Adorable?

For Christmas my sibs and I scanned a bunch of my parents' slides that have been stowed away in our basement for years.
Props to my sister's legs, brothers' BYU jerseys, my squinty sun smile, mom's visor, brother's flat top.

I AM A Hypocrite

I AM a hypocrite.

I'm wearing leggings right now.

But I am not even slightly under the impression that I'm wearing pants.

I Love My Job

But I realize I'm probably a bad teacher.
1. My students call the holidays, birthday and Christmas "Happy Birthday" and "Merry Christmas" respectively. Like they'll say, "When is your Happy Birthday?" and "Are you excited for Merry Christmas?" and I don't correct them because I think it's adorable. There are other things too that they say and I don't necessarily correct them even though they probably wish I would if they knew.
2. Lately I've been making my students listen to "grammar raps" that are part of our grammar workbook. I couldn't bring myself to subjecting them to this for the first few months of teaching, but recently I gave in. I just sit by the side and shake my head and feel sorry for the situation. But actually some of the students even seem to enjoy them. So maybe that's not considered abuse?
3. I'm thoroughly entertained by the gifts my students give me. I don't think this makes me a bad teacher, though. I think it makes me very happy and entertained; and in turn it probably actually makes me a better teacher. As a Thanksgiving gift one of my tiny Vietnamese students gave me an Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds set (perfume, lotion, powder?) 2 days ago a student brought me a fruitcake. I thought that was only a joke. I didn't think people actually gave each other Christmas fruitcakes. A student yesterday gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon as a Christmas gift. I was a bit confused at first. Did I do something to lead her to believe I wasn't Mormon? I mean, I'm definitely careful about what I'll talk about in school. Initially I tried to tell her that I already have that book, but she was so excited. Then I realized that she'd written her testimony in the front cover for me in her broken English and my heart melted and I graciously accepted her gift. One of my Russian students, in the excitement of all the holiday cheer, told me that 2009 would be my year to find true love. Wonderful.
I love my job.
I love Russians.
And I love everyone who reads my blog.

Elephants!!!

I have so many elephants left over from the Beehive Bazaar. Well, maybe 10? It was barely worth it to do that bazaar. Too many tightwads in Provo. Best to do something cheap and easy and fast that people will buy up. But anyway, I know my elephants are cute. And I have some leftovers. And people have been asking if they could buy some, so if you want to buy from me, now is the time. They'll be going FAST. Maybe soon I'll post some pictures up of what I have left. But maybe I'll let a few special people choose their elephants first. I don't know. Probably just I'm lazy. Anyway. I'm selling them for $20 and they're cute & soft and I think they're pretty much all general neutral, which I like and the buttons for the eyes are so tiny that it won't kill your babies.
BUY!
NOW!
if you want to.

Leggings Are NOT Pants.

Leggings are NOT pants.

How Is It Possible...

That the world's saddest song could make me feel so happy??

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never
coming round
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to
the sound of my tears
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best
of all the years have gone by
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see
the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit restless and I dream of
something wild
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit helpless and I'm lying
like a child in your arms
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit angry and I know I've
got to get out and cry
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a little bit terrified but then I see
the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart

INSTRUMENTAL

Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround, Every now and then I know you'll never be the boy you always
wanted to be
Turnaround, Every now then I know you'll always be the only boy who
wanted me the way that I am
Turnaround, Every now and then I know there's no one in the universe as
magical and wonderous as you
Turnaround, Every now and then I know there's nothing any better and there's
nothing that I just wouldn't do
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
Nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart