Goodbye 2010

I have enjoyed reading veteran bloggers' year in review and best of blogs today.  What to say.  My favorite blog for me was of my Christmas ornaments.  When I ponder on the events of this last year, I am reminded of how quickly time flies by. I spent the first half of 2010 working on my National Board entries and the last half of the year trying to recover. Of course, now I will do the process again in 2011. Hopefully with better results. Calendar years are also hard for me to relate to since I am a teacher. During 2010 I had great success as a third grade teacher--my students scored well and both Cornerstone teams earned money!! As a fifth grade teacher during the last half of 2010, I have not felt that degree of success. I struggle everyday and miss the feelings of confidence and competence I felt as a third grade teacher.

The silver lining of the move to fifth grade is my determination to feel that confidence and competence for my personal life since it is lacking in my professional life. Having this blog is one step towards my personal improvement-   I hope!!!

You know, writing down goals is a VEEEEERRRRRYYYY scary thing to do.  Big breaths--oooops breathe out too!
Some of my goals
1. Live in the moment!!
2. Do--not just watch.
3. Enjoy more--let go and let God!

Are those too vague??
Personal--lose one clothing size, make exercise a habit, continue posting at least 3 times per week
Professional-pass National Board, earn Cornerstone, have 75% of students pass tests

Friday is also family chat day and of course I could talk about them forever but I won't to save them embarrassment.  I depend so much on my children it is scary. When they were little, being responsible for them was like a weight on my shoulders. Now they feel like my protection around my shoulders. I am thankful everyday for all of them as well as my husband.

Here's to fond memories of the past and hope for the future. God bless us all.
Smiles to all-Kathy

What a weigh(t) to end the Year!

So this is accountability!!  Ughhhh! It's not that I'm surprised I gained 2 pounds...I just regret gaining 2 pounds. I did not make as many Christmas goodies as in the past but being better still does not equal being healthy.
The dressing was good but watching Amber butter the pans was the best part.

Austin was in charge of potatoes.

Elliot was on trash detail.



The other kids helped me to gain weight too--Andrea brought deviled eggs and cake pops and rice krispy treats. Erin tried to keep me on track. She brought salad and apples with a fruit dip but the cinnamon cake was my undoing during these last few days.

So I am going to try to be much better for New Year's celebration and since the tree is down I can start exercising again. So no more excuses. Even had egg whites for breakfast and have tracked my food today.

Learn from my mistakes!

Smiles for all-Kathy

Tree, Not Teaching

It's still vacation so today I took down the tree. It is always interesting to make everything fit back into its box. I don't think the tree wanted to go live in the attic. Its branches would not scrunge up to fit in the box and ornaments kept hiding on the branches.

In the end it all fit, except for the box of ornaments I left on the kitchen table, and all the santa cans I had spread around and outside the house. Of course the snowmen are all smiling since they are still hanging around.

They won't get boxed up until just before the super bowl. I took no pictures while taking down the tree since I was working alone. I got Andrea to come over but only in a supervisory position(on the couch)! Austin helped by hoisting boxes in and out and in to the attic.

Later Andrea and I went shopping but 50% off just didn't seem like enough so I'll try again Saturday.

I feel guilty that I did not use my Tuesday for teaching but it is vacation. As usual my vacation is laden with denial. Do I really need to do school work this week? What writing test? What national board test? Lesson plans?

Putting the tree away makes Christmas seem so far away...so let's look at some pictures of long ago--like Saturday.

They may be grown but they still open stockings before breakfast.

Hey at least he got up!

She only looks awake!

Does it seem like he is scared to put his hand into the stocking?

I can't believe another year is almost over. We have been so blessed this year.
Smiles to all-Kathy

Just ME

So if it's Monday I am supposed to chat about Me. Hmmmm-that seems like a guarantee for boredom but my goal was to become more purposeful with my life.

Today I have been drinking loads of water since I have to weigh tomorrow at WW and I'm pretty sure I have gained this week. I've been cleaning house and taking breaks to stare at my Christmas tree. It's coming down tomorrow and that always makes me sad. I wonder what it would be like to leave it up for a year.
I have also started rereading The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Godge. No, you are probably not familiar with this book from the 50's but I love it.It's about a career minded woman in London after the first war who inherits a house from a great aunt in a small town. Her journey is good but the subplot of her great aunt's life is powerful to me. I also love many other stories written by this author. I have been listening to David Crowder band (Christmas gift from Amber). I watched Anatomy of a Murder this morning. Was interesting since Andrea played the part of the judge in our town's production. I am also jealously watching news stories about the blizzard in the northeastern part of US. We had lots of snow last year and my prediction is none for us this year. Make a snowman for me!

Merry Christmas

As posted in our local paper in a sell ad:
Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole...
Jesus is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water

Santa comes but once a year...
JESUS is an ever present help.


Santa fills your stockings with goodies...
Jesus supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chinmey uninvited...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His Name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is,
"Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, he knows our address too. He knows our history and future and he even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO...
JUesus offers health, help and hope.

Santa says,"You better not cry"...
JESUS says,"Cast all of your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's litte helpers make toys...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.


While Santa puts gifts under the tree...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

It's obvious there is really NO comparisons.  We
need to remember WHO put Christ back into CHRISTmas,
JESUS is still the reason for the season!

Yes, Jesus is better, He is even better than Santa Claus.


*Copyright 2007 JJJasper

Christmas Eve--the lull before the storm

Well it may be the lull but it is pouring down rain right now.  We definitely needed it but you know snow would have been nice. I laughed this morning when I was on reader and everyone else is taking a break for the holidays and I'm like -let the kids wait while I play on my new "toy" and blog.  That seems so true of my life. I'm always dragging behind everyone else. I'm sure all my friends will agree. Example --I just got on facebook two days ago.

I really wanted to take advantage of this space to showcase some of my Christmas memories through my ornaments. Looking and remembering is one of my favorite pasttimes. My mom taught me well(Love ya Mom).

Our tree!!

The elf is as old as me(I think) It is from my Grandma Grace's tree. When I was little I played with them, now afraid to unfold his legs. He is stiff like me! The Snowman is from Cracker Barrel and we got it one year when we were in the city for Austin's heart doctor appointment.

My angel. My mom has some more of them but this one is THE most cherished ornament I have. She is so sweet. I can not remember a tree she has not been on.

Hand painted by my mom. She is so talented--I wish I was more like her. The striped gold and solid gold ornaments are from Steve's and mine first tree.

Oh, look the snowmen wanted their own space.  My favorite thing about snowmen is that they are not Christmas specific. So ...I can leave them up longer!!
Time to go enjoy the lull.

A New Start

Yippee!! I took the big leap and now have my own blog. I wonder if anyone will ever read this! I can't wait to get started tomorrow!! More in the morning!