That's Miss Trina to you....

When I was in 4th grade, I wanted to be a teacher. Now before you "ooh" and "aww" over how precious my heart must have been, I need to warn you... my reasons weren't exactly in the right place. I didn't want to plant the seed of learning into the bright, young, eager hearts of children who were just waiting to soak up the knowledge I could give them. Nope. I just wanted to be a teacher so that I could write on the projector.

Yeah, I heard the heavens singing too....

Well, since I've been a teacher. I've definitely been writing on the overhead so objective met, right? Nope. Turns out, there are other reasons why people want to teach. Who would have thought?! Here are just a few reasons why this whole teacher thing is actually worth more than just using the oh-so-mighty, oh-so-grand overhead projector:

These are some of the brightest boys in my class. I can always count on them to help me out when I'm drowning in front of the class. They're doing a science project that demonstrates Newton's 3rd Law in this pic. PS. the one in the red shirt should be in 2nd grade.... he's reading at a 9th grade level. Crazy, huh?!

These cute boys are always SO eager to learn. They make me laugh even when they are getting into trouble :)
The one on the left (dark blue shirt) is one of the younger kids in my class.... way to smart for his age.

I hope my children will be as cute as her.... unlikely since she is one of THE cutest girls I have EVER seen. But my chances are pretty good since she is part Hawaiian....

I love this little one.... His eye lashes are even longer than Ben's. He is always giving me hugs constantly and is always so happy to see me!

This one is going to be trouble when he gets older but seriously, how could he when he looks this cute?!

... And if you could have favorite students, this next one would be mine. This darling girl is my absolute favorite. She is adorable, smart, funny, and appropriate ALWAYS ... something teachers love love love.

I call her my little chipmunk.... as if you couldn't tell from the face we are making.

Anyways, moral of the story: yes, writing on the overhead is fun but believe it or not, there are other reasons why being a teacher is so rewarding! Actually, I can think of 22 reasons.... and they are all just as enjoyable as these ones!!

It Finally Happened .... *** Updated with Pictures Now!***

After 2 years and some odd months of playing hundreds of sports and playing like crazy, it has finally happened... Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first broken bone! And luckily (for me), it's Ben's hand and not mine :) He broke it on April 1st (yeah, everyone thought we were playing an April Fools joke but we werent) playing football. It was in the first few minutes of the game. Ben was rushing and he ran into the guy that was blocking him. It forced him to the ground and he landed right on his hand.... every 155 lbs (pure "muscle" (as he likes to call it)) of Ben. Ben is a pretty tough guy. Not much can hurt him. So when I saw him run off the field, cradling his hand, I knew it was more than just a little something. Ouch!

Anyways, you don't have to know the rest of the story but basically he broke 2 metacarpals (his middle finger and ring finger) in his RIGHT hand ... and yup, he's right-handed. He'll get a cast as soon as the swelling goes down (for a small visual, it looks like he has that elephantitize syndrome.... it's disgusting). I think the best part of this whole story was that we called April to wish her a happy birthday while we were driving to the Urgent Care facility and didn't tell her about what happened. We didn't want to worry her on her birthday...... :)

Here are the pics -- We're going to try and get the X-ray up here too.

*** Update: As always, pictures don't really do the real thing justice.... But I'm pretty sure you get the picture. Also, I forgot to add that Ben had a basketball game after the football game. And yes, he went to that game and played in it after (not very well I might add. Picture someone playing basketball with your wrists and not your hands... pretty funny). Boys.....


PS. I've started on a few of my home-made crafts for the 3 of you..... I should finish in about 2 weeks when I am on spring break so that I'll have more time to do them!! :)

Something Homemade and Crafty......

You may have seen this on other blogs - you sign up to receive something homemade and crafty, and then you pay it forward by doing the same thing for 3 people who sign up to do it on your blog.

So here’s how it works:

1. Be one of the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post and I will send you a handmade gift.

2. You get to pay it forward as well by doing the same thing for 3 people on your blog.

3. Once you leave a comment telling me that you want to participate, you need to make a pay it forward post on your blog.


I can't promise I'll get it to you quickly because of work and other things.... but I'll sure try!!

... I need to update ...

I told Ben that I absolutely HAD to check my blog before I go run (for the triathlon that I'm doing with the majority of people who read this blog....) so obviously, I'm going to procrastinate that as long as possible!

Here's a quick...er, long... list of updates:

Ben is playing on 3 soccer teams (1, 2, 3...Th-u-ree!), a CRAZY good football team (there are 2 ex-BYU football players (ex meaning last season) and 2 semi-pros), basketball team, wallyball team (although he doesn't want me to tell anyone... oops), and an ultimate frisbee that gets together every Tuesday. I'm doing basketball again (yes, we are trying to defend our Championship... and yes, I did capitalize that), wallyball, and 2 soccer teams (upper division.... yikes). You'd think I was in shape or something....

Teaching at Montessori is going great. It's a lot to get used to because everything there is SUPER organized but I love it. Good news: I got a raise a week after starting there and was offered a salary position in the afternoon!! Job hunting is finally over. Basically, I get paid hourly during the morning because I'm still training with the Miss A but since I'm the head teacher in the afternoon from now on, I get paid on a salary!

I got braces.

.... oh wait, what? Yeah, I got braces a few weeks ago. I was so worried when they were put on because they didn't hurt at all! I wanted to call the ortho and let him know that I thought they were broken.... Anyways, he says my teeth are actually pretty good. I only need braces for 1 1/2 years. No expanders, spacers, rubber bands, head gear... none of that really fun stuff.

Training for the triathlon.... not happening really. Ugh. Let's be honest, I don't want to do it... BUT at the same time I do want to. Sorta. Oh well. With a month left to train, I at least know that I can do all the events.... whether or not I'll be dead last is still up to debate.

Funny story: I was telling Ben about the shirts that Ashley is making for the triathlon. (cuz if anything, I'm going to do this tri just for the free t-shirts)

Trina: The logo that we are putting on it says "Just Tri" with an "i" instead of a "y"
Ben (totally oblivious): Oh... is that because it costs extra for more letters or something?
Trina: Umm.........

The end.

Haha, actually, Ben got it after a minute.... or two.

Anyways, maybe it was a had to be there kind of thing. Whatever. I've wasted enough time. I'm going to go run a few miles.... or go watch CSI...

I could go do this:

--- OR ---

Do this.....

GAH!

.... the Church IS true!

... I had a Laurel's teacher who always said "The Church IS true!" whenever something amazing happened. So here is my amazing something:

I got a job!!

Well, sorta... It was really just an accident. I graduated in April 08 and looked for a job ever since... and of course, as most of you know, I haven't had a job. I picked up a newspaper on campus (because I like the Sudoku puzzles at the back of the paper...). As I was reading it, I decided what the heck! I'll give the Classifieds a chance. Seriously, the only job that appealed at all to me was a teacher aide. How hard could aiding a teacher be, right?

I called the number and the lady I spoke to said to come in for an interview. I show up to the school and there are 2 other girls who are my age and dressed up for an interview. Great, I think to myself.... Now I'm nervous because both these girls graduated in Elementary Education and have taught in schools before. I'm a Psychology major....

This is getting long so I'll cut it short (or try or you could skip these points and go to the points at the bottom of this post) --

• The lady (the director, Miss A) tells us about the school. If we're interested, we can come back and watch how they teach on Monday.
  
• I show up on Monday (yesterday) and watch the class. After class, Miss A asks me if I have any questions. I ask when I can start. She said tomorrow (Tuesday... today). She gives me a HUGE pack of paper that I need to read (background on the school's method, how to write in cursive, rules for the English language, phonograms, etc. ). I go home, overwhelmed.
  
• (Sorry, I know I said I'd cut this short but this part I have to explain.) This school is a private school (kind of a glorified day care). It teaches students using the Montessori Method (this is the Wiki version...take it or leave it). It's actually a really cool method that teaches children at a very early age how to write in cursive and all the sounds of the English language. Granted, it still has its kinks to figure out BUT it really is amazing to see 6 year olds writing a whole lot better than me.
• I learn the best by actually doing. That being said, when Miss A was giving the students their phonogram test, I decided to try it with them. The best part is that I did better than I thought I would do!
• I read to the students out of the book Inkheart and Miss A was pretty impressed with how I read to the kids. Anyway -- when I was supposed to leave for the day, Miss A asked me to come up to her office. She told me that she really liked what she saw in me and wanted to do something she really doesn't do... ever. She told me that she wanted to start paying me (just so you know how big of a deal this is: they don't pay you for the 2 weeks they train you. After the end of the 2 weeks, they decide if they want you to teach or not. If they want to keep you, then you get paid). Anyways, she basically said that she thinks I have a lot of potential so she offered to PAY ME (something they don't do for trainees) ON THE VERY FIRST DAY THAT I STARTED TRAINING! I hope this is as big of a deal to you as it is to me... k, I'll be honest, probably not....
  

Anyways, the main points of this post:

• I went into this job today thinking that I have to go "to work" for 2 weeks without getting paid....
• I left this job today thinking, "Oh gosh... now I HAVE to do amazing or ELSE!"
• I HAVE A JOB!!!
  
• ... the Church IS true!
  

And for all of you who just "read" posts to look at pictures.... here's your sign:

Are you LOST yet?!

Gah -- I love this show. Ben and I were so excited for this new season to start (PS. I blame all my IS friends for getting me hooked on this show!)

Did any of you watch it? If you don't want to know what happens, don't read this next paragraph....


The "catch-up" show right before it started said that this season would leave the viewers with a lot more answers than questions.... Yeah right!! Ben and I were so confused throughout the whole thing. Who were the guys that surrounded Juliet and Sawyer? Was that a jump back to the past or in the future? And what is up with Ben (in the show, not my Ben...)? I don't like him at all but he does keep his side of the bargain... most of the time. And why is that white-haired lady back -- and how do I know here again? I forget! And Daniel.... oh goodness, Daniel... what is his story? Ben and I think that during one of the time jumps (maybe yet to happen?), he jumps to the opening scene of the show (the one with the asian doctor/scientist). Oh! Jin can't be dead... no way. The producers in the pre-show said that Sun BELIEVES he's dead. They didn't say he was dead so there's no way that he can be dead. He has to be alive.... just because he's probably one of my favorite characters and he's awesome. Anyway, bottom line: the island is time traveling and the Oceanic 6 needs to get back. Oh yeah, wasn't Locke's line great? "When am I?"

To conclude on my little tirade -- Lost is awesome.

Oh goodness....

$150 million for a party?! Seriously?!

Obama, Obama.... For the sake of this nation, I wish you the best.