WOW! It has been a long time.
During the summer I am so preoccupied with family, friends and working that I don't even remember what the internet is. Nonetheless, that I need to update my blog.
I'm back in MT now but I wanted to put up a few pictures from this summer.
I had a great summer. One of my favorite parts was being with the kids that I nannied. Such sweet kids...

A picture of us from the grand opening of Mary's Place in DL

One morning we went to the turtle races in Perham. The kids got to pick their turtle and race it. So cute.

On the last day I spent with them we went mini golfing. Hilarious Day.

We had a few lemonade stands. Helena decided that if she stood by the side of the road and gave a "puppy face" with her sign she might get more customers. It worked!

I had my hair done the night before then the next day I took the kids to get their "back to school hairdo's". We all were so fresh!

As the year is coming to an end I am looking back on what I was involved in/ did over the year...
-Snowboarded 25+ days of the year
-Became a student tour guide (an Advocat)
-Became a member of Montana's Association of Curriculum Development and ran meetings
-Lived with 5 girls, 3 fish, 2 dogs and 1 cat
-Made a sincere effort to get to know people in my classes just to make things more enjoyable...

One thing that I will not be involved in next year is being a student tour guide. With being a para and my other workload of classes I wont be able to handle the job. It has been such a fun year meeting new people and getting to be a strong advocate for Montana State. Go Bobcats!
Last night we had the privilege to go to President Cruzado's house for dinner to thank us for our volunteer hours. Great food and laughs for one of our last events this year. Our President is so sweet I just wanted to grab her and bring her home with us!
We also took a tour of the Museum of the Rockies yesterday. We looked at the dinosaur, Native American and frog exhibits. After that we got to go downstairs to the paleontology lab and look in more detail at the real bones & replica models being made. I thought it all was pretty cool!...

I know that pictures make a post much more fun so here are some frogs from the museum...

Snow Snow Snow...

SNOW. It never ever stops here! In april we will have a sunny day and the next you will wake up to a foot of snow like I did Friday morning...

Cute Christy in her rain boots cleaning off the truck...
I am enjoying the snow especially because Big Sky has an extended season this year until April 24th. My favorite days of the year are snowboarding in the sun...
Although, I am ready for the snow to be gone to ride bike, play yard games ect.
I can say that this semester has been one of my hardest ones yet. I have been swamped and overwhelmed with the amount of work that has been brought on me since spring break. Can't wait to get through it all and go home in May!

I enjoyed this...

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with
education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"


To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie .
Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
"You want to know what I make?
(She paused for a second, then began.)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their
parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod,
Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked
at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them how to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God
given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything
they need to know about English while preserving their
unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to
say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under
God, because we live in the United States of America .

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they
were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

( Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped; he went silent.

.Rail Jam.

What a FUN filled weekend! This past weekend was one of my favorite weekends of the year. The Bozeman Rail Jam was this past weekend full of snowboarding/skiing comp. & concerts.

Chitty Bang put on an amazing performance Saturday night. If you know me, you know I love my rap...

Picture of the drop-in part of the skiier/snowboarder comp.

Scotty Beans when we were up at Big Sky Saturday.

My favorite couple. Out Dancing Friday night at the Eagles.

Claire, Britta & I.

Ray Ray in that knee deep powder! Woof!

Last but not least... Hanky Panky.

I'm so excited to finish this last week of school and head home Saturday for spring break. Matt and I are planning a trip up to Lutsen to ski. I am also excited to just be a BUM! :)