JAZZY HALLOWEEN

KAREN'S YOUNGEST, KIMMY

HUSBAND, BUD

BABY, VANLEE

JAZZ OUTFIT BY AUNTIE ANN

ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHER'S LUNCH

When I left our September lunch early to take mom to the

foot doctor, I said 2 things to those picking the October date:

If you want to go to Gardner Village for lunch

(and the "Witches") don't go on . . . 

1. October 15, Professional Development Day

2.  October 29, 2 days before Halloween

Of course, they didn't listen to me!

October 29 was the day!  

Don & Paige called me and said it was a 

90 minute wait!!!

I never got out of the car, because of how

crowded it was.  On a school day.

I think it was full of homeschoolers.

We decided to go to the

Midvale Mining Café.

I've been there once with Renae.  

It's her favorite!

Those attending were:

Cathy Tibbitts, Vicky Haws, Analee & Lane Brown,

Don & Paige Beckstrand, Diane Walter, and me.

ANOTHER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Another state championship for Lone Peak!

Marching Band in 3-A!

#PowertothePeak

(Of course, AF took first in 5-A!)

60 . . . SERIOUSLY???

Sixty

60

SAY WHAT???

I never in my wildest dreams thought

I would ever be this old!!!

When my Grandma Mitchell was 60,

it was 1963.

She was living with us in St. George.

I was in Kindergarten.

When my Grandma & Grandpa Howard were 60,

it was 1970.

I was in 7th grade.

When my dad was 60, it was 1988.

It was my 8th year of teaching.

When my mom was 60, it was 1995.

It was my 15th year of teaching, and she

was in her 35th year of teaching, 

with 3 more to go.

When my brother was 60, it was 2017,

and I was 59,

and in my 4th year of retirement.

When I was 60, it was 2018.

I was in my 5th year of retirement.

All 6 of my nieces and nephews were married.

I had 16 great nieces and nephews.

I moved to a brand new condo in 2006.

If you've got to be 60 . . . do it in style!!!

Cierra did my hair.

Shalana & Cierra gave me

balloons, treat, and Diet Coke!

I had a great surprise when I got home.

Even though I would have the usual family party,

Ashley, Ryker, and Heidi made my day special!!!

Too bad the screen was blurry!

THAT WAS MY LIFE

YUP.

This was my life!

And, it got worse with every year!

I did learn a HUGE help my first year of teaching!

My first big unit ever was "Colonial America."

I had the unit due the last day before 

Christmas Break.

I kept telling the kids,

"Just turn everything in together,

and I'll check it."

HUGE MISTAKE!!!

I spent my ENTIRE Christmas Break

grading the units . . . ALL DAY,

EVERY DAY!!!

After that fiasco, I would check things as they

turned them in.

Besides saving my sanity, it helped

the kids.  

If a student had lost something, I would

have a score for them.

Besides units, there was daily work,

homework, weekly spelling and language

tests, etc.  Everything my kids did,

was recorded!!!

Even having weekly notes and

planners!

It was HARD!!!  

Kids and parents could always check

Skyward, and know where they stood!

I was extremely good at staying

on top of grading!

But, my last 4 years, I worked until

about 12:30 a.m., and was back

at it at 4:30 a.m.!

I remember how shocked I was when a

teammate only had one score in the

computer for each subject!

ONE!!!

I was trying to get science grades

from him to put in my computer.

When I saw that, I asked him how

parents and students could see all 

their work!

Parents and students always

appreciated that I had scores in

quickly, and thoroughly!

Before computers, I had to add everything

up on the calculator, and figure

the grades that way.

When I had the high school aides,

one of their assignments was to

total up the scores on each point sheet page,

and put the total on the last column.

Then, I had to figure out the 

percentage and grade.

My last few years of teaching,

I did have my classroom aide check

the weekly spelling and language tests.

I also had "weekly notes" each

week.  EVERY SINGLE WEEK for 33 years!!!

The weekly note showed parents

if they had missing assignments, and

their tests were stapled to the back.

The last test stapled on was the

spelling test.  Then, the students

turned that paper over, and wrote

their new spelling words.

The parents LOVED IT!!!

They, and their kids always knew

where they stood, and it was

very much appreciated!

The reason I did all of this, was a

result of my very first

parent-teacher conference.

7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 9,1980.

The boy had low grades.

The parents never knew when anything

was due, never saw any test scores, etc.

WHAT????

You mean, he couldn't tell or show

his parents like I did???

Well, not everyone did this!!!

So, I came up with the plan.

With the weekly note, parents had

to actually sign it!

And...that was 10 points on their

language grade!!!

Not only did the parents appreciate it,

but the kids did, too!

I always got lots of comments from

them on Facebook, or seeing them later.

They all said it was the best thing ever

to help them with their advanced schooling!

Short story long (hahaha) . . . this photo of

the plaque on the desk brought back

a TON of memories, and I do not miss

grading papers ONE LITTLE BIT!!!

RIP, CINDY

Cynthia Ruth Hansen Carson

1949 - 2018 Obituary Condolences

Cynthia Ruth
Hansen Carson
1949 ~ 2018
Lehi, Utah-Cynthia Ruth Hansen Carson was born on October 18, 1949, in American Fork, Utah, to Wendall Pulley Hansen and LaVon Bennett Hansen. Cindy came into this world the third of 13 children, stubborn as could be throughout her life until her death on October 25, 2018. Her childhood nickname was Beanos - though no one is certain why - as her siblings lovingly called her Cindy Bindy Beanos. She was a majorette and a cheerleader in high school, and her favorite snack after coming home from practice was a thick slice of grandma's homemade whole wheat bread and a big slab of peanut butter and a little honey. It was her favorite treat ever!
She was married and divorced to Bryan Boley Carson four times. However, even at the time of her passing Bryan wasn't sure if they had officially filed their divorce papers. Among the few items she had kept as keepsakes were love letters to dad, cards from him, letters from her parents and her sisters. She loved with intensity and could definitely hold her own in any type of argument. She loved her little puppy, Goldie, and would send us all pictures of her sitting on her lap or a video of her barking. She was so proud of her own independence and instilled that independence in her children. She would constantly want to make sure 'us girls' were able to "provide for ourselves".
Mom loved to bake cookies, make holiday treats and would dance all over the kitchen to the sounds of Kenny Rogers - The Gambler and Lady were two of her favorites. She also loved Jane Fonda and could do the vertical splits better than Jane herself. She loved her spandex leotards and leg warmers and would do a Jane Fonda workout video every single morning. She thought her son Tyler was so funny and spent most of her life either laughing at him or chasing him around with a yard stick. Mom was a true force to be reckoned with, and I'm pretty sure God is wondering now why he took her so soon. We are going to miss her smile, her laugh, her bright green eyes, and mostly her strength that always helped pull us through hard times like this.
Mom is survived by her four children: Tiffany Hamilton, Tyler Carson, Tasha Curry, Tori Jo Kelly; her possible husband - Bryan Boley Carson; 10 siblings - Candy Hansen Taylor, Carla Von Hansen Jones, Colleen Hansen Kelley, Camille Hansen Fowler, Charee Hansen Broadbent, Brian Bennett Hansen, Cheer Hansen Brems, Regan Bennett Hansen, Troy Wendell Hansen and Travis Bennett Hansen; 11 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. She is proceeded in death by her parents - Wendall Pulley Hansen and LaVon Bennett Hansen, her brothers Randy Bennett Hansen and Bruce Bennett Hansen.
A graveside service will be held for Cynthia on Thursday, November 1 @ 10:00 a.m. at the American Fork City Cemetery. 

     I have known Cindy since I was in 4th grade.  Her husband, Bryan, worked for my dad.  They lived across the

street from the "Shop."  I also tended their two oldest kids,

Tiffany & Tyler.  

     Cindy was also a hair dresser, and did my mom's hair and 

mine.  She was the first person in the "Hansen Family" that I knew.  13 kids:  Candy, Randy, Cindy, Carla, Colleen, Camille, Charee, Brian, Cheer, Bruce, Regan, Troy, and Travis.  Brian is my age.

      I have taught a few of Cindy's nieces and nephews:

AJ, Ryan, Seth & Suzanne (aka, Suki...twin to Seth) Adamson (Carla), Weston Broadbent (Charee), Dakota Hansen (Brian).

     Cindy is also the grandmother of Witni Carson (McAllister) from Dancing With the Stars!  Her dad is Tyler.

A young Witni and Cindy

Witni Carson . . . star of "Dancing With The Stars"
Student and alumnus from American Fork High School

Dancing With the Dad

Fellow Utahans, Derek Hough & Witni Carson

With partner, Alfonso Ribeiro.
Doing "The Carlton" that he made famous on
"The Fresh Prince of Bel Air"

Champions

Witni married her high school sweetheart,

Carson McAllister.  He returned from his mission in
June of 2015.  They were engaged on her birthday in October.

Funny that his first name is her last name.

Witni married Carson on New Years Eve,
 December 31, 2015,
in the
Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Everywhere lists her wedding date as
January 1, 2016.
That was the day of the "ring ceremony" and reception.
(Located at "Noah"s, about 2 miles from my condo)
I knew it wasn't January 1, because:
1.  The temples are NOT opened on New Year's Day
2.  I saw her announcement from Aunt Cheer

SALT LAKE TEMPLE

On Thursday, October 25, I went with Renae

to the Salt Lake Temple.

She has a friend named Charee, who lives

in her ward.  She was a non-member, married

to a member.

I call her one on Renae's "Project People."

She worked on her for years to get her baptized!

Well, a year ago in June, she was baptized!

This past June, she was endowed, then her and her husband were sealed.

(Tom had been endowed)

Now, she and her husband spend an entire day,

once a week, at the temple!

They do all of the ordinances, including baptisms!

Charee wanted Renae to take her to the

Salt Lake Temple.

Renae has only been there to her wedding, other weddings,

and once or twice with me.

She wanted me to go with them.

Charee has some kind of handicap with hands and feet.

I hadn't been there for about 5 years,

because of my foot.

(Except for Paul and Courtney Mitchell's sealing)

It was great to be back.

JACOB

Jacob Fish was a one of a kind student!

There are 3 brothers in the "Fish Family."

I taught Michael, Candace, and Jacob.

Each was a child from a different brother.
(Michael has a twin brother, Adam)

Jacob was only in Alpine for 1 year.

He was from South Carolina.

He moved back after 5th grade!

It was such a privilege to teach him!!!

He is currently the 

Stake President

of the Panama City, Florida Stake!!!

They were hit HARD by Hurricane Michael.

I love this picture of Jacob (left) with

President Dallin H. Oaks,

2nd counselor in the First Presidency of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

(President Oaks was also president of

Brigham Young University 

when I attended and graduated there . . . 1978-1980)

#ProudMissMitchellMoment

Click on the link to see the video of

"President Fish" in action!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI9gwExt_34&feature=player_embedded

TAYLOR

Taylor Lundell was a fAbUlOuS student!

She was sooooo sweet, and soooo smart!

She worked in Washington D.C. as an

intern for Senator Mike Lee of Utah!

Senator Lee lives in Alpine, where 

the elementary school that I taught in is.

Taylor was married

Saturday, October 13.

I was unable to attend the reception

because of attending a BYU football game.

But, I sent a gift!

Coming out of the Salt Lake Temple

Wedding

I love this photo!

This is Taylor with her older sister, Sloane.

I also taught Sloane in 5th grade!

UNFRIEND

THIS MADE ME LAUGH AND LAUGH AND LAUGH!

SOOOO TRUE!!!

EXCEPT, THIS WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

LAST HALF OF THE 80'S.

ABOUT YEARS 5-10 OF TEACHING.