Merry Christmas!

A Very Merry Christmas - Winter Break, Day 4

Does this about sum it up?  We had Max getting his beloved car wash plus lots of other fun things, like a Slinky and blocks and a crayon maker.  Oh, and sour Gumi Worms.  Yum-mo!

Ignatius hit the jackpot, too.

Yes, I know you heard the heavens open and choirs of angels singing.  And you thought it was all about the Lord?  He acquired a new Dell Inspiron laptop with animation software and a Bamboo pad.  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  I am so excited for him...if we can get the blue screen of death to stop popping up.

What about mom and dad?  No complaints.  Santa left mom some cold hard cash and a variety of gift cards (woo hoo! I really do like gift cards a whole lot), not to mention a snazzy pair of gloves from the Coach outlet.  Dad got an aluma-wallet (not sure if he's keeping it, not big enough for all of his wallet needs) and various gift cards.  We all got good health and the finances to be able to have a nice Christmas.

We spent our traditional evening with the Nicoson family.  We exchange gifts and just chill to a delightful dinner and good friends.  In all, I am feeling pretty blessed, though I do miss seeing my PA contingency.

Winter Break, Day 3 - Christmas Eve

Today:

• Slept in again.  This time until 10.  My family is spoiling me a bit too much.  I won't be able to go back to work!
• Went for a run and then did some other toning exercises with Ignatius.  It was rough.  I have let myself get pretty "untoned."
• Went out and about.  I love Christmas Eve.  All the Black Friday suckers do not know what they are missing.  It's such a calm afternoon.  Returned Scott's broken gift with one that works.
• Had the best ribs for dinner.  Because of the unseasonable warm weather, Scott was able to use the Kamodo Joe.  Yum-mo.
• Ignatius continued his quest for world latch hook domination.
• Got all dressed up for church.  Snapped this pic of the family.

• Attended Mass.  Max was wondering what happened to the candles (Advent wreath).  He loved the addition of the trees and all the lights.
• Came home and popped open a bottle of Asti.
• Max is now in his jammies watching The Polar Express.  Love his reaction to it!  Perfect Christmas Eve movie.

Merry Christmas to All!

Seize the Break, Day 2

Today's highlights:

• Slept "in" again until around 9. Much needed.  Woke up to sunshine.
• Took some pictures of the boys in hopes of getting a holiday card completed.  We'll see.  Here's one I have been toying with.

• Let's not forget my little diva and his love of the camera.

• Finally got my box sent to the PA contingency.  A Christmas miracle!
• Went out into the world of shopping.  Found a few additional items.  I think I am "done," but who knows?  One of the things I got for Scott does not work, so I must return it (maybe tomorrow if I feel brave).
• Took an afternoon nap after the sun hid back behind the clouds.
• Spent some of the evening wrapping gifts and helping Ignatius with the latch hook project.  He is really going to town on it.  Good purchase!
• Worked a few minutes on a scholarship essay. Less than 500 words = torture JoLynn.  I'll do anything for a thousand bucks, though.
• Spent some time on Facebook.  Became irritated hearing how WalMart employees must say "Happy Holidays," and are forbidden to say, "Merry Christmas."  Wondering where the ACLU is when it comes to these types of freedom of religion violations.

And now,  we enter Jesus' Birthday Weekend!  Woot!

Flashback

Over the summer, a few of my pals and I dubbed ourselves the "Pinky Swear" ladies.  We are all teachers, and we were all bemoaning the scurrying summer months as we sat by a good friend's pool.  We reflected on the fact that this stretch of time each summer is a wonderful gift which very few professions have.  I remember pondering, about two weeks before school began, as we let "we only have two more weeks" slip through our lips, that the two weeks of Winter Break seem like a blessed gift from God, and we should try to make the last two weeks of summer "feel" like the two weeks of Winter Break.

Here we are, months later, at the start of the coveted two weeks of Winter Break.  The first half of our school year is over.  Report cards for second quarter will be completed over this break.  Plans for serious ISAT prep will happen as we return.  But, for now, these fourteen days are precious and it feels great to have a break.  My goal is to document, at least here if not in scrapbook form, how we spend our days.

Today was my first day of "break."  Here's a run down of the day:

• For whatever reason, I was able to sleep until about 9:45 AM.  What a blessing!
• A friend called me a little after 10 to tell me she was engaged.  That was very good news.  I have constantly called her guy a "keeper."  He is incredibly thoughtful of her.  I continually asked, after every trip or special evening, if a ring was involved, and this time, it was!
• I traveled out to get my teeth taken care of at the Foehr Group.  Three teeth drilled, two temporary crowns, lots of novacaine.  I had already broken one of the teeth, so it was a much needed visit.  I found out that Dr. Foehr, my previous dentist who recently retired, has ALS, which is manifesting itself first in his throat.  He is unable to speak, communicating through his iPad.  He recently had a feeding tube put in.  Dr. Foehr is a great guy, and I hate that this is happening to him.  
• I went to Lincoln Leisure and, still quite numb in the mouth, shook my boom boom at Zumba.  Good times were had by all.
• We had a lovely dinner of carry out Olive Garden, sponsored partially by a gift card from one of my students.  Where I teach, those types of gift cards are few and far between, so I was really touched by the thoughtfulness of this parent.
• Ignatius and I ventured out to Hobby Lobby.  I needed adhesive for the "Holiday Cards" that might eventually get made by me before 2012.  We bought some latch hook kits, inspired by a conversation I had with some younger colleagues regarding latch hook (and their blank stares as I mentioned it).  I figured it would be nice for him to learn something crafty from his old ma, and for him to have something non-electronic for passing the time.  He took to it pretty nicely.  Max was VERY interested in it as well, and wanted to help in any way he could.

• As the night wound down, and the children finally went to bed, I began wrapping the gifts that have been needing attention.  I packed a box that will finally be heading to PA (hopefully FedEx tomorrow). Truly, I only have a few other odds and ends to get together, and then I think we're set. 

Now, it's really Friday, but I am backdating this.  Friday will have a narrative all its own.  To bed!

Merry Christmas to All!

Hoping your Christmas morning was as white and happy as ours! Merry Christmas!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We have our first snowfall today!  It started in the evening, and as I came home from work, I knew I had to get back outside with the camera.  I know... I am a bit odd.  I love this shot because it shows the snow falling.  This next shot, however, is AWESOME because, in the midst of all the snow, the camera captured just the house.  I wish I could recall the setting I used.  I LOVE MY NIKON D60!

Decluttering Christmas

Almost everything Christmas is down, except the tree. The decorations are off of the tree, but, I kind of like having it up with just the lights. It goes with the starkness of the living room right now.

Max was NOT happy that I was de-Christmasing. Scott took him to work with him in hopes that it would go a little better with him away. Or at least that's what I thought. Maybe he was just trying to get out of having to put anything away. Ignatius was a huge help in that area. So, here's my stark wintry scene. I still need to make something wintry for the mantle, but otherwise, this is how it shall be for now.

Merry Christmas 2009

I went to Mass at 10 PM last night. Max was still awake when I got home, but not because Scott wasn't trying. He finally went to sleep soon after, as did I. I awoke to the wind at 2 AM... thank goodness!

The house awakened at about 7:30 AM. That's when these photos were taken. The big gifts were, for Max, Elefun, and for Ignatius, Super Mario Brothers for Wii. There were other gifts, but these, by far, were the highlights. Scott has been longing for a Presto Burger, the burger machine of his youth, for a few years. It was that you could only find them on eBay or somewhere similar. Now, Presto has re-released them (in an updated version).

Santa brought me some money which will be used on a new phone, since mine will not charge. Woo hoo! IPhone with video, here I come...

Merry Christmas to all! Hope Santa was good to you!

Merry Christmas!