If I was President, I would...

Part of our lesson today was about the Presidents job and if it would be easy or hard to be the President. We all agreed it would be a hard job. We talked about making laws and making good choices for our country. I told them if I was President I would make sure teachers got paid more money. (of course, you could have guessed that one) I then asked the kids "What would you do if you were the President?" They came up with the most amazing thoughts and ideas about what they would do as President. As I wrote down their thoughts I found myself in awe over their amazing little brains! I was so proud of their drawing and their ideas I took them around to show other teachers. I even took them into the principle for him to see what wonderful kindergarten kids he has in our school. Everyone got a good laugh at some of them and tears over others. I can't wait to show them to their parents during conferences!

If I was President of the United States, I would...

C said "help people stop smoking."

J said "make people who rob banks go to jail."
In his picture he had two people. I asked him "who the people were." J said "it is me and my wife." I said "your wife?" J said "Yes my wife. If you are President you have to have a wife." I was a little confused about were he got that from. Then I realized every picture I was showing that day was of President Obama and his wife, Joe Bidden and his wife, and President Bush and his wife. Makes sense!

M said "help keep our world clean."

J said " take of of business in the White House."

D said "keep the White House clean."

Several kids said "give people money who need it."

A said "Tell people to stop eating animals."
I wish you could see her picture. She had a horse with a really scared face. At first I though it was the Presidents desk. She said "no! It's a horse and he is scared because he doesn't want to be dinner!"

D said "I would help people find what they need at Wal-Mart."

M said "help people with cancer."

A said "take care of kids."

These were just the few I could remember. I'll post more when I look at them again at school.

Proud as Punch! (whatever that means)

I thought a lot about how to teach my kids about the inauguration of our new president, and how to teach them about it on their level. I wanted to make it fun and meaningful because I think it was an important event that they should know about. I mean...he's the President of the United States for heaven sakes! They should know that! I showed them some pictures of our new President and his family. We also watch a small clip of President Obama taking the oath of office. Then I showed them pictures of the White House and the Oval Office. The kids were so attentive and really into it. Especially the part about the President having his own helicopter and airplane. They thought that was cool!

I also wanted them to know that this was a historic event because President Obama is the first African American president. Again, how to do this on a level they would understand. I had a picture of President Bush and President Obama shaking hands up on the screen. I asked the kids to look for differences between the two men. They came up with, "One looks older", "One is taller", "One has a longer coat", and "One is waving."" Not one child came up with the difference in skin color! It made me realize that children truly don't notice or really even care about the difference of skin color. I love that! My students are so pure and untouched by the worlds racial issues. This gives me hope! Maybe we have hope that in the future everyone will truly be treated equally. I pray nightly for my students. Maybe, I need to pray for the world that these kids will be going into.

Better Late Than Never!

I had such a fantastic holiday season this year. It was busy but so much fun. Here are some of the highlights from the season.

Cassidy and her friend Kailey went to their first big school dance. With Karen and Ron out of town it was my job to get them ready to go. Ohhhh the memories of Junior High!!!

I decided to start the tradition of taking all the girls to the Nutcracker. It was fun but Lexi and Rebecca wanted to know if we go again next year, can we go to one that the people talk!

I spent Christmas Eve in Logan. We had a blast bowling at the Fun Park. Love the fashionable shoes!

Even the "teens" thought it was fun!

The kids loved it when they turned on the black lights,disco ball, and funky music!

Once upon a time I would put together a "show" with the kids. Just something for them to do. Now Cassidy has taken over. Loved the decorations! Yes, those are my old horse show trophies on the back shelf. I refuse to let my parents get ride of them! Pathetic, I know!

Finally the big moment! The kids woke up at 3:00 am to see if it was time yet. We talked them into going back to sleep until 6:00ish.

We were all excited for the Means family to finally get to Utah! We really needed Logan and Lauren on drums!

We all had fun at Hardware Ranch. Nobody told Sharla that the elk didn't care if she was color coordinated and looking cool. But she tried anyway!

Bring on New Years Eve! Ready to go and waiting!

What party animals! We all made it to midnight well...except for the twins. And Karen did disappear for a hour or two.

The next day we all just sat around and relaxed. Logan even found a few minutes to read the paper! He takes after his Grandpa George!

That weekend Lexi got baptized! It was nice because all of us got to go. I'm so proud of her! The best part of the day was when they opened to doors to the font and the bishop invited the kids to come and sit close. Logan made a sprint towards the font! Luckily he was caught in time before taking a dive. Right after Ron baptized Lexi and she was coming up from the water, Logan let out a loud OHHHHHHH! Just like it was the coolest thing he ever saw! His timing was perfect!

Lexi with Grandma and Grandpa! We all agreed that the thing we are most grateful for this holiday season is to have dad with us!

To celebrate Lexi's baptism we had a chocolate fountain for desert. Logan and Lauren loved the chocolate. Lauren loved it so much she put her plate on her head and rubbed the chocolate in. You've got to love them!!!