FOCAL POINT FRIDAY--Geeky Fun

Howdy, folks. This week's focal points...

BEST:

Friday night, we went to see the long awaited Harry Potter movie. Andrew's been preparing with the earlier films for weeks. 

The new Harry Potter movies are really the only flicks we deem worthy of paying full price in the theater for. Usually, we just wait to Red Box 'em. 

The verdict? 

• Because this book has been divided into two movies, it was fun how true to the book they were able to stay. 
• The special effects were incredible.
• It certainly earned its PG-13 rating. 
• Some scenes seemed much more intense and emotional in the book than in the movie. Such as: killing Nagini and Ron destroying the horcrux.
• The acting sure improves each time.
• Overall, we LOVED it. 

WORST:

I don't really want to talk about it. 

But an evening spent pouting spurred me to give it some thought. I don't want the grumpiness in one aspect of my life to begin poisoning home. And my recent habit of negative thought and speech is transforming me into a bitter, unhappier me. By bedtime I concluded, and felt a distinct impression, that I need a serious attitude adjustment. 

No more gossip. A mindset steeped with gratitude. And a stronger daily reliance on the Atonement. {Why do I insist on doing it alone?}

Well, here comes another week.

Wish me luck. 

WEBSITE WEDNESDAY--scherenshnitte

papercutting.blogspot.com

This is a paper cutting blog that I love to check in on every once in a while. Cindy has done pretty well with her art, putting on whole gallery shows, with only her exacto-knife and paper. She even offers free printable templates so you can attempt it yourself. Find all of them HERE. 
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I think I'd like to try my hand sometime soon. What great handmade gifts for Christmas! 

Which ones are your favorites?

{Cheshire Cat}

She's done alot of fairy tale paper cuts.

{Alice in Wonderland}

ha!

{Mad Hatter Tea Party}

Center piece and place cards. 

{The Silence}

I love that you can see above and below ground in one glance

{Wynken, Blynken, and Nod}

Remember this poem?

{Stygian Witches}

Fun one!

{Watership Down}

Isn't it fun what we can see that the girl can't?

{It's a Lovely Cage}

I don't really understand this one...but bars of the cage are sure beautiful.

{Because They Have Taken Away my Lord}

So delicate! Her hand, the clouds, the plants on the wall...

{The Frog Prince}

This one is 3-D in a shadow box.

{The Woman at the Well}

I love her silhouettes from the scriptures.

{It Taught me to Hope}

Any Pride and Prejudice fans out there?

{Thank You Card Silhouette}

Doesn't she come up with the most lovely designs?

{Woman with an Issue of Blood}

This story in the scriptures has sacred meaning to me, and it was done so beautifully. I love that you can actually see the virtue of Christ healing her, as if seeing with spiritual eyes. 

{Rooks}

Isn't it amazing she cut this out of paper??

{Birds on a Wire}

So simple. Yet one of my favorites. 

TEACHING SCENE TUESDAY--Romance

I overheard the following statements from a certain big-personality-endowed student of mine:

"Romance is disaster!" 
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"But apparently, you have to use it or you can't get married."




Oh, how I wish I had caught the entire conversation!

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY--Nieces

I took some pictures of my nieces at Brad and Erin's wedding that I am particularly proud of.

But I have to say that it helps when your nieces look like models to begin with.

Lovely blue-eyed Nicole

Whitney with her flawless, graceful features.

That picture had such a classic, vintage look to it that I played around on the computer to give it burnt edges and an old photo quality. Just for fun.

I'm just IN LOVE with this shot.

Rachel, take our picture!

Here's another niece. She's the sweetest thing since...who knows what. When I expressed to Andrew my desire to EAT her, Andrew just told me I was weird.

Her back was to me when I wanted a picture. When I called out:

Adelle! Look at me!

This is what I got--that precious gal calmly holding her pose for a good 5-10 seconds. Andrew and I almost died at her cuteness.

FOCAL POINT FRIDAY--bleh

Here are this week's focal points.

Only one more Friday before Thanksgiving break.

WORST:

I feel like crap. My throat burneth, my nose runneth, and my head hurteth like the dickens (if anyone knows what "the dickens" are exactly, please share. 'Cause I haven't the foggiest). 

In a netshell...I am sick. And managing a classroom this way is miserable.




BEST:
Becca left this week for New York City.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not happy to get rid of her...I'm just happy she's so happy. It was a highly competitive internship expedition, and her acceptance is something to be proud of.

She's becoming quite the traveling lady. She was back from Europe only a couple of months ago, and now she is off to the The Big Apple.

Plus, she modeled and made me analyze every outfit she packed...for New-York-City-fashion-appropriateness. Like I would know.
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But it made me feel involved. And I expect a dang good souvenir gift as payment for my input when she returns.

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I realize this isn't the best thing to happen to me this week. But this news just beats out all of my languishing on the couch surrounded by used Kleenex.

Near death, I might add.

AND SO IT BEGINS...

Walking to church on Sunday morning, I was wondering why I even brought my sweater. It was so warm and sunny.

 By the next day, my yard looked like this
{via my cell phone}.

Coming home from work yesterday, the wintery sunset cast such a pretty pink glow on these snow covered trees, it made me wish I had a real camera on hand.



It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
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TEACHING SCENE TUESDAY--Roman Numerals

Third grade math.
I had just made a list of Roman numerals on the board.


"Those are the Super Bowl Numbers!" shouted one football-frenzied student from the back.

I concurred. But explained that is not where they came from nor is it all they are used for. I described the origin of Roman numerals and all the ways we use them today. Wrapping up my explanation, I thought I had been fairly clear, and was ready to move on.

That was, however, before a blonde gal from the front raised her hand to ask a very sincere question:

"So...do you mean like Ramen Noodles?"

Maybe we should start over...