Now that Spring Break is over, panic mode is setting in. We only have about five weeks left of school! Holy crap, I've got a lot to catch up on!
We are now looking for someone to take over my post next year. I've got mixed feelings about the whole process. I know that the center needs someone new, someone with different views and different skills. I think the center needs someone who can better reach out to our students and who can transform the position to something that better fits the needs of our students. At the same time, I'm a bit sad to be leaving the position. It has been a very good year full of growing experiences for myself and the center, and it will be hard to stop doing those things which the position demanded, like keeping office hours and meeting students and talking with them during those hours. I won't, however, miss trying to find a babysitter in the middle of the day or putting off time with my daughter because I have so many things that I need to do. So mixed feelings all around. If you want to apply for this position, please feel free to contact me, and I can get you all the information you need!
I am excited for the end of the semester in terms of ending the loads of homework. I'm looking forward to tending a garden, and our first family vacation to Disneyland. Summer will be a good break for me.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Spring Break Fever
WOW! Next week is Spring Break! I'll be glad for the opportunity to get caught up in my classes because I've unfortunately fallen behind in a few things. And, of course, Spring Break promises some sun-soaking opportunities, I hope. Picnic lunches, walks outside, etc.
Speaking of walking, my daughter learned to walk this week! We were so excited because she wasn't even really showing any signs of even wanting to walk until one day while we were outside and the neighbor kids were playing and running around on the grass. My daughter never liked to leave the patio behind our apartment because she hates the feel of grass and would have to crawl on the grass if she wanted to leave the patio. The next day, she decided that it was about time that she started walking so she could play with the kids outside. She still needs to hold someone's hand while she walks around, but she's doing it! It's fun to watch her discover all of the things out in the world like twigs, blades of grass, leaves, and pine cones.
Next week is our CEU-USU activity! It's going to be a BLAST! We've got pizza and veggie trays for all, and the kids will be able to have a story corner and a movie. The adults will be watching "Arsenic and Old Lace." It was hard to find, but I finally found and ordered a copy. I hope we'll have a good turnout!
Speaking of walking, my daughter learned to walk this week! We were so excited because she wasn't even really showing any signs of even wanting to walk until one day while we were outside and the neighbor kids were playing and running around on the grass. My daughter never liked to leave the patio behind our apartment because she hates the feel of grass and would have to crawl on the grass if she wanted to leave the patio. The next day, she decided that it was about time that she started walking so she could play with the kids outside. She still needs to hold someone's hand while she walks around, but she's doing it! It's fun to watch her discover all of the things out in the world like twigs, blades of grass, leaves, and pine cones.
Next week is our CEU-USU activity! It's going to be a BLAST! We've got pizza and veggie trays for all, and the kids will be able to have a story corner and a movie. The adults will be watching "Arsenic and Old Lace." It was hard to find, but I finally found and ordered a copy. I hope we'll have a good turnout!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Fantastic February Fun
Well, February has been an extremely busy month!
My daughter turned 1 this week. It was a lot of fun to have her experience that for the first time. Poor girl didn't get the concept of blowing out the giant "1" candle and almost burned her nose off! She totally grasped the concept of eating cupcakes, though, and was able to achieve a full-body Vanilla Frosting mask with complimentary pink cake speckles! That took a long time to clean up, but it was worth it!
The last week of January we were able to hold a recruiting effort at CEU's student center. We ordered three 2 1/2 gal. buckets of Aggie Ice Cream (oh, yeah... only the good stuff!) and sat in the student center handing out ice cream cones and talking about USU-Price. We were able to talk with about 100 students, most of which didn't even know that USU-Price existed. I feel that it was a success, as we were at least able to get word out to the students (and a few faculty/staff who didn't know that we had master's programs). Next, I'm going to take a page out of USU-Ephraim's book and design a flier and do some dormstorming! That will be fun!
In terms of activities, I've decided to do one large activity for the semester in combination with CEU's nontraditional committee. I think I mentioned the idea we were developing in my last post. We haven't been getting much of a turnout for our regular monthly activities, so I'm wondering if we'll get a better turnout for one large, family-friendly, singles-friendly, etc-friendly activity. We'll see how it goes!
I have a new nephew! Well, actually, he's my only nephew. Before, I only had a niece. Anyways, he was born the day after my daughter's first birthday! Yeah for more cousins! This makes two cousins for my daughter, and three grandkids total for that side of the family. My side of the family only has my daughter in terms of grandkids and really needs to catch up!
My daughter turned 1 this week. It was a lot of fun to have her experience that for the first time. Poor girl didn't get the concept of blowing out the giant "1" candle and almost burned her nose off! She totally grasped the concept of eating cupcakes, though, and was able to achieve a full-body Vanilla Frosting mask with complimentary pink cake speckles! That took a long time to clean up, but it was worth it!
The last week of January we were able to hold a recruiting effort at CEU's student center. We ordered three 2 1/2 gal. buckets of Aggie Ice Cream (oh, yeah... only the good stuff!) and sat in the student center handing out ice cream cones and talking about USU-Price. We were able to talk with about 100 students, most of which didn't even know that USU-Price existed. I feel that it was a success, as we were at least able to get word out to the students (and a few faculty/staff who didn't know that we had master's programs). Next, I'm going to take a page out of USU-Ephraim's book and design a flier and do some dormstorming! That will be fun!
In terms of activities, I've decided to do one large activity for the semester in combination with CEU's nontraditional committee. I think I mentioned the idea we were developing in my last post. We haven't been getting much of a turnout for our regular monthly activities, so I'm wondering if we'll get a better turnout for one large, family-friendly, singles-friendly, etc-friendly activity. We'll see how it goes!
I have a new nephew! Well, actually, he's my only nephew. Before, I only had a niece. Anyways, he was born the day after my daughter's first birthday! Yeah for more cousins! This makes two cousins for my daughter, and three grandkids total for that side of the family. My side of the family only has my daughter in terms of grandkids and really needs to catch up!
Friday, January 30, 2009
FUMBLE!
WOW! January seems to have flown by! This weekend will begin February, whether I'm ready or not!
A lot of progress has been made with the activity in combination with CEU. However, because of scheduling difficulties, the activity will be in March instead of February. It's going to be awesome! We are going to have CEU nontraditional students and all USU-Price students come for a dinner-and-a-movie night at the CEU student center. We have been able to figure out the volunteer babysitting issues so that parents can come and not have to worry about getting a babysitter for their kids. How it's going to work is that the families can come and drop their kids off at one place, where the kids will be able to have dinner and have a few fun stations for entertainment, including a story corner, cookie decorating corner, and a movie corner. Meanwhile, in another room, the adults will be able to have a nice date night. We are planning a nice sit-down dinner, and later a movie projected up on a screen. It will be held during spring break because nontraditional students don't really get to have a spring break, what with their jobs and families and such, so we're thinking of doing a "can't go to Hawaii? Let us bring Hawaii to you!" sort of theme. We'll see if the idea sticks!
It has been BUSY these past few weeks! I haven't even been able to sit down and have free time with all that has been going on! I only have this semester and next before I can graduate, so the workload is quite heavy. Until last weekend, I had no idea that two history books could be read and an analysis essay written in the course of three days! Go figure! And it didn't stop there! Luckily, I think I can see a bit of a letup come next week or the following week.
This week has been interesting in terms of recruitment efforts! On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week I had a recruitment table set up during the busiest 2 hours of the day in the student center on the CEU campus. I had three large containers of Aggie Ice Cream delivered (unfortunately, it didn't arrive on time to be served on Tuesday), and I was able to serve and talk to over 100 CEU students and some staff (who really just wanted some free dessert). I was amazed at how many students didn't even know that USU-Price existed! Well, I feel satisfied in knowing that I changed that for at least 100 people. The next efforts I'll be doing will be to write up a flier for "The top 10 reasons to stay in Price and go to USU" and then to post them around the CEU campus, in buildings, and on CEU dorm doors. USU-Ephraim gave me the idea, called "Dorm Storming." I'm hoping to see a change in at least the knowledge that USU-Price exists, and maybe even elicit some interest in going to USU-Price.
A lot of progress has been made with the activity in combination with CEU. However, because of scheduling difficulties, the activity will be in March instead of February. It's going to be awesome! We are going to have CEU nontraditional students and all USU-Price students come for a dinner-and-a-movie night at the CEU student center. We have been able to figure out the volunteer babysitting issues so that parents can come and not have to worry about getting a babysitter for their kids. How it's going to work is that the families can come and drop their kids off at one place, where the kids will be able to have dinner and have a few fun stations for entertainment, including a story corner, cookie decorating corner, and a movie corner. Meanwhile, in another room, the adults will be able to have a nice date night. We are planning a nice sit-down dinner, and later a movie projected up on a screen. It will be held during spring break because nontraditional students don't really get to have a spring break, what with their jobs and families and such, so we're thinking of doing a "can't go to Hawaii? Let us bring Hawaii to you!" sort of theme. We'll see if the idea sticks!
It has been BUSY these past few weeks! I haven't even been able to sit down and have free time with all that has been going on! I only have this semester and next before I can graduate, so the workload is quite heavy. Until last weekend, I had no idea that two history books could be read and an analysis essay written in the course of three days! Go figure! And it didn't stop there! Luckily, I think I can see a bit of a letup come next week or the following week.
This week has been interesting in terms of recruitment efforts! On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week I had a recruitment table set up during the busiest 2 hours of the day in the student center on the CEU campus. I had three large containers of Aggie Ice Cream delivered (unfortunately, it didn't arrive on time to be served on Tuesday), and I was able to serve and talk to over 100 CEU students and some staff (who really just wanted some free dessert). I was amazed at how many students didn't even know that USU-Price existed! Well, I feel satisfied in knowing that I changed that for at least 100 people. The next efforts I'll be doing will be to write up a flier for "The top 10 reasons to stay in Price and go to USU" and then to post them around the CEU campus, in buildings, and on CEU dorm doors. USU-Ephraim gave me the idea, called "Dorm Storming." I'm hoping to see a change in at least the knowledge that USU-Price exists, and maybe even elicit some interest in going to USU-Price.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
JANUARY JUGGLING
Well, we are now on our second week of the semester! Tasks I've been able to accomplish these past few weeks were to: 1. print and analyze syllabi 2. send a welcome email to my students with a rundown of how to get in contact with me and what sorts of issues I can help with 3. a little homework got done - wooo! 4. planning for February's USU activity is in the near future.
If anyone has any suggestions for February's activity, I would be more than willing to hear about them! As it is, I'm planning on combining with CEU's nontraditional student chairperson. We have been thinking about putting together an activity for the students, a kind of Valentine's Day date night. The main issues we are hung up on are: 1. do we have enough funds between the two organizations? 2. can we legally offer options for free babysitting by a group of volunteers? 3. how many people can we realistically expect to attend (and consequently, how many babysitters will we realistically need to "hire"?)? If anyone has any ideas, PLEASE let me know! We really want to do this activity, but we're having a hard time of the mechanics and expectations!
I'm still trying to figure out how best to juggle the workload from my classes. It's so different this semester than it was last semester! Last semester was a lot more structured, where this semester seems to have due dates that are more sporatic and uneven. It will be interesting to see how the juggling goes and how things will fall into place.
If anyone has any suggestions for February's activity, I would be more than willing to hear about them! As it is, I'm planning on combining with CEU's nontraditional student chairperson. We have been thinking about putting together an activity for the students, a kind of Valentine's Day date night. The main issues we are hung up on are: 1. do we have enough funds between the two organizations? 2. can we legally offer options for free babysitting by a group of volunteers? 3. how many people can we realistically expect to attend (and consequently, how many babysitters will we realistically need to "hire"?)? If anyone has any ideas, PLEASE let me know! We really want to do this activity, but we're having a hard time of the mechanics and expectations!
I'm still trying to figure out how best to juggle the workload from my classes. It's so different this semester than it was last semester! Last semester was a lot more structured, where this semester seems to have due dates that are more sporatic and uneven. It will be interesting to see how the juggling goes and how things will fall into place.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
A DAY IN MY LIFE
I have been asked to give a rundown of what the typical day looks like for me, so here it goes.
I wake up between 7:30 and 8 AM, depending on when my little girl wakes up. I send my husband off to work, then my daughter and I enjoy breakfast together. Of course, when I say "enjoy," it really means "laugh sometimes or cry sometimes depending on whether her food goes in her mouth, or all over me." She's usually pretty good with breakfast, though, so we rarely have those days where a change of clothes is required every few hours.
After breakfast, I get ready and take stock of the day; what I need to accomplish in each respect of my life that day, the timing needed to get everything done, etc. Planners are essential to keep some order in my life! Then I sit down to the computer. I pray that I have an internet connection (most Mondays I do not, in which case I have to call the maintenance guy and spend the morning doing laundry and working around the house until I do have the internet), and watch my daughter play with her toys in the living room. When I get online, I check my email, both personal and for my Student Rep responsibilities, and send emails out. If other things are required to get some matters of business resolved, I spend about an hour on the phone or sending email back and forth, but if nothing else is needed, I get to the homework portion of the day. Each Monday (after I have the internet) I spend about an hour going through each of my classes and writing down what needs to be accomplished and the corresponding due dates and times. About half-way through this process, my daughter becomes interested in what I am doing (specifically, all the buttons on the computer), and a war of the wills occurs. I try to distract her with other things until I can finish going through the weekly homework run-down, then it is her nap time.
Nap time is wonderful!! That is really when most of my homework gets done. Some days I am able to accomplish more than other days, but it all seems to even out in the end. During my daughter's 1 1/2 to 2 hour morning nap, I concentrate on my homework and try to do all I can. It is really hard to do homework when she is awake, as she becomes extremely interested in tearing my books, eating my papers ("My baby ate my homework" really is a valid excuse for me!), or pounding on the computer keyboard. So once she is up from her nap, which usually occurs at about 11:30 AM, it is my lunch break. I feed my daughter and wait for my husband to come home for lunch, then spend an hour eating lunch, chatting and maybe playing on the playstation.
About a half hour after my husband leaves, it's my daughter's afternoon nap time. We put the toys away, do her naptime routine, and she goes down for her nap. During her nap time, I once again start back on homework and maybe send out a few more emails or plan the month's USU activity. When my daughter gets up from her second nap, I try to finish up whatever task I'm doing (right now I'm finishing up this post while my daughter wrestles my arm for a chance at the keyboard), and put away my homework for the day, checking off on my lists those things that are completed, and making notes as to where I should start the next day.
Then it's dinner prep time. My husband isn't one of those who thinks that his wife should have dinner on the table hot and ready for him when he gets home, but I usually prefer to start preparing dinner around 4:30 just because that's most convenient for my own and my daughter's schedules. So dinner is usually ready around 5:15, which is around the same time my husband gets home from work. The evening is devoted to spending time with my husband and daughter, relaxing from the day's work. My daughter goes to bed at around 7 PM, and my husband and I end the day at around 10 PM.
Two days a week, I have office hours for my student rep responsibilities, which are taken in the evenings when my husband can keep an eye on our daughter, and my husband does a wonderful job helping out around the house before he goes to work so that I can devote more time to my homework. Sometimes I may find that the hours during the day is inadequate for accomplishing my week's homework or student rep responsibilities, and on those days my husband enjoys "daddy-daughter time" so I can get in a few more hours' work.
Although the day may seem quite rigorous in terms of keeping to a rigid schedule, I've found that this is what works best for me and my family. I am able to devote enough time and attention to my daughter while she is awake, to my husband when he is home, and my homework and other responsibilities in my "free" time. I make it a personal rule that I don't do any homework on Sundays, which is wonderful for giving my mind a day's rest and getting it ready for the coming week.
I wake up between 7:30 and 8 AM, depending on when my little girl wakes up. I send my husband off to work, then my daughter and I enjoy breakfast together. Of course, when I say "enjoy," it really means "laugh sometimes or cry sometimes depending on whether her food goes in her mouth, or all over me." She's usually pretty good with breakfast, though, so we rarely have those days where a change of clothes is required every few hours.
After breakfast, I get ready and take stock of the day; what I need to accomplish in each respect of my life that day, the timing needed to get everything done, etc. Planners are essential to keep some order in my life! Then I sit down to the computer. I pray that I have an internet connection (most Mondays I do not, in which case I have to call the maintenance guy and spend the morning doing laundry and working around the house until I do have the internet), and watch my daughter play with her toys in the living room. When I get online, I check my email, both personal and for my Student Rep responsibilities, and send emails out. If other things are required to get some matters of business resolved, I spend about an hour on the phone or sending email back and forth, but if nothing else is needed, I get to the homework portion of the day. Each Monday (after I have the internet) I spend about an hour going through each of my classes and writing down what needs to be accomplished and the corresponding due dates and times. About half-way through this process, my daughter becomes interested in what I am doing (specifically, all the buttons on the computer), and a war of the wills occurs. I try to distract her with other things until I can finish going through the weekly homework run-down, then it is her nap time.
Nap time is wonderful!! That is really when most of my homework gets done. Some days I am able to accomplish more than other days, but it all seems to even out in the end. During my daughter's 1 1/2 to 2 hour morning nap, I concentrate on my homework and try to do all I can. It is really hard to do homework when she is awake, as she becomes extremely interested in tearing my books, eating my papers ("My baby ate my homework" really is a valid excuse for me!), or pounding on the computer keyboard. So once she is up from her nap, which usually occurs at about 11:30 AM, it is my lunch break. I feed my daughter and wait for my husband to come home for lunch, then spend an hour eating lunch, chatting and maybe playing on the playstation.
About a half hour after my husband leaves, it's my daughter's afternoon nap time. We put the toys away, do her naptime routine, and she goes down for her nap. During her nap time, I once again start back on homework and maybe send out a few more emails or plan the month's USU activity. When my daughter gets up from her second nap, I try to finish up whatever task I'm doing (right now I'm finishing up this post while my daughter wrestles my arm for a chance at the keyboard), and put away my homework for the day, checking off on my lists those things that are completed, and making notes as to where I should start the next day.
Then it's dinner prep time. My husband isn't one of those who thinks that his wife should have dinner on the table hot and ready for him when he gets home, but I usually prefer to start preparing dinner around 4:30 just because that's most convenient for my own and my daughter's schedules. So dinner is usually ready around 5:15, which is around the same time my husband gets home from work. The evening is devoted to spending time with my husband and daughter, relaxing from the day's work. My daughter goes to bed at around 7 PM, and my husband and I end the day at around 10 PM.
Two days a week, I have office hours for my student rep responsibilities, which are taken in the evenings when my husband can keep an eye on our daughter, and my husband does a wonderful job helping out around the house before he goes to work so that I can devote more time to my homework. Sometimes I may find that the hours during the day is inadequate for accomplishing my week's homework or student rep responsibilities, and on those days my husband enjoys "daddy-daughter time" so I can get in a few more hours' work.
Although the day may seem quite rigorous in terms of keeping to a rigid schedule, I've found that this is what works best for me and my family. I am able to devote enough time and attention to my daughter while she is awake, to my husband when he is home, and my homework and other responsibilities in my "free" time. I make it a personal rule that I don't do any homework on Sundays, which is wonderful for giving my mind a day's rest and getting it ready for the coming week.
Friday, January 2, 2009
NO CONNECTION
Well, I've gone almost three weeks without having an internet connection. I didn't realize just how much I depend on the internet for day-to-day tasks until I had to go so long without it!
My family and I have been spending the holidays with extended family. My brother came home from his Charleston, WV mission this month, so it was really nice to be able to spend some time with him. I've learned that it's hard to be away from home for so long, and I'm looking forward to returning home this evening.
It's been a really nice holiday break for myself and my family, but it's time to get back to the grinding stone. School starts up again on Monday. I also have a dentist appointment on Monday. Not fun. It's a good thing my classes are all online so that my fellow classmates don't have to see me in all my chipmunk grandeur!
I hope you have all had success this past semester. For myself, it was the most successful semester so far at USU, and I am now down to a year of school. This next semester is going to be fun, and I hope I can continue to pull good grades.
My family and I have been spending the holidays with extended family. My brother came home from his Charleston, WV mission this month, so it was really nice to be able to spend some time with him. I've learned that it's hard to be away from home for so long, and I'm looking forward to returning home this evening.
It's been a really nice holiday break for myself and my family, but it's time to get back to the grinding stone. School starts up again on Monday. I also have a dentist appointment on Monday. Not fun. It's a good thing my classes are all online so that my fellow classmates don't have to see me in all my chipmunk grandeur!
I hope you have all had success this past semester. For myself, it was the most successful semester so far at USU, and I am now down to a year of school. This next semester is going to be fun, and I hope I can continue to pull good grades.
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