Missing Tree

I cannot figure out where I put our Christmas tree. There are a limited number of places it could be and I've checked all of them. Plus it's a 6 foot artificial Christmas tree for goodness sake. It's not exactly like losing an earring. 

Christmas Season Begins!

Got my Christmas cards ordered, lights hung on the porch and front windows, and our Advent wreath and calendars out. Going to make Danny's stocking before Korra wakes up from her nap!

Cavin

We're on our way home from the "cavin" as Korra calls it. Danny survived a week without internet and cell service. Korra survived sharing with her cousins.

The weather was mild so Korra insisted we go for a walk almost every day. She'd put on her shoes and say, "I just need some sunshine." We walked and collected rocks which we then threw into the creek.

My parents came for Thanksgiving day, which was wonderful as always. 

It was loud and occasionally overwhelming with so many people (and small children) but Thanksgiving at the cavin is something I am very thankful for. 

Sad Teen

Danny is really depressed by the thought of a week without internet and cell phone service. His goodbye post on Facebook was almost heartbreaking. Almost. 

Tailgating

We went "tailgating " for the Auburn game this afternoon with some friends.  For us that pretty much means a picnic on campus and then a little walking around before the game (which we were not attending).

There were bouncy houses for the kids which they took down right was we walked up. 

Besides the bounce house fiasco, we had a fun time!

Flirting in Spanish

I'm leaving lots of new words in Spanish thanks to Danny's Facebook posts, but unfortunately they are all revolve around teenage flirting. 

9 Days!

And so 9 days of Thanksgiving break begin!  I am so thankful that the Book Fair is over!

Friendship Soup

I couldn't go to Korra's Friendship Soup day at school (thanks, Book Fair) so my brother Todd went in my place. Korra was so excited to see her Uncle Todd!

My Shot

Nate's been playing the Hamilton soundtrack a lot lately. Korra's started singing along (mostly just the last word of each line- like she does with many songs). We picked up a picture book about the duel between Hamilton and Burr at the library today. She calls it the "my shot" book (after part of one of the songs from the musical). Glad we're instilling that love of history early!

Titanic Song

Korra asked for a new song a few nights ago so I reached into the old Girl Scout archive and sang her the Titanic song. She's asked for it every night since. Tonight she even reminded me, "You forgot to sing the part about the kids crying." 

Whew. Another jam-packed day. After school I stopped by the grocery store and while I was in there, the bottom fell out. I had to wade through 6+ inches of water in the parking lot and then navigate some flash-flooding on the way home. I quickly cooked up some soup and cornbread for a neighborhood pot luck dinner with the Peace Walkers that are in town. Then home to fix up Korra's room for the Peace Walker who is spending the night with us. How many more days until Thanksgiving break?

NA Update

NA, our foster son from about 5 years ago, sent me an out-of-the-blue email today just asking how things are going with our family and letting me know how he's doing.  In case you've lost track of time, he's a junior in high school now!

M-O-M

Korra spelled and wrote this:

Day made better. 

Puke and Burned Grilled Cheese

I finally get home at 7. I start to make myself a grilled cheese. Korra visits all over herself. While cleaning her up the grilled cheese burns.  Yep. It's that kind of day. 

Whew

Today I saw 16 classes (about 400 students). I had a faculty meeting after school to discuss test scores. I have a library board meeting in 10 minutes. I am tired. 

Teleportation

Yoga makes me feel so peaceful and relaxed, I really wish I could just teleport directly from corpse pose on my mat to my bed. 

No Twitch

The book fair went smoothly today. 

Diwali

We joined a couple of neighbors at the Diwali festival at the Hindu temple in Atlanta. Delicious food and amazing fireworks but the crowd was a little overwhelming. 

Breath of Heaven

I'm not usually one to start listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving but last night I learned Amy Grant's Christmas album is on Amazon Prime. 

Target

Date night destination: Target

Lunch Visitor

Highlight of my very busy day: my mommy came to eat lunch with me!

Grandparents Day

My mom is here!  She surprised Korra for Grandparent's Day at her school tomorrow. We are so excited to have her visit, even if it will be short. 

Teacher Korra

Nate was talking while Korra was reading a book. She yells at him, "No!  Stop!  You're making not good choices!  If you keep being loud, you can not stay in this class. You will not get to go on the playground until you make good choices."

Weird Wednesday

Got done with part of Danny's root canal (have to go back in a week for round 2) and came home for lunch before heading to my doctor's appointment. Left from there to go up to school (on my day off!) to meet with a parent about last week's fight. Had to leave that conference early because Danny's casework we was at our house for an evaluation. This has been the longest, weirdest Wednesday. 

Sick Day

I took a sick day because Danny has his root canal this morning and I have my yearly ob/gyn appointment this afternoon so I'm making the most of it. I slept in a whole 30 minutes, I made a nice breakfast of eggs and Hashbrowns, and I got your take Korra to school. She was so excited to show me her work and I was happy to be able to. Now I'm enjoying 45 minutes of watching tv, crocheting, and drinking coffee before going to pick up Danny from school. 

Evaluation

Got evaluated today while I gave a research lesson focusing on finding bias in websites. Not yo brag, but I totally rocked it. 

Twitch

The minute they delivered the book fair, my eye twitch began.  The fair doesn't even start until next.

This girl

She sang nonsense the entire time we were in the grocery store where she also repeated hugged the bag of cheese puffs. 

Rimbully

Korra has this made up word she uses often. Rimbully means something is messed up or wrinked. I really like it. 

Fall Festival

Today was our annual neighborhood fall festival. It was quite a bit smaller than many other years (about 30 people when we've had 300 before). Partly due to the threat of rain, partly because it was after Halloween. Oh well. It was low-key and still fun for those who showed. Best of all, we got that 5 gallon bucket of donated candy out of our house, though only AFTER we realized ants had found it. Ewwwwww. 

Home Depot

Went to the Home Depot Kids' Workshop with our next-door neighbors (kind of by accident- I was just there to make a return and ran into them). Turned out to be a fun way to spend the time Danny was shoe shopping in the mall. 

Friday Night Dinner

Pizza and Halloween candy. 

Sweater Weather

The high today is supposed to be 82*. I need sweater weather to hurry up so I can get away with not wearing a bra to school. 

World Map

Big Montessori moment!  Korra finished her first map!

SS Number!!

Danny's social security card came in the mail today- a full week earlier than we thought it would!  We raced up to HR and got him added to our insurance and we'll be able to schedule his root canal in the morning!

Other Duties As Required

There's this phrase at the end of my contract that says "fulfills other duties as required."  Today those other duties included showing a scoliosis screening video (the same one I watched in middle school) and helping a paraprofessional print, sign, and scan her divorce papers.  

Fist Fight

Started off my morning by breaking up a fist fight between 2 sets of sisters.  It was rough.

Fiesta

After our faculty meeting, I grabbed the kids and headed to the library for our end of class fiesta. Korra had a blast running around with the kids though I had s hard time enjoying myself too much due to this awful cough I've developed today. Hoping lots of hot tea, soup, and vitamin C kick this cold's butt quickly. 

Pumpkin Waffles

Made buttermilk pumpkin waffles (with a side of bacon) for dinner tonight. Yum!

Bubble Bath

Three trips to Home Depot today trying to fix the bathtub plug so I could take a bubble bath this afternoon. Totally worth it.