A Class Assignment

So this might seem a bit odd for most of you but a little explanation should help ease the confusion. I am currently taking a 'Technology in the Classroom' class and this weeks assignment included building [or using a current blog ( :] and answering a few questions on the blog so, while this isn't a family update, it might be fun for some of you to read the questions and answers.

1) Why do you want to become a teacher?
    I have always loved working with kids, especially teenagers but after my divorce I found that I was unable to get a job using my degree which did not involve travel so I decided to go back to school and get my teaching certificate. Teaching puts me back with a group of people I love working with and thoroughly enjoy. I look forward to all the new experiences and things they will teach me.
    I chose social studies partly because it used so much of my first bachelors degree (Asian Studies) but also because I truly love the subjects entrenched within the subject realm, history and geography especially.

2) What plans do you have for teaching?
    My plans at this point are very simple and basic. I want to get a job teaching in a middle school or Jr. High  and I hope to spend the rest of my time until retirement in that same district but we will have to see what life decides to throw at me.

3) What is your basic teaching philosophy?
    I believe it is vital for today's students to understand the cultures and histories of the world around them. If today's students are not tolerant and accepting of those outside their own cultural and ethnic sphere, it will cripple them in their future careers and daily lives. To help in this process, I hope to help my students learn about other peoples and cultures through a historical and/or geographical lens. It is through knowledge and understanding that our world will truly become one of tolerance and acceptance but that first step has to be taken.

Ok, off my soapbox. No worries family, the next update will be more on the lives of the Anderson girls!

The Randomness of Life

Well, Cele's back. She had a blast. And eventually I will get her to send out a letter/email to family and a blog entry on here so she can tell you all all about her adventures in the nations capital. We will also be trying to get thank you cards together for everyone that helped us out with her trip. I cannot thank you all enough! Without all of your help, from your $5.00 donations to Grandma Eiko who literally ended up paying for 1/3 of the trip, every bit was received with much gratitude from both of us. So here are a few pictures for you from said trip. I promise, I will make Cele give you more details later. It will be better to here the stories she has to tell from the 'horses mouth' as it were.

This digital slideshow generated with Smilebox As for any other happenings, not much has changed. Life is still hectic, crazy, and oftentimes hairsplittingly insane, but then that's normal for us. Cele just completed her honor band auditions for this year. She already made the band and the auditions this morning were just for her seating assignment. She had so much fun last year with it that she is super excited to get to do it again this year This month also marks the fourth anniversary of my mothers passing. I have decided to honor her memory with pictures and stories at least once a week on facebook about her. If you knew her, feel free to share your own favorite memories of her. Here are the pictures I have shared so far.  This picture was in memory of my mother as a grandmother. Her two granddaughters were her world. She adored them both and was very grateful to have both of them in her life. From being able to claim that she was the first to give her older granddaughter her first bottle to the many Amma-Cele adventures the two of them embarked on, these were the sparks that kept her going for the last almost twenty years of her life. They were her world. This picture was taken shortly before my own grandmother, my maternal grandmother that is, passed away. It is our family's four generation picture. We went down to Hurricane to visit my grandma one last time before she died and the adventures in the car on that trip are ones I will never forget, though there are some I wouldn't mind forgetting! My mother was most certainly NOT the best driver out there, especially when she was in her chair and your toes just might be involved! You learned to move fast when mom was backing up. It was also one of the last times I had spent any significant amount of time with that side of the family since I was a teenager, certainly it and my Grandma's funeral were the last times my mom saw all of her living siblings in the same place at the same time. Mom wasn't the best at keeping in touch with family. Sadly, I seem to have inherited that tendency. Bad Joy. On a separate note though, the fun thing about this four generation picture is that my mom was my grandma's oldest, I am my mom's oldest, and, of course, Cele gets to claim any place in the line-up she wants. Well that's all for now folks. Have a great day/week. We shall disturb you with more inane news at a later date!

Aaaand she's off...

Yep. That's right. We did it. Cele got all the money she needed, thanks in huge part to her Grandma Eiko (who donated literally 1/3 of the money for this trip) as well as all those family members and friends who have helped us reach this goal. (so thank you from the bottom of our hearts!)

 The buses took off from Logan High this morning at 4am. (Aren't you glad YOU weren't up that early!) And, after a layover at Chicago/O'hare, they will arrive in DC around 4pm today. I will miss my baby girl but she is thrilled to be going.

 Before they headed out though, we were treated to a preview concert on Tuesday night. The kids sound awesome and as this is a joint venture with the band and choir, they have a few joint members. My favorite was the patriotic melody at the end. The piece included all of the armed services anthems as well as a chance for the audience to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem with the choir. Sadly the camera batteries were not fully charged and died before I could record the piece. 

Cele and Grandma Eiko after the concert 

(don't worry; she's wearing heels)

Cele with her friends Brandon (left) Erika (front) and Braden (right) after the concert

We will certainly be posting at least some of the pictures Cele takes while she's in DC so everyone can see her adventures.

A Christmas Newsletter

So I cheated again this year and sent our family Christmas card/newsletter via e-mail. So if I don't have a copy of your e-mail address and you didn't get a copy, you can either view it here or send me a private message in any format (ie. facebook, email, phone) that you wish and I will make sure you get one!

Cheers! And Merry Christmas to All!

A free newsletter design by Smilebox

Let's play catch (well catch-up that is)

Hmm so much to say. Where to start... Oh I know! Now where did I put that camera?... Ah ha! 

So it seems we have had a few events over the past couple of months that need/deserve some coverage. First up is my sister Tonya's baby shower. It was, as always, great to visit with my favorite family and see all the kiddos. They get more adorable every time I see them.

Melissa and her older son Kellen

Melissa, Celestra, Joy, and Grandma Weeks

Joy, Melissa, and Alisha

Tonya, Byron and their youngest boy David

Cele holding her cousin Emmalynn (Alisha's youngest)

Tonya is now the proud momma of a beautiful baby girl named Gabriela. Gabby is the third girl to be born in the Brown family, all this year. She joined her cousins Kaylin (parents: Nicholas and Amanda) and Emmalynn (parents: Alisha and Kellison) two months ago. She was also the last of four babies born this year. Her cousin Colton (parents: Melissa and Kyle) was, strangely enough, the only boy born this year.

Colton

Emmalynn

Gabriela

Kaylin

Now on to some random pictures. With all the pictures I have been taking for my geography class this semester, its only fair I take a few non related fun pictures as well right? (I would also like to point out that somewhere in here Halloween and Thanksgiving happened and while I don't have pictures of those events, others (especially Grandma Eiko) do. SO eventually I will have more pics to share most probably hehehe.)

Miss Celestra in her fedora

Beautiful cloud picture courtesy of Celestra

Sunset in Cache Valley

Still in the realm of fun times, here's what happens when I let a certain teenager take the camera to school... 

1) her friends get sick of her taking pics of them and 

steal the camera for a little payback

2) She gets fun pics of some of her best friends. 

3) and even more pics of some of her best friends

4) and she makes sure to include the puppy in on the fun

And now as a parting gift: proof we really do live in Utah. The first snowfall of the year, even if it didn't last more than a few hours.

So here's hoping you all have a great holiday season, I make it through finals (next week) with my brain still intact, and we all aren't so broke we can't breath by the end of the month!

A Piccolo Premier

So I'm a forgetful mom, either that or just so busy most days I can't see straight. This time I forgot to let everyone know that Cele's first concert of the year was coming up. Oh well. There will be more opportunities.

But on that note, tonight was her first band concert of the year. This year her band teacher asked her to learn to play the Piccolo and tonight was her first concert playing said instrument. She did great and even had a solo which, after hearing her practice it, I know she played just right! She did an awesome job and I get to be a proud mama all over again. 

This year, however, there are a LOT fewer concerts than the last few years. I will certainly not complain. In fact, her next concert won't be until January 10 where the band will be premiering their performance pieces for their Washington, DC trip.

That's right. If you haven't heard, Cele's band gets to go to DC in January for the Inauguration ceremonies. In fact, they are playing in a festival attached to the inauguration ceremonies. Cele is beyond excited. So in a (shameless, but necessary) plug for my kiddo, if you would like to help us out with earning money for the trip (she needs a total of $1550) we would really appreciate any help. She is almost always doing fundraisers so there are always those and if you just want to help out, we would love anything you can do. Just call or email me. Facebook works great too.

So now that I have gotten that all out. There you go. We hope you can make it to Cele's next concert. It should be fun and filled with patriotic music. Maybe you'll even get to hear about the plans for the trip.

Logan River in all it's Glory

Yep, you guessed it, another week means another 'fieldtrip' to somewhere in Cache Valley. This week we went up to our favorite picnic and picture taking spot in Logan Canyon, Card picnic area. The leaves are starting to change, the water was flowing, and it was beautiful weather. So here you go, AGAIN. More pics.
I promise, there will, eventually, be other stuff to blog about. In fact, Celestra has her first band concert of the year coming up in three weeks...

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