Merry Christmas!!

For unto us a child is born, a Son is given...and His name shall be called; Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace...

Enjoy a Merry Christmas!!

I'm a Christmas-Wrapping Machine

Yep, that's me!! I am a Christmas-wrapping-shopping-baking-machine!!! (And I am loving every minute of it.) It is not stressing me out at all and I have had several shopping miracles along the way. What a difference this year. Now I'm enjoying the time to sit and wrap while watching movies...you know the annual viewing of White Christmas, The Santa Claus, Jack Frost and Rudolph!!! (Throw in a chick-flick or two and the time flies.) I still have a few fun projects to finish up and the books are calling my name...I am loving this holiday this year!

The last two weeks of school were a whirlwind.... end of quarter assessments, the Reindeer Run, the All-school Holiday Sing, the class party, Christmas-crafts, report cards and ....continued learning!! Ah, yes, the rush of school compared to the rush of the holidays. I'll take the change, thank you!

Just a funny thing - I did notice a BIG difference in the Christmas gifts my 3rd grade students gave me compared to my first grade little guys!!! (SMILE!) I often got flowers with roots attached, pre-loved stuffed animals, and dollar store statues and candy!! This year, in 3rd grade I got BOOKS, book gift cards (my students know my passion) and iTunes giftcards, to name a few. Now, I have never been one to care much about those things at all. That's not what I expect or want...I teach at a Title 1 school for a reason...but I was so touched at the response of my students to my hobbies and loves. I am so touched at their generosity. Now to find that perfect classroom read-aloud with the giftcards....a great way to share!! Any suggestions??

Assorted notes and thoughts - - -I finished Nectar in a Sieve awhile back and still need to write a review for myself. It was breathtakingly beautiful and has really stuck with me. Rich and I are half way through Cesar's Way by Cesar Milan (trying to be better dog-grandparents) and I am finally finishing The Bee Keeper's Apprentice by Laurie King (it's super!)

Rich and I went to see Jeffrey Deaver at The Poisoned Pen in all the December madness. He was there pushing his newest book, Edge. What a terrific night. Mr. Deaver was a very interesting speaker and he read a bit from his book to bring across the point on how we could learn to care about his character when it was written in 1st person narrative. He was RIGHT! We were captivated. Now that's a skill I really need to teach to those 3rd graders!!

You know it is pretty sexy to see my handsome honey surrounded by books!!

What a great morning to sit and review a little of what's been going on before I return to the madness....bring it on!!

A Double Take

Today Rich and I were driving down the street when I glanced up at a sign and did a double take!!

We actually turned around so that we could read it again (and get a picture!)

"Where were you driving?" you may ask....


Wait, wait......

by a paint store!!!!!
Too funny!


PS. No reading by this chica...report cards, Christmas shopping, Christmas cards, and work!! Ach! (Well I wonder if one could count our third grade Book Club book -
Shoebag by Mary James

Shoebag, a happy young cockroach who finds himself suddenly changed into a little boy and changes the lives of those around him before returning to his former life ... well, it is a book! My third graders love it and they are loving their first experience with Book Club!! It's worth missing lunchtime one day a week for this!! And it is the extent of my pleasure reading....Things will get better soon!) Until then, keep smiling!

What Makes me Happy!

Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Part of our heart flew off to San Antonio, Texas and Air Force Basic Training today.
We are so proud of you, Drew!
"Nothing will stop the US Air Force!"
Good luck and God bless,
Love, Mom & Dad

Thanksgiving Hangover

Not fun but....

I had a fantabulous Thanksgiving,
my lesson plans were complete for the week,
I slept all day,
I didn't even worry about my school kiddos,
I have a cell phone to play Pandora music to me all day long while I lay abed,
I don't have to worry about dinner,
I have plenty of books to read...
if only I felt good enough to read!
Gosh, it must be a Thanksgiving hangover!

Here's to tomorrow!

Oh no, say it ain't so....

They're coming.... the holidays!!! I went to the first of many Holiday Boutiques yesterday to support a friend. What beautiful workmanship of many hands. Annie's work is so understated and beautiful. It was fun to see her on display. I'm starting my Christmas shopping lists. Yikes. This time of year is a real balance of school, family, projects, shopping and the inevitable report cards. How can time fly so fast when there's so much to be done? I really want just a day to sit and read, watch a football game, go to a movie.... count my blessings! Can it be that I am going to participate in a blogger activity?? I am really going to put myself out there and do something more than just read and comment on posts! Yeah me! I just signed up for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap . (On another note, it is my tacit way of saying that the holidays are indeed approaching. I must come out of my denial phase!) I am actually excited to participate and extend some hands of friendship through these invisible force fields!!! Thanks, Book Nut for peaking my interest and encouraging us!
On the book front I finished Willow by Carolyn Brown this weekend. I guess this was just now the book for me. I realized that about page 3 but I blame the "clean you plate" attitude I get at times and I just kept reading. I amazed myself that I kept at it. Guess I was thinking about all those "starving people in China" as I read. This book really needed an editor!! It was full of awkward sentences, time period adjustments and noun/verb agreements. But I think my biggest pet peeve was a 44 word sentence!! After a slew of "gunshot" sentences that were short on words and meat, this particular sentence rambled on and on. I think I read it over and over just to marvel at it. I am hoping to fall into the next book and find that it is the perfect fit for me. Life is too short for anything less....