Best Job Ever

I don't think I've ever mentioned on this blog that I was employed this last school year. I always said that I would go to work when my youngest child was in school. Well . . . I was lucky enough to get the best job on the planet, as far as I'm concerned. I was an instructional assistant (aide) in the fourth grade at an Elementary School a mere 3 miles from my house. I loved EVERYTHING about it!
1) I went directly to work after dropping my kids off at their school.
2) It took me less than five minutes to get there.
3) The school was in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, so it was a beautiful and pleasant drive.
4) I only worked 3 1/2 hours a day, so I still had the afternoons to myself to do what ever I wanted.
5) I worked at a school, so I had the same days off as my kids - summers off too.
6) I loved what I did every day: helping 4th graders with their math, grading papers (math tests were my        favorite), hanging artwork, helping students study for math and spelling tests, etc.
7) The four teachers I worked with were amazing! We had a great time together planning, discussing the students and chatting during recess.
8) I enjoyed all 120 fourth graders (some of them more than others) that I spent time with every day.

I took my camera to work on the last day of school . . .

There's a neat little trail behind the playground.

 Mrs. Mickelsen's class

 Mrs. Todd's class

 Mrs. Heward's class

 Mrs. Norris' class

Too bad jobs with the school district are on a year-to-year basis and the school didn't have the budget for aides this next school year. But I've been hired back at the same school in the Resource department. Hopefully this new job will be as awesome as the last one!

Dance Festival

The boys' elementary school had a dance festival for the first time this year. It was held during the last week of school in the park across the street from the school. Each entire grade did a different dance. It was the cutest thing ever - I hope they do it every year!


First Grade: Chicken Dance

Third Grade: The Cupid Shuffle

I could only see Elliot for 2 1/2 seconds in this whole dance - his class was in the very back.

Spring Break in Moab

Yeah, I know it's July. But, hey - being Girls Camp director left me no time the last couple of months for things like laundry, dinner, hubby and especially blogs. Here's what we did during Spring Break:

 Rafting the Colorado River . . .

                                     
                                              
                                     
                                     
                                                 

Henry scraped his ankle getting out of that tree, so he asked our river guide for help . . .

                                    
                                    

                                     
                                    

Going on a hike . . .

 

                                                   

Walking through this tunnel . . .

                                                  

 . . . to the other side.

                                     
                                     

Looking back at the tunnel we came out of

                                     

Going back through . . . see how dark?

 Arches National Park . . .

                                                    
                                      
                                                  
                                     

Hiking to the famous Delicate Arch . . .

                                     
                                                   
                                                  
                                                  
                                    
                                                 
                                                  
                                    

Woo hoo!