Saturday, December 31, 2011

Good End to 2011

Staying at "home" is underrated these days! I have totally loved playing hostess to my friends and family during my Winter Break from school. Here's a recap of my "stay-cation":
December 16 - last day of school!! "half-day" for students and I finished decorating my room!
December 17 and 18 - spent at home with family, put outside decorations up, and some shopping and cleaning
December 19 - more cleaning, shopping, and family time (my niece, nephew, and sister visit)
December 20 - Baking extravaganza!! Made fudge, chocolate chip cake, scones, pumpkin bread, and cinnamon cookies! Furnace replaced $$ Jacob's piano lesson - more Christmas songs!
December 21-22 - visit Victoria, TX - lunch with mom, dad, niece, and nephew; dinner with friends (and their bible study group)followed by caroling; next day spent talking and relaxing
December 23 - Steve starts his vacation time!! Put ornaments on the tree. *watched TMNT and Polemon Christmas specials*
December 24 - enjoyed time at home together - watched "Home Alone", mass at 3pm, RAIN - decided not to go to family party; *watched "Polar Express" and half of "Little Women"*
December 25 - CHRISTMAS!! Sent Steve's parents to see "The Muppet Movie" with the kids at 11:40 - time to regroup, tidy up, and cook ham lunch; lunch with in-laws and open presents. Surprised Wendy with keyboard! *finished "Little Women"
December 26- woke up late! :( Parents and siblings' families come over. Still making lasagna when first group arrives! Finally have lunch at 12:45 and open presents (a little faster than I would have liked). Each set of family members helped to tie together a blanket for my grandmother who will be 90 on January 1. Visited with John, Jessica, and kids with Arby's in hand. Played Parchessi and snacked!
December 27 - SFASU friends come over: Cynthia, Sean, and Henry; Eve, Richard, Megan, and Jacob; Karen, Ron, CJ, and Bobby - had pizzas and snacked our way through the afternoon. Lots of good conversation and played "Apples to Apples" with grown ups while kids played Wii and Thomas tracks and marble races.
December 28 - BREATHE!! took cats to the vet, my car needed a new battery, Steve's car got new tires,*saw "The Adventures of Tin Tin" as a family; shopped at mall
December 29 - testing new games and Pokemon prep day; Steve and I went on a date out to eat at Vida Loca mexican restaurant, *watch "The Help" with Steve and April
December 30 - Steve and April go to City Championship in Seabrook. Both end with losing records. :( Jacob and I see "We bought a zoo" at Alamo Drafthouse for lunch, grocery shopping, Gavin spends the night
December 31 - Jacob has Gavin over until 2pm, and they are great together! run errands and prepare my grandmother's birthday present (including making a Snapfish book for her of photos of us making the blanket together)
January 1 - all Pokemon competitors to Magnolia to compete, I am going to see "New Year's Eve" with Kim, then to dinner with in-laws and Aunt Judy
January 2 - haircut and anything else that did not get done yet!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Foot fetish kitty

Our girl cat, Luna, loves to rub against our feet after we have bathed! I can hear her purring from here. Crazy cat!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

First Responders Day - aka 9/11

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, my class plans to learn what being an "everyday hero" is all about. Over the past few weeks many wildfires have sparked across Texas. The firefighters, police officers, and Red Cross volunteers are the true heroes. My students will share their thoughts, admiration, and appreciation for all they do through poems, cards, and letters that we will send to them. Join the cause at 911day.

More Wildfires

Firefighters helping

Texas Wildfire Heroes