Library

Well, we've almost made it half way through student teaching!  It has not been easy, but with help from family we are making it!  We really appreciate all the help that has been given to us, you have no idea how much we appreciate it!  Hopefully in January, we'll be able to start getting back on our feet and not have to rely on the kindness of others quite so much.

We have very limited choices on places we can go because we have so little money.  We haven't gone to a movie or bought clothes or basically been able to let loose because that costs money.  So I've been trying to come up with places to go that don't require money.  Asher and I go on a lot of walks and spend quite a bit of time at the park.  We also go to Wal-Mart and Target and sometimes even the pet shop!  But it's depressing going into a store knowing you can't spend any money.  I remembered my sister suggested that we find the library and go there.  I had no idea where the library was, but I looked it up and found that it's not too far from where we live.  So yesterday Asher and I headed out!  I've only ever been to the library in Rexburg and a random one close to Salt Lake, and they are both just regular square buildings, 1 story, full of books.  That's what I was expecting here.  Wrong!  This was the building I saw when we pulled into the parking lot:

This is just one building, it actually connects to another building.  Both are 3 stories.  I love that spiral staircase!

After we walked in, I was just amazed at how big it was!  I don't know how most libraries are, but this one was so cool.  When you walk in, you start out in the children's section.  All 3 stories in this building were for children.  I wish I would've taken more pictures because they had the cutest decorations.  But here are the ones I did take: 

They had a pirate ship!  It was huge and had so much to look at!  Asher loved it.  They have speakers on either side of the boat so I imagine they put on a little show every once in awhile.  They also had a puppet theater for kids to play with right next to this.  I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of it!

This is after you get past the check out desk and the pirate ship.  It felt like I was in a cathedral.

This is at the back of the building.  It's a stage area where they do story time (which is unfortunately right during Asher's nap time otherwise we'd be there every day), and probably music programs too because there's a piano in the corner.  And I thought the stained glass window's were awesome too!

This is my favorite part!  After you walk past the stage, you come to a side room with more books.  And this!  It's for puppet shows!  It is so beautiful and I could see if they actually use it or not, but I thought it was amazing.  It's pretty big too!  I would guess it's about 10 feet tall!

I just thought this was interesting.  You don't see these very often!

So that was our adventure yesterday.  I actually think Asher's favorite part was walking around outside picking up leaves that had fallen, but when he gets older we'll have to take him back so he can see everything!  I guess I need to start going to libraries more often if there are more that are as fun as this one!

David's "Job"

We've made it to September!  It feels like we've been here a lot longer than we have, mostly because it's taken us a long time to get settled into our routine because of all of David's beginning of the school year stuff and taking a trip back to Rexburg and finally getting this place toddler-proofed.  But we did it!  Last night, David had to stay at the school pretty much all day because after his regular classes, he had a meeting with his student teacher group and only had 45 minutes between that and having to be back at the school for instrument rentals.  Mr. Monroe has Summerhays (at least I think that's who brings the instruments) come to the school and bring instruments so all the parents and kids can come there to rent instruments/buy books/etc. 

So since David wasn't going to be able to come home, Asher and I made the trek (during a rain shower and during rush hour, I might add) to meet David for dinner.  We stopped at a sandwich place called The Village Baker, which was a lot like Great Harvest, and had delicious sandwich's and a gigantic cookie!  Asher really liked the cookie.  We went back to the school to eat there and I met Mr. Monroe!  He's about 5'5", slightly balding, nice little goatee, and has a very outgoing personality.  He was cracking jokes and talking the whole time.  I can see why David likes him.  While I was there, he had nothing but good things to say about David.  I was a little worried when he came up to me and started out "You know the trouble with David is....that it's hard for me not to have him do everything for me while I sit in the back and surf the web and drink my Diet Coke!"  He said David is a real go-getter and tries to be very proactive.  He said when David was sick last Friday, all the kids kept asking where Mr. Clay was!  He said (more than once) that David is going to be a great teacher.   So David has done well to get a good start on his career! 

I know David really likes working with the kids, but he does get a little frustrated.  He  keeps telling me that he's ready for his own classroom so he can run it the way he wants.  One thing that is good about student teaching is that you get to see what you do or don't like in how a class is run.  David has told me many times different things he wants to implement in his class.  The other major thing that frustrates David is that he does all the work of a regular teacher, but he doesn't get one penny to do it!  Teachers really do get the short end of the deal.  But part of my job being at home all day is to keep my eye out for positions that are going to open up in January, after David finishes his student teaching.  It will be hard to find something in the middle of the school year, but we'll just keep trying!  If anyone hears about anything, be sure to let us know!  Anyways, here are some pictures of David's room.

This is the building where they have orchestra.  There are a whole row of these trailers outside the actual school.

This is the view when you walk in the door.  Half the building has table for a classroom setting and the other half is where they rehearse the orchestra.

Mr. Monroe's desk.  That's David with Mr. Monroe facing out the door.

The orchestra space.  They moved all the chairs to make room for instrument rentals.

So that where David spends his day!  Asher and I spend the day at home.  It's a lot more boring.  I have a few things that I've noticed about Utah that makes it different:

• The sidewalks (at least around here) are all very uneven.  Asher gets mad if I take him in the stroller and I walk to fast because he gets bounced around a lot!
• When driving, you have to be really aware of the road because lanes end at random times!  It's taken me a long time to get used to that.
• It rains a lot.  I don't know if it's the time of year or what, but it has been raining almost every day.  A lot different from Idaho where it rains about once a month!
• It's warmer here than in Idaho.  When we went to Idaho a couple weeks ago, I was surprised at the difference!  I forgot that fall in Idaho is about 50 degrees while fall here is apparently about 80 degrees.
• Driving is awful.  I don't like driving.  Every is so frantic all the time.  If you're not going 10 over the speed limit, everyone will be passing you.
• People here are generally very friendly.  I always have people talk to me while I'm at the store or at church.  And they love to talk to Asher!
• Gas here is about 20 cents cheaper than Idaho.  Yay for that!
• I don't know if it's just an Idaho thing, but in Rexburg, stores would start putting up the next holiday no matter how far away it is!  My sister said they've already put up Halloween stuff.  I miss that!  I haven't seen very many holiday decorations out.  Hopefully when we get closer I will!

That's about all I can think of for now!  Here are some pictures of Asher:

When I'm cooking, Asher will get spoons or spatula's and try to help me cook.  When he does that, I usually get an empty pot and put random stuff in it so he can stir a pot too!

David found this at Wal-Mart and wanted to let Asher try it.  Elmo is sitting next to him.  He didn't really like when it moved, but he loved playing with the steering wheel!

He spent about 15 minutes trying to fit into our little cooler.  It was very entertaining for me!

This was a video of Asher's first Carousel ride!  This place has a lot of history with our family.  That was my first real job, most of us kids have worked there, and it's been around since we were little!  So it was neat to watch Asher participate in that little piece of history.

London Lyn

My sister had a beautiful little girl in July and she asked me to take her newborn pictures.  Here are some of my favorites of little London Lyn!

She has the longest toes and fingers you have ever seen!