Learning

I got a new book today at the library, "Painting Chinese." Here is what is written on the jacket:

What does a man nearing seventy do to keep himself engaged in the world around him? Esteemed educator and National Book Award winner Herb Kohl decided to try something new. While walking around San Francisco, Kohl happened upon a painting studio. He had dabbled in painting and decided a class would provide just the inspiration and instruction he needed. On a whim, he signed up. When he arrived for his first lesson he was surprised to learn that the class was in Chinese landscape painting. He was even more surprised to see that his fellow students were all Chinese and between the ages of four and seven.

I'm excited to read this book, though I have to finish "The Geography of Bliss" first.

My father and oldest sister truly exemplified for me the joy of learning, for no other reason but to acquire a new skill, different perspective or to gain knowledge. Learning for learning's sake.

When I was nine I told my sister, Teresa, I had learned how to sign the alphabet in school and she excitedly asked me to show her. I did and she practiced until she got it too. I was so pleased to be able to share with my big sister something that I knew and she didn't, but more than that, I was affected by her enthusiasm over the acquisition of a gained skill.

My father use to take us to obscure museums (Peshtigo Fire Museum) and on factory tours and I remember his genuine interest in whatever information was conveyed. He actually read the plaques next to the displays! Like Herbert Kohl, he also took a painting class when he was 40-something, because he wanted to.

Maybe this love of learning is why I enjoy working at an elementary school. Yesterday I got to read a book about rhinoceroses and both my student and I were astounded by the facts presented...rhinos weigh 8000 pounds! Children will vibrate with excitement over a newly acquired skill or from learning something that is really cool. It's as if the world has just been opened up to them and I am so thankful to be along for the ride.

Sophie the Theologian

When Sophie is not running, or perhaps she philosophizes (real word?) while running, she is pondering the great religious conundrums.

This is the conversation that took place in our car yesterday:

Sophie: Mom, ever since I was 3 I've wanted to be Jewish.

Me: Ok.

Sophie: But I also want to be Christmas people.

Yes, our beliefs may coincide more with that of Judaism than Christianity, but, our greed demands we celebrate all holidays in which gifts are bestowed upon us.

Rainy Day

Sophie worked on her art project for the AVA's Art-O-Rama show for children, using pastels. She also played outside, in the rain, today.

I finished the book, "Tested" and am now reading "The Geography of Bliss," by Eric Weiner. He uses a quote from Henry Miller, that I love, "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."

This is our new door knob on the front door. The one before was a bright gold. We are slowly making improvements to the house, though it feels like we make small disasters along the way too.

While at the grocery store today I had something happen that has happened a few times since my return to Logan. I smile at someone and they say, "You look familiar." The woman today is someone I've seen around town and I actually thought she might be somebody I went to high school with in Pennsylvania, she has a "Unionville" look. I actually spotted her in the store before she saw me and made the connection, she was a waitress at The White Owl, the bar I went to (we won't say frequented) when I lived here before. We chatted about our daughters, both 8, and how she is an aide at her daughter's elementary school...sounds familiar.

My life here before and my life here now are about 180 degrees different, thank god. I really don't spend time with anyone from my past, though there are a couple I will see and chat with. I don't think it has much to do with them, it's me. Even though I'm back in Logan and pass old haunts everyday, I don't want to become that person I was before, well, except for the good stuff.

Thanks Steve!

Steve, Steve's friend (slightly confusing), gives Steve (my husband), a ride home nearly every day and we greatly appreciate it. We are a one car family and when Sophie and I get out of school/work, it's nice to just head home or wherever we're going, and not have to arrange our schedules to pick up Steve...though that sounds kind of heartless.

I also appreciate that Steve has such a great friend. I am not a believer in married couples doing everything together...there are some things my husband is interested in that just don't hold the same interest for me, and I'm sure he would say it goes both ways. You also just need a different perspective from time to time and the person you're married to has a lot invested in what you say. It's hard not to overreact, ok, it's hard for ME not to overreact.

Plus, I like Steve (the other Steve), because he's really funny and keeps us entertained with what's going on in his life. I won't say any more than that...yet.

Lunar Eclipse

We are going to head out tonight to check out the lunar eclipse, 8:01 p.m. MST. This is very exciting for us!

When Sophie was 2 years old, we took her to the big telescope at the University of Michigan during an astronomy club gathering and I can still remember her marching right up to it and declaring, "I see Venus!" We haven't been completely consistent in encouraging Sophie's love of space, and maybe she's not even really interested anymore, but fond memories and reading about the lack of science in education nowadays makes me want to see the eclipse tonight, as a family. All I can say is, everyone BETTER have fun!

I've started tossing around the idea again, of getting a children's museum going in Logan. Last year Lisa and I were researching it, but her move took some of the wind out of my sails, oh, and someone else in town told me he was working on bringing one that included an IMAX...way out of my league! With all the rigor of NCLB, it would be nice to have a place where kids could explore, hands-on, the wonders of the world around them. Oh, and a warm place to go during these long winter months!

Book Recommendations

I just finished "Helping Me Help Myself," by Beth Lisick and it was hilarious! I actually laughed out loud a few times. The book follows Lisick's year-long journey of testing out a variety of self-help programs: Stephen Covey's 7-Steps, John Gray's planet analogies and my favorite, her time on a Richard Simmons's cruise to lose. I want to read her other book, "Everyone Into the Pool," but our local library doesn't have it. Sigh.

I am now reading "Tested" by Linda Perlstein and it is about a school in Maryland that went from really low test scores to high test scores and the struggles faced trying to maintain the high test scores.

As the book states, a lot of what is instructed now is scripted and to deviate from the script is frowned upon. It is sad to see creativity, questioning and even independent thought pushed aside because there is too much to cover for such frivolity.

When I'm working with the kids, especially in kindergarten, I often think of a CEO trying to conduct a meeting with these students as their employees: one is swiveling around in their seat and humming out loud, another is making monkey faces about 2 inches away from their face, one gets up and starts spinning in circles and my favorite, one starts meowing because today, they are a cat. Then I wonder, why do teachers make a fraction of what these CEOs make? At least the CEOs get free coffee and pastries at their meetings, oh and slightly more comfy chairs than that which is suited for the body of a 5-year old.

Our Cardboard Addition to the Family

Sophie said yesterday, "If I can't have a dog, than I will make a dog." Surprisingly we have not noticed any conflicts between the dog and Jada. Ha.

If You Post It, They Will Come

My sister, Valerie, emailed me today that her son, Ryan, will not let her stay on the blog because he wants to see the fire truck website, so this photo's for Ryan!

My family lives in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, neither of which we could afford and we had connections in Logan, so it's where we headed when we hit a wall. It means I am once again 2,000 miles away from my family, which stinks.

I've often told people about the "cultural" differences Steve and I have experienced growing up: he was raised camping, hiking and fishing in the west, I was raised going to museums (really obscure ones in Wisconsin), taking music lessons and eventually moving near Philadelphia where I was able to go into the big city. What we now experience is an appreciation for all of the above, which is really cool.

Right now we're good in Logan, but I think of how wonderful it would be for Sophie to have her cousins nearby. Then I think of families who live in different countries or back when there wasn't, gasp, email to stay in contact and realize I'm pretty lucky. I can stay in touch with my family, even if I can't get together with my sisters, hang out with my brother and attend school performances of my nieces and nephews. I'm sad that I don't get to do those things.

That's how it goes though. Life is a give and take and if any of my family ever wants to move to Utah, I would let them stay in our red shag carpet basement until they found a house!

Yum

I made it a goal this year to try new recipes and so far the apricot glazed chicken and tortellini soup are my favorites! Here are the recipes, and thank you Tiffany for the tortellini soup! Oh, we got a slow cooker for Christmas, hence the style of cooking!

Apricot Glazed Chicken
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1/3 cup bottled Russian dressing
1/2 envelope onion soup mix
6 frozen chicken breasts (not thawed)
PREPARATION:
Mix the first 3 ingredients together. Place chicken in Crock Pot and cover with apricot mixture. Cook on low 5 to 6 hours.


Tortellini Soup
1 Lg can Tomato soup
2c. half and half
1 can chicken broth
1 can diced tomato (basil&garlic)
3 Tbsp. Ms. Dash *(tomato, basil, and garllic)
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. real bacon bits
Cook in slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours (this is how I did it, it was recommended to cook on stove for 1 hour, add tortellini and cook another 15-20 minutes)

TGIF!

This past week was a bit crazy at the beginning, but calmed down and now we are all happy it's Friday, especially because we have Monday off, yea!

Sophie has a friend sleeping over tonight. This is her first friend to spend the night since we moved to Utah. When we lived in Michigan, Soph had her first sleepover. Eun slept at our house and we realized sleepovers did not mean the children actually slept! When Eun's family reciprocated we were so pleased, and then the next morning Soph came home grumbling, "Eun's mom said we can't have sleepovers anymore." Huh, wonder why!

That sleepover was also during my way over-protective parent phase (now I'm just an over-protective parent) and since Eun's family lived next door, I thought I'd just sneak over around 10:00 p.m. and peek in. I had the phone with me, I think I was chatting with my sister, and call waiting came through...it was Eun's mom! I thought I'd been caught, but no, Soph wanted something from our house. Phew!

My friend went through the LDS Temple today, which is a really big deal in the Mormon culture. I told her I'd be putting it on my blog, but I really don't know what the ceremony entails. I was raised Methodist/Presbyterian and our big ceremonies were baptism, which happens when you're an infant, so I have no recollection, and confirmation, which I never went through. Our wedding was at Logan's Presbyterian Church and there were prayers said, but most of the ceremony was what we designed, including our vows. The ministers (there were 2) were suppose to say we would support each others' dreams, but one minister messed up and said that Steve would supply my dreams, which had me a little bit scared!

So I don't have a background of really strong rituals and I'm fascinated by them. I wonder, do people really believe in them or is it simply a way for a person to pass from one stage to another in their community? Is it a proclamation to others? To ourselves? Why are some cultures more immersed in rituals than others?

Valentine's Day at the A-S House

Our Valentine's Day went like this:

I got Sophie up and she was excited to put on her sparkly red and gold dress, a thrift store find, and shoes she never gets to wear to school because you can't run and play in them.

We got to school and Soph was so excited about all the Valentine's festivities, she didn't complain at all when she walked through a bit of snow in her "not great for walking in snow" shoes, infact, she laughed about it. Lalala, life was great.

Fast forward 6 1/2 hours and lots of sugar later and Sophie was not happy at all about having to walk in the snow in the shoes that were so wonderful that same morning. Her feet hurt! Her feet got wet! AND! It seemed to be all my fault.

Steve took us to Borders yesterday to pick out our V-Day's gifts. A new book of my very own is quite a treasure, since most of my books come from the library. I got Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now."

I had a meeting this afternoon and tutoring tonight, so there was very little romance on this Valentine's Day, but having Steve go to Soph's 8-year check-up today was pretty fun. He hasn't been to one of her check-ups in years. Having Sophie get her blood drawn at the hospital was not fun, but rather reminiscent of the days when we had to hold her down, screaming, to get medicine in her mouth that she would then spit across the room!

Oh, and the doctor called Steve "Scott", which he gets a lot (see previous post regarding hyphenated name).

Love Day Eve

The first photo is of our cat, Jada, who climbs into any open drawer. This is very hazardous, especially when we leave our built-in drawers open. We call Jada the Love Hound, she's always looking for any affection she can get, unless she's mad at you, then she'll lick all the spots in which you've dared to put your filthy hands on her. Funny cat.

The second photo is Soph and Steve. Sophie is more affectionate with Steve, and I'm assuming it's because he doesn't chase her around the house trying to get hugs, nor is he in her face begging for kisses. Or maybe it's because he plays video games with her.

Oh...and the extension cord in the first photo is because we only have 2 grounded outlets in the house, which means we have cords all over. Updating the electrical capacity is on our long list of things to do. The scratches on the hardwood floor are from my heave-woman effort of moving the piano all by myself across the room, so now we have another item on our list: fix floor.

Brag Time

If you hate it when people brag about their loved ones, then leave this blog right now!

Today Steve's students were in the local newspaper, front page, for their work at the university. They discovered 2 new bacteria types and they are only in high school! I love the quote from one of the students about working at the university, "You meet smart, intelligent people and hopefully you get that smart." That is why I walked around Harvard when we visited my sister in Boston...trying to soak up some of those smart molecules floating around.

I also attended Soph's SEP conference today and ok, I'll just say it, she's a genius. The best part was, Soph's friend was waiting for us so he could come over and play, so while Soph's teacher is gushing over her, Soph has this expression of, "Can we just hurry this thing up so I can get to the important stuff...like playing!"

It amazes me that Sophie is my child, because I love being praised, the more the better and the more public the better yet (hence the blog)! Sophie has actually told me not to praise her when she does well and withholds positive information because I get a little too excited. She'll preface good news with, "Please don't say 'good job' or get all excited, but..."

The photo is of Steve and Soph on their search for mychorrizal fungi, a phrase Soph could say when she was 2. I wasn't sure if I should be proud or a little scared.

Missing Ann Arbor

Sometimes I really miss Ann Arbor. Here is a photo of one of the things I miss...it is a really cool place on the north campus of the University of Michigan. When we would play there, it felt like being on the Teletubbies. It was designed by Maya Lin and is just the greatest place to run, play and completely interact with art.

Quote for the Day

I have a calendar of African quotes and today's quote is,

"Slips outnumber falls."

Kenyan proverb

Sunny Days and Sunday

This is the view of the mountains from our neighborhood.

It was beautiful outside today and we all enjoyed it. I went for my walk and as hordes of people went to and from church, I thought about our own decision not to attend one place of worship. We're raising Sophie with the "Buffet Style of Religion," meaning we take a bit from each religion, but don't gorge on just one belief system.

I worry that we aren't offering Sophie the idealistic views that come from some religions: that there is a better existence after death, that a higher being is always looking out for you and that there is a purpose to life that we can't fully grasp, but it gives reason to everything that happens.

Instead we offer Sophie our truth: that we would like to think there is a reunion that occurs with our loved ones after we die and we hope there is a higher being who really does love all of us no matter what, but we can't say we know these things for sure because we have not experienced them in a way that gives us certainty.

I struggle most with the bit about there being a mysterious reason for everything that happens. It seems to put people too much in the passenger seat instead of giving them the wheel to steer their own course. I play into it all the time, but if I really took the time to figure out "the reason", I'm sure a chain of real events would explain things much more sufficiently.

I have no idea how the universe works the way it does and I feel I have no right to tell my child I do. I know some things though. I know we should be kind to one another. I know we should learn as much as we can about other people, cultures and belief systems so we may enrich our own lives and judge with less ignorance and maybe someday we will even judge less. I also know there is so much magical stuff happening in the world that we can experience through our senses, that we don't need to look beyond these for more meaning in life. Am I overlooking the cause of these magical things? Maybe. Am I admitting I have no idea what lies beyond my realm of comprehension? You bet.

My hope for Sophie is that she will look at herself as having all possibilities, at the world as having all possibilities and as that which is beyond this world as also having all possibilities.

Joe

My dad checked out my blog...at least he emailed that he did...and said he expected to see a photo on here of him as club champ from the Kennett Square Golf & Country Club. I got on the site of the KSGCC and you need a password to log in! So this will have to do, a photo of my dad when he visited us in Logan in October.

I would like everyone who comes across this post to know, this is a rare photo of my dad, meaning a photo in which he is not holding a golf club. One of my favorite stories of my dad is when he brought me to Utah State University in January, 1991, presumably to check out the school I would be attending. We visited the campus once and the golf course twice, TWICE IN JANUARY IN UTAH, which means you couldn't even see the green on the course because there was so much snow!! Oh, and we didn't just drive by the course, no, we got out, walked around and stood in the freezing cold while the only other person at the course gave my father the history of the course. That was the last time my father came to Utah in January too, he now only visits during the warmer months, to insure the course will be clear of snow. Sorry we didn't stay in San Antonio longer Dad!

Preparing for V-Day

Here is Sophie's Valentine's Day box for school. She made it all by herself!

Soph's school has a Valentine's Tea, it is a huge tradition, and as PTA Co-President this year, I was able to be a part of the decision to eliminate the "dating etiquette" that usually goes along with the tea. Last year Sophie said she did not want a boy walking her to the event and we were right there with her. I was nervous that this decision would be met with some resistance, but it seems the staff actually applauded when the principal made the announcement. It seems enforcing this behavior at the elementary school level is not the teachers' cup of tea (couldn't resist).

So, Sophie will collect her valentines, eat cookies, drink a pink beverage and walk her own self down to the event.

Sick Days

This is day 4 of Sophie being in bed with the flu. She was obviously getting bored, so decided to pretend the thermometer was a horn. I did not get photos of her trying to take the temperature of the air and the wall, neither of which registered...huh. I'm happy to say she is on the mend!

Friends

My friend, Lisa, emailed today and said she was surprised I had a blog, she didn't think of me as the blogger type. That made me wonder what type I am! The rest of Lisa's email just made me laugh and then I felt sad, because I miss Lisa.

When we came back to Utah I was hoping it was temporary. I was good at living in places temporarily and I was still battling with how I let myself come back to a state that I was angry with (if one can be angry with a whole state!).

After living here two weeks I walked into my training for a new job and I spotted Lisa, with her Starbucks cup. Yes! I knew nothing else about her, but that she went to Starbucks, instant grounds (no pun intended) for friendship.

As the months went on Lisa and I spent time at work together, walked around Logan during the afternoons and started developing plans to bring a children's museum to Cache Valley. I remember driving one quiet Sunday and thinking how lucky I was to have found another wonderful, female friend. Living in Logan again was going to be ok.

Then Lisa's silly husband got a new job, in Kansas! I kept holding out hope that he would hate it and they would move back...I'm very good at not facing reality until I have to, and even then I can find ways around dealing with it.

What bothered me about Lisa's move was that I'd been in temporary mode for years, knowing I would be saying good-bye to people and moving on. When my best friend, Paula, moved from Ann Arbor I was so upset, but I knew we'd be moving on to our own adventures soon after. What bothered me a lot about Lisa's move was I finally accepted that we might be in one place for a long time and I'd made a best friend, and SHE was moving on and I wouldn't be moving somewhere too. It didn't seem fair.

Then I did my "cup half-full" bit and realized how well timed our move to Logan was! We got here just in time for me to meet this fabulous person, without whom my first year back would've been much less enjoyable. I also felt I had garnered some strength from that friendship to foresee a future in Logan...even without Lisa.

I still think life in Logan would be so much more fun if Lisa were still here, but she's not. She moved and there is nothing that makes me believe I will be shortly following. I have, however, been able to form new friendships and that is a really good thing. What would be the best would be to go to Starbucks and talk with Lisa about my new friends!! Maybe when I go visit her in Kansas City...

Super Tuesday Results

I voted last night and was really torn between Barack and Hillary, and I would love to see them working as president and vice president, but that wasn't an option, so I chose the one I've been rooting for the whole time. Last night my sister, Teresa, sent me the "Yes We Can" song and if you haven't seen it, check it out: www.yeswecansong.com. Thank you Teresa!

If my daughter were allowed to vote she would pick Barack, because she thinks he's cute.

I took some of our students at school to the voting booths yesterday and it was fun to see their excitement over the process. I hope they maintain that enthusiasm. Oh, and a few months ago one of my 3rd graders said she would vote for me if I ever ran for president...only 3 1/2 months and I'll meet the minimum age requirement!

Happy Belated Groundhogs Day!

Our friends, Keith and Stephanie, whom we met while in Ann Arbor, now live in New Jersey, so are close to the big Groundhog Day Celebration. This is their guinea pig, Pig, and I thought this photo was just hilarious!! Move over Punxsutawney Phil...

Darn hyphenated name!

Check out this article about Steve's students, and just try to pretend they wrote "Albee-Scott" instead of "Scott-Albee".
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8142050?source=rss

Snowy Day

Here it is, another blog, intended to keep in touch with family and friends near and far and to record a bit from our lives in Utah.

Sophie and I are home today, she has a cold, and it is the perfect day to be home and curl up with a good book, or start a blog. We have so much snow outside! Yesterday we built a huge fort and Steve actually had to shovel the roof. This is the view outside our home this morning...can you see the fort?

Mike and Jeannie (Steve's parents) came through on their way to Boise and had to spend an extra day because of the snow. We loved having them here! Grandma did an awesome job shoveling our driveway.

The book I'm reading now is Barack Obama's "Dreams from My Father" and I was determined I was going to vote for Hillary, but now I'm wavering. Feel free to let me know your thoughts!