Christmas

Christmas was a little different for me this year. I spent Christmas day with Tim and his family. It is always fun to see the traditions that other families have. The biggest difference between Tim's family and mine is the stocking.

Growing up we always had peanuts and oranges in our stocking (some candy too). In Tim's family, they put candy and lots of gifts. I have never experienced that, it was cool. Here is what was in my stocking:

The Love Comes Softly series Vol. 4-6


Baptist at Our BBQ

Frog Figurines - A frog ornament, Frog prince, and the frog with the bugs says, "Somebuggy loves you"

Cara got me this pretty necklace. I can't wait to accessorize an outfit with it.

And I got this wedding magazine! I found out later that it was Tim who got it for me. I asked him if there was an explanation behind it and he said he is just keeping me on my toes. ITS WORKING - I am definitely on my toes.

As for my gift from Tim. I got this beautiful necklace. I absolutely love it! He did good.

I got Tim a puppy! I bought a collar and dog tag and wrapped that up. That way he could pick out the puppy he wanted. The fun part was the tag.

Tim loves the name Titus - for a child. There is no way I am naming our child Titus so I figured if we name the dog Titus then he wont be able to name our baby Titus. When I went to petsmart and got the tag I engraved it with the name Titus. It started as a little joke but by Christmas morning I was hooked on the name.

I told Tim after he opened the gift that he didn't have to name the dog Titus but he needed to let me know quick cuz I was attached to the name.

Last night we went and got a puppy. A little mini dauchshund. He is 9 weeks old. He is very cute and will be even cuter when he is done whining! I don't have a picture yet. I will take one today and put it up.

So we have a new addition to the family

Titus Napoleon Thurell

Priorities

Its funny how priorities and dreams can change.

I was talking with a sub two weeks ago about teaching. Her daughters friend moved to Texas with her family and got a job teaching Kindergarten. Her starting salary is $48,000 (first year teacher) and her class size is 15. That is the dream job right there.
Last school year with all the RIF's and pink slips I was concidering moving to Colorado. So after hearing about Texas I know that last year I would have seriously concidered moving tp Texas.

Now, I can't imagine living anywhere but here in Phoenix.

I have always dreamed of traveling to far off places. There are only a few places NOT on my list of places to see. I read a blog of a girl I was in the singles ward with a few years back who is living the dream. Her job has her traveling all over the country and for fun with friends she jumped on a plane over Thanksgiving and went to Spain and Morroco.

Six months ago I would have been utterly jealous of her travels, wishing I could go all those places, trying to figure out what her job is so I could do that.

Now, I can't imagine going anywhere with out Tim by my side.

Yep, my priorites have changed, all in a good way too.

Christmas Gifts

I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to get Tim for Christmas. I just couldn't think of anything that seemed right. Everything I was thinking of just didn't seem like the perfect gift.

Well, this morning it came to me! I am so excited for him to open his gift. I went to the store and got what I needed this morning.

I wish he could open it now. It finally feels like the holidays!

A Beautiful Morning

I stepped outside to a thick blanket of fog.

It was beautiful. I took a lazy stroll through the fog, enjoying the morning air. It couldn't have been more perfect...




Oh wait - I only wish I could have done that. Instead I had to drive to work.

Surprise!

On Sunday Tim told me he had plans for us Thanksgiving weekend. But he wouldn't tell me what they were.

Nice! I love surprises.

Later in the week I did get told that my surprise would be on Saturday and that he was taking me somewhere I have never been before.

On Saturday we went to Black Bear Diner for breakfast and then hit the road. At about the Carefree Highway I figured out that he was taking me to Sedona.

It was a beautiful day. Overcast and even a little snow.

We spend the day looking through the shops and driving through the canyon.

I left my camera at work so we used Tims cell to take pics.

This is the only pic I have. But it turned out to be my favorite.

Movie Night

Yesterday while Tim and I were at the carwash I told him I wanted tacos for dinner. He decided we should have a movie night. We called Kyle and invited them over for dinner and a movie.

We had chicken and beef tacos, spanish rice, and guacamole. For dessert we had brownies and icecream. Our movie was Sahara.

While at the grocery store Tim was looking at cornish game hens and was telling me he has always wanted to try them. That was when a very nice old man came by and told us they were good and very simple to make. So we bought four. We are going to cook those up for dinner tonight with Tims family.

Tim's Projection Screen. It makes for great movie nights!

Theater seating. Tim built the riser that the back couch is on.

A work in progress. Tim is building this bar so we can have somewhere to eat. He bought the stool but we both dont like it so he will take it back and keep looking.

Las Vegas

Tim and I left for Vegas on Friday. I got to his place at 9 and we went to breakfast with his sisters Kate and Cara. It was tons of fun, but we didn't end up on the road until 11:30.

We got to Vegas at 4 and checked into our suite. It was gorgeous!!! We had just enough time to explore the suite and then we were off to the PBR. It was so much fun. We sat next to these ladies who were so friendly and told us about all the events going on over the weekend.

After the PBR we went to dinner at a restaurant in one of the casinos. Don't ask me which one cuz by the end of the trip I had been through almost every casino on the strip. I can't really keep them all straight. Tim has been to Vegas so many times that he just led me to where we needed to go.

On Saturday we headed over to Mandalay Bay where the PBR fan zone and marketplace was. We looked through all the exhibits and vendors but didn't get anything. We went back on Sunday because Tim wanted to buy a hat he saw there but they were shut down by the time we got there.

The rest of the day Saturday we just walked the strip. And I mean we walked it! My feet and legs were killing me by the end of the night. Saturday night Tim took me to the Piano Bar were there is a dueling piano show. We got there early and watched some karaoke. Before the dueling piano show started the smoke got to Tim and it gave him a headache so we went back to the hotel.

Sunday was the Chamionship round of the PBR!!! Incredible. I almost lost my voice with all the screaming and yelling I did! I will never be able to watch the PBR on tv the same way. It is so completely different in person.

Sunday night we we hung out at the hotel and watched movies. We were both beat after a weekend of walking the strip.

Monday morning we packed up and checked out of the hotel. We got lunch and then headed home. We got to Tims at 7. It was a looonnnngggg drive home. ughhhh

But the trip was so much fun. It was a much needed vacation.

My handsome Cowboy

Tastes from around the world at the Coca-Cola Store

Balcony of our Suite at the MGM

More pictures to come...

Lessons Learned in Kindergarten

Student: Ms. Cluff! Joe asked me to put a seed in my ear so I did and now I can't get it out!

Ms. Cluff: Why did you put a seed in your ear?

Student: Because he asked me to!!!

Ms. Cluff: You don't have to do what he tell you to!

(The student had to go to the doctor to have the seed removed. He informed me that it hurt and bled a little)

Impromptu lesson to class: Never put anything in your ear or nose, even if someone asks you to!

Let the Countdown Begin

10 days, or

6 workdays, or

1 weekend...

This is how I keep thinking about it. It all equals the same. It won't make it come any faster. But when I think about the fact that I only have to work 6 more days, it seems like it is sooooo close.

What is it you ask?

What am I counting down?

Why am I so excited?

Let me tell you...

VEGAS!!!!!

In 10 days I am going to see the PBR (professional bull riding) Championships in Vegas.

I can't remember how long ago we planned this. I am thinking the beginning of September. I started this tradition last year where I take a week off work in the fall. We don't get a fall break in my district so I create my own. Last year I went with Kyle and Ibis to Rocky Point. I knew then that every year I needed to take a fall break.

I was trying to decide when to take my break this year and where I should go when Tim and I heard an advertisement for the PBR championships in Vegas!!!

YES!!! That was it, my mind was set!

So we leave on November 6 (Friday) and will be back on November 9 (Monday). I have the tickets to Fridays PBR event and Tim is suppose to be handling Sundays event. Last I heard he told me he would get the tickets. I don't know if he got them yet. We shall see.

So, as you can tell, I am very excited. I have never been to Vegas or the PBR. Both I have only seen on TV.

10 days!!!

my saving grace

Sometimes my little kindergarten class can be my saving grace.

I was not having a good morning. I have been frustrated about something.

Anytime I would think about it I would get upset.

I get so busy with my class that I don't have time to think about it.

Yes, my terror of a class made my day better.

The incident

Monday I was punched in the arm by one of my little kindergartners.

He was mad at me because I was going to give him a yellow clip for jumping off tables.

He ran up to me and socked me in the arm. (I now have a bruise)

I immediately called the office, "I know it is the end of the day but Lynn (the principal) needs to come remove a child from my room right now. He just punched me."

Lynn came right over and talked to the student while I dismissed the kids. I sent his dad into the classroom to talk to Lynn.

He is suspended 4 days. He will be back on Monday

It has been a glorious few days.

Conferences

It's parent teacher conference week. Bittersweet I guess.

Bitter - I have to work late and meet with parents.

Sweet - Thursday and Friday are early release days, the kids go home at 10:00. On Friday I don't have any conferences schedules so I also get to leave early. I get to leave at 10:30!!!

Suffering Withdrawl

Tim is sick.

This is the second day in a row that I have been unable to see him.

If he has what all my little kids have, it will probably be another day or two before his fever breaks.

Yes, I am definitely suffering withdrawl.

Dear Columbus

Dear Columbus,

Thank you for being a guy, not asking for directions, and getting lost. Because of you I have this wonderful day off! Thank you!!!

Sincerely,

Callie

It has started

Flu season has reared its ugly head. I had one little girl go home early on Monday and is still not back yet. Today I had two little boys go home early.

I scrubbed down the tables, sprayed the rug and door knobs with disinfectant and took some Airbourne.

I REFUSE to get sick!!!!!

Conference

Yesterday I went over to Tim's to watch conference. All of his family came over and we had a big yummy breakfast. Sausage, Bacon, Waffles, Hashbrown Casserole, and French Toast Casserole. - Thanks Cara, you are an amazing chef!

I am going over again this morning. We are going to have dinner afterwards. I think Cara is going to make stuffed shells.

Conference weekend has always been nice. I like it even more because is allows me to spend the entire day with Tim. No work or meeting to get in the way.

Friday

I went to the Tall Girl Shop today for a new pair of jeans. When I got there all the windows were covered with store closing signs!!!! That's right, they are closing! I can't believe it. The sales just started so that was great but in two months I will have no where to buy jeans!!! I guess I will have to start ordering them online :( It was definitely sad news.

On another note:

I am babysitting Ry and Elle tonight. After I am done babysitting Tim and I are going dancing. I am very excited about that!

Fringe

Season 2 of Fringe started. What a great show. I have been a fan from day 1. Tim just got into the show. He watched the season finale of Season 1 and was hooked. I told him he had to watch it from the beginning.

So we have been having Fringe marathons. We rent the episodes from Season 1 at Blockbuster and watch it at Tim's house (he has a home theater!) Talk about amazing - Fringe on the big screen! YES!!!!

We have watched the first 8 episodes and are watching some more tonight.

Just a great show!!!

MISSING!

A little girl in my class came up to me and asked me a very serious question. She came to school with two braids in her hair and one came undone.

Girl: "Have you seen my braid?"
Me: "No I haven't. Is it missing?"
Girl: "Yeah, I had it this morning but now it is gone!"

my funk

I had been in a funk at work lately. I just didn't want to be there. Every year I wake up not wanting to go to work but once I am there I am good to go. I love my job and the kids and am happy to be there. But this year I have been unhappy. I have a GREAT group of kids who are super smart. But that didn't help. I just didn't know what was wrong.

This week has been so much better. I am back into the swing of things! Why?

I starting doing better with reading my scriptures and praying.

Scripture reading has always been hard for me. I have never gotten in a good habit of reading everyday. So on Sunday I got on LDS.org and read several articles on Scripture Study. One article said that you need to have a specific time to read. So that is what I did. I read my scriptures in the morning after doing my hair and before eating breakfast. (I have a very specific routine in the mornings) Right after scripture study I pray. I am VERY SPECIFIC in my prayers now. Reading the scriptures has helped my prayers too.

I KNOW that is why my days are going so much better.

D-Backs Game

I went to a D-Backs game last night with Tim and his family. There were 14 of us. Tim, me, his sister Cara, Kate, her four kids and one of their friends, Tim's brother Tad and his wife and two kids, and Tim's dad. It was a lot of fun. The game was boring, the d-backs lost big - 9-2 but with great company any game can be fun.

We were in the nosebleeds. But hey, with coupons, who can beat all 14 of us getting into the game for a total of 20 bucks! Kate brought water and snacks for everyone and then Tim bought all the neices and nephews hotdogs and cotton candy.

After the game I went over to Tim's and had dinner and I helped him (okay, watched him) as he stained the wood for his projection stand. Tim is turning his living room into a home theater. He already built and set up the theater seating. He is waiting for his projection screen to come in the mail. Last night he turned on all the equipment to check it out. It is pretty sweet. I would say by next week he should have everything set up!

Labor Day Weekend

I am at Erna's house right now so I don't have any pictures to post with this entry. But I do have a few pics on Facebook and my mom has pics on her blog, so you can go there to look at the pictures.

My family was going camping over Labor Day Weekend with our good friends Rosie and Bruce and several other people from their ward. Rosie and Bruce go every year but this was the first time that we have gone.

Mom and Dad and Clay went up on Thursday. (We were camping just outside of Showlow) Kyle and Ibis and Cicely went up Friday and Tim and I went up Saturday morning.

Friday night I went over to Tims to help get ready for the trip. We had to go get a few more food items and pick up his dad's grill. We also cleaned out and filled up two large water barrels. After all the running around we went back to Tim's house to prepare the food. Tim was making Apricot Glazed Chicken, Asparagus, Corn on the Cob, Baked Potatoes, and Peach Cobbler for the Sunday night dinner. We got everything ready so that all we had to do was put the food on the grill.

It turned into a late night! I ended up only getting 3 hours of sleep. Luckily I was able to get a little nap on the drive up.

Saturday morning we didn't get on the road as early as we wanted. We had to go get ice and fill up the quads with gas so we didn't leave until about 6.

We got to camp at 1 just as it started to rain. Kyle had lunch waiting for us. That was nice. I gotta say I like camping that way. Be the last ones to show up. Everything is already set up and food is ready and waiting!!!

As soon as the rain stopped we were on the quads! Tim was one happy camper with all that mud! It was so much fun. I love quading! Kyle brought all his guns so we even did some shooting.

The trip was way too short. I wish I could have taken some time off work to stay longer. Especially after driving home with all the other Labor Day Traffic. Tim says next year we are taking time off work and going up early. I completely agree. Go up early and come home late. That way we miss all the holiday traffic and have plenty of play time!!!

Birthday

My birthday was very nice. It was different from all my others because we didn't go to a movie and out to eat. I was just too busy. But mom did make me a birthday dinner Sunday night.
I thought taco's and tostada's sounded yummy so we had that and my favorite dessert is Apple Crisp so mom made that too.
It was just a small gathering. Mom and Dad, Erna, Chris, and the girls, Clayton, Kyle and Ibis, and Tim and I. Our neighbor Jadai came over too. He has figured out what time we have dinner on Sunday and enjoys coming over to visit.
I got some great gifts. I got a box of Twinkies and a Twix bar!!!! Mom found out that when she buys Twinkies I always hide them so the guys don't eat them before I get to. So now I have my very own box. (You may be thinking - why don't I just buy my own box of Twinkies? - I don't know I just never have!)
I also got a gift card to AMC, Subway, and Sonic. YAY for me!!!!
Tim got us tickets to Saturdays baseball game. We will be in the all you can eat section (I think that was more for him!!! He knows I am not a big eater!) There is also a concert after the game. Montgomery Gentry will be performing.

It was another great weekend that went by way too fast.

Let me just preface this by saying that I didn't think to pull out the camera until the day was almost over. I didn't have my camera so I used Ibis' which doesn't have the best zoom so I only have a few good pics.

Saturday I went to the lake with Tim and his family and friends of theirs. He invited my brothers. Clayton had drill this weekend and couldn't come and Kyle was going to the lake with his friend. But Saturday morning Kyle's friend cancelled so Kyle, Ibis, and Cicely came with us.

We had the jet ski's and bbq'ed hotdogs. It was so much fun. I was nervous the day before becuase I had never been on a jetski before. I had always wanted to try it. The day of the lake trip I was very excited.

We got to the lake about 3 o'clock. Kyle and Ibis left around 6 I think. I am not sure I was out on the water when they left. The rest of us were packed up and on our way home at 7:30.

I have to tell you, if you have never been on a jet ski before you have to try it. I was nervous about falling off but it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Tim and I only got thrown once. I banged up my ankle a little bit but it is fine now.

I can't wait to go out again!

Kyle is on the red one and Tim is on the blue one.

Tim coming off the water. He loves the jet ski's!!!

Kyle and Tim giving each other a detailed description of their ride!!!

The week so far

This week is going pretty well. I am still adjusting to having to work everyday! Man I sure get lazy over the summer. My class is making it easy to get back into the swing of things. They are a great group of kids. They are so cute and funny. I am always smiling!

I had hoped that this week would go by fast. It is not going slow so I guess I can't complain. I am just ready for this weekend! (it's my birfday on Sunday!!!)

I am about to get very busy. Tonight is the last night for a few days that I can veg out at home.

Tomorrow Tim is going with me after work to help me pick out a new phone. (Of course this is all based on whether he will get off work in time.)

Friday Erna is cutting my hair and then I am going to Tim's sisters house for a birthday party. His sister and nephew share my birthday.

Saturday we are going to the lake! It will be my first time on a Jet ski. I am pretty excited about that!

It looks to be a good birthday weekend!

Cell Phone

I need a new cell phone and plan. I have always had a prepaid cell phone. I hardly ever used it. It was mainly just for emergencies. But now I am using my phone A LOT MORE. So I need a new plan.

I am looking at T-Mobile. What are your thoughts. What plan and carrier do you have and are you happy with it???

Change of Plans

Tim and I did not get to go to Payson yesterday. Tim woke up Saturday morning with an extreme headache. He gets cluster headaches and yesterday was really bad. He couldn't hardly get out of bed. So we had to cancel our trip. We were both pretty bummed.

Tim took a three hour nap and was feeling a bit better that evening so I took over some movies and we ordered take out. We ate Pei Wei and watched 50 First Dates and Ironman.

Hopefully we can get to the next rodeo.

Toby Keith

Okay let me first start off by apologizing. I just finished reading Ashley's blog and apparently I need to post a picture with my blog. Usually I do this but lately I have not been carrying my camera with me. Last night I took my mom's camera but never pulled it out. So this post won't have pictures.

Yesterday Tim and I went to the Toby Keith concert. He got tickets from a good friend of his. Turns out the tickets came with dinner! I went over to his house at 5:30 and we headed to Cricket. His friend Barb met us at the gate to give us our tickets. She got the tickets as part of some work function. We followed her to a big tent and ate catered Dillion's. Mmmmm yummy BBQ!!!! The potato salad was SOOO good. I will never be happy with any other potato salad again.

After dinner we walked around and met some more of Tim's friends who were there. Then we found our seats. Trace Adkins performed first and then Toby. It was alot of fun! Tim's friend Barb was so much fun, granted she was drunk, but very funny and nice!

Today Tim and I are headed to Payson for a rodeo. I PROMISE to take pictures!!!

too tired to post

I started to post about my day but I just realized I am too tired to even think about my day.

short version - 18 kids because 6 were no shows.

2 criers
1 bathroom accident
1 extra hour of school

didn't get home until 5:15 (fyi - that is what time I will get home every day). Unfortunetly I stop getting paid at 3:30

Swimming

I was going to post about what I did last night with Tim but I guess I should start by letting everyone know who he is!

At the beginning of the summer my Uncle Keith decided he wanted me to meet Tim. Tim is in his ward and Uncle Keith thought we would get along. He wanted me to go to his ward to meet Tim. I didn't. I just thought it would be weird to go to their ward just to meet a guy. So finally at the beginning of July Keith and Becky set up a double date. We all went to dinner and played mini golf. Then I went out of town for two weeks.

When I got back Tim called me and we went out again, and again, and again...

Okay now that you all know Tim, here is what we did last night. Sorry I don't have any pictures. I took a camera but never used it!

I got to Tim's at 8:30. His two sisters were there along with his niece and three nephews. We all went swimming and then had dinner. The kids had hotdogs and the adults had chicken with an apricot glaze, asparagus, stuffing, and potatoes. (Tim loves to cook) By the end of dinner it was pretty late and one sister and her kids went home. (His other sister Cara lives with Tim.)

Tim and I stayed in the living room and watched The Incredibles. Well, I watched the movie. Tim fell alseep.

It was a very nice night.

OH...

This is the frog Tim gave me last night. He and his sisters had spent the day cleaning out their parents storage unit and he found it.

I LOVE IT!!!! It smells just like Tim! It is the best frog I have gotten (and I have gotten a lot of frogs!)

LOOOONNNNGGGG Day

Meet the teacher went well. I only had half the parents show up and they all pretty much came at the same time which is how I prefer it. So over all it was good and I survived.

I didn't realize how unprepared I was for Monday! I spent the day typing up lesson plans and then getting all that stuff together. Then I still had to finish putting together the classroom!

I finally left work at 5:40 when my 3's started to look like E's and I couldn't sign my name anymore (I don't know how celebrities do it!)

My day is still not over though. But at least I am on to the fun stuff. Right now I am at Erna's waiting for Tim to get off work so we can go to dinner.

I AM STARVING!!!!

NOT at all ready

What a very busy day! Thankfully it has gone by pretty fast. Although I can't decide if I am happy it went by fast or if I wish it had gone slower so that I could have gotten more done.

We had one meeting today at 11:00. It was only suppose to last for an hour but I figured since board members were speaking it would last for more than that. Surprisingly it didn't - it actually ended ten minutes early!

Last night I couldn't go to sleep as I was thinking about all the things I needed to get done in the classroom today. But, I didn't write any of it down. So the minute I walked into my classroom my mind went blank. I couldn't think of a single thing I needed to do. Thankfully after a while it started coming back to me. So now I have a very long to do list.

I FINALLY stopped working at 4:30 and am now hanging out at Erna's for a little while.

Tomorrow is Meet the Teacher. I always hate that. First off, they stick it right at 1:00. Could it please be a little later so I can get more done? Second, I am always nervous meeting new parents. Every year I dread Meet the Teacher.

I'm TIRED!!!

It was my first day back to work. Granted I was there all last week but today was the official start. I had meetings in the morning. Those are pretty boring. Mostly because I have been there for a few years and it is almost all repitition. After the morning meeting my grade level team and a few others went to Red Robin to celebrate Jenny's (co-worker) birthday. I am just not a fan of Red Robin. The burger I got was pretty bland. Like they forgot to season the patty.

The afternoon was spent working on my room. I am slowly getting there. I do have to speed things up though. Meet the teacher is on Friday.

After work I had to go to Walmart to get some things for mom. She didn't have the time to go today so I offered.

Can I just say how much my feet and knees hurt right now? They do!!!

I am dog tired. I guess I should probably go to bed on time tonight.

The Last Day of Summer

Today is my last day before I have to be back to work. It is actually a furlough day. So what to do? I went shopping bright and early. It is too hot to go out in the afternoon. I went to Target, AZ Mills and then to New York & Company. And YES, I spent way too much money! Well worth it though.

Now I think I will go take the last nap of the summer.

More on Andersonville

This was the main entrance into the prison. There are two large doors. The guards would take the prisoners through the first set of doors and then lock them before opening the next set of doors into the prison.

The feelings that overcame me as I walked through those doors were overwhelming. To imagine walking into the camp that was filled past capacity. I imagined the stench and the dirtyness, the sick and the dying. I just couldn't imagine the horror that the prisoners faced when they first walked through the gate.

Prisoners had to make their own shelter with whatever supplies they could find laying around.

These are replicas of the shelters the prisoners erected.

There was a little spring running through the camp that provided water for the prisoners. But as the camp became more crowded the spring ran dry. One night during a thunderstorm, lighting hit the ground and opened up a new spring.

This little building was built where the spring Sprung!

Andersonville, GA

This flag was painted by a POW in Tokyo. In violation of camp authority the POW's stood at attention before the flag and recited the Pledge of Allegiance on New Year's Day 1945. Some time later the Japanese found the flag, confiscated it and threw it in the office trash. One of the prisoners emptying the trash found it and returned it to the prisoner who made it.

I have so many more pictures just from the POW museum. But that would make for a very long post and I haven't EVEN gotten to the ground of Andersonville.

I will be posting again tomorrow.

Okay, this was by far one of the best parts of my trip to Georgia. Let me start by telling you how much I LOVE learning about the Civil War. It all started with A series of historical fiction books that I read called "Faith of our Fathers". I got them at the LDS book store. Ever since then I have loved reading about the Civil War.

In order for you to understand what an amazing trip to Andersonville I had you need to know what it is.

In 1864 Andersonville Prison Camp opened. It was built by the Confederates to house Union prisoners. It ended up being the worst prison camps ever. It was overpopulated and they ran out of food and water. During the 15 months that the prison was in operation 45,000 prisoners were recieved at Andersonville and almost 13,000 died.

When I found out I was going to Georgia I immediately looked up how close I would be to Andersonville. Turns out we were pretty close so I was very excited to go.

It was incredible, I don't even know how to describe the feelings while there.

The National Prisoner of War museum is located at Andersonville so we went there first. They show two videos every hour. One is on POW's from every war and the other is about Andersonville. Even though I knew alot about the Prison Camp we still watched the video because mom and dad didn't know too much about it. They were amazing videos.

Then we walked through the museum.

This room was filled with letters to and from the prisoners. They enlarged them and made them the wall paper of the room.

Georgia Part 2

The second part of the trip we went to Columbus for Clay's graduation. It was so nice. I am not going to put a whole lot about that cuz you can see pics and hear the details on my mom's blog www.easysite.com/clufffamily Go to the blog page and you can find it there.

I will say that boiled peanuts are gross and fried green tomatoes are AMAZING!!!

Man I wish I could eat some right now! mmmmmmmm

Pictures from the Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta

You would think that will ALL the stuff I have to blog about I wouldn't take forever to post. I apologize. I have been lazy. (QUICK NOTE - I tried twice to upload the rest of the pictures for this post and it isn't working so you will see more pictures when I get it all figured out)

I flew to Atlanta with my dad at the beginning of the month. You can read all about that terrible flight in my last post. Let me just say. My return flight was much better.

We got into Atlanta around 6:30 and went straight to the hotel. It was very pretty. I felt like I stepped into New Orleans!

Mom flew in the new morning and we took off sightseeing. We went into downtown Atlanta and ate and Johnny Rockets. We then walked over to the patriotism museum and looked around the gift shop (not impressed).

Then in was off to the Georgia Aquarium. It is the largest aquarium in the world. And, boy, was it cool. Everything was laid out in a way that made it easy to see everything. (unlike the san diego zoo)

I was sooooooo excited to see the beluga whale. It was just beautiful! I love sea life. Dolphins, sharks, whales, and all the odd looking stuff! I could care less about fish. Fish is fish (except for the shark - those are cool) I wanted to see the stuff you wouldn't find at your local pet store!

I hit the gift shop on the way out (well, you kinda have to - it is the only way out) Smart - I KNOW!

I got a really pretty sea horse necklace and two books for my classroom. Cuz, lets face it, even though I am not in the classroom for two months I am still thinking about it!

After the Aquarium we headed over to see Stone Mountain. I will talk about that in my next post.

Flight to Atlanta

Dad and I flew out of Phoenix at 11:30. It had been a VERY long time since I last flew.

I have only been on a flight once before (going to Denver) and that was probably 15 years ago. So I vaguely remembered that flight and knew that it was no big deal so I wasn't too worried about this flight.

This flight was tough! I guess back when I was ten I didn't have anxiety!

The pilot did a great job flying the plane. I just had a lot of things going against me.

I had to use every bit of technique I learned from my anxiety program! I haven't had to do that since I first went through the program.

At first I thought it was my anxiety so I closed my eyes and did my slow breathing. Then I was light headed and dizzy. So I thought it might be motion sickness (I get car sick pretty easily). I found a good position, continued my breathing and started to feel a little better, but not great.

Then I started getting hungry - OH YEAH - I haven't eaten since 6am. So I snacked on the airplane pretzels and instantly started feeling better. So then I ate the chips I brought with me! After eating something I was able to look out the window and even do some reading.

WHAT A RELIEF!!! I have always wanted to do alot of traveling and while on this flight I worried about being able to do that. How can I fly to places like Australia if I can't handle a 3 hour flight.

DUH Callie - just eat something!!!

I have always been proud of the fact that I can read the signals my body sends me. I know if I have a stomach ache whether it is hunger, anxiety, of flu. I know if I am light headed or have a headache whether it is hunger, anxiety, or something I ate.

But on the flight I had three things hitting me at once and it took me a little longer to figure out what was wrong - anxiety, motion sickness, and hunger.

We shall see if making sure I eat right before the flight home makes it any better.

A Great Sunday

I decided last night that I would try out a new ward. I wanted to try the singles ward that I am in the boundaries of. I had been there once before a while back and just wasn't feeling it. But I wanted to try it again.

The ward is Scottsdale 3rd ward. I really enjoyed it. Everyone was so friendly. There were a few familiar faces from my old ward in Tempe. It was great to see them again. I just felt very comfortable there.

Soooo, I am switching my records over.

A member of the bishopric bore his testimony about participating. I learned alot. I really like what he first said, "80% of success is showing up" not just showing up to church, but also to prayer and scripture study. He also said that we need to participate in everything. Not just show up but participate. This is something I have to really work on. I tend to do as little as possible. I hardly ever go to FHE or activities.

I am going to try harder to do better. Starting with FHE tomorrow night. I gotta say - it is easier to go to FHE when I know what they are doing. Tomorrow night we are playing pictionary. FUN!!!

Last little bit of my Cali trip

I figure I better post the last part of my trip. I have some of things I will need to be posting soon, like:

My date on Friday

and

My Georgia trip next week

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Here is San Diego

On our way to our hotel in San Diego we passed the San Diego temple. What a gorgeous sight. It was dark out so the temple was all lit up. We got off the freeway and stopped to take pictures.

We went to the San Diego Zoo on Saturday. I had previously mentioned that I would like to go

to Sea World but my mom brought up the San Diego Zoo. I had never been there before so I said we should go there instead.

It was huge. We got

there about 10:30 and didn't leave until 5. We barely saw any of the park. I saw what I wanted to see though. I knew I wanted to see the bears. Polar Bears, Brown Bears, and Panda Bears. I teach my kindergarteners about these bears and I enjoy learning about them myself so it was great to be up close to them. They are such beautiful creatures.

I was so close to the polar bear. He was just massive!

The panda bears were beautiful and graceful. They walk so slow - not in a hurry to get anywhere.

The Brown bears were sleeping. (I saw a great program about brown bears on Animal Planet last night - really cool)

I will absolutely go back to the zoo next time I am in San Diego. I want to see the gorrillas and see the new elephant odyssey.