Saturday, December 20, 2008

Mending

Well I don't mend socks, but I am hoping that I am going to get better soon since I actually don't feel worse than I did yesterday. Unfortunately, I don't feel better yet either.

It feels like winter has decided to make an early appearance. Today is the final day of autumn and typically should be a day with a temperature that reaches above the freezing point. Joe took Rick, Steven, Raymond and Daniel to Olathe so the older boys could finish up their shopping today. They visited Toys R Us, The Great Mall, Wal-Mart, Target and had dinner at Ryan's. While they were at the mall, the boys found a Bookcrossing share book, "The Twits" by Roald Dahl. Raymond is excited to read it and then report his find on the internet before passing it on to the next lucky recipient. If you have never heard of Bookcrossing before, it is a very interesting way to pass along books and then track their whereabouts. Santa was at Ryan's and Daniel told Joe that this Santa was a fake because he had a Ryan's tag on and the real Santa is not an employee of Ryan's. They did not get home until late and we had to wake Daniel up for the surprise of the day and to get the cookie off the cookie ribbons. Both boys saved their cookies until tomorrow as they had eaten a large meal and dessert and they were pretty tired.

I stayed home to rest and continue recovering from my cold. The antihistamines that I take to stop my nose from running also have a tendency to knock me out and today was no exception. I rested with frequent naps, some Lifetime Christmas movies, a couple of podcasts and my trusty box of Kleenexes with lotion. I am so thankful that I had some handy, otherwise I would have a much sorer nose than I already do.

Tonight's surprise was the story, "Santa's Christmas Surprise". It is a cute book that has Santa creating a surprise that ends up being the book we were reading. Daniel was barely awake for the story so I am sure I will share it with him again later.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Ice Day

It was supposed to be the final school Friday for 2008. Having school has been an iffy proposition all week long. Yesterday ended up not being bad at all. They had predicted the possibility that we may have had a sheet of ice to drive on yesterday. In reality the precipitation was extremely light here to our benefit and we were able to go about our day as normal. Due to the rain yesterday evening and overnight, the country roads in our area are icy and the boys and I are out of school yet again.

The boys did not stay in bed though and were up at the normal time and had breakfast before seven a.m. I spent the day wishing for a nap that never came. Although I am not feeling well today, I still would have rather went to school and enjoyed the plans we had for the end of the quarter.

The surprise for tonight was the story, "Merry Christmas, Strega Nona", by Tomie de Paola. In the story there is a surprise that brings disappointment first, and then when the surprise is revealed, there is a real celebration. The boys were commenting on how lazy the character Anthony was by not helping Strega Nona, and when they found out that he had actually put in a lot of effort without Strega Nona knowing about it, they were surprised, too.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Ice Is Here Again

Actually it is freezing rain. I am blessed that it was not a problem on the roads I had to drive on today, and so I made it to and from work with no problem. I did get a phone call mid-morning that they canceled Daniel's preschool for this afternoon. The rain is supposed to stop later this evening and then hopefully the roads will be treated so we can make it to school safely tomorrow.

It is a good thing that I gave a test today as I have completely lost my voice. I am drinking as much water as I can. It is a bit easier since I am not actually teaching a lesson today. I have tried to get a cup of tea in a couple of times today as well and that felt good, especially when it was very warm on my throat. My throat is not really sore, just congested as are my sinuses. I am aiming at sleeping early tonight. Daniel is already out, I will let Joe deal with Raymond (who is convinced somehow that he will not have school tomorrow).

In between the rain, there was a break just long enough for the boys to play outside in the snow. They have a plastic toboggan they rode down the hill at the back of the house and Joe had put a set of chains on the go cart so they had fun for a little more than an hour. The neighbor boys had come over to play and outside always works better with the four boys playing.

Tonight's surprise was the story, "Frosty the Snow Man". When Raymond was really little he LOVED Frosty and would listen to the story or watch the video over and over again. I think he has both of them near memorized even to this day.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Back to Normal !?!

A warm up to 26 degrees F is expected today. We had school today, but the rest of the week is iffy as they are predicting ice, snow and some very low temperatures during traveling times in the coming days. I had to postpone a Math test, and I hope that I can get it in by the end of the week/quarter. We have a day of fun activities planned for the students Friday and the choir program was postponed until Friday at 2:30 in the afternoon so the students may go to it also.

Tonight's surprise was the story, "Christmas in the Big Woods" an excerpt from one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's early books. Raymond commented on how they didn't have a tree, and that the children received only a pair of mittens and a peppermint stick in their stockings. Laura was the only one that received a toy, a special doll.

I am still pretty congested, and have lost my voice since about 7th period today. I am turning in early as the boys are already down for the night.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Snow Day

I noticed on the news at 5:35 a.m. that my school had closed for the day and I got the phone call about 20 minutes later to confirm. I had to anticipate whether or not the boys would go today since it had snowed some overnight here, but the morning snow at the house had not started although it was only 7 degrees F. After their alarm got them up at 6 a.m. we watched on the news that we were now expecting 3-5 inches of snow. About 10 minutes later the boys school came up on the news list as well, the snow was coming at a very fast swirl, and I sent the boys back to bed. Well that didn't work. They are having a snow day camp party in Raymond's room this morning.

So I am thinking that this day off is an answer to my prayer as I am not feeling well today and I really didn't want to have to call in during this last week. I did not do much throughout the morning, but am very grateful that I did not have to drive in this mess today, or worry about my kids out in it either.

Tonight's countdown surprise was the Golden Book, "Jingle Bells". Santa's reindeer are sick so he hops on with the bear family and friends as they ride in a one horse open sleigh.

Monday, December 15, 2008

BRRR!!!


It is only 2 degrees F here with a windchill of -14. Yikes! It is cold.

Tonight we snuggled for the countdown surprise of the night. "The Christmas Tree That Grew" is about a live tree that grew three stories over the weeks before Christmas and brought three families together too.

Now for a picture to remind me of the warmth of July. This is a picture of the boys visiting Santa at the North Pole, CO this past July.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Working Inside Out


We took the little boys to see Santa last weekend. I picked up the picture today. Raymond had already talked to Santa in July
when we visited the North Pole in Colorado (as did Daniel) and told Santa to read the letter he sent earlier in the week.

The hard work is done, and the celebrations have began. I still have some wrapping to do even though my deadline has passed, I do still have time. I will not be wrapping after hours on Christmas Eve, nor during my Christmas break that starts Friday night.

Today I have
(X) Spent 45 minutes giving the Master Bathroom a thorough cleaning
(X) Spent 30 minutes cleaning the bedroom
(X) Joe and the little boys worked on the walkway next to the new railing at the back door
(X) Patio furniture and outdoor toys put away for the winter
(X) Cleaning of the dining room and great room
(X) Last of the decorating completed (I still have not pulled out my snowmen. Now where could they be?)
(X) Watched several Christmas movies with the boys; ELF, A Christmas Story and Muppet Christmas Carol
(X) Enjoyed a family dinner and a fire in the fireplace throughout the very cold afternoon/evening.


The Countdown Surprise was the book, "The Littlest Christmas Elf". And there were only 10 cookies left on the ribbon when the boys went to bed.