Last Day of Canyon Crest

Eight Years ago I was hired to be an intern in 6th grade at Canyon Crest Elementary School, in Provo Utah.  Seven years of teaching later this is what I have gathered in my vault of memories:
1.  I have taught over 500 students.  I would love to say that I "didn't" have my favorites but I did.  And I would also like to say that all 7 years were my "favorite," but that would be a lie.
2.  I have mentored 5 interns.
3.  My parents visited my classroom twice, and my dad once more when I was pregnant.
4.  I started dating Will, who was the reading tutor in my classroom, in 2007.  We were married that Spring in 2008.  (Jake Wyatt really should be properly thanked for this)
5.  My Mom was diagnosed with Cancer in the winter of 2009, and then passed away two weeks before the start of the 2009 fall school year.  August 3, 2009.
6.  I taught Donny Osmond's son Josh Osmond and Will and I LOVE his really nice family.
7.  Will has taught over 50+ art lessons to my class.
8.  I have had a lot of great friends work with me at Canyon Crest, and not just as volunteers but they were a paid employee.  They include:  Jake Wyatt, Kat Wyatt, Will Strong, Grace Wilson, and Kalei Atagi.
9.  I taught 6th grade for 5 years and 5th for 2 years.
10.  I collected families of students.  I not only taught one child in some families, but three or four of the children.
11.  I kept the same Billy Joel poster on my wall for all 7 years.  And taught every child who Billy Joel was, and why he is THE BEST musician ever.
12.  I laughed so hard the day I said "titty" instead of "tidy" while reading a picture book.
13.  My last year of 6th graders heard that "Mrs. Strong and Will were putting their adoption papers in to adopt a baby."
14.  My first year of 5th graders heard "Mrs. Strong is having a baby due in June."
15.  Maxwell McLean Strong was born on June 18, 2011.
16.  I went to teach part time with the BEST teaching partner EVER!  Grace Wilson is pretty much amazing, wonderful, devoted, and an all around amazing teacher and friend.
17.  I received Golden Apple Teacher in 2010 and also the Crystal Apple Teacher in 2010.
18.  I met some of the best people who are my forever friends while working at Canyon Crest. Including the Parker Gang, what would I do without them?
19.  There are many many more memories but the one that is closest to my heart is that I got to be with children as my job for 7 years, and who could top that.

20.  Teaching allowed me to be a better Mama to this little man.  He is the reason I am going to be staying home and not teaching anymore, and he is the BEST reason EVER!  I am excited to see what other adventures life is going to bring, and I am proud of all the things I did while working at Canyon Crest.  Now on to other adventures...

Links - all the yellow words are links to different things.  (Including this one) 
This is linked to Max's favorite Television host. 

Jason Graduates - May 21, 2012

Jason graduated.  It was awesome.  The ceremony was great, and made me think of my own High School Graduation.  I felt like a real Mother to him, sitting there anxiously waiting for his name to be called, and then crying once it was.  It was a fun night, and I am so glad to have Jason in my life, and in our life.  Jason has taught me a lot.  And for all he has taught me I am grateful.
Now on to the next stage...Mission and college...
And Jason, we are here with you each step of the way!

  

Max slept through the last part of the ceremony on Grace's shoulder.

 Oh boys will be boys! 

Jason's Day May 21, 2012

Max's New Friend is a Hedge-Hog

Auntie Grace and Uncle Joe got a hedge-hog!  A real one, and it is soooo cute.
Max and I went and visited her today.

Presenting Miss Quillie Vanillie.

New Mom to QUILLIE VANILLIE!  Happy Mother's Day to Auntie Grace.

(The links above are GREAT!)

11 months

11 months ago Max was born!  11 months.  Crazy.
In a month he will be ONE YEAR! 
Do I really have a toddler?

Max is getting pretty difficult to distract while I take pictures with months labeled on them.  So this time we thought, we will do it while he is eating.  Well, did he fool us.  As soon as the paper came into his sight, the food was history. 

 Max is learning so much each day, and he can understand a lot of things we say to him.
"Elmo, Mom, Dad, Max, Up, Ball, Milk, Mario, Food, Gerald (his stuffed animal), Bath, No, All-Done, Come Here, Bed, Hugs, Diaper (and he will crawl away - FAST!), Books..."

He loves the book "I Love you Through and Through."  It is his favorite!

 He loves REAL FOOD!  None of this food in a jar for Max.  He wants the GOOD STUFF.
He will eat ANYTHING we are eating.  He still loves his bottle, and I was getting stressed out that he isn't getting the hang of a cup, but in the last 11 months if I have learned anything it is that Max likes to do things at his own pace.  A cup will come, but for now we are using a bottle.

 Max has been sleeping a lot lately.  Like newborn sleeping.  He is growing. 

My cute 11 month old Maxwell.  Love him through and though, yesterday, today and tomorrow too!

Mother's Day Photo's and Water!

Mother's Day Photos

COUSIN PLAY DATE!  Water Water Water.

This was Max's first time in summer water.  He loved it.  He loved watching his cousins play. 

 I love this face.  "Mom I am all wet!"

Mother's Day 1983 and Mother's Day 2012

Karen Rust and Tiffany Strong in 1983, Tiffany was 18 months old.  

Tiffany Strong and Maxwell Strong in 2012, Maxwell is 11 months old.

Mother's Day 2012 - My post to mom's.

This is my first Mother's Day.  I have always wanted to be a mother.  I even became a teacher to "mother" other children.  I love being Max's Mom, it brings me an endless amount of joy, and is truly a miracle.  I am Max's Mom, that is my title, and how could I not love the sound of that?

My Mother was beautiful.  She was graceful, athletic, and caring.  She was not only a mother to me, but a nurse and my best friend.  My Mom and I would take long walks down on the Delaware River Trail.  Long walks...hours...
My mom and I could talk!  We would laugh, cry, fight, and work everything on our walks.  I remember the day I asked my Mom about kissing.  I wondered where she had her first kiss,  and she walked me to the tree where she had her first kiss.  (My Mom grew up in the same town as I did, so she literally walked me to the tree)  There in the tree was a heart with her initials and the boy she kissed initials.  My Mom was a romantic.
My Mother is watching over me all the time, I see her in Max, I remember her daily, I listen to her favorite songs.  I keep her close to my heart.  I love her, and can't wait to take walks with her again.  

My Mom.  This is at the Canal that we would take our "walks."

I also have been privileged to have another amazing Woman in my life.  I couldn't have grown up without her.

Fran Caswell, mother, friend, confidant, all around amazing person.  My family moved to 330 Pennington Harbourton Rd when I was entering 1st grade.  Fran and her husband Brad lived next door.  Little did they know they would be in for a life change.  My family quickly became best friends/family to Fran and Brad.  Fran was the cool neighbor.  She gave me my first Coke, and let me drink Fresca.  She also let me play on her computer and watch "Home Improvement" whenever I wanted.  Awesome!  Fran could tease me, and make fun of me which I needed.  Fran has a daughter named Sarah, who I call "Sister."  Sarah and I are two lucky girls to have Fran. 
Fran taught me to have a back bone.  She is where I get my ability to add sarcasm into any situation.  Most importantly Fran can give the BEST hugs.  She was always available for a hug.  She has seem me through a lot in my life, more than I think she was bargaining for when the Rust's moved in.  She is and always will be the first person I call when I need advice, a good cry, or just have exciting news.  Fran is the Mother I know Karen Rust is happy that I have.

 

Fran and Brad

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers! 

First few Steps with Walker

What a week it has been!

 There are only 11 more school days left.  Let the single digit count down begin.  Will sends me pictures of Max on my phone while I am at school.  The picture above was sent to me with the caption "Max watching Elmo Naked" and it made me laugh out loud, so of course I had to show the girls in my class what I was laughing about.  They all say "awwww he is so chubby!"  I love his chubby little naked body, but he is thinning out because of all of this crawling.  We had to take him to the doctors because of another ear infection and he hasn't gained any weight in the last month, but I know he is growing because his 18 month clothes don't fit anymore.  He is an official 2T wearing little man! 

 Max understands that "Mario" means dad and him are going to play the Wii on the couch.  He sits with his controller and Will sits and actually does the playing.  This has become a part of Max's bedtime routine, and I might be creating a monster, but is it really that bad to let this bonding happen.  It makes both Son and Father so happy!

 My 5th graders went on a field trip to the Utah Natural History Museum.  It is an awesome museum and everyone had a fun learning experience.  Max and Will came up to be with me and the students.  We had a group of 5th graders, a stroller, Max, and Will and I.  Max loved all the attention, but was mostly interested in the windows. 

Max loves Nutra-Grain bars, especially the strawberry ones.  Jelly Face Max!

I have more pictures from the museum trip that I will post soon!

VOTE FOR MAX

Hello there everyone!
Thanks for the last vote, because guess what?  MAX IS A FINALIST!

Can you go to this link and vote one more time.
http://photos.parents.com/parents-cover-contest-2012/19/2012/2306?esrc=nwphotofaves_pmcover12

Please send it to your friends and family.
There is a college scholarship prize for the winner and also he will make it onto the cover of Parent magazine!

You can vote everyday if you want!  But just once is fine. 

Thank you for all your love and support with this contest.

Love,
Tiffany and Max

Sarah "Dewi" Caswell

When I was ten years old my life changed for the better.
My second mother Fran Caswell gave birth to the cutest little girl I have ever seen.  She loved me, and I loved her.  We should be blood sisters.  But what does blood prove? 
After Sarah was born I took her everywhere.  I am pretty sure she thought she was cool by hanging out with me - but to be honest - I was the cool one.  Sarah would come to my lacrosse and field hockey games, I would take her to the pool, shopping, to friends houses.  I even dressed her up as an M&M matching me one Halloween.  All of my friends knew Sarah, and she knew my friends.  It was great!

Sarah is now TWENTY years old!  TWENTY!!  She goes to Hamilton College, has a DECLARED MAJOR (which I don't 100% understand but am so proud of her!), and is the goalie for Hamilton's Lacrosse team.   Most importantly she is Max's Godmother.

Her birthday was May 2nd.  I had my 5th grade class call her and sing "Happy Birthday" to her.

Sarah is the best little sister EVER!

I love you Sarah.  Max and Will love you too.  Thanks for being in my life.  Thanks for making my life better.  Thanks for teaching me that love is unconditional.   You are THE BEST!

Happy Birthday Godmother Sarah!

 This is Max and Sarah at Thanksgiving!

Be Kind

I read this story today and had to share.  It made me tear up and think "Would I have done the same?"

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

(Thank you Homestead Survival for this story)