Brian & Michelle: Wedding

You know it's true love when a couple decides to get married in AZ in the humidest (just made that up-it just sounded more humid than "most humid") part of our very hot AZ summer. Brian and Michelle are definitely in love with their August wedding!

I've decided that my heart is like a little filing cabinet and one of the folders in my filing cabinet has to be the couples I get to know as I photograph their weddings. Brian and Michelle, you're in there. I'm sticking Michelle's mom in there, too. We really clicked. Our eyeballs operate on the same "tear frequency".

So here are some pics surrounding their wedding day. They were sealed in the Mesa,AZ Temple in the middle of August. We actually lucked out with the weather...humid, yes, but it was also a tad cooler with the slightly overcast skies. A fair trade.

I had a feeling these boys were up to something...

Michelle with her cute sisters and below with all of her siblings. I would like to take credit for their giggles...but their dad was doing something that I did not get to see...but whatever it was, it worked.

The reception was held at Crackers and Co. in Mesa. The owner, Veronika Luko, worked with the Bride and her family to personalize it. The food was prepared fresh, on the spot by their chef, Cliff Weir and was delicious, I might add. I always like to be able to give a personal endorsement of food served at weddings. It was a great location for a reception, and one I would recommend. They are normally open for breakfast and lunch, so there is no conflict for the dinner/reception hour.

The beautiful cake was designed by Melody Larsen, and flowers by Michelle Zakanis of Michelle's Floral Design LLC 480.325.5585

I love how kids always find something to entertain themselves. They were totally into this.

The Bride saying good-bye to her parents is always a touching moment for me.

I have a feeling that they will live happily ever after! Happy Wedding Day,

Brian and Michelle. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

I, too, remember.

I couldn't let this day end without posting some photos from a trip I got to take last summer to New York and a few I found on the internet as a contrast to what I saw last summer. Where was I when September 11th became 9-11? We were living in CA at the time. I was at the YMCA on a Stairmaster watching it all unfold on one of the t.v.'s. I'm sure you remember where you were, too. (Photo Credits: Any photos without my logo were taken by someone else. Wish they were mine, but they aren't.)

I never got to see the Towers in person.

This looks like a war zone. I still can't fathom it.

This is what it looked like last summer.

Ground Zero

The new skyline:

Still standing is right.

"Fourth Grade...Here I Come!"

I'm a little behind with this, since our kids started school way back on August 12th, which I thought was crazy until August 12 and it felt o.k. Everyone was actually o.k. with being back in school. You can always tell when it's time. And without realizing it, it was time.

For the last 2 years I have been on Franklin's FPO. It's like the PTA at most schools. I was the Historian. As part of being on the board, I didn't have to wait in line to register to find out which teachers my kids got. This year, I had to wait in line. It all went smoothly. After signing up for my 2 committees, paying my fee, checking Emma's bus route, etc., I went to the final line to find out which teacher Emma would spending fourth grade with. All the registration stuff happened in the cafeteria. The teacher "Reveal" happened in the office. By this time I had been standing in line outside, and also signed a petition to let the kids wear knee length shorts to school (don't even get me started on this topic...it's my one biggest complaint about the school that I otherwise am very happy with). So with being hot and bothered, I was feeling a little grumbly by the time that I got to the Principal, who was handing out teacher assignments. She told me Emma was in Mrs. Griner's class and lo and behold, my Grumblies instantly went away and I felt like we had just won the grand prize, in fact I didn't care if the kids had to wear insulated snow suits year round! Mrs. Griner, really?? That is awesome! Ben had Mrs. Griner five years ago and ever since, I have wanted my kids to have her. She is great. She has that teacher "it" factor, if you know what I mean. She looks for ways to enrich and expand on what the school/district requires her to teach.

It was going to be a good year. I couldn't wait to go home and tell Emma.

On Meet The Teacher Day, we curled Emma's hair. She wore some of her new clothes and we headed down to Room 10 to meet her teacher, find her desk and the goodies that Mrs. Griner always has waiting for them. It was a bonus that some of her good friends were also in her class. Yay!! So, here we go:

I'm not sure that teachers realize how much it means to the students that the teacher likes them. Kids pick up on their vibe. Even in Jr. High, it makes a huge difference. Mrs. Griner sends off a good vibe. Can't you feel the love?!

Here's Emma's desk.

Guess how many fuzz balls are in the Jar?

Read the instructions on what to do next. I didn't know this was called a Venn diagram. I learned something new...and then promptly forgot it until I looked at this photo again!

Looking around the room.

The Job Chart.

Emma informed me that the person who is assigned "Door" as a job gets to hold the key and unlock the door!! Translation: That is a big deal!

Yay, McKenzie is in her class. LOVE those dimples, McKenzie! Seriously...I could eat a scoop of my favorite icecream(Breyer's Vanilla Bean) out of those awesome dimples!!

Oh, how Emma loves those babies!

Nothing like a brand new box of crayons!! So many possibilities...and no broken tips.

And so we are ready for another year at Franklin, even if they can't wear shorts!! I will not give up on that. Some things just aren't meant to stay the same.

Let's talk about Football

I know this seems like an unlikely subject for me. I don't know much about it. I didn't grow up with brothers who played football(my brothers played soccer and tennis). I have never gotten into watching football games on t.v. and up until this year, none of my boys have played football...so when Ben decided last spring that he was going to play Freshman football this fall, we thought, "Hmm...that will be an interesting and new experience for us." He practiced through the summer. Reminder: It's REALLY hot here in the summer! How they could get those boys out there to run and sweat and do push-ups and whatever else they did, is beyond me. Then a few weeks ago they got their helmets and pads, etc. This was a big deal, as up until this time they have just been practicing in their uniformed black shorts and white t-shirts, white socks and football cleats. I got the feeling that putting on all the "stuff" added a new level of grunting. Kind of like soldiers training with all of their gear. I think it weeded out a few more kids. This is what happens with football...you don't get kicked off the team, you get weeded out by the workouts.

Last night we went to our first game: Poston vs. Smith. They played at Skyline, which, by the way, is WAY the heck out there!! I should not have chosen this night to explore the new 202 S freeway as a means of getting there quicker. The score was 0-0 for most of the game, then around 4 1/2 minutes to go (which means 30 in real time), Poston scored their first touchdown (I almost said "goal", that's how little I know.). They missed the extra point making the score 6-0. They got one more touchdown with the extra point this time ending the game at 13-0. I spent a good amount of time looking for #34, that's Ben's #. He was one of 30-40 players standing on the sidelines for the 2 1/2 hour game. He missed Saturday's practice for our annual ward camp out...so that scratched him from the game last night. He has never played football until this summer. I don't know if he will ever set foot on the field to actually play in a game. So, this brings me to the question: Why do these boys go out for the football team, knowing that the majority of them will never play in a game?? I don't really get it. The water boys get more action than the majority of the football players. Is it a love for the game?? Being on a team?? I was thinking about this as I drove Ben to school yesterday morning. All the football players wore their jerseys to school. As Ben got out of the car near the portables a smallish, guessing 7th grade boy said, "Hey, Football Guy." Was there a little admiration in his voice...a little awe, maybe? (Ben didn't hear it. I asked him later.) Did that make it all worth it? To wear the jersey at school where everyone was an equal and none of the kids see who is on or off the field, you're just ON the team?...I don't know.

I have to admit, that I am partial to running. Everyone on the team runs. No one stands on the sideline after practicing all week with the team. Some of my favorite moments from Jon-Erik's years of running cross-country and track have been the wins and close runs with rivals of course, but I'll also remember the young man who came in last at the Doug Conely Invitational in Tempe a few years ago. Cross Country spectators stay 'til the last man comes in. You might have thought in this particular race that this young many came in first with the encouraging cheers and applause that came from the sidelines. Maybe he had to work even harder than the guy who came in first. He wasn't a natural born runner, but he was out there...DOING IT. That was one of those moments that made my eyes well up. If you have ever tried to run, let alone run in this blasted AZ heat...it is HARD!! But it doesn't stop people from doing it. (A personal side note: It has kept me from putting my running shoes on, though.) With running, there is a place, even for the underdog...

So back to football for a second...I loved seeing Ben in his uniform. It was fun to see the boys play. Congrats to Poston on their win. By the end of the season I may have a few jersey numbers memorized. I hope Ben gets to play sometime in the season...that's what he's there for, what he hopes to do, too. But in the meantime, wearing that uniform represents the hours of practice that he and his fellow teammates have put in for months leading up to this first game and what they continue to put in each week during the season. There is a chance that Ben could play. He is fast...but there is a chance that it may not happen, but we'll be at the games either way to cheer the team on. I'm a newbie to being a football mom. We'll see how my feelings evolve. Maybe by the end of the season I'll find a reason to shed a tear or two.

(Sorry no pics from the actual game...I forgot my camera.)

Lighting Their Fires

Brian called me last Tuesday and said he had just heard an interview on NPR with a 5th grade teacher, Rafe Esquith, who teaches in an inner-city elementary school in L.A. Rafe has been teaching at Hobart Elementary for 27 years in Room 56. He was speaking at Changing Hands Bookstore that evening as part of a book signing for his latest book, Lighting Their Fires. Brian had two tickets. I had the beginning of a headache, but decided to go along. It was, after all, a date with my husband.

Rafe (and I feel completely fine calling him by his first name...he is that approachable) brought along 7 of his students, current and former, ranging in age from 10-12. He spoke for a bit and then he presented his students, who performed Shakespeare for a captivated audience of about 75 people. I had never heard of Rafe Esqutih before, but now I will never forget him and the experience I had that evening, even through what became a splitting headache. I am almost finished with his book. It is the kind of book that is a gift that keeps on giving, because of all of the great suggestions in it. It also made me very grateful for the teachers that my kids have had over the years who cared and who were able to think outside the box themselves and tap into my kid's minds and appreciate them for who they were and what they could become...Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Edick (talk about great things coming in small packages-Wow!), Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Snyder, Mrs. Pindt, Mrs. Griner...to name a handful. As I look at the list, many of them are English teachers, which doesn't surprise me. They went beyond what they were contracted to do and raised the bar of expectation. "Lighting Their Fires" is written for parents in response to feedback Rafe got from parents to his previous book, "Teach Like Your Hair Is On Fire". Here is a blurb I found online describing the book:

Using amazing and inspiring classroom techniques, Rafe Esquith has helped thousands of children learn to maximize their potential. In Lighting Their Fires, Esquith highlights concepts that help children build character and develop enriching lives. From the importance of time management to decision-making skills, Esquith shows how parents can equip their kids with all the tools they need to find success and have fun in the process.

During the Question & Answer period, someone asked him why the students call him by his first name. He said it was 1992 and he was feeling like giving up, he was feeling very discouraged. His wife told him one night that maybe he needed to reread, "To Kill A Mockingbird". He thought about Atticus Finch and Scout asking him if they were going to win and he had to tell her, "No." But he went into court as if it was possible and that resonated with Rafe. He became Rafe to his students. Like Atticus, he meets failure every day and knows he is not going to win every time, but he does not give up the fight. He said he does not fear drugs and gangs for his students, he fears mediocrity. 90% of the students at Hobart Elementary School live below poverty level. Nearly all of the students have English as their second language.

Check out the links. You'll be glad you did. It's great to feel inspired these days and hopeful that some of the things you've chosen to do over the years were for a reason that you couldn't quite put your finger on at the time. A BIG THANK YOU to all of the GREAT TEACHERS out there who are not recognized on a national level, but are making a difference one day at a time, one child at a time.

Disclaimer: It is only right that I forewarn you that this book has 2 places in it where some bad language appears. It is the 4-letter word (without giving it any more attention than that). It appears in the retelling of dialogue that is overheard at the baseball game that Rafe and 5 of his students attended during the evening the book takes place. I wish it wasn't in there because I know that it will keep some people from reading a very worthwhile book and I don't like being exposed to foul language myself so it's always jarring when I am. As an adult, I recognize that I am much more sheltered from bad language than my kids probably are in school, unfortunately. So there you have it. mn.

Disclaimer, Part 2: I just finished the book...and yes, I got teary. I also read something that I thought explained why he may have included the conversations where the language occurred. Quoted from pg. 165 in the book: "We can never shield our kids completely from unpleasantness, but we can use the example of what's wrong in the world to show them how to make things right. That's why I take children to a game even when I know there's a good chance we'll be surrounded by boors. We have to be the change."