Meet Sara...and Bella

School's out for summer! School's out forever! 

Just ask Alice Cooper...

It's not just the students (and Alice) that are excited for summer break. Our daughter Sara is ready for a little time off too. 

Sara taking a selfie as she is speaking at 8th grade graduation.

Sara is an 8th grade language arts teacher who loves teaching, but even a great teacher needs a break...but not for long, as in just one week, she will be back to teach summer school.

But Sara is more than a teacher-
Sara is a passionate, hard-working farmers daughter too.
Each night you will find her in the barn milking cows, along side Farmer John.

Here she is with Bella. Bella has an interesting history, as she was named by past Minnesota Viking player Toby Gerhardt when he visited our farm.

Sara also helps Grandma Karen with the calves, and names and pampers all our cats and kittens.

When she is not at school or in the barn, you may find her hosting her cooking show, "Aprons Optional" on our local television station. Here is a sample- her Mother's Day episode when I got to make a guest appearance.

Teacher, farmer, local TV celebrity- what more can she do? She can make decorations and adorn our farm for the holidays like you wouldn't believe! Take a look-

Farmer John and I are so proud of Sara and her commitment to school, community, and farming.

Thank A Teacher

My favorite thing to do as a child was to play school.  I spent hours setting up my classroom, making cardboard box "desks" for my dolls, hand-writing worksheets, making a check-out system for my library books. Yep, I couldn't get enough of school. It seemed only natural then, when considering my future career after high school, that elementary teacher was the first thought to pop into my head. That thought was quickly pushed out however, by a school counselor that said I had to think practically and the prospect of everyone getting a teaching job was unlikely at that time. 

So after college, a career as an interior designer, and ten years as a happy stay-at-home mom, I began my next career. No, I'm not a licensed teacher, but I am an educator. I'm finishing my fifteenth year as a Title 1 Instructional Assistant at a local elementary school, teaching kiddos that need a little extra help with reading and math. This being Teacher Appreciation Day, it seemed like the perfect time to share with you, a recent event that was held at our school.

Students and parents were treated to an evening of art and reading.

The gym became "Camp Read-A-Lot" with stars above, campfires, and tents filled with reading by lantern light while stretched out on camp chairs or sleeping bags.

The halls became an art gallery, while the cafeteria was filled with creation stations for making bookmarks and adding to a mural.

At the end of their night under the stars, each student went home with a book to keep and a snack bag of treats that said "Read S'more."

I appreciate the creativity and extra effort that teachers put in to make our school so exciting and fun for the students. Every day I witness teachers making each child a priority. For everything they do and for what they help our kiddos achieve each day (and night), I say "ThankYou!" 

Don't forget to thank a teacher!