How Helena financed the big date

Helena doesn't have a job.

She wanted to pay for Preference.

I didn't just want to hand over a bunch of money.

So, I hired her.

I have a garden that needed to be cleared out.  I worked long and hard on that garden last spring, but for some reason, it was a stunted and pitiful thing.  I only got a handful of produce out of it.  Phooey!

We still haven't had a hard frost, but I decided it really was time to put that pathetic garden out of its misery.  The only problem is that I didn't want to have to do the work of pulling up the stakes, pulling and piling all the plants/weeds, and burning it.  So, I hired Helena to do all that unpleasant labor.

For the cost of Preference.

It was a win/win situation as far as I'm concerned!

Preference 2010

The "Day Date"

Every school dance has evolved into the day long event.  I have written about this before.  Just click here for Prom 2010 if you want to revisit that post.

For Preference, the day date was discussed and debated for weeks on end.  The girls just couldn't come up with a great, yet inexpensive activity to do.  Then, one day this past week, the thought of gingerbread houses just popped into my head while at work.  I quickly texted Helena, who showed the text to Megan (they were both in Physics together) and it was an instant yes!

So, yesterday morning, Once I was up and dressed, I designed a template and began cooking gingerbread.  It took several hours and I was still trying to bake the last batch and mix up the icing when Megan and Helena picked up the boys and brought them over.

Daniel Allenbach was Helena's date, and Westin Wong was Megan's date.  All parties were good, good friends, so it made for an ideal double date.  Helena and Daniel made one house, while Megan and Westin built another one.  I could tell that Daniel was very into it and wanted very much for their house to look good.  Megan and Westin just goofed around inventing all sorts of funny stuff.

This is Helena and Daniel's house.  There is a scrap piece of gingerbread trying to prop up the roof, which kept trying to slide off.  I think I didn't mix that batch of icing right.  That's what I get for being rushed!  I really should have made the gingerbread and icing the day before.

Westin grinding up candy and pretzels.  He ended up using it as "dirt" in the "garden" of their gingerbread house.

Daniel having a great time building with gingerbread.

There was lots of fun and laughter, but by the end of the afternoon, both houses had collapsed.  This was Daniel's fire pit. I liked it so much, that it got salvaged and saved for my gingerbread house's yard.

Preference Night

 

The girls took the boys home at 3:30 in the afternoon, so they could spend an hour and a half getting dressed up fancy for the dance.  At 5:00, Helena went to pick up Daniel.  She took her camera with her so that Daniel's mom could take some pictures for her.  I think Daniel's Mom was about as excited about this date as he was.  You see, it was his first formal.  They make a very cute couple, don't they? 

Helena drove to Megan's house, and both couples drove together for the remainder of the evening.  They went to DS Portraits for their dance photos.  There was a photographer at the dance itself, but DS is in the neighborhood, are friends of ours, are extremely professional, and had very reasonable rates.  They are the photographers who did our most recent family portraits.  Helena said it was 'freezing' while they had the photos done (in the studio gardens outside), and was glad for her wrap between shoots.

After pictures, they went to Olive Garden for dinner and had a fantastic time.  I think they all enjoyed being in a grown up type of setting on their own.  Helena got lots of compliments on her dress while there.  She was also pleasantly surprised that her bill wasn't as high as she feared.  I had made sure she had enough in her account for the evening, so she was worried about spending too much.

After dinner, they all stopped by our house so Helena could put her leftovers in the fridge, and pick up the ice cream coupons she had forgotten.  After a quick photo shoot in the family room, they were off on more adventures.  They went to Coney's (a new little hot dog/ice cream parlor next to Rubio's) for some frozen custard for dessert using some coupons I had picked up at work, then they were off to the dance.

Aren't Megan's shoes cute?  They match her personality completely!  You can't see Helena's shoes, but she is wearing 4" heels.  Without them the dress drags terribly.  You can tell the dress still drags some with the shoes on.

Helena said the dance was much more fun than Prom last spring.  I think that is because last year she went with someone that she only knew a little, whereas this time, she was there with best friends.  It makes a big difference.  They partied and danced every single song.  Helena was thrilled to discover that her dress was unique at the dance.  Not another girl was wearing one like it and she got tons of compliments on it.  Even Daniel commented on it.  That made me very happy to hear.  No girl wants to show up at the dance and see another girl in the same dress!

The dance was held at the Provo City Library ballroom.  This library is housed in the old history Brigham Young Academy building.  It was the original BYU back in pioneer days.

Imagine it without the tables, and you get some idea.  It was really a beautiful spot and made dressing up fancy even more fun.

They were supposed to be home by midnight, but of course, no evening is perfect.

We forgot to warn them that the freeway construction crews would be shutting down the freeway after 11 pm.  Helena sent me a frantic text saying they wouldn't make the midnight deadline because they were at a dead stop on the freeway in a massive traffic jam.  When she got home (at 1:10 am), she told about how the lanes got reduced down to one, then that one lane was finally diverted off of the freeway altogether.

Her feet were sore, but she was so very happy!  It makes me very happy to see her having such a good time!

This morning, I snuck into Helena's room and took this shot while she was sleeping, because I thought it was a perfect illustration of where she is right now.  A beautiful ball gown to go play dress up and behave like a grown girl for the evening hanging right next to the chair by the window upon which sits a trusted old childhood friend, her teddy bear.  Helena is on the verge of womanhood, soon to leave childhood behind.  Yet she is still full of the joy of childhood, and the innocence of youth.  Such a beautiful time to be alive!

"The Price of Freedom"

Helena has been mentioning a new friend, lately.  His name is Alec Taylor, and he is in her Latin class.  Apparently, he is also in the Chamber Strings orchestra class and plays the viola exceptionally well.  Helena told me he is sitting first chair viola in another orchestra, as well.  It's called the Lyceum Orchestra at American Heritage.

American Heritage is a private school that was built right next to the Mount Timpanogos Temple.  In fact, walking out of the front doors of that school, the temple is perfectly framed in the doors and is right there.  The school is a private LDS school.  My nephew, Abram, attended that school for a while, but hated it.  Probably because he wasn't given a choice in the matter.

But really, Abram could be a whole different post, and I don't want to talk about him right now.  I want to talk about Alec.  Or rather, Helena and Alec.

Alec invited Helena to attend a performance by his other orchestra (the Lyceum Orchestra), and Helena asked it she could go.  I purchased two tickets and went with her.

I WISH I HAD BOUGHT TICKETS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!!!

The performance was entitled "The Price of Freedom".  Click on the name to check it out!  Words cannot do it justice!  Helena and I spent half of the performance in tears, and at one point she was completely sobbing!  SUCH a good show!  The orchestra was amazing, the performers were excellent, and the video/lighting/effects were all top notch!  The composer asked veterans and families of veterans to stand before the performance, and again during the final number.  Helena and I stood in honor of my great grandpa, my grandfather, my dad, my brother, my brother-in-law, and my son.  That is a lot of military service and I am proud I got to stand for them!

But this post isn't just about the performance.  It is about Alec.

You see, he likes Helena.  She thought it might be the case, and I confirmed it when I saw the way he looked at her after the show.  We were out in the milling crowd, and I saw him before he saw us.  It was obvious that he was anxiously looking for someone and his face lit up when he saw her.  His family had come to the matinee, so he was only looking for her.

We invited him to join us at JCW's, a local burger joint, because, you see...

Helena likes him, too.

An Early Birthday Present

Helena turns 17 at the end of this month (on the 22nd).  For months, Bill and I planned to get her a new camera for her birthday and I have been researching and researching to try to find the very best one in a price we could afford.  I would LOVE to buy an SLR camera for her, but that is just out of the budget.  So, I began researching what's known as 'cross over' cameras.  They are still point-n- shoots, but they look a lot more like SLRs and have a lot of manual usage ability.  They aren't much more expensive than traditional point-n-shooters, so I found that I could make room in the budget for one!

I found just the one I wanted to buy at the local Costco.  Bill and I talked it over and decided to give her the camera early.  She is currently in a digital photography class that is only one semester long.  There was no sense in making her suffer another three weeks with her broken down old camera, when she needed this one for the class.  So, on Friday, we stopped by Costco on our date night and picked up the camera, along with some gallons of milk.  On the pretext of sending her out to the car to unload the milk, I hid in the spare room with the window open so I could record her reaction when she saw the camera box in the car.

She absolutely LOVES the camera and is having a blast trying out all the amazing features on it.  I am quite impressed with the sharp images and quality of both speed shots and super up close shots.  And it'll do panoramic shots!  NOW I WANT ONE!  Hee, hee, hee!

Band Bash 2010

Will plays the Euphonium (Bass Clef), aka, the baritone.  He is in the Junior High Symphonic Band.

Last week, American Fork High School hosted the annual Band Bash.  This is an event where ALL of the bands from the high school and the junior high put on a concert in the gym of the high school.  Literally hundreds upon hundreds of band students fill the floor of the gym, while over a thousand spectators watch from the bleachers.  Every year this extravaganza starts with the beginning jr. high band and works its way up the experience ladder to end with a stunning performance from the reigning, undefeated state champion marching band.

The band program is the pride and joy of the high school and a lot of funding has gone into it.  It seems very incongruous, therefore, to see this amazing band crowded in and performing in the school's run down gymnasium!

Still, a fun night of performances.  Afterward, it took literally FOREVER to find Will again, because, of course, we forgot to designate a meeting spot.  Doh!

Ah well.  We all found each other in the end, and it was a very mild night, so all's well that ends well.

Helena's orchestra concert

Back on November 2nd, Helena had her Fall orchestra concert.  I have to be honest, Helena's orchestra class has a lot of inexperienced players this year, so the sound was a bit raw.  She played well, though, and I always enjoy hearing her!

The Chamber Strings class followed immediately after her class (the Concert Orchestra), which I thought was not very sporting of the teacher.  How better to highlight the awkwardness of the newer players than to put them back to back with the very best players in the school?  The Chamber Strings group was phenomenal!  My favorite piece of the evening was Vivaldi's Spring, from the Four Seasons.

Helena doesn't currently plan to continue with orchestra class next year, though I hope she doesn't give up entirely.  I sort of hope she decides to take a class or two in college.  I love the violin for it's beautiful tone, and its compact portability.  She can take it with her to college much more easily than a piano.

Crybabies

This week we had another assembly at school.  One of the new teachers (at least, new to Harvest Elementary... he was my children's 4th grade science teacher at Shelley Elementary), remarked that we have already had more assemblies this fall than they had all year at his old school.

Anyways, this assembly was the Rhinestone Roper Drug Free Extravaganza!  This guy, Dan Mink, came WITH HIS HORSE to entertain all the kids with trick roping, bullwhip target hitting, and messages about finding your 'special purpose' in life, and staying away from drugs and alcohol.

Everyone was LOVING the assembly, at least until he pulled out his bullwhip and let it crack a few times.  Suddenly, a kindergarten girl popped up from the front row and ran straight into the arms of her teacher, bawling in fright!  She was settled down and sent back to her seat after being reassured that she would not get hurt, I guess.

I was very impressed with a couple of 4th grade students who volunteered to come up on stage and each held a long piece of straw out for him to target with the bullwhip!  The girl held it in her hand, the boy held it in his mouth.  That took a lot of courage!

Later in the assembly, the performer went outside and brought in his horse, Lucky Joe.  Almost immediately, another kindergartner was sobbing in her teacher's arms, inconsolable and wanting to go home!  Oi!  Apparently large animals frighten her?

Really, though, it was a super cool assembly!

Yesterday, I was teaching my first graders about Primary and Secondary colors.  The students were supposed to find a true blue, a true red, and a true yellow out of the crayon box so they could blend them to make orange, green, and violet.  As I was walking around watching them work, I came across a little boy who was SOBBING!

I asked him, "What's wrong?"

He replied, "I c-c-can't f-f-f-ind the ri-ri-right col-ors!"

?!?

Now, I know that this little boy was only 6,  but after having dealt with literally thousands of children over the past 12 years, I was annoyed.

I told him, "Stop crying right now!  Crying won't help you solve your problem!  If you are bleeding or hurt you can cry, but crying won't help you find the crayons you need, so just stop it!"

Amazingly, but not really surprisingly, he did; though there was still a hitch in his breathing.

"Now, what CAN you do that will help you get the colors you need?" I asked him.

He instantly answered, "I c-c-could ask someone to sh-sh-share."

"Good plan.  Do that!"

Of course, the rest of the kids were watching avidly to see how the art teacher treats kids who are crying.  They seemed satisfied that I wasn't too scary, because they all went back to work, and the little boy was smiling and happy within a few moments.

Crybabies are just a part of life in school.  When they are little like the kindergarten girl (the second one, not the first... I get being scared by the whip), or the first grade boy, it is easier to deal with.  All little kids cry at some time or another, so there is no 'shame' involved.  It gets more painful for the child the higher up the grade levels you go.  A third grader who cries might be teased about it on the playground for the rest of the day by the other children, but it is quickly forgotten by the next day.  A sixth grader who is a crybaby?  He's/She's just signed up for a year's worth of shunning by his/her peers.  That turns really ugly and has even turned violent on a couple of occasions.  I am not saying it is right, or that the kids ought to treat each other that way.  Of course not!  But that is often the reality, especially when large numbers of kids congregate on playgrounds, and that is why I won't accept useless tears, even from a 6 year old.

Art Hands on Workshop

A couple of weeks ago, the PE teacher came to me with a request.  He wanted to build a bowl to give to his mother for Christmas and wondered if I could help him.  I said "sure!"  And then I got to thinking...

If I am going to stay after work to help one teacher play around with clay, why not open it up to anyone who wants to come?  I could teach them some basic hand building clay techniques, and show them where the kiln is and how to run it.

I took my idea to the principal, Karl Bowman, and he LOVED IT!  He said he would offer re-certification credit to the teachers who signed up.

And so, the Arts Workshop was born.  I sent out an e-mail invitation and set out a sign up sheet in the faculty workroom.  Before I knew it, there were 22 people signed up!  I kept the cost minimal (just $3 for the cost of supplies) and scheduled two sessions; one for building the clay bowl, another for glazing the bowl a week later.

Today was the first day of the workshop.  It began at 4:00, though I had about 5 people show up 20 minutes early (including the principal) and sit around visiting while they waited for it to begin.  In the end, 16 people actually came.  I had received cancellations throughout the week due to scheduling and illness.  It didn't bother me at all, though, because we were just doing this for the fun of it anyways.

Everyone had a great time and it was a big success!

This last one belongs to Karl (my principal).

Although it wasn't my intention, this workshop also did a great job at promoting my job security.  Next year our projected enrollment is expected to plummet due to the construction of a new school very close by.  The numbers are expected to drop so sharply that our principal is anticipating have to drop one or possibly two of the specialty classes at Harvest!  He told me tonight, though, that he would make sure to keep both music and visual art.  So my job is safe.

It can't hurt to show your boss just how valuable you can be to him, right?

*****

Oh. on a side and slightly related note, Karl sent me a copy of an e-mail he sent to someone at BYU (?) recommending me as an excellent mentor for art education student teachers.  It is nice to be so valued.
I used to take on student teachers when I taught in Orem ("in town"), but stopped when I moved to the outer reaches of the district.  Apparently, they are having a harder time finding mentors "in town" and had sent out search requests.  We shall see if they are willing to deal with the distances involved.  Our district is truly HUGE!  There are 10 high schools, 11 junior highs/middle schools, 51 elementary schools (with at least 2 more in construction phases), and 3 special needs schools!  It covers all of northern Utah County.  Remember, too, that my school is sitting at 1,200 enrollment this year.

Sometimes student teachers are wonderful, though more often than not they are just added stress and work load for me.  At least there is a stipend involved!

The Great Technology Divide

I was waiting for my food at a fast food restaurant the other day.  The table next to me was occupied by a an older lady and her friends.  She was telling them that they wouldn't be able to e-mail her, because her computer had been 'down' for a couple of months.

First of all, kuddos to the elderly lady for even HAVING an e-mail account!

However, I was struck instantly by the stark fact that there is currently a sharp divide in this country between generations. 

Her generation will dabble with e-mail and the Internet.

My generation lives and dies on the computer.

I CANNOT go a single day without using a computer, let alone a couple of months!

I often teach online.  There are links to museums that I project on the whiteboard straight from my computer for the students to 'virtually visit'.  I communicate with parents online through e-mail and my class blog.  I grade online.  I journal online (hello!).  I pay ALL of my bills online.  I research online.  I compare prices online.  I shop online.  I entertain myself online.  There are currently two laptops, one desktop, and three WI-FI connected iPods in this house (one of the laptops is my work computer).  And we are looking at getting a connected TV and another laptop!

It is just amazing when you realize that this massive change in the way we live has occurred in just the past decade!  It makes me wonder what the next great generational divide will be?  What will my grandchildren be doing that I would never have dreamed possible today?

My Pepper and Me!

In case you needed hard proof that I am a cat lady.  NO, not a crazy cat lady!  Every night, Pepper seeks me out and snuggles in my hair.  And I used to be allergic to him! 

In fact, here he comes, now.

The Little Plant that Could

You know the old children's book called The Little Engine That Could?  The old "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" moral story?

I have a plant that seems to be trying to live that story.

We have a peace lily that was used in the decoration of the open house of the Mount Timpanogos Temple.  My mother in law was one of the volunteer gardeners who tended all the live plants during the open house.  When it was over, the gardeners were allowed to take the plants home and she gifted this peace lily to us.

That was 15 years ago.

I do not have a green thumb.  In fact, when it comes to house plants, I have a decidedly black thumb!  I forget.  I neglect.  It suffers.  It dies off.

And yet, it refuses to truly die!  Like a phoenix, this peace lily is reborn every time it seems to be truly gone.

A peace lily ought to look something like this...

Ours looks like this...

It is a pathetic little plant, yet it holds the place of honor by the front door.  So, if you ever stop by and wonder why in the world this little bitty plant is resting in such a large pot on a pedestal in the living room, now you know!

A Welcome Home

Today was one of those nasty 'Minimal Mondays'.  I have to back up and tell you what those are.

Once upon a time, when the economy was strong, the school district decreed that on certain days the students would have a 'day of rest' (day off), while their teachers met together and learned ways to be better teachers.  These days were known as Professional Development Days.  The children of the land were happy, and while the teachers wished they could take the day off, too, at least they knew they would receive an extra day of pay for their efforts.  And so, everyone was content.

Then came the dark times.  The economy fell.  Money was scarce.  The district, in an effort to spend less money, yet still assign the teachers time to meet together and improve themselves, decided to do away with Professional Development Days and decreed a new system... Minimal Mondays!

Four times a year, students would be released from school at a ridiculously early time (12:30).  The rest of the day would be spent by teachers in meetings that would go much longer than their normal contract time.  In this way, the professional development could happen on 'face to face' instructional days and the district could cut out the extra pay needed to have the teachers come to work on non-teaching days.  Students have less time in the classroom, and teachers have less pay, what's not to like?  (insert sarcastic voice here)

Okay.  So.  Today was one of those 'Minimal Mondays'.  The kids got home from school before 1:00, and I didn't get home from work until 6:00 pm!  On a normal day, the kids and I usually hit the house at about the same time... 3:00 pm.

By now, you are probably wondering what this post has to do with the photo at the top?

Bill and I got home at the same time tonight, an event that never happens in real life.  Will was gone up the canyon with his friend's family, and Helena was asleep in the basement.  The puppies, missing the human part of their family, were OVERJOYED to see us and were wriggling nearly to pieces in their ecstasy and eagerness to slobber us with love.  Bill is the loving parent to the puppies and lets them 'kiss' him all over the face.  I am the evil puppy parent.  I will pet them briefly, but that is all.  And yet, they are still brimming over with love for me, too.  That is the beauty of owning a dog.  Absolute and Unconditional Love.  Where a dog loves, she loves with every fiber of her being.  There is literally no room in her body for anything else.  She is just bursting with it.  That is the annoying part, too.  I don't always want puppy affection.  But they don't know how to turn it off.

I think that is why I am a cat person.  Cats are more aloof and will mix equal parts love and disdain, just to make sure you know that you are NOT the center of their universe, thank you very much!