"all you need is pixie dust"

i plan to write a longer blog on Disneyworld in the next few days but until then...adore this picture of my beautiful niece Addie and one of her besties from Disneyworld: Tinkerbell. oh Tink.

"out one day. walking one day. out one day with you hallelujah."

oh Rolling Hills.

well, i've had a great first year at Rolling Hills Public Charter School. despite a few rather larger bumps in the road, this year has been an amazing experience! i am planning to stay next year...and indefinitely (unless of course God has a different plan). i truly love it here.

i could write a book and bore you with all of the stories i have from this year but instead i will list some highlights:

--my curriculum! gosh i love it. Bette Moore is a genius...i wouldn't have near as much fun without her music and keyboard curriculum.
--teaching drama - my first year doing this and i love it.
--programs: always a highlight. as i grow and learn as a teacher the programs become better, which makes me happy of course.
--teaching keyboards to all grades...yes, all. crazy i know...i'm so proud of them all.
--gifts. ha! there are perks to teaching in downtown Eagle/Boise area....you get cds and purses instead of homemade popcorn balls (not that i don't like those!). however, i love these gifts not because they are better than the average gift, i love them because they speak love to me.
--there are a few families at this school who are really into bands and concerts and such....so obviously we have a lot to talk about. the mom or dad will come visit me to ask about the latest band i've found or tell me about the show they went to the other night. but the best part is that their kids come in to my room to sit and chat about Radiohead, Johnny Cash, Deah Cab, Coldplay, Tom Petty, etc. this blesses me so much.
--Star Waiter - read my post. this was such an amazing experience.
--the relationships i made with parents.
--the relationships i made with students.
--hugs and homemade cards (my favorite!)
--Individual performances: once or twice a month i had a day called Individual Performance day. the kids would bring in a song to play or sing that they had been working on. i love watching their talents grow and grow! i have officially heard the best 3rd grade guitar player ever.

being a teacher is such a joy. i love my job and am excited for next year!....but for now, i'll just take the summer off ok? (i meant that last statement with love people working this summer). :)

new bedroom.

if only....sigh.

alfredo sauce?

i was thrilled (to say the least) when i found a mix for alfredo sauce from Fred Meyer that i could have...gluten free, dairy free, soy free. i haven't had alfredo in geez, i can't even remember how long. i've always been a little scared to try gluten free, dairy free alfredo sauce...doesn't it scare you? well this new brand looked pretty legit so i decided to try it and called Derek on the way home cause i was so excited!

the first thing i noticed when i added the extra ingredients to the dry mix was that the sauce was green? ok. i've seen some weird colors in my day but this color resembled a diaper, not food. i also assumed that the sauce would be the consistency of sauce...weird i know...but as i stirred the sauce didn't become saucy, ever? needless to say...we did not use this sauce - and when i tried to clean the pan, it wouldn't come out...i even turned the pan upside down and shook it and, nothing. what are they trying to do, kill me? sooo, you tell me...green refried beans or alfredo sauce?

Star Waiter.

Mitch. a 6th grader at Rolling Hills Charter. one of the most animated students in my music and drama classes. Mitch has a rare disease...he struggles to walk and gets tired easily. i have seen him grown more and more weak this year. he falls down often...and graciously denies help to stand back up. he still participates in P.E. - and works his tail off! he always wants to be in front of the class in drama and honestly, he is incredibly witty - one of the funniest kids i know.

about a year ago Mitch's family started working with Make A Wish Foundation to make Mitch's dream come true. his dream is this: to direct and star in a movie. the process began about 4 months ago when a team of directors, screenwriters, and producers began working with Mitch and the 6th grade class. a screenwriter named Doug (his last name is absent from my memory) wrote the script...taking into account the ideas of the 6th grade and the theme Mitch wanted: a spoof off of Star Wars. the result: Star Waiter.

Star Waiter uses food to explain the difference between the dark side and the power of the force (or fork, in this show). the good guys eat healthy food: Luke Piewalker, Pretzel Leia, Clam Solo, CH2O, and others. the dark side indulges in dark chocolate and fatty sweets: Darth Waiter. sounds cheesy, i know...but i promise you this movie is hilarious.

i had the priviledge of being on the movie set while they were filming. oh, did i mention we had try outs for the characters in this movie and all of the actors and actresses are my 6th grade drama students?!!...(with the exception of a few adults). it was fun and enlightening to see how a movie is filmed. granted, it isn't a Feature Film, but it is a real movie...with real directors, producers, equipment, and such. the first day was shot at Camel's Back Park, the second day at Riverstone High School, and the third and final day was at Donnie Mac's! the kids had the time of their life, of course. i have to admit i was feeling the pressure when the production team came to me 1 week before shooting and said "here is the script...make sure the kids are ready." eeeek! but, i was so very proud of them!

my favorite scene they shot was the very last one. it is a dance scene. 200 plus people showed up to support Mitch and dance in this final sequence. an amazing choreographer successfully taught all of us a dance in one hour - i was impressed! Boise shut down the streets surrounding Donnie Mac's and we danced down the streets to "We Are Family." oh, and this is cool: Joni Sledge called Make a Wish and gave us the rights to the official Sister Sledge version!

it has been such a joy to see Mitch's dream come true. i love this kid. i can't wait to see him star as Luke Piewalker in Star Waiter. speaking of, you should come! this Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. is the premiere of this movie - at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise! it is open to the public...we are hoping to pack it out. Mitch will be arriving in a limo as the star and there will be a red carpet. why not come you know?!

a big sidenote: Lucas Films also called Make a Wish and the directors of Star Waiter and gave them the rights to all of the original Star Wars music and all of the sound effects!!! rumor has it George Lucas might be there Saturday night...no, i'm not making this up. come!

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhett the pirate.

i saw this picture on my beautiful sister's blog today and had to steal it. my nephew is thee cutest pirate!