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!