He got hitched!!!

My little brother Neal got married yesterday. He married a wonderful girl (Rebecca), someone perfect for him. The wedding was perfect and the reception was a PARTY. What a wonderful day.

Camp Cherry Valley

I spent the last three months on Catalina Island in CA working at Camp Cherry Valley.

Meeting new Friends + Beautiful Weather + the Ocean + Hundreds of Boy Scouts + the chance to Laugh every day = HAPPINESS

Just a picture

Here is the picture of me with Fisher and Peggy (from 106.5) at the teacher awards dinner. The dinner was at Archibalds (such good food!) in Gardner Villiage. It was a wonderful experience. Thanks Mikey for coming with me!

It's official, I must be an adult

I remember the days when my seemingly large, although realistically small tax return came in the mail. I bought "childish" things like clothes, or shoes, I may have even payed full price for a movie. This year I am an adult. How do I know this you ask, well. . . I spent my tax return on extreemly boring (yet useful) things like a new printer, fixing my sprinkle system, a garden hose and most importantly a lawnmower. Check out this little beauty. It is the Torro 20300T self-propelled lawnmover and it is guaranteed to start on the first pull (That was adult talk in case you were wondering). I wonder what fun things I will get to buy next year. ;)

Tender Mercies of the Lord

Tender Mercy #1

Last Monday as I was preparing my students for the end of level test that they have to take, I became extremely frustrated. I felt that they hadn't retained any of the information that we had worked so hard on the whole year, and I was sure that I had done nothing to help them learn. The next day I received a phone call from the radio station 106.5. They told me that they had recently had a contest to recognize "teacher heroes." Hundreds of people had submitted nominations and out of all the nominations they chose 20 to receive the award. The man from the radio station told me that I had been nominated and chosen to be one of the 20. At that moment the Lord was telling me that I was doing okay, that I was making an impact on my students (as small as it was).

Tender Mercy #2

During the same week, I had a "pity party moment" where I let the thoughts that Satan tries to put into my head get to me. I was upset about not being married and having three children, about not being pretty enough, smart enough or good enough. I'm not sure why I let Satan get to me, but I sometimes do. During one of my classes, the principal and vice principal came into my classroom. They congratulated me for receiving the award and then proceeded to tell me that the art teacher was retiring and that they wanted me to take his place. They told me that they were worried that the art program was dying and that they were confident that I would be able to inspire students to love art and build the program. Long story short, next year I will be teaching math on A days, and art on B days. This has been something that I have wanted since I took my first art class in college. Something that I didn't think I would ever be good enough to do, but that I really wanted. After they left, I sat at my desk and listen to the Lord tell me that I was good enough, and talented enough and that even though I wasn't married with three children that it was okay. He told me that it is all about timing and learning/growing along the way.

Out of the mouth of a high school student

Today during class I tood a quick break to show my students this funny blog post. I thought is was funny, but two boys in my class thought that it was lame. They said, and I quote "Ms. Johnson where did you find this website? (said very sarcastically) Maybe this is why you aren't married. Instead of looking at stupid blogs shouldn't you be spending your time on E-Harmony?"

I fell back in my chair laughing.

Diaries of a High School Math Teacher

I know I've said this before, but I love my job. Here are just a few of this weeks highlights.

1) Layton high school just got a new principal which means new policies and programs. One of the new policies is that student are not to be in the hall for any reason without a hall pass. I usually let my students have a drink break half way through the class, but because of the new policy I've had to stop. Three of my students (all boys) came to me with a diagram mapping out exactly how they were going to get to the drinking fountain without being caught. The diagram included ninja rolls, secret spy moves and a plan B (just in case). With a plan like that I had to let them go. Three minutes later, two of the three boys came running into the classroom. "Ms. Johnson we're so sorry, but we got caught. Mr. Gochberg (the assistant principal)said that we are going to get truencies, and that he is going to come talk to you about following the hall pass policy." "Where is Chris (the third boy)?" I asked, "Oh, he ran and hid in the bathroom." Are you kidding me...it was a drink break for heavens sake...doesn't the assistant principal have better things to do them get mad at students for getting a drink...ahhh! Five minutes passes, Chris comes back, but no Mr. Gochberg. 10 min...15 min...no Mr Gochberg. By this time I have figured out in my head exactly how I'm going to convince Mr. Gochberg not to give these boys truencies. 20 min...and then the bell rings. As these three boys leave one says, "Ms. Johnson, we were just kidding." ... Man I am gullible.

2) Today I gave a test on probability. The symbol "!" in math is called a factoral which means that you multiply a number by every number less than it until you get to zero. For example 5! is 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1. As I was sitting at my desk one boy came up to me and said, "Ms. Johnson, I think there is a typo on number 5. All it says is forteen!!!!!(said with an excited inflection of his voice). I looked at him and thought "is he kidding...he must be kidding...wow, I think he's serious." All I could say is "no, it's not a typo, retake test will be available after spring break"...Oh, goodness :)

Two of my favorite people

One of my favorite people, Ben Denzer, just had his 24th birthday. He is one of those friends that I'm certain the Lord put in my life to help me. It's funny how he knows exactly what to say to help me keep things in perspective and make me smile. Man I love that guy!!!! To celebrate we went to the Michael Buble concert. It was amazing! He is honestly better live then on CD. The best part of the whole night was seeing all of the 40 year old women standing in the front row screaming "I love you Michael." One day that will be me :)

I love this quote!

"Make up your mind to be happy, even when you don’t have money, even when you don’t have a clear complexion, even when you don’t have the Nobel Prize. Some of the happiest people that I know have none of these things the world insists are necessary for satisfaction and joy. Why are they happy? I suppose it’s because they don’t listen very well. Or they listen too well to the things their hearts tell them. They glory in the beauty of the earth. They glory in the rivers & the canyons & the call of the meadowlark. They glory in the love of their families, the stumbling steps of a toddler, the wise and tender smile of the elderly. They glory in honest labor. One thing I know for certain: the time we have here goes by far too quickly. Don’t waist any more time.”

-Elder Joseph B Worthlin

Sweethearts dance

I'm the sophomore officer adviser and in charge of the Sweethearts dance. This year the dance, decorations and turnout was bigger than ever. Thanks to help from so many people everything turned out wonderfully!!! These are my Sophomore officers. They're wonderful!!!!


Dancing like its 1999. I have no idea what I'm doing.


Morgan, me and Shaun.

My family

Here is the most recent family picture. It was taken about a month ago right before Kevin left for his mission to Chicago. I pretty much LOVE my family! They were taken by Adrian.

This is a picture of my and the boys (minus Dallin). This is after winning the dodge ball silver metal at a dodge ball tournament. The other teams didn't stand a chance (all except that winning team that is)

This one is for Mickelle

My list of pet peaves is pretty short. When I say short, I mean it, I think there are 2 things on the list. Most things don't really bother me. Yesterday after a very insightful converstation with my friend Mickelle (okay it really wasn't insightful) I decided that what I am about to mention was worthy of being added to the list.

Just in case you care, or more for the sake of me remembering what the other two pet peaves were let me tell you.

1. Boys that wear white socks with black pants and black dress shoes. ( I actually remind my students before a dance that this is not acceptable. I have been known to do sock checks when chaperoning. Don't judge me)

2. When two lanes murge into one on the freeway during construction and some "too good to follow the rules" car drives all the way to the front and them expects someone to let him in. (Yes I know this was a run on sentence, which is probably one of your pet peaves. Sorry)


Okay, here it is. . .#3 . . .Facebook PDA. You know what I'm talking about. Here are a few status examples:


"I love my husband sooooo much xoxoxoxoxox"

"Today I spent the best day ever with my Bobby Bo Bo"

"I miss my hunny buns so much. I can't wait to see him tonight"

How does someone coment to something like that? ...uh.......I miss your hunny buns too.... Who the heck is Bobby Bo Bo? Is it rude to just write "gag" (probably huh?)


Okay maybe it's just me. Maybe one day I will secretly love that someone is telling the world that he loves his Stephy weffy (FYI if anyone ever called me that, I might throw up).

What are your thoughts? Is facebook PDA okay? Do I just not understand how great it is and am missing out? Let me know.

P.S. Mom, I promise that I'm not bitter ;)

I love this kid!!!

Here is a random picture of me and Dallin. He's the greatest!!!!!