Famous Last Word

I really did bring this on myself...

Just the other day on our class field trip, I was talking with some of the parents from my class and joking about students and the crazy things kids do. After telling a few of my favorites, I told the parents that since I've been at the same school, teaching the same grade, for so long "that it takes a lot to surprise or shock me these days."

Should have known better!

 (A little background is needed for this next part. At my school, we teach ability math, where students are taught math not based on their grade level, but their individual math level. My math class is made up of 6 kids from my regular class, 6 other second graders, and 8 first graders.)   

The VERY NEXT DAY is was in my classroom teaching math. As the students were working, I was walking around the room, checking their work. On one lap, I notice something on the floor next to a student's feet. I discretely picked it up, only to discover that it was 

UNDERWEAR

Words can not even begin to describe the thoughts flying through my brain. And the best part is...the said undies were never claimed.

Open mouth, insert foot...I can still be very much surprised!

Small Miracles for Little Girls

Cory and I spent Christmas with my family in New Jersey. One of my favorite parts is hanging around with my awesome nieces and nephews. On December 23, Alison (my sister-in-law) turned to her little girl Lydia (3) and said, "Tomorrow's Christmas Eve...know what that means?" We were all expecting something about Santa but this cutie-pie caught us all off guard by saying, in a sweet little girl, excited whisper, "It's going to snow!"

White Christmases are a rarity in New Jersey, and there was absolutely no snow in the forecast. We were worried that she was going to be disappointed. But sure enough, the next night, right after dinner, the snow started to fall. It only lasted about an hour or two and didn't amount to anything, but I got to carry her outside (no shoes) so we could catch some snowflakes.

Lesson learned: Never doubt a little girls dream. :)



Out of the Club

I attended a wedding tonight and for the first time ever

didn't have to be involved in the bouquet toss!

 

Didn't have to toss it!

 

Didn't have to have to try and catch it!

 

Didn't have to get knocked to the ground by the crazies!

 

Yes, I did a little happy dance. :)

 

Swear Words

To help my students practice their spelling words, I gave them a word search for their morning work. One of their favorite things to do is to look for words that are not on the word list.

About 5 minutes into the word search, one of my very sweet boys calls out, "Mrs. Dodge...there's a swear word on here."

PANIC MODE!

To try to put out the fire as quick as possible, I just told him to not circle the word, or show anyone, and look for his other words.

A minute later, he loudly annouces that, "it's like the worst swear word ever."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? 

I made this on a teacher website!

So I asked him to bring his paper to me and show me the swear word...and he this what he showed me...

Did I mention that I teach in Mormon Utah?



They do it because they love me...right?

For 5 years, my box in the office has said "Miss Bramhall."

One of the lunch ladies pointed out to the secretary that it needed to be changed.

She got right on it...

We take things very serious at my school. :)

Oh yeah...and that time I got married...

Been married almost 2 whole months...figured it was time to blog about it :)

Favorite bridal picture

 Coming out of the temple

Yes we are that adorable couple

It was very sunny that day...lots of squinting

All our people...yeah...we requested the big room

My family 

Awesome divas!!!

Cory's boys

My personal hottie 

My BIG gorgeous ring...Cory did good!

We can't remember what we were talking about, but we air-quote together

My brothers

 (who couldn't understand why I wanted a picture of all of us together)

PRINCESS PICTURE!!!

All my ladies

We don't cut cake like normal people...we destroy it!

CS Lewis Academy crew

All the single ladies

Cory really liked getting the garter...

...so he got a prize

These were (seriously) the only single guys at the reception

First dance

I had to include this one...

I've never seen my parents dance together :)



Thanks to everyone who helped, who came, who sent presents, who made it the most perfect wedding day ever!

Visting Jersey

I was looking at other peoples' blogs and whining to myself that they never update their blogs...only to realize that I haven't updated mine in two months...OOPS!

My family always goes down to the Jersey shore around the 4th of July to enjoy the sun, surf, and boardwalk goodness. This year was even better for multiple reasons:

1. Picked the world's best blueberries...Mmmm!

The family rule it that they weigh the blueberries in your bucket at the end...not you. :)






2. My sister-in-laws threw me a surprise bridal shower. My friend invited me to go out to dinner and part way through, she had an emergency and had to take me home. When we got there, 20 people were there to give me all kinds of good presents. And my mom, being her awesome self, hand decorated wedding cake shaped cookies.

And this is one of the "not perfect" ones. The best ones even had little icing piping on the edges of the top two tiers.

Everyone really enjoyed the yummy cake my mom bought...especially the icing.




3. We went over to the Reading Market in Philadelphia, where you can buy just about anything food related (the Amish sell the best hot apple dumplings with heavy cream).

Why yes that is a set of chocolate lungs!

Debated for about 5 minutes on whether or not to get these for Cory.





4. Cory finally arrived on Monday and everything was just better after that. :)

5. We ate all the delicious evil food we could get our hands on (cheese steaks, funnel cake, Manco & Manco pizza, Rita's water ice, frozen custard, salt water taffy, fudge, Wawa hoagies). And we ended the week on a high note with Friendly's ice cream.

                                                               Good trip!!!