I have continued to read it on my own silently to myself--the voices I hear in my head belong to my daddy. Tonight I started reading it out loud to Banana. I was surprised how easily the old English language rolled off my tongue as naturally as it did. I was surprised how good it felt to be the parent with my baby in my arms telling her the magnificent story that people rarely come to know in all it's glory. I don't know if there is anyone in the world who loves that story better than my dad and me.

Some of my memories of the book include--several years of my dad explaining certain words and phrases that didn't quite make sense, my dad breaking down while reading Bob Cratchet talk about his young son who just passed away, having teenage angst and not wanting to share my dad with the rest of the family when my mom suggested we make it a family tradition and refusing to participate but secretly listening at the bottom of the stairs while my dad read out loud in the next room, watching the blind mans dog lead him away from Scrooge and making the movie to text connection...It has been a wonderful tradition and I'm grateful to carry it on.

My first week...

Ok so it hasn't been the most glamorous job I've ever had.

After cleaning and chores for hours I don't get thanked and it goes completely unnoticed...

I don't get to talk much to Adults...

BUT IT IS THE BEST!

Hannah loves having me home...we have had a lot of fun together. I have learned that she loves her rattle and loves to dance and she loves to move her jaw up and down to mimic talking (but no sound comes out). She has the power to scoot and move while Mommy isn't looking and then surprise me completely when I turn around. I love my Banana and she can throw up on me as much as she likes...as long as it is on this same shirt--which is essentially ruined lol.

{Off and Away}

Congratulations!

Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and Away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you chose.
You are on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go

These are the words of Dr. Seuss in his book "Oh The Places You'll Go." Today is my last day of school and I feel like today is my day. I'm off to great places. I'm going where I am needed. I couldn't be happier about starting my new life as a full time stay at home mommy and wife for Adam and Hannah. It is what I have always wanted. It is a little surreal...Since I was a young girl I've always said I wanted to be a mom more than anything in the world. That I wanted to stay at home and raise my kids. I always said when I grew up I wanted to be a mom...I guess today is the day I'm all grown up.

I have mixed feelings on graduation. On the one hand...good ridden! I have worked myself to the bone working full time taking 18 credit hours going to school in every step of my pregnancy from morning sickness to four days before delivery from walking in the 108 degree weather caring Hannah to walking away from my 3 week old baby to go to student teaching. I am so ready to be done on one hand...On the other hand I'm done...what now. So much of my life I have devoted to THIS MOMENT. I've put so much work into it and now it is over. I'm a little lost.

Student teaching has fortunately been one of the best experiences of my life. As you can see I haven't blogged much in the past four months because I've been stretched to my limit. I've also made some great friends and had some great moments. It was a labor of love.

I am passionate about education, about the children I've come to know and love. I'm passionate about educational theory and the benefits of a strong education. I've grown closer to the Savior who first understood that being in the presence of children is a sacred experience. I know that my education will forever be a benefit to me and those I serve and teach. I have been refined through this experience. I've met some great allies and friends and my testimony has grown.

My formal education began in Mrs. Paul's kindergarten class. I was scared to go to school. I didn't know if the kids would like me or if I would be a good student. I didn't know if my teacher would like me. My formal education ends in Mrs. Bauer's third grade class. I was scared to go to school. I didn't know if the kids would like me or if I would be a good student teacher. I didn't know if my teacher would like me or if we would even get along. Now I know I have friends, I have opportunities. I have been blessed.

Today is my last day of my grand adventure...but I know it will not be the last day of adventures.

Thankful.

Since the season is upon us I need to write a post on the things I am most thankful for.

One year ago tomorrow I found out that Hannah would be joining our family. I didn't know if I would ever feel more grateful or blessed than I did in those first few days but soon it became apparent that each new day brought new blessings and joy that I have never known. Since that moment on November 26th we have had an abundance of blessings poured out. Here are some of this years greatest blessings.

1. Becoming pregnant
2. Having great insurance
3. Zoferan-- I'm especially grateful because as I think about this time I am reminded of that awful part of my pregnancy which included vomiting every 20 minutes if I was not on the medication and only 2-4 times a day when I was on the medicine.
4. The fulfillment of a promise that I would continue to receive a fine formal education.
5. Our trip to NYC which was so much fun and also a bonding experience.
6. Adam's graduation from his first masters program
7. Being able to buy a house--especially at the end there
8. Having a successful pregnancy and a perfect labor/delivery
9. Hannah, Hannah, Hannah.
10. Being able to student teach at Batterman Elementary, having great cohorts and mentor teachers and finally being able to graduate in a few short days!

Those are just the big things. The little blessings that occur every day are also counted and I am grateful for each one of them but if I tried to name them one by one I would be shocked and befuddled (surprised is an understatement) at the love and outpour from the Lord.

Most especially I am grateful to my family and friends who love and support me. The love can be felt all the way from the mountains of Utah through the sludge of sin city right to my doorstep.

Kidnapped.

So today I decided to come home for lunch...something I NEVER do but my student teaching friend was out sick so I didn't want to eat alone. I go home and park out front because I was just coming home for a minute and knock on the door...no answer.

Hmmm...I decided to use my key to get in and entered with a "Hello?" I walked upstairs to see Hannah entertaining herself on Addison's bed.

Addison was on his computer with his hood pulled up over his head and headphones on...you know...the big gigantic ones that ensure you can drowned out the sound of anything...like say a crying baby.

I said "umm Hellooooo" and Hannah giggled, delighted to see her mommy. No response from Uncle Addi. So I did the only thing I could...I kidnaped my daugter.

We didn't go far...just downstairs until Addison figured out his client was missing. After ten minutes I started to get concerned. How long had he been on the computer...how long would he be on the computer? My daughter had just been kidnapped and he was playing video games. I let another five minutes pass and decided to text him.

Every once in a awhile I'll text Addison while I'm at school wanting a picture of my little angel. So I texted him "pic?"

It took another few minutes before I finally heard some shuffling upstairs. It sounded like someone was searching for someone or something in the bed area.

I heard him sneaking slowly down the stairs and peak his head around the corner.

Their we sat. Hannah with a big grin on her face (I think she knew we were playing a game on some level) and me looking incredulous.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YOU SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME!" Addison shouted as he came down the stairs. "I thought their was an intruder in the house."

I have 8 days and then I don't have to worry about my baby being kidnapped anymore ;)

Two Fifth Graders...

One is a writing sample from one of my students. The other is from my cousin Emily. One is typical 5th grade writing...the other is from my cousin Emily...who is apparently a 5th grade GENIUS.

Sample 1: 5th Grader from Batterman:

The candy Girl

"Mom; are you o.k., it looks like you can't breeth. This is about My mom choking on a peace of candy.

My mom was chooing on a sucker and she bit it to hard and it broke and slid down her throught and she couldn't breeth or talk. Right after that we went and got Joe to help us out so my mom could breeth but he couldn't so we had to call 911 and they came and got her to breeth by patting her chest pretty hard and she started to cof and it came right out and she could breeth.

finaly My mom through away the sucker Stick and she didn't feel good at all so she went to go throw up in the but she didn't make it So she threw up all over the flour in the hallway, bathrom and the titchen wich was realy groes.

This is from my cousin Emily:

Last night my pet hamster died because of old age. I was expecting it any day though. When I got Ted, my mom said that hamsters only last for about 1 to 2 years. Ted lived for 3 years excactly. That is a long time. You wouldn't think so, but to them, it is like 100 years. Well, I don't know how long it is to them, but that's what I would feel like if I were a hamster. Yet it was still shocking. It was my dad that found him dead. He said that he would look everyday to make sure he was breathing. He would shake the cage or something. Last night he kept shaking the cage, but Ted wouldn't move. Finally my dad touched him and he told me that he felt cold. I have told myself a long time ago that I wouldn't cry when he died. I didn't. I was actually surprised that I didn't. I would have if I found him dead. I am so glad that I didn't find him dead. I would have been crushed. Once my dad said that he was dead, I decided that it would be best for me not to look at him. My dad went to work and buried Ted out in a field. When Derek was 9, he buried his hamster in our backyard. He was young, so he didn't know any better. Today I thought my dad threw Ted away. What are you supposed to do with a hamster when it dies?

I don't know if you can tell the VAST difference in writing style, conventions, voice, organization, but it is pretty amazing for someone who is preparing a bunch of 5th graders for the writing proficiancy. Emily- you get an A!

New Hannah Pics

Adam won't let her go get professional pictures done so I had to take amateur photos myself :( maybe my talented photography aunts can help give my pointers :) Anyway...our girl is 15 weeks tomorrow. She is so beautiful I love her so much!

The other day I saw a baby born two weeks after her...the mom said to the baby "hey maybe you will be holding your head up like that in two weeks just like her." I didn't want to make the mom feel bad and say "she has been doing it like this for a month lol but Hannah is extremely strong and is already rolling onto her side. The doctor said she probably wouldn't be rolling over until five months because of her weight but she is almost there! She is so alert and attentive and ahead of schedule in her physical and mental development so we are happy about that (not because she is a GENIUS but because she is happy and healthy and that is what really matters).

Oh Happy Day

5 weeks until graduation...

I can do ANYTHING for five weeks!

Hell Week

I've been teaching full time for three weeks now. It has been tough but not as tough as this week. Teachers deserve a lot of slack and appreciation for what they do. I've come to appreciate them more and more.

I start by arriving at school at 7am. It still isn't enough time to prepare before all the kids come at 9. Luckily we have a prep period but that is often consumed by meetings and other such nonsense. I've been at school everyday until 4. By that time I've been at school working myself to the bone for 9 hours. I come home and then I do my grading, my planning, my preping for about two hours.

Oh I also have responsibilities as a wife and mom.

Not to mention when I got observed they gave me a 3/6 for attendance. They said I'm not putting in enough time and hours...I think 11 hours a day is more than enough time UNLV. Especially for a 12 credit class.

I'm being observed today by the prickly principal.

I just want you to know that not only do teachers have to plan and prepare lessons/homework/grading. They also have to manage a class of 25 plus children, they have to meet all the standards and prove they are teaching each standard and that each kid is meeting that standard (if not they have to provide alternate instruction) and when the test scores come back they are to be held accountable for that. Which is all great and I think that is how it should be...except teachers get a LOT less credit for what they do.

Hannah Laughs - A Short Video

I just wanted to post a short video that we took of Hannah laughing the other day. Melissa was changing Hannah's diaper and some how got her to laugh hysterically. Unfortunately, Hannah is always camera shy and stops right when we start filming her or taking photos. We have this short clip and it was recorded on my camera phone, so it isn't great quality...but we love watching it regardless. Hopefully you can find as much joy in it as we have.

28 reasons...

I love my man! Today is Adam's 28th birthday. Everyday I am blessed to have him as my husband. I have been thinking about him all week and trying to come up with all the reasons why I love him.

1) From the moment I met him I was drawn to his beautiful smile. His eyes are always bright and laughing and his grin goes on for miles. I am so attracted to him physically... and why not... he's a hottie!

2) Adam is always very considerate of MY feelings. He always tries to think situations through and decide what is best for our relationship. Adam consistently puts me and my needs before his own.

3) Adam is a spender. This is not necessarily a good thing but he balances out my need to save save save. Adam usually is the one to make the big purchases because he takes time to research the product. He is usually able to find fantastic deals. He was once able to purchase six week long passes to Disneyland for us and his family at a discounted prices and then auctioned part of the week on Ebay so we only ended up paying only 9 dollars a day (for two days) per person.

4) Adam is so knowledgeable about the gospel. He can find any scripture you ask him and quote many of them too. Lately we have been trying to have family scripture study every night with Hannah and he always leads it very well.

5) Adam is a hard worker. Each school year beginning he tries to evaluate himself and change things for his students. He cares about his relationship with his students and hopes that they are not only learning from him but that they are happy.

6) Adam is thoughtful. That trip to Disneyland I talked about before was a trip for my birthday that he planned with the help of his mom, even though he doesn't like D-land himself. It wasn't the last trip he planned with only me in mind. He also bought me a massage for my birthday that I am really looking forward to redeeming.

7) Adam is educated. I couldn't think of a way of wording this... he got his associates degree, then went straight for his bachelors degree, took two semesters off and began his first masters degree. He is taking some time off so I can finish and we can get in the groove of things and then he will finish up his second masters degree and is already thinking about his PhD. He's always trying to better himself through school.

8) Adam loves to laugh. His laugh is infectious and I can never stay mad because he thinks it is funny when I am mad and when he laughs I laugh.

9) Adam is an amazing Father. I've never known a man with more love for his child. He and Hannah share a special bond since he was with her for the first nine weeks full time. Whenever she needs a diaper change, he doesn't let me know, he just jumps up and changes her... when she is crying at night he hops right out of bed and takes care of his girl. When he comes home from work he goes straight to us and we snuggle. He spends at least an hour a day just Hannah and Daddy, talking to her and loving her. Whenever he peaks around the top of her crib she beams! He has looked out for her since the second he found out that she was coming, even force feeding me (ok exaggeration) eggs (when I couldn't stomach them) saying "they are sooo good for the baby."

10) Adam is an amazing support to me. Part of the reason he is such a good father and such a hard worker with Hannah is because he is taking care of me so that I am able to finish school. He promised my dad that he would support me in education and anything I set out to do. There are things that he encourages me to do and that he believes I can do. He is supporting my decision to stay home with Hannah even though he may not fully understand my desire to do so. He listens to me talk about my whole day, he helps me grade papers, he does laundry, cooks, cleans, and does anything I ask without ever asking anything of me. When I feel like a bad wife because he takes care of so many things around the house and for me and Hannah and I feel like a failure for not being able to do more he assures me that he loves me and that he is grateful for me and that he is happy to help me out.

So I wont write a novel for each one... just the main ones :) here are the rest of them:

11) It is hilarious to watch him wake up and talk in his sleep. Even more hilarious as it seems to be hereditary as Hannah stretches, is startled, mumbles in her sleep, and makes the funniest expressions ever while she wakes up.

12) He is penitent, he can admit when he is wrong and does not hold onto it forever.

13) When he has a great idea, or does something sweet he gets really excited about it and keeps bringing up the subject so he can know EVERYTHING I think about it.

14) He makes me laugh by saying the funniest, most random things ever.

15) He is secure and doesn't need a lot of validation.

16) He hardly ever complains

17) He rides his bike to school everyday so he always has great stories to tell me about the ride.

18) He is never afraid to laugh at himself.

19) We have an unspoken communication and I can finish his thoughts and sentences.

20) He is not a sloppy person and I rarely have to pick up after him.

21) He is service oriented. Always wants to serve and take care of those he loves.

22) He is a great brother.

23) He is never afraid to stir up a little controversy among our friends, sometimes it causes issues...I mean... come on, he is a Mormon republican who voted for Obama...we have issues with most our friends because of this.

24) He has a mind of his own and thinks for himself, no matter what other people think or what popular opinion states.

25) He is smart! He builds computers and is always Mr. Fix it. He can fix almost anything and enjoys to learn how to do new things. He has a range of specialties from building computers, fixing cars, and reading about different things.

26) I love that he will spend time with me no matter what is left to get done...President Monson said "Never let problems to be solved become more important than people to be loved." I have issues with this but Adam never does and I appreciate how he will drop almost anything for the ones he loves."

27) He is a child at heart and this makes him a joy to live with, especially for Hannah.

28) I have an excellent #28 but I'm just going to let HIM ask me about it ;)

I love you babe, happy birthday.

This is how the Turney's watch conference

Today I love...

...my stretch marks.

I'm not kidding.

Yesterday I had a powerful experience in testimony meeting. We have a new family in the ward and she bore her testimony. She told the story of how she met her husband and then told a heartbreaking story.

For five years they have been desperately trying to have a baby. They went to doctors and specialists who told them that they would never get pregnant but time and time again in faith they persisted and kept trying. After years of infertility they went to a doctor who told them that they would have to go through invitro fertilization, a process that would cost thousands and thousands of dollars. They ended up becoming so desperate that they lost their home, their savings, and nearly their sanity...but this story has a happy ending: they are pregnant with a little girl who will arrive in February!

As I listened to this story I couldn't help but cry. Her story was not presented in a woe is me way by any means. Rather she spoke of her life as if every step was a great gift.

One year ago this week I stopped "the pill" the same week my closest friend Rosalie also stopped "the pill." One year later I have a two month old beautiful baby girl and she has two ginormous cysts. I don't understand how two 24 (almost) year old young women who have both led similar lives (even marrying within a week of each other) could have such different stories.

I don't understand WHY ME. WHY have I been so blessed. It is certainly not a matter of deserving or righteousness. There are some far more faithful than I that struggle to start a family. All I can do is live with a grateful heart and try to be humble and deserving of my great blessing.

Happy as a Clam!

The past two weeks have been fun with Hannah.

Each time one of us goes to retrieve her from her crib she begins to smile. The past few days however, when she sees us she breaks out into a fit of giggles. This tells me that my child is a morning person...or she just loves her parents.

She especially loves her daddy. She'll get excited to see her mommy but when her daddy comes in to view she just STARES at him with a gigantic grin! It is so sweet. Sometimes I want to say "look kid, I carried you for nine months and THEN gave birth to you after laboring all day..." but I'm sure she would just look at me and think I was silly.

I have started to tell her stories every day. I've been telling her classics like Red Ridding Hood and Three Little Pigs. She LOVES story time. I think she believes we are having a conversation because I get really close to her face and stare into her eyes for about thirty minutes and just talk to her. She tries to answer back with coos and babble so it is pretty fun.

We traded one of the pieces of her three white bear mobile for a big pink lady bug. She is distinguishing the difference and will follow the lady bug around.

Hannah is still an extremely pleasant baby. I'm grateful for that, as she allows me to get my work accomplished. Last night I felt like super mom! I was grading over a hundred assessments and assignments for the week with Hannah sitting right across from me in her bouncer. We were talking the whole time until she started to fuss because she was hungry... so I got the boppy out and began to feed her and continue to grade papers. There I was attached to a baby grading papers without missing a beat! Maybe I CAN do this semester!

It took me about four hours to grade the papers. Then I have to prepare for next week by reading through each lesson I wrote, gathering materials, and distributing those materials. I told my mom I'm in survival mode. I've never had a more challenging semester but I'm learning so much!

I think it is incredible that Adam and I have a once in a lifetime opportunity to switch rolls...He's the stay at home parent, caring for Hannah and the house while I go to school each day and be a teacher. Not only is it "I'm at work, he's at home" but we are doing the EXACT SAME JOB. Being a teacher is hard work. I know people say that all the time but until you've DONE it, it is hard to fully appreciate. Only a teacher could manage a classroom of 20 + 8 year olds with love and kindness and TEACH them something as well without strangling at least one. It is hard enough to TEACH as well as MANAGE BEHAVIOR and then trying to PLAN and PREPARE for it all. What a FANTASTIC experience!

I can't wait to stay at home with my sweet happy baby...oh sounds like her mobile is not working...she's yelling at the bears to move some more :)

Pass the potatoes...adding more to my plate :)

So just when I thought I couldn't get any busier...I go and get busy!

Adam and I decided that we need to get in better shape...our shapes are...fine...I weigh less than I did before I got pregnant but we need to GET INTO SHAPE.

One of the teachers at Adam's school decided that she wanted to get an exercise group together at the school. Starting MONDAY (well Tuesday for me because Hannah has an appointment) I will join a 12 week course of the P90X workout. It is supposed to really tone you up.

"The secret behind the P90X system is an advanced training technique called Muscle Confusion, which accelerates the results process by constantly introducing new moves and routines so your body never plateaus, and you never get bored! Whether you want to get lean, bulk up, or just plain get ripped, there's an endless variety of ways to mix and match the routines to keep you motivated the full 90 days and beyond!"

Hopefully it will be a good way to get out of the house (with Hannah) and socialize with some awesome women while getting fit. If it proves to be too much with student teaching and mothering then I guess I'll just have to nip it, but I really enjoy the thought of it...so I think I'll give it a go...I'll give it two weeks.

My Goal: Have more energy and work my body in a way that I haven't in a year building new muscles and rebuilding old ones.

Cr-AZY Hair!

So this morning I gave Hannah Banana a bath, dressed her up, and then got ready. I figured I'd wait to comb her hair and put a clip in it until after she'd been squirming and we were on our way to church so after she got out of her bath I didn't really touch it...bad idea.

So ALL day her hair has been sticking STRAIGHT UP all nice and fluffy all over the place crazy! It is about two inches long now (seems to be growing every day along with those cheeks!) and we love ever last bit of it!

{Learning from my Students}

I love Student Teaching.

Yes it is hard work.

No I do not enjoy my break from Hannah.

Nevertheless I really do love teaching. My mentor teacher Jasmine Bauer is way more than I could have ever expected. She is so awesome. Not only is she an awesome teacher and someone I am learning SO MUCH from, she is also very approachable, understanding, and personable. I feel so grateful to have someone that I can trust and truly enjoy on a daily basis.

The kids are so fun it is ridiculous. Yesterday while I was teaching the concept of rounding in math, I had the kids get out their personal whiteboards and answer silently by writing down the answer and holding it up for me to check. They were rounding to the nearest hundred and the number given was 892 so they all wrote down 900 and held it up for me to see. One girl {bless her heart} has a problem with sometimes writing letters and numbers backwards and wrote "P00" it took great self discipline to hold in my laughter. I know...real mature Mrs. Turney...but you picture an 8 year old holding up a sign above them that says P00 and you tell me that isn't a great mental image.

We have a marble jar in our class. When the class is being especially good, they receive marbles. When the jar is full the class gets a party. The boy with the job as the marble jar person has been a little sneaky. He may slip in an extra marble here or there...or when the class has their bad moments and they lose marbles he may not be honest with the amount he takes out. When we addressed it with his father, he told his son that he needed to write an apology to Mrs. Bauer and Mrs. Turney. Then he asked us as the teachers to please allow his son to address the class. Cole got up and said "I'd like to apologize to everyone in class...I haven't been honest in my job as marble person. I am sorry and I want you to forgive me." Here he stood shaking in his shoes tears streaming down and his voice was cracking. I felt like crying for him...both tears of sadness, because I know how hard it is to do something like that, and tears of happiness, because he doesn't know how lucky he is for a Dad who cares enough to make him have a concequence for his actions and doesn't make excuses for him (his parents are going through a divorce so he COULD have tried to make excuses). It made me think of MY parents and how they would have done the same thing. It made me want to be that kind of parent.

I enjoy my time with my fellow interns. Part of me wishes that I had a couple years to join them out in the field. I truly belong teaching...but not now. I realize that even though I have such a passion for it, I know that right now my classroom has only one student. She has a lot to learn and I have a lot to teach her. One of my students came up to tell me "Mrs. Turney, last year my mom got fired and lost her job for a couple of months...that was the best track break of my life. I got to spend EVERY DAY with my mom!" It kind of put me in my place.

So I'm doing well, Adam just went on track break after six weeks of paternity leave, after three months of summer break. He hasn't taught since June and is getting anxious to get back to his classroom. He's really enjoyed his time with Hannah though and I'm grateful they have been able to bond so closely. She loves her daddy so much!

Daddy's Girl

Cuddles

First Trip to the Mountains

Buddies!

Tender Moments

Mommy and Me :)

All Smiles

Curious

Studying with Mommy...planing the school week

Secrets don't make friends...they make BEST FRIENDS