Favorite time of year

Well, it's my favorite time of year. God won't strike me down for lying, will he? Today I started giving Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. I have twenty kids to read to - spread out across their available day, that means 60 sessions or two complete weeks with testing 6 times a day. Such fun! I have one session completed and will begin another after the classes have music, pe, art, etc.

I guess the weather is pretty nasty if you had a commute of any kind today. The teachers who come in from Pella, Ottumwa, etc, needed more time than they thought so very briefly this morning I was a general education fourth grade teacher. She wasn't very late, but said it was extremely hard to see the road markings. Looks like I will get to work on my birthday this year which has happened only once before in all the years I have taught. Our Sunshine committe has a "birthday mug" that travels from teacher to teacher on their special day. The birthday person then fills it for the next person in line. Those of us with summer birthdays get a bonus birthday assigned to us so we can celebrate, too. Looks like I'll get the mug twice! Just a s long as I don't have to be two years older!

Stay safe

Wow! School at last!

What a strange week. Monday it was work as usual. Tuesday I had an all day meeting with the curriculum director at central office, so not in the classroom at all. Wednesday and Thursday, no school because of ice. Today - late start so nothing is in its regular spot in the schedule!

We did indeed have ice - a half inch or so. We haven't lost power - yet. Since the ice is still on all the trees, it may still bring down power lines. Many buses were stopped today because either a tree blocked the road or downed power lines did. Some teachers didn't have power over night. Dan went to Walmart yesterday - they had lost power and were just reopening - but were in the process of throwing out all the meat and dairy.

I put on my new yaktracks this morning for the school parking lot, but someone did a great job of sanding and I didn't need them.

Hope everyone is staying warm and safe!

Sunday at the house

I'm getting together my guest list for a Lia Sophia jewelry party. Any of you are welcome! I attended Lynne's and "won" my own party. I am looking forward to it, many of the people I work with have never been inside here. Nothing much else going on, and I like it that way!

Happy New Year

Well, back to work tomorrow. I will have a student teacher for the first 6 weeks of 2010. There is so much for her to learn in so little a time!
Notice I have followed my daughter's lead and will endeavor to post what I'm reading this year. Both of the books currently on the list I started before the new year, but I did finish them in 2010!
Chelsey gifted me with a crochet calendar and requested some things for Baby J - I have worked an elephant, still needs eyes and a frog, still needs eyes and a baby bib. The calendar has a wide variety of patterns, some of which are in my capability range. My crochet talents usually lie in flat items, so making 3D objects is a challenge! I made a hat but used really loud colors, so took it apart again.
I was able to make several knitted/loomed hats during my vacation and will donate them to the school nurses' office, hopefully they will find a home. I finally got one the right size/texture for me to wear when we have outside duty - it gets cold out there! Hopefully I will have a bright red set and a mauve set, both of which should go with my black coat.
I hope everyone is staying warm!

Merry Christmas

I didn't send holiday cards this year, but I sure enjoyed getting them from family and friends. Thanks, everyone! School is done for 2009 and I am officially on vacation. I am hoping that I get to spend some of it with family, weather permitting. I will have Mae and Tom here for Christmas day dinner, again, weather permitting and I haven't cooked the traditional meal myself in a long time. It's fun to plan! Saturday is for the kids and Chelsey is hosting. Sunday, hopefully, off to see my sisters and Mom.
This year has brought us some challenges but way more rewards. Seems as if when we are almost ahead financially, something breaks down, but we have managed. Our jobs are stable and we get to help others live better lives every day we go to work. Sometimes we even get appreciated! I was tickled this week when I got a gift from one of the kids in one of my reading classes and he wasn't a special needs kid. That has not happened to me in all the years I've taught.
We wish for and pray that each reader get just what they've always wanted this Christmas and in the coming New Year.
Some thoughts I received in a card this year:
Don't compare your life to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about.
Everything can change in a blink of an eye, but don't worry - God never blinks.
Get rid of everything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
If we threw all our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
Get outside everyday. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

More Birthday fun

This time it was Dallas' birthday - I will post some pictures, but I took a ton since Dan found the new camera. Also thanks to the patron saint of lost items (there really is one, and my Catholic friends all were praying for him to show me where the camera was). Also you may be interested to know we have a second vehicle again and Dan doesn't have to drive Miss Shirlee around anymore. This grandma is driving a 5 speed Passat!
As far as the pictures go, can't you just hear the motor sounds? Brummm Brumm!

Where's...

I've been waiting to blog for the new camera I ordered to arrive. I was going to take a few pictures and post them. Well..... the camera came and it is easy to use and takes great pictures. I thought I put it in my bag to bring to school to load the pictures and blog them, but yesterday I didn't have the camera. I can't find it anywhere. Brand new! Where the heck is it? Lefty and Pudge didn't take it! I HATE when this happens!
Tonight a haircut, then Dan's company Christmas party.