Ashley Ann Clark

On Wednesday, December 10, my sister Emily had her baby. She is the cutest little girl!
Ashley Ann Clark
9:45 PM
7 lbs 4 oz
20 inches long

She is super cute and already likes her aunt Carrie!

A Record For Me

I saw Twilight for the 4th time late last night--crazy yes, but worth it?  You'd better believe it!  I'd go again.  It has been worth every dollar--but the best part, being there with my friends.

Twilighted

So I skipped out on FHE tonight and went to see Twilight again with some friends...WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My friend has the soundtrack and let me listen to it last Friday and I'm hooked--its not all my type of music, no country for sure, but I'm in love. So I bought it! Go iTunes--where I can have it on my iPod and in my car...oh man...its going to be fun!

That's it--I'm in love...its amazing!

Twilight-ed

Wow! I've been waiting for MONTHS to see the "Twilight" movie, and now...I can finally say I have. What an experience! I've only waited in line for one movie, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (I went with my best friend's family--she was in the MTC). I didn't have much of a wait, but, it was well worth it.

My friend Erinn and I had been planning to go to see it together for several weeks--both planning to go for months, but not until recently did we make the plans to go together. I went over to Erinn's house one night and we made "Team Edward" t-shirts and it was a blast! I was so excited to wear mine to school.

The morning of November 21st arrived, and I put on my shirt, excited for the day. I went to school and all the teachers and many students gave me a hard time about my shirt but I really think that deep down, they were all just jealous! One even asked me to make one for her, but when she went to find a black t-shirt, they were all sold out! It was a great day. My students knew about the movie and were very excited for me. Some even told me of their plans to go and see the movie that night.

After school I stayed later than normal for a Friday, for me, so that I could get caught up on grading some papers. I called Erinn to see where she was so we could make plans about going to get in line and she said she was planning to head down about 6:00pm. I was okay with that--it was about 4:50 and that would give me time to go home and get something to eat, brush my teeth and be ready for a long, but very fun night. As I was waiting in line to get to the ATM at Mountain America in Roosevelt, she called me back and said, "There's already a line, I'm heading down right now!" I told her I had to grab something to eat and then I'd head over...so I raced to McDonalds and waited in line to get something I could take to the theater and eat in my car or in the line. After I got my food, I made my way to the theater and discovered there were NO parking spots! Oh man! Where to park? So I parked across the street and ran to get in line. I got in line behind a woman and her daughter who was so excited to see the movie. Erinn hadn't come yet, but some of our other friends were already there and had gotten their "number" to guarantee their place in the theater, so I went to the end of the line and some of our other friends soon came and waited with me. Just as they came to hand out numbers to us, Erinn showed up. It was perfect timing. This was about 5:45pm. We waited in line with a lot of people I don't know and had the best time! It was so exciting thinking that we were all in line and excited for the same thing!

We finally got into the theater and it was so EXCITING! It was still only 6:30pm. We waited for an hour to watch the movie. I had eaten all of my Swedish Fish and was ready for it to start, when all the sudden, the screen went black (after showing the adds) a hush went over the crowd. It was AMAZING! It was EXCITING! It was INCREDIBLE! I will never forget the way it made me feel!

After the incredible and awesome and fantastic and wonderful movie, I looked over at Erinn and asked if she was ready to do it again. She smiled at me and we jumped up and ran out the outside exits and clear back to the ticket counter. We somehow made it just in time to jump into the middle of the two groups of people that had already bought their tickets. It was PERFECT timing! We just laughed and it was so much more exciting the second time, we knew what was coming, but it was amazing because we could watch for things this time. It was AWESOME! We had such a fun night! I'm so glad Erinn and I were able to go together!

What an awesome night!

And what an experience! Its such a perfect movie! I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but if you have or haven't read the books, go! Go! GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing Things...

I have had a lot of experiences that have been amazing in the last little bit.  I don't quite know where to start, but maybe on a more light-hearted note would be good...

I decided to go home to see my parents on Saturday night.  As I pulled into the Maverick Gas Station here in Roosevelt, I got out of my car, opened up the gas cap, and turned to swipe my card...when much to my surprise, I noticed how much the gas was...Ready?  It was $2.88!  I was shocked!  I couldn't believe it!  I don't remember the last time I filled up my car for under 50 bucks!  It was a great surprise!  :)  (Now, it will be even better if someday I can pay less than $2!  :)

I have the best class in the whole school.  We got a new student today and my kids, I'm so proud of them, they just welcomed him in and took care of him, telling him all that he needed to know, and reminding him when we started to tell too much!  It was the cutest thing and it made things so much better!  I'll always be grateful for my first class, but I'll never forget this class either!

One of my really good friends at school has been gone a lot.  Her dad is dying and it breaks my heart.  I never realized how much I needed a friend at school till I met her last year.  Since then, its been great.  We have a morning chat and even sneak out to go to lunch together sometimes.  Its been so nice.  I've definitely missed her while she's been gone to be with her family, but I've loved the chance to help and serve her in this different way.  I am so grateful for my friends!

I am also so grateful for my family, I just feel like I should shout it out to the world!  Yeah, we're definitely not perfect, and the relationships I have with them aren't as great as I wish they were, but, I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today, without them.  So when you read this family--Thank you!

I don't know really where this blog will go, but for today, this is what has been on my mind.  I hope it makes sense.

:) Carrie

P.S. 22 Days till TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!!  I don't know if I can make it!  ;)

My Classroom 2008 and Stuffed Animal Day

Today we had bring your favorite "Stuffed Animal Day" at school. It was so much fun! The kids were so cute and so excited! We wrote stories about our pets, took them with us to Keyboarding, and even invited them for a special lunch in our classroom listening to music. It was a pretty fun day! Since I first introduced our class pet, Tip Top, a Ty Beanie Baby Giraffe to the kids, they've been bringing their own to school and today was the last day that they could, so we made a party of it. It was a lot of fun. Also on this post I've got pictures of my classroom for those who have been patiently waiting--it just takes me awhile sometimes! :)

Welcome to Miss Foley's Space Camp!

Enjoy!
This is me with the class pets.

This is a view of my classroom.

This is our Reading Our Way Through the Milky Way Board.

Our Out of this World Work Board.

This is the Pet Parade we had today!

This is my adoring fan wall of fame.

This is my Star of the Week Board.

This is my Focus Board--thanks Ashlyn!

This is our Reading Under the Stars Carpet area--a favorite place to hang out!

Back to School

So, its been a little while and I feel like a slacker, but I wanted to share just a quick update on me. School has been going great. I have a great class! I am excited for what we will be able to do this year! I have been learning a lot in all the classes and workshops I've been taking and that has be a great experience for me as well!

I don't have pictures of my classroom yet, but I will soon. What a great start to a new year!
:)

Memories (Stolen from RoseAnna)

1. As you comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

*************************************************************************************
One of my best friends, RoseAnna, is doing this on her blog and I thought it would be fun to try! :) Please be nice! :D

My Cute Little Nephew!

So, I have been posting pictures of my cute little nephew--and it has been a lot of fun, but I have a surprise! His mom, my favorite sister-in-law, Holly, has made her own blog--I hope you will enjoy it and have fun looking at pictures of the cutest little guy in the world!
http://carlandholly.blogspot.com/

:) Carrie Jo

Texas Trip 2008

I just barely got back from a trip to Texas to see my cousin and his family (Matt and Jenni Foley and their cute little girls, Emilee and Lizzy). We had a great time! We did lots of really fun things--it was such a nice break! I was so excited that they would let me come down for a summer vacation.

When Jenni and the girls first picked me up we went to a Botanical Garden in Ft. Worth. It was incredible! We went to a Japanese Garden and a Rose Garden! I got some incredible pictures!

Jenni and the Girls feeding the Koi Fish.

The hungry Koi Fish...

I think the turtles were a little hungry too!


Jenni and the girls walking across the Koi fish pond.

Cute Lizzy and Emilee smiling for me! :)

The Graham Library has an amazing summer reading program. While I was there we went to the activity which was a little crazy! They had a man from the zoo there with different types of creepy--slithering kinds of things. He had a tarantula, crocodile, and several different kinds of snakes or really big snakes! He had this yellow Burmese Python that Lizzy loved and he let anyone who wanted to, to pet it...I wasn't going to, but Emilee and Lizzy walked right up to it--yeah--I wasn't a very good example of a brave aunt at this activity...

We went to a lot of really fun places. We went to a Children's Illustrator's Museum in Abilene, Texas. The illustrations were amazing, for a new book called, How We Work, with the artists original illustrations--on cardboard boxes, manilla folders, napkins, you name it, it was there--the different mediums he used were amazing! I am excited for this book to come out this fall!

We also went to a Children's museum in Abilene. It was a lot of fun. There was this wall that had pieces of wood that were very sensitive to touch and would make a musical sound each time you simply rubbed your hand over it--it was a lot of fun! The girls loved it and I had fun watching them!

We also just had a lot of fun visiting, swimming, and playing. I think the favorite thing to do was to watch movies at night and have some of Jenni's homemade-on-the-stove popcorn! It was definitely yummy! :)

I had a great time and was amazed at how fast the time flew! We did make it shopping (just a little bit--I mean, come on, its Texas!). It was a lot of fun and I finally found a denim skirt! YEA!! I've been looking for one since I came home from my mission (more than 2 years ago).

What a fun visit! I'm so glad that Matt, Jenni, Emilee, and Lizzy let me spend my summer vacation with them! I sure do miss them since they moved to Texas, but they have had some great opportunities and I have been excited for them! I sure love them! :)

Thanks for letting me share my fun trip with you! :)

Tweety Bird

Some pictures are just too cute to pass up...this is one of my all-time favorites of Spencer so far! He is just so cute and looks like a baby bird waitin' for his worm!

Enjoy!

Summer

Wow! I had no idea when I started teaching school, how much I would look forward to summer! This past year has been a great one! I have learned so many things! I wouldn't trade any of it--it has made me such a better person, even the hard times.
I have had a hard time with what to do with myself this summer. My upstairs neighbor and I go walking and it has been a lot of fun. It really has been a great way to get my day started...the only drawback is though, that I'm still pretty tired and come back home and take a "short" nap...Hmm...But, I do feel a lot better about myself and have been feeling much healthier, so it must be making a difference. It has also been a lot of fun getting to know my neighbors. They are all so amazing! The three I know best are all fairly new moms, just getting used to this huge change in their lives and trying to do their best to raise their beautiful children. It has been great for me to watch and to learn from them. They are all such good examples, and I hope that if I get the chance to be a mom, I can use what I have learned from watching them, to maybe be as good at it as they are.
My sister-in-law Holly is such a good mom as well. She has been such a good example to me. My mom and I have had many chances to babysit my little nephew and he is so cute!
It has also been fun to help my family. I got to help plant a little bit of my dad's garden--the famous Foley Family Garden. We were joking about it one night at dinner and my little brother mentioned that we always seemed to do it on a day when it was super windy, and so was the case this day. It was fun to spend time with my parents doing something that means so much to them.
I also got to help my sister Emily clean her new house. The guys that came to put her kitchen counter in, made such a dusty mess, that it was sad to look at. But I think by the time my mom and I left, along with help from her in-laws, it looked great! I am sure excited for her to move into her new house! It will be a lot of fun and they have both worked so hard on it!
Other than that, this summer is going pretty good for me. I have been having a fun time with my cousin Shannon that is living with me. She puts up with my weird schedule and watches movies with me and lets me practice cooking for her. It has been a lot of fun having a good roommate!
I have been having a hard time dealing with some of the changes that have been going on around me, but I am starting to realize that that really is how life goes, and its okay. I am sure grateful to my family who have always been a constant for me as well as the Gospel and all it means to me.
In less than 2 weeks, I'll have been home from my mission to Portland, for 2 years. Its hard to believe that its been that long. It was such an amazing experience for me! I don't wish I was back there doing the same things, but I do miss all the wonderful people I served with, worked with, and learned to love. It has definitely been an experience I will never forget. I am grateful for the chance I had to serve my Heavenly Father there, even for the short time it was, (just under 18 months), and all the blessings that have come to my life because of that opportunity to serve a mission.

Spencer Hap Foley

On May 23, 2008, my sister-in-law Holly Foley (Carl's cute wife) had the first Foley Grandchild. He is such a cute little guy, I think it is such a miracle to have him in our family. He was born about 7:00 am, he weighed 6 1/2 pounds, 20 inches long, and just cute as can be. Holly and Spencer are both doing great and I even got to babysit him for about an hour on Monday. It has been fun having him in our family.

I am very excited for Emily and Chris to have a baby in December (around my birthday as well as Christopher's) and think that it just might be my calling in life to be an aunt--since I'm so good at it!

Tagged by Fives

Tagged by Fives
Tagged by fives
Five things on my to do list:
1. Survive the next 2 days.
2.Do my laundry
3. Cook a real meal
4. Go to the Temple
5. Write my mission families
Five snacks I love:
1. Apples and peanut butter
2. Popcorn
3. Double Stuf Oreos and milk
4. Crystal Lite Rasperry Ice
5. Tortilla Chips
Five things I will never wear again:
1. My prom dress--good thing though! ;)
2. My bangs permed
3. My hair in braids
4. My hair cut above my ears (to copy Nikki--it doesn't look good on me either!)
5. Clip-on earrings
Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Sell my car and get a Honda CR-V
2. Buy one of my Uncles' houses
3. Travel
4. Donate to Cancer Research and Church Organizations
5. Help my family with whatever they need
Five bad habits:
1. Eating Candy
2. Not cleaning my car inside or out
3. Not emptying the trash
4. Not exercising
5. Staying up too late to read a good book/watch a movie
Five thing's I do for fun:
1. Fun? What's that?
2. Read a good book
3. Sleep in
4. Watch a movie
5. Talk to my family or mission buddies--goof off on the interenet
Five thing's I like(LOVE) about my husband: (since I don't have one--here's a wishlist)
1. I hope he will like to hug me
2. I hope he will like to hold my hand
3. I hope he will honor his priesthood and fulfill his Church callings
4. I hope he will love me for who I am, all the time
5. I hope he will support me in all I do--however crazy it might be
Five thing's I like to cook:
1. I don't cook
2. Hambuger Helper
3. Salads
4. Breakfast Foods
5. Toast
Five thing's I rely on:
1. My Father in Heaven
2. My family
3. My Career for money and all else I am blessed with because of it
4. Sleep
5. The Spirit's Guidance
I tag Emily, Debra, and Amy

Hmm...life is so interesting sometimes...

So, I don't know if I can tie the title of this blog into what I have been thinking, but...I really do think that life is interesting sometimes. Tonight for FHE we made wooden cars for a non-profit organization and it was so nice to do something for someone else. All day long I'd been feeling a little bit sorry for myself, (I had a ROUGH day at school today) and then I went Visiting Teaching and got to help one of the sisters I visit--not just randomly drop a Spiritual message, but, actually help her, and it was a great feeling--then I came home and started feeling a little down again, and ended up, my hometeachers came over. I'm so grateful to have hometeachers--the only time I've ever really had them was when I went to church in my parents ward--since then, I've never really had them...and I sure do like it--there's nothing like having righteous priesthood holders in your "home."
I'm not sure where I want to go with this, but I do have to say, I'm very grateful for my family. Yesterday at church, I did a musical number with a guy in my branch and my mom and little brother came--it was awesome! It was a total surprise! I'm still a little in shock! It was so nice to have them there--in church with me! :)
Other than that--not too much going on in life for me--just trying to make it through each day--I'm a little nervous that the end of school is so close and I feel like I haven't done near enough to get my students ready, but, I try to always do my best--I hope that will be enough!
One fun thing before I go--one of my students went to Disneyland for Spring Break and brought me back a real live-legit Disneyland Snow Globe--with the perfect glitter and everything--oh man...I'm not always so into gifts that people give me, but when they remember something that I love and would collect if I would let myself...it makes me very happy and very glad to be a teacher! I often wonder how they will remember me, their 3rd grade teacher...I will never forget mine and sometimes I wonder...I hope they will remember the things I taught them and not just that my favorite color is purple and my favorite book is Beauty or my favorite poet is Jack Prelutsky and how much I love stars...But...maybe that's okay too--I still remember the bicycle license plate Mr. Murphy had that said "I love chocolate"...I wonder if he still has that bike--I'll have to ask him sometime.
Well, that's all for now! Hope you and yours are well!
:)Carrie

Random Thoughts for a Saturday

So tonight I have so much on my mind, I don't really know where to start! I have never done this kind of thing before!

Life is so different than I ever expected. I sure do love the part of life where I am though. I don't mind being single too much. I sure do love my Branch and the experiences I have had there. I also LOVE teaching school! Some days are tough, but I sure do love it anyway!

Tonight, I was also thinking about all the friends I've had throughout my life and how much they mean to me. I wouldn't be where I am today without them and my family. My best friend since I was 4 is most likely going to be married this June and I'm...well, I'm way excited for her, but not sure I'm ready for that change to come between us.

I sure am grateful for all of the people who have helped me to get to today and for all the blessings that my Heavenly Father has seen fit to give me!

That's it for me tonight!

P.S. I'm so excited for no school on Monday--I don't know what I am going to do with myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)