random, bulleted thoughts

I haven't done one of these in a while.
So.. I'm gonna do one

+ Nathan and I are almost done re-watching The Office for the 900th time. It never gets old. Nathan was actually the one who introduced me to The Office. He brought over the third season to my apartment when we were just friends and I became obsessed. I found out later that he thought we were just like Jim and Pam- best friends in love who just couldn't get the timing right. But then we did! And so did Jim and Pam! Yay! But seriously, I have see this show more times than any other show. Including Friends! I have every episode memorized. I have watched the entire show completely though probably 14 or 15 times. That might sound crazy, but this show is my happy place. It can always make me laugh. I would watch it when I was sad when Nathan was on his mission. I watch it now when I'm having hard days. Good old Dunder Mifflin has really been a life saver.

+ One of my students has a really bad stomach ache. I told him he could lay on the floor while everyone was working on their starters. He was moaning and saying, "Ahhhhhh! I think my colon is turning blue!" I don't even know what that means.

+ My students expect me to know everything. It's flattering that they have so much faith in me, but frustrating sometimes because they bring every question they have to me. One kid just asked, "What city was The Hunger Games published in?" As if that is common knowledge for all Language Arts teachers. I also get asked all the time if their calculator is correct.

+ Yesterday I got an email from my principal asking me to come down to see him after school. I panicked and suddenly tried to think of anything I have ever done wrong. He just needed me to sign a form about changing grades. It's funny though how, after all these years, begin called to the principal's office can still elicit so much fear.
+ We went to the temple this weekend and it was wonderful. I wish I could live in there. The new movie is incredible!

+ I had to spend $400 yesterday on tests. I have to take 3 tests this year. Two to upgrade my teaching license. One to finish my reading endorsement. They are freaking expensive, take 3 hours, and none of them will help me get paid more. I can't wait to take them! 

+ We also spent $400 on new tires yesterday. Horray for commuting and needing to replace them every year!
+ I'm being whiny. I really don't mean to be whiny. We are very blessed financially. So I will just shut my pie hole.
+ Speaking of pie, I don't trust people who think pie is better than other dessert. Pie is gross. If I want to eat fruit, I'll just eat fruit! I don't need it baked up and swimming in syrup. Barf.

+ I miss being in Idaho with these people. I love that the Merkley's always wave as we drive away. It makes me feel famous.

 + One of my students got a hair cut yesterday and he hates it. He says it shows off his forehead and his forehead is way too shiny. I told him he looked handsome and he said, "No offense, Mrs. Merkley, but I'm not trying to attract teachers. I'm trying to attract 14-year-old girls."

+ Have you ever tried Cookie Butter? Because it's changed my life. I'm talking Nutella status people!

+ The spacing on this post is weird. I hate using my work computer to blog. It's a piece of crap. I know what you're thinking. "Why don't you not blog at work Kaitlin. Shouldn't you be working, anyways?" And to that I have to say: Shut up. You don't know me!

+ GUYS. I un-shrunk a pair of jeans! It's true!!!! I accidently threw my husband's brand new pair of jeans in the dryer and they shunk uo big time! They were too short and too tight. And just so you really understand the seriousness of this situation, finding jeans for Nathan is impssible. He's very tall, but very skinny. So any jeans that are long enough for him, are too big. And any jeans that fit his hips and thighs, are too short. It's impossible to find the perfect fit for him. So when he finds jeans that fit, we are very happy. So I was super sad when I realized what I did. I remember pinning something about unshirnking clothes so I found the pin but say that it said it didn't work on jeans. Well I researched a little more and decided to combine a few "un-shrinking" methods. I soaked the jeans in warm water and hair conditioner for 30 minutes. Then I rolled them up in a towel to get as much water out as I could without wringing them dry. Then I laid them on a new towlel and got to stretching. I held on end and pulled as hard as I could. The conditioner softens up the fibers and I couldn't believe that they were stretching but they did! As you can see in the picture, that's how the first side looked when I was done. I stretched the other, and then I put the soaking wet jeans on (the things I do for that man) and did some squats and lunches to stretch out the hips, thighs, and crotch. Then I let them air dry. And guess what?! THEY FIT!!! Nathan can't even tell the difference. In fact, he said they are even longer than they were before which he likes. I am magic, guys. MAGIC.

+ Today I talked with my students about what they wanted to be their reward if reached 200 good behavior points. Usually it's a party. They all decided they wanted me to bring my childhood diaries to work and read entries from them. Seriously. I kept saying you guys don't want donuts or pizza? No. They want journal entries. What the heck?? I even tried to deter them by saying my journals are boring, but it didn't work. And that's not true either.  I was an incredibly dramatic, boy-crazy young child. There's some good crap in there. This is the first time I'm hoping they don't get good behavior points.

+ Nathan graduates LDSBC in April and there's a chance we might leave Utah. It's not necessarily huge, but it's the first time we have ever even discussed the possibility of moving. It seems so weird! I HATE Utah winter with a passion, but I really have learned to love this place and I will be sad if we leave. Life is weird.