Christmas x 7

Yep! We got to celebrate seven times! It was so fun to be with friends and family. I'll be back soon with pictures galore.

xo

Merry Christmas!

We just finished exchanging our gifts to each other. One major perk about being married: you get to do things however you want! "Wanna exchange tonight?" "Um, OK!" And that was that. We both feel very loved. Hope you do too! Merry Christmas!

Mishaps

So, how'd you like that last post? Computer malfunction. But let's be honest..."Peter"... 'nough said.

I have one more Christmas present to buy, a few to wrap, and my house is a mess. Peter, the usually cleaner one, has ransacked the house! Syprupy waffle plate(s) on the coffee table, batter on the kitchen counter, oh and you know their's dishes in the sink! Aye! I haven't even been home! Did I mention the laundry basket is overflowing? It is. Well, I could get up and get crackin' or I could take a nap. I'll let you spend five whole seconds figuring out which it will be.

peter

Christmas Spendor

Yesterday, Peter and I met Mom and Dad at the spectrum. My kids gave me $150 to spend there. Say WHAT?! After some lunch and a quick looky loo we headed home, took a nap and then the 4 of us headed to church. We stopped by Grandma and Pa T's casa afterwards to pick them up and swoosh them off to dinner at Outback (another very generous gift card). The plan, as posted about yesterday, was to then drive up to Balboa for a Christmas light stroll. Well, we were all feeling rather stuffed after dinner and the weather outside was frightful. What? Didn't you see the sprinkles on your windshield and the jack frost nipping at your nose?

Did you guess it? We bailed on the itinerary, stopped by the store for ice cream and the 6 of us gathered around the fire, built a Christmas puzzle and baked cookies. Um. Ya. It was as awesome as it sounds. Excellent veto of the plan.

As for today, and I am not backing out, Cynthia and I are going to a youth orchestra concert at Concordia! One of my fifth graders will be playing and she gave me 2 concert tickets. Cynthia, the little musician, is pumped as am I! One awesome thing about a huge family- you always have someone to take with you! Peter will be earnin the big bucks tonight. Merry Christmas!

Break me off a piece of that

That's right; the final bell has rung! School's out! I was probably the only teacher not counting down the days 'til break. Truth be told, I love my job, my kids, my staff, my school, shall I go on? And I miss them when away! I woke up at 3:30 am Thursday morning and 4 am Friday because I was so excited to get to school and hang out with my 5th graders. Call me crazy! Don't get me wrong though, if two weeks of vacation come walking by, I'll snatch those bad boys up like money lying in the gutter. And so I have, consider my vacation time snatched. We've already had a very successful 12 hours. We hung out with both families last night, stayed up late and giggled at each other for hours, and currently, are sleeping in. Well, one of us is at least. I was too excited to get this party started!

Yesterday was a pretty amazing and crazy day! We had our Christmas party first thing. Peter came in to play. They couldn't wait for me to open my presents (btw, sooo generous!) Then we started our gift exchange. Soon after, Elizabeth, Rachel and Mr. Harp came in for a visit. My kids were inthralled. Elizabeth makes a great teacher! The other 5th grade class couldn't stand to be left out so they came over too. All my kids were on the floor in a circle with Elizabeth in the middle, rotating the harp periodically so all could see. Then we had recess, watched Sign of the Beaver, had lunch and went home! Whew! What a whirlwind!

As for today, how 'bout a boat parade and some Christmas lights down at Balboa? Bundle up!

Grandma Called

So, I don't know if you know this but I go to bed really early most nights. At 7:30 pm, I head for the potty, think about brushing my teeth and then proceed to turn off all the Christmas lights in the house. I don't have a problem with this. I go to bed earlier than probably 99% of my students. Blame it on the pregnancy, blame it on the job, call me cranky if <10 hours....it's just how it is right now and I like it. (Peter, not so much)

Well, tonight, at 8:45 pm, Grandma A calls. She immediately starts with, "Did I wake you?" "No." Next question, "Are you in bed?" "No, I'm justing sitting here with my small group." "Oh, OK, well I won't keep you. Call me when you're finished." "You mean tonight or tomorrow?" "Tonight's good. I'll be up." "OK. Will do."

Yep, Grandma stays up later than me. I'm pretty sure all three of my Grandmas stay up later than me. Whoopsie!