End of an Era.....well sort of

Last Saturday was the last Aggie home game this season. Saturday was full of lasts for us. There are 6 seniors on the team, 3 of those seniors have been playing at Utah State for 4 years which means they started playing my Sophomore year of college. Needless to say I have become a big fan of these players. I have watched them grow and become great players over the past 4 years. Its sad to see them go. The seniors have added so much to the Aggies and they will be greatly missed. This was probably the last Aggie home game that Jared and I would be standing in the student section. Standing in the student section has been a part of my life for the past 5 years. Jared and I met at an Aggie game and have been standing in the student section together ever since. The student section isn't just another student section, it is a one-of-a-kind student section. And it is always an adventure standing in section F. It is sad to leave this part of life behind us, but I think it is about time we grow up :) Also the next time we will be attending a home game we will both be Alumni of Utah State. Saturday's game was also the last time we will have to show up to the Spectrum hours before a game starts just to get good seats. (Can you say bring on the season tickets?) I have pictures from the game, but my cord is at school. Hopefully I will remember to bring the cord home and I can get some of the pictures from the game posted soon!

1 week until Vegas!

Vegas

In two weeks we will be here:

Watching these guys play

I am so excited to go watch my Aggies play in the WAC tournament. It will definitely be an adventure and a much needed break!

Ch ch Change!

Well there may be some change happening in the Fulgham household in the coming months.....hopefully we will know in the coming weeks so we can start making plans for this summer. I really hope this works out! :) I will keep you posted (if anyone reads this) Also we found out tonight that once Jared graduates, he will be able to keep his job and continue working for the Space Weather Center! Life is just starting to work out and fall into place. I couldn't be happier!

Oh and did I mention that we are going to Las Vegas in March? We are going to be there cheering on the Aggies in the WAC Tournament. I am so excited and I can't wait for March to get here!

Year in Review: 2010

Wow....what a year 2010 has been. As I looked back through my pictures and posts from this past year we have come so far from where we were a year a go.

January

Started student teaching, I learned so much about myself during this time which has shaped me into the person I am today.

February and March

Student teaching, school, and Aggie Basketball consumed our lives during these months.

April

I found out that I would be teaching in Cache School District. This was huge because we then knew we would be staying in the valley and Jared would be able to finish at USU.

May

Consisted of graduation and closing on our house. We spent a lot of this month do things on our place and enjoying our freedom from school.

June

Jared started working at the Space Weather Center at USU. We also went to Texas and I fell in love with that state! Once we got back from Texas I started teaching summer school.

July

Jared and I both worked. We went on a nice little trip to Yellowstone with our good friends Travis and Brittney.

August

School started for both of us. I spent most of the month getting my classroom ready for my students.

September, October, November, December

Life finally slowed down for us once fall started. We were able to focus on school, work, and finishing things around our house. We went to many USU football games and USU basketball games.

So many things happened this year that shaped who we are now. We have made stronger friendships with those around us and have made many new friends. 2011 will consist trips to Las Vegas in March and Texas in June. We will also have another graduation in May. (That's right Jared has one semester left!) I can not wait to see what else 2011 has to bring us.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!

Thanksgiving Break

Jared and I had a great Thanksgiving break. It was much needed and came just at the perfect time. We enjoyed time with both families and time to ourselves. Our break started out with the "blizzard of 2010" it wasn't much, but it got me out of work early so I won't complain. Jared and I enjoyed a afternoon and night in. It was so nice know we didn't have to be anywhere. I took pictures to "document" the blizzard.

We ate some delicious sweet chili.

Played our new red Wii that goes great with our decor :)

The wall of snow beginning to build up at our door. The next morning there was probably twice as much snow.

So much for cover parking right? Our cars had some pretty cool drifts.

Although this storm wasn't what everyone was saying it was going to be (which is good) it was nice to use it as an excuse to stay home and just relax.

The next morning we woke up and got started on painting our room. I have been wanting to paint for a really long time, but life just got crazy and we really never had time to begin a project like painting. So I decided that over Thanksgiving break we would paint it. (Jared was thrilled) I was a little nervous when we started because I had bought the paint way back in July and I couldn't remember exactly what it looked like. I am so happy how it turned out. Thanks for your help Nikki! It made the process go a lot faster! I LOVE my green bedroom!

After we used up all the paint we had (yes we had to go back Friday and get more paint to finish) Nikki helped me put up my Christmas tree. I know it was the DAY before Thanksgiving, but I was just so excited. I love having my own place to decorate! I am quite pleased how it turned out.

Its not the best picture, but it gives you an idea of what it looks like.

Wednesday night we went to an Aggies play the Utes in basketball. As always we really enjoyed ourselves. Our friend Brittney joined us with her little boy Chace. It was nice to have Britt sitting by us again considering last season we sat by each other at every game. Chace and I both had blue and gray stripes on so of course we had to get a picture! Isn't baby Chace just adorable! I am so glad Britt and Chace were able to join us at the basketball game!

Thanksgiving Day was spent at Jared's parents house. We at some delicious deep fried turkey and other great food. We was a great day spent just enjoying everyones company. I think this is the best way to spend the holidays. Friday Jared and I came back over to Logan and just spend the day finishing up projects around the house. It was so nice that Jared didn't have to work black Friday this year. Thank goodness there is no more retail jobs for us! (hopefully) Saturday we stopped by the Hudman Christmas party and then headed down Morgan to spend time with my family. I love the holidays because it gives you an excuse to spend time with family. I'm amazed at how much my nieces and nephews are growing and becoming their own person. I am so grateful for all of my family and everything that they have done for me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

Change

You're just a fool

Just a fool

To believe you can change the world

Don't listen to them when they say

You're just a fool

Just a fool

To believe you can change the world

Oh the smallest thing can make all the difference

Love is alive

Don't you listen to them when they say

You're just a fool

Just a fool

To believe you can change the world

Lately these lyrics have been in my mind. I have noticed that a lot of the teachers at the school I teach at are there for themselves and only themselves. They worry whether or not they get their full 30 minutes of lunch, their prep time, and other little things that really shouldn't matter if you are there for the students education. Not to build myself up, but I am at the school every morning by 6:50 and don't leave until 3:30 or 4:00 on any given day. I do not have a prep and force myself to take a lunch because I still have students in my class room when it is my lunch. Now there are a few teachers in the school who are there for the students. Two teachers come to mind. One is the a science teacher and the other is the 7th grade resource teacher. These two individuals are there to make a difference in there student's lives. They are constantly finding ways to help their students who are struggling. If all teachers were like these two teachers I can only imagine what the education system would be like. I hope that I can become the kind of teacher they are.

Many teachers look at my job like it is a baby sitting job. They look at my students like something is wrong with them. I think it is sad that there are a teachers that won't even allow my students in their classroom. Something is wrong with that. I want to CHANGE that. I want to sow these teachers how important education is especially to those students who have a disability. My students may not look like everyone else or act like everyone else but they are still kids and want to have fun and learn. When the other teachers look at me and make comments on certain students behavior it hurts inside. If they only understood what my students went through each day and that some of them can't control themselves then maybe they would understand better.

I am very thankful for the support I do have in the school. For the teachers that let my students into their classrooms to learn and make learning fun. I have a great principal and vice principal that support me and understand that somedays are going to be absolutely crazy.

I do want to CHANGE how those select teachers view my students and the regular ed students education. When I entered the education field I thought everyone was in the field for the students and to give them the best education possible, but the few months I have been teaching I have found that I was wrong.

Some people may think I am a fool for what I do, but I honestly wouldn't choose a different career. I am excited when my students get off the bus because I don't know what today is going to bring. Something exciting ALWAYS happens.

I hope once I leave Spring Creek Middle School I will leave some kind of mark on that school. Whether it is my students can go to any general ed class they want or just more acceptance from the faculty there will be some sort of change.

Days like today...

All I can say is I am glad each school day is a new start. If I had to repeat today, I don't know how willing I would be to return to school. I really hope that days like today happen few and far between. I don't know if it was because it was a Monday or the weather is changing, but whatever it is I hope it stops! Lets hope the rest of the week is better! Thank goodness I had a diet coke and Community to come home to today! It definitely made my day that much better!