New Year's Eve

Nate and I are going to ring in the new year with some friends and some board games!

Party Like It's 1999

Can you believe it's been 10 years since Y2K? Do you remember where you were on 12/31/1999? I was 15 and babysitting with a friend. As I remember it, nothing happened.

2009

In this past year...

• Nate quit his job to go to seminary
• I got completed my master's degree
• We became respite foster parents
• We got a free car
• Our roommate Matt moved out
• We went to Disney World
• My sister and brother-in-law graduated from LC and my brother began college here
• I learned to bake bread (even pita bread and tortillas!)
• We cooked our first (and last?) ham
• Nate and I both got tattoos
• I learned I'm allergic to tattoo ink (and maybe all things cool)

Jin Express

Thanks to some Christmas money from my grandparents, we were able to eat a delicious meal from Jin Express (Japanese steak house meets take-out) rather than peanut butter sandwiches on stale bread.

Carrots

I just pulled these beauties up from the garden!

Heading Home

Nate and I are going back to LaGrange today.

Sweet Deals!

I found a pair of jeans for $6 and 2 awesome pairs for shoes for $26 (for both!)

Packing

I've been helping Mom pack. They're putting the house up for sale in a few weeks and we needed to take some items to a storage facility for the time-being.

Mommy and Me

Helping my mommy pack up the Christmas ornaments and then running errands.

Cocoa Wheats

We're having Cocoa Wheats for breakfast. That's chocolate cream of wheat. Yum.

Christmas Take 2

Tonight we're celebrating Christmas with my family, complete with pickles, salami, mozzarella sticks, Special K bars, and presents.

Birthday Breakfast

I'm having breakfast this morning with Lindsay and Jenni! Happy Birthday Lindsay!

Record Time

Getting Nate out of bed on Sunday mornings is a weekly battle of not only wills but physical strength. This morning, it only took me 10 minutes to drag him out of bed.

Poor Brian

Today, my brother will go from a very quiet house (just him and the dog) to a very loud house. Mom, Dad, my sister, brother-in-law, their dog, my other brother, Nate, and me will all arrive home this afternoon. Tomorrow, my grandparents and my great aunt will join us. Poor Brian.

Going Home

We're heading home for the night. We'll check on the cats, pack and repack our bags, sleep in our own bed, and then head for my parents' house in the morning.

World's Strictest Parents

I'm watching this show on MTV and thinking that I should apply. Obviously as someone with no parenting experience, I'm sure I would excel as a super strict parents to some horrible teens.

Car Talk

I posted a question on the Car Talk discussion board last night and I already had a really helpful answer when I woke up this morning. Hopefully we'll be able to figure out this electrical problem before we drive back home today.

Sherlock Holmes

We just got back from seeing Sherlock Holmes. We thought the movie was very enjoyable, though I don't think the guy next to Nate agreed. After laughing obnoxiously and commenting loudly on all the previews, he feel asleep and snored through the majority of the movie.

Merry Christmas!

This is the first Christmas where I am not doing any of our usual Christmas traditions. We celebrated Christmas on the 23rd with Nate's family and we'll celebrate Christmas on the 28th with mine. Today is just... today, though we are going to enjoy lunch with some friends here in Wilmer.

Julie and Julia

Currently enjoying watching Julie and Julia with Nate's mom and sister. All boys have abandoned us.

Bizarre Foods

Nate has been watching a lot of the TV show Bizarre Foods lately (which means I've seen quite a few episodes too). How can he say both, "Delicious" and "You can really taste the bile" when talking about the same food? His comments about the food are almost more astounding than the food itself.

Sore Thumbs

I've been shelling pecans with Nate's dad for the past half an hour. My thumbs hurt.

Christmas... Kind-of

We're pretending it's Christmas today. We're eating everything we usually eat on Christmas day and we opened presents this morning. Merry Pretend Christmas!

Scattergories

Nate's family likes to play Scattergories when we are all together. I'm not sure when it started, but the goal of the game eventually became to come up with the most ridiculous answer (and to make Nate's mom wheeze with laughter). The other aspect of the game is shouting down other family members as they try to defend their answer or as you try to defend yours. Nate says he won tonight's round.

Slanket

I know that a Slanket is similar to a Snuggie, but somehow it sounds so... loose. It's become a new family term of endearment.

Shower buddy

In Mobile, there are these little frogs everywhere. They even climb up the drain and join you in the shower. I'm not sure which is worse, the frog that I showered with, or the frog that was in the toilet- the one I didn't notice until AFTER I was done.

Facebook

I just Facebook stalked my siblings. Honestly, what an amazing bunch of people. Who would have thought my annoying little sister and brothers would turn out to be so cool?

Dirty Dancing

Watching Dirty Dancing with G and working on Nate's Christmas present.

Caroling

We went Christmas caroling to some of the elderly people from Wilmer UMC last night. It was fun, even though I had a skullcrusher.

The Whole Clan

Dan and G will be here tonight. Josh and Laura will be here tomorrow. All of Nate's family will be together for the next few days!

Church Family

I love going to Nate's parent's church. It's amazing to have such a wonderful group of people who care about us even if we only get to see them 3 times a year.

Mobile

We're on our way to Mobile for Christmas! Looking forward to some quality time with Nate's family.

Progressive Dinner

Today we're having the Christmas progressive dinner for The Nine (though only 6 of us were able to make it this year). I have appetizers- homemade pitas and hummus!

Fix It

After only a 2 hour conversation, some girl friends and I identified so much that is wrong with our society. If someone would just give this great group of women some serious power, we'd have all those problems fixed in a jiff.

Avatar

Just got back from seeing Avatar with Nate and TK. Very cool movie, though 3 hours is a long time to wear those 3D glasses.

Fire Drill

We just had a fire drill. That's right. It's 3:15 on the Friday before Christmas break AND it's 40 degrees and raining outside.

Love, Hate

I love my job. I love teaching and reading and books and kids.  But sometimes, I really hate education.  The system (locally and nationally), the standardization, the mediocrity.  Since I can't fix it all, I guess I'll just do the best I can in the situations I find myself in.

Grinch

I'm showing How The Grinch Stole Christmas over the school's video distribution twice today.  It's making me very happy.

Christmas Stories

The theatre specialist is telling Christmas stories to the 3rd grade in the library.  :)

Rain? Again?

When I woke up this morning to the sound of rain, I almost couldn't get up.  The thought that it is the last day of school before Christmas break was barely enough to make me roll out of bed.  I am so thankful for the break that is almost here.

Cape!

I finally found my cape and Harry Potter glasses.  I see a return of Reading Girl in the near future!

Free Lunch!

We've taken turns brining goodies to share all week, but today- in addition to those goodies- we're getting lunch from Katie's.

Really Cold

I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it, but it's really cold in the library.  I really wish they could fix the heat sooner.

Exempting Finals

It's the end of the semester and our former students who have exempted their finals find their way back to us.  I've had 5 former students visit today.  It's nice (though occasionally awkward) to catch up with them and see what interesting young adults they are growing up to be.

Humility

I have been humbled today.  I was wrong and someone I don't like very much was right.  It's very painful to admit it, but there it is.

Terrible, Horrible

I had a no-good, very bad day. It was really just one incident, but it was first thing in the morning and it left me feeling angry, upset, and sick to my stomach all day. Snuggling on the couch in my PJs with Nate is helping, though and I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.

Get Ready to Be Cold

The maitenence guys said the library heater will be fixed over Christmas break.  The next few days are going to be pretty cold!

Radio Theatre

The 7th graders are using one of our storage closets as a sound studio for Radio Theatre- they sound really good!

Dexter

Nate and I just watched the season 4 finale of Dexter and WOW. I'm in shock.

Mediocrity

I'm not going to allow our students to continue to wallow in mediocrity. I'm going to make a lot of parent phone calls over the next 2 days.

Chilly Library

The heat is out in the library.  Brrrr.

Whew

I thought I was in big trouble with the principal, but it all turned out ok.  I'm thankful for teachers who will help clear up misunderstandings and that the old saying "It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission" is sometimes true.

Fantasy In Lights

Nate and I have very few Christmas traditions here in LaGrange, but we always go to Fantasy in Lights at Callaway gardens with Noelle and Chuck. Tonight we get to share the Christmas joy with the Mission Year couples. Yay!

Wrapping

All our Christmas presents are wrapped!

Cookies!

Our neighborhood had a cookie decorating party this afternoon. The best part was how excited the kids were to take cookies to their elderly neighbors!

Obedience School

Do they have obedience school for cats? I don't know even know if you can train cats, but we desperately need to get ours to stop pawing and meowing at our bedroom door at 6 AM every morning. I'd really like to be able to sleep in.

Road Warrior

I hate driving at night. I hate driving in the rain. I just safely drove home from Columbus at night in the rain. I even maneuvered out of a tricky driveway. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

Wedding!

Going to Courtney's wedding today in Columbus with some of the girls. I'm really looking forward to some girly time.

Rare

Nate is working and I am not. Nate has school work and I don't. I am enjoying this rare moment.

Mean Librarian

Usually the middle school students only come to school for half days during finals.  I told them that if they don't have their AR points, they will stay the whole day reading in the library.  You'd better bet that threat has been effective.  I've got those procrastinating 13 year old scrambling.

The NPR News Quiz!

Last night, G and I went to see "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" LIVE!  It was a very fun evening.

Behavior Modification

I get to spend the next 3 hours in Behavior Modification training.  And just to clarify, it's to help me modify the KIDS behavior, not to modify mine.

It's Official

According the the school system's website, we have at least one more year as a fine arts magnet school.  Praise God!

Waiting, Waiting

I'm waiting for G to get here. We're going to see "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" live tomorrow night!

No News is Good News?

There was a preliminary meeting today to discuss the budget.  Restructuring West Side was not mentioned.  We think that means it's been taken off the table!

My Job

I get to do my job all day today.  No meetings, no door-watching, no keeping other people's classes- I get to be a librarian all day!  And a good thing too, I have a lot to do.

Slightly Weird

A former student, my husband, and a neighbor are playing Super Monkey Ball in my living room.

Cold and Rainy

This cold and rainy weather just makes me want to snuggle up and sleep. Anti-productivity weather.

Published!

The published my letter to the editor in the paper yesterday!

You Won't Believe It

Nobby (our cat) just turned the lights in our dining room on. No kidding. He got on a chair and flipped in on with his paw like he does it every day.

Just a little longer

I feel sick and I want to go home.  First I was going to go home after the morning news, then after Team Time, then I thought I'd wait until after my assistant takes his lunch... I might end up staying this whole dumb day.

Lessons and Carols

Just got back from the LaGrange College's Lesson and Carols service. It was wonderful.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I am our Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. I'm trying to get to know my neighbors but it hasn't been easy. Starting small talk when you go door to door is hard. I really want to be a good neighbor. I really want to build relationships. But right now, I feel like I'm inadequate at this whole neighbor thing.

Decorating Cookies

Thanks to Jamie, I got in the Christmas spirit even more today. I put up Christmas lights, a few more decorations, and then we baked and decorated Christmas cookies!

Stupid Cats

In the last 24 hours, the cats chewed through a cable, woke me up at 6 AM, kicked over their litter box, ate the top of half the muffins that were cooling on the counter, and chewed through the bottom of a styrofoam cut (that was full of sweet tea). If we can't get them to stop some of this crap, they're becoming outside cats in the spring.

Christmas Story

I watched A Christmas Story this morning. It feels like the Christmas season has officially begun.

Date Night

Nate and I went out to eat and then to see a very funny movie- New Moon. I laughed out loud several times. The fact that vampires glitter in the sunlight or that the actress who plays Bella is unable to breathe with her mouth closed is always good for a few chuckles.

Annotated Bibliography

I am teaching the 6th grade how to write an annotated bibliography today.

Letter to the Editor

I just sent the following letter to the editor of the local newspaper.

As the time to make budgetary decisions for the 2010-2011 school year is drawing near, I would like the school board representatives and the community to consider the brief time line on which the decision to restructure West Side Magnet School has been made. With only a month from when the announcement of the school's restructuring being considered to the final decision being made, there has been little time for the faculty, parents, and community to effectively respond to the budget crisis that has been presented. I feel certain that with more time, WSMS could lower the financial burden it places on Troup County Schools. Grants and other outside funding are available, but applying for them takes time- something that we are very short on at the moment. I firmly believe that West Side is worth every penny it costs the school system, but I also know that hard times are upon us. What I ask for is a compromise. Give West Side more time. If West Side cannot find sufficient outside funding, then I understand that tough decisions must be made, but give us a chance. With a 12 million dollar surplus, I believe the school system can afford to give us more time to help with the cost of keeping this unique school as it is.

Christmas Parade

I have to hurry because if I don't move quickly, I'll get stuck behind the Christmas parade on the way home from the grocery store. 

Links

This is a link to my wonderful husband's evangelism project. Please take a few minutes to view and comment. Thanks!

Crying

I've made 3 cheating 5th graders cry in my office today.  Ugh.

Yet Another Meeting

Last night there was another meeting about the school.  Some of the teachers want to meet and talk again this afternoon.  There are at least 3 more offical school board meetings before the final decision is made.  I am so tired of meetings.  I am so tired of being in limbo.

Spiteful Scarf

Since I was forced to bring a gift to this meeting, I made a scarf last night- out of some of my ugliest yarn.  No on tried to steal it in the Dirty Santa part.  Ha.

Forced Fun

I have to go to a meeting for a committee I don't want to be on in a few minutes.  What makes it even worse is that we're also having a Christmas Party with a white elephant exchange.  I don't want to pretend to have fun.

Hiccups

It's not even 11 AM and I've already had the hiccups tiwice today.

No Heat

I had to drive our dumb car that doesn't have heat this morning.  As bad as it was, it still isn't worth the $1,000 to get it fixed.  Dumb car.