School’s Out!

Ahhh, summer. J Sleeping in until 9:00 or 10:00 each day? Loving it. Finally having time to clean and catch up on other things in my life? Couldn’t ask for more! Having the freedom of a very flexible schedule? It’s glorious. Being with my family and friends more? Best thing ever.

 Do I miss my first graders like crazy? Holy cow yes!!! I cried the entire last week of school and I still get a bit choked up sometimes. I sure grew attached to those little critters. However, I’m sure our paths will cross one day. Especially since I had the kids write “time capsule” letters which I am planning on mailing to them in 10 years. It was an amazing first year of teaching. I learned so much and knew I was in the right career for sure.

It’s been a while since I updated so I’ll do that through pictures mostly. If you wish to see more pictures, see my Facebook page. J I will no longer be at Ridgeline Elementary but instead at Pony Express in Eagle Mountain. My new team is awesome, I love t hem already. To make it even better, one of my good friends from UVU is teaching on the same team (that means the same grade level teachers)! We are ecstatic that we got hired same school/grade!
Tyler got a promotion at Blue Lemon. He is the general manager over the bakery, Blue Room (events), and off-site catering! It’s been a lot of work but he is so talented and passionate about it so it’s fun for him. We are loving life. Can’t WAIT for Europe on June 30^th!!! We are going to London and Paris and are so thrilled! My dad is paying for our flights plus some extra spending money- it was his graduation gift to me. Best dad ever!

Next time I blog will probably London/Paris pictures so until then! Au revoir!

For Spring Break I went to California for a teacher training with my mother in-law
I was happy it was over Spring Break + Easter Sunday! We went to Zuma
Beach after church for Easter, it was the greatest thing ever. 

Mother in-law on right, Grandma in-law on left. Love these women!

Best Father in-law in the world!

Carrie and I at graduation- go UVU!
This is my friend who I will now be working with! 

My sweet mom turned 50! She loved our surprise of 50 balloons with notes
inside each one with a reason we love her. 

Went to SLC with Mom and the kids, they are so cute aren't they?!

 Mother's Day weekend: went to St. George with the fam. So pretty. 

Ryan and Kacy at the little swimming pond we hiked to.

Coolest kid ever. 

The water was a little cold at first. 

My breakfast at IHOP. They accidentally gave me 4 pancakes instead of 3
but guess who was hungry? Me. So, I ate all that! 

My best friend's dad took my graduation pictures (which I will post on FB
very soon). This is the one I used for my announcement. 

3 year anniversary! We got Chinese food to start out with.  Here are our Chinese
Zodiac signs. Tyler's is on the right, mine on the left. 

At Trafalga mini-golfing. I love this guy!!!

We had fun mini golfing for like 15 mins. It was a small course. 

Here I go! 

Future model. 

Tyler beat me by 8 points! 

Dip 'n' Dots are delicious.

I forgot to take pictures, but afterward we went home and finally put our
wedding pictures in photo albums instead of storing them in a photo box.
We did this while watching our wedding video. It was a fun anniversary!

Jackie and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain temple- so beautiful!  

Thanks for taking my picture, Jackie!

In exchange for my graduation pictures, Tyler made the
Allenbach family a wonderful gourmet meal: Herb bacon
and veggie chicken roulade. Soooo yummy!

He rocks at cooking. 

The final dish. Amazing!

And the following is what makes teaching so rewarding:

My amazing room mom/assistant room mom had this book made for me
(the kind you design and the company prints) as a gift. I will treasure it forever! 

I love little kid handwriting :)  

"I like school because you are such a nice teacher. From Alex." 

What an artist!

Kinda blurry, it says, "I love you Mrs. Jensen for being the nicest.
I love you so much. Thank you for being my teacher. I love you.
You are so nice to me. I wish you could always be my teacher. I
will miss you so much. Thank you." 

No words necessary. 

Yes, that says "You like twinkies." :) 

"Thanks for being such a nice teacher. I will miss you. From Erin." 

My team of 1st grade teachers, I loved working with these women! 

With my principal (R) and intern coach (L)- they were such a huge support. 

Finally updating

Well, here I am at good ol' Ridgeline Elementary on my prep hour. Obviously it's Friday because my hair pulled back and I'm super tired. However, I do love my little first graders, they are so fun. I can't believe the school year is almost over. There are so many things I wish I would have done differently this year, but also things I think I did well. That's just how it goes being a teacher, you learn as you go. I hope that out of everything, my students just know that they are important and loved. They all seem happy enough in the classroom, so I think that goal has been met. And they all know how to read! :)

Before I update you on mine and Tyler's lives, let me just say T.G.I.F!!!!! I am so excited to go home, teach a couple piano lessons and just CHILL OUT this weekend listening to Conference this weekend. I'm also going to see "Mirror, Mirror" for my sister's birthday with a group of girls. SO excited!

Hopefully the weekend goes by nice and sllloooooowww.

Here is a quick update before I have to pick up my kiddos!

• Tyler is gone about 10 hours out of the day Tuesday - Saturday for Culinary School which is kicking his butt yet he loves it and is rocking it. That guy sure is talented at what he does. He has such a passion for cooking....and notice I say cooking, NOT baking (which he hates). At first I was worried about him doing culinary school, but I know he's going to be super successful in it. Especially since Tyler's grandma always says, "If you have a passion for what you do, you will be successful." Wise words!
  
• I'm still teaching my talented piano students on the weekends and my 28 first graders Monday - Friday. I guess I like teaching or something. It's so fun and a lot of work. Yet really fulfilling. In 28 days I will officially have my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and will get to walk in my cap and gown to prove it! I'm so excited for that. I've worked my behind off to get this degree and I'm so so so so so so so so excited and humbly speaking, super proud of myself.
  
• This summer Tyler and I are going on a two week trip to England and France!!! My sweet father is giving that to me as my graduation gift, using his sky miles to send us there and back. I am so excited and can't believe how nice my dad is doing this for us! I love you dad!
  
• We are living in a full house and I love it! Currently my little brother, Tyler and I, my sister and her two kids are all living with my sweet mom. I love that my sister is there to laugh with (she is the BEST sister ever, I love her) plus she is doing all the grocery shopping for us. I love that I get to see my adorable niece and nephew every day and that I have my mom and brother there to hang out with. My mom rocks for letting us all be there. Sometimes it gets a little messy and crazy but having three stories and crazy schedules helps us not get on each others nerves too much. :) I love my family way too much anyway to really get worked up about things.
  
• A few months ago Tyler's car broke down so now he drives me to school every day so he can take my car to school. My mom picks me up most days or my friend/coworker Kristina takes me home, and my sister on Fridays. Thanks Mom and Tiff!!!! Also...two nights ago Tyler was driving home and a tire rolled out of the back of a truck in front of him and it slammed into the passenger window and cracked the passenger rearview mirror. Scared the daylights out of him but luckily no one is hurt and it's only about a $100 fix. Phew.
  
• And.... we are just honestly doing great! Tyler and I are best friends and we love being married.We are doing out best to spend quality time together which we decided to do by Sunday walks or picnics. He's a great husband and I couldn't ask for better.
   
• This was honestly probably a boring post, but for those 2 of you who read it and want to be updated on mine and Tyler's life... there you have it. Boring. Busy. Happy. :)

Dream, Dream, Dream

Today I spent the day cleaning our basement apartment (finally) and went to a few stores with my mom and sister in-law, Kacy. I didn't plan any lessons but I feel okay about that. 

We first went to D.I. where I desired a cheap coffee table because I feel bad when Tyler eats his Betos over a folding chair. I found one that I see great potential in!
And if it doesn't work, well it was only $10. 

As you can see, the top of the table is filled with glass panels, one of which is missing. I think it would look awesome if I switched the glass panels out for decorative tiles. It might end up looking completely ridiculous, but right now it's sounding kind of unique and fun!

After D.I. we stopped by an antique store on Main Street in American Fork. We had fun seeing real looking pirate statues, knights helmets, and ugly clothes.
Right as we were walking out I found this:

 I laughed and thought of baby Moses as I climbed in. 

Lastly, I spent an hour googling and browsing Pinterest for pictures of home decor. One day I'm going to have my own dream house so I have to start gathering what I want now...right? Here's a glimpse of some treasuring pictures I am saving:

That's how I spent my Saturday. Pointless. Spontaneous. Unproductive. Blissful. :) 

Motherhood

Me and my Mommy when I was first born :) 

Lately it's hit me deeply how sacred and incredible motherhood is. I'm not a mother yet, but for some reason this Christmas time I've really been touched when I'm reminded of the importance of motherhood by the story of Jesus being brought into this world by His mother, Mary. Even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ needed and was provided a mother.
At church we have been reviewing the story of Mary and Joseph and every time that happens I cry tears that are only caused by the Holy Ghost. It wasn't until this year that something stood out to me: Mary, a young woman like me, brought our Savior to us. Without her strength and faith, we would not have been given the atonement. Without her example and love, Jesus Christ might have forgotten His role on Earth. But Mary believed and she taught Him and lead Him in the right direction.
So, because of that, I just wanted to thank my own mother publicly for being such an amazing mom. Although I won't always admit this in person, I love that I am so much like her. :) She is kind, loving, strong and determined to always do what is right. Many people say I'm a lot like her, and finally after I've gotten through my dumb teenage years, I see that as the biggest compliment in the world. She's always been a rock in my life and I couldn't have asked for a better mother.
Motherhood is so sacred and important, I hope that all you moms and future moms realize how special you are simply because you're a woman and have the power to be a mother.

Fall is Here, Hear the Yell

Well, so far I have survived being a first grade teacher and I am LOVING it. I admit, there have been days where I'm totally overwhelmed that somehow I have to teach these 6 year old kiddies how to read. There are days where my management is down the drain and I feel like they are the teachers and I am the student. I have learned how to be firm and tough and I've cried after being mean to them. However, first graders are SO loving and forgiving and the sweetest kids ever. Over all it's been hilarious and I love those 28 kids more than I can explain. By Friday night I miss them already. A favorite part of teaching is how funny they are. 

Here are some awesome quotes from some of my kids this year:

• Me, before the fire drill: "Now remember, the most important thing to get out of the building is you  not your backpack. I would be really sad if you were in the fire and I never got to see you again." 
• Student: "Yes you would, in the resurrection!"
  
• Student: "Mrs. Jensen, do you have a library card?"
• Me: "Yes, why?" 
• Student: "Cuz I will check you out!" Winks and smiles at me. Learned that one from his dad. 

My students also randomly broke out into the school song one day during some quiet art time. Pretty hilarious. I felt like I was in a musical or something. 

Anyway. Tyler and I have been having a blast and he has come and helped out in my classroom a couple times which the kids love. We've done a few other fun things, here are some pictures to update you. :) 

Katie and Aubrey joined me for a very short walk for Autism.
We did this for one of my student's brother.  Afterwards we went to Paradise
Bakery and got yummy muffins and nasty hot chocolate. Love these girls!!!

We've been together for over 3 years and FINALLY rode my dad's horses together.
It was fun visiting my daddy and riding the horses a little. 

I'm on Sunny and Tyler is on Bo.

Here we go!

:) 

We threw a surprise birthday for my big brother :) 

Me and my big brother. Love you Happy 25th Birthday!

Laughing about how our pictures together often look like a couple. 

Jayden got a hold of my camera. I've taught him well what to do!

The whole group minus my sister who took the picture.