We Wish You a Merry Christmas...

...and a Happy New Year!

Break has been great! "Refreshing" is the word for it. I still have several days too!

I was not mentally prepared for Christmas. I had worked up to the 23rd, so opening presents the morning of the 24th was weird. My favorite gift is the trainer Mom bought for my bike. I've wanted one for a long time! I'm really excited about riding indoors this winter! (Considering the alternative, riding outside.)

The highlight of opening gifts was watching Rhylee try to eat the bows and paper. He's getting another tooth, and he will chew on anything. Mallory was also very entertaining as she continued her tradition of wrapping things she finds around the house. Dad opened a boxed set of WWII videos that he was given for Christmas about five years ago. I also had several items she had wrapped for me. You never know what you're going to get, again!

Christmas eve was spent in West Bend with Mom's family. Mom, Alissa, and I went to the Christmas Eve Mass with Grandpa. Our church's service was too close to family dinner. The drive home from West Bend is always memorable, but this year's especially so. We drove home in a car without heat. Brrr.. Dad had driven the car there because my car was in the way of his. (He could have called, the keys were in the house!)

Christmas morning we woke up to check out what Santa had left. Mario DDR for the gamecube! Santa and I found a really good price for it on ebay. He also left me a jar of my favorite peanut butter. What a sense of humor he has!

We went to my dad's brother's for Christmas dinner. I haven't seen this group of cousins for a few years. It was good to catch up.

The day after Christmas I bought a new phone. It was definitely time! I could make one call on the old one and the low battery warning would start beeping. The new one isn't too fancy, but I'm having fun with the new features.

Life since then has been great. It's nice to sleep in and do whatever I like. I brought things home from school to work on, but I probably won't touch them until the 3rd or so. I also have a few things to work on for my grad school applications. I'm still dragging my feet. Change is exciting, but overwhelming!

I wish you all the best in the New Year! I'm resolving to post every so often. We all know I'll have time on my many snow days! haha

Carry Each Other's Burdens

Yep, I went there. Now it's stuck in you head to. Ahahaha! My master plan.

It's SO incredibly true today! I've been getting advice from parents (some unwanted... grr...) and other staff about how I should deal with the disruptions that occur in my class. Does anyone have a revolver I can borrow? How about a candlestick in the conservatory?

To sum it up. I'm not being mean enough. Surprise, surprise. Though the principal heard me yell today and he said, "You sounded great!" Wahoo! I've done everything. Raised my voice, lowered my voice, called parents, pulled students aside, called students out in front of their peers, assign detentions, assign Saturday school, and yes, I slammed a door once. On the other hand, one of the parents gave me this advice, "Lighten up and give them a little rope or you won't have anyone in your group." Disrespect, and the apple didn't fall far from the tree. I stress the "one parent" as there are many others that I have talked to with better results.

Anyhow. I've had some help, and it is making it bearable. They know when to leave it to me and when to offer ideas. Mostly that is it, offering ideas, listening to me vent, and being supportive of what I'm doing.

Let's see, Thursday (possible early out), Friday (maybe no school???), Monday, and Tuesday (half day). It won't come soon enough! (an ICE STORM is COMING!)

Another thought on the ice storm... if the concert gets moved from tomorrow night to after the break I will SCREAM!!!! The AD scheduled a basketball game on our last possible snow date before break. I'm NOT HAPPY!

Life is still good. :)

Little John

Little John the Llama passed away last week. Our family really misses him. He had a jaw problem that was getting increasingly worse. Mom says he must have had a weak heart.

We still have Javier. We also have two horses that were added to the family a few weeks ago. I asked Mom if we were going to get another llama, but she said he would find company in the horses.

Goodbye Little John. You were the best llama!