Spring Break 2017

So we had to spend the first few days of Spring Break at home due to K's work and my studies at BYU. Finally, we were free to fly on Wednesday morning. Here is a grand list of places we went and things we did over four days (slept in Colorado the first night, camped in Utah at Hovenweep the second night, and slept in Arizona the third night):

Dinosaur National Monument, hiked the Box Canyon trail, saw petroglyphs, Hovenweep National Monument, hiked the Square Towers Loop and saw plenty of ruins, Moab, Monticello (hubby interviewed for a job at Bryce Canyon National Park to be a Geology Ranger...don't these pictures just scream "geology ranger?"...but the rent there is twice as much as we pay in Yellowstone...and people keep commenting..."I didn't realize you had to pay rent in Yellowstone"...really? You think they let us live somewhere for FREE?...so we will not be living amongst the hoodoos in Bryce), Edge of the Cedars State Park, hiked to the Holly Group of ruins and others, Goosenecks State Park, Monument Valley (ate our obligatory Navajo Taco...not as good as Cameron Trading Post), Navajo National Monument (see all those dwellings under the big arch), 100 mile boat ride on Lake Powell for the privilege of hiking 2.5 miles to see Rainbow Bridge National Monument...and now...we can finally say...we have visited all 13 National Park Service sites in the state of Utah.

One thing I remember about Spring Break is that I was really healthy. I ate nutritious food, I exercised every day, I slept well and long enough, and I was just not so stressed out with all of my obligations. And I lost a major amount of weight in just those few days, which of course, I have quickly regained. The desert is so healing!

On This Day in 1989

April is almost over and I haven't written a thing. Life is CrAzY bUsY!!! I am completely overwhelmed 24/7 and have no idea if I'm accomplishing anything.

But I do know this was the day I returned from Japan. I loved being a missionary so, SO much. And I fear I will never get to serve another full-time mission.

I actually left Japan tomorrow, on the 29th. International Date Line and all...

Wax Museum 2017

So, the kids have been working on their American Hero projects for like three weeks. Research paper, oral presentations, and then yesterday was our big day! We had the Wax Museum during the day and the Night at the Museum for the parents in the evening. We/I have sent home notes, reminders, emails, remind.com texts...I mean, how could you possibly miss this memo? And yet...

First Lady, Abigail Adams, waltzed into school yesterday morning mentioning in her nonchalant way that she did't have a costume because "I forgot to tell my mom to make one for me." First of all, we don't give orders like that. In fact, we impress upon everyone that they shouldn't need to spend money--just look around the house, ask Grandma if she has anything cool in her attic, etc. So I suggested, while picking up the phone, that we call the First Lady's mother. The First Lady said, "I think she's at the airport or something." Sounded fishy, right? So I emailed both parents and then I called her mother. The mom mentioned she was in SLC (so maybe she is at the airport?) and asked what time the museum started. 10:30 a.m. She asked to speak to her daughter. Her daughter casually said, "Hi, Mom." Then she said, "I'm Abigail Adams, the wife of the second president." Another pause. "I'm known for writing a lot of letters to my husband." And then she hung up the phone.

Well, we got set up for the Wax Museum and threw a few art prints of famous American's on the walls, arranged the desks, and all that. Our first visitors arrived at 10:30 a.m. and at that precise moment, Abigail Adams swished into the room with this amazing, presidential looking, period dress! She looked stunning! I couldn't believe this child suddenly had a costume! I went over and asked, "WHERE did you get this dress?!?" Her reply, "No idea!"

I looked toward the doorway, and there was the First Lady's mother, sort of leaning against the door frame, collecting her wits. She had done it. She pulled off the impossible. I approached her and repeated the question, "WHERE did you get that dress?" She took a breath and said, "Zurcher's. Seventy dollars. She'll be paying for half of it out of her savings account. And she'll be wearing it for Halloween." I said, "And you were in SLC? Were you really at the airport?" She said, "No. I was taking my citizenship test this morning."

And these are the moments of child rearing. These are the little traps that parents find themselves in. These are the times when you have to decide if you're going to let the cookie crumble or if you're going to save the day. This woman has three other children. I am amazed. I hope her daughter has a daughter just like herself so that one day she'll realize just a bit of what she put her own mother through. Citizenship test. No big deal.

March-ing on Snowshoes!

Saturday 4 March 2017 was such a lovely experience. I submitted a guest blog to The Nerdy Book Club regarding my own version of Jolabokaflod and they published it that day. Then we went snowshoeing near Big Springs up South Fork and had a hit-the-spot lunch of soup and salad (for me) and soup and sandwich (for the mister) at Zupas, thanks to a gift card I received at Christmas. And then we began our fast.

The weather was warm. The car said 51 degrees when we headed up the trail (not the usual trail that most people take up Big Springs) and 58 degrees when we got back. I snowshoed wearing just one layer of pants and one shirt and no gloves or mittens. It was a beautiful, sunny day! The Vitamin D was healing.

We saw evidence of wildlife (tracks) but that black bug was the only actual wildlife we saw. See? It was warm enough for BUGS!

The snow was plentiful and soft. I ended up breaking a lot of trail up on the flat, but on the other hand, the snow was not new, therefore the "donuts" that had rolled off down the steep bank were day old (or older) and not so fresh from that particular "bakery." Still, I love the motion they represent and I loved the motion of the breeze (crazy hair in photo of me). And I loved being IN motion. It was a fine mix of motion and emotion.

That glorious mountain is called Timpanogos. I've been to the top of it, but not on snowshoes. She is breathtaking, especially when dressed for winter. So many blessings have come to me living in her shadow.

And that guy? That guy is my husband. I am thrilled to be married to that man. He is so good to me and really fun to hang out with! We love to play outside and we had that whole place all to ourselves on a Saturday.

And that woman? That's me. I continue to age. I can't control my hair like I used to, even without a breeze. I wear glasses now. I should buy some new clothes. But I wasn't worried about anything like that on March 4th. I was walking in snow. And sun. With my eternal companion. Who could ask for anything more?

Not Regular (In a Good Way)

Well, I bawled today. One of my 30 Darlings had to move to another school and so I am left feeling empty with 29. Maybe I'm making a difference once in awhile.

The Things I Learn While Teaching

We recently had parent/teacher conferences and so one father came to school one afternoon to help his daughter clean out her desk. When she pulled out a small cup of BB's (yes, little silver BB's), I asked, "Where did you get those?" She simply replied, "The Black Market." I asked, "Where is the Black Market?" She answered, "At recess." I further inquired, "Did you pay actual money for these?" She explained, "No, you just make a craft or whatever and then trade for things on the black market!"

I see.

"Piloting" with Park Rangers

My school district does this monthly newsletter called All About Alpine and for the first time ever, I made the paper, thanks to Rangers Annie and BJ at Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Ranger Annie did a little write-up after our class helped them pilot their new Distance Learning program and submitted it. The activity was fabulous, my fifth graders deserve all the credit, and I'm just passing this along, not so much to toot my own horn, but to let anyone in the world know that you can have the same experience if you have a certain amount of technology.

When looking for a classroom of excited, engaged learners to pilot our new distance learning/digital fieldtrips program with we knew our best bet would be Jody Kyburz’s 5th grade class at Snow Springs Elementary. Jody has always been willing to stretch herself and try new things in order to give her students the best opportunities possible and in return her students have year after year proven to be attentive, engaged, full of curiosity and highly respectful.

This program was no exception. The class completed the required half-hour long pre-visit activity with interest knowing that they would be the subject experts and presenting their information to rangers the next day. Their handouts were highlighted and detailed notes were taken without any prompting on her part. It’s a very small group research project on their part, but a project which helps the students be equally invested in the presentation.

The ranger part of the presentation is approximately 35 minutes and covers weathering, erosion, fault lines, uplift, continental drift, and the creation of caves. The student presentations take another 10 minutes and are scattered throughout the program. This leaves approximately 10-15 minutes for questions at the end of the presentation. It covers core requirements in science, scientific literacy, reading, writing, language, and speaking and listening. A full and detailed list of the standards are available on our webpage.

To connect with Timpanogos Cave classes need to either have video conferencing equipment such as LifeSize or a computer, webcam, mic, and projector. If you’d like to schedule a digital ranger visit for your classroom more information can be found at the following link: https://www.nps.gov/tica/learn/education/distance-learning.htm and if you have further questions we can be reached easily via email: annie_brantley@nps.gov

Annie Brantley Park Ranger Timpanogos Cave National Monument 2038 Alpine Loop Road American Fork, UT 84003 801-756-5239