Busted

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Kleptomania (from Greek: κλέπτειν, kleptein, "to steal", and μανία, "mania") is an irresistible urge to steal items of trivial value. People with this disorder are compelled to steal things, generally, but not limited to, objects of little or no significant value, such as pens, paper clips, paper and tape

We've got a little klepto in the classroom. Yesterday, we emptied his pockets 3 times and found everything from legos, rubber bands, pieces of paper, the plastic thing you take off a milk cartoon cap, a sock, a Candyland card, beads, pom pom balls...... all in a days work. This is the same kid who, we discovered earlier this year, was jacking entire stacks of drawing paper. Now whenever something is missing from the classroom, all the kids scream in unison, "CHECK GIOVANNI'S BACKPACK". Yesterday when I caught him stuffing toys in his pockets during clean-up time, the other children automatically assembled to shake their heads in disgust and vilify his actions with, "I'm not inviting Giovanni to my house because he's gonna steal all my toys!" (followed by chants and nods of agreement). I imagine life is like one big treasure hunt for the boy. So I get him, but I don't. Treasure hunts are awesome. But having no friends really sucks.

Today, caught him again with toys from another classroom. I told him to return the items and apologize to the other teacher. She responded with this....

Ms. Carla: Again, Giovanni? You know what, put those things back in your pocket. When your mom comes to pick you up, I want you to show her these things and tell her "Mom, look. I'm stealing things from my classroom again. Please help me. I don't want to steal anymore."

My coworkers and I joke that one day we'll see Giovanni on one of those NBC Dateline specials. His mom is going to be seated for an interview and she'll say something like, "you know....it all started in pre-school when he'd bring home pocketfuls of trash and toys."

friends

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Kalena: Maddie is my best friend because she's really nice. Anna is my other best friend, but sometimes she can be really mean.

Maddie: Yeah. But thats ok because we work it out.

Kalena: Yeah....but Anna needs to stop being mean

Anna: Sometimes I trip and fall.

Maddie: Anna, you're not really adding to what we're talking about

Isaiah 42:6-9

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

It's a depressing thought. To think that despite this precious gift - His love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption - that I have been given, I still often choose to live as I ought not. I spend my time doing frivolous things, I doubt, I fear, I envy, I despise, I do not love, I forget...yet He still loves me. Despite all this. Crazy

"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeons those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name!I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you" - Isaiah 42:6-9

too cute to get mad at

Saturday, September 11, 2010

(casual lunchtime chitchat)
Myer: Ms. Becky, can I have a chip?
Me: Sure, man. *hands Myer a single tortilla chip*
Myer: thanks...*slowly munches on chip*.....um....Ms.Becky....can you change me?
Me: UHHH why do you need to be changed?
Myer: I....I did something disgusting in my pants
Me: Did you....pee?
Myer: its...brown
Me: .......................

this is serious train

Monday, August 2, 2010

Today, we read "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and talked about the origin of maple syrup. Then we flipped through a book full of train pictures. For crafts, the kids designed their own Wild West trains

Me: Where is your train going?
Avery: THIS IS A MAPLE SYRUP TRAIN. THE MAPLE SYRUP COMES FROM MAPLE TREES
Me: So proud of you right now...

Kevin (speaks in a sorta fobby, hooked-on-phonics accent): *points and laughs at James' train* HAHA...HA...THAT..IS....A FUNNY...TRAIN
James: Nooooooooooooo! Stop! This is not a funny train! This is SERIOUS train

defusal kit

Friday, July 23, 2010

*mass chaos during naptime*

Me: THAT'S IT YO. EVERYONE IN THEIR COTS. NOW. OR I WILL EAT ALL OF YOUR BANANA PUDDING.....*everyone scrambles to cots*
Leah: Miss....Miss Becky?
Me: WHAT DO YOU WANT LEAH? DO YOU WANT ME TO EAT YOUR BANANA PUDDING?
Leah: Miss Becky....can I............can I have a hug?
Me: .......................*heart instantaneously melts* yes. yes you may.

*HUG*

Moosie

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I want nothing more than to see him hump my cousin's dog right now. Because then at least I'll know at that point that he's going to be okay.

Caboose, when you get better....I am so taking you hiking at Great Falls. Off leash all the way.

WoW - winter olympic withdrawal

Monday, March 1, 2010

There are few things in this world as magical and captivating as Harry Potter. The 2010 Winter Olympics is one of them. My sole purpose in life for the past 2 weeks has been rooting for that absurdly awesome Korean figure skater, swooning over Apolo Ohno.....and planning my future Canadian citizenship. I may or may not have been crying during the closing ceremony.

Matthew Lu - 12/17/04 - Reading 7 - Graham

Thursday, February 18, 2010

eBobby - Bobby is my 18 year old brother. He is currently at Northwestern. He is very nice to me

Becky - Becky is my 17 year old sister. She attends Churchill Highschool. She can be nice, but she usually tries to kill me

David - David is my dad. he is a cardiologist and he works at the VA. He likes to give me extra work in all my subjects to help me. He came to America from Taiwan when he was just 10

Susan - Susan is my mom. She is a pharmacist and she works at the FDA. She enjoys helping us with our English, and making our lunches

Phyllis - Phyllis is my grandma. She drives 30 min a day to come to our house to pick me up after school. She has her own garden where she makes many veggies. She makes sure that we eat enough fruit, and that we don't get sick. She often goes to markets to buy us candy and food. She enjoys spending time with my family and loves to overdose our dog with treats

Moose - Moose is my second dog. We got him to soothe us after our last dog passed away. He is very fast, small, and active. He is a papillon mix that is sometimes called a velociraptor because he can stand on his hind legs forever. He loves sneaking upstairs even though he always get caught by my dad and is quickly sent down. He enjoys sleeping on our leather couches, sticking his head out of the car window, and picking me up after school. He is our house guard because he hears everything and barks whenever he hears someone coming to the the door

No mo snow plz

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I am related this this

itadakimasuuuuuuu

It's times like these that I'm glad I am a woman and free from the shackles of snow shoveling. My father and and younger sibling, on the other hand, are a bunch of suckers. Lost power all of Saturday and didn't accomplish much aside from whining and being cold. But for the first time ever, our family sat around the kitchen table (flashlights pointed at food) without the distractions of the evenings news or laptops or crossword puzzles. At one point, my mom went nuts and started lighting candles in the most obscure corners of the house. And there was my dad, following closely behind and blowing them out faster than she could re-light them. She eventually gave up and we all decided to play a nice, civil game of Scattergories. My dad and little brother are suspiciously good at this game..........must investigate further.

Letter: "L" - "Things found at a circus"
Matt: Losers. Who goes to circuses anyways?

Went in for a teeth cleaning last week and found out I've been brushing/flossing incorrectly my entire life. Inconceivable. My new dentist took one look and said, "Let me guess....you brush your teeth like a monkey" and proceeded to correct my toothbrush grip and brushing motions. I'm kind of upset that my childhood dentist never said anything to me about this....it's as if she was setting me up for failure. Anyways, I've decided my new dentist totally rocks based on his tooth brushing instructions, cool x-ray bibs, quirky sense of humor, and extensive collection of Star Trek models.

Discipline

Thursday, February 4, 2010

So I'm trying this new thing out....called a disciplined life. You know, like doing things when you should do them and not when you want to. I'm taking baby steps, but I'm definitely able to see those baby steps build up and play out in other areas of my life and now it's getting sort of exciting. Baby steps like getting to work a few minutes early and trying to respond to e-mails in a timely fashion. A few weeks ago, I started a new bedtime routine - in addition to showering + brushing teeth, I've been flossing + crest pro-health rinsing (this stuff is delicious and I sort of have to remind myself that it's mouth wash...not a tasty drink) + quiet time. I've also been keeping my room 'somewhat clean', which is a vast improvement from 'huge disaster area'. But last week's message at Frontline convicted me to stop serving God my leftovers at the end of the day. Todd Phillips calls it "being spiritually married but living the single life". You don't leave the last, half-dazed 10 minutes of your day to spend with your spouse. So this week, I've been trying this new "waking up early" thing for early morn quiet time. Biggest hurdle: my bed. A mega pity that my comforter is so soft and my mattress topper so ridiculously insulated. Forcing myself out of my bed into the arctic tundra that is my bedroom has proved to be my most formidable adversary.

I need a space heater dish.

BUNS BUNS BUNS

Monday, January 18, 2010

I had a dream last week that me and my cousins from Utah were on a floating pirate ship high up in the sky. Inside said pirate ship: lots of bunk beds and pillows....and a disco club. Inside said disco club: a dude that shot me with a laser gun and turned me into a zombie. I told my cousins to run away because I was about to eat their brains. Yes yes....I know. I am such a considerate zombie.

Also....I made buns! Black sesame steamed buns to be exact. Making bun dough might be my new favorite hobby.

Ain't that the truth

Friday, January 15, 2010

Daddy: *HUGE FART*
Me: Oh wow. that was disgusting
Daddy: Oh come on, it's like burping. Burping out of my butt......... Ok, I'm sorry.

(telling about his Disney World experiences with all the other 3-year-olds gathered around)
Adam: and then...I road DUMBO.
Daniel: WHOA. YEAH OK....but what was the WORST part of Disney World?
Adam: *thinks for a minute*
Adam: The worst part about Disney World......is leaving Disney World

HONESTLY, HONESTY

Friday, January 8, 2010

I praise God for teachable (albeit disgusting) moments such as these....

Me: Ruthie, did you poop in your pants?
Ruthie: No
Me: Ruthie, I see poop....in your pants. I'm going to ask you again, did you poop in your pants?
Ruthie: No
Me: Ok, buddy. I'm going to explain something to you. I'm not mad about you pooping your pants. But I am VERY UPSET you just lied because that is VERY wrong to do. So let's try this one more time. Did you poop yourself?
Ruthie: um, yes.
Me: AWESOME. I'm not mad about that. Thanks for telling the truth. We all have accidents. So tell me what's worse: pooping in your pants or lying
Ruthie: lying
Me: word. But don't poop in your pants either.

Resolutions for 2010

Sunday, January 3, 2010

• To stop being so fearful of confessing my shortcomings, weaknesses, and sins to others, especially those closest to me.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -- 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10

• To not emphasize my inabilities, but instead be thankful for the gifts I've been given.

"Yet how wistfully we look at another's gift and wish we could do that. How pitiably we say to ourselves, "If only I had his brains" (or faith, or energy, or voice, or courage, or looks, or executive talents). We were never meant to have it. God saw what He wanted to do, and He equipped each of us accordingly, and woe to us if we spend our time fruitlessly wishing we were eyes when we were made hands. " - Elizabeth Elliot, The Liberty of Obedience

• To do what is right - not what is easiest, not the path of least resistance

• To trust entirely that God is completely in control of this, not me. To not be fearful of disappointment.
  

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed - Psalm 139:16

• To be a better steward of my time. Seriously.
• Keep my room clean