My Math History (500 word essay for math class)

Call me a geek but I’ve always loved math. It has been interesting to think back into my life and try to remember why I love math. There aren’t too many school situations that immediately come to mind. What does come to mind is my father’s enthusiasm for math. As a child I distinctly remember sitting at our kitchen table with book open, pencil in hand, and being amazed as I watched my father help me with my homework. Obviously my dad was the world’s smartest mathematician. No one could have convinced me otherwise. My dad worked hard to raise seven children on a salesman’s salary, my mom stayed home to tame us. Dad often worked nights and weekends and so moments with him were really special. That is where my love of math was born.

Math has always come easy for me. I’ve never mastered all the times tables. I don’t know all the formulas. But I know I could find them if I needed them, with the help of Google or my handy-dandy calculator. I think that knowledge is what got me through a fourth grade class where we had to line up and pass off our times tables as we were leaving for recess. If we got a wrong answer, we had to go back to the end of the line and try again. I know that I had to go to the back of the line several times. I was one of the last kids in the classroom. I wonder how on earth I wasn’t discouraged! But I wasn’t.

I like the certainty of math. There is only right answer. I like that you can check that answer, most of the time, to make sure you found the right answer. Once in Jr. High School, a kid was visibly cheating off my math test. I knew for sure that he wasn’t even reading the questions when it said to draw a rectangle and I drew a triangle. He drew a triangle. I wrote all the wrong answers on the test. Then after he stood up to turn in his test I erased all of my answers and replaced them with the correct ones. I can still remember him leaning over to my desk saying desperately, “What are you doing?!!” I was pretty proud of myself that day. Needless to say I solved that cheating problem.

I would also really like to thank Dr. Jee of Weber State University for being the best math teacher I’ve ever had. He drove a fancy red sports car and taught night classes. He had a very fancy job and taught out of passion because he definitely didn’t need the money. He made sure every single student understood. He never made my classmates or I feel stupid, he made us feel like we were smart and that every (right or wrong) instinct was natural. The think-aloud was his best friend. I hope to be a wonderful, caring, passionate teacher like him.

I love you Aunt Gale!

Dear Aunt Gale,

Just wanted to send you a note to tell you that I am thinking about you today. 5 years came in a hurry. I miss you so much and so often. I miss your laugh and how funny you are. You always took the time to find out about me and I've never doubted how much you love me. I often give myself permission not to share my chocolate because of your example. ;) You taught me how to make quilts, blew me away with your gospel knowledge, and were the best model of hard work and dedication to family. I will spend my lifetime trying to live up to your high standards. I hope you feel my love today.

Hugs from St. George and lots of love, Kelli

The Best Moments of 2011

2011 has come and gone. A part of me always thought that in the year 2011 all my dreams would come true, seeing how the number 11 has been somewhat of a lucky number for me in the past. I will say that I still have dreams to dream, but I did have a lot of fun in 2011. These are my favorite experiences, the coolest moments, and top 10 things I will remember about the year. In no particular order, here they are!

1. I have to say meeting Ty Burrell at my place of work was awesome! I’ve never really met a celebrity, and I actually got to shake the actor’s hand. The Modern Family dad who plays Phil Dunphy on the show was seriously so kind, very humble and gracious. I just wish I could have played it a little cooler! I totally was NOT cool.

2. 4th of July was spent this year with the entire day off and having a great time with friends. We floated in the water at Sand Hollow and watched fireworks in the St. George Sunbowl at night. It was so nice to be with friends and doing something fun other than working. Yay!

3. Another year of school has been completed. With 2 more semesters to go, it seems there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I might actually get a Bachelor’s degree in 2012!!! Doesn’t it seem like I’ve been in school forever? There’s a reason for that- I have been! Ha! Seriously, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to get an education. I know I am so blessed so I shouldn’t complain!

4. There are defining moments in life. Mine seem to come with me at U2 concerts. Moments that really do take your breath away, and your voice, from all the yelling. Moments when you just have to put your hands over your mouth and close your eyes because you are so filled up. These are good moments. What a band!

5. I found something that I believe will save my life. It’s something that I have a deep, strong, developing relationship with. It’s something that brings out a side of me I didn’t even know I had. It’s something I spend on plan on spending a lot of time with in the new year. Zumba is by far the best thing that happened to me in 2011. Who knew that I had this deep yearning to be a great dancer? It’s like the lessons we could never afford as a child. It’s like I get to be the cheerleader I always wanted to be and never made the team. Doing Zumba is the first time I have felt sexy since…2003 probably. I LOVE ZUMBA!

6. I got to spend the year 2011 serving as a primary teacher, 8-9 year olds. I still think the times I have felt the spirit the strongest have been in primary, especially when those innocent children sing. This Christmas the chorister sent a class out to the hall who would brings someone in and we would sing a Christmas carol. It was suggested that they sing Silent Night and as those beautiful children sang there was not a dry eye in the room.

7. Being able to spend time with family in 2011 was always such a treat. Picking up my sister, brother-in-law and their 2 babies at the airport and surprising everyone on Thanksgiving Day who didn’t know they were coming and enjoying our entire family being together is such a special memory. Being able to give a talk at my nephew’s baptism was so special. Playing tennis in St. George and Layton, wacky-ball and other games with my nieces and nephews and watching their soccer games is my favorite thing in the world to do. My brothers and sisters are indeed my best friends. I love that we are so close. I love that they are there for me. Tear!

8. I’ve had so much fun hanging out with friends in 2011- seeing Yanni live in Las Vegas with Karen was amazing! Walking with Linda is the best! Water aerobics, tennis, and climbing the Dixie rock with Emily was so much fun (and then she had to go and move to Seattle, sniff). Heather, my roommate is amazing and we do everything together (like sneak into old people dances, movie buddies, and even shop for hours! Who can forget time spent with Joe as in the almost perfect “treat yo self 2011” day? I have so many friends who listen to me and are there for me! It’s hard to list them all! But I do love you all!

9. If any of you know me really, really well you’d know that I tend to get myself into these financial situations. These situations tend to take a lot of time to repair. Since I am an honest person and fully plan on repaying the debts I have accrued, I have spent the last several years working my behind off. I am happy to report that the worst is over. I have NO credit card debt, let’s just say the financial forecast looks great! I am so proud of myself!

10. Finally, in 2011 I got to spend about 132 hours observing, teaching, and helping in Elementary schools here in Washington County. It has been so fun and I’m so thrilled at the idea of finishing school and being a teacher with my own classroom!

It’s a new year. A new start. I have hope for a great 2012! I’m excited to see where it will lead!

The Best Movies of 2011

My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2011

Since I frequent the movie theatre, I like to make a list of my favorite movies every year. I'm sure it will be different than your favorites, because I have very different taste in movies than most people. As I frequently explain, I go to the movies for 3 reasons. 1) To laugh. I don't like to be stressed out at the movies, unless it's funny. 2) To be inspired to be a better person. I love "the feel good movie". 3) The popcorn. My shameful addiction to movie theatre popcorn leads me to consider buying stocks in popcorn. So with my disclaimer, here we go. I will say I at first considered writing my top 10 movies that made me say, "oh." because there weren't too many that I thought were so amazing that I would want to buy or watch again...ever...but there were a few winners and those are listed below.

10. Thor gets my number ten spot because let’s face it, Chris Hemsworth is mighty attractive. Another reason is I thought I wouldn’t like it all and I ended up enjoying it. It was a pleasant surprise.

9. Real Steel comes in at number nine for one reason and one reason only. The double upper punch the robot does.

8. Bridesmaids/Hangover. Two movies tie for number eight because although overly crude, I really did laugh my butt off.

7. Tower Heist/ Mission Impossible were fun movies I enjoyed watching. I didn’t have very many moments where I had to say to myself, “really?”.

6. The Lincoln Lawyer. What can I say Mathew McConaughey? Super interesting plot, made me think. I loved it!

5. Limitless with the beautiful Bradley Cooper. Very fascinating plot. Fun to watch. Did I mention it had the beautiful Bradley Cooper in it?

4. The Help. Even though I couldn’t enjoy my chocolate pie at Thanksgiving as a result of this movie, I really enjoyed it and thought it was interesting.

3. The Muppets! Bless Jason Segel for making this movie happening! I also loved Walter, the new Muppet and just had a blast watching it!

2. Soul Surfer, the story of a girl who kept going after losing her arm to a shark while surfing gets my number two spot. It made me cry and was seriously moving.

1. Crazy, Stupid, Love with Steve Carel is my favorite movie of the year. Not only did it truly inspire me, it was also funny and had a really unexpected twist at the end. I LOVED this movie and would recommend it to anyone!

Merry Christmas!

The young father stood in line at the Kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. With him were three small children.

He asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn't be able to afford it all before Christmas. Then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter.

"She told him, 'No, I'm paying for it,'" recalled Edna Deppe, assistant manager at the store in Indianapolis. "He just stood there and looked at her and then looked at me and asked if it was a joke. I told him it wasn't, and that she was going to pay for him. And he just busted out in tears."

-Associated Press

The magical feeling of Christmas has found me again this year. I think mainly because of this story. Before the woman left Kmart she had also handed out a ton of $50 bills and paid off about 50 layaway accounts. All she asked is that people remember her husband who had recently passed away.

I hope wherever you land this holiday season you will find opportunities to serve no matter your circumstances, maybe in the memory of someone you love.

I hope that you will remember the reason we celebrate Christmas; remember the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, His perfect life, His miracles, His kindness, His teachings, His death, and the hope His resurrection brings. I hope that you will reflect on the tender mercies that He has shown you in your life.

I hope that you take the time to reflect on your childhood Christmases. I hope you get to sing all of your favorite Christmas Carols. I hope you get the chance to give to others, and I really hope that you get a really great kick-ass gift that you really wanted too.

So Merry Christmas friends! May the spirit of Christ lift you and comfort you this year!

The Ron Swanson Handbook

So my 3 year old nepew turns to my year and half year old nephew who was crying and says, "Be a man." I've never laughed so hard in my whole life!!!!!! Max has obviously read the Ron Swanson Handbook!

Now if a 3 year can understand this concept, why are there so many other men out there that don't?

Funny Turkey Talk

So my niece makes her own Thanksgiving card with a picture of a turkey that says:

Where's the thanks? I'm the one doing all the giving!