Projects in the Banks' house

One thing is certain, kids keep you busy! Kennedy has a "Cold Weather Animal report" due this week. It was fun working on it with her. She was so proud of her finish project that we had to show it off! She had to have a written copy and a poster to show off as well. She is such a good kid. Besides having what her teacher calls and "attitude", she is very bright. She is the top reader of her class. What a good girl! She is awfully cute too.

Cassidee has to do the science project at school as well. Her experiment....see if green bags really work. We had a banana, a strawberry, and a tomato out of the bag, in a green bag, and in a regular ziplock baggie. We are going to see what works best.

These babies cost 10 bucks for 20 bags. Is it worth it? You can't wait to find out!!!

Then, my project...I've been correcting some comprehension tests that my students took on Friday. We are reading the book "Number the Stars". For those of you who are unfamiliar with this book, it is about a 10 year old girl who lives in Denmark during WWII. Her best friend is Jewish. After reading some of these answers, I have great hopes for our future generation.

Question: Do you think King Christian did the right thing by surrendering to the Nazis?

Answer: Yes, because a lot of people would have died.

Answer: Well, I think he did the right thing because with all the people killed, it wouldn't be Denmark anymore.

Question: Do you think the Jews were being treated fairly by the Germans?

Answer: I think the Jews aren't being treated fairly by the Germans because the Jews are being treated badly, shops taken away, and they can't choose religion.

Answer: I think the Jews are not being fair because people are people no matter how small.

Full Time

I am working full time right now. I'm sure many moms would look down on this aspect of my life but I am so absolutely happy! I am a hero everyday of my life.

There are moments when I miss Sicily so much but it really helps me appreciate the time that I have with her. She gets read to, sang to, played with, fed, and bathed. She is also going to a terrific day care which incorporates preschool concepts into their activities. My other two girls are happy because they get to see my all the time.

Needless to say, my life is full and happy. I can't believe the good fortune I have to have such great little girls and such a fantastic job.

Life is good

My sister-in-law is pretty much my best friend. When we go to the gym together, we can talk and laugh the whole time. Sometimes, when we lift weights, it'll take us hours to get through stuff. Then we get home, we can chat on Facebook, like we haven't seen each other for years or something. She is so fun and so kind. I'm glad my brother married her. For my birthday, she wanted to take me out to eat. We felt adventurous...so we took the train to SLC to Z Tejas. Those boys sitting behind us...they asked us where the party was after this. I told them we were way too out of their league. :)

We also met up with my fabulous teacher friends. The ones standing up teach in third grade with me. They are from Montana. The one sitting down has been there since the building of the school. We taught first grade together and now she is Kennedy's first grade teacher. They are the best...all of them!

What a fun time I had! Birthdays aren't so bad after all...

My Birthday Tag/post

So, I have to start with my amazing birthday. I am one year older and loving it. When I got to work today, my two friends had flowers on my desk. Then...they ordered pizza! They even checked with Joe to make sure it was my favorite kind and here is where it gets completely crazy-Joseph knew! Whoa!

I got many calls, texts, emails, and Facebook messages wishing me a happy day. I felt good all day. Then Joseph took the girls and me to my favorite place for sushi. Then I felt even better.Yummy! He also brought me some awesome presents. He is the best hubby ever.

The best was that my dad, MY DAD, text me tonight. If you know my dad, that is so out of control!

Kim tagged me....I tried to ignore it but felt guilty so here it goes.

1.Where is your cell phone? By my bed so that when my boyfriend calls I can sneak out.
2.Where is your significant other? Who?
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? so awesome
5. Your father? stud
6. Your favorite thing? My girls
7. Your dream last night? Making out with a boy from Joe's work
8. Your dream/goal? To survive my girls' adolescence
9. The room you're in? office
10. Your hobby? getting fat
11. Your fear? getting fat
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Not too fat
13. Where were you last night? Yoga with Kim.
14. What you're not? Naturally blonde
15. One of your wish-list items? A mud room
16. Where you grew up? Sandy, Utah
17. The last thing you did? Ate a birthday brownie from my rocking visiting teachers (please refer back to 10 and 11)
18. What are you wearing? PJ's
19. Your TV? Awesome to watch 24 on. I can't wait!!!
20. Your pet? Lucy
21. Your computer? PC
22. Your mood? Good
23. Missing someone? Mr. Sunshine and 90 degree weather
24. Your car? Armada
25. Something you're not wearing? Tiara and a boa (or am I?)
26. Favorite store? Barnes and Noble (geek)
27. Your summer? We rocked Palm Springs...how do I know it? Kim, that is all you.
28. Love someone? so many people
29. Your favorite color? Rainbow
30. When is the last time you laughed? I think I'm pretty dang funny. I'm laughing right now.
31. Last time you cried? I don't cry. I'm very cold....like Edward

So please, please, please, do it now. I don't wanna call anybody out. If you read this, you are tagged...I mean it! I know where you live! Wow, it is late!

New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl

New Orleans was such an adventure. I just wanted to soak up all the history and culture that I could in the short time we were there. It is such an amazing place and it is true what they say about southern hospitality. People were very kind everywhere! We had Utes high fiving us on the streets and Alabama fans telling us, "good luck" or "good game". It was incredible. The atmosphere of the game was great too. Everyone was so excited. I felt a lot of love. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go and to go with Joseph. He makes life so interesting.

This was my Cajun lunch. Joseph had alligator but since I'm not big on the meat eating, I stuck with some shrimp. Yummy.

This guy was incredibly brave. I had to get a picture with him!

Another dedicated fan!

We were happy campers at the Super Dome.

The Mississippi River was a blast too. We went on a river cruise and had all you can eat Cajun food. Then it started raining harder than I've ever seen it rain. We had to run home and we were drenched. Another thing that I've never EVER done before is take my shoes off in public. But on the cruise, I wore heels! Running in heels hurts. I took off my shoes and booked it. Joseph motivated me by telling me we were training for the Amazing Race.

It was so much fun! I'm posting more pictures to Facebook. I believe I have lost my blog readers so I'm kinda doing this as a journal now.