Just in case you were wondering...

I am so ridiculously happy. I have no cool pictures to put with this post, but I am sure you can visualize me smiling in your head. I just haven't been very vocal about my gratitude lately so I thought this was the perfect place. I love my life. I love my job and every single one of my students. I love my ward and all the amazing people in it. I love my friends and the laughs they bring. I love my family and the support they give me. I love living in Utah(yeah, I am shocked at this one too)! I love technology that allows me to see family and friends far away. Okay, cheesy rant over! I just wanted you to know that I am happy and that I am grateful for YOU!

6th graders are a different kind of funny!

So I got observed by my principal last week and during our interview at the end of it she said, "I don't know if it is because you are second year teacher or if it is because 6th grade is a better fit for you, but you are a much better teacher this year." The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is both. I have grown so much this year already and I love it. I love my job and I love 6th grade. They get more of my jokes and they make more jokes. An example for you...

During my observation in my math lesson I told the kids to turn to the page in their book. Of course, someone who wasn't listening asked what page it was again and I guess I said the wrong page number. One of my students turned to me and said, "It is okay Miss Jones. It is because you are really nervous." It made me chuckle and calmed my nerves while I was being observed. I love my 6th graders and I wouldn't trade them for anything!

The secret to my beauty!

So the secret is out so I can tell the rest of you now of a tale of beauty. 3 years ago I met my sister in law Ann for the first time and I stayed in their home. I was stricken by her beauty and while showering in their shower, I looked down and saw the face wash she uses. I told myself then that I would buy that same face wash so that I could have skin like hers. Ridiculous?! You may think so, but her face wash has done wonders for my skin! So there you have it. I am sure glad that my brother married her for many reasons, but one is that my skin has never looked better ;)

BYU Football!

So I loved taking Katie to her first college football game today. I love the feeling in the air before a game. I love waiting with anticipation for the team to come on the field and the screams of the first kick off. This game was especially fun because we won 55 to 7. Here are some pictures from the game, but you have to watch the movie because it will show you where Katie's focus was! It made me laugh out loud!

Story of my Life

So I posted the music video because it is a good song and because it is the story of my life. As opinionated as I may be, I still tend to let people push me around and tell me how to live my life. Well, I am finally at a stage where I like my life and I like myself. No more pushing me around!

Plus it doesn't hurt that every time this song comes on in Virginia a cute little 2 year old smiled at me and said, "I like this one!"

I like this one too MD!

Sara Bareilles - King Of Anything

My Job is Taxing!

If you don't like to read the rantings of Karlie Jones then stop reading now. This is my outlet to get some thoughts out today. I had a district meeting today and my mentor teacher from my 6th grade student teaching class was there. I asked him how the kids were doing and if he kept in contact with them. He told me that they are enjoying their 8th grade year and they come and visit once in a while. He then told me that one of my favorite students committed suicide at the beginning of the summer. My heart dropped to my feet and I had to go to the bathroom to have a little cry and hold it in for later when I can be alone and really let it out. This kid was going to start 8th grade! He felt so alone and lost that he felt the need to take his own life. He was also getting into gangs.
Those who know me well know that I blamed myself. I really bonded with this kid and I felt like I had made a difference in his life. It is so hard to know that you have no control over their lives as soon as they walk out of your classroom door. I get so attached to the kids and want to help them in their lives even outside of school. My job is hard! Anyone who says otherwise, I would like to see you do it for a week and then tell me how you feel.

Happy Birthday Dad!

I have been so bad about these birthday posts so I thought I would start up again. Today is my dad's birthday and I think they were more excited about it than I was because that means they get to sing happy birthday to him at work on speaker phone. I always get giddy when I do this on anyone's birthday.

So a little over 2 weeks ago my dad came and, with the help of my mom, made my house a home. He and I spent a couple hours trying to put a stubborn fan into my living room ceiling and we also put light covers on our bedroom lights and he took off our nasty wall paper. He did a lot more, but the thing we are the most grateful for is the beautiful new dishwasher. My parents are both so giving when it comes to their kids and we really appreciate it. He even left us $10 ice cream money after all they gave us.

Happy Birthday dad! Love you!

It is so nice to be missed!

Especially when the one who misses you the most is the one who you thought wouldn't miss you at all. I had a class today with the district so I had a sub. Our class got out early so I decided to run back to school and get the students' work from today so that I could grade it and not get behind. Well I walked in just as the day was ending and was almost knocked down with the hugs I received. And who should be in front, but the one boy who I thought didn't care if I was dead or alive. It was great to see the other kids too, but this gave me hope that I am getting through to him after all. I have the most rewarding profession!

I love my siblings!

Don't worry, I love my parents too, but this post is just about my siblings. I have been feeling very grateful lately and my siblings is something that I am especially grateful for.
Brendon-I love Brendon because he is quietly funny. He is not loud like me, but he can sure make a whole room of people laugh. He also loves the drama in my life like no one else does.
Ann-I love Ann because she is a quiet listener. Even when she is juggling her busy life of being a mom to a crazy energetic 2 year old, I feel like she listens to me and makes time to listen to me. She and I have had many deep conversations where she just listened and didn't judge.
Trevor-I love Trevor because he trusts me. He has always trusted me from the time he was little and he trusts my opinion and takes it into consideration. We have always had a special bond that way.
Rachel-I love Rachel because she is incredible at giving compliments. I always feel like the most beautiful accomplished woman when I am with her. She makes everyone feel amazing.
Katie-I love Katie because she puts up with me. Being her roommate now she has come to know so many more of my flaws that I have as an adult. She still loves me and is patient with me and I am grateful for that.

I really got so lucky with my choice of siblings and am so grateful for them in my life and all they do for me.

I am not excited or anything!

I just wanted to point out that it is now 9 WEEKS until I have a nephew! I can't wait to meet him even if it will be over skype!

It's that time!

So I am pretty sure that one of the biggest reasons that I became a teacher is that I love to change the calendar every month and change decorations in the classroom and on the bulletin board for holidays. October begins the "holiday months."

I am pretty sure that my i-pod knows Christmas is coming because every time I put it on shuffle lately, it has been playing Christmas music and getting me really excited for the holidays and the decorations in my room and all the fun art projects we get to do with the students!

Happy Birthday Mary Deane!

The most popular person in our family had a birthday yesterday! What is she going to do when her little brother is born? She will have to share all the popularness (yes I made that word up). Mary Deane is so special and has already had such a big impact on my life in her 2 short years! I got to skype with her on her birthday and she got to show me her birthday presents and tell me all about her life. She has started saying my name more and more which makes me happy because she says it so cutely (Kawlie). She even kept asking me, "that my stroller?" like she couldn't believe that she could be so lucky to own a baby doll stroller as cool as hers.
It was also and is always, very amusing to watch Brendon and Ann try and hold a conversation with me with Miss MD around. She does not let anyone get a word in edge wise. I wonder were she got that quality? ;) (Her parents are both very quiet and dignified by the way)
I sure love you Mary Deane and hope you had a very Happy Birthday!

Please excuse me...

...while I toot my own horn. So I filled out an application to be on the boundary committee of the district. They are in charge of realigning all the new boundaries with the new high school being built and 9th grade moving up to high school and 6th grade moving up to middle school. And, I GOT CHOSEN! I was excited, but I was not sure how big a deal it was. At our first meeting tonight they talked about how we will get calls from the press and questions from parents and community members because our names are posted for all to see that we are on the committee. I already love being on the committee and I get paid for the meetings so it is nice. Okay, tooting of my horn over!

A WHOLE NEW WORLD!

Thanks to my favorite older sister in law (yes, I have to say older because in case you didn't hear I have two sisters in law now), I am eating a grilled cheese sandwich. Now this is not just any grilled cheese sandwich. When I visited Virginia Ann made grilled cheese sandwiches with mayonaise on the outside instead of butter and it rocked my face off. Now I can make them for my very own and they are amazing every time that I make them. Thanks Ann for showing me a whole new world!

Adorable!

So there is a little boy who will remain nameless, but he was in my class last year and he had a little thing for me. I thought it was adorable and so did his mom. She would always tell me that he would just go home and talk about me. Well he came up to me everyday last week while I was on bus duty and told me that he is going to have his mom request that he be in my class next year. Well after hearing that 10 times, I think I get the point.

Well, today I was out there with my class the same time as his class and he came running over to me. "Ms. Jones, you are the best teacher I have ever had and I better get you again next year!" Then he proceeded to do tricks on the monkey bars to impress me. Isn't young love adorable?

So I start school again tomorrow and I am like a giddy little school girl (excuse the pun). And I don't mean teaching school. I start the first class towards my masters tomorrow and I can't wait to start school again. I love to learn and I love to be doing homework and all that jazz. I am a nerd I know! This time I get to take the class with most of my coworkers too so I get to bounce ideas off of them to use in my classroom. It will be great! I am even packing my backpack as we speak and laying out my crisp outfit for class.

I LOVE FOOTBALL!

I am not sure if it came on slowly as I grew up or if I have always loved football as much as I do now, but I really do love it. As I was watching the pregame show yesterday I was thinking about shuffling to the stadium and watching the cheer leaders try and pump us up waiting for the players to run out. I would always go crazy when they ran out and scream and jump up and down. I was one of the fans who booed the ref when he made a bad call and I still do.

Katie kept texting me from her room yesterday asking if I was calling for her or yelling at the tv. I was just yelling. I even do it when I am alone with no one to hear me scream. I can't help it. We even won yesterday which made it better! Bring on football season.

Do you remember when?

So Katie and I got cable for football season of course and I am loving it. We got a DVR so that I can record things and skip over commercials. It is so great and the shows I like go by so much faster and I can skip the half time show during football season! Anyway I was thinking today that I still remember one summer that I was living with my cousin Madison and we were so stressed about finding a vhs to record the Backstreet Boys concert on Disney channel that day. Then it wouldn't record and we started to stress. I am so grateful for technology and the fact that I don't have to stress about finding that vhs anymore ;)

Don't hate me but...

in the rush to get out the door on time, I forgot my camera for the wedding! I was so sad. So pictures will come of the joyous event once I can hack them off of someone's facebook. It was so wonderful though. The sealer was a long time friend of Rachel's family and he was great. They both looked so happy. It was fun to get out of town for a weekend and just have time with family too.

I miss her!

So because of our crazy schedules Katie and I have not really seen each other since Sunday and before that I was gone on a week and a half vacation. I miss my new roommate!

Yesterday morning though I felt like a little girl as my sister sat on my bed at 7am as she was getting off work and I was getting ready for work. She told me about her last couple of days at work and what has been going on in her life as I told her about my life and being back at work. We had to whisper because Trevor is with us for a couple of days and he was asleep on the couch. She even followed me into the bathroom as I brushed my teeth so that we could soak up every second we had together.

After our short 15 minute conversation, I had to rush off to work and she went to bed to get some sleep before her class that night. We are both excited for Saturday afternoon when she gets off work and we can actually see each other! I miss my roommate!

National Women's Self Appreciation Day!

So this wonderful idea is Katy's idea and I love it. One of my greatest weaknesses is appreciating myself and realizing what a great person I am. So here are the top 3 things that I love about myself.

1. I have a really fun laugh that most people say makes them want to laugh!

2. I like to know what is going on in people's lives, not because I am nosy, but because I care about them.

3. I absolutely love what I do and have been counting down the days to when I can be teaching again. Not many people can say that they love their job like I can.

Now what do you love about yourself? Think about it and embrace it today!

BEST Birthday EVER!!

So today I turned 25 and it was a pretty dang good birthday! They day started out with pancakes and eggs at my special chair with balloons on it. Then we went swimming with the cute Mary Deane. After that we all got ready and went and got Arby's for lunch because I was craving it. Then I
cut out the design for my dress for the wedding while MD napped. Then the lovely, soon to be sister in law Rachel, came to visit us for dinner and games. She got to play with MD before she went to bed. Then we had an amazing dinner and mini cheescakes. Then I won the game of Rummikub and we laughed a whole lot. What an amazing day!

PS That first picture is of Mary Deane's melt down before we went to the pool. She is my kind of girl and goes for the theatrics sometimes of throwing her whole body on the ground.

I am living with a celebrity!

Everyone in Brendon and Ann's ward knows this little girl! Adults would walk by and say, "hi Mary Deane!" She is loved by everyone she meets. She also says the cutest things. Here is a list of the things that I love to hear her say!

1. My name (Kawlie) in an excited voice
2. Gamma (she uses this for both her grandma and her grandpa)
3. I like this one! (said about any Elmo video that we watch)
4. Scrippers (what she calls the scriptures)
5. Girl, you crazy! (I taught her this one much to her parents dismay)
6. Hold you! (She says this to you when she wants to be held)
7. Whachu takin bout. (said with a little attittude)
8. You wanna pray? (said more than once while she eats even though we have already said a prayer)
9. Come on Kawlie (said to me anytime we leave to go somewhere)
10. I low you. (Her way of saying she loves me. She also will tell me she needs a kiss or a hug)

This girl is sure cute and makes everyone around her so happy. Her dad and I even have to laugh when she throws a tantrum because it is too funny. What a great birthday present for me to come spend time with her.

Loving Virginia!

Who wouldn't love Virginia when this is your company?

Early birthday present!

So a good friend of mine got tired of me asking to use his screw driver, so he got me a whole tool set for my birthday! It has 110 tools and I have already used 4 of them to put up a new swamp cooler cover as seen here! I also used my hammer to finally hang up one of my favorite pictures that my parents gave me! Look at me fixing things on my own! I am so proud of myself.

Katie's birthday celebration!

I had some friends in from out of town so they came and helped us celebrate one more year of Katie's marvelous life. We got a "Finding Nemo" ice cream cake and sang to her. We went to lunch at Cafe Rio and then had pizza for dinner. Trevor was even in town so it was a lot of fun!

Top 5 reason I love my sister's job!

5. She gets to spend time away from me so she appreciates me more when she comes home!
4. She is getting experience that she needs to get her into nursing school.
3. She is a lot happier because she enjoys what she is doing.
2. She has HILARIOUS stories to tell me about the funny things that old people say and do.
1. She now talks REALLY loud as if I were an old person and I have to remind her that I can hear just fine most days. It is really funny!

Yay for Katie for getting a job that she wanted and that she enjoys. I wasn't able to post on her birthday because of lack of internet, but I am so proud of her and what she is accomplishing.

Aquarium

So we have been going crazy sitting in the house and today they turned off our electricity for the day to work on it. So Katie and I decided to take advantage of our local aquarium. It was a lot of fun. We were the only adults there without children and we had a lot of fun taking goofy pictures. We touched sting rays and watched sharks get fed and we laughed a lot. The best part was that we got out of the house.

After that we went to temple square because we didn't want to go home yet. We went to the visitors center and had a great time, but did not take any pictures. What a fun day!

I hate it when...

...it is so bright in my house that I have to wear my sunglasses while I eat dinner. I love this cute little girl and love the laughs she gives me.

Katie shakes it!

Yesterday at the Polynesian Culture Center while visiting the island of Tahiti, Katie got called up to dance and model the clothing of the island. She did a pretty dang good job if you ask me.

Vacay in Hawaii!

Yes that is right, I am in Hawaii! I thought I would just post a couple of pictures of the fun we have had in the 3 days we have been here.

Everything I learned I learned in...

...my first year of teaching! Well folks, it is over! My first year of teaching has come and gone and let me tell you I have learned so much. I thought I would just share with you the top ten things I learned while teaching 4th grade this year.

10. Even though they act like they don't care, kids need and want your love and attention all the time.

9. School lunch is not as nasty as I remember it to be.

8. Kids can not sit and listen to you talk for more than ten minutes, but they can sit and watch a 3 hour movie and be just fine.

7. 4 square rules are a lot more intense now compared to when I was a kid.

6. Laughing at yourself is sometimes all that will get you through the day.

5. Saturdays are your best friend and so is summer break.

4. Field trips are fun in theory, but will make you tired enough to sleep for days after.

3. Patience for myself is in more short supply than my patience for the students. You need both to be a good teacher.

2. Technology is now a must in teaching and in keeping the kids focused.

And most importantly...

1. Pee quickly because if you don't, your classroom will be a zoo when you come back from the bathroom.

I am so happy about all the things I continue to learn about myself and am excited to take on the new challenge of 6th graders next year.

Nesting!

No, I am NOT pregnant, but I have been nesting like crazy these past few days because...

MY SISTER IS COMING TO LIVE WITH ME AND I AM SO EXCITED!

She has decided to come live with me for a year and work while she prepares for college. I have been moving my extra stuff back into my room and moving things in the bathroom so that she can have room. It has been so fun and is getting me so excited. Everyday I think of new places I want to take her and new things I want to do with her. Too bad she is going to have a job over the summer because I will not and will be excited and ready to play. All I know is that you should keep reading this blog because we are going to have amazing adventures in this next year. I can feel it!

The things I do to make my students happy!

We had a pie throwing extravaganza at school today and I volunteered to be one of the teachers that the kids could throw pies at. Well I became an instant celebrity in the school and my students were so proud to say that they were in my class. Other than not being able to go home and shower and smelling like rotten milk the rest of the day, I had a lot of fun! It is always fun to see my students happy so it was well worth it.

All in the name of...

...this adorable little girl and many others. Today I was able to participate in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides Walk for a Cure in Salt Lake. It was so fun and it was a good workout. There were so many people there and all those with Cystic Fibrosis wore pink wrist bands instead of the blue ones we got. We were able to raise $345 for the research of finding a cure! Thanks to those who donated to me and my walk:

Allan and Kristine Carter (Mary Deane's great uncle and aunt)

Kevin and Tina Jones (Mary Deane's grandparents)

Royce and Jill Jones (Mary Deane's great uncle and aunt)

Kurt and Becky Knudsen (Mary Deane's grandparents)

Don and Janell Stockman (My coworker)

I was skyping with this adorable little one the other day and she said "I miss you Karlie, I love you Karlie!" She gave me a big smile and then started chanting, "I like you, I like you and singing hello, hello." It doesn't get any better than that. I want to hear her sweet voice for a long time so I am glad that I could do my part in helping to find a cure and thanks again to the donations that were given!

If you need a good laugh...

...you should read these books. They are an easy read and they are hilarious. The kids were making fun of me because I would start laughing out loud during silent reading time. And of course now that they saw me enjoying reading them so much, almost every kid in my class has one of these books in their desks. My favorite is when they try and sneakily read while I am teaching. I try to act mad because they should be listening to me, but secretly inside it makes me so happy that they have found a book that they can't get enough of.
Now there is a movie too and the kids tell me that it is hilarious. Of course they are 10 and think that farting and burping are hilarious and kissing is gross, but if the movie is anything like the books, then I am going to need to go see it and so should you!
P.S. These are just the first 3 books and there is now a 4th one that is yellow and a 5th one on the way! Yay for "Diary of a Wimpy Kid!"

Funny Conversation of the Day

Student 1: Ms. Jones, is it fun being old?
Me: Well, yes it is actually.
Student 1: I don't want to be old because you have to pay for yourself.
Student 2: Only until you get married and then you have a husband to pay for you!
Student 1: I am a boy though...
Student 2: Oh, good point.

I think he was a little depressed to find out that he would be paying for himself when he gets "old."

Teacher Appreciation week!

So this week is teacher appreciation week and my students have been so cute. Each day they are supposed to bring me something different. Yesterday was my favorite flower so I have a whole vase of beautiful sunflowers at home on my counter. Today they had to bring classroom supplies and tomorrow is my favorite store bought treat! One of my students forgot to bring flowers and she wrote a song about me instead. I thought I would share it with you.

Flowers like you your more beautiful than your favorit flower your more like a feild of roses with bunches of butterflys flying above the flowers way up in the sky when I think of you I think of sweet beaches with a wave of calm and a wave of things that will help me with my like cause some little waves can become big.

That is copied exactly how she wrote it. My students do appreciate me sometimes!

Perfect Timing!

So today was one of the worst days of my teaching career thus far. It was just one of those days where you thought nothing else could go wrong and it did. Then we had a long meeting this afternoon and I come back to find this on my door for teacher appreciation week next week. I just had to stand there and cry and thank the Lord for this tender mercy in my life. I am making a difference and I can do this! I love what I do and I am so grateful that I was given the talent of teaching.
P.S. each of the flowers has the name of one of my students on it. My amazing room mom did this for me.

More picture of the house