Embrace your Weirdness

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!

Yes, I feel a little coocoo and a little sassy right now.

 

But as I try to wrangle teenagers through the end of the year, it's understandable. 

They are feeling anxious for Summer and I'm trying to hold their attention

with literature just a little bit longer.  I know. 

But, really we're reading some great things right now! 

Ray Bradbury...Maya Angelou...SE Hinton...The Outsiders, folks!

"Stay gold Ponyboy.  Stay gold."

No matter how great the subject matter is,

to teenagers they are ready for Summer. 

So I wondered...

With all of the weirdness that is Middle School,

would they notice a chicken?

Or a teacher dancing like one?

hmmmm...
the answer...some notice, some just see it as the every day weirdness.

 

I always tell my students that a little weirdo is good.

Who really wants to be normal anyway?

 

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!

 

All middle school kids feel a little weird, so we embrace it!  We own it!

So what could be better, than a little chicken dance?

 

Arrested Development: Chicken Dance (Whole Family)

Not much, in my world!

In fact, I was demonstrating the chicken dance to one of my colleagues this morning.

(I know, silly.) 

But, it did the trick! Smiles. 

Smiles all around. 

Try it.  Go on! 

Try not to laugh, I dare you!

 

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo

...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!

 

Arrested Development: Chicken

See?!  Instant smiles and giggles. 

You can't help but smile.

So thank you Arrested Development! 

You're weird and exactly what I needed.

Be bold and embrace your weirdness today.

Go for it and smile!

 

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!

A pig, a water filter, and a coconut...

The title will make sense (kind of) later on.

Sitting around with a teen and two pre-teens, over Spring Break

I wondering what their thoughts about life...

well, mostly just random things about life.

So I forced them to put away their cell-phones,

turn off the TV, and answer these fascinating...

okay, they're still just random questions.
So...Whatcha Thinkin'?

Very Important, Random Questions

Favorite place in your house?
Jorden- living room, because there's a TV
Joe- out in the front
Leanna- my room, because I can put headphones on and ignore the world.

Favorite place to visit?
Jorden- beach
Joe- I don't know... Miami if I ever go
Leanna- mountains cause its quiet and peaceful

Favorite food?
Jorden- pancakes
Joe- dairy-free ice cream
Leanna- depends on the day (today) a pear. A green one, not a yellow... Just enough swish to be juicy.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Jorden- ?
Joe- S.W.A.T.
Leanna- FBI in the behavioral analysis department- (So I can stare at people and get paid...I added that. In fact any time you see the parentheses it's me...I have a hard time not commenting.)

What is the #1 most played song on your iPod right now?
Jorden- "Remember When" Chris Wallace
Joe- aaaa....nothing.
Leanna- "Mirrors" Justin Timberlake
              "Kiss tomorrow goodbye" Luke Bryan

If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
Jorden- Rebecca because its my favorite character on NCIS
Joe- James, like Lebron James
Leanna- Vanessa, because I like the name Vanessa

If you could be a character in a book what character would you be and why?
(Duh...I had to ask this.  The teacher in me was dying!)
Jorden- Katniss-I like her
Joe- ?
Leanna- Alice- in "Go,ask Alice" (me-why?!?) I don't know it's the only book I've read recently"

If you had to pick one animal to describe you, what would you pick?
Jorden- Flamingo, because it's pink.
Joe- Lion, because their called the king of the jungle and Lebron is called the King
Leanna- Squirrel...because I look all sweet & innocent but if you mess with me, I'll go crazy on your butt.

If you won the lottery right now, what is the first thing that you would do?
                               (Please say give money to Auntie!
                                Please say that you would give money to Auntie!)

Jorden- Get a corvette and go on a whooping spree.
             Out have of the money in my college fund...then go shopping. 
Leanna- Custom Hummer...right there. I'd buy several cars
             (How would you drive? You don't want to get your license?)
              I'd just sit in my driveway and be like ya I got this.
             (Hmmm...still nothing for me...maybe I should rethink my will...)

What do you think is one of biggest misconceptions people have about teenagers?
Leanna- that....um... all...why do people ask me these things? That they all are...deceitful, irresponsible people.

You have to eat the exact same meal for the next 12 months. What would you pick?
Jorden- fruit salad
Leanna- Mac 'n Cheese

If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours with one person,
who would you like that person to be?
Jorden- Kennedy, a friend that moved to Germany
Leanna- wait, I have to have someone? I'd like to be alone.
(Seriously, I'd pick Ryan Reynolds or someone funny like Sandra Bullock)













What about laughed until you cried?
Jorden- scaring Leanna- the day before yesterday...
Leanna- my brother running across, no photobombimg Caleb yesterday

If you were stranded on a desert is,
and and you could take three items,
what items would you take and why?
Jorden- 1) 20 year food containers
             2) water filter
             3) pop up tent
Leanna-1) pig, because they're 'funner' to have around
                 and I could eat it-ham
             2) Water filter-self explanatory
             3) Nails- I can build stuff! I don't need a
                 hammer...I'll use a coconut!

 Yeah...good luck with that coconut hammer Leanna! 
Haha! It probably won't work, but I like the creativity. 
www.bonappetit.com

Fence of Love for Loverboy

I can't believe it!
This build was just 7 miles for home!
I've never had a fence build so close before, but it really doesn't matter how far I have to travel to help out a dog in need.
Loverboy was such a sweet love, ready to run and explore his new world of freedom.
Enjoy a little glimpse into another fantastic morning.

 I feel blessed to get an opportunity to spend my mornings with these people. Their hearts are so big that joy explodes and spreads in every direction that they occupy.  I love being able to bask in their glow and recharge my joy bucket for the week.

How do you fill your joy bucket?
If you haven't found a place to refill yet, just look around you!
There are people everywhere doing amazing things to better the world around us. 
Join in the fun adventure of helping others.
You'll never regret it, I promise.

Immediate Spirit Boosters

There are some days that just need a little boost.  I find that teaching teenagers in May, when we only have 11 days left is, well, challenging.  They have one foot out the door and are dreaming of carefree days of summer, while I curriculum to cover for the end the year. To help myself stay sane, I have found a few quick and easy ways to boost spirits.

5.  The Happiest Facts To Make You Smile 

Yep...that worked.

4.  Sad Cat Diary
Yeah...I'm not sure why this makes me chuckle so much, but cats are funny.

3.  Tiny Beyonce and the Pink Ball
-I feel pure joy while watching this sweet little pup.

2.  Double Trouble - Simon's Cat
Nothing changes my frown to a smile like Simon's Cat, especially this video.

Trust me, this video can really change a mood.  I played it yesterday to one of my 8th grade classes.  Normally, they are "too cool" to enjoy silly animal videos, but this one made them laugh out loud!  Nothing bring a smile faster than the antics of a kitten.

1.  Kristen Bell's Sloth Meltdown
Okay...yes.  I think that I've posted this before, but it's such a mood booster for me that I HAD to post it again.  Heck, if you can hold it together better than Kristen Bell meeting a sloth, than you're doing fantastically.

Now don't you feel better?

I hope so!

Man, what did I do before YouTube?

I guess that's why I read the comics everyday growing up.
Smiling and laughter is really the best booster.

S'more Cookies

Yum, yum, YUM!!

People LOVE S'mores...

Well, most people do or at least they should!

What couldn't you love?

Chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers.

Now, I wasn't sure how or if I should add crackers, so I left them out.

But I definitely want to add those next time!

For my most recent Bake Sale I added these into the cookie rotation and they were a hit!

Next time I will need to triple the recipe to meet the demands of hungry (tempted) consumers.

S’more-ish Cookies
Slightly adapted from Chef-in-Training

Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks (or 3/4 cup) butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 (3.4 oz) package instant chocolate pudding
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
2-1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Stir together flour, salt and baking soda and set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together.
• Add in pudding package and beat until well blended.
• Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
• Add flour mixture slowly until well incorporated.
• Add mini chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Mix in.

Roll into 1″ balls and place on greased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes

I highly recommend making these cookies for your next BBQ, campfire, or just a Tuesday night.

Because I don't think you need a special occasion to enjoy a special cookie...

Any day is special when you have a delicious cookie like this.

Enjoy!

Light Shines Brillant in PDX

Nothing makes my heart soar like a night filled with love.
Tonight it was a love-fest for the Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc,
with the Lights of Hope Auction.

Not only did the people of Portland make the difference in the lives of children in Ethiopia,

but they also learned how far a little love can go when we join together.

I'm always so impressed with how far a little money can go.

Lights of Hope

Every day I listen to children complain about what luxuries they don't have and watch them toss healthy food straight into the bin.  It pains me.  The only positive is that all of the leftovers at our school go home with one of our teachers to feed their livestock.  It helps to know that the food isn't a complete waste. But when you see children so thankful for every morsel in other countries, I just wonder where we've gone wrong in our own society.  


Though those thoughts flooded my mind, they were not the problems that we helped that night.  Tonight it was all about the precious children and making their tummies full of nutritious food.

I'm not sure if I can really wrap my head around how far each dollar can go to make a complete change in lives...but here is a little glimpse at where the money directly goes from tonight's auction.

Two of these numbers were shocking to me...shocking in a wonderful way!

"English 6th grade text book $0.44" and "Biology school book $1.81". 

The textbooks purchased here in our country are so expensive! 

Each book used here in the United States ranges in price from $40.00-$80.00

...now that is shocking. 

I love that money can be used in such an economical way

and that the children are so thankful for each gift of education.

My heart puffs up with joy.

 

 

 

 

Love these very special girls and their gorgeous hearts!

Michael just wanted to make sure that they got his dinner order correct.

One of my little creations to help raise a little money.

Oh Happy Day!

 Roy and Ryan

This giraffe received a lot of love tonight!

Pucker up buttercup!

Kristi and Michael

Kelly and Kristi

The light of hope for those little lives, definitely reflected beautifully throughout the night.

And the beneficiaries were the children...what could be better than that?!

Nothing in my mind.

Reach out your heart, the impact is incredible.