Walking on Ice

I GOT NEW BOOTS FOR CHRISTMAS!!! Gary remembered that I loved these boots while shopping one day so he got them for me for Christmas. I wanted to try them out so we went for a walk on Utah Lake. Yep ON Utah Lake! THEY ARE WARM!! Perfect for living in this frozen wasteland called Utah.

Just testing the ice. Saftey First!

Gary proving the strength of the ice.

Yep, It's safe.

Gary being Gary

It was freezing!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Auburn was great.

First Christmas Gift

Karly and I exchanged gifts earlier then usual this year and I love my new presents. What do you think?

Last Date Before Christmas Break

Since I was leaving for a week Gary and I decided to go on a fun date before I left. We started with a delicious meal at Texas Road House. I have to say that the rolls and cinnamon butter are to die for. Then we walked around temple square. It was FREEZING!! We got hot chocolate to warm us up and it made all the difference. The last stop was of course Leatherby's!! Gary is so great! I had a wonderful time.

Christmas Is Fast Approaching

Provo Night Out

Gary and I, Gary's parents, Brent and the Harris family all had a fun night on the town. We went down to Provo to watch the Christmas nativity, Pose in front of a camel, and look in shop windows.

An Auburn Thanksgiving

Gary and I drove out to California for Thanksgiving and we had a great time!  We didn't get to stay long but we packed our three days with fun, food, and family.

Sara And Gary

Yes his name really is Gary Gray

Surprise

This Saturday Gary and I attended a surprise birthday party for Gary's mom Jayne. Gary's sister-in-law Jenn planned the whole thing and it was one of the BEST surprise parties I have ever been to!! There must have been over 60 people who came to celebrate with Jayne. We were all supposesd to dress up and meet as Los Hermanos at 6. Gary and I were running a little late and at 6 we pulled up to his house so that he could change into his nice clothes before we went. Jayne was still at the house so Gary and I had to make up the tall tail of going to Leatherby's instead of out to dinner with them. Gary changes quik as a flash and we were off, somewhat relieved that at least we knew we were ahead of the birthday girl.
It is always fun to see how people react to surprises. Jaynes reaction was the best!! She look bewildered, caught on, teared up, and then went on to jump up and down like she had just won the Price is Right. It was priceless.

Preview to Fright Night

Cruella De Vil
Cruella De Vil
If she doesn't scare you
No evil thing will!

I attended the Gray family Halloween party on the Tuesday before Halloween. There was great fun, good food, and lots of goofy games to be played. Plus I got to try out my sweet costume before the real deal.


Gary helping me get ready























Gary was a Hobo for Halloween.
I couldn't convince him to be a
Dalmation.

Les Miserables

Recently I was invited, by the Gray family, to drive down to St. George to see the play Les Miserables at the Tuacahn Theater. I never knew a play would make my cry, but I wept enough tears to give life to the dessert! Ok maybe that is a little dramatic, but the play and the whole trip, really was amazing! We drove down on Saturday morning with great haste, and old man Gray was caught speeding. Luckily, the fates smiled on us and we we were given but a warning from a kind hearted officer. We we cramped as we drove? And did the noise of the interstate ring in our ears? No and then Yes. For the car we rode in was the ample size of a Yukon Denali, but the hum of the wheels on the road roared like a lion. Have you ever heard of hearding turtles? "Mother, what are those little fences for?" Inquired Brent. The reply came, "They are for the turtles, so they don't cross the road."

We arrived just in time to relax for a time, grab a bite to eat, and head to the play. The dessert came to life that night. Everything from horses to cannon fire was present on the stage and never was there a more enthusiastic applause had as the play closed out that very night. My hands still hurt from clapping. If ever you get the chance to see this wonderful masterpiece, make haste and say my name at the door to get a free snow cone:)


The drive down. In the very back is Gary and I. Up front is Andrea (Brent's date), Brent (Gary's brother), Jaycie (Gary's sister).







Pit stop to gas up.









Not sure what's happenin here.
Trying to impress Gary. Ha








Arriving at the house. FINALLY!!












Dinner at Iggy's before the play.
On the right there are Gary's parents,
Jayne and Ralph







At the Tuachn Theater.
We don't know those two front and center.








Gary trying to steal the show:)









We were told to look like we were enjoying
ourselves while we prepared dinner on Sunday
before we left. (candid shots)







More fun buttering the bread.









Just plain fun!

New Illness Found In Miss Roskelley's 3rd Grade

For reading time this last week my class was reading the book Ramona Forever By: Beverly Cleary.  It is a story about the life of a girl named Ramona Quimby.  One of the chapters we read talked about the Quimby family getting a new baby.  Ramona was worried about what the new baby would be like and who would have to share their room with her.  After the baby is born the family all goes to the hospital to visit and see the new bundle of joy.  Romona however is too young to visit the maternity ward and is left in the lobby to wait while her older sister and father go on ahead.  While in the lobby Ramona starts feeling sick.  She thinks she is catching some sort of disease from the hospital.  She is feeling her forehead and itching all over.  Finally a doctor sees her, runs some tests and diagnosis her to have siblingitis for which she needs a prescription of attention.  As my class and I were reading this, I was thinking this sounded pretty cute.  No one in my class even cracked a smile.  So I asked "Who knows what siblingitis is?"  A bunch of hands flew up and this is what the responses were:  "Siblingitis is where you have a really really bad cold." Says Kate  "I am just guessing but I think siblingitis is when you have all the symptoms of a cold but you are not contagious." Says Tyler  "No. Siblingitis is the opposite of that, it's when your REALLY contagious but you don't even know you are sick!" Argues Courtney.  

I was dying at this point!!  I had to tell them. so I asked "Does anyone know what the word sibling means?"  At the same time most of the class went "OOOHHHH."  and started to laugh.  We then talked about how sometimes in stories we put -itis at the ends of words to make them sound like real illnesses.  So we had some fun with this and the kids started shouting out things like "I have math-itis!" and  "I have spelling-itis!"  By the end I think everyone understood but I am sure someone went home that night worrying that they may one day get sibling-itis.  

Picture Day Blues

Well Thursday was picture day at Sego Lily Elementary.  I had sent home fliers a week earlier to remind the parents to have their kids looking spiffy for the big day, but who's job was it to remind me??  Since I was left to fend for myself, i completely forgot.  The only thing that saved me was that it was also parent-teacher conference night and I couldn't show up to work looking like a total bum.  I went down to the cafeteria and smiled big for my 1st school picture as an adult.  And I will have you all know that as a teacher you get a free jumbo package of pictures.  WooHoo!  Since I have no kids that attend the school, the jumbo pack of pictures will all be of yours truly.  You can all expect your very own picture of me in the mail shortly! :)

Keep An Eye Out For More Curtains

I got another shipment of curtains in the mail from my wonderful grandmother and she has outdone herself!!  I am not going to give them away just yet but when the time comes I will post pictures of them.  I already told my kids all about them and I also made it into a game.  I told them that new curtains would be coming soon and if when I put them up they notice and secretly tell me, they will get a treat!  It should be fun and then the fun curtains will not go unnoticed!!

Team Roskelley is Really #1

Maybe it is because they knew I was a new teacher, or maybe I just lucked out but my 3rd grade class (team Roskelley) is definitely the place to be at Sego Lily Elementary!  The kids in room 28 are a dream come true.  oh they have their moments, don't get me wrong but overall they are well behaved, polite, cute, and most importantly FUN!! I often find myself joking around with them and forgetting that I am supposed to be the adult in the room:)  but we work hard so we can play hard!! 

In Miss Roskelley's  room you can earn teacher points as a class.  You earn these by doing an activity quietly without being told.  If I get a good report from another teacher that the class behaved well.  If as a class you handle a situation particularly well (like I have to leave the room to talk to another teacher briefly and when I come back you are all working), and much more.  You can never earn a teacher point unless the whole class was involved and you can also loose teacher points if things get carried away.  After you earn 15 points we all get to have a party.

Last week my kids were getting close to earning their 15 teacher points and kicked it into extra good behavior to get the last ones.  Finally they did it!! We got to vote on what kind of party we wanted to have and the winner by a land slide was ROOT BEER FLOATS!! I couldn't have been happier!! (I told you they were cool).  So I bought all the stuff the night before and was so excited for our party the next day.  Well the next day came and it started off on the wrong foot.  I slept through my alarm for the 1st time in ages and on top of that I had come down with a horrid cold and felt like an elephant was sitting on my head.  I couldn't call in sick.  IT WAS OUR ROOT BEER FLOAT PARTY!!  So I threw on some clothes and headed out.  My kids noticed right away that I was not feeling well so they were perfectly quiet all day and ran around getting me tissues and my water bottle when I needed them:).  When it was time for the root beer floats the kids again all sat quietly finishing up their work, they ALL said thank you individually as I handed them a cup.  Then they said thank you again as a class when they were all done.  I wanted to bring them treats everyday!! Maybe that is what they were after (they are pretty sharp)!  

Another example of the fun things that go on in room 28 happened a few days ago during math.  Tanner is the class clown and very outspoken.  He is always cracking jokes and everyone loves him.  He gets his work done and his jokes are never mocking or hurtful so for the most part I just laugh at him along with the class.  On this day we were playing a rounding memory game on our Smartboard.  Everyone wanted a turn and every hand was raised.  I noticed lately that I have a tendency, when this is the case, to only call on the boys in the class.  So today I was only calling on the girls. Tanner was weaving his hand and cracking jokes left and right.  Finally after I ignored his hand for several turns he calls out "Miss Roskelley, you NEVER pick me!!" I responded with "Well Tanner if you sit quietly and raise your hand then maybe you will get a turn."  So he actually did.  He sat there silently with his hand raised for 5 more turns (he must have really wanted to play).  So I said "OK, tanner:)"  As I said this he jumped up and yelled hurray!! The rest of the class chimed in with a cheer also.  Tanner then ran to the front high-fiving everyone who was sitting in the aisle.  He found a match and then ran back to his seat high-fiving everyone again.  At lunch that same day the teacher across the hall made a comment about how fun it sounded in my class.  Really it was nothing I did.  I just got a really great bunch of kids!!

The Rest of the Classroom

The Pictures are all kinda dark but i hope they are good enough to see. This first one is taken from the back of the room. My desk is there on the right and my sweet smartboard is in the left.




Here is the team puzzle that the kids and I made on the first day of school. I just wrote team in sharpie and then cute it up to look like puzzle pieces. Each puzzle piece had a little bit of team on it. The kids took their individual puzzle piece and decorated it however they wanted. Then as we taped the puzzle together we talked about how each of us bring something different but together we make an awesome team.


OOO AHH!!
I was so sad when I first walked into this tiny portabel but I did the best I could to spruce it up and I think it is starting to grow on me.



So many desks and so little room but, we are one cozy team:)

Curtains That Make The Whole Room

I want to give a special THANK YOU to my Grandma Jo who made curtains for my new classroom. Since I decided on a sports theme, I needed the curtains to match and so I enlisted my very talented grandma to help make cute sporty curtains to replace the old faded blue ones I had before. All I told her was that the colors I used to decorate were red, yellow, blue, and green. She picked the perfect material and whipped them up in a jiffy. Now the room is looking good!! I have already had several compliments by other teachers and parents who think they are as fabulous as I do. Thanks again grandma for all of your help!

HOOF HEARTED!!

UVU softball is about to begin, only this time, without the stud Roskelley in their ranks.  I knew this time would come eventually.  Actually I have been looking forward to it for about 3 and a half years!! :) But now that the time has finally come i find myself feeling a little lost.  Softball has been such a big part of my life I don't know what I would do without it.  SO,  I have decided that I am not quite ready to hang up the cleats yet.  I have joined a slow pitch league in Pleasant Grove on a team that my cousin Wally Roskelley has put together.  We have games on Wednesday nights and I am loving the all games no practice aspect of the team already. The league started 2 weeks ago and our first couple showings were shaky but with each game we play we show vast improvements!!  I love being a part of this new team.  If you are ever in PG on a wednesday night be sure to stop by for all the action a night can hold.  You will see Hoof Hearted #4 proudly taking the field.  

A Game Of Memory Anyone??

Here is a fun little game... leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time or a long time, anything that you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It is pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. On your mark... get set... blog those memories!

And The Winner Is...

Sports Theme!!  

I want to thank those of you who participated in this election ( although there were only 3 of you.)  As for the rest, I am very disappointed with the lack of votes I received:) Keep watching for more updates on the classroom.  

VOTE NOW--On a New Theme For My Classroom!

As I am beginning to setup my new 3rd grade classroom I decided that I wanted to change my class theme from frog (what it was last year) to something NEW and EXCITING!! I have a couple of choices in mind but I am having the hardest time deciding on just one.  I need everyones help!!!  I am going to put down my ideas as well as my top 2.  To place your vote and/or suggestions just leave a comment and I will tally them up.  The start of school is fast approaching and so I need this to be a quick process if possible.  Try to imagine you are again 10 years old and about to start school.  Let your imagination run away with you:)

Theme: Sports

Ideas:  Team Roskelley, teamwork, be a team player, MVP (star student), take pictures of the kids and make individual baseball cards 

Theme: Western

Ideas:  Roskelley's Roundup!, wanted posters, horses, take turns being the shariffs deputy. 

Theme: Pirates

Ideas:  Try each day to not walk the plank:), take pictures with eye patches, the reading center could be the mermaid lagoon or a hidden cove, each treasure points.

Theme: Hollywood

Ideas:  Everyone is a star!!, hall of fame, photo shoots. 

Theme: Rock and Roll

Ideas:  Make American Idol cards for each child, wear sunglasses, Rock Star of the week, Greatest hits (student work), reading center could be the VIP lounge. 

VOTE  NOW!!!