Oops! More June Pictures!

I found more pictures on our phone from June. 

Sam riding his bike.  As of this past week, he is riding without training wheels!

More pictures from his Balls of Fun class.

(Yes, he is wearing shin guards while playing tennis.  That particular day they did tennis and soccer.)

Matching shirts that were essentially free thanks to Kohl's coupons from the mail.

Playing with Josh who came to visit twice this summer. 

This was at the Bountiful Farmers Market.  We only did a couple weeks and stopped because it wasn't as profitable as the ones in we used to do in Washington.

Some random pictures.

4th of July

Here is a recap of our 4th of July weekend.  We went on a hike to Adam's Canyon.  Sam is a great little hiker!

That evening, we had a delicious BBQ and watched the local "Cul-de-Sac of Fire" show at the Stone's house.  Sam was not a fan of the loud noises and smoke, so he and I watched from inside the house.

June 2011

Here are random pictures from June.

Camping trip to Vernal.

Various hikes

Sam's Balls of Fun class with the city.  Each day they played a different sport--tennis, baseball, basketball, and soccer.

Sam finally graduated to a big bed, mostly because we needed a guest bed for the many visitors we had this summer.

The old family ward's party (picture stolen from Mary).

Christopher's sister Lara had her baby.

Oh, and I turned 30.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

March, April, May 2011

I'm playing catch up here since I haven't posted since April.

Right before we left Washington, our sweet bakery friends threw us a going away party. 

We miss Washington, but are also happy to be here.  One morning not too long ago, Sam woke up crying inconsolably, and when we asked him why he was so sad, he said that he missed our old home.  Apparently he had had a dream of the three of us walking home from our old bakery just like we did just about every single evening after closing the store each night.  That got him thinking about his old friends there.  He often will say at random times, "I miss so-and-so" or "I miss our bakery" or even "I miss the jack-in-the-box that was at our old church."   

At the same time, it's really great to be back near family.  It's fun to have Sunday dinners again with family.  I'm so happy that Sam can grow up so close to his grandparents, cousins, and aunts and uncles.  We've also been very blessed with our jobs here which will help us get out of the debt we have from the bakery.

Anyway, moving on.  This spring Sam, Christopher, and his dad went fishing.

In May Christopher's brother Jordan got married to Kelli.

Here are Christopher and Kierstin trying to steal Jordan's keys so we could decorate inside his car.  Jordan was not too happy about that.

 Our friend Troy came to visit.

 This is Sam at the sidewalk chalk festival.

More catch up to come soon!

Immersion Schools--Why French?

A local news station did a report on immersion schools a couple months ago, so check it out if you want to see how it works.

According to the Center of Applied Linquistics (CAL), learning a second language at an early age:

• has a positive effect on intellectual growth and enhances mental development
• leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening
• improves children's understanding of their native language
• gives children the ability to communicate with people they would otherwise not have the chance to know and encourages cross-cultural friendships
• opens the door to other cultures and helps children understand and appreciate people from other countries
• gives students a head start in language requirements for college
• increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset

I have told a lot of people about my new job teaching kindergarten in French, but they all have the same questions--why French?  Wouldn't Spanish be more useful?  Yes, Spanish is spoken more than French locally, but for those who do not plan on living in Utah forever, here are some benefits of learning French:

• French is not just spoken in France, but in over 50 countries--it is spoken on every continent by over 125 million people
• There are almost as many people in Africa who speak French as people living in South America who speak Spanish
• French is an official language of the United Nations, the Olympics, and many international organizations
• It is considered a business language
• After English, French is the most commonly taught foreign language in the world
• About 50% of all English vocabulary comes from French
• In many scientific fields, most American universities require a reading knowledge of French in order for scholars to be able to conduct research.  France continues to be a leader and innovator in science and technology.  Civil engineering, space/aeronautics, medical technologies, and telecommunications are just a few areas in which France is a world leader.

There are currently only six French Immersion schools in all of Utah, but that number is growing rapidly (Utah currently has French, Spanish, and Chinese Immersion schools).  About a month ago, I observed three Immersion classes where my mission friend works as a kindergarten teacher.  When I went into the 2nd grade classroom, the teacher allowed the students to ask me questions in French to get to know me.  I was blown away at how well they were able to understand, speak, and form questions. 

Sam has received a lot of French exposure already just in our home, but I am so super excited for him to be fluent.  This is the age to learn a second language because their brains soak it up so quickly!  Really, starting in middle school and high school doesn't make as much sense compared to starting at a younger age!  When I taught middle school French three years ago, my students' comprehension and speaking abilities were far below what I observed from that 2nd grade immersion class. 

Anyway, there is my plug for Immersion schools and for the French language specifically.  I'm sure I will have lots of fun stories to tell once school starts again next fall!

The Move, New Jobs, Etc.

For our dear friends in Washington, just so you know, we are not dead!  We made it safely to Utah without any problems.  We moved into our new apartment, bought new couches (we sold the old green futons), and have pictures on our walls.  It feels like home here, though we miss our old home terribly.  We miss our friends, our neighbors, our ward, the Puget Sound area.  We are happy, however, to be so close to our families.  They have helped us out tremendously as we have gotten settled and found our new routine.

Tomorrow marks three weeks that we have been here, and so far things are going really great.  Chris is enjoying his new job managing the bakery.  He is happy to be back with his old friend Jeff who is a much nicer boss than the Olympia bakery owners. 

I was incredibly blessed to find a full-time teaching position for next fall.  I didn't expect to go back to teaching immediately since my teaching license had expired last June.  My plan was to work as a leasing consultant somewhere while I took classes to renew my license, and then hopefully find a job the following school year.  When I announced on Facebook that we were moving down here and I was looking for a job, one of my old mission friends suggested I apply for an elementary French immersion teaching position since I had my degree and I was fluent in French.  When she told me about this opportunity, I knew in my gut that I would get the job.  During our last few weeks in Washington I had my first two interviews over the phone, and then a week after we arrived here, I had an interview with the principal and district immersion director.  The interview went great and the principal offered me the job right during the interview! 

So I will be a kindergarten teacher in a North Salt Lake public elementary school.  I will have a morning kindergarten class and an afternoon kindergarten class.  Because my classes are part of the Immersion Program, half of each session will be taught in French.  The 1st grade teacher will be a girl I knew from my mission--her family is from the states but they were living in Grenoble, France for her dad's work.  Since both Chris and I served in their branch in Grenoble, he knows her and her family too.  In fact, November 2002, both Chris and I had a yummy Thanksgiving dinner at their house (they had all the missionaries over from our whole district).  She and I will be the only immersion teachers for this school since they are just starting the program this fall.  I am absolutely thrilled and thankful for this opportunity.

Because Sam will be starting kindergarten next year and because I will be the immersion kindergarten teacher, he will be in my class.  I'm nervous to see how well he will behave with his mom as his teacher; I am hopeful he will learn quickly that he will be treated the same as the rest of the class.  On verra bien!

In the meantime, I have been substitute teaching in the Salt Lake School district.  I have been lucky to have a subbing assignment just about every day of the week.  So far I've done every grade in elementary school, a middle school math class, and a high school French class.  Some days are challenging--being a sub and having your own class are two different things entirely.  Overall, I am very happy to be back in the classroom.  Teaching and the French language are my two passions, and it feels so incredibly good to be back!