6 Out of 7 Days a Week

I learned today that I get to spend about 86% of my week with 12-year-olds.

That's right...I'm now the second counselor in our ward's Young Women's program. 

Aside from the fact that I will always be with preteens, I'm super excited out this new calling.

I sure am going to miss the babies in the nursery though.  I am quite attached to those 2-year-olds.  It will be sad to leave them.

Happy Father's Day

I was in charge of the craft for the nursery kids to make for their dads for Father's Day.  I decided on this card.  It turned out pretty cute even though ours were a bit ghetto with buttons I cut out...really made me want a Silhouette even more.

Clean, Sparkly Church

Husband signed us up to clean the church today.  I am happy to clean the church.  I am not happy to have to be there at 9am on a Saturday.  I really like to sleep. 

Even though I was awake earlier than I would have liked to be, I got a great surprise while vacuuming the benches.  Much like Courtney, I think Ke$ha lives around here.  Chapel benches = glitter EVERYWHERE!  Come out, come out wherever you are, Ke$ha.

Best Calling Ever

I was called to the nursery last week. 

Today was my first day.  Best. Calling. Ever.

Little kids are fun.  

It was a great day...aside from the being pinched in the neck. 

P.S. Happy two-monthiversary, Husband!

What I Love...Day 20, 2011

I love...

the Trifecta Temple Tour 2011. 

Get ready, it's going to be epic.

What I Love...Day 9, 2011

I love...

my ward, the Gospel, and going to the temple. 

via

Yep, I went there yesterday for the first time and it was amazing.  Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate this awesome day with me.

Up to My Eyeballs in Lists

Things That Should Get Done Tonight:

• Prepare my lesson for Sunday
• Laundry
• Make phone calls about dinner groups
• Decide what to have for said dinner
• Go grocery shopping
• Create sub plans for tomorrow
• Shave legs
• Make tomorrow's lunch
• Clean the kitchen
• Read chapters for MEd. class
• Do homework for my math class
• Plan math for tomorrow
• Go to Institute

Things That Will Get Done Tonight:

• Begin writing Sunday's lesson (read as look up talks online...decide which are worth reading...keep on desktop and hope to read them throughout the week.)
• Shave from the shin down
• Go to Institute

I have a feeling this semester is going to kill me. Let's look at all the things that are expected of me this semester (I am not writing this so you feel bad for me...please don't.  I'm just hoping that I can get everything out that I need to accomplish this semester and hopefully it will make it a bit more doable.):

• MEd. class on early childhood literacy...yes, I teach 6th grade...yes, early childhood is kindergarten-3rd grade...yes, I have to take this class any way
• Math professional development classes through my work school (this is a lot like my MEd. class but I don't go every week...I still have way too much homework though)
• Fulfill my calling
• Be a fabulous teacher
• Spend time with family and friends
• Schedule and go to dentist and doctor appointments (it's been awhile, okay...)
• Continue to be awesome
• Keep my house from being featured on Clean House
• Work a full-time job and a part-time job and still fulfill everything on this list

Good Advice

“All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.” 

~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Your Happily Ever After,” Ensign, May 2010, 127

Miracle

My interest in blogging is waning lately.  I don't know why.  It's probably the whole having a life thing that is getting in the way.

I'm sorry if my blog is what keeps you going.  I may have some interesting stories to tell in the very near future but until then here are some pictures from my weekend camping trip.



I went down to Manti (a little podunk of a town in Central Utah) to see the Mormon Miracle Pageant with a bunch of friends.  (These pictures are in no particular order.)

Why we decided to take a picture after we slept on the ground, I don't know why we didn't take this group picture when we all still looked presentable. Ewww.  My lesbian power-couple hair is back with a vengeance.

I titled this beauty "Ima Creeeep"  Look at my face and then look at everyone else.  Exactly...Ima creeeep.

The Manti Temple

The Manti Temple at night.

 Everyone loves Gabe...especially Ryan

 Look how ridiculously long my Go-Go-Gadget-Arms are.  I've got made skills.

See...Ryan does love Gabe

Boys are cool? 

If your question was "Is that a purse full of Sunchips?" then your answer is yes, yes it is. 

The excitement of the pageant was too much for Anthony.

Jenny and Rich are super.

Josh and Ryan being "power tools." (Ryan came up with that one.  It means that you're a super huge tool.)  I fawked (combine faux hawk to get fawked) Ryan's hair for this amazing picture.

Was the Suspense Killing You?

Remember the changes I talked about earlier this week?  Today is Sunday and I can officially tell you what these changes are.  Are you excited?

I was called as the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society presidency of my ward.  I know it's not super exciting but it's going to be a big change.  I went from member of activities committee (read as...I send emails once a week) to being in charge of a lot (I'm not sure what this entails yet as I've never done it before but the rest of the presidency and I will figure it out soon).  I even get a huge binder.  That's how big the difference is...no binder to huge binder.  Wow. 

I'm Obviously An Expert on Mothers and Daughters

Remember how I spoke in church in January?  Remember how you usually speak in church about once a year (if you're unlucky or lucky depending on how you look at it).  Guess what.  I'm speaking again this Sunday.  That's twice in four months if you're mathematically challenged.  I was asked to use this talk as inspiration for my talk.

The talk is by Elder Ballard.  It's entitled Mothers and Daughters.  Yep, I'm a daughter but nowhere near being a mother and no one in the ward is a mother either.  I'm not sure how to go about this talk.  I'm sure it will be fine by Sunday but I'm unsure where to go and how to start.

I've got to figure out something else to start other than Laffy Taffy jokes.  I was thinking about talking about having 27 children and something about how I still seem to manage.  I don't know.  Help?

Having a Life is Tough Work

Having a life is great but it's coming at the price of giving up precious hours of sleep and becoming a lazy teacher.

Like I said here, I've been going to church activities ALL.THE.TIME.  I've met some amazing people...some amazing people that like to say out way too late.  No one realizes that my sleeping habits resemble that of a grandma and they keep me awake until all hours of the morning...the MORNING, people!  (Other proof that I'm a grandma sleeper, read here and here.)

I know what you're all probably thinking or screaming at your computer screen.  But I can't just leave my friends or tell them to lock up my house when they leave because I'm going to bed, that would just be terrible hostess duties.

Here's my week since Sunday...


Sunday afternoon/evening...dinner at my house with a bunch of lovelies.

Sunday night...movie at Ryan's (awake until 1am).

Monday evening...FHE.

Monday night...get-together at my house (again, awake until 1am).

Tuesday night...Jazz game...Hung out with Chick-Fil-A cow and Jordan, left early but still didn't get into bed until midnight.

Wednesday morning...Holy cow!  I was can't-keep-my-eyes-open, can't-form-words, walking-like-a-zombie sleepy today.  My poor students!  Yep, they're being little turds lately but they still deserve more than I could give them today. 

I really should go to bed early tonight but it's Cinco de Mayo and I want to celebrate better than I did last year.  What to do?

Shoeless Volleyball and Nylons=Not BFFs Forever

Things I learned today:

1. Do not, under any circumstance, buy the cheap nylons.



2. If you do buy the cheap nylons because you didn't read the first thing, do not play volleyball in them without wearing shoes.

Yep, this is the first day I wore them. They are ruined but I had an amazing time and worked on being a bit more spazzy.

Happy Easter

"One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Open Letter to All Single Gentlemen + a Little Rambling

Remember how I said here that my blog would be about "my job hunt and love life"? Neither did I. Well, the job hunt is over and has been for quite a while so naturally the blog transformed into being all about my job and the funny things my students say. Where did the love life go? Oh, wait...it was never here to begin with.

Well, though the loving is still missing, I have made good on 2 of the 3 things I said I was going to do to find me a handy and handsome husband. I've been to my singles ward FHE (Family Home Evening for you non-Mormons) twice now and I am officially a part of the Activities Committee so not only do I plan all activities, I have to go to all activities or I look like a hypocrite. And no one wants to date a hypocrite.

I've also been so awesome at not staying in my safe little Ash J. bubble. I've talked to all kinds of people and met a few that are turning out to be great friends (and maybe handy, handsome husbands...).

But still no dates...what's the deal? I'm giving you a challenge gentlemen...Ask a new girl on a date once a week. One date per week, not that hard. The only criteria is that you have to ask out someone you've never gone out with before. Preferably that cute girl from church...you know...the one that you always compliment on her super cute headbands...and the one that you notice changed her hair very slightly...yep, she's way into you....ASK HER OUT! Am I sounding creepy? I'm always afraid I'm sounding creepy and no one is here to tell me if I am. But seriously, what is the deal? Just ask girls out. None of this pansy "Let's hang out" crap. I want a real date. As in you pick me up and take me somewhere. We talk and get to know each other, maybe we share a dessert. It doesn't matter as long as it is a real date...HANGING OUT IS FOR LOSERS. There, I said it. Now get to it.

I don't know where all this rambling came from. Thanks for reading. And if you're a single guy...go ask a girl out RIGHT NOW! What's the worst that could happen?

Quick Write

I have no real reason to be posting anything today. Let's make this post as random as possible.

When I want my students to just write and not worry about what is going on their page, I have them "Quick Write." The premise is that you write every thought that pops into your head, no matter how odd it sounds. I usually tell my students something like this: "If you're writing about what you want to do when you get home after school then your brain starts thinking about kittens, YOU WRITE THAT. Then your brain goes onto your favorite song, YOU WRITE THAT." Usually I do the activity as my students are doing it then I share so they know what I expect. The other big thing is that you don't edit anything you write. What I write in the moment is what is going to be published. (Though I will check my spelling.) So here's the blog version of Quick Write.

I bought some skinny jeans yesterday. I always thought my thighs were way too big to wear skinny jeans but my roommate insisted they look fabulous. We'll see.

Here's a recipe I really want to try. Maybe I'll have my sister who loves baking make it for me.
Chocolate Marshmallow Cake by Dana from Made.

Quick Write is much harder on the computer. There are all these little things to distract me that are not present when it's just you, paper and a pencil. Gosh. I never thought about that before.

I'm reading two books right now. Catching Fire and The Girl Who Could Fly. I've heard great things about both and I really wish I could read them both simultaneously but that doesn't work. I really want to finish them but everything else just keeps getting in the way. Thanks a lot, Life!

My family is coming over for cake and ice cream tonight. My littlest sister made cup cakes. They look fabulous. I hope they taste as good as they look.

I went to church today. I love church. It's such a great 3 hour block of time. We have a new bishopric. They are great gentlemen.

I have a pile of crap (not literally) in my room and I don't know where to put it. So it's going to stay a pile of crap for a few more days.

What I Love...Day 7

I love...

...the Gospel. I love going to church every Sunday and look forward to it all week. I especially love Fast Sunday. I love hearing the testimonies of all the lovelies in my ward.

I am so grateful for, and love the friends who have been such great examples to me and have helped me to be where I am today.

The church is true.

Laffy Taffy Churchy

I spoke in church today.

Wow. It's always unnerving but I got through it and it went really well.

I wanted to open my talk with a great story or a funny story or a joke of some kind. Nothing came to my head so I finally decided I'd start the talk with a joke from a Laffy Taffy.

Here's the joke I told to open it up (I said it was appropriate because we are in a singles ward.): "What did the girl ocean say to the boy ocean when he asked her on a date? Shore." Ha. It got way more laughter than it deserved but it made me happy.

As I was speaking my friend Claire sent me this text: "You've got them eating out of your hand. Reel them in. P.S. you look pretty. The end." Awww. How nice. By the way, I did not open the text until after church, if you were judging me.

Insomnia Part Dos

Remember how this happened right before school started? It happened again, last night.

So here's what happened. We had a second Thanksgiving on Sunday afternoon. After watching a movie with my sisters, I got home around 7:30. Due to the enormous headache and being this close to dozing off during the movie, I decided to go to bed at 8:00. The first hour and a half was glorious. Then I woke up with an even worse headache and a growling stomach saying, "Hey! It's Thanksgiving Miss J! I'm used to eating large quantities only hours apart and it's been 8 hours! FEED ME! FEED ME! Or I will eat your insides!" So I agreed and ate two pieces toast...followed by another piece of toast. So if you're not a math whiz, that's three pieces of toast plus two Tylenol.

With a happy belly and head, I went back to sleep...or, I tried.

My brain likes to do this really annoying thing when I'm trying to sleep. It's called thinking. My brain does its' best (and most annoying) thinking when I'm trying to sleep.

Here is the thing that my brain kept going over: a boy at church. Ugh! Brain, you're so obsessive and annoying! Stop it! Here's the back story to church boy:

My downstairs neighbor come to introduce herself two Saturdays ago. So, being the nice girl I am, I went to the family ward (oh, gosh! Don't get me started on how distracted I was with all the yelling kiddos and super cute babies.). Anyway, I arrived late that day and sat in the back, alone.

About half way through the meeting, my neighbor sees me and waves (kinda weird but appreciated). After the meeting, she comes up to me and tells me there is a singles class and introduces me to the boy who I share a bedroom wall with (oooo!). Let's call him T. T. takes me to the class and being me, obviously I'm super awkward and don't notice any flirting of any kind. Bye, T. see ya next week.

Fast forward to this week: Same class, same T. We're waiting for Relief Society and Priesthood to start (it was combined) and talking in the hall. He asks me about high school and sports or something and so again I'm awkward and drop my purse and run into a small child. Whatever. Apparently it was really funny because the whole hall full of people about peed their pants. Great. Now I'm the awkwardly funny new girl. Wow. Love it. So, just as we're about to go into class, he says something like,

"Hey we should do something sometime."

Very vague. Great. So I say, "Sure. You should come over because no one ever does."

"What? You don't have friends?"

"I do they're just all married and hate me." (I know you don't really but I'm dramatic.)

"Ha."

"Ok."

We go to class. We don't sit together. Class gets over. He waits for me because I was trapped between a table and a bunch of old ladies talking. We walk out together. He doesn't ask for my number or say anything really. Geeze. Boys. Ugh. I say goodbye.

Fast forward to Sunday night as I'm trying to sleep:

Brain: "Why would you say those things? Ugh. You're a dummy."

Me: "No. It was just weird. He was weird. It's never me!"

Brain: "It's always you being weird."

Me: "Nu-uh!"

Brain: "Uh-huh!"

Me: "Nu-uh!"

Brain: "Uh-huh!"

Me: "Nu-uh!"

Brain: "Uh-huh!"

Me: "Fine. But maybe be likes that I'm the awkwardly funny new girl."

Brain: "Does anyone like that?"

Me: "Probably."

Brain: "No they don't."

Me: "Whatever. What if we get married one day...blah...blah...blah."

Brain: "Really? You're serious?"

Me: "Why not?"

Brain: "Do you not remember church?"

And this lovely conversation goes on for 6 more hours. And that is the story of why Ashley is exhausted and why she watched the entire second season of How I Met Your Mother in one night. I love being exhausted. If you can't tell, that was sarcastic. I really think a sarcastic font should be invented. It would be bold, italic, sarcastic all at the top of your document. So much better!

If you made it through this long, exhausted rant, you're a true friend or a true stalker. Either way, I thank you for reading and being awesome...just like me!