We're Pregnant!!!

Woohoo!  Yes, it is true!  We are!!  And we are so excited!!  June 15, 2011!!!

Don't have any cool pictures of the stomach or anything, due to the fact that I am only in my 14th week.  I'm just getting to the point where I am saying, "No, it's a baby, not fat."

I'm going to tell my class on Friday.  My present/show-n-tell.  Kind of excited....

Have to wait 6 more weeks to find out what it is, but the heartbeat is strong!  And.... hehehehe.....  I felt she/he yesterday!  It was so exciting!  It was one of those tender mercies I needed so badly yesterday.  :)

I am thankfully moving away from the yuckiness and slowly moving into.... less yuckiness.  I'm still very tired everyday, and that makes it hard sometimes at school.  When I haven't eaten for two hours, I feel woozy.

Anywho... that's about it for the update!  Life is great and keeps on going!!

Nauvoo!!

This summer, at the beginning of July, my family and I were involved with the Nauvoo pageant!  It was so amazing!  The first week we went to rehearsals during the day and then we worked the Country Fair.  I played the fiddled, and the rest of the family taught different dances.  There were stilts, pioneer games and all sorts of other things for the families to do at the Fair.

The second week, the family actually got to be in the pageant with the core cast.  It was so cool!  Performing dances and such in pioneer outfits, and afterwards meeting people from all over the United States, and beyond.  My favorite scene was when we "built" the temple.  I will get more pictures up soon, now that I have finally found the connector from my camera to the computer.

Matt and my sister Sherie and her kids came to see us Wednesday of the second week.  Then, out of nowhere, my brother and his family showed up.  It was so cool to have everyone there!  We missed Trent a ton, though!

We got to help a family that my parents met on a plane during a trip earlier in the year and they came to Nauvoo.  We got an email about a month ago that said they were baptized!!

If you EVER get the chance to see the pageant or go to Nauvoo, TAKE IT!!  It is an amazing place!  My testimony grew sooooo much while I was there!!!

--Karen

 

Matt and Karen-- Pioneer style!!

 The Adams Family (minus Trent)

The Adams Family Cast --Smiling

  The Adams Family Cast --In true pioneer fashion (imagine black and white)

Hey we are married now!!!!!

Hey we are married now!!!!
How about that.
--Matt

Mother's Day Quote

I love this quote!  My mom sent it to me.  Happy Mother's Day!! (early!)


I don't want to drive up to the  pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored  clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured  fingernails.

I want to drive up in a station  wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout  camp.

I want to be there with grass  stains on my shoes from mowing my Sister Schenk's  lawn.

I want to be there with a smudge  of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick  neighbor's children.

I want to be there with a little  dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's  garden.

I want to be there with the  children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my  shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was  really here and that I really lived.

Marjorie Pay  Hinckley

Of Smiles.... and students....

Truthfully, I LOVE teaching!  If anything, for the random things that happen.  I was busy writing a letter yesterday, and my students took the opportunity to write on the board (not allowed).  Here are some of the things that showed up:

Matt + Miss Adams = Love forever = kids = family = *heart*


Perfect Match (picture of Matt and I next to a temple.  I have a bouquet and Matt a tall hat.)


Mrs. McNeff will soon be Miss Adams' name wedding on July 27th!


Congrats Mrs. McNeff.  It's a miracle! (I'm going to take this under the best light I can.... like, it's a miracle the way Matt and I met and grew in love.)


Soon to have babies!


Congrats to the teacher!

Anywho, there you go.  The students were pretty funny.  I looked up and saw them all scribbling and told them they had 30 seconds to stop.  They all moved away from the board and I started reading it.  Oh!  I couldn't help but laugh.  I was very surprised by several of them!  Some I did not hesitate to erase after a few minutes.  But the rest I left for A-Track.  They got a kick out of them, too.

We're getting Married!!!  Woohoo!!!!  

  

SMile!!!

Laughter!

I know, I know, third post of the day, but I had one last thing to say!  (oooo that rhymed!)

Okay, it is simply this: Laughter really is the best medicine!  The past few weeks I have noticed that, like Sister Hinckley said, there are two ways to go through life: laughing and crying.  I agree with her that crying gives me a headache.  Therefore it follows that I should laugh.  When I've let myself do that, it is amazing what happens!  The day gets a little brighter, my problems seem a little smaller, and my faith seems a little stronger!

I am so grateful God gave us voices!  There's nothing like singing a song, talking with a friend, or laughing!

Miss Adams is Engaged!

Well, Matt came to visit me at my school yesterday!  He brought Matt Wise to do a presentation on Taiwan.  It was really neat.  Then he stayed with me for the rest of the school day.  I loved it!

We told my class yesterday, and many of the staff, that we are engaged.  My class did not look like they believed us.  However, it was apparent as soon as they did because they were running all around telling anyone that I was engaged!  "Miss Adams is engaged!" was heard all throughout the school.  It was very exciting!

Speaking of 'Miss Adams' (which I won't be next year!!) Matt and I went to the temple the other day and I was confirmed for a "Miss Adams."  Isn't that neat?  I thought so.  It made me excited for that lady that I could do that for someone who shared my title.  It also made me very excited for my wedding when I will have the opportunity to be Karen McNeff!

My Matt

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" Proverbs 17:17.

I have heard this scripture a lot in the last few weeks and I think I'm beginning to understand it better.  Especially in the last few days.  Only for me the last part should say, "a [husband/fiancee] is born for adversity."  This week has been mentally stressful and physically taxing and through it all, Matt has been right there for me.  He is truly my best friend and has helped sustain me through the tough times of the week.  I thank my Heavenly Father that he came into my life!  What a blessing and a privilege to call him mine!

April Showers....? and.... SNOW??!!

I have decided that I love the sunshine!  When fall comes and the rain starts to fall, it is very beautiful and I really enjoy it.  But at the end of winter, when you see tulips just starting to pop up everywhere, and people (Matt) start randomly singing about apricot blossoms and popcorn, I really enjoy sitting out on a blanket and feeling the warmth of the sun and the little nip of cooler air and appreciating spring!

And then... what?  Snow!  I was so shocked this morning! and a little frustrated!  So.... this must mean I didn't appreciate the warm weather as much as I could have.  Solution: write down many happy 'warm' memories over the last few days.

Taking a nap.
Hugs from friends and family.
Matt kisses.
Random emails.
Learning something new about geometry.
Helping students.
Good smelling cleaner when students can't hold breakfast.
The word "hemoglobin."
Uno.
Sherie and Emilie's blogs.
7am visits with Matt.
Student reactions to discussions of what your blood is made up of.
A clean board.
Discussions of where the heart shape came from.
Graham Crackers!
Math lessons that are better than I planned.
Excitement from students about talking with dads that are far away over web cams.
Puppy pictures!
Half of my grading done!
Music.
Hobbits.
Laughing.
Heehee.... giggling!
The End of School!!!!(matt)  :(  (karen)
MATT!!  (karen)
KAREN!!! (matt)  heehee! (karen)

And I'm back....

"How was YOUR spring break?"  The famous question asked for two reasons:  1) They really want to know what their teacher did over the break.  2) They really just want you to answer so they can tell you ALL about their break.  Either way, it is entertaining!

How many of you left the state?  Where did you go?  California, Nevada, Texas, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado....

Did you get married?  Are you Mrs. McNeff yet?  (they don't know I'm engaged).

How many of you had a good break?  A bad break?  How many didn't raise your hands because it was half bad, half good?  Remember the good parts.

How many of you are glad to be back in school?  Put your hands down, I know you're teasing!  Just kidding, I know you're serious.

Same classical music as always.... didn't realize I would recognize it and slightly dread it....

New speakers and books have arrived!

Doubled stress over "to do" list that was not finished.

Appreciation for 5th grade simple minded pleasures.

Almost done with The Hobbit which I listened to all the way to and from Oregon.

"Miss Adams, you're happy today."  "Aren't I always?"  "Yeah, but you're actually happy today."  Guess the break did me good.

Matt's parents are out of town and Matt and I get to play the parents.  It is kind of fun!  We read scriptures and had prayer with them last night.  It's been interesting watching the way Matt and I work together on it... we both approach this "assignment" differently.

I'm not sick.... well, mostly not.  I might be allergic to school.  As soon as I arrived, I had a sniffle again. ;)

Funny how you stare at the "New Post" thing for so long wanting to write something but not know what, starting on whatever's on the mind, and suddenly, the post is forever long.  What?

Pre-Spring Break Show n Tell favorites

Billy Mayes imitation.

"They don't have names.  They are erasers."

Two trophies and a medal for paper airplane contest won by my little Mexican boy.  :)  Attended BoyScouts with his cousins.

Collection of balls: weird bouncy ball, green and white golf balls, LaCrosse ball found in the street, tennis ball found by a tennis court.

Pictures of baby brother that died and the hands of the mother who died with him.

A ring from an uncle who died.

Somebody else's football.

How to be Miserable book section.

Random Days produce Random Thoughts

I find myself staring into the future looking at the present.

There are times I get that feeling of confusion and panic, like when the person next to you rolls forward at a red light and you think you are moving too.

I enjoy turning a microphone on near me, speaking softly, and hearing my voice come from the other side of the room.

I like the illusion of control.

Warm soft things are comforting.

There is superiority in knowing everything, but respect in asking questions.

Short skirts and shirts are short sighted.

"There must be a cockroach in the girl's bathroom"--Josh  (explanation for random screaming in the hall)

I'm getting MARRIED!!!

Happily made excuse to explain everything (and not let Matt feel like he's missed something):  

"I'm a girl."

Thought Process....

You know how good things always follow the bad?  

Well, I submit that life is a spiral

(hopefully going upwards)

until one gets booted out

(death)

Which means...

Bad also follows the good

but not as a consequence

it's just a cycle.

So you can't really get mad...

...right?...

what's the point in that?

Afterall, good things will follow

if you make the right choices during the bad times

which must mean that good times

are a consequence of choice.

But I suppose if you make bad choices during the good times

that the ensuing bad is a consequence.

However, if life is a cycle, it doesn't really matter

unless we want the good times

in the which case it is important 

to make good decisions

during all times of life.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Hee hee!!!

Okay, frankly, I'm just happy!

A quarter of a century!  Woohoo!

Thank you to all who made it so special!  From texts, to calls, to gifts, to emails, to food, to repeated choruses of "Happy Birthday"....!  You all make me feel so special!  I love you all!

36 kids.... 1 sick teacher

snacks..... check.


drinks..... check.


blankets..... check


pillows..... check


desks moved and arranged just so..... check.







books.... check.


Let the Read-a-Thon begin!

Show 'n Tell

Every Friday, I have Show 'n Tell in my classroom. It is by far one of my favorite parts of the week! Everyone laughs, asks questions, and finds joy in the most ordinary things! I can't tell you how many pencils, pens, rubberbands, erasers etc. And, (it happens every year but this time it didn't happen until lately) the stand up comedies! Last year, we heard Ackmed the dead terrorist thing soooooo many times!!! :) 2 years ago there was a fad of "Bobs" which were eraser tops with faces drawn on them. There was also the favorite over the years, of showing a friend, like a person in the class. Favorite questions might be, "Where did you get him?" Favorite answer became, "Wal-Mart." Another favorite, "Where was he made?" the kid would read the shirt tag. "Made in China."


Friday, I Showed my first two journals. I was getting a kick out of looking at them. As I was showing the students and watching their faces, I got very excited about the fact that I had the journals! I am so glad Mom started that early on! Weird thing, I remember drawing some of the pictures that are in my journal from 1991! I was 6!

We have a Blog!

Hey blogging world! We've arrived!!!

I feel so cool, I've created a blog! Actually, this is the second one. I "messed up" on one, but hey! I'm learning!

Ooooooo, I can change the color!

This is too much fun! No wonder people do this a lot!
;)

So, this is Matt and I just before Christmas Break, on Jenny's Birthday, actually! (Jenny is my awesome roommate!) Matt and I have been dating for four months and the happy news is:

We're Getting Married!!! July 27th in the Timpanogos Temple!!

We are very happy and excited! I have my wedding dress, too! Here, let me put up a pic of that. One sec.


Hee hee! Mom came down to surprise Julie for her birthday and for her dance competition. That Saturday the three of us went wedding dress shopping and it was weird... exciting, but kind of weird! I mean, I was trying on wedding dresses... and not just for fun! Later that night, Mom and I found this one and it is amazing! It's getting fitted right now. And we (Julie and I) picked a veil and things..... I'm so excited!!!!




And here are the cute flower girl dresses! Mom found them up in Tri Cities on an Easter sale!



We're working on the Bridesmaids dresses. I can't believe so much is already decided!


So....


Oh, cute! This is going to seem random, but, I was at an assembly today that was run by the 1st grade in my school, and they were in the middle of a dance when, suddenly, the music skipped and died. The rest of the 1st grade kept singing and that class was able to get through their dance and the audience kept the pace by clapping. It was very cute!

Well, I'm not sure what else to write.... and how do you end a post? Hm....

The End
(should there be a period after 'the end' or does it just stand alone?) :/