Another funny singles ward story

I should have done this a while ago but as I told this story again I realized that it is a REALLY funny story. So...here it is!

It was a few weeks ago and I was sitting quietly next to my roommate waiting for relief society to start. I was reading my scriptures or the Ensign or something just minding my own business preparing my mind to learn something new that day. As I was quietly sitting there this cute bubbly (very bubbly) girl asks if she can sit by me. I say yes and we exchange hellos and our names and then she starts a conversation with the girl in front of her that goes something like this. To protect the innocence of these cute young girls, they will be called girl 1 and girl 2. (note that girl 1 is the girl sitting next to me!)

Girl 1: Oh my goodness, I love your sweater

Girl 2: Oh thanks so much! Aren't you the girl with the cute shoes?

Girl 1: Yes (smile and head tilt!)

Girl 2: Oh wow, I love your class ring!!! When did you graduate??

Girl 1: Oh thanks....it was forever ago, like 2010!

(by now I am clearly intrigued with this conversation and no longer paying attention to whatever it was I was reading!)

Girl 2: Where did you go to high school?

Girl 1: Hunter High School in West Valley!

(Yes, you read that correctly! To not embarrass this poor girl, I just turned my head and covered my eyes! Yes, she could have been my student!)

Is it time for me to leave this ward....yea, I think so!!!

Mary is HOME!!!

After a long long wait, Mary is home!!!!! Mary has been serving the last 18 months in Minnesota and on Thursday she came home. She was supposed to fly in to Idaho Falls at 2:43 (to be exact!). We had everything planned. Awesome signs, everyone in their Minnesota shirts, Grammie and Papa were there as well as Tyler ready and waiting. Then, I get a call....a random number and I feel I should answer it. And it's Mary. She tells me that their plane from Minneapolis was an hour late and they missed their flight from Salt Lake to Idaho Falls by 5 minutes. The next 2 flights to IF were full and the one they could get on wasn't leaving until 8pm! So, they 3 missionaries and a friend rent a car and drive like mad to get to Idaho Falls.
It was so fun to see her and she looks great!

Here are a few things we did this week!

- mow the lawn
- move some pipe
- play with Brooklyn
-watch some movies
- play with Brooklyn again
- make some signs for Mary
- play with Brooklyn

We went to the Upper Place for a hot dog roast.

Brooklyn was a little shy around Mary but that didn't take too long. All Mary had to do was feed her some M&M's!

Of course I need to put a random picture. Mom and I got this outfit for Brooky for her birthday! She looked so cute!!!

So, welcome home Mary. We are so happy to have you home. We miss our other missionary but before we know it he will be home too!

Less than 24 hours to go!!!!

I cannot wait!!!! In less than 24 hours we will wait patiently (or not so patiently) at the Idaho Falls Airport for Mary, my awesome sister who has been serving faithfully as a missionary in Minnesota for the last 18 months! With our crazy busy schedule today with moving sprinkler pipe and mowing 2 lawns and cleaning cars, we sat around making signs ready to welcome home one of our missionaries! I am so excited to see her and am so excited for Tyler to meet her. I forget that they have never met before but it is because of Mary that we did meet! So sis, thanks for going on a mission but I am SO excited to have you home!!!! See you soon!!!

Dear Dad...I love you!

Happy Fathers Day Dad. Today, this one is for you! Where do I begin to thank you for all you have done for me in my life. You have been there since day one (though that is Brooklyn in the picture above, I know you held each of your children as babies with great love and joy!) I am so lucky to have you as a dad! From motorcycle rides in the evenings to picking rocks and building fences you have taught me lessons that I will never forget and that I will one day teach to my children, hopefully just as well as you taught them to me.

Thank you Dad for a kind heart and a listening ear. And also for a shoulder to cry on or listening to me on the phone until your phone goes dead! For taking time out of your busy day to talk with me or just call me up to say I love you!

With Father's Day fast approaching I want you to know how much I love you! I am the woman I am today because of all you and Mom taught me. I love you Dad!!!! Happy Fathers Day!

Happy 29th Birthday to me!!!

Well, yesterday! Yesterday was my 29th birthday and it was so perfect! I am so grateful to my parents for bringing me into this world and for all they have taught me! My day started off with a two hour trip to the gym (which seems to be a constant this summer). At 12:00(ish) Tyler came and it was so great to see him! We did presents (which were great! Thanks Ty!!!!) had lunch and then headed to Cowabunga Bay for a day of fun in the sun!

Our fun in the sun lasted only a few hours. Though Cowabunga Bay is fun and we both loved the green water slide the best, it is more for kids. But, we had a blast and got a little bit of sunshine and relaxation! We then headed to the aquarium........

Yes, that is a frog!!!

We had a great time at the aquarium then we headed to IKEA. Tyler is opening a Missionary Mall in Idaho Falls and they are getting closer to opening but needs stuff to hold all the suits and shirts. So we went and did some looking there. Dinner was next and we went to this Mexican Restaurant in Draper and it was so good! It was a perfect day and I loved spending the whole day with this guy.....

Many wonderful things have happened this past year and probably one of the best is spending so much time with my very best friend! I love you Tyler and thanks for a perfect day!!!!

Attempt at a new hobby....we'll see how it goes!

I made this! I know it is shocking!!!! I am super in need of things to do so I have been trying to come up with a hobby. Yes, I should practice the piano but no piano. I considered buying a violin but decided against it. Baking would be great but who is going to eat it all??? I thought maybe I would try to cook up a new recipe once a week. But, I decided that I would try to be a little more crafty. I have been looking online trying to find easy craft ideas. I figure I have plenty of time and I will be decorating a house so I might as well get a head start.

One afternoon I decided to make this magnet board. Some aluminum, cork board, material, ribbon and a glue gun. So easy even I could do it! Any ideas for my next craft project will be greatly appreciated!!!!

Happy Birthday Brooky!!!!

Dear Brooky,

One year ago today this beautiful little thing was born. And she has brought pure joy to the Stokes and Young families. Ok, pure joy to anyone who meets her!!!!! And that beautiful little thing is YOU! I remember one year ago sitting in a meeting waiting and waiting and waiting to hear the news that you made it safely into the world with your mom and dad right there! They love you so much and so does everyone who meets you! One week after you were born I was able to pull of the biggest surprise in Stokes family history and show up at your house in Bozeman, Montana. Never have I seen your mom jump up and down like that!!! It was wonderful to meet you and this past year has been wonderful to see you grow and develop the cutest personality!

Happy Birthday Brooky and remember that I love you and am so happy you are a part of our family! Our lives are forever changed!!!

Love, your auntie Carrie

Farewell Hunter High School

This was me yesterday.....eyes a little puffy and red and carrying a box of tissues all over at graduation. That box of tissues was my best friend yesterday as it was a very emotion filled day. Yesterday I said farewell to my Hunter High School family and the students that I have grown to love. I never thought it would be so hard to say goodbye to a place that sometimes drove me crazy and students that gave me a headache of all headaches. But as I was walking out of my classroom for the last time I lost it. It was there that I spent more hours than I did at my own house and there where kids were taught, yelled at and hopefully inspired. I am truly grateful for my 4 years of teaching experience at Hunter High School and all that I learned there. Here are a few things that come to mind....

- be friends with the Polynesian boys...they will always have your back!
- Sometimes you just don't want to teach....and sometimes the kids just don't want to learn. It's okay to show a movie!!! (and you can always relate it to history)
-make sure there is always a little bit of chocolate around. It is either for you or for a student. They have bad days too!
- Monday mornings the school ALWAYS stinks!
-Have a sweater around just in case (and remember that Kathy always has extras!)
- the kids will always know more about technology than me (and they are shocked when I say I do know how to run a DVD player)
-Assembly days are always crazy
-when you teach a group for more than a year, you will feel like they are your own children (thanks AVID class of 2011! It was a pleasure!!)
- sometimes you are more like their mom than a teacher
-and sometimes you are more like a sister
-and sometimes you feel like you are a drill sergeant!
-make sure you always have tissues and hand sanitizer around
- movies are a great thing especially around UEA, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and the end of the year!
- Kids need motivation
-There are usually more kids that love you than hate you
-Graduation is so fun and exciting but sad when you are saying goodbye to what feels like your own kids!
-As a teacher, more good is done that you will ever know

I got this email from one of my AVID students and it explains exactly how great it is to be a teacher...

thanks miss stokes for always being there and believing in me when I didn't even believe in myself.. I was always worried about what my mom would think and what you would do when I was slacking... Thank for being a second mom to me... Thank you miss stokes!!

Thank you Hunter High School and every student I have ever taught. I am truly a better person because of my time there! I will miss so many things about that school and those 180 days of school. Thank you for teaching me more than you will ever know!

Quote of my life!

This is seriously the best thing of the 2010-2011 school year. Well, at least the best thing in the year book. Of course I didn't get one but should have for this quote. This is one of my student body officers, Tommy and I am writing this blog post with his permission.

So, the question on the side is "What is the best way to get a teacher side tracked?" There responses such as "talk about their family" or "tell them how cool they are". Well, Tommy said this..."Depends on the teacher. With Miss Stokes talk about engagement!" well said Tommy, well said!!!