"FOX"y Lady

Cameron and I were thrilled to be 2 of Paula's invitees!

Paula, Tessa, UreGirl

Nothing is more fun than when you find out Petey Ord is at the same fun thing you are at!!!

For reals...we hardly touched our booties to our seats!

Yeah... kinda sweet pic right??

Where all the dolling up happens. I think I was sitting in Simon's chair

Obviously I had to see what it felt like to make it all the way to the judges to perform!!!
YEAH...it felt good...real good! (even if there was no one there to fawn over my performance...)

And then obviously I had to see what it'd feel like to get a golden ticket from the "Golden Ticket" gal herself....Sum-summ's (who you'll no doubt see on screen this season!)

And ya...I mostly wanna be a judge and be in the power seat...so I had to try that out too.

Umm.. did I mention that Randy was obsessed with me? It was all fun and games till he started really asking for my number and such. (Weird things - cause it's Hollywood are you suppossed to just go along with it all??? I so don't have that kind of tact!) That's when I got nervous. I can joke and turn on the charm for the best of them. But then all of a sudden when I realize I'm naieve and the teasing isn't mutual and the other half might actually be serious I go Helen Keller on them (deaf, dumb, and blind). Just a defense mechanism...that's all.

The after party that we were escorted into had all sorts of free stuff which I obviously love. We were all over the "BLISS" hand massages. The party was classic, we were like two modest sore thumbs that seemed a little out of place next to the big names. We tried not to act too clingy.

We were sent to replenish the judges must have's from the grocery store. Interesting personal fav.'s they've got.

I guess you could say that if I could live my life without the stress of money or need of responsibility I would become a Hollywood groupie. I mean that in the sense that I just love any opportunity to go to any tv/filmed event and especially love it when I get to see a thing or two behind the scenes.

This weekend I had the chance to do a little work at the American Idol auditions, and I also was invited to see the So You Think You Can Dance show at the Honda Center. Now this kind of crap makes for my kind of weekend!

Whether I was dancing next to Paula Peralta in our own personally choreographed routines in section 228 (fab. seats girl!) of the Honda Center, or I was dodging giving Randy Jackson my telephone number - I was having fun and cracking up the whole time.

At the SYTYCD tour that I was invited to by the lovely Paula...who some of you may not be aware...has the roar of a lion!!! (For reals I was blown away at the depth of her bellow!) As usual I could care less if I'm lookin' the fool as I attempt to imitate the latest moves on the dance floor - so I shook my bootie probably a little more than necessary. But it was great cause Paula and I apparently gave some courage to the row of pre-teens sitting in front of us. They'd turn around and watch us having the time of our life, then they'd nod to each other as if to say it was ok for them to begin catching a beat of their own. I thought it was fun to see them being encouraged to have such a great time as well.
***and p.s.*** might I mention that I WILL be having Napoleon and Tabitha choreographing a one of a kind out of this world dance routine for me and Mr. Right ( I totally wish it was 'Mr. Right Now!' ) to dance to at our wedding reception. Believe me when I tell you that you'll sooo want to be there!!!

Now at A.I. - I had the chance - thanks to Sum-Summ's ever present connections - to wait hand and foot on our lovely judges. Who...by the way.. have now turned to 4 instead of 3. This year Kara has been brought in to spicen things up. Might be interesting. But not as interesting as all the secrets I learned about what goes on to make the whole production happen. No doubt watching the show this year will be extra entertaining for me! Oh and did I mention that Summ's insisted I perform my rejected American Idol Audition performance for a few of our pals there? Yeah...they weren't surprised I didn't make it too far.

School Scandals

So this is my class back in the day! I'm the slightly cheeky (as in 'full' cheeks) one in the front row. But I gotta say I was smart then too. That pretty skinny girl over my shoulder with the dark hair, was my very best friend Jenny Lee. I knew then, just like I know now...surround yourself with the lookers and you'll go a long way!!!

I'm sure those of you that have kids of your own know that there can be some pretty classic comments that escape their lips. A few that have put a smile on my face in the past few weeks....

* So today during lunch... free talk time... I felt some true empathy for a student. While Lee asked Graham if he had a girlfriend, Graham happily expressed, "No - but I'm looking for one!" Yeah buddy...me too...me too.

* My little Goldilocks came to give me "my afternoon hug" (which then prompts the entire class to rush up and attempt to be the next to show me their affection - but I can't help it, I love her hugs!). As she's hugging me (Well first of all let's just say I look cuter (and I guess skinnier) some days than others...) she looks up at me with her big blue eyes and asks, "Miss Ure are you going to have a baby? - because your tummy is really big." I said, "No you little stinker, that's rude now go sit down!" (Should I worry that that wasn't the first time I'd been mistaken for prego???)

* It being Friday and all I like to bring something fresh to the table. So today during my lunch, I felt it was very appropriate to introduce them to my skills of being a ventriloquist. I was just sure you couldn't see my mouth moving as I introduced my hand puppet - but apparently they claimed it was moving a whole bunch...I doubt it! I've been practicing for years now. My little ducky puppet friend told them a great story trying with all his might to avoid any word's beginning with the letters "m" or "n" such as Miss Ure etc. - with those words I just can't manage to keep my lips still. The rest of the day my class attempted to talk to me in an individualized ventriloquist manner. Funny??? Yes it was!

* Apparently 'potty talk' was today's theme. My students LOVE to abuse the restroom privileges and go about a thousand times a day. Today Alex interrupted my lessons 3 separate times and that is most def. not my favorite thing. On his 3rd attempt I mentioned that he really seemed to have more than necessary requests for his bathroom privileges, his quick response with a smile was, "But my penis will go in my pants!"
Now...fyi - in case you weren't already aware of my very mature nature - I happen to hate those...politically correct?...terms for the human anatomy. - So in my attempt to not cringe and giggle at the same time I immediately dismissed him.

* Later the same day at P.E., they worked on their bean bag tossing skills. Often I like to accompany the JP classes to PE and recess. This is where all the great action happens. Unexpectedly Ken was thrown his bean bag and yelled for all to hear, "That hit me in the nuts!!!" - I'm sorry to have to report that I was so caught off guard that I actually let out a snort to accompany his crassness. It gave me a smile for at least the next 15 minutes. Aren't I the classiest gal...let alone teacher... you know??!!!
* Sometimes I like to talk in an unfamiliar voice to keep their attention on me. Today they got a kick out of my "nano nano" hand signals that zapped them quiet when they disrupted my lesson and "weird" monotone speaking. When the alien comes to get them they know they're busted big time!

Teacher's Pet...turned TEACHER!!!

A little blast from my own past. My Kindergarten Years 4-7


Ashley and I show our American Pride at an early age

Ash. and I with playmates in hand. Notice my patch? Yeah my mom made me wear it on the WRONG eye for 6 whole months! And if you can believe it, I actually still had quite a lot of friends! (I don't know if I'd be that little 4-eyed chubo's pal...I just don't know?)

Brook, Ash, and I
-bathing beauties-

Ash and I as well mannered 6 and 7 year olds. May I also mention that it was tradition for MOM to pick out my new glasses every year when my eyes were fuzzy and dilated. She had me believing she knew what she was doing!!! I just don't recall glasses that covered half of a little girls face ever being "in with it", as mama use to say. (p.s. - I just noticed that I think this picture was taken because I put my matching dress on backwards.....starting trends at an early age ehhh???)

I can hardly believe it myself. I???...have a real job??? Unbelievable! Not to mention this is a job that I have to stick with. I can't be calling in sick when we all know I actually just want to try out for the latest and greatest game show. No more hiding out in the bathroom just cause my feet are killin' me! (and believe me that they are!!! A week's worth of blisters already!) And if I feel like Utah or Hong Kong is calling my name - it's not like I can just pick up and quit without a day's notice!! Yeah....that's right - HELL must actually be freezing over because it's true - I am officially a full time Junior Primary (aka - kindergarten) teacher at Carden Academy!

I have been busier than busy getting ready to act all grown up for my 10 new students in my class. How perfect is that...10 amazingly wonderful students! So I haven't had even a second to entertain you with any of my opinionated thoughts via the blog...my apologies. But I thought I should continue to share an insightful moment here or there about my new adventures.

So first things first - I've learned that apparently when you Google my name I had settings set where you could find my blog. And knowing that I did get a 'red slip' from the Apple Store for posting a very MELLOW blog (opps...when I got called to the boss' office I'd forgotten I had mentioned my repetitive occasions of hiding out by the toilet) about the workplace I finally figured out how to take my darn name of the search engines. SOOOO...hopefully I'm not going to get busted this time for cracking a joke or two about my daily teaching endeavors.

I guess right now is as good a time as any to give a universal shout out of, "For the privacy of those involved all - ...or most...or just the ones that'd cry me a freaking river... - names have been changed!" Phew! That should cover all the legal ramifications right? Now on to a story or two...

So at my new school that I'm obsessed with, we focus on teaching not only academics but really enforcing a sense of value, integrity, and manners. I think what really hooked me was knowing I could help train some boys into becoming fine young gentlemen. I tell you that pretty much escaped all of my brothers in their youth. No...maybe just mostly SETH...the smartypants boy that got away with everything growing up just cause he was a dork (simply another term for someone really really smart and hard working that never gets anything lower than an A...oh no, I forgot -he once got a lower grade in P.E. :) now that's funny!!!)

Yeah, Seth having graduated #1 in his class at BYU and in the accounting program as well has always been a shoe in with the 'gifted program'. And all I gotta say about that is that it's in my blood as well - but I grew up seeing the value in having fantastic social skills as more of a priority! And they've really paid off - I can get myself out of almost any trouble to be found in a young girls life.

So my students are going to be taught to be 'dorks' and well mannered! But I tell you...the training aspect of a JP teacher is a bit never ending. It seems I'm repeating myself all day long. But when they finally see the importance of a certain direction...it does make me smile, sometimes even laugh.

For example a student we'll call Lee, a very charming naturally sweet boy brought a lot of joy to me the other day. We were all lined up to go to computer class when all of a sudden I thought someone had perhaps had an accident....cause it was not smellin' like roses! The stank about knocked me flat. I was disgusted and amazed all at the same time. Along with my shock came an uncontrollable and immature giggle. Trying to hide any humor I saw in this I shuffled my class back inside the room. I said, trying to sound fierce, "One of you has done something that is not acceptable in my classroom. Someone has broken wind and that needs to happen in the restroom NOT in here!" Meanwhile all the students are pointing to the jokester of the class and plugging their noses. I'm trying to discipline but my words are overpowered by spouts of laughter that I'm attempting to hide. So as the class begins to follow my unprofessional lead and starts laughing I again try to lay the law down. "Please say excuse me whoever has done that. That is disgusting (and students what letter does the word "disgusting" start with?). Even though it seems like I'm laughing and think it's funny, it does not mean that this is allowed in my classroom. This is not funny at all!"

The entire time I'm dying because it really grosses me out, and kids are starting to say the "f--t" word that is classified as the actual "f" word in my house. I'm in the middle of telling them not to say that yucky word, and keep the smile off my face when that sweet child Lee says matter of factly, "Well Miss Ure, it's a little bit gross and a little bit funny." At that point I agreed with him but told him I thought it was a lot more gross than funny! Many times throughout the day they have me laughing and smiling.

Having now completed my first whole week as a "Teacher" - I feel that my life will be forever changed. I'm anxious to see all the ways I can help them to develop a love for learning, an ability to laugh at themselves, and an overflowing abundance of esteem. I am grateful to finally have someone else to focus on other than myself - I even dream about them every night! I wonder if smarty pants successful Seth ever looks back grateful for the things his Kindergarten teacher taught him? Maybe that's just where it all begun...