2011 in photos.

I did one of these last year, it is a fun way for myself to reminisce on the best parts of my year.  So here we go!  I don't have pictures of everything..

January:

New semester at school- Geography, Astronomy, Biology... bleh!  I passed.  I made it.
I got hired to work at Philmont!  Crashed a Bartlett Staff meeting to visit my boys.
Single's Ward fun...

80's night at Weber State 

Visiting Debbie in Logan after an Afterschool conference in Brigham City.  Aggie Icecream! 

February:

Emily and Layne got the OK from the First Presidency to go ahead with the temple wedding.  Whoohoo!

I started a new round of 4H clubs at CHASP- Crime and Spy Science and African Safari.  What an adventure that was!  

Valentines Day had no big events.  I don't have a boyfriend or any admirers.  I frosted cookies with my first graders. 

Amy Herrick took Emily and Layne's engagement pictures.  We had fun with Rachel's camera also.

Me, Emily and Rachel went up to Rexburg to visit Dani and Ariel. 

 We ordered Pizza and drank slushies to welcome in new episodes of Glee

March:  

Emily and Laynes Wedding!  

The night before.  With the cousies. 

Post lunch in- pre reception bowling game in our Bride's Maids dresses!

I went on a road trip with my cousin, his wife, my grandma and my sister.  We went to Arches, Capital Reef, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges, Deadhorse point, Monument Valley, Moab, Green River.. it was amazing!

April: 

General Conference!  Lay around the house in your PJs and listen to the words of modern prophets and amazing men an women.  Pizza and soda for lunch.  :) 

Trip Florida!  My  boss took me down to Orlando to go to the National Afterschool Conference.  We stayed in an AMAZING hotel, went to interesting classes and learned some great games, techniques and references, met fun people, got to lay by the pool, eat at incredible restaurants, visit Universal Studios- Magical World of Harry Potter!!!  And did I mention this was all free?  Well except for Harry Potter...  So much fun!  

 Butterbeer!  Yum!

 Chilling by the pool between classes. 

Epic Hotel. Gaylord Suites. 

Easter weekend we drove out to Park Valley for some awesome paint-balling in a place called 'The Devil's Playground'.  My first experience paint-balling.  

Ben brought Jess along.  

Ready for war. 

May: 

Out of school with my all time lowest GPA of 2.6.   

Had a Cinquo De Mayo Mocktail Party.

Finished the Bartlett Quilt. 

Experienced a real cattle brand!

Road a horse through an open field. 

Me, Emily and Layne went camping in Park Valley.  Hiked to an old mine, told ghost stories and spent two hours trying to light a fire with everything from mirrors, glasses, friction, flint.. before we found the matches.  

We roasted marshmallows and Starbursts at Carly's parent's house. 

Hiked Waterfall Canyon with Debbie

 

Had my first couple of days at Philmont. 

June: 


I learned how to be a group leader.  Took my first group of kids to Hunting Lodge, and stayed in the same spot I stayed the summer before on my own trek.

We hiked The Tooth of Time the second week.  Picture of Amy before she ruined her leg come down the ridge. 

We traveled to Trinidad for the first time to eat at Wonderful House.  I love New Mexico.

  Any I had my first of many experiences at the Saint James Hotel.  Pizza on the porch.  Yum!!

Our tent.  Messy!

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My first group of kids.  With Chun-Man and Amanda.

July:  


The heat continued.  LDS weeks came.  The best two weeks I spent at Philmont.  President Beck from the Young Men's presidency presided.  Sister Wixom- Primary General President was also there.  The Spirit was SO strong and I was happy all the time.  The drought finally broke with some much need rainstorms.

We traveled to the Great Sand Dunes the an amazingly fun day. 

Some of the girls from my favorite group of the summer during the second LDS week.  My Mustangs.  30 Beehive girls..  wow.  

The LDS group traveled to Denver.  We went to the Temple, we saw Harry Potter and we ate at some yummy places.  I love these guys.  

Stephers pouring some chocolate syrup straight into a Mustang's mouth!

Me with President and Sister Beck.  

                                          Me and one of my best friends from the summer- Jeff.

                                          Celebrating the Fourth of July with Lisa and Rachel!


August: 


Hike to Crater Lake with Rachel and Brandon, we got lost and bushwacked for three hours through Philmont back country- barely making the show.  But hiked through beautiful meadows, and took pictures on the ridge of a beautiful canyon.  Too bad I can't find the pictures..

My favorite people.  Eating lunch at The Porch. 

Trip to Santa Fe!  Cool Catholic Cathedrals, spicy food, post cards, live music, fun shopping. 

LDS groupies the night before James left- heading for his mission in Texas.  We hung out in South Tent City and laughed and laughed and laughed.. Then some of us sat on the program stage and told each other our life stories. 

 I took a hike with some awesome people.  We got lost in the dark on top of a haunted mesa!  

Chun-Man wanted a full group shot of all the LDS groupies.  This was taken after church one of our last Sundays.  

The night before Rachel left.  Chilling at the snack bar. 

We were highly productive that last week..  How many Philmont staffers can you fit in a program office?

A couple days after coming home I went to one of my other favorite places in the world.  Bear Lake. 

September: 

Started Level 3 in the Elementary Education Program at Weber State.  This is my class... :) 

My poster I made. 

Me, Alex and Rachel at Ben's wedding reception. He was the clown.  It was a carnival theme. 

The whole big crazy gang! 

October:

Started field work in Odyssey Elementary, 4th/5th split.

Halloween Masquerade Party, hung out at Zach's on Halloween night passing out candy and scaring kids.

We had a Halloween Carnival at work.  Natalie is a genius.  We call it 'Angry Bats'. 

Helping Melinda at her work's spook alley. 

Me and Zach on Halloween night. 

November:

Thanksgiving, finished field work, weather got colder and nothing really exciting happened.. 

My Grandma was hospitalized for a couple of days for some pains.  We had a little too much fun that night.. 

We had the family over at our house for Thanksgiving.  It was fun.


December:  

Celebrated Alex's birthday with Hottubbing, cake, and a movie.  

Spent some time at Winco. 

And had the whole family for Christmas.  

Good year!!

Well.. this is what I wanted!

The only thing I have ever wanted to do with my life is teach.  My grandmothers were both teachers.  My older sister taught school for a few years and I have worked in an elementary school for the past four years.  I am not short of experience on teaching.  As a piano teacher, as a primary teacher, as a group leader at CHASP and PTC, as a merit badge counselor and area director, helping my sister in her classroom, helping my mom with her ESL and reading groups.. You think I'd be super good at this?  Right? 

I have always considered my self a natural at this.  So why am I all of a sudden stuck in a rut- struggling to come up with lesson plans (my usual creativity is shot :P), staying awake all night long panicking- hoping my lesson actually works and procrastinating worse than ever??   Maybe I have just hit burnout.  5 years of college is taking it's toll.  I want to be DONE!

Maybe things will be better when I graduate (if that happens) and I have my OWN classroom.  Right now I am in another teacher's class.  I teach spontaneous lessons.  I can't stay as much as I wish I could because I have another class and a job that I am trying keep- so that I can pay to student teach next semester!  I have had 2 1/2 weeks to teach 8 lessons.  I have taught 2.  Ug.  If I had my own classroom things would be better.   But I'm not there yet! And I will never be there unless I can pick my self up and FINISH what I've started.  I am sooo close.  Graduation looms a mere 6 months away.  I want be a good student teacher.  I want to be as good as my super awesome, middle aged, teacher pet classmates.  I want to wear that Wildcat purple and accept my diploma! 

But instead-  I am blogging.  Instead of preparing for my lessons.  Maybe it is the onset of my horrible seasonal depression, maybe I am just lazy, maybe I don't care anymore.  But I need to be better, because I am so close.  But yet so far.

"Lights On" for Afterschool!

Did you know that over 70 percent of students today go home an empty house because their parents are working? 

Did you know that only 9 percent of those children are enrolled in Afterschool programs?


Studies show that kids involved in Afterschool programs are far more likely to stay away from drugs, alcohol and gangs.  They get better grades and have better social skills as well.  Afterschool programs provide a safe, supportive and fun environment for kids.

Every weekday I get to spend time with some of the most creative, talented and enthusiastic kids I have ever met.  They teach me patience and love.  I see the challenges they face in their lives- broken homes, poverty, parents in prison or parents suffering with addictions.  They make me want to be stronger and happier.

They use Afterschool to do their homework.  I get to help them with it, and help them to make sure that they understand and do it correctly.  I love when they come to me at the end of the quarter and tell me the good grades that they got.  I plan academic time and teach them new things, help them to understand old concepts, practice math facts, learn how to research, explore new books, and play games.

Kids from kindergarten to 6th grade attend our program.  They are separated into their grades for snack and academic time but come together at recess and group activities.  The kids don't care what grades the other kids are in- they all play together.  Second graders play with fifth grade and kindergarteners with third graders.  They are all a big group of friends.  The younger ones learn from the older ones and vise versa.  They don't hang out during school, but they come together at Afterschool.  It is so cute! 

I love the hugs I get from them.  I love how excited some of the kids are to see me.  It makes me feel special.  Some of these kids need hugs soo much.  I am glad that I can be there for them.  I love to talk to them, get to know them, their likes, dislikes, talents, background.

I love the staff.  There only nine of us and we're all pretty good friends.  We play games of basketball after all the kids leave and eat lunch and talk to each other before the kids come.  We help each other and support each other and fill in for each other when necessary.   We go to trainings together.  In September we went to Provo for the day for Jumpstart conference.  Last spring I went to Florida for a conference.  Amazing experience.

A couple of weeks ago we put on our annual 'Lights On' program.  It was a Halloween carnival.  We have booths of fun games and some of the kids did an amazing dance.  'Lights On' is designed to show the community how important Afterschool Programs are.  I am so  proud to be a member of the National Afterschool Association and to be a group leader at Club Heights After School Program.  aka:  CHASP :)

CHASP has been a HUGE blessing in my life.  It have provided me with income, friends, a purpose and fun.

When Life Gives you Lemons..

I want things that I can't have right now. 
I want to move out of my parents house into my own cute little house with my own cat where I would cook my own food and keep everything emmaculate.  But I don't have the money or the time right now so living in my parents house is what I need to do for the next year or so.  I want a brand new wardrobe so that I can look adorable every day.  But I don't have the money right now.  I want to be a teacher.  But I need to survive school first.  I want to go back to Philmont this summer.  Or Northern Teir, Florida Sea Base or Catalina Island.  But I need to stay local so that I can get a teaching job. 

I want to go on a mission.  However I know that I could make it work- I don't think that is what I am supposed to be doing at this time. 

Life is complicated and crazy and incredible and you don't always get what you want because you were born at a specific time in a specific place into a specific family for reasons that you can't always understand.  I can't just pack up and leave.. even though I sort of wish I could- because this where I am right now.  I need to make the absolute most of it. 

I want to be married.  Yes, I admit it.  Or at least have a boyfriend.  Or even dated...   BUT- let me complain in this blog and then I promise to shut up about the matter. 
Because I'm sure that LOTS of girls are experiencing exactly what I am.  I wish more than anything that a guy would ask me on a date.  It is painful to hear girls talking about the dates they've been on.  I hate 'dating ideas' and eternal marriage lessons in church and Institute because it seems so unrelistic to me right now.  I know how important marriage and families are and it is so sad that so many women don't get to experience that joy.  Sometimes it makes me so angry, how much the institute and the Single's wards pushes dating on us.  But it's necessary.  It's part of God's plan for us. 
So... as part of the 'new me' plan that I have in my head I am not allowed to feel sorry for myself.  I am not allowed to get angry at the girls that date or the boys that ignore me.  Because. it. doesn't. matter.  I am young and I have so much going for me that I just need to have faith that everything will work out.  I know that I'll be married someday.
Steps to Bethany Taylor's marriage plan.

#1 Stop complaining  and stop feeling sorry for myself
#2 Focus on being better. Study the scriptures more dilligently, be more meaningful in prayer and be a good student.  Graduate and get a good teaching job.
#3 Make myself more attractive to guys without complaining or being pittied.  Dress myself up, smile and learn how to flirt.  Gain more self confidence. 
#4 Have fun.  Hang out with friends and meet lots of people. Try to date, try online dating, having people set me up and even asking the guys out myself. 
#5 Eventually meet the right guy and get married. 


So last week a friend of mine died.  She was a group leader with me at Philmont this summer.  She was  the most obnoxious, outspoken, bossy I've ever known.  But she was sweet, friendly, funny and genuine- and I miss her.  She was 20 years old.  She was doing an internship for Disney Land.  She was riding her bike home from work and was hit by a car. 

That night I had a dream.  All of the group leaders were eating at our favorite chinese restuarant.  Maggie was with us.  We laughed and took pictures and enjoyed eachothers company. 

Live live to the fullest.  Don't stop and say 'what if', 'just wait-', or 'when'.  Be happy now.  Be the best person you can possibly be.  Don't complain, don't dream of only the future, and don't let the happy memories of today slip away. 

Because when life gives you lemons- make some gourmet lemonade. 

Top Five.. an insight into my strange thinking.

My blog is nothing too interesting.  I like to ramble.  :)

Top Five...

Greatest Inventions of all time:

The rubber spatula
The Big Mac
Contact Lenses
The ballpoint pen
Books.. (maybe thats not really an invention.. but whatever)

Best Movie Kisses

You've Got Mail..  "I wanted it to be you, I wanted it to be you so badly."
The Cutting Edge   "You didn't have to do it" "Yes I did"  "Why?"  "Because I love you too"
The Proposal   "I'm Scared.. ", "Me too,"
Back to the Future.. nuff said.
The Parent Trap (new one)- 'cause kissing your ex in the rain after 12 years is pretty sweet.

Candy Bars

Snickers
5th avenue
Symphony with toffee
Twix
Does a Tootsi Roll count?

Books (fiction)

Holes, by Louis Sachar
Farmer Boy- by Laura Ingels Wilder
The Harry Potter series, by J.K.Rowling
James Herriot books
The Percy Jackson Series

Movies

Back to the Future
Mary Poppins
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Return of the Jedi
Marley and Me

Wierd facts about me

I really, really love Twinkies. 
I sing along to the radio.
I am a compulsive doodler.
I rip off my finger nails constantly.
I constantly am thinking up stories.. and fanfics.. in my head.

Things I wish I could change right now

My relationship with certain siblings
Total awkwardness and a possible destoyed friendship
My motivation.  I wish I could do much better in school.
My wardrobe
My basketball skills..

Things that kids do that bug me

Poke me and repeat my name again and again and again.  Because I obviously didn't hear them the first time.
Make fun of eachother and then say "Just kidding!"
Running up behind me, jumping onto my back and nearly pushing me to the ground. 
Throwing dodge balls at you.. I know that is the point of the game.  But it is humiliating when the adults lose..
Asking for candy after everything they do.  Lousy reward systems. 

Things about kids that I love

When they laugh at my stupid jokes or sing along with me to goofy camp songs. 
Hugs
Willingness to help with whatever needs to be done.  Especially if it isn't for candy.
When they want to play with them on the playground.
When they actually do their homework.

Reasons I want to be a teacher

My own classroom.  Control.
I really love to teach.  And I'm pretty good at it.
So that I won't be a student anymore.  I'm a really lousy student.
Getting paid to teach instead of paying to teach.
Nurturing the young mind.  I love to see kids learn and be happy. 

Reasons why Level 3- Elementary Education at Weber State is a joke

3 hours in a science class coloring make believe animals
Expectations to write and turn in lesson plans when we haven't even been in the classroom yet.
Professors who call you 'gang' and won't let you use the backdoor during class.
Everything due the exact same week. 
Expecting us to integrate.. not every lesson can be integrated!!

Things I love about Ogden, Utah

The Mountains
25th street taco stands
The Union Station
An easy to follow street system
Awesome history rich in murders, ghosts, railroads, red light districts and Weber State.

Things I should be doing instead of blogging

Illustrating my picture book- due Friday
Studying my scriptures and working on getting through 'Jesus The Christ'
Kicking two cats out of my room
Sleeping..
tidying up the room and making sure I have clean clothes to wear tomorrow.

Reasons to love the Institute

Brother Thorpe
Free popcorn- I'm addicted.
Comfy chairs and awesome people to talk to all the time.
The amazing Spirit felt.
My Book of Mormon classmates.

Reasons Institute can annoy me.

Sister Seamon's 'dating ideas'.  Rub salt in the wound..
6:45 committee meetings.
Spending 20 minutes on anouncements and devotional. 
Singing 'Sweet Hour of Prayer' once a week.
Awkwardness now felt by sharing class with a certain guy.

Things I miss about Philmont

The Sunsets. 
Rachel Strayhall, Stephers Tobias, Lisa Barnes, Chun Man Chui and everyone else
My tent
Having meals prepared for me.  Tasty too.
Hiking.

Things I am not sure about

Passing the Praxis
Ever dating or getting married.
If I can really read 'Jesus the Christ' all the way through.
How I'm going to get salt dough by tomorrow..
River systems.