graduated...

Well, I made it home safely to Spokane for this holiday season. I've been spending a lot of time with my little sister and the fam. Including getting my car stuck in the snow trying to get out of Dad and Gail's cabin driveway. not fun!

It was hard to say goodbye to DC and the life I made there. I went knowing no one and left with a new world of people and experiences. I learned so much from my teaching adventures. I am so glad I had that experience in Washington, DC. My students have been writing me telling me to come back- oh how I'll miss them. Even though some days you want to strangle them, those good days make it all worth it. Oh yeah, we had all our mentor teachers over for dinner our last week- that was a blast. And Ms. Petree had a party in each class for me my last day. My students signed a t-shirt for me- I am an official Wilson Tiger. :)
last week with my students:
http://byu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2153855&l=2896b&id=17825146

Teaching is a huge responsibility. It's not just knowing your content but really teaching these kids how to function in society and be responsible people. They need help being organized and to learn how to work in groups and SO much more. They will forget chemistry in a few years, but hopefully they won't forget the other life lessons, even though you can't measure that success. You just have to know that you tried to make a difference.


So, back to spokane. Last night we had my graduation party at a nice italian restaurant. There were 20 people there- mainly family. It was a super nice gathering. Can you believe I am now a college graduate? For those who aren't sure, I graduated in Chemistry Education and a minor in mathematics.
Here are some pictures from the dinner:
http://byu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2154683&l=3b49f&id=17825146

I leave for Texas next Saturday- the 28th. I will be driving with my dad to Provo and then he'll fly home after helping me get my trailor all set up and stored with my storage unit stuff. I will drive the next 24 hours by myself with one night 'layover'. or sleep over? Yeah. My roommate Leslie is already for me to come- apparently I already get more mail than her! haha.

I am a very blessed gal and I have the world at my fingertips!

Hope you and your families have a very merry christmas!

Other photos---
mentor teachers and other updated photos:
http://byu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2151608&l=a6a1e&id=17825146

last day in DC:
http://byu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2154678&l=00f21&id=17825146

Snowball Fight!!!

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sick day

I woke up sick. Don't you hate that? Ms. Petree was totally understandable when I called her this morning with my froggy voice. I've just been relaxing and watching hannah montana online all day. I can't fall asleep, so I'm getting restless.

Now I'm feeling a weird sadness about leaving DC. I knew it was temporary from the start, but it just went by so fast and I have to leave everyone I met. Even the Charles and Mohammed- the front desk guys I adore! And my amazing roommates!!! So I hung out with Brian last night. He told me that I shouldn't leave! He wants to keep in touch and maybe come visit me in Houston... Boys are weird! I mean, your average boy doesn't say those things, right? And oddly enough, that's what happened with Nick- I moved away and we kept in touch (all his initiation). Do I really want that to happen again? I wish I knew what was really going on in their heads!

Fire alarms. I swear this building is the worst ever!!! We've had at least 6. More than that! And if my roommates are asleep, they can't hear it (but I can, dang it). Who wants to walk down 12 flights of stairs for a stupid fire alarm that occurs pretty much weekly?!?!?

It snowed here in DC! We might *might* have a snow day tomorrow. I wouldn't object. ;) It is rather pretty here with the snow everywhere. It has been getting rather cold!!

I have been working out a ton this week (prior to being sick) and have been eating better. I can't wait until I only share a fridge with one other person and I can pack it up with healthy stuff and actually cook! I still eat like a college kid, but I'm getting better.

I can't remember anything else I was going to write about. Oh yeah. I LOVE my new leopard mac OX interface! It's all sorts of fun and super organized! I love it. macs rule.

the last two weeks and two more to go.

Sorry I haven't written in a couple weeks. Goodness! Well, I had turkey day with the Hacketts up in long island New York. They were SO sweet and I had a very relaxing weekend. The trains are the way to travel, let me tell you! They were super nice. Karen is fabulous and Chuck is hilarious and the kids are great. I am used to high schoolers... :)

The next Sunday I gave a talk in Church about how we should Meet our Neighbors this season. We always need more friends and to be kinder to others!

Fun activities: Friday night we had a full-fledge dance party at our Penthouse. It was pretty rockin'- nice speakers and great music and lots of people! It was super fun. Saturday my friend Dan made me breakfast and then I went to a few art museums in DC and then my friend Ryan met up with me to do the "operation spy" activity. That was pretty cool. And our ward had a service auction that raised a bunch of money for some families in our area so they can have a nice christmas. Can you believe it's christmas time? The Washington DC temple has tons of pretty colored lights around the grounds. Quite the sight.

My students are doing alright. They had a test. Some did awesome. Some did not so awesome. They do't like to study. But it paid off for the ones who did. One major success story is that this girl Ayisha at the beginning of the semester was not doing well at all and just struggling. And she's put in effort and she got a B on the test! Phenomenol! Gotta love those moments! I am only teaching for one more week and we have parent-teacher conferences on Friday (why friday?). The last week will be observing ms petree and such. I dunno.

Yeah, two weeks left here! I fly home December 16th to Spokane. I'm kind of torn. I am so ready to move on a have a real job and move to houston...but I will miss DC- especially the people here. They've become my friends! I did purchase a mattress (queen size sealy pillow top...) that will be in my apt by the time i get there! That's exciting. But the 36 hour drive to houston- not exciting.

Eh. We'll see what adventures lie ahead in the next week. Chao!