SPRING BREAK

We're back from Arizona. Our spring break is done. This post displays some of our doings during our vacation.

March 21, 2009


Jedidiah came to visit us our first weekend off. Hugh, Sam, and Jed went to Devil's Punchbowl for a hike.

March 21, 2009

Janna went to Ventura Beach for the day with the Sierra Ward Young Women

Later that night Janna was off to a party. It was there that she borrowed TWILIGHT from a friend. She soon returned it and borrowed the second book, NEW MOON, before going on our Arizona trip. Reading has occupied a lot of her time during the break.

March 26, 2009

Our arrival in Arizona meant everyone

had to take a turn holding Baby Ryan.

March 27, 2009

Hugh took the opportunity to visit one of Billy's Seminary classes and observe him in action.

Later that morning, Hugh and I went to the Mesa Arizona Temple for the first time. My parents were sealed in this temple nearly 57 years ago.

March 28, 2009

In the morning a group of us went on a hike in the Superstition Mountains.

Later that afternoon Sam, Becky, Hugh, and I played a round of minature golf at Golfland.

After discussing TWILIGHT with Janna, Bill, and Chelsea - Becky purchased the saga. Becky started reading it and so did I. Janna happily moved on to book three, ECLIPSE.

March 29, 2009

Billy and Ryan Mae Blair on her blessing day.

It was a great visit to Arizona. We came home March 30th with the kids missing an extra day of school. We visited with family and friends. We ate great food and enjoyed walks to the park every day. We played some games, played music, listened to music, watched basketball, and enjoyed each others company. We might not get to see Ryan in a while. She'll grow up so fast, but we have some great memories to keep.

"When you look at your life,

the greatest happinesses

are family happinesses."

Joyce Brothers

GOT PIE?

Last night I taught a pie making class to our ward Laurel's, the 16 & 17 year old girls. I have done pie making demonstrations before, but this time I notched it up and assisted every girl in actually making a pie they could take home to their families.

I brought three pies I had made earlier. They were prepared to help the girls choose which kind of pie they would like to make: Chocolate Cream, Apple Crumb, and a Fruit Pie that had a pastry top, which was a Peach, Cherry, Apple Combo. Of course we ate them too, but the point was to illustrate the different ways you could use your crust in making a pie.

There were only five girls in attendance. The small number was why I braved such an undertaking. Barb Kellogg their Young Women's President was a great gofer for the evening. In spite of her being busy helping me stay on track with our limited time, she made a pie too.

When I got home last night I made three more pies with all the leftovers plus we had the one Janna brought home that she had made. I'm giving at least one to my parents and we have Jedidiah coming to visit for the weekend. We'll celebrate his coming by having a slice or two.

I'm on a roll with more pie crust in hand. Any suggestions you Lurkey-Loos?

“A mother is a person

who seeing there are only four pieces of pie

for five people, promptly announces

she never did care for pie."
Tenneva Jordan

"Or maybe I'll just make another one."

Martha Blair

My Pie Crust Recipe
(I got this recipe at a Tupperware Party when we lived in Provo, Utah back in 1976.)

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/4 cup cold water
1 Tablespoon vinegar

With pastry cutter blend flour, shortening, and salt. I eventually use my hands to make sure everything is integrated. Mix egg, ice water, and vinegar together. Make a well in your blended flour and pour your egg mixture in the center. With hands, combine. WARNING: DO NOT OVER DO IT! IT'S NOT LIKE KNEEDING BREAD DOUGH! Just get the two combined. It should be ready to roll.

This recipe makes 2 single pie crusts and is easily doubled.

HAPPY PIE MAKING!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to Ye!

We are two days into our Spring Break. So far we've had four dentist appointments and one Green Feast. Our teeth our clean and we're all about green.

Last night our family attended a gathering at a friend's home. We had to follow some requirements: wear green and bring something green to eat. I brought lime finger jello cut into shamrock shapes. We had a nice evening visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. It was getting late so we didn't stick around for the "Catch the Leprechaun" activity, even so, we had an enjoyable time.



Don't forget to wear green today!

"May your home always be too small
to hold all your friends."
--Irish saying

"You're Abusing ME!"

Oh what I go through some days at school. Just yesterday morning a belligerent little boy was tipping precariously in his seat and causing quite a commotion in our little resource class (the class designed to pull students out of their regular classroom to give them special help). I thought maybe his actions had something to do with me being the substitute, that usual testing behavior I'm daily subjected to. The para-educator I was working with assured me that was not the case.

This little boy was on the verge of hurting himself and maybe someone else. I'm sure he wanted to claim he was being funny. I asked him to sit correctly in his chair several times. He kept at it in spite of my instruction. So on the umpteenth verge of catastrophe, I grabbed him and maneuvered him to a different seat that wasn't so easy to tip. What I thought was a strategic move to safety for him and for others was then proclaimed as an act of violence, "You're abusing me! You're abusing me!" he shouted. He wanted to make it perfectly clear that it was my behavior that was inappropriate not his.

The next day I had him again and I made it perfectly clear to the entire little class of six that they needed to sit correctly in their chairs because they or someone else could easily get hurt. We got through the reading segment safely and without any screaming of abuse. But later when I had four students for math he was back. This time I was going around the table giving individual help, but he treated me like a bugaboo moving in for the kill. He rebuffed me. He didn't want me near him and the other students weren't cooperating either. Two adults, four fourth graders and they weren't letting us make any headway with any of them. The para-educator sent them all back to class. They obviously needed help, but they weren't going to let anyone help them today.

I was beside myself, it all seemed very strange. I wanted to help and they wouldn't let me. The para-educator attributed it to our coming spring break. Of course, not every child responded that way during the day. In fact, I even had some "golden moments" when I knowingly see and feel I've been an influence for good. But still, I was feeling afflicted by the negative.

As I was leaving class, I saw two boys on the playground in matching "Transformer" t-shirts. I made a point of commenting about them. You could tell the shirts were brand new and I asked them if they were twins. I guess it was possible, but they certainly didn't look alike. They were very pleased at my question. They claimed to be twins, but they were obviously the best of friends displaying their unity. Suddenly another little boy, not wanting to be overlooked for attention, quickly jumped into the conversation, "You want to see me hit the ball really high?" I did, and he hit it amazingly high up against the handball court. I stated my praises as I walked on waving good-bye to their smiling faces as I headed toward the office.

They were so delighted that I had talked with them, but what they didn't know was how discouraged I was by the earlier fiasco in class. They thought I was so nice, but what they didn't know was that I desperately needed someone to be nice to me. While talking about t-shirts, twins, and hitting balls high, their sunny smiles lifted me. Undoubtedly, they didn't know how I found great comfort in their sincere and happy kindness.

DELIRIOUS!

I was happily looking forward to working the entire week with a fourth grade class. The teacher indicated over Subfinder that she had a "good class". Maybe they were just extra good because their teacher was on campus. She was doing GATE testing and made it clear that she was available if I had any special needs or concerns. Anyway, they were great! I was able to talk to the teacher after school on Monday. She was so pleased I was going substitute her class for the whole week. Me subbing for a week was certainly better than a different sub everyday.

I felt alright on Monday, but as many of you know, I'm constantly dealing with ears, nose, and throat issues. I'm always a little swollen, a little sniffy. I have a cough and a drip on a regular basis. I'm always fighting it with some kind of medication or healthy angle in my attempt to breathe. It's rare to feel exceptional. Allergies are a part of my daily living. It's just plain normal for me to have some kind of congestion. Things have to get a lot worse though for me to recognize that I'm really sick and need help.

I had worked in my garden over the weekend and I assumed the pollens and dirt were getting to me. I got through my work day on Monday okay even though I was hampered a bit by an increase in discomfort from my usual norm. By the time I got home I felt so chilled and achy. I took some flu/cold remedy and went to bed early hoping to head this overwhelming malaise off at the pass. I thought I'd feel better in the morning, but I wasn't. I was obviously running a fever and was hard-pressed to even function. I couldn't sub. I felt bad about it. Those kids were looking forward to me coming back. I reluctantly made the phone call to get a substitute for the substitute for Tuesday. I was sure I'd be on the upswing after seeing the doctor that morning and would be able to do the rest of the week.

The nurse took my temperature. She kept looking at the thermometer pierced between my lips because it was taking so long to beep. My body felt so cold to me. It was trying to stay cool in spite of my fever. To both of our amazement it registered at 106 degrees. I said somewhat concerned, "Uhhh . . . shouldn't I be dead with a temperature like that?". . . My doctor stepped into the room while the nurse hurriedly tried to take my temperature again. He informed me that if I really had a temperature of 106 I would at least be DELIRIOUS.

In the past, my allergist has made it perfectly clear to me that I'm just too common place about the fact that I can't breathe. Sometimes I can't sing because of choking on phlegm. I can't have a conversation without constantly clearing my throat. I'm always at odds trying to read a book to a child because coughing inevitably ensues. These are just some of the everyday occurrences that I've gotten use to.

So when the doctor said I should have been DELIRIOUS. Me, knowing of my common place reactions to sometimes extreme situations. Me, the woman that doesn't put enough drama behind what she has to endure. I, decided I was going to get it right this time in spite of my nonchalant demeanor. I said, "Maybe I'm more DELIRIOUS than you think?" My temperature soon came in at 103.

He rattled off my symptoms to me like he was some kind of psychic. I said yes to it all and then he pronounced that I had the flu in spite of me having had a flu shot early in the season. Evidently they only last about four months. No antibiotic was given and I followed all other instructions explicitly because I oh so felt terrible and I so wanted to feel better. I finally relented my golden subbing class and contacted the school. The substitute for the substitute was happy to take the rest of my scheduled week.

My agony doesn't stop there. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, my once achy body turned into excruciating pain. My mild sore throat was now on fire. I couldn't eat or drink it hurt so bad. I was somewhat buffeted by the office staff that morning when I called in with my complaint. "The doctor will be in tomorrow," the voice reported. I mumbled a few words back and hung up the phone because I was just too DELIRIOUS.

After being nonfunctional the rest of the day, as I was the day before, laying on the couch, sleeping, and then periodically waking up or maybe I should say, coming and going in and out of consciousness. My neck was swollen and hard as a rock because of my inflamed glands. I started thinking maybe I had been misdiagnosed and that my outcome was far more sever than the doctor had obviously anticipated. I'm telling you - I was DELIRIOUS!

Finally I got a grip and that afternoon I called the doctor's office and said, "I want to talk to the doctor. He told me to call Thursday if I was getting worse. Well, it's not THURSDAY. It's WEDNESDAY and I'm getting WORSE!"

I didn't talk to the doctor, but within minutes I got a phone call back informing me that a prescription for an antibiotic had been called into my pharmacy. I've been on the mend since my first pill.

Because I had canceled my scheduled work my name automatically kicked back into Subfinder as being available. A teacher who likes me to take her class was specifically submitting me work through the Subfinder system. I said NO on Wednesday. I said NO on Thursday, but she sent a message through the "special instructions" mode indicating that she was putting these substitute days in one day at a time instead of the block days which were needed, Wednesday thru Friday. I could see she was hoping I could get in there somewhere. I committed to Friday. I am feeling better, at least I'm not DELIRIOUS.

DELIRIOUS

Definition:

• Having a delirium - irrational through illness as a temporary result of a physical condition such as fever
  
• wandering in mind
  
• light-headed
  
• insane
  
• raving
  
• wild

PARTY TIME!!!

Friday Evening
February 27, 2009
Becky didn't request anything extravagant for her birthday. In fact, she's well aware that her mother is working these days. In her attempt to be frugal, she took it upon herself to make it simple. I should say, simple for me.

Becky made some elaborate party decorations that were a work of art, including homemade party hats. She made up her own Becky Birthday Trivia game and we sat and watched her favorite episode of "The Honeymooners".

She asked me to make macaroni and cheese for dinner which I did and I also included a tossed salad for health's sake. She blew out her birthday candles on a creamy cheesecake which we topped with cherries.

It was a birthday party event just for our family. We had a nice evening with dinner, Becky's planned activities, and the opening of a few gifts. Hughie won the prize for Becky's trivia game. He received a blue ribbon and lots of goodies in a bag that he shared with the rest of us.




HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY!!!





"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart."
- Anonymous

YES, She Was Born Yesterday

Ryan Mae Blair

February 23, 2009

7 lbs. 13.5 oz.

I have a family story to share in honor of our new grand baby girl, Ryan Mae Blair. Her proud parents are Billy and Chelsea. We're so pleased for them and are glad that everything went well . Happily mother, daughter, and daddy are doing fine. My maternal grandmother, Cassie Stapp McMullin, would always say when a child was born, and it would never fail, "I don't know what I would've named it, but I wouldn't have named it that!" It was standard procedure for her to make that comment and she'd include her opinion on names, etc. I wonder though if that was her line or if it came from earlier generations. It has been passed on to us. We love telling the story and take the liberty of using the line ourselves. There is always a debate over baby names. We've got a few stories of our own to tell on that subject, but we also know parents have the right to name their children. In remembrance of Grandma Cassie with her Texan drawl, we carry on:

"I don't know what I would've name her,
but I wouldn't have named her that!"

"You Would Cry to If It Happened to You!"

"It's my [classroom], and I'll cry if I want to,

Cry if I want to, Cry if I want to,
You would cry to if it happened to YOU!"
(from "It's My Party" by Walter Gold, John Gluck Jr., Herb Wiener)

Yes, I admit it. I have had a class bring me to tears. In fact, I've had more than one class bring me to tears, but then I never broke down in front of the students before. I guess there is a first time for everything with this subbing journey of mine.

For starters, I had this fourth grade class earlier in the month. I had a certain dread when I accepted the second assignment because I remember it being a rough bout before, but then I had just come away with an improved experience on my second go-round with that troublesome first grade class. I figured this would surely be a better experience too, but I was wrong. It was worse! I was so beside myself with their disobedience.

I released the class at the end of the day and stayed after to finish my report and do a little cleaning up. As I set at my desk writing, the tears began to flow. Not everyone had exited the classroom yet and my hope was that the few who were left would be so occupied about leaving that they wouldn't notice my tears which I so desperately wanted to hide. I heard some whispering, then scampering, and then the children got very quite. It was ever so noticeable because it hadn't been quiet all day.

All of a sudden a flood of empathy came my way with apologies being voiced from left and right. Students asked if they could stay to help clean up in an attempt to offer some kind of penance for their previous wrongdoing. This was new to me. I hadn't thought of crying as a way to keep a class in check. I had obviously drawn attention to my disappointment, but the children really needed to go. One boy stepped forward, thoughtfully, and sincerely he expressed a heartfelt apology, "The entire class is sorry, Mrs. Blair." I didn't look up. I couldn't. I was so sad at how the day had gone. I tried to still myself, but instead I quietly blubbered as I thanked him.

I always think when I have an experience like this, if they'd just give me a chance, they'd be all about what I could do for their school day. I've done it for so many others, but for whatever reason, I had a group that wouldn't buy into my pitch. I also think if I was their regular teacher, I'd be able to muscle some control with some establish routines, etc. Again, that's not my lot as a substitute. They know I am uncertain about their procedures. They are well aware that I am here today and gone tomorrow so why bother. My one time appearance is nothing in their educational scheme of things, instead, it's PARTY TIME!

Anyway, it was a while before I left the classroom. As I maneuvered across the playground to the school office, I tried to walk with some dignity with my little cart in tow. I call it, HAVE CLASSROOM, WILL TRAVEL. It was filled with my fun positive incentives that I couldn't justify using at all during the day. The weirdness was just too great. As I walked along, some of my students who were staying for the after school program called out to me with a friendly shout and a wave, "Hey! Mrs. Blair! Good-bye!" They had cheerful smiles on their faces. I smiled back and waved. They wanted me to feel better. They really were sorry. I might be a gluten for punishment, but maybe I could do that class again....we'll see?

MEMORIES of 2008

You've seen videos and slide shows posted on my blog before, but just because I did it before doesn't mean I can do it again. My techno abilities are definitely lacking. I could always use a little help. My computer knowledge increases mainly by the self-taught method of trial and error, some reading, and once in a while I'll get a step-by-step tutorial from one of my children or a friend. My latest dilemma was trying to get my 2008 slide show posted. Where's Tommy when I need him! Oh yah Texas. It's another year and a half before he gets home and I didn't want to wait that long to get this up. So happily the ALL NIGHT BLOGGER figured it out. You push enough buttons and it finally happens, but the debate continues. Will I be able to do it again?

This presentation is in celebration of our 2008 happenings. It was a great year of being all together. Many of the photos come from our family reunion last June and our Christmas gathering, but we had lots of other get togethers that made it an outstanding year.

I didn't post names and places. I should have been more descriptive, but at least I got it on the blog now instead of later. I put this together in January and it's almost March - I rest my case - the ALL NIGHT BLOGGER is definitely on a learning curve. Like my subbing, I tell myself, "I'll do better next time" and I might add, when it comes to blogging, "in less time."

"THANKS FOR THE MEMORY"

by Leo Robin

Father and Son

Sam and Dad at Red Rock Canyon
February 14, 2009

Hughie is the father of four sons. He has some great memories of activities he has had over the years with his boys. He was concerned when Sam was born though. Hugh has a bad knee and coupled with his old age he wondered if he would be able to keep up with Sam. We've had visions of shipping Sam off in the summer to visit his older brothers in order to experience some activities that equate with male bonding, but so far so good.

The last two weekends Hugh and Sam were able to go on hikes together. Last Saturday it was Red Rock Canyon with Jedidiah. Today it's the Saddleback Buttes with the Cub Scouts.

Sam and Hugh are glad to have each other. Since Tom left on his mission six months ago, the boys are currently in the minority at our house. They are happy to share some time with one another.

"A wise son maketh a glad father."
Proverbs 10:1

and I believe too,
A wise father maketh a glad son.

Halloween in February

I was in a Special Day Class this afternoon with younger elementary children. At the end of the day I was sitting outside on a bench visiting with the last little boy from my class while we waited patiently for someone to pick him up. Suddenly his father and older brother appeared. I recognized the brother. He attended the same school. I could also see by the look in his eyes that he recognized me. I didn't remember his name, but in my recognition I said, "Hello! How are you?" He could have responded in a number of ways, like...."Fine" or "I remember you." I don't think he remembered my name either. If he did, he could have said, "Hello Mrs. Blair!" He stood there in a brief state of stammering hesitation wondering how to acknowledge me, but instead of speaking he unexpectedly, yet resolutely stepped forward like a performer on stage. With arms outstretched, his chest filled with air, head held high, and a look of mustering something from deep inside, he broke into song, "I'm stirring, I'm stirring, I'm stirring my brew...." You get the picture. I evidently substituted his class in October. I smiled. We talked for a little bit and then they were off. Another "golden moment" - I'll take it and I'm still smiling.

"I'm stirring, I'm stirring,

I'm stirring my brew.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I'm stirring, I'm stirring,

I'm stirring my brew.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tip...toe, tip...toe, tip...toe,

BOO!"

Add a little drama and actions and you're good to go. My mother taught this song to me. She use to sing it when she taught pre-school. She had a witch puppet, a black cat, a cauldron, and a broom for stirring. I still have the pieces for presentation and in the right setting it's great fun and evidently memorable for one little boy.

"SIT DOWN !!!!!" REVISITED

I knew I was subbing first grade today, but I didn't know for whom. All the first grade teachers at this particular school were out for a morning meeting. I wasn't really worried about it. Surely the odds were in my favor, but not so. A great dread swept over me as the secretary informed me what class I would be filling in for, but I braved ahead.

There were no valentines or sugar this time. No snow or three-day weekend to distract any ones concentration. I soon learned that none of those things had anything to do with my last encounter with mayhem. It was just a very high maintenance class, and again, I was given very little information by the teacher to guide me. I knew I needed to be quick on the draw. I jumped right in with my own version of a morning routine before anyone had a chance to derail me.

I had only been assigned a half-day so my interaction wasn't long. I even had a brief opportunity to visit with the teacher before I left to carry on in kindergarten for the rest of the day. I verbalized my concerns about her scanty instructions. I won't elaborate on all that we talked about, but I understood where she was coming from on why her directions were less instead of more. I was thankful for her candor and was very much relieved as she kindly assured me that as long as no one was maimed while I was there, I did good.

Happily when the teacher walked in it was the quietest the class had been under my realm. Maybe I was finally getting a handle on this rambunctious bunch. We had just gotten in from recess. The children were quietly sitting at their tables with heads down waiting for my direction to get a drink.

More likely than not, children are happy to see me. They even make a point to tell me that they wish I was their regular teacher. Of course, I know my place, I'm just a substitute to the real learning experience - a flash in the pan and I'm on my way. I can be a good show for one day and children fondly remember me. They make a point to say hello and talk with me, relaying their hope that I will comeback to their classroom someday.

So. . . . . I have to admit, I winced a bit when I heard sighs of obvious relief as their teacher walked through the door. I knew it was more than an expression of love. They knew I was leaving and they were glad to see me go. This class in no way had me on a pedestal. I was definitely a disruption to their classroom way of life. Dare I say, I'd be glad to have this class again. I would! I did better the second go-round and I do believe, third time's a charm.

"Whenever you are asked if you can do a job,

tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!'

Then get busy and find out how to do it."

Theodore Roosevelt

"SIT DOWN!!!!!"

It's incredible, so far this month I have subbed every day. I've had some "golden moments" which always give me a high, but last week I had "one of those days" - meaning it was horrific (at least in my eyes). I have had not so good days before, but what made this one different than the others was that I was so exasperated with the teacher. She left me so little to go on. Maybe she thought it was all perfectly clear. Her lesson plan book laid open neatly on her desk, but to me it was like reading hieroglyphics. I didn't know what she was talking about in spite of my familiarity with curriculum and classroom procedures. If there was another outline, I couldn't find it. I should have just taken over and done my own thing for the day then try to decipher the abbreviations that had been left for my guide, but then I do want to accomplish what the teacher asks.

It should have been a fun day of Valentine celebration, but it was discouraging instead. I have been in a number of first grade classrooms and have been good to keep things in check, but this situation turned into mania. It may have been a difficult class to start with, but following some routine would have definitely helped us pace through the day. Because I didn't have understandable instructions, things got out of control quickly as I thought through what to do next. As I was overcome by the onslaught of chaos, my good nature transformed. It was like a Jekyll and Hyde experience. In desperation I found myself turning into "CRAZY SUB".

I shouted, "SIT DOWN!!!!!" Oh the freak-out of it all! I just wasn't prepared for such bedlam. It was way out of control! I don't want to be punitive. I'm all about positive reinforcement, but these little first graders were riding me and running me to ruin.

Maybe it was because of the Valentine holiday (which means sugar), it was snowing outside too (which was of great excitement), and yes, the coming three-day weekend awaited (all sorts of fun plans ahead). No doubt this didn't help my situation. Whatever it all was, in spite of my preparedness, I wasn't prepared. I did not have strategies ready for this unexpected mayhem. I obviously did not come away happy about the day.

I was feeling disheartened as I handed off my classroom key to the school secretary, but soon realized that maybe I wasn't alone in my rancorous day. She cheerfully took my key and asked, "So how did sugar and snow mix in your classroom today?" She put a smile on my face which wasn't there before. I shook my already bowed head and said softly, "It wasn't good." She, still with a cheery heart and laugh, thanked me for my service. I thanked her too and as I walked away the cloud that had been raining on my subbing parade began to lift. I knew that in spite of my dismay it had been another learning experience in my subbing saga.

"Who dares to teach

must never cease to learn."

John Cotton Dana

Valentine Friend

We had a guest this weekend, Jedidiah Hudson. He's a friend of our family and we were happy to spend some time with him. Hiking at Red Rock Canyon seems to be standard procedure for visitors at our house. We also had some yummy food, played games, conversation, and church on Sunday. Jedidiah even went to the Young Adult Valentine Dance on Saturday night. We enjoyed his company. Our Valentine weekend was the better for it. Like family, he'll be visiting us again.

"Happy is the house that shelters a friend."
Ralph Waldo Emerson