Reflection Journal Week ? ;)

Relatively quick post tonight as I'm ready to snuggle in with my littles. Thought I'd reflect on the class I'm taking a little. It's a qualitative research class that's taught online. Basically we have a book that guided our discussion boards (run 2 weeks each) for the first half of the semester and we have a 20pg+ research proposal due here in a couple weeks. There are a few other activities as well, including an ethics training program (which I had already done as an IRB member) and a survey development and analysis assignment. It's going good so far, but I must admit it's easy to not be overly engaged. I started out really strong, being sure to get on the boards early and regularly. I must say I'm surprised at the level of "slacking" in a graduate class -- there are a number of us that regularly procrastinate (we don't seem to have learned from our undergraduate careers). I've gotten a little slower at getting on, and not as regular, but I'm at least still trying to make significant contributions. A few of our forums are to read each others' work and provide feedback -- so much of it is "good job" (how helpful is that?). Of course the teacher in me comes out and I can't help but offer my opinions on suggestions and possible areas of expansion. I think I find it easier to critique something than to compliment something. I try not to critique in a rude way, but personally I find the critiques more helpful than the compliments. I often wonder about this as a teacher and hope that I'm balancing critiques (which I'm hoping are helpful for future learning) with encouragement (which ties a bit into my last reflection post about attitudes towards education). As a classmate offering critiques I figure I'm probably seen as a "know-it-all" and I'm okay with that. In an online environment I almost feel anonymous at times, but I know I'm not. I'm kind of at a point in life that if someone wants to think or say negative things about me, they can go right ahead because that's simply their opinion and they have their right to it. It doesn't mean it's true or right. And even if it is, it may not necessarily be something offensive to me. I'm secure in who I am and don't need ill-informed external opinions to define me (this rant seems as though I've had recent experience with this, but I haven't -- just a thought). Hmm, off on a bit of a tangent there -- I'm tired. :) Let's wrap this up until next time...

Year 29

(meant to have this up on Monday but never got around to it)

*Sun Valley trip (hmm, this may have actually been in year 28...)*Chuck E. Cheese*Zumba*classes*intro to TVM (Treasure Valley Midwives) and many following trips*2 ultrasounds (discovered our boy!)*IRB*winter intersession*GRE*PhD application and acceptance (yay!)*Addie weaning*playdates at Rafiki's and Boise Friends Church*Addie's wallet thieving experience*Grandpa Sand*holidays with my family*park playing*lots of knitting projects*California trips (2)*convention presentations*Reno*baby goodies*short hair*Addie's 2nd birthday*5th anniversary*rotten coffee cup*new van (bye Red Rocket)*yardsales*Bubby*breastfeeding again*lunches with daddy at the park*juggling 2 littles*Boise Zoo*consignment sales*tie dying*Canyon County Fair*swim lessons*Western Idaho Fair*Balloon Festival*lots of giggles*BSU football*Hyde Park Street Fair*McCall*beer brewing*pumpkin painting*trespassing adventure with Grandma Judy*Halloween with a fairy princess and golfer*baby laughs*Farmstead*lots of love in celebrating at Texas Roadhouse, Brick Oven Bistro, Yoi Tomo, and soon Flying Pie or Souper Salad and ... drumroll ... Daniel Tosh!

Reflection Journal #3

Quick summary: Students rocked their test! :) Secured a guest presentation from a privacy officer that sounds great. Finished pregnancy in coding class and moved test back a day. Finally caught up on most of my emails and made some more clinical calls. 9.5 sites confirmed, with hopefully 8.5 more from messages left. Recruiting Linda to help me next week. :) Met with my advisor about my PhD. 27 credits of classes left, then prelim exams (that I had no idea about), and the final 20 credits of dissertation. I'm looking at a 5-year plan...

Reflection discussion: I was contemplating my topic of the week on Wednesday and thinking of something to do with how I love learning. But I decided to switch it a (little) bit today. I wanted to look at the flipside. Most of you know that Loren (my hubby) is currently in school as well and he, well, hates it. He's always disliked school. Not as much when he was in the technical program, doing more hands-on stuff (autobody and computer technology), but he's so not into the academic classes. Right now it's English 102 that's bugging him. And I have a hard time sympathizing because I love school so much, so I don't understand how he feels. It made me realize that I'm sure some of my students feel the way he does (and not the way I do). Although, I'm not sure it's not a love for learning. I think everyone likes to learn, I think it's human nature. But I think the structure of the academic setting does not fit everyone. I've always loved school -- both of my parents were valedictorians, so I'm sure they instilled that in me. And I've always been good at it. School is actually a comfort zone for me. Hence why I love my job. :) And because I've always been good at it, I've always been reinforced -- I've never been told I'm stupid or that I can't do something. I actually often feel people have more faith in me than I deserve! ;) But I can see that if you don't fit the mold of school, if you haven't been encouraged in school, if you're not surrounded by people who support you ... why you might dislike it. I keep hoping my nerdy-ness will rub off on Loren, but it doesn't seem to be working. I hope that in some way my passion for teaching rubs off on my students at least a little. :) I had an incredibly inspirational conversation with a student last year about how two teachers made all the difference in her education. I'd like to think I can be that person for someone, someday...

Sidenote: Because I simply don't have enough things to do these days, I've decided to add a new task. I would like to become an advocacy source for breastfeeding on campus. Although I know I'm not in a "public figure" role, I do interact with a large number of students and feel that the BSU campus life has a big impact on a lot of people. I'm hoping to work with either University Health Services or the Women's Center to promote breastfeeding awareness and acceptance. I'd like to see marketing of either an on-campus support group or coordination with a community group (maybe through the hospitals) and I'd also like to have a place on campus for nursing mothers to either nurse or pump. I've become really passionate about this topic and feel that I can use my role on campus in a positive way. Now it's just a matter of squeezing it in with family, teaching, research, my PhD, ICD-10 training... :)

Halloween Weekend

And what a weekend it was! Lots of adventures, and thus LOTS of pics! But first, how about an adorable little Bubby?

We started our adventure on Saturday at Boo at the Zoo with my mom. Addie decided she wanted to wear her dog costume from last year. This time she actually agreed to wear the ears, but of course we couldn't find them.

Here's one of the zoo helpers chatting with Addie. Doesn't Addie look enthused?

Bubby went as a golfer.

In my nest with my chicks. I think Bubby is confusing his club with a guitar.

Notice the frog in her hand? We had to spend about 20min in the giftshop looking for just the right frog.

She didn't like the last bite of her hotdog. She insisted on helping with her make-up, which is why it's all over the place.

If you saw my previous outlaw post about the corn maze you know that we never actually made it to the maze itself. And I had already bought 2 tickets. My dad was supposed to take them but that fizzled, so I was stuck with 2 tickets on the last day. With no takers and a sick hubby (Loren didn't feel good that day) I decided it was time for a girl's outing. So Addie and I ventured to the corn maze, just the two of us. We finished Phase 1 in 10 minutes (with a map -- I wasn't risking getting lost with a toddler in tow) and Phase 2 in 20 minutes.

I was attempting a pic on top of the bridge.

Mid-Phase 2.

All done! She actually did like the maze and wanted to go again (I was too tired!), although you can't quite tell here.

We ran into Kiev, Alex, Liam (Addie's future husband), and Madi at the cow train.

We also hit the corn box...

...jumping pillow (no pics because she insisted I jump with her -- that was hard to stay upright!)...

...color maze...

...goats...

...pony rides...

...the big chair...

... and the slide/play structure.

She looks so reflective here. She would just sit there and stare out, it was so cute.

I was more than exhausted by the end of the day, so I was not a happy camper when she decided to wake up at 11pm and not fall asleep until after 3am. I was dragging a bit Sunday...

She decided to wear her pumpkin costume to the grocery store.

And then it was off to Tony and Katrina's for the evening. We brought pizza and made sure the kids at least ate a little before we went out for treats.

Somebody was pretty excited about candy.

This isn't Hayden's costume -- he was modeling Christian's Optimus Prime mask.

Christian ready to go.

The gang. Ironman, fairy princess, and Optimus Prime.

First house!

She walked for the first set of houses. They were all really into it at the beginning.

Bubby came too, but no candy action for him. Just mommy snuggies. :)

It was so fun watching them run up to the doors. Pierce and Christian were really good about saying "trick or treat!" and "thank you" -- Addie just took the candy and ran.

Once she started getting tired she needed daddy.

Katrina and I were cracking up at Christian's tight pants. :)

The boys rode in our stroller -- at least someone uses it! (my kids aren't big fans -- well Hayden doesn't mind, but I don't usually pull it out if Addie won't ride in it)

After hitting a bit of the neighborhood we went to a trunk-or-treat at a local church. I thought this dog was so cute to greet us.

The kids played games for treats.

And we enjoyed some hot chocolate, hotdogs, and popcorn, and attempted the bouncy house, but the kids were getting rather cold and tired so we headed back. Then the candy eating began...

And the sugar high...

We actually made it home around 8:30pm -- plenty of time for me to finish my homework. :)

Here I must share my regular adorable sleeping pic of Hayden. Precious!

I just love this little guy.

And finally, Addie had to dig back into her pumpkin paints tonight. It didn't take long to divert from the paper...

I asked her to smile and this is what I got.

Then her sad face.

Her mean face.

And her happy face. :)

I'm a bit sad to check one of my few Halloweens with the kids off (I'm thinking I maybe have 10 left with Addie), but we had a good time and I'm glad I wore myself out trying to do a little bit of everything. Happy October all -- here is to November! (I still can't believe it's November already!!)