A Hogwarts Halloween

This year's Halloween was fun and different. SB went to school all dressed up and ready to parade and party it up with her students. Britt went to class and work all dressed normally and ready to be productive. But when we came home, we were ready to head off to a new land. Our good friend, Abby, and her family transform their home into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, so we thought we'd check it out. It was so cool and creative! SB had a perma-smile the whole time, like a kid in a candy store. They had Dumbledore, Rita Skeeter, Tonks, Bellatrix, Lucious Malfoy, the Dursleys, Mrs. Weasley, Professor Trelawney, Fleur, Luna Lovegood, the hippogriff, Hagrid, Moaning Myrtle, Filch, Ollivander the wand maker, quidditch, the Sorting Hat, Professor Hooch, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, butterbeer, and anything else that has to do with Harry Potter and Hogwarts.

SB's darling class

Group shot in Alpine

Individual shots...see if you can guess

Edna 'E' Mode

Hogwarts student

Witch

Superhero or 80's fitness instructor--you choose

Katie with baby Tyler

Jake was "so happy"

Cameron was ready to go trick-or-treating

Here's Hogwarts...

Getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4

Telling the Fat Lady talking portrait the password to get into the Gryffindor Commons Room

Fleur with Edna

Standing in the Great Hall with Fleur (notice the floating candles)

A real life hippogriff

Making a stop in Hogsmeade at The 3 Broomsticks to get some butterbeer

Poor Moaning Myrtle

Saying "hello" to the Dursleys

The Womping Willow and Mr. Weasley's car

Being sorted

The Sorting Hat took a long time on Britt

Fortunes told by Professor Trelawney

Trying out the Expecto Patronum spell at Ollivander's Wand Shop

The patronus

Professor Umbridge writing "I will not tell a lie"

The crew

Eating some food and taking a break

Dumbledore saw us off

Fall Break

The first semester of school is always the best, no matter what grade you're in (or teach). There's a holiday in every month, and that then makes you even more excited for the next one coming up. Oh man, I can hardly wait for Thanksgiving and then Christmas! The holiday break for October that took me down to Arizona was Fall Break. It was great, grand, and wonderful. The best thing was seeing my new baby nephew, Dax Cooley Phelps, that was born ON my bday!

Playing with darling Quinn and Dax

Graham wanted in on the fun

Ava is pretty, darn cute

Our first hockey game--what an experience!

Sara Beth's Birthday

Who: YOU are all invited to SB's b-day shindig!

What: SB's birthday!!

Where: Chatsworth North 6

When: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 9 pm

Why: Food, Friends, & Fun!!!

Autumn-graphs

Sunday afternoon found us driving the Nebo Loop. Simply stunning colors! Scenic drives in the fall are my favorite. That afternoon also found us taking some pictures. Below are some of my favorite from the some 200 that were snapped.

One of the first shots busted out

Our eye colors are natural

Very coy

Cute

Self-timer

Everyone had to take a try at the J Crew magazine shot...

Katie

Emily

SB

Jennifer

Crouching pose...SB's favorite

Sassy Emily

9 years

Yes, please

A cool misjudgment

Innocence

Roommate (family) picture

Tired of smiling

Fall Field Trip

My 3rd graders and I had our first field trip yesterday. It was great! I brought this field trip from Larsen to Canyon. We boarded the buses at 8:45 AM and took off for Provo Canyon. We walked from Nunn's Park to Vivian Park, ate lunch at Vivian Park, played some games, and then jumped on the buses to go to the Bean Museum at BYU. While we were there, we watched a presentation on ecosystems and then browsed the museum exhibits. By the time we unloaded the buses back at school, the kids were exhausted. My favorite feeling for them! I think a nice time was had by all. I can't believe how different my class is compared to last year. I have only 22 students (darn! that means I'll get the next new student), and my students know how to raise their hands, stay in their seats, turn in their homework, etc. Besides all the crazy stuff that comes with starting a new school, my other life has been just as crazy. But, I like it that way. Below are some pictures from the field trip.