Thoughts from a teacher:

Our school district has chosen not to show the President's webcast to our younger students not yet in High School. It makes me sad that politics and opinions are influencing the general respect we should be giving to the office of the President of the United States of America. Even if you do not like Barack Obama as a leader, he is still our leader and he is still our President. Bad mouthing him to America's children only breeds distrust and fear in our country, when what we should be doing is teaching them respect for our country, it's offices, and what we personally as citizens can do to help our country become better and how we can support it. This may include teaching them to follow issues, writing letters to representatives or even our President, teaching them to be thinkers and decide for themselves what is good and right. Political differences set aside, the American people still love their country. God bless America, because we are going to need it.

The whirlwind called Augtember

Augtember. Yes I just made up a new month and it is called Augtember and it is going by so fast that it is really hard to remember what has happened, but I will try!

Back to school: I officially went back to work August 17th, but I had been in and out all month trying to get my new classroom set up. This is my THIRD room in the last 3 years, but hopefully now I will be in here for ever. I am pretty much planning on either retiring from there or dying there in about 37 years after all of the work I did to get moved.

My students showed up on August 20th. I have 23 students, which for first grade is a little big. 20 is ideal and anything less is heaven. At least they seem to be a really REALLY nice group of kids this year. After we get through the "Teacher! Teacher! Can you {Blank} for me?" stage, it will be a lot easier. They are really cute and they seem very smart. They catch on to procedures really well and are so fun to joke around with. I love my Job!

Anniversary: August 20th was the first day of school and also Daren's and my FOURTH anniversary! I can't believe how fast it goes. Because of how busy things were we weren't exactly sure what we were going to do to celebrate. We both went to work unsure of what our plans were.

While Daren was at work he pumped some gas for the owner of Craigo's. He got to talking with her and told her that it was our anniversary and that we actually met at Craigo's. She said "Oh that's neat!" She started to write on a paper and told him, "Here is a free meal for two, get dressed up and we will get a photographer and hang your picture on the wall!" So we did. And it was fun. It is hard to believe that some pizza and friends were what brought us together over seven years ago. Time flies when you are having fun!

Family: The week before our anniversary, Daren got to go watch Allen & Gerb's kids while they went off for a weekend anniversary get away. He had so much fun and I wish I could have gone but I had stuff to deal with here : (

This week my Mom and Matt brought Trevor out for school @ BYU-Idaho. The third of the Clayton Clan has arrived to continue the legacy! Daren got Trevor a job at Ray's and he started on Tuesday. He finally got his apartment situation squared away and I think he can move in on Monday. School starts up for him on Thursday. Mom and Matt only got to stay for a few days, but we enjoyed hanging out and playing around the 'burg. Mom LOVES Porter's & Baijo and we made sure we got to both. We all sat around watching The Office and laughed so hard. I got to spend time with Mom just visiting and relaxing-- or chillaxing as Matt calls it. They left Thursday and I miss them already! I am already looking forward to Christmas!!!

Grad School: My master's program started back up on the 25th. My literacy specialist class seems like it is going to be pretty easy, but I am horrified of my behavioral statistics class. Our professor is intense and just lectures the whole time and I am about ready to cry. I think this is a class that getting less than an A is going to have to be totally acceptable. Any closet statistics lovers out there? I may need to come knocking on your door.

The next few weeks:Harvesting apples & tomatoes. Rodney Atkins. So excited. Friday, September 11th. Eastern Idaho State fair. Need I say more? I will on September 12th.

I hope you all had a good Augtember!