What's new???

So much has been going in since my last post! We are entering 4th quarter at my school... I cannot believe The quarter is almost over! This past week has been very interesting... My students are Struggling to stay interested so I made a deal with them... I said "if you are good I will sing some opera for you" Haha who would have thought a bunch of eighth graders would be Interested in hearing me sing... But they were very excited and Pumped about it :) so I am now a big hit in Facebook because One of my students secretly recorded it. Now I have all my classes Asking for an opera show haha As for life... Brad has been busy working at the salt lake airport And I have been busy teaching and coaching softball at Bingham :) I have been working 13 hour days but I love it :) we definitely have been Blessed with the lives that we have

my wish list...

So Brad asked me today over a text what I wanted for Christmas... I was just sitting grading papers and these were the responses that followed:

Brad:  What do you want for Christmas?
Kellie:  Money  (We are feeling a little poor since brad quit his job)

Brad:  What else?
Kellie:  You to get a new job

Brad:  What else?
Kellie:  New hub-caps for my car... trying to pimp it out (NOT!!!  I just got new tired and two weeks later      
             I  had a hubcap that wandered off)



what do you think about these haha?



Brad:  What else?
Kellie:  New windshield (Mine has a crack in it)

Brad:  What else?  (I don't think he was liking my answers... but I was serious!)
Kellie:  Ummm... a peacoat! this one is cute :)

Brad:  What else?
Kellie:  A baby............
Brad: YAY



















hahaha... just kidding on the last part :)  That was not included in the conversation... but maybe next christmas :)



Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!  Please pray I make it until December 23rd.... we don't get out of school until then... lame, I know :)

Oh Hey!!! Yes, we are alive :)

Sorry I have been a flake about posting... Life has been busy with school and getting the hang of things, so here it goes...

I don't think we have ever introduced you to the new member in our family... Meet Ruby!!!!

Here she is in her Santa suit that Grandpa John Campbell bought her :)  And her Aunt Kassie LOVES her... and loved her cuddles!! 

We adopted Ruby when she was 12 weeks old from an animal shelter in Park City.  Brad picked her up while I was holding her sister, and we fell in love with the kisses she gave us.  She has grown so much since we got her... here are some pictures from when we took her camping with us the second week we had her.

 

Going on a hike... she was so good... stayed right by me!

We took her out on Washington Lake...  while out in the middle of the lake she decided to jump out of the canoe and into 30 degree water.  Right when she hit the water She started crying from being cold.  I took my jacket off, wrapped it around her, and our canoeing adventure ended.  We stayed by the fire all night and ruby was wrapped in blankets... we LOVE her!!!

We have been keeping busy on Thursday nights with puppy classes at Pet's Smart... we love that Ruby knows how to sit, leave it, and kind of walk right on a leash (still in progress).  We took her home with us for Thanksgiving and she made friends with Kami since we were not home all the time to entertain her like at home.  I think she liked California... and she was great in the car the entire ride... just slept and was lazy in her bed.

Family...

My family has had a hard time these past few months... My Grandpa was rushed unexpectedly to the hospital Sunday during conference and no one would have thought that would be the last time he was home... he was in the hospital for a little over 3 weeks before passing on to the other side to be reunited with my Aunt Tami.  We miss him terribly, but I am sure he is hard at work on the other side and looking down on each of us.  He was one of my biggest cheerleaders in life

This is Brad and me in the hospital spending GrandBob's last day on earth with him... there was a BYU game that day so we decided to show our blue blood :)

Teaching...

At my grandpa's funeral I shared a story about him being my biggest fan...  after I graduated from college he was always asking me what teaching jobs I had applied for, which was maybe one at the time.  When we would go to visit him he would give me the paper with teaching jobs circled... he was always helping me to be better.  When I got the job at my school, he was one of the first ones I wanted to tell... I was so excited.  I am sad that he won't be here to hear all of my crazy stories, or know how hard these first few months have been, but one day I will be able to share the joys that teaching has brought me.

Just like I said before, my job has brought me joy... joy AND stress :)  This past month we have been expressing gratitude at my school, and I was so grateful to receive thank you notes from 5 of my students.  It made me feel so special that they thought to thank ME... a few of them even admitted that math was fun!!!!  I love it!!!

Today I want to say that I am grateful for my job... I LOVE those that I work with, and I love my students... I am so blessed and so very lucky!!!  I have hard days, happy days, days that almost end in tears... but it is those great days that make all the struggles worth it.  For example, I had one of my classes take a quiz and I told them when they were finished they could draw me a picture on the back, write me a note, they just needed to be quiet.  So one of my students wrote me a note telling me that she loved my class and loved math... she also added that she loved me outfits haha and thanked me for being her teacher.

The moments that I live for in teaching... 

I live for those moments when I see that a student is not having such a good day, but that they smile when I ask how they are doing... I try to get them excited about my class (this does not always succeed, but I try).  

I live for the moment when most everyone's hand is raised to participate because I have incorporated Disney Cars into my math problems... yes, middle schoolers love disney :)

I live for the moments when i explain something a few times and I hear someone say, "Oh, now I get it!"

I live for the moments when a parent e-mails me thanking me for the job that I do, and how grateful they are for me and what I teach their child.

I live for the moments when I help a student who has never done well in math succeed... or at least do better.

These are only a few of the moments that I live for in teaching... and all though I may have days where I complain, I wouldn't want any other job (except the job of a mom...).  I have been blessed to learn from my students and to teach them.  

Sorry this is so long... but I thought I would just share... I will try to post again very soon!!!  

Happy Holidays,

Mrs. Campbell :)  (I feel like that is my name now a days)

PS i have added more pics of ruby... love this hairy baby!!!  enjoy!

The first week we had her... she was so little!!!

She is not a fan of her snow outfit... she would rather whine about being cold

It's LOVE <3

Life as We Know it... and how I LONG for the weekends :)

Life...  when I was twelve years old I don't think I would have ever imagined it as it has turned out...

1-  When I was 12 I wanted to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World.
2-  I wanted to go to BYU and play softball... but someone had another plan for me )
3-  At 12 Brad Campbell was the biggest weirdo because all he liked to do was blow things up and play with fire... haha, still somewhat true today but I like him A LOT more now :)
4-  I used to have a tan...
5-  I never thought I could learn to make anything else except macaroni...

I found that I sometimes find myself thinking like a 12 year old since most of my day is now spent talking to 12-13 year olds...  I haven't figured out if it is a good thing or bad thing yet.

TeAcHiNg...


What I have learned about being a REAL teacher...

-  Parents want to be in the loop...  I sent out an e-mail letting parents know about an upcoming test and i have received over 5 replies about how grateful they are for the information...
-  Back to school night is one of the longest nights of your life...  you repeat the same information over and over again while parents are trying to decide if they like you or not  :)
-  Starting a brand new core is not very fun when there is no book... but I am lucky enough to work with a great math team :)
-  Some kids are just crazy... the end :)
-  No matter how hard you try to help out a student, if they don't want to improve themselves then it is not going to happen...  it's all about attitude
-Some students have in their mind that they are already going to fail...  what can I do to convince them otherwise?  I tell them that they can... they can do great things if they really want to.
-  Seventh graders like to draw me pictures and give me notes telling me that I am their favorite teacher... haha, seriously... it makes my day a lot better when I get one of these
-  Some kids will drive you crazy, but if you ask them to stay after class to chat they are really scared of you then...  they have lost their audience so there is no one to entertain.
-  Going over material three or four times may be frustrating, but then you finally realize that your students get it!!!  It's all worth it in the end.
-  Middle schoolers these days don't remember September 11th at all... its weird to think that I was alive and old enough to remember a part of history.

I think that this is good for now... I will update more now that we have internet :)

A great loss accompanied by a great blessing...

I recently began reading the blog of a family who lives in Rancho Santa Margarita...  Their story brought me to tears as I read about their little baby, who at two months old was in need of a new liver.  The family talks about how strong this little girl, Ruby, was as she battled for her life.  We all want happy endings, but when it comes to a short lived life all we can do is cry...  and remember that we are not alone and that we will be with those we loved once again.

I wrote the title a great loss accompanied by a great blessing because a friend of mine that knows the family  made a page to help raise money for the family.  She is donating bows that she makes and having all the profit go to this family to pay for their medical bills.  It's amazing to see how big this group has grown in the last few days.  What she thought would be around 700 has grown to more than 4500.  She is blessing this family in so many ways and taking away so many burdens... she is a saint.  Today Brad even told me that he heard on the Radio about this page... we are in Utah... and so many more have heard across the nation and it has spread to other countries as well.

Sometimes I wonder if there is any good left in the world, but then I see a miracle like this happen and I am just grateful that people can still show kindness.  Not only has there been a large amount of people buying bows, but there is also a large amount donating money and things or their own to help out.  Baby Ruby may not be here on earth anymore, but she will never be forgotten.  She has brought so many people together and has done more in the 7 months of her life than most people do in a lifetime... but how can you not love a child of God???

If you want to read her story check out aniandmatttaylor.blogspot.com  my prayers are with the family right now as they mourn their loss.  Also, to buy a bow or two (you can even put them on headbands, clips, or bow ties) look up Bows for Ruby on facebook.

Oh Hey...

So this is what has been going on since the last time I posted....

-Brad and I went to California where we got to visit family and go to Robyn and Troy's Wedding :)

-  I got to go to LA and shop till I drop... haha, not really but 15 dollars for a purse has won me over

-  Slow pitch softball has come to an end...  our team did not do so well... so sad

-  The school year is drawing closer and I am officially starting to freak out....

-  I look at puppies everyday on KSL... I am in love :)  haha

-  Brad and I are in the nursery...  we teach the crazy 3 year olds... all they do is run around and scream as loud as they can bahaha

-  The Nordstrom anniversary sale is going on right now and I am in LOVE with everything!!!!

-  Sunday is mine and Brad's 1 year anniversary... where has the time gone???  crazy!!!!

well, I think that's about it for now... I will post pictures soon from the wedding :)

Mrs. Campbell... I like it!!!! :)

So... let me tell you about the time I was hired to be a middle school math teacher....


Friday, June 3, 2011


-  I go in for an interview at 10AM at Sunset Ridge Middle School (I arrived 45 min prior in case I got lost)
-  I met the principal, vice principal, and one of the math teachers (they were awesome!!!)
-  They go around asking questions, I answer them to the best of my ability, sometimes we would get off subject... haha, for example, we talked about Pi for a while...  It was good times :)
-  The interview ends, they ask if I have any questions
      -  When will you make a decision on this position?
               Principal answers:  Well, I would say a week at the earliest...  in a kidding manner he says a                              specific date...  (you just had to be there)
-  I ask if it is okay to look around the school, the math teacher offers to take me on a tour (the school is beautiful!!!!)  I was thinking the whole time I hope I get to work here!!!!
-  I thank them for their time and for the tour, and go on my way back to Provo (45 min south)
-I realize half way home that I did not give them my resume or letters of recommendation (I planned on going back monday with a thank you card and my papers)


Monday, June 6, 2011

-  I am awakened at 8:15 by a phone call
-  I try to sound awake while saying hello (I think I failed)
-  The lady on the phone tells me they have another opening at their school and the principal wants me to come in and see him again.  We schedule an appointment for 12:45
-  While in the shower I miss a call
-  I call my voicemail and i have a call from the school I interviewed with on Friday.
-  I call them back, the VP starts by thanking me for coming for an interview (I thought he was going to tell me thanks, but we have chosen someone else... but I also thought it was nice of him to call and inform me)
-  He continues by saying, we have interviewed others and found that you will be a great fit to our staff and would like to offer you a position.
-  I want to shoot WOOHOO!!!!
-  I enthusiastically accept!!!!
-  I get some deets from the secretary, hang up, do a little happy dance...
-  I call back the school that invited me in for another visit and thank them for calling me back, but I just accepted a job offer.
- Text brad, Mom, and the world!!!!!!


So say hello to Mrs. Campbell... I am super excited to be working at Sunset Ridge... we had a connection right when I walked in :)  It will be a fun journey...  a little tough, but I will beat it out and be my best!!!!  I am just glad that I didn't have to wait all week to find out... whew!!!!

Awkward and awesome things...

So lately I have been noticing a lot of awesome and awkward things in my life so I thought I would entertain you with a few... just promise me you will not judge :)

Awkward...

-  Playing softball, diving head first into second base and having your pants fall down below your butt...  yeah, a little awkward, but it does not end there...  while your pants are down you are trying to pull them up while you try to stand up and keep falling over...  need I say more???

-  Going to the Bingham High School Softball Luau and having one of the pollys that was dancing come up and have you shake it in front of everyone...

-  Going to church and realizing that when you go outside you can see right through your dress... oh yeah, I forgot that slips were invented... I just tried to hide.

-  Going to run for a fly ball in the outfield but then pulling your quad so your leg gives out and you can no longer make it to the ball that was totally catchable (I was so embarrassed)

Awesome...

-  Being called for a teaching interview... and one turned into three!!!!

-  Answering a question during your interview and having the principle tell you that your answer was a great one  :)

-  Getting an e-mail letting you know that they chose another applicant but that you were great and they will pass your name onto other principles (I found that as a compliment, but was sad I was not chosen)

-Having Sunday dinner with your best friends, playing games, and eating until you are stuffed

-Wearing Toms to work and starting a "trend"... no one believed me when I told them they are sooo comfortable!!!


Well, I think that is about it for now.... just thought I would give a little update

FAIL..

I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to blogging I fail...  these are the following reasons why:

1-  Brad has stolen my camera so I can never take pictures because I have no idea where my camera is        located at the moment.

2-  I don't have cute and adorable kids to blog about... only mine and Brad's life, which I think is exciting, but others may not think so ;)

3-  Who wants to just read and read... I NEED PICTURES ON HERE :)  haha

So this is why I fail at blogging....


But let me tell you about the last few weeks... since I cannot show you in pictures...

My Mother came at the end of march for my uncle's wedding...  Brad and I picked her up from the airport, we went out to dinner with the G-parents, and rooted Kentucky on to win in March Madness (that's who I picked winning it all... obviously they let e down in the final 4... so sad)
But anywho, after we partied it up on the dance floor with nicholas ( 2 year old cousin) and Abigail (crazy 5 year old cousin)  at the wedding, Brad and I spent the night in Park City with my Momma and Aunt Jeanie.  It was a fabulous weekend spent with family :)

This last weekend (Conference weekend), Brad's Momma (Kari) + Braden (brother) + Chelsey (sister) came up and stayed with us for about 5 days.  (This is why I need my camera...)  We had lots of fun!!!  We started they stay with a BYU Volleyball game against Long Beach State.  Saturday Chelsey and I went to the mall and browsed for a while after I got home from work.  Sunday we were blessed to attend the first session of Conference.
I always love going to conference and coming together with Latter-day saints from all around the world... it is just an exciting time of the year to come together and hear the counsel of the Lord through our chosen prophet and apostles.
Conference was wonderful as always, and we all came home and took VERY long naps... haha  We had a lot of fun with everyone though, and we went to the Carl Bloch Museum at BYU... that was so incredible because it was like his paintings came to life and they were created in the 1800's.  My favorite was the picture of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane with the Angel comforting him.

We were so grateful to have such wonderful visits from both our families... we hope they had fun while they were here too :)

RIP BYU Basketball And Jimmer...

SO I was a work today during the final BYU basketball game for this season and when it ended in a loss I was telling my friend Kelsy that I do not know what Brad and I are going to do now.  haha, It seems that BYU basketball has been our life. I mean Brad even bought me a Jimmer T-shirt from the bookstore.  SO this is a shout out to the BYU Basketball team... thank you for all the entertainment this past season, and for keeping my husband happy most of the time, I really appreciate it :)  Now we will just have to wait for the football season to begin.  I must admit though, I have fallen in love with basketball this year... I am going to miss it.

Farewell Basketball season... I look forward to next year :)