Teacher Gems Postponed

Erc is home sick from teaching.

Which means she is really, really sick since she declared to me just the other day that working while a little under-the-weather is much preferred to working up a sub plan.

In its place I was asked to update our states visited map by Ronnie. (Which is still very pathetic, but better than before).



create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide

Valley

Remember how I said that I didn’t take any pictures on our trip?

Well, that was a little fib. I took two pictures. Not of my child, not of my husband, not of the place we were staying, but of a sign.

Yes. I have turned into one of those people. The kind that has her camera at the ready when anything is bloggable. (I’ve not gotten to the point of carrying it around with me everywhere—that step is waiting for a small, new camera someday. Luckily, this particular sign was on both the way to the resort and on the way back, so I had a pre-planned picture taking moment—sounds like something KaLee would love—No?)

Apparently, on the way to Sun Valley, Idaho you can get to Valley. Yes, just Valley. I’m confident that Mountain, Lake, River, Stream, and Creek are nearby, they just don’t deserve a sign.

Easter!

Easton with his loot. Rubber ducks, Easter bib and frog rattle from G&G Cali and a summer outfit, teddy bear and O-ball from G&G Wyo. The empty eggs were courtesy his parents. (He'll never know we didn't do an actual hunt--until he reads this blog someday).

Contemplating which toy to play with first. His current favorite seems to be the O-ball (which is incredibly fun to play with for adults as well. It crushes up but returns to its shape. Ronnie has been stealing it from him all day and has already informed me that he would like one for his cubicle). The frog rattle has that crinkly paper in the inside and he isn't too sure about that noise right now.
A staged documentation that he did touch the eggs.
This is what daddy does....

to get this face with a laugh!
Another shot!
Happy Easter!

Utah trip

Easton had his first official kitchen sink bath at Grammy's house in Utah. He did enjoy it (contrary to the look he is giving).

And yes, that is a scratch he gave himself. Darn those nails.

Easton and Great-Grandma N. He was loving the attention (even though he was not the happiest baby on this trip). Combine being away from home with mom eating chocolate (I have been better) and you get one unhappy baby.
We were able to see our great friends Josh and Gnickie and introduce them to the little guy. We loved it--and Easton did too.

A few conversations

Me: Do you know if the Wyoming Cowgirls made it into the tournament?
Ronnie: No, but I’m only on the first of THREE sport sections in this paper.
Pause
Ronnie(said dreamily): I’m in heaven.

Note: We were staying in a hotel, so he was reading a *real* paper instead of the thin one we get in Laramie.

We were able to stop in Utah on our way to Idaho and celebrated my Grandma’s 70th birthday while we were there. We attended church and consistent with most 11 year old boys, my brother was bored. I took his pad of paper and proceeded to write JORDAN in large bubble letters. (I’m pretty much a bubble letter expert. I don’t even care to tell you how many hours during college classes were spent perfecting my skills). He watched the process with wide eyes and as I handed the paper back to him, he turned to me and said, “WOW! You should be an ART teacher!”

If only bubble letters were what art was all about, I’d be set.

And, we're back

It was great! Besides not taking ANY pictures to document it (I am HORRIBLE at that), and missing out on a opportunity to connect with family in the area, we had a fantastic time.

I’m nearly certain that we were the only people at the resort with a child under the age of four. And the reason that was the case, is that just about every activity they offer is not do-able with a baby.

I thought I was all prepared to play in the pool, but it turns out the pool is OUTSIDE. They heat the water to 103 degrees and there is steam everywhere—which is awesome for adults, but not so much for little Easton.

We were also told to go on an open-air sleigh ride (freezing) or snowshoeing (again, freezing). Skiing was out of the question as well.

So instead we cuddled up in our lovely, lovely hotel room and just sat. I loved it. Every minute. We talked, watched movies, played with Easton (he loved the undivided attention from both of us) and enjoyed one another.

We need to do this again. Soon!

Aunt Erica and Easton Cuddle

Erica came over to hang out during my stamp class a few weeks ago and it was great to have her there! Easton needed some cuddles and she was the perfect candidate.



P.S. I think Easton gets a little confused with her in general. She looks like mom, but doesn't smell like mom and she isn't mom.
P.P.S. The darling "Wyoming-ish" outfit given by the Lund family.

Easton and Daddy

Now isn't that the cutest ever?

I know what you're thinking

What?

KaLee posted two times in one day???

I just wanted to let you know that next week is Spring Break in these here parts. Which means Ronnie is off of school and...

I have to work.

Now, that would normally really, really stink, but actually I have to do some work traveling.

To Sun Valley, Idaho. (My department is hosting an event there in June and as the coordinator/planning guru that I am--I have to go scope it out).

Free hotel? Check
Free rental car? Check
Free meals? Double Check

They do have internet so I may do some posting--but don't set your watch by it because I fully intend to take advantage of this time with my precious little family!

Adios!

I'm a little embarrassed to admit

that I actually miss my maternity wardrobe.

I loved it.

That is all.

Oh, to be 5 again: Week 8

Jeff*: I’m not going to be here when everybody is bad and gets clips on their name tags.
Erc: Oh? Well, I don’t think that everyone will be bad.
Jeff: Well, I’m going to be in Texas.
Erc: Texas?
Jeff: Yeah, I go there a lot to visit my good friend George Strait.
Erc: Really.
Jeff: Yeah. You wanna know something funny? Whenever I am there visiting my good friend George Strait people always ask for my autograph!

*Not the child’s real name. Also, it should probably be mentioned that this particular child makes things up regularly, so Erc was aware of the falseness from the beginning. This was one of the most “out-there” stories told to date.

I'm a tad bit obsessed

With "Alias" that is.

I never watched this show when it was on television, but good friends have let us borrow all of the seasons.

Ronnie could take it or leave it, so when we are both home we usually watch something else (like “The Office”).

I find myself trying to plan out every 43 minute segment of free time I have just so I can get ONE MORE episode watched. I’m in the middle of the third season and I love it.

Except for the diffusing of bombs. Why is it that EVERY bomb diffused on television is stopped with one second on the counter? And why does every bomb on television even HAVE a counter? If I was a bomb maker (which, for clarification, I am not), I would leave the counter off and let everyone guess. New idea? I don’t think so.

I guess I’ll just have to put my disdain of television bombs aside so I can continue to live vicariously through Sydney.

*I would like to reiterate that I do not make bombs. I don’t think bombs are cool. Period.

M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-hump back-hump back-I

When I was five, my family moved from Salt Lake City, Utah to Oxford, Mississippi. It was a change—to say the least. To my five-year-old self it was a grand adventure but looking back on it now, I’m sure my parents were as scared as all get-out. When dad gets a job though, you move.

Not surprisingly, many of my most vivid memories are those that were captured on video, but there are a few others that deserve a telling.

I was the only one in my family to gain an accent. I was also the only one who went to school full-time (unless you count the fact that my dad was teaching school full-time). Unfortunately, I lost it approximately two minutes after moving to Wyoming. Just imagine my cute little self with a southern drawl. It was awesome.

I also learned that some girl in my class could fold her eyelids backwards. It was sick, but I spent hours trying to do it. I never succeeded.

Kindergarten was all. day. long. That is a long time for small children. (My sister also teaches all day kindergarten, so I empathize with the little ones). We had a built in nap time. 45 minutes. I only fell asleep one time. Everyone else in my class would lie down and fall asleep instantly; I never understood that then—but could definitely do it now.

Our house backed up to a forest. Well, that is what we children thought anyway. In reality it was a 400 foot wide wooded area. There was a sidewalk that went through it and connected a parking lot to the main university campus (we lived in university housing). One Saturday we were playing in the yard and saw a student stop, pick up a large rock, and throw it at something. My dad was outside doing something (I have no idea what) and wandered over to see what was up. The student had killed a 2 foot long milk snake. My dad then proceeded to pick it up with his pliers and show it to us all. When my tooth was loose a few weeks later I made him SWEAR that he was not using those same pliers to pull it out. (Dad, were they really the same?).

We lived at the point of a cul-de-sac. (Is it called a point?) Well, anyway, the very middle of a cul-de-sac. This cul-de-sac was at the bottom of a VERY steep hill, leading up to campus. Every day I would walk home from the bus stop which was about 2 blocks away. One day, I arrived home at 3:30pm, dropped my backpack and my mom proceeded to load the three of us up to run some errands. We walked outside to the carport and saw a car in our side yard. The emergency brake had somehow been released (or never put on) and the car rolled down the hill and crashed into a tree in our side yard. It was not there when I walked home and had rolled down the sidewalk I used to get home. I guess I was supposed to live past the age of five.

We moved the last part of August. School had not started yet in Utah, but when we arrived on a Friday we discovered that school started on Monday. I can vividly remember going with my mom to the bus garage to figure out what bus I would ride. Monday morning came, dad took me to school and I was instructed which bus to board and that my mom would be waiting at the bus stop so I would know where to get off. School ended. I boarded the bus. First stop—no mom. Second stop—no mom. Last stop—no mom. At this point tears were really flowing. The kind bus driver took me back to the bus garage. I didn’t know my phone number or address. All I could say was that my mom and I had been in the office the previous Friday. A few minutes (it seemed like hours to me) my mom came and picked me up. (In her defense, her appliances were in the middle of being delivered and it was either leave strange men in her house, or miss the stop—tough choice).

I’m sure I could share a few more—but I’m lucky you have stuck with me this long (if you have). The moral of the story? Mississippi is cool. The End.

3 months!

I can hardly believe it--3 months! Since journaling is not necessarily my strong point (anymore--what happened to that, I wonder?), I thought I would talk about what Easton is doing, etc each month and then I can transfer it into the baby book later on.

Easton is such a happy baby. Smiles all of the time! This month he has started recognizing Ronnie and I--what a wonderful feeling to see his face light up like that! As always, he kicks like crazy and is almost constantly cooing. He has a new trick of kicking down really hard and then thrusting his body to one side. It won't be long until he is rolling over. (I don't think I'm ready for that).

Easton's new favorite toy are rings. He loves grabbing them and shaking and has been known to get his hand caught a time or two. He has also found his hands this month and will stare at them for minutes at a time (which is saying something). Unfortunately, finding his hands means that he has started sucking on them more regularly. This is something Mommy and Daddy are constantly trying to thwart. (I figure I can take away a binky, but can't take away his thumb later in life).
This picture captures the funny face that Easton makes every time he does the kick-thrust movement. It makes me laugh every time. Easton loves raspberries on his bare belly and so far they are the only consistent thing that makes him laugh. Really laugh.

This is the face that he makes when he coos, I find it pretty funny as well, but then again, I am the Mommy.
I'm sure he didn't really mean this....I guess he was a little fed up with the picture taking!

So, let's talk about birth

Ronnie was wonderful all during labor and birth. He did exactly what I wanted him to and the only time I was annoyed was when he couldn’t read my mind (go figure).

After Easton was safely here and I was trying to be a semi-normal person again (unsuccessfully), he offered some constructive criticism. I believe his exact words were….

“You stink at the pain scale thing.”

(said very lovingly, of course).

See, when I got to the hospital (to be induced, I thought) I was unaware that I was having contractions. Once they got me all strapped up to the machines and TOLD me I was having contractions they asked me rate my pain. I said a one. (If I was unaware, can it technically be on the pain scale?)

Labor progressed; I started to feel it, a little. So I said a one or two. In the back of every pregnant girl’s mind is that fact, “Labor and birth is a 10 on the pain scale” so I wasn’t about to wimp out and say a five, when I knew I had a LOOONG way to go. From then on it was a struggle of the mind—“What pain am I REALLY feeling? This is the worst so far, but is it enough to say a 4? a 5?”

And I continued to sit and sit. The pain worsened and I finally owned up to a 6. That was the last pain scale reading I gave before the blessed epidural (which, if you remember did nothing for my back labor—so I never got the relief I was looking for).

After the entire ordeal, Ronnie shared his evaluation of my pain scale management and then instructed that I should have made the numbers higher, so they would have done something about it. In theory, it makes sense. The nurses don’t know what you are feeling—that is up to you to convey. I suppose higher numbers may get some more action, but tell me—do you think you could do it? Say a 10, when you don’t really believe it and then have the pain increase?

Plus, what if word gets around that I am a wimp?

Words

I spend a large majority of my day typing. I appreciate my computer immensely—if I had to write, I would not make it through the day. (Let’s just not mention to work that some of my writing is on blogs, okay?)

While I consider myself a semi-intelligent girl, there are words that I type incorrectly EVERY. TIME. I use them.

As I watch the blessing that is spellcheck automatically fix them for me, I always think “I’ll get it next time!”, and when next time rolls around, spellcheck is there—correcting them again.

Now I’ve really got you wondering, haven’t I? What words does KaLee consistently misspell?

Separate. (That first “a” is always an “e” when I type it)

Received. (“i” before “e”? “e” before “i”?)

Convenience. (I’m getting better at this one. I actually pronounce it exactly the way it is spelled in my head while typing, in the hopes that I can get it right.)

What words are your nemeses?

P.S. On another, semi-related note: If you choose to not volunteer anymore, do you unvolunteer, disvolunteer? Is there a word for that?

Oh, to be 5 again: Week 7

Erc has a discipline system that includes clips. When she has to get after a child, a clip goes on their name tag. Two clips in one day and they have to miss recess (which, according to any elementary-aged child is the WORST punishment possible).

Normally, Erc makes this time extremely boring for them. They can’t help her with any projects, they can’t read or do any activities, etc. They just sit.

Bill* had gotten two clips and was in for recess. Erc had a deadline to get a few things into the office, so she took Bill down the hall with her. On the way, the following conversation happened.

Bill: I just know that when teachers are bad they get clips on their nametags. I just know it.
Erc: Oh yeah?
Bill: Yeah, probably in the principal’s office there are nametags for the clips. You didn’t even have to tell me they were there. I just know.

Apparently, the entire world is run on a system of clips on nametags.

*Not the child’s real name.

Be sure to scroll down to see the winner of the giveaway!

200th Post Winner!

Random.org generated the number 9 (when given 1-22 as options).

So that makes....

Ginny the lucky winner! Congrats!

Ginny--email me at kaleelopez at gmail dot com with your address and the letter you want on the monogrammed cards and I'll get them right out!

Tags, Tags, Everywhere

I've been tagged and tagged again, so here we go!

Husband Tag
What is his name? Ronnie
How long have you been together? Married 3 years
How old is he? 26
Who eats more? Rice? –Ronnie Ice Cream?—Me
Who said I love you first? I did. It was kind of on accident at the end of a phone call—it just came out. I remember hanging up and praying he hadn’t heard it. The next day I said it for reals.
Who is taller? Ronnie
Who sings better? I like to toot my own horn, so me!
Who is smarter? I suppose we could use his grades in Law School to say him—but I am pretty good at English, and Math—so let’s say we’re even.
Who does the laundry? Me
Who pays the bills? I pay the bills and every few months inform Ronnie where we stand (I’m the finance major-remember?)
Who sleeps on the right side? That would be me, if you’re looking at the bed, but Ronnie if you’re laying on the bed.
Who mows the lawn? It’s March, so let’s change this question to shoveling snow and Ronnie ALWAYS does it. I haven’t even touched the shovel.
Who cooks dinner? This is totally even. With me working, I don’t have the time I would like.
Who drives? Ronnie if we are together, we get in fewer arguments this way!
Who is more stubborn? He'd say me; I'd say him
Who kissed who first? He kissed me, but he swears I was giving him “the look.”
Who proposed? He did.
Who has more friends? We are both blessed to have a lot!
Who is more sensitive? Depends on the situation. Ronnie is surprisingly sensitive about family stuff (be man enough to admit it honey!)
Who has more siblings? We are even stevens. 4 siblings each.
Who wears the pants? To quote Ronnie from a few months ago, “Well, when people ask me who wears the pants in the family--I always let them know that I wear the pants, but she tells me which ones to put on.”

Random Tag
10 years ago today: I was in 9th grade. Choir was essentially my life since I was in Show Choir and I was just in the process of getting my first boyfriend—Jackson. (Can you claim boyfriend if you never even kissed?)

Snacks I enjoy: The cheap Vanilla Cream Cookies from Wal-Mart (you know like Oreos only…not)

5 things on my to do list today: 1) Work 2) Go to the Post Office 3) Prepare for a card class 4) Snuggle with my baby 5) Spend time with Ronnie

I enjoy: Spending time with my family, a clean house, reading a good book, stamping.

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire? I hate these questions. I try not to fantasize about unrealistic dreams and enjoy today. So insert standard answers (tithing, savings, house, school, car, etc.)

3 of my bad habits: Occasionally biting my nails, my love affair with ice cream, getting annoyed with stupid people (luckily, I keep my thoughts inside most of the time).

5 places I have lived: Salt Lake City, Utah; Oxford, Mississippi; Laramie, Wyoming; Provo, Utah; Pleasant Grove, Utah.

5 jobs that I have had: Ice Cream Scooper Extraordinaire, Survey Caller, Wood Moulding Bundler, Cable Relations Manager for BYUTV, Development Associate for the College of Business at the University of Wyoming.

Things people don't know about me: Do we really have to go over more of my weirdness? I think I’ll point you here and here and here and here.

And now I tag...anyone who wants to do it!

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway by tonight at Midnight!

200th Post Giveaway!

I hope none of you have realized (because that would mean that you have hand-counted all of my posts) but this is my 200th post!

In celebration, it’s time for another giveaway.

What does KaLee have to give away? Handmade cards of course!

(You may remember my last giveaway).

This time you get a set of 12 monogrammed cards. Super cute. Useful for any occasion because I will include an assortment of sentiments that you can glue to the inside of the cards as necessary.

You want these, I promise.

What do you have to do? Just leave a comment praising my name (or any comment) by Wednesday, March 5th at midnight (Mountain Time) and I’ll announce the winner Thursday morning. (One comment per person please).

Good Luck!

With Uncle Jord-man

Easton loves to snuggle with his Uncle Jord-man. Uncle Jord-man seems to like it as well (unless we are getting ready to play the Wii--in which case Easton gets a little tickle and all concentration turns to the game).