Stuff Portrait - end of the year.

This week Shaun wants the following:
1. Something that you won’t have in your home in 2007
2. Something random and odd
3. 07…..pick seven of something. Or with the number 7. Whatever. Be creative.


1. Here is something that won't be here in 2007. We started picking colors for our dining room Summer of 2005. We bought paint that September. While we've painted two other rooms in that time, we haven't finished this one. In my first home improvement in 2007 - I *will* paint this room!!



2. Something Random and Odd. My girls! OK, it's not a picture of my girls, but they assembled this contraption to sit in. Sometimes they put themselves inside the blue one with the white bin on top and call it an egg. Silly girls!!

Something with 7: The girls were playing school this AM. If you count carefully, there are 7 stuff animals playing students here!

So, I'm wrapping the rest of my presents to mail and starting my holiday cards! I will have them mailed - ok, probably by Tuesday!

Let me know if you played so I can visit.

End of the semester and Christmas

Yesterday grades were due. During the semester, I had assigned an extra credit assignment but for the life of me, I don't know if anyone did the assignment. I had decided that I would just not worry about it. Unfortunately, the guilt was tearing me up. After all, what if it did make a difference in someones grade.

So, yesterday I sent an email to the class asking anyone who did the assignment to email me. If anyone contacts me and can email me their assignment, I will submit a grade change.

It's a bit embarrassing (and I've already had two students email me). I just can't understand why it's disappeared.

I hate feeling guilty - then again, I think I'd hate it more if I was so callous as to not care.

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Christmas was really nice. DH has been working in his workshop for weeks and boy did his efforts pay off. I've posted the picture of the clock he made below, here are the pictures of the present he made for me an the girls:

This is the jewelry box he made for the girls:

Here is the photo storage box DH made for me:

Now he has no idea what to make for me next year - I suspect he'll figure something out. He did comment that he realized he has now made me a 2nd box that I have no place to store. I think when he makes the side tables for the office, I'll make sure they have bottom shelves to put the boxes.

Now he is back to working on Sydney's bed.

SPF - Christmas!

I've decided to try my hand at SPF. I've not been around much, work was kicking my arse. Now that the semester is over I'm committed to trying to blog more regularly.

This week Kristine wants the following:

1. One Decoration


Sydney made this at preschool. She was so proud when I put it on the tree. An angel that Sarah made at school several years ago has been put on the top of the tree.

2. One Gift


This is the gift Joe made for his parents. I would take pictures of the jewelry boxes that he made for the girls, but my present is in the workshop and I don't peek. Stop laughing, I really don't.

3. Something stuffed into a Stocking!


These were the candy canes my best friend (and Sarah's godmother) sent in stockings for the girls. I'd hate to see the cup of hot chocolate required!!

So, last night the Crayola color explosion I ordered off ebay on Sunday when I couldn't find one at the store arrived. Yesterday, while wandering in the art isle, I found where Walmart had moved them - to the bottom shelf. Like I can find anything there!! *shakes head*

Let me know if you played so I can visit.

Of Mom and teacher

I struggle alot with trying to get everything done sometimes. Because I work part time as staff, I can't do grading as part of my "job." This means that grading is done on my own time.

I try my best to keep up with grading, but sometimes I just go into avoidance and read a book. This weekend, I found myself dealing with sick kids. I've had kids underfoot since Friday. They didn't get sick until Sunday, but I spent Friday and Saturday dealing with the kids and not my grading.

I fear how this will affect my teaching evals. After all, the kids deserve their work back so they can understand what needs to be done for future assignments. This semester, I never got my rythm. When your semester starts as you arrive in class the first night with a fever of 103 and pneumonia, somehow it just never gets better.

Now I'm just feeling overwhelmed.

I can't tell my students this because I don't accept excuses from them.

So, I have to juggle staying at home with a sick kid, a report that needs to be finished for work, grading that needs to be done, Christmas that needs tending, and a house that is suffering from the end of the semester "I'm too busy."

So, I'm working at trying to be a good mom, a good teacher, a good employee - but not feeling as I'm succeeding at any of it.

Yesterday at church, I was asked if I'd consider serving on the vestry. One problem with belonging to a smaller church is that it's harder to disappear into the woodwork. In an effort to ensure that I am getting the support my kids need, it has become apparent that I have opinions and am not afraid to voice them. So, I've been noticed. But, I've also noticed that some people who have served have also left after their term was up. I fear deciding that I don't want to be invovlved once I watch the inner workings. Thankfully, I had the valid excuse that right now I am unable to keep up with all my current demands and I can't take on anything else for fear of everything suffering. They understood, but said they would continue to check back periodically.

This spring I really want to get the house finished. I want it cleaned and organized. I want my body improved. I should be able to get some gym time in with my reduced schedule. I also hope to snow shoe some this winter.

I just want to lose the feeling of my life being out of control that seems to exist. I love everything that I'm doing, I just need to develop more focus and organization.

From Sydney:

1edfiikeddbbbnjgbjhffdiytthhythgyurdfrwefgsvfsgfgfgttt5rrt
frtt7575sbw33egyute2ytw2f6yhyty325ertgdreyuhdsdwfsgyyqyahe
ytdgxhewhhkerhckiucevurfihjg456jfjflkuri3u3fi7ehsydsdyw1u9
e2j98e7ki5khffekuyewrfdasaxvfgtyefdj3dgfagkohgsacjcLBVQTYF
EUDFRYEHVJHJHVCNENEHJJDU9E6E6E4EEEEWWSTRFSDTFVX
VFXVXVTTYRY565FTR5VDBXDVBHGDERVHR4UY54EWDSAHKTY
TEDHFSRD2FGUIE8UY0R473RJ9JEHRGEGEDDEBH8BSWBGWTR
FFGUEFERGFGREGEGFEFEFEDCDTTI7TR3OYTTHU12345YF
GYB,GGUG

Sunday Six - Advent Season

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know so we can visit you. Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6) and Sydney (SK - age 3) the questions.

1. What is Advent?

SK: It's a building.

SB: You light candles.

2. What do you do for Advent?

SK: It's a little town.

SB: You light candles.

3. How many days do we celebrate Advent?

SK: For 5 more days.

SB: One.

4. What happens when Advent is over?

SK: I don't know.

SB: There's fireworks.

5. What else do we count down to?

SK: Free-teen - that means a little townie.

SB: Jesus' birthday - or Santa coming.

6. What are you looking forward to in the coming weeks?

SK: I don't know.

SB: School being out.


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SB: I have a question for you to answer mommy - "what is a little town?"

Mommy: A little town is where little mice live.

SB: YES. Now, "what is a little town with fingers in it with a building?"

Mommy: It's a place we pretend to walk with our fingers.

SB: YES.

Now Sydney has a box open like a laptop and she is asking me questions. Sarah and I had to have a talk about Advent since she was obviously stressing about now knowing the answers. She's not comfortable doing anything unless she already knows she can.

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So, now I have to:

Finish grading papers by Thursday
Finish Christmas letter
Print labels for Christmas cards
Get cards in mail
Finish Christmas shopping for lots of people
Get presents in the mail before I have to pay premium shipping costs to mail them
Get grades in
Get Christmas tree
Decorate tree
Clean house

My head is swimming.

Nature's Gift

This morning I looked out my living room window and saw the start of an amazing sunrise. Over about 10 minutes I took several pictures. This one is the best. I really loved the effect.



It's currently the end of the semester and I'm busy trying to finish all my grading. Thankfully, we finished our presentations early and so we don't need to have class on Tuesday (the students decided to stay a little late on Thurs so we can finish everything we need. I hate grading. In the past, I've allowed the students to re-write all of their papers. I've decided that I'm only going to allow the first 2 papers to be re-written. By the third paper they should have some idea of what is needed. The papers are much better, but most people lost a grade because they weren't long enough. It's really hard to adequately address the requirement of the paper when it's not the right length.

I think I'll miss teaching in the spring, but I'm also looking forward to getting some other stuff done. I'd like to start doing some independent research, but I think I'll take the spring off to finish projects around the house that have been left incomplete for the past 2 years while I adjusted to working and teaching. I really, really want our house to look finished. We have some rooms that need painting

We are going to go see Santa today. Everyone have a nice day.