Christmas in a nutshell

It seems although I have not been at work I still have not had time to sit down and blog. This year and especially this holiday season has flown by. I just neaver really got a chance to sit back and take in the festive time of year like I usually do. This did not mean that I did not have a wonderful holiday with family. It was great to spend Christmas Eve with my parents, Christmas Mass was beautiful and all of Anthony's aunts, uncles and most of his cousins made it into town. We had dinner out with 27 people! Far different from the 4 or 5 we usually have dinner with for my family. I was able to see my oldest friend Anthony, and both of my grandmothers as well. That is always special to me, sometimes it is difficult because my grandmother with Alzheimers loses a bit more every time I see her but she still smiles and opens her amazing blue eyes for at least a short time. Besides the great time spent with family I also had a couple of suprises under the tree this year. My husband had the biggest suprise. A car- it was just like a commercial- red bow and all. I was so suprised but he has been planning it for months. It is so pretty and I didn't realize how run down my car had become until I drove the new one. I also got a great camera, all the seasons of Fragle Rock (yes, all 20 disks and 36 hours) and my mom finished a tree skirt she has been working on for 7 years. I can't help but think how blessed I am to have all these people in my life that care about me so much. Well, I'm off to the gym for now- I can't think of any excuses not to go.

Baby Will!

Baby Will is here. We got the great news late Tuesday night that Will was here. We visited him and his proud parents Joel and Monique on Wednesday. Joel went to high school with Anthony and so it is neat to watch the first one from the high school group to transition to parenthood They make an adorable family. I can't wait to visit them again soon.

On the week before Christmas break

My students gave to me...
A whole bunch of homemade cookies
On the week before Christmas break
My students gave to me...
No common sense and a pain in the patutti
On the week before Christmas break
My students gave to me...
Lots more homemade bakegoods
And i think I might go insane!

Not really, I do love them but I did have one student crawl under my easel to learn a mini lesson, two others try to find eachothers' pressure points by shoving their fingers into eachother, 2 girls play a shoving game and finally I leaned over to one and said... If you don't make it home for Christmas break I think your mom would understand (I was totally joking).

Finally

I have been saying for three weeks that I would take a day off. I am so sleepy and at school I am caught up (well for the most part) and I am way behind at home. So, I compromised and I am taking tomorrow afternoon off. I am going to the gym, to get Anthony's gift, take Gracie for a walk, we also need a new blanket for our bed I need to go to the store, fold landuary, make cream candy, paint, and finally clean the house. Yikes, I didn't realize I had so much until I wrote it down! Well- at least I will feel better when it is finished:) Tis the season!

WooHoo

I am so happy for our dear friends Teague and Laura. They announced they are expecting in July. I am so happy for them. I know this is something they have wanted for a long time now. They will make wonderful parents and their kid will be one of the most amazing musicians, bakers or golfers around- taking after their talented mom and dad. In the pic Laura is on the left and Megan is on the right (she just became mommy to Grace in November).

This and That

I spent 1 hour and 30 minutes in the car on the way home form work tonight because of a wreck on the other side of the highway- why do people insist on staring?

Anthony and I started our new devotional and I couldn't be more excited about it.

I have 4 tutoring jobs now- YAY for extra money. The kids are awesome. The 2nd grade more who I am tutoring in math tells he "I like this" or "this is fun" everytime I pull a new activity out. The 6th grade boy who hates reading after 1 time I am told I lit a fire and he likes reading now (that makes me feel so good). Sometimes it is hard to see these things with my kids in the classroom and it is very rewarding to see and know there is growth.

Only 11 more days of school till Christmas break.

I am taking tomorrow afternoon off. I need it badly!!

I Quit- I got a new job.

Just kidding but I did want to post some pictures of what I have been doing in my free time. I made apple butter, my Grandma's strawberry jam, and cranberry bread. I still have more apple butter and jam to go as well as Grandma's cream candy and truffles ( the pic was just from the 1st day of baking). I also am painting- for fun mostly but also for a few gifts.

I am THANKFUL!

Sometimes I get caught up in what I don't have. I am so blessed for what I have in my life. I have a wonderful husband, a great family, beautiful house, a rewarding job I could go on and on. There are times however, like today that I forget about those things. Instead of saying I wish that could be more or I want that I need to remember I am blessed for what I have and. God has done so much in my life and I am thankful and blessed for everything I have.

* The pic is of me and Anthony at the UK/UT game- he wants to take me to all the SEC stadiums (see I am blessed to have such a sweet husband)!