Reflections of an 8th grader

Ever wonder what 8th graders actually think about? 
Yes? No?
Either way teenagers are just interesting creatures.
Though they think that school is
"stupid" or "pointless" or "way too long."
When they really think back on their time,
they find a few things that they enjoyed.
Just a few things though...just a few. 




Favorite Things About Middle School:
Band trip to Seattle
More freedom
Art Class with Mr. Rich!
KAOS with Tracy and Amanda
Ape Caves
1st dances
Outdoor School
Girls
New Social Ethics
Reduction Days (hmmm...)
Lunch with your friends
Hunger Games -Reading the book and going to the movie
More mature
The teachers are amazing
Playing with fire
Boys
Work is important- it has meaning
Not having the same teacher all day
Closer to high school
Support from teachers
Band
Chambers
Sense of Independence
Learning experience- you learn to be tough
Solar Car Races
Emmons
Skow
New friends without drama
Free pencils
Lockers
Talent Show
Mr. D(auenhauer)
The Whole Thing!
You learn a lot about yourself and grow as a person
Projects like the island in 6th grade and egg in 7th grade
Teacher know you and you can joke around with them a little more.
Being the oldest in the school
Being weird with nobody judging me
Coming closer together with my peers


Things that You Enjoy About Summer:
Horseback Riding
My Birthday!
Singing and dancing around
No bed time
Not having to wear certain clothes
Ice Cream
Sleep
Sleeping in
Fourth of July
Pendleton Round-up
Adrenaline rushes
Summer Ball! Volleyball, basketball, baseball
Theater camp
Doing Crafts!!!
Mind Craft
Being able to scream whenever I want to
Hanging out with friends
The Beach (Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, Seaside)
Camping
Cheerleading
Eating Junk Food
Building Forts
Exploring
Garage Sales
NO HOMEWORK!
Being Lazy
Long Boarding
Hot Weather
Swimming
Partying (I really hope that these are just movie parties. Cringe.)
Being warm FINALLY
Video Games
Scuba Diving
Rafting
Fishing
Staying up late playing Xbox
QUADS!!!
Annoying my brother
(Ha! I can totally relate to that one!)

I was happy to see that most of the things that they were looking forward to during the summer were outside activities.  And though I wasn't expecting to see it, I was sure glad to see my name a couple times on the "favorite things" list. Whew! 

Don't think for even a moment that we'll forget about you...
...once you're our student, you're always our student. 
Hugs,
Ms. Chambers

Wolfie and the 3 Bears

Love.

To me it feels like the story of The Three Bears

Sometimes you don't know it's there because it appears slowly.
Too small.

Or it hits you smack in the face and you know that you toast.

A goner.

Head over heels, loopy love.

There's no going back from that type of love.
Except that love can leave as quickly as it came. Too big!

Then, there's the perfect love. 

It's just right.

For me, that love is like a strong, sure hug. 

It wraps you in an embrace and you feel completely safe.
But even when the embrace is over,
you don't feel loss because you know that it will be back again. 

To me, the perfect love isn't just
romantic love,
but the love between friends and family. 

In my world that becomes a little blurred because my friends ARE family.
They fill my heart and replenish my soul. 

Sunday, my heart and soul swelled.

Found by accident, but found to fill a need in my world, the Fences for Fido family. Each build feels like a family work party. I walk in, sometimes knowing people, other times greeting new faces. Either way, I know that I'm right where I want to be, with family. 

The "family" had one goal that day, unchaining.

And the Wolfie in that story 

wasn't at all big and bad

...he was just unbridled love!

Perfect XOXO

Wolfie LOVED all of the pampering.

 He was so worn out, that he just held the cookie for later.

So much unbridled love that I had a difficult time taking our picture together.

I think he liked to be the only focus in the picture.

 I knew right where to look...Sweet! Thanks for the cookies Jerry!

Every build is a celebration. Every build has a victory party at the end. And in the middle? Well, it's filled with stories, laughter, silliness, and my favorite...the adored "uncle" that you love to tease and teases right back. (Just like my Uncle Keith- I think his humor is found on these builds too.) But in the end, you create magic- freedom.

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

But once in our hearts, always in our hearts.

Wolfie XOXO

Perfect Hard Boiled Egg

Baked Eggs

There is something that I don't tell people.
You see, I pride myself on being able to make most things in the kitchen well.
Ingredients are like my friendly dance partners in the kitchen.
We prance around creating magical treats that bring people joy.

But there is one thing that I just do wrong...every. time.
And it's really embarrassing.
I feel really stupid and cringe as I write this...
I can't boil an egg.

Don't laugh!!!
It's really frustrating.
How would you like it if every time you
tried to make hard boiled eggs,
they come out all wrong!
Shells won't peel.
Yolk isn't all the way cooked.
It's just a mushy mess.
Stop laughing! 
I know!
It's ridiculous and I hang my head in shame.
You see, eggs are my go to comfort food.
I'm eating less meat, but haven't been able to make the Vegan meal stick because of this devotion to the egg.
But hard-boiled eggs have eluded me all these years, until now.

But I have found a cure for affliction.
Baking the eggs-
Tada! 
I can bake and I do it very well.
Thank you Pinterest.
Now, I can hold my head up high
and make a splendid egg salad.
Or Cobb Salad, or Deviled Eggs or ?
Whoop! Whoop!
Perfection.

Now, if you're like me...and I know that there must be some of you out there...hiding.
No need to hang your head anymore.
You can do it!
It's so easy that you're going to cringe
and you don't have to boil a pot!
Here it is...are you ready?!

Perfect Hard Boiled Egg
The BEST way to make hard-boiled eggs is in the OVEN!

(I don't know where this recipe originated, but it's fabulous and definitely not mine.)
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Place the eggs into a muffin pan, so that they don't move around.
3. Pop in for about 25-30 minutes and remove!
4. Place the eggs in a ice water bath until cooled.
5. Peel.

Now, wasn't that easy?  Not scary at all.
Not only are they tastier,
but they also are much easier to peel.
You must try this.
Seriously...it's as easy as boiling an egg!
Ha!  That's the biggest lie ever...
Baking is much better.
Trust me and,
enjoy the perfect egg.