Memorial Day 2009

New Rules For School :)

A cute little girl came to school today with a 3x5 card in her hand and said, "My cousin came over last night and we made up some rules for school, so if you want to use them for our class, then you can have them." So she read them to me and I thanked her for her concern and she was really proud of them. Here they are:

1. If you hang out in the hall you will earn hall duty.
2. No running in the halls.
3. No teasing and puching and kicking.
4. No cheawing gum in class.
5. No talking back to your teacher.
6. No saying bad words.
7. Don't go out of class without permision.
8. No screaming and yelling.
(and my personal favorite):
9. Never Ever walk on your desk.


Gosh. There's only 3 weeks of school left. I hope that before they leave me and go on to 4th grade, I will be able to teach them not to walk on their desks.

Thoughts of Hans

17 years ago I lost my very best friend and the love of my life. May 2nd in 1992 was a beautiful, sunny, warm Saturday that changed my life. It has been quite the roller coaster ride. As a family, we've made it through 6 high school graduations, 3 college graduations, 5 weddings, 1 divorce, 3 missions, losing Grandma and Grandpa Bayles, Uncle Don and Uncle Dennis, wearing out several cars, selling the old home and moving into a new one, the birth of 8 beautiful little girls, and many happy and sad times. We all still love and enjoy each other and I'm grateful for that. My children and their spouses are my best friends and the greatest joy and support in my life. They are so good to me and I love them dearly. Yes, Hans, we are doing okay.

Love 'em

This is the main reason I'm okay with spring being here. I'm always a little sad to have winter leave, but tulips and daffodils make it all okay. SOMEDAY I'm going to go to Holland in the spring. It might be Holland, Michigan, but I'm going. I'm tulip crazy.

Little Miss Sunshine

I have this little tiny girl in my class who cracks me up sometimes. She asked me if she could go to the library to get some new books for A.R., so I told her she could go if she hurried back. The kids were getting called out in small groups for dental screenings and I knew it would be her turn soon. So, no surprise, she was gone too long and came meandering back about 15 minutes too late to go out with her group. I told her it had taken her way too long, to which she replied, "I know, but I ran into some old friends and you know how that goes!" Hmm. What a kid. Then later she came up to me pointing to a word in a book and said she couldn't remember what that word was. I asked her to sound it out and she said, "Well I took a little tumble on my head this morning and it jogged my memory and now I can't remember some of the words." Sometimes all I can do is look at her and smile.

I'm just a slow learner, I guess.

So - it's been 2 weeks since my car broke down and died. I have stressed, cried, complained, and looked at so many cars online and in person that I'm SICK OF IT!!! And actually it all came down to the fact that I can't afford anything that I looked at anyway. Brad spent hours helping me and so did Anneke, so I thank them (and all the other family members and friends who patiently listened to me) so much for the help and support. In the end I got an old car from some people I know in Preston. I think it was the right thing to do, because I feel a lot calmer now.

BillNyeTheScienceGuyWouldBeProud

Friday was the Great 3rd Grade Science Fair! What a day. 3rd Graders take their science seriously and there were some really cool projects. They brought their projects on Thursday and so that afternoon we moved the desks into a good circular pattern so people could walk around in our room. Then they set up their projects and we spent an hour going from project to project while the kids explained what they were about. Then we were all ready for a whole day of it on Friday. So cute. When Kris brought his salt and sugar crystal project Thurs. morning, he said, "I don't know why my grandma and aunt want to come to the science fair. So if you see some ancestors walking around, that will be my family." And then he said, "I'm just so excited - can I do a headstand?" Yes, his ancestors came, and yes, he did a headstand.