TIFFANY Meets World

1 Week! I'm getting Married!

2011-11-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

Hello! Blogger is actually working today! Every time I try to get on here it's either not working or my parents internet is having a hard time. I am so excited to marry Jake in a week. He is such a great guy! I love being with him and hate the days when we don't get to see each other. Everything for the wedding has been coming together and I can't wait to it all to happen. I almost have my sub plans ready too. Yipppeee!! It's amazing all the little details that go into weddings. Props to everyone that has prepared for a wedding, wow! I just want to pinch myself. I can't believe how amazing everything is right now. I feel so grateful for everything. Hopefully I'll get to see many of you in a week too :).

Testing

2011-06-07T23:26:00.001-07:00

Pretty please work.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-21T17:03:00.000-08:00

Whoa....what can I say...I've been busy :). A few months ago I met this great guy named Jake and well we hit it off and have been dating for a while now. It's weird, I've had hardly anytime to facebook,email, blog, etc and I feel happy about it. In a way my life has changed drastically, but being busy hasn't changed a bit. Jake writes the sports column for a paper in Tooele. So between his games, school events/grading and family, a little traveling, my life is quite full. Of course I couldn't be happier. Most of all, I'm full of gratitude. I'm so thankful for everyone in my life and for all of the wonderful things going on. My sister Leslee's recently got engaged, she's ecstatic and the wedding plans are in full bloom now that they've picked a date. Joey and Emily are expecting a baby girl in February, the Finley family is growing at rapid speed. Aaron joined the National Guard and will be going to boot camp come January. Ryan just announced his first girlfriend on facebook, haha. I always think it's funny when I find out things about my own family on facebook. My parents are going crazy keeping up with all their kids. We are so lucky that they care so much and support us in so many ways. My mom is so sweet planning and organizing everything, my dad serving in every way possible...fixing cars and he's going to help me move next week. Yep, move. I'm moving home. Speaking of moving, I better get a packing. I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and that you're healthy and happy. I wish there was a way possible to see every one of you this holiday season and give a great big hug :).

Quote from Women's Conference

2010-09-27T19:42:00.001-07:00

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them". Mother Teresa

Thanks President Monson!

WEEKLY BRAIN DRAIN

2010-09-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Spanish Class.
Dad's 50th Birthday.
Grantsville.
Frisbee.
Lion King w/ Mom.
Sugar House Park Run.
Women's Conference.
Chuck A Rama.
Dad's Birthday 50th Bday.
Hot Rod = lame movie.
Live. Laugh. Love. Cliche' but true.
Lot's to teach!
Working on Relief Society Newsletter.
Visiting teaching.
Tired.
Happy.
Motivated..
Fun family.
Math Class.
BBBS.
Peanut Butter.
Aaron joined National Guard.
Leslee's hair is cute.
Elissa having a girl.
Melissa is having a boy.
Kristy had flu.
Niki is going to Israel soon.
Heather is engaged.
Emily is looking cute w/a little bump.
Ryan is getting so old.
Mom knows every low-fat diet food in the book.
Molly is back in Utah.
Tasha has my back.
Made my bed today.
Need maid.
Judge not.

Update!

2010-09-12T12:34:00.001-07:00

Pretty much I'm terrible at blogging now... I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just so much easier to post pics on facebook and call it good. However, I hear there's a company that will print your blog for good price. So I better get back to the grind because heaven knows I don't journal often enough.

Highlights:

Summer-This summer was a blast! I was nanny 3 days a week to save a little extra cash. Most of it was spent having fun... I went on two camping trips with singles wards which were a blast. In July I turned a year older while I was in Lake Powell, woot woot. I got my first speeding ticket on our drive home from Powell. My drivers license had expired while I was there so that was no beauno. My family took a few boating trips and that was pretty awesome. I can now almost wake board!

Back to School- My class is pretty great so far. I only have two kids who throw tantrums...happy, happy, joy, joy. I've only had to get out the paddle a few times, lol. No basically I give them choices...most of the time it works like a charm. We will have no whiners in Camp Finley!! This is year 6 for me. Can you believe it! It feels so great to know what I'm doing now. Not that I'm teacher of the year or anything, but I feel pretty confident about the ins and outs of the classroom. This is my third year teaching third so that helps as well. I think I'll stay in this grade for another decade, switching grades is a real pain the rear and throws your grove off quite a bit. I have 5 kids reading on or above grade level, which leaves 22 kids way far behind. I have my work cut out for me. I asked the kids to write down their home address the other day and only 4 of them new it. So for all you parents out there...teach your kid their address in case of emergencies, it just might come in handy one day ;).

Fall- Over Labor day I went to Jackson Hole with Tasha, Erin and Brooke. We had a grand ol time setting up a tent in the middle of the night. We spent a day shopping and touring the town and another day hiking around Jenny Lake. I'm loving the outdoors more and more. I started a hiking class yesterday. I will be going on a new hike every Saturday morning. I'm pretty stoked about it. Friday night I went hiking with my mom on Coyote Trail which is near my parents house. Saturday I hiked Elephant Rock. My booty is a little soar from all the intense hiking two days in a row.
Dad-Helping kids, helping kids more, and helping kids. Hunting. House projects. etc. Working.
Mom-Helping kids find cars for hours on end. Babysitting, etc.
Leslee- Dating Scott; they're in love <3.
Joe & Em- Joe is going to BYU. Switched majors to Journalism, seems to suite him. And guess what Emily is prego....which means I'm going to be an aunt! Yeah! Can't wait! I'm excited for their little surprise to come to the world. Em is also teaching Chemistry in Alpine this year.
Aaron- Going to SLCC. Thinking of having the military pay for his schooling. Dating Nicole.
Ryan-Senior at Jordan and looking for a new job. Cute kid, makes me laugh all the time.

Jeep Guy

2010-07-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

2 months ago I tried to get my FLIRT on.

I started by driving to work. Actually by curling my hair, applying that make-up and choosing something that makes me feel good to wear....you'd be surprised, those three things are essential to get the FLIRT on.

A jeep pulls up next me. I can't look, too shy. Next light, slow glance. Another red! I smile. About to turn into the neighborhood. Realize I'm never going to see this kid again. Smile and wave...the flirty kind. Nothing to lose, why not? I'm not getting any younger.

Park. Walk towards school. See Jeep guy pull in parking lot. Freak out. Walk faster and faster and FASTER. Crap, all I did was follow a few simple techniques, look good, smile, wave. Tell a few favorite staff members.

Next day. Kindergarten teacher tells me a note was left on her car. It made her husband mad. Note says,

"You are super cute. I was in the jeep. If you are single and interested, my number is...."

Thank you Jeep Guy. I'm flattered. You rock and are fearless. Two thumbs up.

4 Weeks...until Summer Break!

2010-05-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

I can not wait! Hallelujah!

Free Woman! I paid off the car aka JET!

2010-05-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

I paid off my car! Ah, what a good feeling! For the first time I physically own something that was kinda of a big purchase! Well besides my education...all 6 years of it! I like not owing anyone money...I could get used to this. But the thought has crossed my mind..hmmm should I buy another one?? NO Way JOSE'! That is money in the bank for the next big purchase! Why do I always want to spend money though?? I swear this life is all about self control! In every area of my life I have to use this...cars, food, clothes, dating, speaking... see what I mean!!

Self -Control!

Anyway, I don't have anything funny or grand to say. Life is just rollin'. Hope it's going well for all of you, my dear faithful blog readers! Cheers to happy day!

Memory Lane...College Talent Show

2010-04-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

I came across this song that my roommates (aka Firehouse girls!) and I wrote to the tune of the Little Mermaid song. I was busting up laughing...it's obvious that we wrote this in college. I figure I should add this to my blog collection in case I lose this lovely college artifact. Cheers to a good laugh! Enjoy:).

*Caution: All views are not solely mine and keep in mind we were 19! A few years ago, oh gosh! :(

**Best if sung out loud :).

Tribute to RM's--Part of Their World...

Look at these boys--aren't they so cute,

I have to find them at the institute.

Looking around here you think--sure--they are everywhere??

Look at this trove, treasures untold.

How many scriptures can one elder hold?

Looking around you think--sure we've got everything.

We've got counsel from bishop aplenty.

We've got "Let's feed the the ward" all galore!"

You want non-members--we've got many.

But who cares, no big deal, we want more.

I want to be where the sweet boys are.

I want to see, want to see them dancing--

Walking around doing what do they call it again--oh, splits!

Dating preemies--you don't get too far.

RM's required for courting--marriage.

Wanting to register--what's that place called? Oh, Target...

Whens it my turn, wouldn't I love--

Love to slip that honking ring on!

Watch and you'll see--someday I'll be--MRS. RMmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Teach, I look good 24-7!

2010-02-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today I was thinking about how my students make me laugh! I told the kids that they looked cute today and one little boy said, "oh teach I look good 24-7!" So I found these cute kids to substitute for my students since I can't put their darling little faces on here!

What is LOVE according to 3rd Graders???

2010-02-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

Love is...

Today I had my students describe in their own words what love is. It was funny to see their reactions..."ugh really??" One girl look mortified by the thought of writing on such a topic. Two or three of the boys had some deep thoughts about the subject; they'll be heart throbs for sure. A few of the girls will be sorely disappointed...haha, just kidding. So in honor of Valentines day I've provided some quality entertainment written by my very own THIRD GRADERS!! Woot, woot! Cheers to this day of love! Hope everyone get's a little smile, I mean a REALLY BIG GRIN on this day! :) PS Keep in mind some of my students are ELL (English Language Learners) and so it may be a bit confusing...such is love.

Girl: Love is great because it is a crush. Love is everywhere. Love is peace, happiness and marriage. Marriage leads to kids and a house. The person I want to fall in love with is someone who is buff and treats me like a lady and will buy me anything I want. If you fall in love you want to grow old with that person. And be happy and famous and a trillionaire and have a big house.

Boy: Love is showing care for other people. It’s like a star growing brighter and brighter. It’s like a rock growing stronger and stronger. It’s like a shield that protects you. Love wraps you in a warm feeling. Love is learning. Love is caring. Every day you feel something warm. Love brings us close to something. Love is everything. Love shows everything.

Boy: Love is a crush. It is a thing that you give gifts. I love my mom and my dad. Everyone in the world has a crush, including me. DO you have a crush? Yes. She is in my class. This is fun, really fun.

Boy: Love is when you have a crush on somebody. I don’t like love. Love is also when you really like somebody. I just like people like my friends. I hate love but some people like love. Love is like a seed. When it is planted it only grows once. It has to be planted just right or it will not grow.

Girl: Love is a feeling that you have that makes you happy. Love can be different. You can love a family member or a friend. Love is a special thing that represents Valentine’s Day. You can get cards, hearts or candy. Love is so, so, so special to me. Love is loving your family. You can love somebody like your brother, sister, or family members.

Girl: Love is the important thing is that people can have in the world. Some people already lost someone they love. People love their family like I do. Love is cool. Love is something or someone that we like. I like my mom and dad, sister and brother, grandmothers and grandfathers. Love is so cool. Love is a crush with someone. Like mom’s fall in love with our dads. Love is great because it is the important thing in the word because we love our moms and dads and family. People that already died, we still love them.

Girl: What is love? Love is when you like someone very, very, much and they love you back. Just like when your mom loves your dad. Or like how I love school and math. Love is when you care about others and not about yourself and showing happiness, affection and love. Like milk and cookies or pancakes and butter. I want to fall in love with someone who will love me for the rest of my life and someone that’ll show me love and not someone who is weird.

Girl: Love is about a happy ending. Happy endings have love in them. I love my family. My parents may yell at me, but they said that’s the way they love me. The next person in my family is my biggest sister, she is 18 years old. She helps me a lot. I also like my second big sister; she is nice, kind and careful. My third little sister is nice and my baby sister is cute.

Boy: Love is when someone has a crush on you or you love a family member or your pet. Love is good for some people. It makes people happy. When someone loves you they would follow you around and give you gifts. But if they don’t love you they would not do any of that stuff. I love my mom, dad, brother, sister, pet, grandma, grandpa, cousin and my uncle too. I love everyone in my family.

Girl: Love brings happiness to people’s hearts. It always makes people feel good and happy about love. Love also includes hugs and kisses. Sometimes love can fall apart and you can get really sad. You can cry when someone asks you out. You can love your family, friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas. Love is perfect and your heart tells you who you love.

Boy: Love is trash. I only love my mom and my dog. Love is really a crush or when you kiss someone or hug someone. Some people like love, but some people hate love like me. I love animals. My favorite animal is the eagle. I love birds. They are really cute. They are different colors.

Boy: What is love? Love is being kind to people and showing respect to your parents, family and friends. Love is when people are married and when your parents show respect. Love is a crush. I only like being kind to people. I like guts, blood, and slime because it’s cool.

Girl: Love is a crush. It is also sweetness. If you are kind to a friend or family you are showing love. Love is shown in so many different ways. It is beauty. It comes from a holiday called Valentine’s Day. It is fun. You get cards and candy. You could also get a gift from someone you love. Love is here every day no matter if it is different. It is still the same. I love because it is beauty.

Girl: Love is when you love your family or if you have a crush. Lots of people have different kinds of love. Some people love people as a friend, a family, or a crush. Love makes the world go round. I think love is the most wonderfulest thing that’s on this earth. I think love is one of the important things. I love, love!

Boy: Love is when you love someone or you love them like a friend. Love is a brother, a sister, or a dad. Love is when you love your parent and respect them and listen to them when she or he is out of work you can help them clean. Love is when I listen to my teachers or tow my parents or baby sister. Love is when you give something that people need.

Boy: Love is barfy. Grotatious. Puke. It makes me puke. Barf. It is disgusting. Love is puke. Barfy. Grotatious. Puke. It is disgusting. It makes me barf. It is barfy. I love my king cobra and python and my parana’ and my baby shark and my bird. The end.

Girl: Love is a sweet thing. You can experience love by looking at it. You can love anything you like because everybody loves different things. Love is really important to me. Love is an awesome feeling. You can love anyone you want. It can be a family member or a friend. Love is really beautiful. It can be anything you want it to be. Love is a crush. It can be sweet. Love is awesome. Hearts flow above the people you love. Love can be a happy feeling. You can also love your family any way you want.

Girl: Love is pretty but not to me. Love is like pretty for everyone. But for Miss Finley she likes it. She loves Valentines. She thinks Valentines is cute. Love is dumb. Love for me is so dumb. People in the world like valentines. My mom hates valentines because she thinks it’s ugly because she thinks valentine’s is just for people with boyfriends.

Girl: Love is something that is in all of us, but it is different. But the important thing is that we all have love in us. And love is important to me. The love I feel is warm and nice and fluffy and cute and me. I love my mom, my dad, my sisters and my grandparents. What love is, is a feeling inside that makes me feel good, but not for most people. My families love, it’s pure. It’s us and our love is love.

Boy: Love is when you like someone very much. Love is when you have a crush on somebody like friend, classmate, or money? Love stinks badly. Love is disgusting like puke and dogs droppings. It breaks your heart when it’s green/red, you’re heartless. Love is weird. Love is evil like a villain, it’s chillin like a villain. Today and everyday love is making guys eat hey. Love is wrong.

Boy: I love my family as friends. I love my mom, my dad, my brother and my sisters. Love means you have a baby. Love is barf. Love is disgusting and gross and nasty. I hate love. Love is a battlefield. Love is stupid. I hate love. It is retarded!

Boy: Love is loving my mom and dad and my brothers and if I do kind things and love each other. I love my friends and my grandma and grandpa. Love is a kind of kindness. I love my family. I love animals and macaroni and cheese. I love my heart and everyone.

Boy: Love is poo and poo is love. Love sucks. I hate love. I like bloody stuff. I like my family. I like my brothers Justin and Coltin. I like my sisters Jocelen, Kylee and Savanah. I like mom and dad. Poo makes the world go round. I like valentines because of all the candy and stuff people give you.

Boy: Love means you love someone really bad. It’s when you feel good. Who you love is a crush. You love people, things, or anything. It’s the best thing ever! Love is the best thing on earth. Love makes you feel good. The end.

Boy: Love is the most important thing on earth because people like love. I like love too. I love my mom and my two dogs. I love my sister. And if you are 16 you can go on a date. I love Utah and Love is perfect. I love my girlfriend.

Boy: Love is gross. I think it sucks. Love wants me to barf. The only thing that I love is slime. I think that love is disgusting. I also love guts and blood. I love my family. I also think that we need to get rid of love. I think that love is dumb. Then I think love is stupid. We need to get rid of love right away. Love is sweet and kind. Love is really nice and beautiful. Love is perfect it pumps when you’re in love. It’s really pretty.

Boy: Love is being nice to others. You can love your family. It’s showing manners. Playing nicely.

The D Word

2010-01-31T19:13:00.001-08:00

Dating...

Seriously?

What's the deal with dating?

You're happy.

You're sad.

You want them you.

You don't.

I just don't get it.

I didn't sign up to be a life long dater.

They ask you out.

They don't.

They call.

They don't.

It's up.

It's down.

They like you.

You don't like them.

You like them.

They don't like you.

Attractive.

Ugly.

Ambitious.

Lazy.

Sometimes I just want to give up.

Hope.

We long to have someone to be with.

To love to cherish.

To admire.

To praise.

To snuggle with.

It's our innate desire to be with someone.

To experience the good, the bad and the ugly.

A witness of your life.

Why is complicated?

Why is it hard?

Is it timing?

Is it me?

Hope.

Believe.

Pray.

Sometimes it's easier to be single.

Don't Quit.

Hope. Believe. Pray.

2010 is here, what???

2010-01-15T23:34:00.001-08:00

So apparently I don't blog anymore! Oh well, you will all just have to call me for updates, hehe. Lots has happened. My brother got married! Christmas came and went. New Years came and went. Niki and Moly got engaged! Lots of dates. Set some new goals. So there you have have it. My life in a nutshell!

Flirting???

2009-12-03T16:42:00.000-08:00

So I went to Wal-mart last night to buy a bunch of candy bars for a bridal shower game. This is what the guy in line behind me had to say:

Guy: "I admire your dedication to nutrition"

Me: "Well, what can I say."

Guy: "You didn't find Mr. Goodbar"

Me: "I looked and looked, but couldn't find him."

Guy: "Why don't they make women candy bars?"

Me: "They have Hot Tamales."

Guy: "It's ok, I like them better in person."

Hahaha!! I'm still laughing! I felt like a big fat fatty fat buying all those candy bars...even thought I had no intention of eating them!

Video of Joey Opening a Present From me on the Mission:)

2009-11-28T10:25:00.000-08:00

5K Before Turkey Day

2009-11-28T09:28:00.001-08:00

So this race was a week or so ago!! Natalie invited me to run and has me all sorts of running motivated now!! My mom raced too, she's a rockstar like that...she may be getting "old" but she can kick my trash in a race, haha! These pics are so flattering, don't ya think... tee hee... what can I say, big, baggie, brown shirts just do a lot for our figures and the bed hair is just plain sexy!! More pics to come from the Thanksgiving race this week!

Damn.

2009-11-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

HaPpY, ConTEnT, GrAteFuL

2009-10-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

Why is it that we are never happy with our bodies?? I just don't get it...my skinny friends and chubby friends alike, we're just never happy. Now that I've finally kicked my butt back into gear to loose some weight...I'm back to my college weight!! Woot! Woot! I feel so good and so happy and even content. In college I felt, chunky, or as my brother would say it "she's just a little bit chunky." It's funny to be the same weight but to have a completely different mindset about it. It sucks how the weight sneaks up on you.... Needless to say, I think I need to start looking at things from another perspective, instead of thinking "wow, I've got some weight to loose" I should really think, "wow, I'm so glad that I'm not 20 lbs heavier!"

As some of you know, I went 50 days without eating out, hooray. To celebrate making it 50 days, my friend Elissa took me out to dinner at Applebee's where I could still eat some healthy, good food! I ordered the 4 oz steak and salad. They have this amazing low-fat dressing! I want to steal the bottle or their recipe!! Elissa has been one of my biggest cheer leaders, I am so grateful for her!!!

I also treated myself to a pedicure for reaching 40 lbs of weight loss this year! Can you believe it? I'm actually a little embarrassed to post about it, but it's not like you couldn't tell that I had a little junk in my trunk, haha. I still have some work to do, but again, I'm happy at where I am. It feels so good!!! I never want to be ungrateful again!! When I get to my goal weight I am going Ski-diving, so if anyone else wants to join, I'll keep ya posted!!

Here's a pic Niki took just for kicks, we'll call this my "half-way to goal" pic:).

3 Miles

2009-10-16T00:37:00.000-07:00

I ran 3 miles tonight at Sugar House Park!

I couldn't believe I ran and that I didn't run/walk!

I feel good!

I hope I can do it again tomorrow!

Any Man of Mine-- Favorite Songs!

2009-10-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

I was driving home from work yesterday and this song came on the radio. This song (click on song!) makes me laugh every time I hear it. I love it's twangy, catchy beat! Oh how I loved Shania growing up; her and Billy Ray... that's it, let's look up Billy Ray (Click on Billy Ray!) while were at it!! Ah, the memories are flooding now... Kristy and I would put on our cowgirl boots, get out a spatula for a microphone and dance around the house! Well folks, I hope you enjoyed my little country post today as much I did!!

**Carolyn I know how you love country... plug your ears if you must, but you're really missin' out, haha! Maybe I should youtube my teenage favorite too... do you remember when I would blast the radio while washing my car?? Wray hated it! Okay, here it is Truly Madly Deeply!! Savage Garden... wow! This is kind of fun... I think everyone should youtube their favorite childhood, teenage, college and current song! EVERYONE STARTS THOSE TAG THINGS, HOW ABOUT I BE A TREND SETTER RIGHT NOW... I TAG YOU ALL! (Please, I'm beggin you...let me know if you do it!)

1. Favorite Childhood Song: Achy Breaky Heart
2. Favorite Teenage Song(s): Truly Madly Deeply and All-Star and one more Angels Among US
3. Favorite College Song(s): I'm in a Hurry and Secret
3. Favorite "Right Now" Song(s): Party in the USA (Thanks to Heather!) All the Single Ladies (Thanks to the media!) Life is a Highway. Okay, so there's more, but I don't have time to find them all...

Well we all know that I'm not a music junkie...I love music, I love how it makes me feel, the way it makes me think, the way it inspires me...I need to expand my collection however. I might even put itunes on my computer next week... I'm thinking that it might be helpful, since I have an ipod and all. Currently my ipod consists of my mom and sisters country and my brother Aarons rap/rock music... I hope you all DO this tag and I can start making a list of songs I can add to my very own itunes!!

Ensign Peak

2009-09-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

I had the day off yesterday so Niki and I went and hiked Ensign Peak! What a great view of the Salt Lake Valley! I really want to go hiking more often and explore Utah!!

SoMEtHiNG BiG Is gOiNg DowN!

2009-09-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

That’s right…SOMETHING BIG IS GOING DOWN! I’ve been wanting to kick my behind into gear for a while now…saying things like “next week I’ll start doing this” or “for sure I’ll do that tomorrow.” Well those little sayings are well slowly diminishing! Something has overcome me. I feel like that song “Live Like You are Dying.” Now for the evidence…

Evidence #1- Last week, I took all the vegetables in my fridge and made up a recipe for vegetable soup in my crock-pot! You might ask, what’s the big deal about making soup, whoopteedoo. The big deal is that I haven’t really been making meals for a while, just sandwiches and lean cuisines, etc. As of late, I’ve made fresh salads, soups, barbecued chicken and all sorts of yummy, healthy meals. Oh and I haven’t been out to eat in over a month! It’s a new record!

Evidence #2- I used to say someday I would learn to quilt. A few weeks ago I attended my first quilting class. It’s once a month. A square a month. I figure I can do that. Sounds like I’ve gone domestic doesn’t it… oh wow! Maybe this has something to do with turning a year older and being on the down hill slope to 30… teehee.

Evidence #3- I sat down and decided “What Matters Most?” This was inspired by a Relief Society/Enrichment lesson and a talk entitled “What Matters Most?” A few blogs ago I wrote about how I was inspired to change a few things. Well I’ve been working on some of those things. I wrote down all kinds of goals, sorta like new years resolutions. Yeah, it’s almost October, but what they hay…maybe I’ll just be that much more prepared, one can only hope. Here is just a glimpse into a few of my goals…
Spiritual- Read Book of Mormon, 6 pages minimum/day to finish by Christmas. Temple, weekly. Magnify callings.
Physical-Exercise 30 min/day. Continue my healthy eating kick.
Intellectual- Read 1book/month. (Finish The Persian Pickle Club and then Breaking Dawn). 20 minutes tops on the computer on weekdays. Take another ele. teaching math class.
Emotional- Journal 1/week (This one is a hard one, you all might have to help me out with this one) and Weekly service.
Financial- Stay within budget. Look for a part time job, so I can save more…turns out being salary isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Oh yeah, I work for the State…

Evidence #4- I go to the gym or go walking with Niki and/or my mom. I love the theater cinema at Gold’s Gym! I love when they play action films, I get walking or running with the music. It can be slightly embarrassing if I laugh out loud, I’m working on it okay…

Evidence #5- I make my bed every single day without fail. I’ve been doing this since school began. It’s a miracle. No more hit and miss!

Evidence #6- I’ve lost a few inches in my waist! That’s right, the junk in my trunk has shrunk…well not really my trunk but you get my drift.

Evidence #7- I feel good. I want to better myself. I wake up each day wanting to be a little better. I believe. I pray. I hope.

So yeah, when these times of motivation come, you just have to take them and run with them! I have so many things and goals I want to accomplish now and by doing the simple ones I listed I know I can accomplish all things I set forth to do!

This quote has helped me out a lot lately:

"You can have anything you want, if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, if you hold that desire with singleness of purpose."-Abraham Lincoln

So what matters most to me? What matters most is that I am being true to myself. That I’m making the most out of my life and accomplishing what the Lord has set for me to do. That I fill my days with things that are going to ultimately make me a better woman, a better friend, a better sister, a better daughter, a better teacher, a better citizen, a better mother (someday), a better wife (someday), and an all around better human being.

My first attempts at quilting...not bad eh? It took 5 hours...!

"I forgot how we mett, but I'm glad we did."--6th Grader

2009-09-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

I came across a note that a 6th grade boy wrote to me at the end of last year. This kid was a Safety Patrol kid. I typically say hi to all the Safety Patrol kids in the hallway in the morning. This particular kid liked to make small talk. At the end of last school year I received this note from him. (I'll try to copy his exact spelling and punctuation for effect. PS I was never his teacher, so don't blame me for his mistakes!)

Front of Card: "Best Teacher Ever" Written in bubble letters and colored very nice.

Left Inside of Card: (There are lots of random messages written all over the page): "Good Bye," "Bye," "I hope I will see u ever again," "I forgot how we mett, but I'm glad we did," "Hope to See U." **As you can tell from the title of this post, "I forgot how we mett, but I'm glad we did" was my favorite line! He's going to be a little heart breaker as he begins to date! How sweet is he.

Right Inside of Card:

"Dear, Mrs. finlly,

I'm just saying thanks for being a cool teacher. I will have to say you and Mrs. Radman are the coolest teachers in the whole school. You guys are funny, and you guys are easy to talk to, for example all the other teachers I cant really talk to them, because they are all strict, but you guys are not even like that. I wish I was in 2nd grade, so I can't be in your class next year, or mrs. Radmans. This my last day of school so Bye.
By: Collin (Not Real Name)

P. S.-I hope I spelled your name rite. I will viset u one's in a while."

It's cute little notes like this that make my job to worth it! This kid came last week to visit and tell us about middle school. I feel so blessed to be working in the area I do. A lot of the kids we teach don't have the best home life and need adult role models to be supports and mentors. I count my lucky stars that my own parents were pretty darn amazing. It's so true that you don't know what you have when you have it. Working in a poverty stricken population has definitely given me more insight into the world. I love these kids with all my heart. I've learned that it's important to be firm and to teach the kids structure, but it's also important to show love and tender mercies to these poor children.

Another recent story. Last Friday, my little homeless student, let's call him Tony; Tony came in and told me that he had to give away his dog. I asked him why and he said because they couldn't afford to feed him. He seemed a little distraught about the whole thing. Another student, Callie, came up and asked what was wrong. He proceeded to tell her that his family didn't have money to feed his dog. Callie's response was priceless, "Oh Tony, you don't have to give your dog away. My family has food for it. We have wet food and dry food. We got it from the church." Wow. Wow. Wow. The irony... Callie was so gentle and showed Christlike empathy towards this kid. I may have even shed a little tiny tear (teachers aren't emotional, so of course I would never cry at school:)). I was so impressed by this little girls genuine concern. It made me want to be a little better, serve a little more, and really consider the needs of the people around me.

My class this year is very diverse. There are 7 different races in my class. 70% are on free or reduced lunch. One of my students barely knows his abc's and another student can read 245 words per minute with great comprehension. This class is more calm than previous classes, a little chatty at times, but what 9 year old isn't?!? They seem to be more generous and thoughtful than previous classes as well. However, they haven't quite picked up on all of my jokes and are not nearly as witty as last years class...but I'll take less wit over sassy kids when it comes to teaching and maintaining a respectful classroom environment. I think this is going to be a good year. I'm excited! Cheers to a good year!

Well if you've made this far in my little rant, I have a cookie for you...too bad most of you live to far away to come get it, hehe!

Attitude

2009-09-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. " ~Mary Engelbreit

"Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same." ~Francesca Reigler

"It isn't our position but our disposition which makes us happy." ~Author Unknown

What Matters Most

2009-09-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today's Inspiration...

The DAY that EVERYTHING went WRONG!

2009-09-03T18:55:00.001-07:00

Haha! I ran out of time and didn't write anything after I posted this title!! So here what happened on that terrible, no good, very bad day...

I woke up to a beautiful sunrise, brushed my teeth, showered, the whole works...it was just your ordinary day. I might have been slightly sad on the inside due to the fact that my car rolled into another car the day before... And yes it was the cars fault not mine. I may or may not have been in neutral, not drive, while exiting my inclined parking spot. Don't worry, just scratches no major damage was done. I'll proceed with my day now that we've got the background info figured out. So on the beautiful Saturday, I finished preparing games to play at Elissa's bridal shower, I cleaned my room and did a little laundry. I decided I should just buy the food for the shower on the way to the shower so I didn't have to find storage for it in my fridge. An hour before the shower, I headed to Kinko's to make copies of the super awesome games for the party. Turns out Kinko's closes early on Saturday, good thing the sweet lady who worked there had pity on me and helped me out. As soon as I'm finished I run to my car so I can get to the store to buy the food... I go to my car and GUESS WHAT! It won't start!! I just sat there and laughed and possibly started singing "The Damage is Done now!" I sang that song the previous day when I rolled into that car... So who do I call? Yes daddy...he's just Mr. Handy man (Just for the reccord, I try to be Miss Independent most the time, but when car trouble is involved and a time crunch...what can say...) . He came to my rescue. He jump started my car and let me take his suburban. :). I rushed to the store and made it to the shower in time! Yeah! It turned out well!

After the shower, I drove over to my parents house to find out my car still wasn't working... it needed a new battery. So we made it a family event. Both my parents, two of my brothers and I headed for Wal-mart. We found the much needed battery and headed for home. As we merily headed down State Street between 11400 S. and 12300 S. their CAR DIED...IT WAS OUT OF GAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! My two brothers pushed the car to the gas station... can you believe it. What a day!

So really it wasn't the worst day ever, it was quite humorous really...just the irony of it all. WOW!

My mom and brothers at the gas station! Lucky for us there was a camera on hand. Don't look to closely at Aaron...he's signing "I love you..."

Dad!!! Mom's in the background telling dad not to fill up all the way because it's cheaper down the street, she's so funny. I love her!

THE PUSH!

GETTING CLOSER!

My dad and brothers installing my battery! Aren't they the best!

Thanks!

And that my friends, is the story of THE DAY THAT EVERYTHING WENT WRONG!

Thank you awesome family!

My LITTLE BROTHER is Engaged!

2009-09-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

December 18th is the day!!
I am sooo happy for him!! Congrats brother!

San Diego-- Elissa's Wedding-- Vacation!

2009-09-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

eLiSsa'S BrIDaL SHoWeR!

2009-09-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

She had to answer questions about Ev and if she got them wrong she had to chew another piece of bubble gum!! Hehe!

It was sooo much fun planning this shower with Elissa's sister! I'm usually in the wrong state and can't help out with wedding stuff, it was soo much fun to be around and help Elissa out!

Do's and Don'ts of Dating Tiffany

2009-08-07T16:23:00.000-07:00

Do...
1. Make the first move.
2. Plan the date.
3. Open the door.
4. Make me laugh.
5. Hold intelligent conversations.
6. Tell me you like my perfume.
7. Talk about life and little things, even stupid things.
8. Walk me to the door.
9. Hug me.

Don't
1. Talk about other girls and/or refer to other girls as really beautiful on the date.
2. Talk about old relationships.
3. Talk about how you're excited about the division of labor for when you married. (I know it will inevitably happen and I'm sure I'll love it...but without the most eloquent of words I might not know where you're going with it and think you expect me to be your slave and not your wife, just saying...)
4. Talk about how it's hard to know if you're the one on the first date.
5. Talk about how you don't know what to do with your life and how you have no direction. (Once again, let me clarify. It's okay if you don't know exactly where your life is going...you just have to have some sort of game plan. I am after all finished with school, working full time... as much as I want to be your sugar mama...)
6. Tell me that I can pay next time. (I really don't mind paying/taking turns, but when you tell me I need to pay next time, it sends mixed signals.)

This is a work in progress... but all of these do's and don't are a result of my past few dates! Really, I'm not that easy to please... Can you believe some of those don'ts?? I promise I'm not picky... I just want to be respected, loved, appreciated...yada, yada, yada.

New Record... 5 Dates in a Week!

2009-07-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

Haha!!! 2 different guys... still no boyfriend, dang! Life's a dance, you learn as you go...

I have learned so much about myself through dating these guys and I've learned a lot about the male species:). I was impressed with both guys...one more than the other. I have a lot of hope now; hope for myself in becoming the kind of woman I want to be in a relationship and a lot of hope in finding a guy that has lasting qualities... You know being single isn't that bad... it's the not knowing if you'll find someone you want to spend the rest of eternity with is the hard part... Right now I feel soooo blessed because I've discovered some things that I need to do in my life to make me feel more complete and more confident in dating. Tonight at FHE two guys got my number... it's amazing how when you do your part how the Lord helps you out... :). Oh and those guys I went out with I'm still friends with both of them and I love that we can be "grown-ups" about it...no playing games... it's awesome... I'm still learning how to date, don't get me wrong, sometimes I feel like a 7th grader trapped in a 26 year old body!! But alas, life is good. Oh and another thing, both guys were set ups, well kind of, long story...set ups aren't that bad after all :).

So there you have it! My dating update, lol...sorry married friends, I know this might be a lame post for you... :)

THE BAHAMAS! Post #2

2009-07-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Baywatch babes!

"I ride my bike with no Handle Bars!"

My tan line had just begun!

Rental Car! Driving on the left was sooooooooo FUN! Might have been my favorite part of the trip! Ha!

Niki kept saying "Don't be a Loser Tiffany, throw your trash away!"

They have to put that sticker in every car! Isn't that flower beautiful!?!?

THe POST YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR... THE BAHAMAS! Post #1

2009-07-08T18:36:00.001-07:00

Landing!

Sleepy Heads!

I got this movie at a garage sale, it still rocks! We watched it on Niki's little DVD player at the airport! Fun!

Pillow in hand... ready to go!

Ready for the Red-EYE!

Bouncing off the Walls with Double Trouble!

2009-07-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

Double the Trouble, Double the Fun

2009-07-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hayden and Colton

Ah, relaxing...

Colton caught this 8 lb fish the other day!

Hayden

My cousins needed someone to hangout with for a day. They are 10 and have the summer off too! I took them to Classic Family Center (skating, bouncy walls, jungle gym, arcade), McDonald's, The Dollar Store, and a pond. It was a pretty awesome day! I kind of felt like an Aunt, fun, fun.

Bahamas!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

I am leaving in a few hours!!!!!!!!! See ya all when I get back!

Elder Finley = JOEY

2009-06-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

Joey is home!!!!!!!! Boo ya! It was amazing! I might have even cried! I dont' have time to write! Once again, but when I do I'll post more pics, besides I think my whole fam has posted all the pictures you'll ever want to see on facebook!

Chow Chow (as Joey would say!)

Holding Down the Fort

2009-05-31T12:22:00.001-07:00

I am still holding down the Fort. So far so good:). Friday night I came home to a ton of cars outside the house... Aaron decided to have a little party, lol! Don't worry I checked for alcohol and there was none, phew! No spin the bottle either... I don't think they need that game they all have girlfriends, lol. I asked why I wasn't invited but got no response, lol. Gotta love teenagers! Leslee and Ryan went to Colorado on Friday, luckies! Aaron and I had some brother-sister bonding time on Saturday by going out to dinner and shopping. Boo ya!

I just got word today that my parents made it safe and sound! My mom said she cried when she saw Joey, I'm not surprised:). Now the real question is, did my dad? Today they're eating rice and beans at a members house, sounds like they're having tons of fun!

Well if you're in town and are able to come to Joey's homecoming, we'd love for you to join us!

Sunday, June 14th
11:00 Draper Stake Center (300 E. and around 13100 ish S.)
Call me, if you want to know exactly:).

Leavin' ON A JET PLANE!

2009-05-26T05:20:00.000-07:00

My parents just left for Brazil! I am so stinkin' excited for them I can't stand it! They were asking me all sorts of traveling tips before hand, it's sooo weird they are going out of the country! All I can say is that if anyone tries to pick pocket my dad, they better watch out, lol! Can you believe they get to see Joey tomorrow, it's crazy!

Now I am the temporary guardian of Aaron and Ryan! I am scared to death to parent teenagers! I am just grateful that it's only 10 days! Nothing can go too terribly wrong in 10 days right???!??!

Well I better go wake the sleeping lions...time to get ready for school!!!!!!!

Can Guys Say CUTE????

2009-05-26T05:17:00.000-07:00

1. Is it okay?
2. Under what context?

Switchin' IT up!

2009-05-17T15:25:00.001-07:00

MOVED!!!!!!!!! PICTURES COMING SOON!

WENT TO THE NEW WARD! I LIKE!

SUMMER COMING, CAN'T WAIT!

Chicken Pillows, Chicken Wrap Ups, Chicken Diapers...Whatever You Wanna Call 'Em, They're Yummy!

2009-04-27T22:34:00.001-07:00

Okay so a month or so ago, I was on a kick of cooking...I know weird. It's simply no fun to cook for one, so if I get the gumption to cook, I invite people over... or eat my meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or until I'm sick of it... Here is one of the EASIEST, TASTIEST, COOLEST recipes I have thanks to my mom!

Chicken Pillows... as I like to call 'em...

2-3 Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast

1 8oz. Cream Cheese

2-3 Green Onions

2 tsp. Butter or Margarine

2 Packages Crescent Rolls.

Fry chicken and shred. Mix chicken with cream cheese and green onions . Spread out crescent rolls (just before you bake). Place 1 Tb. of cream cheese mixture on each roll. Roll up and seal ends. Dip crescent roll in melted butter (you can refrigerate for a few hours if needed.)

Bake at time and temperature suggested for crescent rolls. (Approximately 15-20 minutes)

Makes 16.

Elder Finley's Coming home... June 4th!

2009-04-26T18:58:00.001-07:00

Just so ya'all now! Mom and dad will be flying out there in 4 weeks! His homecoming will be in a week or two after, so stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!

It's OFFICIAL... I'm a Grown-UP NOW..

2009-04-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

Phase 10 is da bomb!

Gotta love RyRy!

Apparently my apartment is pretty boring... LOL!

Cheers to Dinner at Tiff's!

Haha! Like that will ever happen (reffering to my Title)! But I did have my family over for dinner a little while ago, which made me feel like a GROWN UP. They came to my apartment and ate like kings and queen (just mom). It was so much fun, I don't know why I haven't done it before. I guess I always imagined that I'd have them for dinner when I was married or something, but I guess now that I'm established it is a good time as ever!

Draper Temple and Mom

2009-04-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my mom and I went to the Draper Temple. It was amazing to be with her at the temple. I love the feeling at the Temple, the spirit is rich and abundant....having my mom with me, made the purpose of the temple settle a little bit more in my heart. I love this place...the peace, the joy, the pure love, the people, just everything.

PaReNTS ARE THE WORST! NOt mine, but my students of COURSE!

2009-04-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

I am sooooo fed up with parents this week! They can shove it where the sun don't shine! So there! Now I feel better:)!

Go Jazz!

2009-04-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

I think I might be falling for... THE JAZZ! I went to my first game two years ago and started to feel some genuine interest for the team... I would hear about the games every now and started picking up on the names of the players... and now in the past 3 days I've been to, two games! Saturdays game was a flop...I was a afraid I was bad luck or something. Tonight's game was amazing, the team was on FIRE! A huge thanks to my friend Tasha and my friend Jene' for inviting me to the games! Tasha has season tickets, lucky! Jene' had tickets through work and we also had the luxury or eating a nice dinner while watching the game!

Spring Break Update!

Truth be told, tomorrow I have to go back to work... I'm trying to have a positive attitude about it, lol! The knots in my back have already started...I'm having dreams of CRT testing, recess drama, and behavior problems... I can't wait to see the little tike's though and hear all about their weekends!

Now back to Spring Break!

Friday night I went to an Easter Bells Concert thingy down town with Tasha, her friend Erin and my roommate Nat. It was sooooo much fun! We went to a place called "Doto's" for dinner. Yummy! YOU SHOULD GO THERE SOMETIME!

Saturday I cleaned house, worked out, read, and went to the Jazz game! Fun a la fun!

Sunday, I went to church with the fam and had a great Easter Sunday with them! I'm 25 and I still get an awesome Easter basket every year, I love it! Awe the perks of not being married, lol!

Monday, hit a bucket of balls, got a pedicure, cleaned a little, shopped a little, and went to the Jazz game!!!!!!!!!!!

ReAD! READ! ReaD!

2009-04-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's never too early to read! I love when kids love to read. For all you parents out there, I have this website for you to use! Some of you may have already heard of it, but I'm finding out that a lot my friends haven't, so here it is. It's soooo much fun for kids 1-9!!! I loved to use it when I taught kindergarten. Some of my third graders still love it even though it's way to easy for them.

http://www.starfall.com/

BoRiNG!

2009-04-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry for all of the boring, soul-less posts lately! If I had something slightly amusing or thought provoking, I 'd share, I promise.

There's been one thing that's been sucking the life out of me and that's one of my poor students or many of my students for that matter. The stress of it all has caused some serious tension in my upper back and sleepless nights.

Let me paint a picture of this kid for ya. Each day he walks in to school with this creepy smirk on his face. His eyes are sunk in, his arms seem to drag and sway side to side like a zombie. He sits at his desk, begins to silent read like the rest of the kids...then he falls asleep. A couple hours later he wakes up to the first recess bell. I try to talk to him about his night. He tells me how he stayed up playing video games and watching TV. He didn't have breakfast so I give him a granola bar. He eats a bite or two. He goes to recess. The bell rings. Mrs. Johnson comes to tell me that he hit a girl at recess and is down at the office. His parents are notified. He's given in school suspension the next day. He comes back to school a day later. He's grumpy and angry. I try to work with him on our language arts lesson. He breaks the pencil in half. He can't find anything in his desk, he starts throwing it all over the classroom. Students stare. I try to remain calm and continue teaching and working with students. A students puts the bucket of supplies (scissors, glue, etc) on his desk. He gets mad, pushes it off his desk. Calls the kids names. He gets upset, he fold his arms and will not tell me what happened. I continue teaching. I look over, he's rubbing his fists and staring at another student. I investigate.

Day in and day out for an entire school year this happens...there are so many details I must leave out due to the severity of the issues we've had with this kid and for privacy sake. It pains me to know his home life. My heart goes out to this child. He needs help. The rest of the class should not have to suffer in fear in the meanwhile. This week we had a big meeting...I'm hoping to see change. The thing is, I love this kid. There are times when I can talk to him, when he's engaged in class discussions and when you can see that he has potential to be the biggest sweet heart that ever lived.

It makes me so grateful for my life, my parents, my friends. I feel so blessed and lucky to be raised by good parents and to be surrounded by amazing friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LIVESTRONG

2009-04-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

LIVESTRONG.COM is one my new favorite websites! Just thought I should share!

UP THE STAIRS AND DOWN THE STAIRS, UP THE STAIRS AND DOWN THE STAIRS...

2009-04-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

Yep... I'm tired!

What is LoVe?!?!?!

2009-04-05T10:45:00.001-07:00

According to 3rd Graders!

At the request Katey...I'm going to post some of my students thoughts on love...we did this activity clear back on Valentine's Day=). Here are just a few favorites...

Student 1: Boy

Love is sick, disgusting, vomiting ! Love makes me want to barf! Love is a battlefield. Americans versus love and well, no Americans win, yay! And I hate Valentine’s Day except for the cards and candy. But I hate the love. I like stuff that has blood and guts coming from your body. Not love and sweetness. But I especially hate Valentine’s Day.

Student 2: Girl

Love is care. And it is about families and friends. And love each other. And give candy to each other. And you love your cousins. And being sweet. And you cheer each other up. And helping each other when you are sick. And visiting your friends in the hospital and to care.

Student 3: Girl

Love is a crush. A friend. A mom. A dad. A family. You have a crush on someone who do you love. If you want a friend to be your Valentine on Valentines day. If you love your mom you might give her a box of chocolate on Valentine’s day. If you love your dad you might give him a Valentines card that to show you love your dad. If you love your brothers and you might give your brothers Valentines card too. If you love your family loves you but nobody can take your love away from you family every body parents loves you too but nobody parents can’t take away your love.

Student 4:Girl

Love is full of caring! Love is a battlefield. Love is about giving stuff to people. Example: My mom cares for me and gives me stuff. Love is when people have a crush on someone else. Love is my dad give my step mom chocolates and get stuff for each other. Love is giving my teacher what she needs like when she says be quiet, be quiet. Love is listening to our parents when they say. Love is being sweet and kind. Love is being good to sick people.

Student 5:

Love is caring for someone you love or caring for your friends and family. Love is visiting the people in a homeless shelter and going to the hospital and visiting the people in there. Love is to make love for people. Love is to show sweetness. And love gives you a great feeling. But especially love is having friends and family near you and by your side.

Student 6: Boy

Love is something no one can take away from you. If you give all your love away you can always get a refill. Love is so wonderful. If there was no love in the world, people wouldn’t be nice or say nice things. Love is the most important thing in whole wide world. Everyone has a lot of love in their heart. Love does not mean to kiss or hug. My family shows my sister and brother and me love by standing up for us. Love is to care about people and being kind or nice. If someone didn’t have love they wouldn’t love anyone. Valentines day is made to celebrate love.

Student 7: Boy

Love is care. And kind loving and a crush means you have a feeling about love. Love means caring. Loving feeling happy and happy means you feel good.

Student 8: Girl

Love is a crush. A friend. A mom. A dad. A family. You have different types of love. For my mom I have a special love for her. And I have a different love for my dad it’s not that I love another one the most it’s just different love. My brother and my dad think that they love me the most but I tell him it’s just different love. My mom and my dad have a different love for each other and our parents have a different love for their kids because it’s just different love. And I always thought that they loved my brother the most but they said different love. My mom demonstrates her love to me by cheering me up. My dad hugging me. My brothers fighting with me that’s how he give me love. My dad laying on me and that what love is about.

Student 9: Girl

Is being sweet! A mom shows love to you by making your bed, giving you lunch, buying your clothes. A dad shows love to you by…teaching you how to ride a bike, building things to help you, helping with homework. I can show love to my animals by… giving food to them and water, playing with them and giving them a place to sleep. My animals will show love to me by…cheering me up when I am sad. Being really funny. I will show love by…standing up for people. Helping people feel better. Helping little sisters do reading and homework. Giving people care, being sweet, and truthful. I love to have love all around me.

Student 10: Girl

Love is romance, kindness, standing up for each other. Love is sweet happiness and loveliness. Love is showing respect to others. Love is agreeing with others. Love is friendship. Love is being a friend. Love is someone that is kind, respectful, and a friend. Love is someone you care for. Love is a thing that you love. Loving a person means that you are a big friend to you.

PS I have a lot of girls in my class!!!! I am not trying to be bias:)!

Happy Birthday JOEY!

2009-03-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today is my brother Joey's Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is 21! So weird! Just yesterday I was teaching him to drive stick shift! (That's what he said in his email to me this morning...after I reminded him that I taught him how to ride his bike, lol) So crazy! My brother is entering adulthood for real now...

My parents bought tickets to Brazil last week and will be leaving May 27th to go pick him up! I am so excited for them! My parents deserve this, they are amazing parents, who have worked really hard to raise such a good kid like Joey! I don't think they've ever been on a big trip like this besides their honeymoon to Disneyland/the Mexico boarder. Yay! Well the count down has begun! I'll let you all know when his homecoming is! Probably the second Sunday in June....

Coming Up!

2009-03-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I will be going to Logan in a couple weeks to meet the founder of http://postsecret.blogspot.com/ , thanks to Katey:)! I am interested to hear more secrets and to step in the "sole" of society. If you haven't read or heard of this blog site before, beware, it may not be for you. People from around the world send in postcards to this guy with some of their deepest, darkest secrets... some being more gruesome or disheartening than others. I like this blog for two reasons. One, people can openly share their sole and get things off their chest and two, it helps me realize that we're all human, we all make mistakes, we all have thoughts we regret or ones we would never share... I guess I just think of the blog as a mini therapy session, lol. Anyway, just beware that if you check it out, it is not rated G and you have be one who can think outside the box:).

She said..."CRAP!"

2009-03-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

I don't even know if I have any blog followers... I haven't blogged since Feb. 20th, that's a world record for me! Life's been busy and when you get out of the habit... it's just hard to start again, lol.

This school year has been rather interesting to say the least... I have so many stories to share... For starters, I have an EXTREMELY difficult, defiant little rascal in my class this year... all the other teachers feel bad for me... well today he wouldn't do any of his classwork, like most of the days of this school year (he may be smart but his report card is going to have straight N's, aka F's). So today I looked at him and said "I'm not putting up with this crap anymore, you need to do your work." The class went dead silent... I've never used that word or any other "bad" word for that matter in the classroom, it kind of made me chuckle inside. Needless to say all of my students kept on task for the remainder of the hour:).

Trimmmed Hairs and a little bit of Dye!

2009-02-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

Seriously, have so much to blog about!!!!!!!!!! I just haven't felt like blogging at all lately... so here's the newest hair-do. I'll update ya all someday soon!

Tagged by Amy Bird!

2009-02-16T22:35:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by Amy Bird! She let me know on facebook...we never get to hang out anymore...she just can't fit me into her busy schedule...so I must update her via her tag, lol! Just kidding! (Really, I just need to call her!)

Here are the rules:

1) Post rules on your blog
2) Answer the six '8' items
3) Let each person know by leaving them a comment. (Not sure I have time to follow this rule:()

8 favorite TV shows

1.Little House on the Prarie!
2. Lost
3 The Office
4. Biggest Loser
5. American Idol
6. What Not to Wear
7. Full House
8. NBC News!

8 things I did yesterday

1. Slept in.
2. Showered, yipee
3. Ate left overs.
4. Watched the rest of Borne Identity.
5. Attempted to go rock climbing.
6. Put clean sheets on my bed.
7. Folded Whites.
8. Went to Gateway and to Costco.

8 things I'm looking forward to

1. Summer
2. Joey's Return
3. Bahama's.
4. Moving Apartments.
5. Getting my tax return.
6. Sleeping without setting an alarm clock.
7. A long summer.
8. Back Massage...

8 favorite restaurants

1. Chili's
2. Cafe Rio
3. Peking Wok
4. Subway
5. Olive Garden
6. Chipotle
7. Panda Express
8. Apple Bee's

8 things on my wish list.

1. No more scrapping the windshield in the morning.
2. No CRT testing for 3rd graders.
3. My students to do their homework.
4. Big Hunk's knocking at my door (and not the candy bar!)
5. Big hunk's knocking at my sisters door too.
6. Continued Health and a desire to work out...
7. An awesome tax return....
8. Travel the world.

8 people I tag

Leslee Finley
Niki Corpron
Tisha Marsh
Carolyn Detro
Natalie Redd
Halceyn Klinger
Allison St. Louis
Kira Cox
Rebecca Septon

Have you ever????

2009-02-08T18:48:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been talking to someone on the phone and then when you hung up with them, you started talking about that person to someone who you're hanging out with?

If you haven't, good for you because you're a better person than I am...although I think you might be lying if you have only x chromosomes... So the other day I am talking to someone and then my phone stops working. I couldn't hear the other person on the line and it looked like it wasn't connected. I thought maybe that person had hung up on me... turns out they could hear what I was saying the whole time! It was my sister! Good thing! I was still embarrassed as ever and I hadn't said anything really mean, just an opinion... she just laughed and thought it was funny and said that I should be grateful it was her and not anyone else...fhewwwww! That'll teach me!

Fun with Les!

2009-01-24T21:48:00.000-08:00

Leslee and I hung today! It was so much fun! Dinner, movies, worked on her FHE flyer and her talk tomorrow... She's the BEST SISTER EVER! We had some really good laughs!

Baby Shower!

2009-01-24T21:40:00.001-08:00

My friend Natalie is having a baby boy! A bunch of teacher friends from Foothills got together for her shower!

Bouncin' Off the Walls!

2009-01-24T21:26:00.001-08:00

"Red Letter Days" a party company, threw a Birthday Party for all of the Refugee's that are part of the BBBS program! It was sooooo fun! The party was at a place in Sandy called "Bouncin' Off the Walls." Since all the refugee's are assigned Jan. 1st as their birthday, it worked out perfectly! Rita is always a riot!

On The left you can see my friend Heidi and her little sister Kadi.

What Color?

2009-01-20T23:01:00.000-08:00

Dialogue Inside a Third Grade Classroom on Inauguration Day!

We colored a picture of Pres. Obama today. All my brown children, excuse my lack of political correctness…well anyway, all of my brown (many nationalities) students started coloring right away. Meanwhile many of my white students hesitated. Then one girl shouted to the class, “what color do I color him?” Another student said “brown.” She responded, “but everyone says he’s the first black president.” A couple students tried to explain that black doesn’t always mean black. Then a kid sitting at another table said, “just look at Austin, he’s from the same country as Obama.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at all of my students as they critiqued their neighbor’s art work and accuracy. I think they spent a good solid minute or so studying Austin’s lips… Austin was a good sport. He is a really quiet kid and usually doesn’t like attention, but he did today. I was impressed in their interest in today’s events, we had some great discussions. I think I have 24 future presidential candidates for 2040’s elections!

Seattle. Friends. Fun.

2009-01-20T21:40:00.000-08:00

What do teachers do best on four day weekends...visit their good friends! I managed to see three really good friends this weekend, Amy, Cheryl, and Sara!

Amy and I had so much fun chatting! She showed me around Seattle and took me to the Space Needle! I miss teaching with Amy! She is such a cute little mom to baby Parker...she has so many books and fun learning stuff around her place! Oh, she gave me the cutest gift...I'll have to blog about it sometime...

Next I went to visit Cheryl! I don't think I've seen Cheryl since her wedding. I went to her baby shower and she introduced me as her maid of honor from her wedding, I felt pretty cool, I'm not gonna lie! She has a darling little toddler! She is currently potty training him, she's a rockstar mom and seems to know all the potty training tricks! I wish I could have spent some more time with her. She's having a baby girl next month!

Sara picked me up and we went to the Seattle temple, which was beautiful! I feel so blessed to be able to go to so many temples. While in the temple I ran into Bro. & Sis. Parnell from Longmont, CO! Sis. Parnell was my laural leader in high school, what a small world! Sara's husband had a fantastic steak fajita dinner waiting for us, ummm, yummy! Sara has 4 adorable kiddos! It was fun to go to a family ward, strange but fun! Sara also showed me around base, it was sooo cool. I really enjoyed seeing Sara and all the great things she's doing with her kids!

100 Things

2009-01-19T00:04:00.000-08:00

100 Things
I was tagged by Carolyn to pick the things I've done on the list. Between Carolyn and I, I think we've done them all, well most of them at least!

I tag Niki, Kristy, and Halceyn!

The things I have done are in green:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Rock Band!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (does mentoring count?)
16. Had food poisoning (Yes! And I NEVER want it again!)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables (Only at school...)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (it's so much smaller than I imagined)
20. Slept on an overnight train (on the way to Switzerland...it was a rough night's sleep!)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked (does car trouble count...?)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (mental health day!:) shhh)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone swimming at night
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (I want too! I love Italy!)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (Day cruise...)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language (currently Spanish...advise?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (indoor)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (unfortuneately for everyone else!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (2009?)
53. Played in the mud (YM/YW Mutual rocks!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (Foothills Elementary Production, ha!)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (Someday...)
57. Started a business (I'm working on it...)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (Not yet...)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Nope just school fundraiser cookies)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason (yes! From Carolyn!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (2009!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (Anne Frank home...that's all)
67. Bounced a check (Freshman year of college! I was sooo embarrassed!)
68. Flown in a helicopter (not yet...I gave my parents a gift one year to do that...I'll go someday!)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (typewriter!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (does weeding count?)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (not yet...)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (probably never will...)
83. Walked in Jerusalem (Thought about it!)
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (Um, no...need to work on that!)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (how so? :))
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant (someday... when I get to Bali!)

Oh, man...MY MOM JOINED FACEBOOK! ...read #4 to find out about my crazy dream

2009-01-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Isn't that awesome! I hung out w/ mom tonight! Dinner and some light shopping...dad's out of town, PARTY! Hehe! Then I helped her set up her facebook account. She mentioned joining a while back and I forbid her, well not really, but I wasn't exactly sure what I thought about it...I know I am a mean daughter! Anyhow, I think it's super cool now! It was so fun teaching her!

Here are some misc. things I've wanted to write somewhere and since the journal thing isn't really working out, I'm gonna write it here. Feel free to STOP reading here, sorry I bore you with my silly day to day things!

1. It took me five minutes to find my car today! Turnberry Apts has some serious parking shortage issues which doesn't lend any help to my short term memory in the morning! I am grateful for car beepers!

2. Last night at FHE, after giving my input on the topic of discussion, I called on someone who was raising their hand as if I was teaching (which I wasn't!) I was so embarrassed! I guess once a teacher, always a teacher! I also find myself wanting to discipline kids in grocery stores all the time! Oh, man!

3. Our carpets were cleaned today! My trail of rubber cement looks a lot lighter now!

4. Over Christmas Break I had a dream that was hilarious! I was teaching my brother to fly...no plane needed, it was just a matter of positioning your feet and knowing that you had that power (only endowed members of the church could fly, but not everyone knew that they had the ability). Crazy, whacked out dream I know, but it was AWESOME! I remember showing him my favorite parts of Chicago and short cuts to different cities!

5. One my students said to me today "I really like your purse! Can I have it when you die?" Can you believe she said that! I must be ancient to them!

6. I have a confession...I really don't absolutely love my blog title...will I every find something I like? Seriously? I can't make up my mind! I loved the phrase "Life Happens" because that is something I realized I say all the time without thinking about it. Then I thought of all the other things I say all the time and attached them too... Then I saw that someone I know has the same title! I just feel so unsettled about my blog title and it's such a lame thing to EVEN THINK ABOUT...I am wasting valuable thinking time and blogging time on this issue! Oh well...someday I'll come up with the perfect title, watch you'll see! It's like naming a child or something, it's gotta mean something right? Finley Files? That one crossed my mind today... too cheesy... hmmm...

That's all folks!

Elder Finley...

2009-01-11T21:54:00.000-08:00

Joey's had quite an interesting last few weeks! As Joey would say he had "a flammer" for a companion! His companion was a tememporary ward member. His temporary title became even more temporary when he was sent home a few days later...

4 Days Until Seattle!

2009-01-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

I am stoked!!!!!!

PS, Christmas Break

2009-01-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

I forogt to mention that over the break I got to see Christy (Hoffman) Clarke and Stephanie Enrico! I just thought all my Greely Peeps would like to know that they are happy and healthy! Christy now has two kidos, darling! And Steph is teaching for Teach for America in St. Louis!

Life Happens...

2009-01-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

So today I took my students down to the computer lab to take a test called "Acuity." It was essential my students take it today because the window of time to take it is closing soon. We get down to the lab and there was another teacher in the lab w/ her students... grr... it was our computer lab time, but then I just said "Life Happens," and I took my students back to class and we figured out another time that would work.

And so...this is how the title of my blog came about today...I think this one might actually stick, we shall see:). It's funny because I called up a someone the other day and that was dealing with some extensive car costs due to no fault of their own and they said "sh#* happens." It made me laugh because this person hardly ever swears! So there you have it, a new blog title! Perhaps this might be a monumental day for my blog! Time will only tell! I wanted to use the word "real" in my title but I couldn't think of anything clever... I like the word real, I like to keep it REAL! No phony Bologna!

Peace

2009-01-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

5 Second Crush...

2009-01-05T20:56:00.000-08:00

So that's my latest term for those guys I see once or twice and they intrigue me... the 5 second crush can turn into 6, 7, 8...you get the picture. It seems like lately they start at 5, move up to 7 or 8 and drop to 0 instantly when I realize I was totally just fantasizing them into my ideal, decades of emotion, take my breathe away, type of crush!

As lame as this sounds, I just dictionary.com'd the word "crush," as I often do with words that are on my mind and this is what it came up with:

CRUSH

1.to press or squeeze with a force that destroys or deforms.
2. to squeeze or pound into small fragments or particles, as ore, stone, etc.
3. to force out by pressing or squeezing; extract: to crush cottonseeds in order to produce oil.
4. to rumple; wrinkle; crease.
5. to smooth or flatten by pressure: to crush leather.
6. to hug or embrace forcibly or strongly: He crushed her in his arms.
7. to destroy, subdue, or suppress utterly: to crush a revolt.
8. to overwhelm with confusion, chagrin, or humiliation, as by argumentation or a slighting action or remark; squelch.
9. to oppress grievously.
10. Archaic. to finish drinking (wine, ale, etc.).–verb (used without object)
11. to become crushed.
12. to advance with crushing; press or crowd forcibly.–noun
13. the act of crushing; state of being crushed.
14. a great crowd: a crush of shoppers.
15. Informal.
a. an intense but usually short-lived infatuation.
b. the object of such an infatuation: Who is your latest crush?

I laughed out loud as I read some of those definitions..."to press or squeeze with a force that destroys or deforms." Yep, I'm pretty sure I've destroyed a lot of chances with guys by crushing too much...ha! I also like the one that says "to overwhelm with confusion," been there done that... and I especially like the one that says "short-lived." That one hits the nail on the head!

Anywho, today I'm just grateful for my short-lived crushes that give me hope. In the past little while I've decided that one of my very favorite attractions and is a must for the man I marry, is ABILITY TO LAUGH! I love to laugh, I love when people make me laugh, I love to laugh about stupid stuff, smart stuff, crazy stuff, weird stuff, stuff that just ticks me off, and mainly I just love to LAUGH...my dad calls me giggles, I just can help it, I LOVE to laugh!

So there you have it, my little thought process I had tonight, sorry if it's hard to follow, if you don't understand, don't worry, I'm confusing, I know:). Just smile and nod for me k?

Life without laughter, would be no life at all...

The Old Seminary Gang

2009-01-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

Natalie, Wray, Me, Derek, Bryan, Taylor, Kathy, Katie

Living in Utah is quite awesome! You see, Mormons just gravitate here whether they like it or not:)! It's a bonus for me because I get to see all my old friends now and again! Last night a bunch of us who could make it, went to dinner! It was a blast! Who knew it could be so much fun to talk about the stupid things we did in high school!

Funny thing to share. A few months ago while baring my testimony at church, I saw guy in the audience that looked familiar...I tried not to make eye contact for fear that he would think I was crazy stalker, a common fear of single adults. Turns out he was doing the same thing! It was Bryan Hinton! We went to the first two years of High School together, then he moved to Kansas. I thought, what a small world! He was actually just visiting, but is in a ward that also meets in my building and does activities with my ward often. Then last Sunday I was walking down the hall and saw a familiar face and I said, "is that Derek Sorensen?!!?" And it was! He just joined my ward! Weird! I don't think I've seen Derek since high school!

So, all this running into people and talking to people who currently live here like Cathy Olivas, Wray Dix, and Carolyn Detro inspired a reunion of sorts! Carolyn wasn't able to make it, but we sure did miss here! It was fun to meet Kathy's fiance and Wray's wife! Both perfect matches that I would have never put together! Katie's married too, but didn't bring her honey, next time. I never knew Katie very well because she moved about the same time I moved in, but she came to girls camp and visited now and again, she's a riot!

Christmas w/ Rita!

2008-12-29T15:37:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, Rita & I made some chocolate chip cookies and then I let her unwrap one gift. This little girl is darling! I love being part of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program! Rita is hilarious, I would love to have her as a student! She is sweet, funny and well mannered! Rita also learns fast! I taught her multiplication a few months ago and she was doing all sorts of problems within minutes! She's also an amazing reader! She moved here 2 years ago and she's reading at grade level! I love her! I love children! I am so grateful I have time to hang out with her and learn about her life! She teaches me so much about life, culture, and so much more!

Roommate Christmas!

2008-12-29T07:24:00.000-08:00

Me & my AWESOME Roommates!!!!

2 & 1/2 Years of livin' up the single life together!! We went to Biaggi's for our Christmas dinner, we wanted to go somewhere nice! I love their Butternut Squash! Yum!

I had a burger king hat in my car so Natalie recommended that we try them on "Graham Style." Fun, huh!

This was Nat's sweet gift from Niki! We were seriously rolling on the floor laughing out loud as Natalie read it to us! I highly recommend this gift for all those who can appreciate laughing about poo!

I am EXTREMELY grateful for wonderful roommates! If it wasn't for great roommates I would be renting a one bedroom apartment and I'd be really poor and lonely...so THANKS Loha & Grahamster!

Christmas Dinner w/ the Fam

2008-12-28T19:21:00.001-08:00

Mom and her diet pepsi. Dad and his AWESOME ham!

"Check out my muscles! Mine are bigger!"

Awe, I seriously love, love, love my family!!!!!!!!! Christmas was great! Talking to Joey for two hours was WAY COOL! Joey sounds the same, a bit more spiritual, a bit more funny, love that kid! he comes home in 22 weeks! Yeah!

Christmas Newsletter.

2008-12-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends & Family,

It's Christmas! WOW! My mom was right, time does speed up when you get older! I decided to write this letter despite the fact that anyone who would read this probably already knows everything because they probably read my blog, but non-the-less, I started this tradition last year so here goes :)...

I spent the beginning of last year not eating sugar, but that came to a halt one day in April. It seems that sugar isn't everything and didn't affect my diet too much. I also spent A LOT of time at home and at school working on my capstone project for my masters. I'm glad to announce that I finished that project with flying colors and I am now a proud graduate of SUU, weird!

In May I ventured off, as I sometimes do, to a new land, NEW YORK CITY! Boy was that an adventure! It was so much fun to be with good friends and see some pretty amazing sites! I absolutely loved going to Ellis Island, I could have spent a few days there! I was also pretty impressed by the Empire State Building. WICKED, the musical, was fantastic too!

Then in July after my friend Molly and I finished up with our masters classes, we went on a 2 week road trip from Utah to Wisconsin! It was BLAST! We stopped to see friends and family along the way! After I got home, I turned around and got on another plane, this time headed to Disneyland...I know what you're thinking, this girls needs to stop playing and start working! Don't worry, I do feel guilty, but I also have ants in my pants and can't stop, I figure I should follow the advice of nearly every married friend that I have, which is, "live it up now before you have kids!"

In August, I unpacked all my teaching stuff at Taylorsville Elementary, where I now reside as a third grade teacher in Room 16. I am really liking it! Change is always hard but I think the pro's outway the con's with this one. I love having my very own classroom, none of that rotating business of a year around school. Learning the third grade cirriculumn has kept me busy and on my toes. Third grade feels like my nitch, I hope not to change grades anytime soon. I work with a great staff and wonderful students, the parents are the only disappointing factor...

For my fall break, I went with my mom and sister down to Sacramento and San Francisco. We had a great time! Laughing, gettting lost, yelling at the GPS, and meeting up with friends and family was awesome! We're thinking that we should go on yearly roadtrips from now on!

A couple of weeks ago I went to Chicago and hung out with Molly! We went to all the fancy stores, had the famous Chicago Pizza, and went to the top of the SEARS tower...I think I've been to most of the tallest buildings in the world now...I'll have to think about that one.

I took a balloon art making class this year, my students are quite fond of this new skill;)! My piano lessons have been kind of touch and go lately...between the masters and transitioning to a new school they got a little neglected. I learned a little more about myself this year, that's been good and bad, but mostly good, lol. I've learned that I love the temple and I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm excited to celebrate Christ's birth. I love this time year, where I can reflect on the Saviors life and make an extra effort to become more like him. I wish you all the Most Merry Christmas of them all! Thanks for being great influences in my life!

Love,

Tiffany

Finley Family Christmas Letter

2008-12-21T15:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

2008

Written by, My MOM

Another year has come and gone already!! It has been a lot of fun getting cards and letters in the mail, catching up on all our friends and family. We love the pictures, it is amazing how big the kids are getting!

Tiffany has been busy this year. She is now teaching 3rd grade in a new school district and is loving it. She also earned her Master’s degree in July. And has been taking several trips, some include New York, Chicago, Disneyland, and a road trip to Wisconsin.

Leslee is still working hard at UVU. Can’t really say she is loving it, but she is trying hard to finish up by 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She is still working at Ogio International. Leslee went on her first river run experience this summer in Jackson Hole Wyoming, she had so much fun that she wants to take the family next summer.

Elder Finley is still serving a mission in Brazil. He has been out for 19 long months. He is due home June 3rd. He is currently serving in a town called Guabriaba. He has been busy this year as a Senior companion, District Leader, Trainer and Zone Leader and as 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric.

Aaron just turned 17 and has 3 things on his mind girls, cars and cars. He was lucky enough to survive his first accident where he totaled his car. He is a junior this year and is working hard at school but can’t say he loves it! He works part time at Larry H. Miller.

Ryan had a great season playing football. He is attending Jordan High school, he wanted to have some space from Aaron who is at Alta. He really likes it and is now wrestling for Jordan High.

Jeff has a new dog named Cache. Jeff has been busy training him and earned his junior hunt test title in May and they are now working on his senior title, with the help of Ryan. He still is with State Farm and he loves being back in Utah where the hunting is good.

I have been busy taking care of the family. I had the opportunity to see all my family but 1 brother this year. I went on a 2 week road trip with my Dad, step mom and sister Pat. We started in Florida and had a nice visit with my brother Steve and his wife Iryna. Then we headed up to Wisconsin and on over to Utah. The girls and I also went on a 5 day road trip to California. It is so much fun to travel with older kids!

We hope this Christmas season finds you happy and healthy. Thank you for your Christmas cards and visits. We have made so many great friends and are grateful you keep in touch. May God bless each of you this coming year with health, love, and peace.

Love,

The Finley’s

Jeff, Dixie, Tiffany, Leslee, Elder Finley, Aaron and Ryan

Questions about Christmas Cards & Presents

2008-12-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

I want to be a little "Snoopy" and get your thoughts on these questions...

Does everyone still send out Christmas cards?

Should single people send them out?

How much money should you spend on Christmas?

Who all do you buy gifts for? Friends, Neighbors? Co-workers? Students? Parent Volunteers? People who look like they need a little something? Charity?

What constitutes as a good gift?

What do you do if you forget to get someone a gift?

What do you do if you can't find the perfect gift for someone?

Are gift cards a bad idea?

How do you show your appreciation for your gifts?

I went shopping today and it stirred up some thoughts about Christmas Cards and Presents...what are your thoughts? Please share:).

Bloody Noses

2008-12-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

Is this weather causing me to have bloody noses? :( 3 in 1 day is not cool.

Food Poisoning, my first experience...

2008-12-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

And hopefully my last...I know what it is now and what happens when you get it. SICK! REALLY SICK!

Lesson learned: NEVER EAT AT ARBY'S ON 4500 S. AND 900 E.!!! Also, always get a substitute regardless if you think you can make it through the day. (Nothing terrible occurred.)

Sweet Butt, Windy City, Chicago, IL!

2008-12-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

Gotta love the famous pizza!

The Sears Tower...largest building in the US!

Famous peole from Chicago...Molly and I did a report on Jane Addams in our Masters program!

Chicago Temple

Nurse Niki's Graduation

2008-12-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

Yay! My roommate and BF Niki graduated! I am soooo excited for her! We had a fun party at our place, good times :)!

Niki’s our FAVORITE NURSE!

Celebrate Nurse Niki’s Graduation

DATE

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

TIME

7:00-9:00 PM

PLACE

4408 Muirfield Dr. #21

BRING

The theme of the party is "Niki’s Favorites!" Bring one of her favorite foods...graham crackers and milk, nibs, muffing mix (baked for 58 seconds in the microwave), dough (any type:)), silk chocolate milk, m& m's, cinnamon toast crunch, homemade oreo cookies, cookies, peanut butter m & m's...etc!

For help with directions, call Tiffany

My Most Favorite 2008 Quote

2008-12-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."– Anna Quindlen

Another Good Quote...

2008-12-10T05:37:00.000-08:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Nelson Mandela

A Good Quote...

2008-12-10T05:35:00.000-08:00

"We all live with the illusion that joy will come someday when conditions change. We go to school and think we will be happy when we graduate. We are single and we are conviced we will be happy when we get married. We get married and decide we will be happy someday when we have children. We have children and decide we will be happy when they grow up and leave the nest-then they do, and we think we were happier when they were still at home...True joy as it turns out, comes only to those who have devoted their lives to something greater than personal happiness."-John Ortberg

SuPer SaTuRDaY!

2008-12-07T19:42:00.000-08:00

I had a busy day yesterday! I signed up with the ward to go to the homeless shelter in the morning. When we arrived they were overloaded with volunteers, so we decided to go to the food bank and they had too many volunteers too! Then we decided to go to Highland Cove Assisted Living and visit the elderly people. It was so much fun! Those old people crack me up and love visitors!

Next, I came home and took a little nap...I sure needed one! I had a hard time sleeping Friday night and all week for that matter...just restless that's all, there's been so much to think about this month!

Then my sister Leslee and I went to go pick up Natalie and Kate our "adopted" nieces for a date night! The girls really wanted to go to the mall to shop, so we did! They even got to use their money! We went to Hello Kitty first, their favorite store!

Next, we went to the Festival of Trees. The girls loved the trees! I did too! I love that all of the proceeds to Primary Children's Hospital.

We needed a little snack to tie us over:). Katie bug loved the diet coke!

Natalie and Kate by their favorite trees!

Leslee and I both knew people who put trees in the festival in remembrance of a loved one who passed away, these are their trees.

The girls legs got tired so what did we do? Carry them!

Then we headed to Burger King so we could wear a princess crown! It cost $22.94 for everyone to eat! Sheesh! I'll never go out to eat when I have kids...it's so expensive! But it was worth it. It was funny because I just started eating and Leslee said to me, "aren't you going to help Natalie get her food out of the bag?" I laughed because I had forgotten I was with small children! I like to think I'm good with kids, I guess I just forget sometimes what to do... :) (Plus no matter what grade I've taught, I've taught them to do things on their own:)). Then I had to help Kate in the bathroom...it was gross because I had to help her wipe and my hand touched the water that she just peed in, SICK! Overall, it was an AWESOME time! I love those kids soooo much!

I ended the night by going to see Twilight! It was NOT what I expected. Parts of it were AWESOME...some parts were not so awesome... I liked feeling like I was reading a book again:).

Oh and tonight, Sunday, my roommates and I decorated the tree! Doesn't it look great!

Oh #2, I'm collecting plastic bags for my classroom! Yay!!!! My ward has helped sooooo much! One day after I sent out a ward/H4 email, 700 bags were left at my door! Yay! Thank you friends!

Christmas Work Party

2008-12-07T19:25:00.000-08:00

Left: Jana & Leslee (2nd Grade) Right: Alisa (Kindergarten)

Left: Aubrey (6th grade) Right: Marcy (Principals wife and old co-worker.)

Marcy (Jon's wife & old co-worker) Susan & Dianne our Awesome secretaries!

Tasha & Becki, these are my third grade teammates! They are so fun to work with!

Our Christmas work party was held at our principals house. It was so nice! All but 2 or 3 people came! It was one of the nicest work parties I've been to! Thanks to our awesome secretaries! I am beginning to really like my new school and the staff.

9-year-old Alec Greven advises boys of all ages how to get the right girl

2008-12-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

Watch this clip! It's hilarious! This kid knows what he's talking about! However, now I am super worried that my students are talking about dating at recess!!!! Sheesh! I teach kids his age, well the age he was when he wrote it! Click below for a good laugh.

Little Ladies' Man

BBBS-Classic Skating Christmas Party

2008-12-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

Big Brothers Big Sister had their annual Christmas party tonight at "Classic Skating!" It was sooooo much fun! I went to ask the front desk afterwards if they sold season passes or something, it was that fun! Rita was kind of nervous at first but then she became more confident as we went. Her sister on the other hand is was more difficult to teach to rollor skate...almost as bad as trying to teach her to swim, oh boy!

Rita & Me, Christmas Number 2!

Rita & Rebecca...They were all dressed up when I picked them up! They were so excited! We had a lot of fun! Only a few falls...

Thankful, Thankful, Thankful

2008-11-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Click on the picture above and check out Beau's tounge! He's so funny! He loves table scraps!

My hottt sister! Guys watch out, she's available...but not this Friday, Saturday?!?!

My adorable brothers!!!!

And Ryan trying to put us in a head lock...

Thankful, Thankful, Thankful, Am I, Am I, Am I...I am currently reading Charlotte's Web and the goose always repeats itself 3 times, I guess I'm trying to be a goose, I am weird. This thanksgiving was so much fun. Everything just seemed to flow nicely:). The girls made the desserts the night before and then dad and I got up early to make the stuffing and sun tan the turkey with oil...tradition...or more like I want survive this lifetime and if I don't learn my dads amazing tricks in the kitchen I might not. Then the rest of us pitched in to get the rest of the fixin's made. It's still a little strange that Joey's on a mission, I can't wait until next year! We all went around the dinner table and expressed our gratitude...Aaron is grateful they had Turkey on the first thanksgiving and not donkey.

I am soooo grateful for my family, I love them so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am also grateful for many things in life...the gospel of Jesus Christ, good friends to hang out with and laugh with, incredible roommates, education, my students, my job, parent volunteers, books, airplanes, my little sister (the Liberian one and my real one), having the opportunity to be single, health, hope, prayers, love, laughs, teasing, sarcasm, warm blankets, an apartment, a paycheck, my friends at the gas station, my computer, my friends around the world, temples around the world, paper, scissors, paints, cutting boards, copy machines, ice cream, peanut butter, freedom, to be born in America, long walks, parks, mountains...I could go on...I am so thankful for the peace that comes when I sit down and realize how blessed I am...I am one lucky girl. Thanks to you know who, the Man who created it all:).

Don't bite off my head already Aaron!

PS I went shopping today! I loved it so much! I spent so much! But saved so much! And bought myself too much!

"These Are My People!" Day 5

2008-11-27T16:06:00.001-08:00

We drove past this really cool pirate house on the way to Grandma's. We decided to surprise Grandma Lori (my mom's mom) on her birthday! So after church we drove to grandmothers, over the river and through the vineyards, to grandmothers house we went!

Cris (my cousin) & Alyssa (my cousin Garrett's daughter) came too! It was a lot of fun getting to know them!

Of course I made friends with Alyssa because I share similar interests and mentality:)

Doesn't that sweater look cute (my mom picked that out for her!)

Grandma was beaming the whole time, she was so glad we came.

And on Day 6 we drove all the way home.... :(. I loved being with my mom and sister! We need to do this again soon!

"These Are My People!" Day 4

2008-11-27T15:54:00.001-08:00

IN-N-OUT BURGER, need I say more...delish! Mom's old friends and old meaning friends from way back when she was in high school, anyway, they took us out to eat! We call them the Wagner's! (Mom dated their son in high school...)

This was my first time parking in the handicapped spot, yay! I loved it and I loved the Wagner's!

We also went back for more Mint Truffle ice cream...shhh don't tell anyone:).

"These Are My People!" Day 3

2008-11-27T13:08:00.001-08:00

We took this Ferry to San Francisco...

And then another Ferry to Alcatraz...

Alcatraz and San Francisco from the Ferry.

The Audio tour! I love audio tours, no joke!

Another pic of San Francisco and then the bridge:)!

There was a weird feeling walking the halls where America's most dangerous prisoners once lived.

The tour...

Seagulls were everywhere! I took this pic, pretty good might I add:).

Next, we went to Lombard Street. Lombard Street is San Francisco and America's crookedest street. The steep, hilly street was created with sharp curves to switchback down the one-way hill past beautiful Victorian mansions. The street is paved with bricks and is an amazing site to see as demonstrated by the photos below.

We made the very long and very torturous hike up it! We made it!

We went to a restaurant called "Side Out" and I spilled...then made it worse by cleaning it up...I didn't want it to look like just one blob right there in the middle so I made it look like a long mark...sheesh!

My mom and I were laughing at some "models" posing as if they were walking and then we imitated them, hehe!

China town...I took the funny pic of the underwear drying, just made me giggle, that's all. China town in San Francisco was not scary at all...NYC on the hand was frightful! I thought I might loose my life there!

Then we did a little light shopping, once again I didn't buy anything...someday I'll own Tiffany's jewelery, it' just not on my priority list right now...so much money! I would rather travel! We also went to some other fancy stores!

This day was definately AWESOME!!!!!

"These Are My People!" Day 2

2008-11-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

The Jelly Belly Factory!

What's a trip to California without visiting in the Jelly Belly Factory?!?!?!

Ok, so we tried to get a picture of us together but my mom wouldn't keep her open!

Yumm...candy corn!

Awe...sisters having fun!

"These are my People!"

Ok, so we tried to get a good one of them and it worked the second time!:)

Left: Napa High where my mom went to school! Right: This little bell was right next to my mom's elementary school, they got their class picture taken here every year.

Mom's old house...

THE BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD!!!!! MINT TRUFFLE! I would drive here again just for that! Located in downtown Napa!

"These Are My People!"--California Roadtrip w/ the Girls! Day 1

2008-11-27T10:31:00.002-08:00

"THESE ARE MY PEOPLE!"

(Country Song)

It was so much fun to be with "my" people! My mom, sister and I all went on a road trip to visit where my mom grew up, Napa, CA. We also spent a day in San Francisco! It was a blast! My mom commented that she loved being with her people because we all do similar things for instance...each one of us girls likes to take our time doing our hair (unless I'm in Europe!) and putting on our make up, etc! Also, when your with your own people there are no reservations, it's great, you can say whatever you want (well mostly), and just be yourselves! We had tons of fun being with our kind of people!

Guess who was driving on the left there!?!?!?

Potty break! Gross! It was pretty smelly! This is what you find on the side of the road! When it's your only option though, it's like an oasis in the desert! Thank you for public rest stops!

Some pictures to remind us how much fun we had in the car!

So I had to keep passing up the goodies from the back seat, these women can be very demanding!

Leslee's usually the first one ready! We stayed a night in Reno on our way...

Breakfast at IHOP, yummy!

I have the Day off & I'm Insured!

2008-11-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

Best day ever!!!!!!

I have the day off! I am cleaning, going to lunch with mom, going to the chiropractor, and making pies! What a glorious day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And guess what else?!?!?! I have insurance now!!! Because I changed districts I had to WAIT to be insured or pay the big bucks...so I went without...I am so blessed and lucky that nothing terrible happened!

Have a great Thanksgivin' Feast everyone!

Love, T

New Website!

2008-11-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

Our church has a created a new (relatively) website, it's amazing! Check it out! Melissa...I think you'll really like this one...it answers all the questions about our basic beliefs. This site is authorized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...everything you've ever wondered and more:).

http://mormon.org

Have you ever wondered...

2008-11-19T16:14:00.000-08:00

...what I like to spend my money on most? If you have or if you haven't, I'm going to tell you...some of you can probably guess instantly....and the answer is...

TRAVELING!

That about sums it up....this past year most of my big spends were on trips, ok the last 4 years, ever since I graduated with my bachelors...oh, and I went back to school for a masters, so I guess a lot of my money went there too. This month I decided that besides my retirement plan, I need to work on a savings plan for a house (I have one but it's little bitty)... BUT THEN... Southwest had an AWESOME deal yesterday and I bought two plane tickets! Sheesh! They were dirt cheap! One of the round trip tickets was a $100! I couldn't resist! So, yes there will still be a house savings budget...it's just going to take a little bit longer to get it up and running the way it should, with the amount of money I should be putting away:).

I am so stinkin' excited to visit my friends and get away! I am so grateful for a good job and good friends to visit! Life couldn't get any better today:).

Attitude of Gratitude!

2008-11-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

To answer H's questions... life has been Nutso because of school... I'll paint the picture for you all and then I'll leave it at that because I am super grateful for my job, I love teaching, I love my students and I feel that I'm drawn to my profession for a reason.

For the painting....I teach 24, 8 year olds, almost nine. I have lots of different kinds of learners, everything from non-English speaking to gifted and talented. I have kids who are extremely bright in Math and and extremely bright in reading but not in both. I have students who need to be challenged and students who need interventions. I have parents fighting over custody rights in front of me. I have tattle tales. I have whiners. I have happy go lucky students. I have one parent a week who volunteers. I don't have a copy aide. I don't have any aides. My only students who are being serviced are my ESL students. I am learning a new curriculum and teach 5 billion subjects a day so by the time I make copies of everything, study the lesson, find creative hooks and engaging lessons, present the material, break up fights, count the number of minutes every kid read, tally the number of box tops brought in, grade papers, enter grades into the computer, write parents letters, go to bus duty and recess duty, attend faculty meeting, prepare for parent teacher conferences, listen to the dang pencil sharpener a thousand times a day...I get warn out. There is just so much a teacher could never explain... :) And that is why it's a little Nutso... However, I may sound like I am complaining, but I LOVE my job! I wouldn't want to do anything else! Even if I have to feel tired and frustrated, I feel compelled to help kids learn and find ways to help them realize their potential and watch them soar! If I had all the money in the world I would reform education though!

I love my students! I love teaching!