The Scoop...

It's been a bit crazy over the past couple of months. Mason totally decided to change career paths. He has gone from Law to Education. He found out about this program offered throughout the states called Teaching Fellows. Basically what it is is an alternate route to licensing to get his teaching degree. So at the end of two years at working in a Title I school (low income) he would have his Masters in Education along with this teaching certificate. Kinda cool - and the whole while he would be getting paid the full salary. After that he is planning on getting his doctorate and then going into administration or something.

So that's why we have been taking all these trips. Unfortunately they don't offer the program here. He applied in Phoenix Arizona, Austin Texas, and Nashville Tennessee. Yes we just got back from Tennessee Wednesday night and I have tons of pictures to show. Stay tuned.

But we just found out Monday that he got accepted and passed the test for Phoenix!!!!! So guess what that means!?!?

WE ARE MOVING TO ARIZONA!!!

Yes!! It's true. He has to be there the first week in June so that means we have 4 weeks left here in Utah. It's so extremely bitter sweet, I can't even begin to explain. It will be a crazy busy next couple of weeks, but I am just so excited to be moving back to my home state!!

So here's what this all means... if you are a Utah friend... we need to play. If you are an Arizona friend... I am going to want to play very soon and often being I won't be working. If you are my mother... let's go baby shopping.

Raining teeth...

It has been raining teeth here in first grade. I'll tell you what! I have NEVER had so many kids lose their teeth in two days at school. Usually they lose them at home. It could have to do with the fact that when they lose their teeth they get to put it in a little tooth case necklace that is just to die for apparently. So when the first one came out yesterday, everyone started pulling!

Why am I blogging about this you ask? Because it grosses me out!!! Have you ever had a child come up to you with their tooth hanging by a thread while pushing it back and forth in blood saying, "Look teacher!! It's going to come out!!" Ewww... It really is disgusting. Then the really creative ones figure out things to do with the dangling tooth, like sucking it in and out it's hole, twirling it with their fingers, turning it sideways and letting it protrude out of their mouths like a hill-billy, chasing girls around with it. Oh the joys of first grade. I really do love it... just not the whole teeth losing thing.


I was hoping someone out there had taken a picture of a tooth hanging by a thread... but alas... this is all I could come up with.

It's a...

All of you who guessed boy were right!!! We are beyond excited!! I thought it was a boy from the get-go. Mother's intuition, right??

Mason is so excited because he has broken the 'Lefler Curse.' All of his brothers and sisters have had atleast two girls first. Some of them don't even have any boys at all! Out of the 10 grandchildren on that side only 2 of them are boys. So he has the bragging rights for his brothers.

I had always imagined having a little boy first. I wanted a boy so that he could lead the way for the rest of the pack. I wanted my girls to have an older brother to protect them. Oh I am just so excited. All I can think of is a DARLING little Mason. I think of Mason and our sweet boy camping, fishing, playing sports, making noise, and just being such cute boys together. I couldn't be happier.

I had my class vote. It looks like they had mother's intuition as well. I thought it was going to be split exactly as my class is, 14 girls and 15 boys, but I was surprised at how many girls actually voted boy. None of the boys voted girl. Go figure.

Boy or a Girl?

Make sure to cast your vote!!!

I will tell you on Tuesday! I can't wait!!!!!

My tact...

Recently I have been having a real issue with being tactful... I don't know what the deal is... Seriously... here are 4 instances where I have felt REALLY bad because of my tact:

1 - One of the first grade teachers (heh, heh, heh when she reads this) who I will not name one day came in with a mark on her neck. Yes... I decided at the lunch table to call it out by saying, "Nice hickey." She was embarrassed... but laughed it off with the rest of my team. This was the least offensive of all my tactless remarks.

2 - There is a 3rd grade teacher who dyed her hair blonde over spring break. I thought it looked nice and I told her so. She said she thought it was too blonde and that she was going to go back to the girl who did it that night and get it fixed because she hated it. The next day as I was walking by her in the hall I said, "I thought you were going to get your hair fixed last night..." She said, "I did." Nice Allison.

3 - One of the substitute teachers at the school was eating lunch with us. As we were talking with everyone at the school it looked to me like she had a black eye. She had a major dark ring around her eye. So, what does Allison do?? She says, "Oh my gosh, how did you get your black eye??" She looks confused and says, "What?" I then proceed to try and deflate my comment by saying it must be the light or something - while all the other members on my team did the same thing. I felt so bad ESPECIALLY when the next time I saw her she was wearing makeup. Dang it.

*This one is by far the worst*

4 - I am taking an excel class at the district and have been for the past 4 weeks. We sit at the same computers each class. The same lady has been sitting in front of me since the beginning. I have even done one of the assignments with her. She had turned around and we had worked together. Well the last week of the class I noticed that she had her arm inside her shirt in a sling. Being friendly and nice I asked, "How did you break your arm?" No Allison... she didn't have a broken arm in a sling, actually no sling at all... she was missing an arm completely and has been since she was a child. I wanted to crawl out the door and disappear. How do you recover from a comment like that??

I think I need to be put in a muzzle. Yes I work with 6 year olds but does that mean I have to talk like one? Geez... so if I offend you with my graceless tact... please forgive me. My intentions are good - I promise.

Deep in the heart of Texas...

We spent Thursday in Houston staying with some of Mason's family and then it was off to Austin for the sights and an interview for Mason. (that was the whole motivation of the trip) The drive from Houston to Austin was BEAUTIFUL!! There were wild flowers scattered all over the highway. Plus the weather was beautifully warm the whole time we were there. I even got a slight sunburn on my legs. Yay!

We took a little side road to look at the flowers. I don't think I would mind living here at all! Although they do say that the humidity in the summer gets a little rough.

Above is a picture of a bunch of bluebells - the state flower.

Once we got to Austin we went downtown which was suppose to be a hoppin' place with lots of live bands. All we saw were a bunch of drunk college students. Maybe we came at the wrong time. Here is Mason at one of the 'clubs' (more like a bar). Yes that is a jack-a-lope behind him. That was the name of the place. They had a giant jack-a-lope at the enterance but Mason wouldn't sit on it for the picture. Neither would I. :)

Then we walked around toward the river.

At sunset there is a colony of bats that live under the bridge. So we hunted out the perfect place to watch the sunset and the bats come out.

Timer pose!

It was a pretty place. There were ducks swimming all around and little turtles kept poking their heads out of the water at us. Every time I tried to get a picture of one the red-eye detector on my camera would scare them away.

You can kinda see the bats in this picture. They look like a flock of birds. They are just little guys! But it was cool to see them all coming out!

I'd say one of the biggest memories of the trip was staying with Mason's uncle and family. They have 8 kids with 6 of them still at home. This is Elise, the youngest, who was my best buddy the whole time. She was as cute, or cuter, than a button. The perfect little Texan cowgirl! It was so fun to get to know them better!

Short notice vacation!

We are going 'somewhere' tomorrow and I am so excited!!

Here is the predicted forecast:

Thursday: 71, Friday 76, Saturday 78, Sunday 79

Here is a picture for a clue. I will be impressed if you can get it off this:
Anyone wanna take a guess at where I'm going? Oh and just in case you were wondering... here is the forecast for Highland, UT.

Thursday: 59, Friday 56, Saturday 64, Sunday 63.

Ok, so those temperatures don't sound too bad actually... but it has snowed for the past 3 days, so I'm not too trusting. Prove it mother nature. Show me that it's 63 when I get back!

The Office

100 episodes in 21 days! Heck yes! My dear friend Kristina has been lending us seasons 1-5 of the office. This past Thursday night we officially caught up to season 6. I must say I'm quite sad that I can't just sit and watch 5 episodes at once now if I so desired.

But we LOVE it. When I first saw the office on TV I didn't think I liked it much, but soon became addicted once we started the seasons.

My favorite characters have changed through the saga. At first I loved Jim and Pam. I still like Jim a lot but Pam's character has changed. At the beginning of the show I couldn't stand Michael Scott. But now I just feel sorry for him because nothing ever goes his way. Poor little guy. I like Kevin, even though he is a pervert. Creed is hilarious. The Nard Dog is a crack up and Mason's favorite character. I can't stand Stanley. Dwight is a freak but I love his and Jim's duo the best.

Ahhh... my new friends in the office. Tell me who your favorite character is.... And if you haven't indulged in 'The Office' I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed. :)

Spring Break!!!

... started 18 minutes ago!! I'm so excited.

I'm going to sleep in. I'm going to clean my house.

I even have an itch to go camping in southern Utah or something...

Mason doesn't have to work! What should we do?
Bliss.

April Fools

Mother Nature played an April Fools trick on me this morning.

Seriously? I thought I was past the window scraping starge. It's April. April SHOWERS - not snow showers.

Good one MN.