winter has arrived

a little bit of snow oh yay!







this weekend I went to a free day at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. It was amazing. they were hosing the Lakota Sioux dance theatre it was incredible. I took my good friend and colleague's girls with me. We had a great time. 

It had snowed a little bit in Eagle River but Sunday evening the skies let loose and we got some substantial snow. Everything is so beautiful today. I need to get the snow tires put on my tiny car to keep us from sliding all over. 

peeling a pumpkin makes me feel proud and mormon!

So for my 8th grade US history we are having a "colonial" day. I cooked and peeled a pumpkin--for a colonial recipe of pumpkin soup. Shelled black walnuts to make ink. Now I am off to buy some feathers to make some quills to write with. I feel like a mormon woman today. knowing what to do with a pumpkin just has to be a qualifier for mormon womanhood right? =-) We are know for our resourcefulness. I am sure if my mom or grandmother were here they would have thought I threw too much away and found a good use for the rhines. that old addage use it up make it do or do without thing... It was super easy I must say and ( I am kinda proud of myself for not just opening a can) now to see how the soup actually turns out.

We are also going to make red ink from berries and have johnny cakes with butter they are going to shake. I hope it will leave a lasting impression and give a glimpse into the life of the colonists.

Still no snow. I love it and find it really magical even still and am beginning to wander if it is ever going to come. All is well though.

For those of you who have not listened to Pres Uchtdorfs ces talk from Sunday you should. It was amazing.

Goodbye sunshine and fall

Alaska has surprised me this year. Last year we had snow on the ground and temps in the 30's during the day in October. This year I have seen snow flakes once for about 2 minutes on the way to seminary two days ago. I loved it got me thinking about Christmas and home and babies and we all know how I feel about babies....I digress anyway this year NO snow and temps in the upper 40's so we had a "fall" it was gorgeous! It is officially freezing outside during the days now and 15 at night.

Sunrise 9:21

Sunset: 6:06

Total sunshine: 8 hrs and some minutes ..math not my strong suit.

This year in addition to taking some vit. D I try to take a walk outside during lunch to catch some of the sun. NO view of the Mountains this year from my room but I like my classroom.

New Baby pictures yeah!!!

Jack with Paw paw. I hear he is such a little cutie Jared look alike. I can't wait to kiss those cheeks in less than two months!



Janeen had a work event in Orlando and was able to score dinner with Justin and Amanda and the new Keely McKinney. I also can't wait to kiss this little girl.

Amanda looks super huh? XOXOXOXOXOXOXOOOX baby love Aunt Katie

Motivation

So we changed the middle school schedule around. We combined our 8th grade class and split up the 7th grade one we celebrated with a party. The students I work with are hard to motivate so I came up with the pod race. Each class has a crab and it races to the top. Good behavior (collectively) makes the crab go up negative behaviors make the crab go down. This helps them to identify the negative behaviors and self correct all I do is move the crab. For individual success if they make a hundred on their point sheets--a document with their IEP goals and then school skills. IF they individually get a 100% on their school skills and IEP goals they put their name in for a drawing we do on Fridays so even if the class looses crab ground they can be successful individually. Never mind my crazy hair we had just taken a wagon wheel picture with all our heads together. Their faces are covered so I could put this picture up =-)


This morning in seminary. We ended second nephi. I had the students write a farewell letter to their families and a few of them shared what they wrote and it was powerful. I hope they realize how many people care about them! I know I still feel my parents love and I am a grown woman living thousands of miles away. It was nice to have something I planned for seminary work out the way I wanted it to.

Cole's request

Yesterday I was talking to Jared and his group..Emily has lost some bottom teeth. Luke is talking like crazy and Cole asked me to send him a fourwheeler. He knows I send him things and I guess to a 3yr old a four wheeler is a modest request. I will try to send him a mini one but if anyone wants to contribute for a big one let me know and I can make a 3yr old a pretty happy little guy. It is one of my favorite things to do with my nephews and was one of my favorite things to do with my Uncle Delwin. He got all us "Sherwood" grandkids hooked on riding and loving it.

Thanksgiving with the Canadians

So my 7th grade world geography students were studying Canada right when it was Canada's Thanksgiving. Since they are in a colder region they celebrate early because their growing season is shorter than ours. It was a great excuse to do a Thanksgiving type meal. I did substitute a rotisserie chicken for a turkey but we had mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, cookies, and of course pumpkin pie with whipped cream and had Canada Dry ginger ale and juice for our sparkling punch. The boys all helped design and set the table. They mashed the potatoes I cooked in the microwave, opened the cans of green beans, and rolled out the cookies into balls...never ask 7th grade boys to make balls... never good conversation after that. All in all it was excellent. They all stayed out of trouble today so they could attend and I had them for almost an hour and a half and kept them all...success is MINE!

I think the bottom picture is obscure enough of my students face to post. We played put the hat on the Turkey. Yippee. As soon as I let him go he fell down I felt bad =0( no permanent damage done.

PS During all the feasting our school secretary announced there is a moose on the playground area please keep all students inside until it is gone. Not an announcement you hear too often. of course we all opened our doors to take a peek. Young moose no rack ,yet.