Catch Up

I meant to write a Thanksgiving post, but never got around to it. I've been pretty busy with school since then - that's about the time I ran out of definite "lesson plans" and started flying by the seat of my pants - ala a first year teacher (a skill developed in the first year of teaching that still comes in handy from time to time). I've been literally planning my lessons one day ahead of time, and sometimes not even that far ahead. One thing that makes that type of thing much easier than it was that first year is the fact that I have accumulated a lot of resources over the past five years. It's not that I don't know what I want/need to teach, it's more that I haven't decided how I will teach it. It's a nice problem to be honest :)

As usual I'm up agains finals and still have material to cover. BUT thanks to the efforst of myself and my fabulous colleagues, we collectively put together a year long schedule, which has actually allowed me to accomplish more of the things I need to do this semester than I have ever before! Yay for collaboration!

Our school got some cool news this week. US News named our school in the top 7% of schools in the nation. Our school, and our sister high school were the only two schools in our county on the list. On Friday administration rewarded the staff and kids with an extended lunch schedule - and bought pizza for the staff. It was nice - and I have to admit that being on that list gives me a sense of reward for all my hard work. Our school is sort of a hidden gem. Often when people find out where I work they sort of wrinkle their nose, and wish me luck - I used to think the same way. It's a bad rap . In reality the school is really great. Our staff is always going above and beyond for our kids, and we work hard to be better teachers every year. Most of our kids work their butts off for us. I really am amazed at the amount of homework they have - and still they manage to be involved in extracurricular activities.

On the personal front, we still haven't moved to the new house. ::::Big Sigh:::: We were supposed to move over Thanksgiving weekend, but the painters had to push us back a few days, which meant they were in the middle of painting that weekend. We want to have grass in the backyard before we move the dogs in, so they won't track mud in the house all winter long, and that can't go in until the patio is built. We had to get a permit for the patio - that took 2 weeks! Now the patio is almost done, and winter has set in. I guess we'll still roll sod in the backyard and hope for the best. I'm guessing we won't move until after Christmas, but the hope is still there that we'll be in for Christmas.

The thing that bothers me most is the fact that we haven't decorated at all for Christmas. Our house is usually nicely decorated. I have a nice village for the mantel and various other things that I put out around the house. It's really the one time of the year when I think my house looks really nice. The Big Guy developed a cool way of putting the lights on the outside of the house, but those aren't up this year either. Our house is one of the few in our neighborhood that doesn't have lights this year.

I did by a pink flocked pre lit tree at Michaels for JB's room. I think I'll bring it home and put it up. I don't really have shatterproof ornaments (nor do I want to get out a bunch of ornaments only to have to move them) but it's pre lit so at least it'll glow prettily. It was a crazy buy - the pink tree, but I thought it would be fun for JB to have her own tree.

I have not yet begun to shop - well I did buy 2 gifts for JB, and for my two teacher pals, but family so far has nothing. I guess I'll beg Grammy to watch JB during the first week of break for a day or two so I can get out and shop. I hate shopping. I even hate shopping online.

I am hoping to do some baking for Christmas. I'm dying to try making some cake balls like PW and Bakerella, and one of my student's mothers gave me a recipe for cookies that taste just like girl scout thin mints.....so there's fun ahead!