This just in ...

A new adjective has been directed my way three times this weekend which I never once anticipated would ever be the case.  It's an adjective that makes me feel pretty darn stinking good about myself considering the 10 month journey I've had since making the decision to lose weight.  60 pounds lighter and the trifold complimentary adjective is : SKINNY!  I'm smiling.  I know this adjective would not be applied my way if complete strangers were to look at my physical form, but to you I say - give me time! :)  I'm on my way!  Skinny ...  yep ... still smiling!

East Coast Memories - Day 2

The Mitchauds provided a wonderful breakfast the next morning - a wider assortment of breads and croissants and their accompanying condiments.  Marsha even got an espresso!  We left at 7 am so that we could make it to Hartland, New Brunswick for a late lunch at the longest covered bridge in the world.

From here we drove to St. John and had dinner while we waited for the ferry departure time. 

 We also visited the reversing falls.  These falls change direction depending on whether the tide is going out or coming in.  Pretty cool!  

After waiting for the terminal attendant to print off our tickets (30 minutes!!), we boarded the ferry.

Poor Em!  She felt so sick!  The trip took 3 hours.  We took turns going on the internet, napping and watching an inhouse movie - Rando.  We got off the fairy and arrived in Kejimkujik National Park at 12:30.  An hour later, our camp was set up and we were fast asleep.  Sweet dreams until the next trip down memory lane!

East Coast Trip Memories - Day 1

So, this past summer I went out East with two lovely ladies - Emily, a friend from Campfire! and Kentucky 2011 and Marsha, a new friend yet to be befriended.

On the Sunday before the trip, I had dinner at my parent's place and then drove to Guelph.  We unpacked my car and repacked hers with all of the camping gear.  When Marsha arrived a few hours later we did the same thing.  That evening we went to bed on time and then left at 4:30 the next morning.

We arrived in Brockville midmorning and our first impressions were that it was very picturesque and historic.  We visited the first underground tunnel for the railroad.

Um ... Em - read the sign! :) Does "Circle of Peace" mean nothing to you?  Sheesh ... some people! :)

After some time of walking around the city, we decided to treat ourselves at a local nail salon.  Em and Marsha got pedicures and I got a manicure - first (professional) one in my life!

Now feeling very beautified, we headed to go for a cruise around the 1000 islands.  Apparently the city was started by wealthy cottage folk and was then partitioned by millionaires.  In fact, the area has the highest percentage of millionaires in North America.

 We almost didn't make it on this cruise as they had  a 15 person minimum, but at the last minute enough people showed.  Eleven dollars well spent!

 This island was inhabited by hundreds of seagulls.  They sent raccoons to eat their eggs, but all the raccoons died.

 Fulfert Place

 A common sight on our trip.

 Aren't these homes incredible? 

 Someone really needed this! :)

 A potential camping trip for the future?

This makes me smile.  Could you possibly fit a bigger house on a smaller island???

After our cruise, we had a picnic lunch on the waterfront and then drove (Montreal gave us a 2 hour traffic delay) to where we would be staying for our first night: Quebec City.  We went out for pretentiously-priced supper, not altogether unexpected considering our location in the Basse-Ville midway up the Breakneck Stairs.  We ended up staying at Patrice and Suzanne Mitchaud's who were so hospitable.  I'll start the next day for another blog post.

My new purchase

is a bit of a splurge.

Check it out:

I think I'm in love and might be drooling just a bit.

My last camera died a quick but painful death.  I guess you could our relationship went down the crapper.  Yes.  That means it fell down the toilet.  Before you ask the inevitable question, "WHAT were you taking pictures of in the bathroom?!?!?"  No.  I did not have a substantial bowel movement that I was so proud of that I needed to capture the special moment to later scrapbook.  I have a Y chromosome.  I put my purse on the back of the toilet seat because I didn't see a hook and when I turned around all I heard was a SPLOOSH.  I went out to get some rice to soak the camera, but it simply could not be salvaged.  So, merry belated Christmas to me.  I'm going to have fun being artistic with this.  And beware - when you think you're out of my range ... check out this zoom!!!

Yeah.  I know.

So be prepared for some great shots on future blogs! 

How can we praise God in French class?

This was a question I posed my grade 9 students and I had them each come up with 5 ways in which they could praise God in this class.  They wrote their answers on construction paper and then I posted them at the front of the room to remind them of these personal goals.

Here is a list of what they came up with:

1. Do not curse.  Obey the rules.
2. Read the Bible.
3. Mingle with the other students.
4. Keep the classroom clean.
5. Don’t cheat

1. Do work efficiently
2. No name calling
3. Repecting teachers and classmates
4. No tearing others down
5. Don’t get disgusted by learning French 

1. Don’t laugh at other’s mistakes.
2. Obey the teacher
3. Don’t plagiarize
4. Don’t use inappropriate language
5. Enjoy your class and don’t be grumpy

1. Teacher rules us not us over the teacher.
2. Do not use vulgar language.
3. Go God’s work.
4. Don’t pass notes.
5. Don’t break teacher’s stuff.

1. Do your best
2. Don’t be late for class.
3. Don’t cheat on tests/assignments
4. Respect people’s property
5. Do all to glorify God

1. Bring all books you need to class.
2. Participate in class activities
3. Respect the teacher and classmates
4. Finish homework on time

1. Be joyful
2. Be efficient
3. Be patient
4. Don’t antagonize
5. Have a colorful personality

1. Obey teacher
2. Don’t plagiarize
3. Tell the truth
4. Obey class rules
5. No vulgar language (English + French)

1. Have fun (don’t be a grump)
2. Don’t be late for class
3. Respect others and property
4. Do your best
5. Be nice to teacher
6. Be nice to classmates

1. If someone is struggling, offer to help after school or at lunch
2. Be supportive of others succeses and abilities
3. Share the materials needed to complete the tasks needed
4. Do not tempt your peers to cheat or support them in it, also do not cheat yourself
5. Try to the best of our ability to speak French, using our skills God gave us to speak, write French

1. Help others be kind
2. Do your best in your work
3. Be efficient in your work
4. Be joyful
5. When in doubt, ask the teacher

1. No plagiarism
2. Respect people’s property
3. Do work to the glory of God
4. Be kind to others

1. Help your peers understand the lessons
2. Don’t talk loudly so as to be a distraction
3. SMILE! Attitudes are contagious
4. Don’t call each other names! Show you care!
5. Don’t mock your peer’s work, marks, and projects

1. Obey Bible above everything.
2. Respect other’s property to the best of ability
3. Attend all possible classes
4. Don’t use washroom in first 15 minutes
5. (Do) Try your best

Classroom art

At the end of almost every day I receive visits from some of the kids of faculty members here.  They finish their day and then walk over to find their parent(s).  One little girl, Moeanna, always makes it about 3/4 of the way down the hallway before she breaks into a run to give me a bear hug.  She certainly holds a special place in my heart.  Sometimes she will come to have snack or eat one she didn't finish from earlier in the day.  Sometimes she will colour pictures. And others she will sit on my lap and just tell me about her day.  Today she drew me a picture.  This is what it looks like:

Can you guess what it represents?

A bed.  Good.  I got that far.

A pillow on the bed?  Yep!  Got that too! :)

Now, can you see the invisible groundhog that's on the pillow on the bed?  Yeah. Me neither.  I had to guess a lot of animals before I got to that one.  The hole with the line on the left is the groundhog's entrance into his cave, and the line above marks the fact that the bed is under the ground.  On the top we have a small wisp of cloud and just peeking in the top right hand corner is the sun.

I love the imagination of children!

Some of the other art that can be found in my classroom:

Moeanna learned how to draw faces.

1) Draw a U.

2) Take the same distance as the U using your fingers to measure.  Duplicate that distance in the middle and top of the U and then draw a dot.

3)  Draw lines to the dot.

4) Draw two ovals for eyes.

5) Draw an 8 for the nose.

6) Add embellishments (mouth, chin, freckles, wrinkles, hair). 

 Another Moeanna creation

 The next two are from Ellyanna

 Hehehe.

 This one is double-sided.  When I am feeling calm I put it on the blue side, and when I am feeling stressed out it's on the orange side.

 From a grade 7 student.  I guess she just likes cows?

 From a grade 8 student

 From a grade 9 student

 This one and the next one are from grade 10 students

Nicknames

I just realized that I have many nicknames.

At home, I am Kim, Kimber, Kimberly (when I got in trouble), Kimberly Grace (when I got into serious trouble), AngeKimKarenNickMeg - when Mom couldn't decide which one I was! :)

At school, I am Kim, Miss Hultink, Mademoiselle, Mrs. Hultink, #22, Hey!, Hultink, Madame, Miss K. Hultink (to differentiate myself from my sister), Elementary, the French teacher, the French Department, Frenchie, mon petit gateau, ma cherie, mon amour (a new one from this year!) :), Miss Hontek (as per one grade 1 student who coloured a picture for me which now decorates my classroom), Miss Kralt, Miss teBokkel, Miss Holltink

With friends, I am Kim, Kimmer, Kimmy, Key-im, Miss Kim, buddy, friend, "Hey you!", Kimifer, Kimothy.

At camp, I am Yahmi or B-Diddie.  Yes, B-Diddie.  That before my Campfire! time.

And with my nieces (real or adopted), I am Tante Kim, Tante, Bababoobody (according to Sarah when she is in a joking mood), and a new one as of tonight: Tonka Kim. :)

That brings the total to 38.  Hokes bedokes!

Can you think of any that I might be missing?