This Christmas we're in Indy. It's been a lot of fun! We've been shopping, seen old friends, kept old traditions alive, and started new traditions. All while managing to not kill each other(yet). I'd call that SUCCESSFUL!
One of the highlights of coming home for Christmas is serving Christmas Eve Dinner at Wheeler Mission. It's a homeless shelter and it's been our way of giving a little back each Christmas for the last 9 or 10 years.
Apparently, a new tradition we've started, is that we don't get out of bed until 8:30 on Christmas morning... (we're usually 6:00 people). Dana informed me I wasn't 10 anymore so I shouldn't be all excited and wake up early. Needless to say, this year we ate breakfast BEFORE opening presents. That has NEVER happened in the 22 Christmas I'd been home before this one. We did carry on the tradition of cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for breakfast. I figure since I was up HOURS before everyone else I would make them. For some reason the oven burnt the bottoms and didn't fully cook the tops so we had loads of fun fixing them so they were edible! Good times...
One thing that hasn't changed is my mom saying we're "not doing Christmas", or that it's going to be very minimal and, as usual, she goes overboard. There were loads of presents and I somehow had the most to open, which was very fun and very unexpected. I got sweaters, necklaces, shoes, and Dana brought me a scarf and Christmas ornaments from Jerusalem. Luckily, no one seemed too upset that we didn't get them anything.
My family has adopted the local missionaries since Logan's been gone, and is continuing as Skylar will be headed out soon. We had a pair of elders and a pair of sisters over for Christmas dinner. We ate, played Cranium, and gave them stockings full of fun little things including little guns that shoot airplanes and discs. They had a blast running around the house shooting each other. Their final gift was to go through the 100s of ties Logan brought home from his mission and pick one or two. He has all kinds of designer ties... louie vatton, calvin kline, Bordeaux, etc... John is bring home quite a few... And I stole the Louie Vatton one. The elders were so excited! They threw ties in the air and buried Elder Housekeeper underneath them all. Pictures to come of Elder Housekeeper at the bottom of all the ties.
Overall Christmas was great!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Pies, Pies, Pies
Well this Thanksgiving I volunteered to bake/make the pies. Usually this is left up to Kami (my MIL) and she cooks 12-17 pies... I'm not kidding! Plus, the most people there have ever been at Thanksgiving are 12-14 including children. She always has an elaborate display and everything. Oh, and she ALWAYS stressed and exhausted by the time we get to the eating and celebrating part. So this year I said I' would bake the pies, but there will only be 3. So I made apple, pumpkin (which the recipe made two... oops!), and chocolate because my family ALWAYS has chocolate pie at Thanksgiving. They turned out really well. And thanks to my Pillsbury dough boy, the crusts were easy! As you can see, my apple pie kind of exploded everywhere, but I was assured that it happens all the time and still tasted yummy. I've promised Joe (John's dad) I'd figure out how to make him a pineapple pie for next year. Any one have a good recipe? Also, Dana's informed me I'm doing a repeat performance for Christmas, since there weren't any pies served at her Thanksgiving/4th of July celebration in Jerusalem. Overall, a success!
Baby Carter... Whose almost 2 months old already...
Where does the time go? I mean honestly I was just snuggling this 3 day old little guy at his house the other day, and now he's almost two months old! Here are some pictures of my cutest new nephew! And yes, I look happier here than in almost any other recent picture... babies do that for me. Pure JOY! I'm so loving him! We're ecstatic to have him in the family!
Monday, December 7, 2009
My Mentoring a Student Teacher Experience
Well here's the short version:
BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!
And here are the details:
I've had a student teacher since September sometime. She is wonderful. She is a natural born teacher. She is great with the kids. She is excellent at teaching, and she has great classroom management. The kids love her, I love her. I loved having an adult in the room to laugh and chat with. I think that is the part I will miss the most. Teaching is just so much more fun when others experience it with you. The feeling of teamwork was great too. We were both working together for the same goal. It was also nice to have everything done on time most of the time. I'm a last minute person, only because I have so much in my head at once, I have a hard time organizing by importance so usually the stuff for next week is all ready but the stuff for right now isn't. Needless to say... I loved my first student teacher mentor experience!
Her last day was Friday... Today was a very sad day for me and my class. More than once did a student say "I miss her. I wish she was back. She's a good teacher." She's volunteering her time to tutor other kids at the school until break. She made the mistake of walking down the hall at the same time as my kids... She got mauled! But she didn't mind.
The best thing about it is now, I have a great friend, and my kids have one more person they know they can trust and that loves them.
BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!
And here are the details:
I've had a student teacher since September sometime. She is wonderful. She is a natural born teacher. She is great with the kids. She is excellent at teaching, and she has great classroom management. The kids love her, I love her. I loved having an adult in the room to laugh and chat with. I think that is the part I will miss the most. Teaching is just so much more fun when others experience it with you. The feeling of teamwork was great too. We were both working together for the same goal. It was also nice to have everything done on time most of the time. I'm a last minute person, only because I have so much in my head at once, I have a hard time organizing by importance so usually the stuff for next week is all ready but the stuff for right now isn't. Needless to say... I loved my first student teacher mentor experience!
Her last day was Friday... Today was a very sad day for me and my class. More than once did a student say "I miss her. I wish she was back. She's a good teacher." She's volunteering her time to tutor other kids at the school until break. She made the mistake of walking down the hall at the same time as my kids... She got mauled! But she didn't mind.
The best thing about it is now, I have a great friend, and my kids have one more person they know they can trust and that loves them.
Halloween Treats
For Halloween for my class I tried out a few new treat ideas. I made Candy Corn Bars and Halloween Chex. The kids loved the chex mix and not so much on the candy corn bars... I felt the same way. John really liked the bars, bt they were a lot of work, so I won't be making them again. The chex mix was super easy and has been added to the list of must have Halloween treats from now on.
***This just in****
Apparently the candy corn bars weren't a success because I can't find the recipie anywhere... ah darn, now I can never make them again! lol
***This just in****
Apparently the candy corn bars weren't a success because I can't find the recipie anywhere... ah darn, now I can never make them again! lol
Saturday, December 5, 2009
alloymail.com
This is the e-mail I recieved from Customer support last week...
Dear Alloymail.com Customer,
We regret to inform you that as of December 15, 2009, we will no longer be providing email services for the alloymail.com domain. As a result all email accounts will be deactivated.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you wish to retain any information from these accounts it must be removed before the service termination date.
As an alternative solution we invite you to register for a new email account at Mail.com. To learn more or to sign up for a free account click here.
Sincerely,
Customer Support Team
The 15th is the end of an era. 13 year with 1 e-mail address that has stayed the same. All comes to an end. Please switch all of your contact information to the new e-mail address given in a previous post.
Dear Alloymail.com Customer,
We regret to inform you that as of December 15, 2009, we will no longer be providing email services for the alloymail.com domain. As a result all email accounts will be deactivated.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you wish to retain any information from these accounts it must be removed before the service termination date.
As an alternative solution we invite you to register for a new email account at Mail.com. To learn more or to sign up for a free account click here.
Sincerely,
Customer Support Team
The 15th is the end of an era. 13 year with 1 e-mail address that has stayed the same. All comes to an end. Please switch all of your contact information to the new e-mail address given in a previous post.
It's been forever
Well Let's see. I just haven't wanted to blog lately... I've been reading everyone elses and just haven't done anything but GOSH I sure have a lot to catch you all up on... so maybe this week John won't have much homework and I can have some computer time. Right this very minute he is making me chille rellenos. YUMMY! He's such a fabulous cook!
Here are a few things you have to look forward to
Halloween Treats
My student teacher experience
New Baby Carter
My first attempt at pies
Thanksgiving
Sub for Santa
Christmas Plans
WOW, I have a TON of work to do!
Here are a few things you have to look forward to
Halloween Treats
My student teacher experience
New Baby Carter
My first attempt at pies
Thanksgiving
Sub for Santa
Christmas Plans
WOW, I have a TON of work to do!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)