"Can I go to the bathroom?"

Do you know how often I hear these words everyday? Let's just say if I was paid five cents every time this phrase was uttered, John and I would be living in a house.

So, this is my little update... A few things have happened since I wrote last. I am no longer single, turning the page on that chapter and now reading up on being a new wife. I also took a job teaching kindergarten at a private school. Instead of spending my time at a desk for eight hours, my day consists of picture books, 11am snacks, and the agonizing section of the day termed "nap time." This is one of the hardest parts of the day for me and for my kids. It seems to be against a 6 year old's nature to lay still on a cushy mat and listen to pretty music. I would sell my fingers and toes to lay down too, but my job is different.

At my school, they break in new teachers by putting them in Kindergarten. We learn ways to teach reading and math skills and do so by teaching with another experienced teacher. I am really an apprentice. But, I like to think I am the muscle that keeps the class in line.

While the other teachers teach, I sit in the back, or stand off to the side and practice saying things like, "No, there is only one capital letter in your name..." or "we do not use our scissors like that..." I pace the room, with my arms folded, watching and correcting. Our Christmas program is tomorrow and my sole job in the whole process has been to keep children from screaming Joy to the World and wiggling themselves right off the stage.

I expect motherhood to be something like this... though thankfully I will not give birth to 18 children at once and have them all reach Kindergarten at the same time. That would really suck.

Life as a new wife has been much more pleasing. I guess it always helps to marry your best friend. We were given the advice to always laugh and I think John and I have already mastered this. It has been so much fun to have someone there when you get home and someone to make Belgian waffles with on Saturday mornings. But it is best when we look back at how we got here and realize all the blind dates, past relationships and frustrating wedding plans were all worth it when it leads to something this good. Marriage is really cool.

However, I have decided it is time to learn how to do a few things like... how to cook. Happily I know how to clean and do laundry and those things can be relaxing when I have burned the bottom of our one and only pot again.

My favorite new pastime is drying stuff. We got a food dehydrator and I have dried apples, kiwis, peaches, pears, and pineapple slices. John got adventuresome and made homemade beef jerky. It tasted just like the 6 dollar stuff at 7-11 but our apartment smelled like a butcher shop for a few days.

I also like living in a new city. I still find myself gravitating to the D.C. because I know where everything is already as opposed to having to look up the nearest Barnes and Noble.   But, Salt Lake has its definite pluses. We live in a beautiful area with lots of trees and most of the time it doesn't even feel like Utah. I found a new route to run and our apartment is as cozy as I could imagine. However, it takes a lot for the sun to get to us and we have little to no cell phone reception. Sometimes I just feel like I am on vacation in an unreachable land.

Well, I am going to end my update with a little list of the most important things I have learned in the last few months of my life. John said I am good at lists and I take pride in that fact!

• Crock pots are the best cooking device ever invented
• at school, imitation is really the sincerest form of flattery
• small apartments get messy fast, but they clean up fast (this motivates me to have a small house)
• even fake plants and flowers can make any room happier
• recess is when someone's true character comes out
• dried kiwi tastes like death but dried pears are fairly tasty
• when you like someone, draw them a picture
• Walmart has awesome deals on fake Christmas trees
• sleeping in on Saturday mornings is the best part of the week
• Red Box carries some really stupid movies that make me wish I got my dollar back
• reading at home with your kids will be worth more than anything to a child
• thanks you notes take longer than you think
• Change in life keeps you on your toes and as long as you are trying, you never really fail anything.... you just keep practicing.