5 HOURS DOWN!

I just submitted my last test for Defensive Driving online.  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO.

What a beating!

2 POINTS!

Tanner had a great basketball game today.  Jason even said it was the "game of his life." He scored TWO baskets, and rumor has it, he had 12 rebounds.  I think he might be understanding the whole point of that basket and "other team."  Great job Tanner!

Grandpa

My grandpa left today. He'd been here for the past two weeks, and it was awesome. Just awesome.


As a kid, I treasured trips to Ohio to visit my grandparents, or their trips to see us-wherever that might have been. I would sit for hours in my Grandma's living room looking at her tiny knick knacks, and listening to her talk about dishes, home shopping, Ireland, and when "Danny was a boy." Simultaneously, I would giggle uncontrollably or cry hysterically as my Grandpa drew pictures of me, Mom, or Grandma with ridiculously big ears, or (gasp) a big belly. He'd label the pictures "Monkey Mommie" or "Me," tricking me into saying that the picture was indeed me instead of him. He'd slip king size candy bars into my pockets when we went to the grocery store, and made me promise not to tell my mom. He'd go on and on about his beautiful hair (never mind that he was bald), and go for long walks with his dog-or any dog. They were all "pretty puppies." And, at bedtime, he'd con kiss after kiss from me by refusing to receive those "poison kisses." I thought it was the most hilarious thing I'd ever seen. I thought he was the most hilarious person in the world.

And, I still think he's pretty funny.

He wasn't here ten minutes before he started drawing pictures of my kids with wacky ears or big tummies. They were beside themselves in hysterics and tears trying to make sense of all the doodling. He renamed them "Charlie, Ringtail, and Joe," which again sent them laughing uncontrollably. He went to basketball practice with us, and played golf with my dad-even spending a day with my 6-year-old giving a lesson or two. Everyday, he'd talk about how dad cheated with his golf GPS, and how it was impossible to win against such odds. I talked my dad into picking up the kids from school so Grandpa could spend a few more minutes each day with them. He just loves those kiddies. They're "his buddies."

And, they love him too. They fell in love with him these past two weeks, and every night after pie, they too would give him poison kisses. They soaked up his love, his joy, his sillyness, and his spirit. They treasured his visit, and I treasured the memory. Last night, as we were saying our goodbyes, I sensed a few tears around the room. I vividly remember that feeling, not wanting to say goodbye, not wanting to leave my Grandpa and Grandma. But, I'm so thankful for these past two weeks, for the pictures in my mind, and the doodlepads in my scrapbook. I'm a pretty lucky girl having such a great Grandpa, and my kiddies are pretty lucky, too.

And, don't worry Grandpa, I'm taking care of the little ones. They're polishing their own doodling skills for your next visit.

the meanest teacher in the history of ever.

Today I received one of "those" parent emails, telling me what a mean teacher I am.  Ugh.  I hate those emails, those parent conferences, and those phone calls.  No matter how many I get under my belt, they always feel like a sucker punch to the gut.  This particular email picked apart a few of my personality traits, teaching styles, and teaching schedule and just felt like one beat down after another.  So, I spent the rest of the afternoon second guessing myself....wondering how my attitude, teaching philosphy and sweetly sarcastic tone affects my little darlings.  I don't want to send them into lifelong therapy, I really don't...so I have to know.

Am I really that mean?

Bouncing my thoughts off a few people, they tell me that I am not, but, as my friends I guess they are supposed to respond that way.  What if I really am that mean of a teacher? What if my students really are needing to save for therapy starting now?  That would be horrible.  I would hope that they "get" my sarcastic tone, and understand my strict nature as a labor of love, but maybe they don't...maybe I'm just missing the boat on this one?

Tell me about the meanest teacher you ever had...in the history of ever.  Do I sound like her?

The Ripstick

Mom bought Madison and Tanner ripsticks for Christmas, and we had yet to figure them out-until this weekend.  They are crazy hard skateboards that I'm not sure I would ever master.  But, Madison hopped up on that thing and had it down like a pro before long.  We decided her short height gave her the center of gravity advantage.  She looked like a skater dudette.  Tanner struggled a little more than she did.  First getting frustrated because she was so successful, and then there was a moderate crash on the asphalt that set him back.  Finally, he took the baby steps needed to get his balance and maintain it down the driveway. Mom helped with a genius bit of barstool placement (you can see them in the background of the pics). He was so proud.   Grady had a razor to scoot around on during all this crazy ripsticking, but the important "ready, set, GO" job was way more important.

Yay ripsticking!

Grady must take after Todd with the things he says...

On the way to church, quiet car...

"Give me a BREAK here!"

This morning during a family diet coke break....

"Aunt Patti is a HUMAN."


Good to know...very good to know.  Now go take that break little man.

Toy Day

Friday is Toy Day in P.E. at school, and we've begun the battle of just saying "no" to taking any kind of electronic item, i.e. the Nintendo DS or IPOD.  It just doesn't seem like a good idea in our book. 

Todd's response to Toy Day:

"Toy Day?  in P.E.?  Shouldn't they have running your ass off day instead?"

Let's just say we aren't fans of the day.

2009 in Pictures

Holiday Wine Tasting

We did a little tasting over the holidays, but I'm just now getting around to making a post about them.  It's been on my to do list though, because I think we found a little goldmine at our local IGA.  :)

This was the first set of tastes, all Cabernet, and all under $10.  We threw the Wal-Mart Oak Leaf in there just to see how it held up.  They are pictured in order of best to worst.  Electric Reindeer from World Market was a favorite, with the two in the middle being VERY CLOSE.  That 337 was so dry I didn't have spit for a week after I tasted it.

Just showing you that we were official about this whole tasting, too.  No peeking.

The second set of tastes were blends, (cabernet, pinot, etc.).  These were also under $10.  They are pictured in the order they were ranked, and the Sebeka was the best by a ton.  It was the one I bought from the local IGA, and I think it was $7ish.  It had a little info attached to the shelf saying how it had won some award, so fell for it.  I'm so glad I did, too!  I quickly went back and bought a few bottles just to have on hand.

We are all undecorated now, and getting in the mood to hit school and work on Monday.  It really was a nice break from the daily grind.  As the years pass by, and the days seem to get more hectic, I'm really beginning to cherish this holiday for just that reason.  Somehow, we manage to unhectic ourselves a little and retreat.  I like that, and with a little wine tasting thrown in.  That's the stuff of life right there.