Break Time!

So I need to get better at updating this! My last update was forever ago, however life with the Fessler's really isn't all that exciting. Here is a little break down of all the happenings! Nothing really exciting! We are kind of a boring couple! haha

Decemeber 1st- Lareme gave his Yard Maintanence business away! (just focusing on insurace)
December 19th- Dawn is officially finished her first semester of school! (I am half way done!!)
Decemeber 20-Jan 4th- School Break for Dawn! :) best news yet!

So I have officially had my first week of break from school and boy has it been nice! Well kind of! I definately miss my kiddos and working.... not grading the papers...but having something specific to do each day. I really do miss my kids! They are all so great and special! I really do have a good class and I love all my kids, even the ones I have to carry to the office each week! I don't know why but sometimes I just think about what great people each of them are going to turn out to be. I can see that they are going to be such good, husbands, wive, moms, dads, missionaries. It's such a sweet experience to watch these kids learn and grow. I learn from them too!

One of my favorite stories:
So a few weeks ago one of my students said, "I go to Banner's church" and then another student said "I go to Banner's church too" and then another and another. lets just say half of my class is LDS. Then, another student was all, " I don't go to church, what do you do." and then my little Bradley looks the little boy who asked and confidently said, "We learn about Heavenly Father!" It was the sweetest experience to watch these young kids be missionaries already! I was so proud of him! It just melted my heart! It just makes me think to myself, why is it so easy for these kiddos to share the gospel and so difficult for me. We all really do need to be like children! They are so loving and humble!

All break I really haven't done much, just relaxed, cleaned my house (boy did it need it), and spent time with the family. I have actually enjoyed being home and adding more home decor and baking (which I never have time for) and making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my husband! Boy is he spoiled right now....haha he hasn't ever gotten that! Our whole marriage I have been glued to work and/or school! Now I have a break I don't think he knows what to do with himself. He is finding it a little more difficult to stay focused working while I'm home. (He works from home) But its really been great to have all this time together!

Decemeber 24th
We went over to my in-laws for our traditional reenactment of Jesus' birth. My mother-in -law has created a whole skit for all the grandkids to take part in and we all sing songs between each part. The little ones all dress up! It is actually very cute and the kids always do so well!

December 25th
Merry Christmas! Lareme and I just spent the day going back and forth to family member's house's on Christmas! I spent the morning baking cookies and making homemade rolls while Lareme made German pancakes in the Dutch oven. Mmmm they were soo good! Lareme's sister and husband came over for breakfast! It is a Fessler traditional to eat German pancakes on Christmas morning...and its a traditional I am sure to keep! We also spent the morning watching the Today Show. One of my kiddos went to NY a few weeks ago while they were filming the Today Show for Christmas Day. He was standing outside holding a sign that say We made it to NY from AZ. Hi to my friends in Mrs. Fessler's Class! His mom said he was shown, however I was bummed because I didn't see him. It was so sweet though! He was so excited to tell! Kids are soo great aren't they! We had a great Christmas and we hope you all did as well! I really miss the excitment of Christmas morning, though.....Brooke says it will come back once we have little ones...and I'm sure it will. haha We also went to see the Tom Cruise movie....not my choice, the guys choice, go figure. It was pretty good, but I definately wouldn't pay to see it again.

December 27th
Lareme and I went to see some of my old friends from High School yesterday! It was good to see everyone and see how everyone is growing up! It's so weird to see everyone and know that they have careers or are in grad school! It was really good to catch up...however my poor husband was soo bored...he was a good sport though! Thanks hunny!

School has started!

So I am well on my way into the third week of school and I must say I have an all new respect for teachers! I knew teaching was hard but I never realized it was this much work! I probably make it more work than I need to, but I want to do everything "right" so it takes me a little longer! Anyways I love my kiddos! They are great...they are still pretty much kinders but I'm working with it and in due time they will be wonderful! I just can't wait to transition and have all my kids go straight to the floor without needing to tell me something or ask me somthing! And I definately can't wait to tell them to do independent work and they can remember the directions :) Really overall it has been a wonderful experience and definately an experience I need before children :) I have learned a lot these last few weeks and I don't think I could have learned it any other way. I am grateful for this opportunity I have to work and to help teach these little ones! I really do have an amazing class, really the problem is I'm just trying to figure it all out. My poor kids have had 4 different seating arrangements within 2 weeks. I couldn't figure out how I wanted to have their desks, so I could eliminate all the talking. Hahaha I am learning! I had them all in a U shape for awhile and I just placed them back in groups for tomorrow. We'll see how they handle it, or should I say how I handle it. I just really like having them in group so I can do more cooperative learning activities but man my kids just don't stop talking! Hopefully my positive reinforcement strategies take a toll so I can leave them how they are finally. We'll see!

Well enough has been said about me! Lareme just recently bought himself a little pickup to get around when he isn't using his big truck. He has really become dedicated to being "prepared" so he has been looking into wheat mills and solar pannels and all that stuff. Whatever makes him happy I guess haha! He has been working hard and has been very supportive to a wife who is never home and never cleans! I am definately lucky to have such an understanding husband!

Lareme and I will be having a visitor in September. Lareme's cousins Josephine will be coming from England and staying with us for a few months! It should be interesting and fun! I'm looking forward to her stay, so if you know of any cute boys that are in the 18-22 range let me know :)

Memories

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! Since this is our family blog, feel free to leave a memory about any of the four of us.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :)

Life of a teacher!

So the last three weeks I have been busy with my life as a teacher. I officially have all respect for teachers that decorate their classrooms! Lareme has also been a great help between taking furniture over, cutting out file folder games, punching out letters, laminating, and coloring the dreaded file folder games. I have also gotten help from my family...thankfully :) I started my contract on Wednesday and have been doing the finishing touches on my classroom. Here are some pictures of what my classroom looks like so far. This is a picture of my back wall. I am still in the process of getting posters for my reading group area. This is a picture of my back corner and my lack of storage. I must say I miss the whole wall of storage that was available in gilbert. To the right of my sink I will be putting our classroom pet frog...notice its is the only white wall.

This is the other corner, my calendar wall and my library. Yes I know the borders aren't straight :) I am too short to be putting this stuff up. It adds character. I am still in the process of getting some last minute stuff for the calendar as well...but it is almost finished.

This is a picure from the doorway. In the corner I have my library.

This is a picture of the front of my classroom. I have two white boards and a smart board in the center. Below them I have three centers and shape posters.
Here is my corner..which obviously has not yet been finished...I have a large 4'X3.5' memory board that I made on the floor that I will be putting up in that big white space. I have still to straighten up my area but its coming slowly but surely. :)

This is the last wall...I have my computer station, writing center, and star student bulletin. I just bought more posters for my writing station :)

Here we are at the entrance/exit of my classroom. On the back of the bookshelf I have a frog poster that I will put a morning message or directions on for when the kids come in first thing in the morning. I have also have the four color of lily pads for my behavior management, my job chart and my froggie hall passes.

You have officially toured my entire classroom haha. This is where I'm at now but my open house is on Friday so I will update the final pictures.

Good-Bye Long Hair...and so more updates

So I decided I needed a change in March and I decided to get hair extentions, not knowing how I'd them. Well lets just say I have really enjoyed having the long hair except for the long periods of time spent next to the blow dryer. Well anyway my 3 months of having extentions have passed and I have to either take them out completely or take them out and then spend another 9 hrs puting them back in, so I have decided to take them out a little while. Maybe the long hair will come back in the winter. Anyways I'm sad to say that I will have short hair again. It's weird, I never knew why people with long hair got so attached to it...haha and now I'm one, but short hair is always fun too.

So Portland/Vancouver was fun! It was absoultely beautiful there! I loved it! If Lareme and I didn't have some much going on for us in Arizona I would most definately consider moving there. I couldn't believe how green it was there. They had flowers everywhere and there were evern flower pots overflowing with flowers on all the light poles. Also, the people there were extremely nice. Everyone made an effort to talk to you...which is definately a big change from Arizonans I must say. If you ever get the chance to go to Oregon or Washington I highly reccomend it.

Last but not least I got some good news the other day! I get my keys to my classroom on the 7th! Not only do I get the keys but I get to pick out my classroom! I'm so stoked!

It's Summer Time

The Fessler home never seems to slow down! We have done so much this summer, but yet we feel like we haven't done all that much. Here is an update in the Fessler home. This last month Lareme had the opportunity to go to GilChrist with the Scouts and I had the opportunity to go to Girls Camp as a YCL Cabin Mom. What an experience it is to be a leader and do the Lords work. I must say girls camp really help me understand why certain people receive certain callings. I was able to experience how the Lord touches lives through others. Recently, Lareme's sister got married and I have continued to do the shoot my last few weddings...thankfully. I have also stayed pretty busy with weddings and I'm heading to Portland tomorrow to shoot my last one! I must say shooting wedding are A LOT of work! Our most exciting news this month is that I got a job teaching 1st grade at Ellsworth Elementary! I am so stoked! It is the school and grade level that I wanted. I have been very busy gathering school supplies and Lareme cannot wait for me to get my keys so I can get all the boxes out of the house. Speaking of which I get to pick out my classroom on July 7th :)! Lareme is staying busy with the insurance and yard maintance businesses and I am back working at SimonMed until mid July.

A busy weekend!

Yay it is finally over! I am officially an ASU Graduate!

I graduated on Friday morning!

My wonderful grandparents came down for my graduation! I would like to thank everyone for coming and all of there support. My familly all got together and made all the delicious food for my graduation party! What would I do without them. I also must thank my wonderful husband who put up with me through the last couple of years as I finished. As most of my family knows its not easy putting up with me when I'm stressing about school, but he did it! Thank you honey! I am so grateful to hof had this opportunity and for all the support from all my family, extend, immediate, and of coarse my in laws! They have all ben incredibly helpful!

(If you look closely I am wearing a lei that my mother-in-law made for me in ASU colors! It was so beautiful! I loved it!)

This was also a great time to see many of my friends from high school! It was good to see everyone and to have been able to stay in touch over the years! Thanks ladies!

Graduation!

Life has been very busy in the Fessler household for the last few months. (obviously since I haven't updated my blog for a few months) Well I have just completed my student teaching. So with that I have been busy with lesson planning, studying for the AEPA, and interviewing. I will be graduating on May 9th. I am so glad to be done. Lareme has been busy working as always and the two of us continue to keep ourselves busy with cub scouts. I never thought that the cub scout program would take so much time and effort, but we love working with the boys. In the mean time, Lareme's sister Brooke had a little boy in February and his sister Sierra has been planning her wedding which will be on May 17th. So life has definately kept us busy!

Jacob's Here!

Cristi finally had Jacob on January 2. He was 7 lbs. 8oz. He is very cute and has a lot of hair. He is just like his big sister Kayla and has her cute big cheeks. He also looks a lot like his big brother Daniel. Man is Danny excited to have a little brother. All the kids were so sad that they could goes see their newest family member in the hopital but they were happy to see the pictures and Grandma and I brought. Mom and baby are doing great!