Merry Christmas to Everyone!!!

So, I thought I would share with everyone the present I gave to my Dad this morning. Picture this... A card on top of a box...

Inside.

Back

And then, inside the box he comes upon these cards...

And then, at the very bottom of the box, he gets these....

For those of you who don't know.... #20 for my parents is # of grandchildren... :)

Hooray! Freedom!

So I finished my last final on Tuesday and did exactly as well as I thought I would. It brought me to a C+ for the class. I ended up with a B+ in my teaching methods class, and still have not heard about the other three classes, but I know that two of them will be A's.

Today I dropped by the school that I will be student teaching at next semester and got the textbooks for the two math classes I will be teaching. Lucky for me, they changed my mentor teacher's class schedule so now he has 2 typing classes, 1 computer animations class, 1 advanced 7th grade math and 1 first semester 9th grade Algebra. That means that I only have to plan lessons for two classes!!! The other three I get to follow the curriculum he already has set because that is not my area of emphasis. Gotta love how they do that.

Hooray for Christmas and trips up north! See ya all after (while) I have tons of fun in Snowflake!!! **in case you were dying to know I am heading up Christmas Eve afternoon and staying until I don't know when, probably whenever I feel like coming home.

So done with School

Ok, so I have this issue with finals this semester (I only have two of them), but it seems that I have run out of steam for school and I do not really care any more. You know how I was always the one that had to get the A+, and sometimes had to settle for an A or A-, well these past couple weeks I have decided that for these two specific classes, I really don't care if I get a B or a C (Oh shocker, I know!).... The only thing I was concerned about, but only slightly, was making sure that I still graduated with honors. I have to have something to show for all my hard work. Anyway, after a couple quick mathematical calculations including my projected A's for three of my classes, I realized that I only have to have a D in these two classes to get the GPA for Summa Cum Laude for graduation next semester, but I have to have C's to actually graduate so no lower. Added to that I only have to get a 54% on my project that was due this morning (and was turned in late :0...) to get a B in the class... and only a 20% on my final tomorrow for a C in that class (60% for a B). SO.... I decided that I am way okay with failing my last ever final exams and still getting my honors at graduation.



Senioritis. Gotta love it.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

You Are Jasmine!

Independent and adventurous. You don't want much; just to break out of the guilded cage society has put you in and experience life to the fullest. Following orders isn't really one of your strong points, and you would rather live a life of poverty than being forced into something that you hate.

Take the Quiz!!!

http://www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354

Opening Doors

It is amazing to me how the little things people do to help each other often go unnoticed. I am sitting here in a computer lab at ASU and I was looking toward the door and saw a man open the door to walk in to the hallway, and a woman was leaving the hall at about the same time so he waited and held the door open for her. I don't know why this particular incident struck me as I have seen it happen so many other times, but it made me think of how much better I can be at doing all those little things. If I could just learn to love everyone just a little bit more and see everyone as a Child of God and the respect that is due to everyone just because of that then doing all of the little things to help people throughout the day would be so much easier. I guess just seeing that made me realize that that is the kind of person that I want to be more like. If only everyone be a little more like that, the world would be such a better place.

X-Rays Anyone?

As a precursor, I think these are cool but to some they may be a bit graphic so be warned. I personally did not take these images but are severe cases that I have found throughout the internet. Fortunately, I do not get this much of trauma cases where I am at the Baywood hospital.

This one was from a domestic violence incident where a 12cm nail was used.

This one shows why they have the recall on the magnetix(I think that's what they're called). A boy swallowed the pieces and they reconnected before they could pass through.

This one is a result of a patient coming in complaining about a toothache and surprise! Those construction workers shouldn't play with nail guns.

And for the last one, this is a more recent case from Britain where a teen was assaulted, the stock was broken off.

Although I do get some interesting x-rays that come in through the ER, some are a bit too strange to be able to post. Anywho, hoped you have enjoyed a bit of these interesting cases.


Jacob

You are PAPER!

You are an all natural basic person who likes to act as a foundation to others. You are willing to take a backseat in most of your relationships and let others take the spotlight, while you show your support and help them shine! Underneath it all, you are the one who makes it all happen. You are the focus and stability in any group, even if you are not the leader. Others look to you to set the pace and provide ideas for ways to get things done. But Paper Beware - sometimes you get a little edgy with the people who look to you for support and can give them some papercut remarks that can hurt their feelings. Remember to watch what you say, because you are best when leading by example.


Quiz Link



(This Post thanks to Heather)

AEPA / COUPONS

Ok, Sorry for the delay, but it has been extremly busy around the Johnson/Eilertsen households... and unfortunately you will not get all of the updates unti tomorrow when I have a little more time.

The biggest news for now is that I survived my AEPA exam. I was at Gilbert High School last Saturday from 8:00 until 5:00 with about an hour break for lunch, but the rest of the time I was testing testing testing. I was fairly nervous about it just because I did not know what to expect, but once I got in there and started the test, it pretty much covered the basics for both the professional field knowledge portion and the mathematics portion. I will be surprised if I did not pass both of them, but you never know. We will find out the results in a month and I will let you all know how it went.

So I just started the coupon shopping this past week (since I actually have time now) and I found that Walgreens had a lot of coupons that were for the same product as the coupons in the mail, so I doubled up the coupons, made my list and went shopping tonight. There is both good news and bad news to this story...

Bad news: I spent $100.
Good News: It wasn't mine (it was my mom-in-law's).
Good News: I saved her $82.

So I am totally excited about coupons now... I know that not every shopping trip will save me this much, but it was exciting nonetheless.

Oh Speaking of Coupons, I got an email from Walgreens and they have 10 cent 4x6 prints, so if any of you have been needing to print off all those digital photos, the promo code is FUN but it is for 50 prints or more (only 5 bucks) and I think you have to order them online. You better order them quick though because the promotion ends on 7/19.


Eventually I will get around to sorting through my pictures from my trip to forest lakes and my family reunion and maybe eventually I will post some of them on here so you can all see them.

That's it! I Quit!!!

Okay, so last Friday I come home to an empty house (in-laws were out of town) so it was just me and Jacob, which was great, so I pumped up the air mattress in the living room and we watched about the first 10 minutes of a movie on it then decided the couch was more comfortable. Anyway, to the point, after the movie Jacob told me he thought I should quit my job because it was causing me so much stress etc. so he said I should think and pray about it again, so Sunday night I did just that and decided that I should quit, job prospects or not although I did have an idea or two about where I would look. Monday morning I woke up and called the Math Department Chair at Dobson (I interned with her last fall and she had offered me a summer tutoring job back in February but I declined since there were not enough hours to work) I left a message and asked her if they still had a need for a tutor and for her to give me a call back and I headed off to work. At work I gave the director my notice just as I was leaving for lunch and I told her I could stay until they found a replacement, up to two weeks... Little did I know that I had already gotten a call and a message from Kelly (the dept chair) saying that they had already hired a tutor but since one of the teachers had dropped out for the second summer session that she had gotten permission from her principal to hire a second tutor for the second session, which starts Monday... So I call her back saying that I will take the job, go home eat my lunch real quick, go to Dobson, pick up the application and head back to work to tell the director that I will only be working through the end of the week. Tuesday morning I go to the district office, fill out the new employee paperwork and here I am, I just finished my last day at the daycare and it is such a stress reliever. I am so excited to actually have a little bit of time to study for my AEPA (Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment) that I have on July 12th. Imagine trying to study for an 8 hour test when I only have a couple hours in the morning to do anything and the same in the evening except I am so tired that all I want to do is sleep! Yeah, wasn't happening. So that is what is going on with me right now, I never expected to actually find a job that quick, although it is only for 3 weeks...

Work Again...

So I am just frustrated now. Just when I feel like I am doing okay at the job, someone in the office comes and tells me something else I am doing wrong. I feel like all I ever hear are the things that I am doing wrong. I have only had one person tell me that I am doing something good, and that was yesterday. Four weeks there, and only one good thing? I hate this roller coaster of emotions. I feel like quitting then I am fine and I am just starting to feel like I am doing okay and then they come up with something else and I am right back to where I was last Friday, I feel like quitting. If only I did not have to worry about money I would have been gone last week. Too bad that the money disappears faster than it comes in, even without having to pay for food or rent. Even with this summer job I don't know how we will make it through this next year, I guess I could work mornings in the fall, but when would I have time to do my homework? And in the spring there is no way I can work while student teaching. I just really can't wait until I graduate and I don't have to work pitiful summer jobs anymore and I can stay home and be a mom. I am sure it is hard work being a mom, but at least you don't have people telling you everything you are doing wrong for the most part. It would make a huge difference if they were to focus more on the good things I do and tell me things to work on somewhere in there, but I am not getting very much positive feedback at all. Anyway, now that I have spent my lunch break ranting and raving I have to go back to work. Can I just cry?

So is the only reason I don't like my job my attitude? Maybe I am just fooling myself.

Birthday Treats/ Job

So today was a much better day than the last week has been, (isn't that the way it is supposed to be on your birthday?). Anyway, I had a great day at work and when I got off work I had three happy birthday messages on my phone which was really exciting because the last time I got a call on my phone was last saturday... anyway, when I got home Jacob reminded me that Krispy Kreme gives you a dozen glazed doughnuts for free on your birthday (there is finally one in AZ again!!! It's on Superstition Springs Blvd between the 60 and Power on the north side of the road right by PF Changs) So since today is not only my birthday, but it is also Cheryl's (my mom in law) birthday, we all went together and got two dozen doughnuts for free. So Yummy!!! When we got home I remembered that I had signed Jacob and I up for the Coldstone Creamery Birthday Club and you get a coupon for a free ice cream good for about two weeks, but Jacob never got his so I signed him up again. When I got on there to check out the coupon, I realized that you can add 5 family members so I added everyone else here in the house (David, dad in law, Cheryl, mom in law, Matthew, bro in law, and Jacob and I) Since Jacob's Birthday was on Sunday, Cheryl and Mine is today, and David's is next wednesday, we can all go get ice cream together! I LOVE FREE STUFF!!!

I would have to say that this has probably been one of the best birthdays I have had. Jacob's present to me was playing Happy Birthday on the guitar (no singing included), it was really sweet though because he is just starting to learn to play and he obviously spent a good amount of time learning how to play the song. He was nervous about it too... hoping he could remember it.. He is such a sweetheart, he does so many little things for me and he is always so thoughtful.

As far as the job goes, I decided that the only reason that I do not like my job is because of my attitude, so I decided that I would be happy with my job and it made a big difference today, so I think I will be able to stick it out the rest of the summer. Who would want to hire me for a month and a half anyway? Good luck with that.

Anyway, I hope all of you have as good of a birthday this next year as I had today. Love you all!!

Ashley

Stress/Trip/Scanner

Sorry about taking so long to post anything new. I started working at a daycare about a month ago and my schedule is awful, 9:30-6:30, so I have just enough time in the morning to get nothing done and I am so tired in the evening that I don't get anything done then either. This job is making me so stressed out that I am actually looking for a new one already, so if any of you know of any jobs here in mesa I would love to hear about them!!!

Jacob and I got to go to Snowflake almost two weeks ago now and it was a blast. I helped mom put together a flower bed and I got to drive their tractor too! Seems silly, but it was really exciting. Mom was wanting some pitures of flowers to print out and hang in her living room so I took my camera and went around the yard and took pictures of all her flowers and they turned out pretty good, so now she just has to print them out and hang them up. I saw their stairs for the first time too, they look really great. They did an awesome job.

So I know I'm jumping from subject to subject, but Jacob and I were cleaning up our room and organizing a couple weeks ago and we realized that I have nearly a full shelf on our bookshelf devoted to notes from my past classes, stuff that could be valuable in the future if I ever needed to look something up... so we decided it would be a little more space efficient to buy a scanner and save that whole shelf of notes on the computer, so we splurged and bought a scanner on ebay for just under $100. We got it last week and I scanned in a whole 2 inch binder with over 500 pages in less than an hour. Could you imagine doing that with a flatbed scanner, page by page?!! Ick! This scanner has an automatic document feeder that holds up to 50 pages as well as a legal paper size flatbed scanner. If you want, you can even scan double sided, but it takes quite a bit longer so I have not used it very much. The only bad thing is that it does not scan pencil very well (which is several of my folders of notes for math) but that is okay because it does great on the other stuff, don't know about color documents because I have not tried it yet. It also has a scan function that actually scans typed documents and sends it right back into Microsoft Word and preserves the formatting. It is great fun. If anyone ever needs to scan stuff into the computer, just come on over and you can use my handy dandy scanner...

Nieces and Nephews at dinner

I was just looking through the pictures on my camera tonight and I found some pictures of my nieces and nephew (Matt and April's kids) so I thought I would share. Eventually I will get some pictures of Jacob and I on here, but until then you will just have to live with these cuties.

Sabrina was just a little grouchy and did not want her picture taken so she decided to act like she was mad so we wouldn't take any pictures, but we did anyway, which frustrated her more...

Okay, so Ethan didn't really blow all those bubbles with his nose...

Classic Samantha smile. Can't ever get her to smile normal when you want to take a picture, she has to make it the biggest smile ever. So cute.

Jean Quilt/ Summer Job

So I decided about 3 months ago that I wanted to make a jean quilt... so I cut up all of the worn out pants that Jacob and I have and put them in a drawer... Then I went visiting teaching a few weeks later and mentioned I was making a jean blanket and the girl I was visiting went into her office and pulled out a stack of jean squares that were extra from her jean quilt so she gave them to me... but I still did not have enough so they went into the drawer too. I still don't have enough, but yesterday I sewed what I do have with my mother-in-law's amazing serger. She bought it a year ago and has not used it yet, so I was the one that got to figure it out, but it did not take that long and the back of the quilt is just beautiful and it was so fast! I got this whole square (it barely covers our queen size bed) done in less than 4 hours. All I have to do now is find a king size sheet for the back, some fabric for a border around the edge to make it big enough and sew the rest of it together. The dark blue border on the pic is actually some valances that Cheryl (my mother in law) bought for Jacob's room to decorate it just before his mission, but it never got put up. I was thinking about using that for the edging, but it just would not be very comfortable with all those buttons, but I thought it would make some really cute throw pillows. Any suggestions?


For all of you who are interested, I finally found a job (at a daycare)... I went in today to "observe" and hopefully today was really just a random day because they were all so wild and did not listen to the teachers... Boy am I in for a treat this summer! They are talking about splitting the kids up into two classes of 15 max, but right now there is about 30 kids in there (4 year olds). They also have a dress code, so I had to go shopping for khaki pants... I hate shopping for pants. So I went to the Fiesta Mall and started at Sears with no luck. I was getting tired so I walked to the food court and bought myself a strawberry smoothie (don't tell) and then decided to try the Dillards clearance racks and I actually found a couple of pairs fairly quickly (only tried on 6 and liked 3 of them) and they were only $20 each so I bought two of them and then as I was walking out to go home I decided to get my make-up done, since I don't spend time on it myself. It was quite fun. Too bad I can't go in every day to get it done, then I would actually wear a little bit of makeup! Anyway, that's all of my fun stories for now. Love you all!!

Grades are in

I am completely excited right now!!! All of my grades have been reported and I actually got a 4.0 this semester! I thought all hope of that was lost when I bombed my Calculus final (I got a 43% on it) but with the help of some very needed extra credit I was able to barely get in the A- range. I got A's in two of my other classes and an A+ in the fourth class which basically cancelled out the A- to an A. Hopefully next semester will go just as well and I can raise my gpa the .05 I need to get summa cum laude for graduation (3.8)! Anyway, I thought I would share my exciting news with everyone (maybe it is only exciting for me). Hope you are all doing well!!!

School is OUT!!!

I just took my last finals today. Hooray! ...but I did not do so well on one of them. For some reason my mind completely blanked on notation. I knew the point I was trying to get across, but I had no idea how to write it correctly. I am guessing (on the high end) that I got about 30% on the test... But at least I had nearly 100% before the test, so I will probably still have a B in the class which is not too bad, but that only makes it worse because I was doing so well and the last day to have it go from a great grade, to an okay grade. My other finals went really well though, I will be surprised if I don't get A's in all of the rest of my classes.

Jacob still has a couple weeks of school for this term and then it is straight into another term and he will finally have a week break in the beginning of July which will be great. Hopefully he can hang in there until his program ends next May, but he is having a tough time with things.

Hope you are all doing well, and hopefully I will post again soon with news of a summer job!

I FINALLY DID IT!!!!

Hey Everyone,

I thought it was so much fun peeking around at everyone's blogs that I decided that I would start one so that everyone can see what I am up to (which is not much). Hopefully I will update it fairly often!

Ashley