How Do You Learn?

As an education major I've had many opportunities to take personality and learning style tests. One that I've taken a time or two can be found here. A couple days ago my sister-in-law took the test and posted the results to her blog and then asked her readers to do the same. I figured it had been awhile since taking this particular test and I couldn't remember my results exactly anyhow, so I took it again.


Owen wanted in on the action too.

It's amazing how different we are in terms of interpersonal and linguistics, huh? Yet we function very well together. I guess it's true what people say about opposites.

One I've noticed about my learning style over the years is that it is constantly changing. For example, my interpersonal learning is quickly dwindling (I'm actually surprised that it came out so high today -- probably because I had a three-hour social situation today and it tends to be higher after having positive social encounter -- for me, at least). I used to be quite the social butterfly, but I'm noticing that the older I get, the more I prefer to be by myself reading a book or doing some other individual activity. Some of my activities even cross over, like crafting, but nine times out of ten I'll choose to do them on my own (I work faster that way; other people cause distractions).

Another thing that surprises me about today's results are my mathematics level. Usually it is much higher, around the mid-forties. I suppose this could easily be attributed to my current school situation. I'm taking a math methods course (where we learn methods for effectively teaching math as opposed to the lousy ways 99% of us were taught in school) and I'm not exactly loving it. I really like the content; it is quite interesting, but the teacher and assignments...not so much. It's definitely put a bad taste in my mouth that will hopefully fade quickly.

Overall, this is one of the biggest reasons for choosing to not send my kids to public school (actually, thinking about...all my reasons for this are BIG reasons). It seems no matter what research comes out, or how well teachers are taught, they all revert to the same ol' rote teaching methods that work for a few students but are definitely not the best ways of teaching and fail to meet the needs of most children. In fact, most private schools are equally as horrible, but instead, the parents get to pay for the lousy education! That's just my two cents on that matter. Isn't it great that we live in a free country where we can choose where we send our kids to school?! I'm sure glad I get to make that choice, at least!

In My Dreams

Those who knew me growing up would almost invariably say I was spoiled rotten and always got what I wanted. And although this isn't entirely true (my parents can vouch for this) I will admit that I was overindulged at times and I was most definitely a brat (I said was, and I meant it!)

In more recent years, especially the married ones, I like to think I've gained an ounce or two of humility. If not that, I can truthfully say that I have become more practical, frugal and budget-conscious. But even with all this new-found wisdom, I still can't help but be enticed every now and then. Here's my newest lust...



Even with Christmas just two months away, I know I'm not getting one any time soon. So, now I'm left to hope that either (A) the Kindle will become hugely popular, thus driving the price down eventually like DVD players and Ipods or (B) one day I'll be super wealthy so I can afford one anyhow (and one for Owen too, because we all know that whether or not I'm spoiled, I still don't like to share).

So, Dear Reader, please go buy a Kindle for yourself so the price drops lower than $359 sooner rather than later...or just buy one and send it my way. Actually, I think I prefer the latter; I promise I won't turn you down.

I'm Still Here

I'm not dead. I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. I'm just busy.

Have you missed me?

Yes? Good, I've missed you too!

No?! Shame on you!

This semester has proven to be a bigger trial and hurdle than expected. I knew going into it that it would be rough, but didn't plan on hating every second of it. Yes, every second. Okay, well, maybe not every second, but pretty close.

I'm beginning to feel like the blue collar worker with one thing in mind...Friday. Except when my weekend rolls around I don't get to play. Usually I have a mound of homework that I'm behind on to do. And I'm behind on it not because I didn't have time to do it (although this is part of the problem too) but because I have NO MOTIVATION to do it.

I just want to be finished. Done. Graduated. I fear I've been taken over by senioritis. And it's affecting my grades...and not in a good way.

I am beginning to see why my former roommate (a senior at the time) used to always say, "C's get degrees." I used to think this was flawed thinking, but I'm right there with her now!

I have to keep reminding the perfectionist angel on my right shoulder that I have other priorities and far too much to accomplish to go above and beyond on every assignment. But then I find myself battling the apathetic demon on my left shoulder. Isn't there a middle ground?! And why am I having such a hard time finding it? Probably because it's not my personality to do less than 150% in everything, so I'd just assume not do it at all. Hmm...quite the dilemma...

In other news, I have a stack of things to post about. Much has happened around here, especially with Miriam. I miss blogging (and the rest of my life in general).

So, for those of you who've been wondering how I am...I'm hanging in there! Will you help brighten my day?

Failed Attempt

Owen and I are pretty firm when it comes to Miriam's sleep. I have little patience for bedtime/nap time wars, so I generally don't go in unless she's sobbing or screaming so loud that I worry the neighbors might hear and think I'm abusing her or something. She knows that bedtime means bedtime, not games, and she's usually really good about going to bed quickly and with little fuss.

Typically, she talks to her teddy bear for a couple minutes and rolls around a little, then falls asleep. Occasionally, she decides she doesn't need a nap and plays in her crib for an hour until I break down and accept the fact that she's skipping a nap.

Yesterday was one of those "occasionally" days that she didn't want to take a nap. She threw no fuss, she just quietly played in her room. That is, until I heard a cry of a baby in distress. I went in to be sure she was fine and look what I found.


Sure enough, she was "in distress". Stuck in the crib bars. Why? You see, she was trying to pull herself to a standing position (her new favorite thing to do) but got the footing wrong. Straight through the bars she went and out came the screams. And, like all good parents, rather than rushing to rescue her, we took pictures! (I even made her wait while Owen grabbed the camera)


Once we got in there though, she seemed pretty pleased with her work and laughed and smiled. So, I doubt she learned her lesson...maybe next time.

Heavenly Humor

I don't know about you, but I like to think that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. So, yesterday when I woke up to this


I chuckled to myself and thought it was all fun and games. But then I woke up to more.


I'm not laughing anymore. And I'm beginning to think this is some sort of sick joke. Four inches of snow...in October...you've got to be kidding me. It could be a long winter folks. I may think it's beautiful now, but come six months from now when it still looks like this, not so much.

I Pick Neither

Last night at the monthly family home evening gathering, my middle brother informed me that Miriam's hair makes her look like Donald Trump. He then added "or George McFly." So, being a somewhat defensive mother (and rightfully so, in my opinion) I rebutted with the fact that while her hair might appear comb over-ish...it isn't really. After which, he changed his position by saying, "Well, just the back; it's got those comb over looking pieces."

I think she's way too cute to look like either of those old geezers anyhow...regardless of her hairstyle...at least she's not bald! (Not that I have anything against bald babies. This is in reference to said brother, more than anything else).

Here's a back view so you can judge for yourself.

I Heard Exactly What I Needed

Ahh *sigh of joy and relief*...there's nothing quite like the rejuvenation of General Conference! The Spirit spoke directly to me and I heard a few little whisperings that were very needed. I gathered a few main points that I need to improve in my life, but overall the talk that touched me most was President Monson's talk from Sunday morning session. Here are two quotes that I found especially poignant from this talk:

"...be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon."

"Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances; we must deal with them the best we can, but we should not let them get in the way of what is most important. And what is most important almost always involves the people around us."

I hope you enjoyed conference as much as I did. It was so refreshing to hear from our living prophet, Thomas S. Monson and the apostles. God truly does speak through them and I am grateful He does!

Here's my list of insights I gathered and plan to implement in my life over the next six months (until the next session of General Conference when I find new areas to improve upon).

• I'm going to spend more time being a better wife and mother...even if this means that my housework and schoolwork will suffer some. I can't go back and change my time with my family, so they are more important.
  
• I'm going to go to bed earlier so that I can wake up earlier. I may not be a morning person, but I always find that I am quite productive when I wake up with specific things to get accomplished. This is especially true when I'm the only one up. When I try to do things at night, I end up tinkering around and doing nothing or very little.
  
• I'm going to be more grateful, including saying more prayers of gratitude only. I really am blessed and need to be better about showing my Heavenly Father that I am aware and thankful for everything in my life.
  
• I'm going to seek to help others. I surely am not so busy that I can't stop to serve my friends, neighbors and those who I may not know, but who may also benefit from something simple I can do.
• I am going to build unity with others by speaking more kind words and gossiping less.

So, my friends, what touched you? What are you going to change in your life? How do you plan to become more like our Savior?