Breakfast Date

Met up with our good friends/Survivor buddies for yummy breakfast and chatting about the holidays, our kids, and of course Survivor. Now it's time to pack up and head to the cabin for Christmas with Nate's family. 

Extended Family

4 of my cousins, an aunt, and an uncle joined us today for a big turkey lunch, playing with a parachute, building gingerbread houses, launching paper lanterns, board games, and catching up. 

Danny's Christmas

Today Danny slept until noon, took a nap, watched Home Alone and spent hours chatting on FaceBook. So I guess by teenager terms, he's having a great Christmas. 

Presents, Delayed

Since Korra and Clark are still too young to understand days of the week and Christmas traditions, we're able to wait to open gifts until my brothers are both here tomorrow. Probably the last year we can do that without tears! 

Merry Christmas

Woke up to a full out 10 minute tantrum from Korra for no discernible reason. Merry Christmas indeed. 

Christmas Eve

It's become a Christmas Eve tradition to spend the evening with the Sniders (college friends who now live just minutes from my parents). Here are the kiddos in their jammies. 

Sisters

Went to see Sisters with my sister and mom. 

One Handed

I've learned that there are lots of things I can do one/left handed (just more slowly) like type and wash my hair and put on socks. Things I cannot do include buttering my toast, tying my shoes, and putting on deodorant.

Broken Right Arm

Radial head fracture (near my elbow). I can't write or crochet or pick up Korra or do yoga for a few weeks. Ugh. 

Hospital

Fell outside while wearing Nate's Crocs. Good chance I broke my arm. At the hospital instead of driving to my parents' house. Really mad at myself and in a lot of pain. 

Apple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

I've got homemade cinnamon rolls ready for baking tomorrow morning! We're going to open our Christmas gifts and have a special breakfast before heading to North Carolina. 

Carry On

I just finished Rainbow Rowell's newest book Carry On. It was fantastic. She might be my second favorite author. 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23734628-carry-on

Early Christmas Gift

I gave myself an early Christmas gift: an hour-long bath complete with bath salts, lavender oil, candles, classical music, and a good book. Glorious. 

Star Wars

The while family is seeing Star Wars!  Korra's excited!  Danny... not so much. 

Deliveries

While I was out of town with the ladies, the husbands and kids hung out. 6 men plus 11 kids under 5 years old went out for pizza. Then they all can over to our house to hang out. I've been told they had a great time though I'm sure it was pretty chaotic because they left a lot of things behind though (socks, pacis, water bottles, bags, etc). Korra and I loaded up the wagon this morning and walked to all their houses to deliver these items. On the way I picked up two of the neighbor kids and brought them back to play on the swing set with Korra.

Brunch!

Brunch at Le Petite Marche!  Yum!

Shot

31 years old and took my first shot. Peer pressure, y'all. 

Shopping

Spending the Saturday before Christmas shopping. You know I must really love these girls. 

Nativity Play

Daniel Tiger, Prince Wednesday, Elsa, and Anna are all currently singing happy birthday to baby Jesus along with the three kings. 

Jesus's Paci

Korra: Where is baby Jesus's paci?

Girls' Getaway!

5 neighbor- friends and I are going to Atlanta this morning for an overnight girls'getaway!  I'm so excited!

Advent

Tonight we had our church advent party.  We ate, sang, did a white elephant gift exchange and the kids had a piñata. Here is a photo of Danny wearing the piñata on his head and one of our neighbors pretending to take a swing. 

Salary vs Hourly

When school wants me to stay late, they remind me that I'm not an hourly employee.  But on days like yesterday and today when the kids leave at noon, they remind me that I need to be there for 8 hours.  Lame.  Left at 1:45 anyway.

Star Wars Nerd

Korra cried for a solid 5 minutes when she realized her Daddy was going to see Star Wars without her. 

Mint Fudge

Nate: Do you really need to go to Zumba twice this week?

Me: Someone brought homemade mint fudge to the faculty Christmas party today. 

Rainy Trolley Ride

It rained the whole ride but we still had a great time!  I love sharing this tradition with people who have never gone before. Danny's enjoyment of the lights made my night!

Fantasy in Lights

Time for our annual family tradition of going to Callaway Gardens for Fantasy in Lights!  Fingers crossed the rain lets up so out trolley ride will be more pleasant!

Best Christmas Present

Nothing makes teachers happier than 3 consecutive jeans days right before Christmas break!

Piece of Crap

The new distribution equipment I spent $600 on needed to be rebooted 2-3 times per class period today while I was trying to play The Outsiders for the 8th graders. It was so incredibly frustrating but became even more so when I called IT (who recommended and installed the device). I was looking for a solution or at least an explanation. The explanation I got was, "I guess it's just a piece of crap."  Well, gee. Thanks. 

Pasta e Fagioli

Made a really delicious crockpot pasta e fagioli soup for dinner tonight. If only the weather would cooperate with my warm and cozy dinners.

Insurance Crap

Our insurance is denying adding Danny to our policy because we missed the "life event window."  We got legal guardianship on August 3rd but he didn't have a SS number until November 5th.  We only had a 45 day window to add him after the "qualifying event" of gaining guardianship BUT we weren't allowed to add him until he had a SS number.  I'm now filing a "written appeal for case escalation."  Ugh.  I'm tired of this.

Lots of Church

A little churched-out today. Korra and I went with a friend to visit an African American congression this morning (and into the afternoon... it was a 2+ hour service) and then to our usual church in the evening. We got enough church to make up for Nate, who wasn't able to go to either service because he's sick. 

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Walked to the neighborhood farmers' market and picked up Korra's custom-made necklace. Made dinner for the family across the street who just had a new baby. Ate a potluck dinner and then sat around a fire chatting with a dozen neighbors. 

Sister Blog

My sister and I starting co-blogging again. I think we're hilarious. 

ohsisterdearest.blogspot.com

Christmas Program

Was allowed to leave work for an hour to go to the Christmas program at Korra's school. Loved watching my cutie dance and sing!

Zumba

Found a Zumba class through FaceBook that meets 3 times a week in the lobby of a doctor's office near our house. I went for the first time tonight and while I was pretty awful, I really enjoyed it!  I think this is really going to help me through the winter funk (i.e.- come home from work, cook and eat dinner and then only feel like watching tv and eating cookies until bed because it's dark and cold). 

Immigration Physical

6 weeks ago I scheduled an immigration physical for Danny.  There is only one doctor in LaGrange who is a "civil surgeon" and can do these.  He only comes to his LaGrange office one day a week (Thursdays) and only does these physicals at 9 AM.  Also, it costs $225 cash.
We went to the physical this morning (they even called me yesterday to confirm) only to find out he stopped coming to his LaGrange office a month ago.  Yep, that's right.  He changed our appointment to Peachtree City (a 55 minute drive one way) and didn't bother to tell us.  Did I mention his Peachtree City office is the next closest place that does these physicals?  Or that the other 2 physicians within an hour drive who do these charge $80 more?  Or that every last one of them is closed the whole of our Christmas break so Danny and I will both have to take another day off school to get this done?  Or that we'll have to go BACK to this hour-away office just to get his TB test read (even though there are a hundred doctors AND a hospital just 5 minutes from our house and any nurse can read a TB test)?
Having a really hard time enjoying this unexpected free time this morning.

Sew Late

Stayed up later than usual working on a few sewing projects since I get to sleep in  tomorrow. I have a sick day to take Danny to a doctor's appointment and to the dentist. Probably won't be a fun day for him but I'm really looking forward to an extra hour of sleep and reading in the waiting rooms!

Book Concierge

Of course, NPR's Book Conciege 2015 comes out less than an hour after I place a big book order.  Guess I'll just have to make a Christmas break reading list for myself...

Sleepy College Kids

Thank goodness for sleepy college kids who, in the middle of their finals week, came to my author talk last night.  Even though they weren't the most enthusiastic audience (they were only there for cultural enrichment credits) they made up 75% of the room.   I'm glad it was marginally successful but, it was stressful and I hope they don't ask me to plan another one!

Author

The author I booked for the public library's author talk series is coming tonight. I really hope it goes well and that its well attended. I'm waiting for her and her husband at a restaurant downtown right now and trying not to be nervous. 

Female Baby Jesus

Korra is playing with her Little People nativity. She keeps referring to baby Jesus with feminine pronouns. I'm not going to correct her. 

New Tree

Bought a $30 pre-lit tree from Big Lots today. (Still have NO idea where ours went). It's not a cute tree, but it serves it's purpose - a place to hang all our ornaments and put our presents. 

Nutcracker

Another small-town first: attended a production of The Nutcracker!  When asked which part was her favorite Korra responded, "Let me think... probably the dancing."  She also loved talking to the ballerinas (the ones in the picture are about 7 years old). 

Christmas Cards

Addressing Christmas cards is a great excuse to watch lots of consecutive episodes of Jessica Jones (with Nate) and Sesame Street (with Korra). 

Parade Theme

The theme of this year's parade: Star Spangled Christmas. Red, white, and blue Christmas lights, American flags topped Christmas trees. I think I could easily go another 13 years before seeing another small-town patriotic Christmas parade. 

Townie

For the first time in 13 years, we're going to the Christmas parade.  The only things that could make me more of a "Townie" is if we are actually IN the Christmas parade.  

Imperio

I got this new software in the library called Impero that allows me to monitor and control the computer in my lab.  I keep wanted to call it Imperio though, because when I use it I feel like I've put the Imperius Curse on the kids' computers.

Time For Action

I'm emailing my representatives and senators today.  Mass shootings cannot continue to be regular occurrences in our country.  310 mass shootings this year alone.  It's time to make a change to our gun laws.  If you would like to email or call your representatives too, go to www.opencongress.org.

7th Grade Research

The most popular research topic for the the 7th graders I saw today: conjoined twins. 

BuzzFeed

A student tried to use BuzzFeed as a source for her research paper.  She honestly couldn't understand why that wasn't ok.

Elsa and Anna

The college had their family Christmas celebration tonight. Korra had no interest in seeing Santa but she was pretty excited to see these characters!

I don't understand insurance

Apparently I don't understand our dental insurance at all. Add to that they discovered Danny needs another root canal and they were only able to take care of 1 cavity today and I'm wishing I could take a break from being an adult today. 

Carry On

Danny has another dental appointment today (5 cavities to fill) so I have a half sick-day. I bought the new Rainbow Rowell novel Carry On and I am savoring every page. She might be my second favorite author.