Knowledge

Kayla is working on completing her personal progress for Young Women at church. She works on various projects throughout the year, usually at the arm twisting of her mother. I made her find her book tonight and we noticed that if she completed her 10 hour project in knowledge that she could get another ribbon for her bookmark.

She decided upon learning to take care of clothing. She has to learn how to wash, fold, iron and repair clothing. She can also learn how to make alterations to clothing. She started tonight with learning how to sew on a button. She lost a button off her coat last week and wanted me to show her how to sew it on anyhow so this worked out well. Too bad grandma Robin weren't a bit closer for this project, she'd come in handy.

While sitting at the table her kitten Athena wanted to check out this new project too. I wonder if it was the flash of the needle in the lamp light or the dangling string the peeked his curisoity.

Speaking of knowledge...we thought when we got the two bundles of joy this autumn that we had twin sisters. Dakota made the discovery a couple of weeks ago that our greek godess Athena is a greek god. We've tried to rename the poor fellow, but Zeus, Apollo, Posiden, just won't stick. So he will forever be our family joke of Athena the boy godess.....

Welcome 2011

It's always fun starting over. Techically, it's just a continuation of life, but the newness of it brings hope to life. I think it is neat the date 1/1/11. It will be fun for all the babies born today.
My birthday is a fun date too 7/5/75.

I've decided to journal some of my goals, because when I write them down I tend to make them happen.
1. Pray more often personally, not just at meals
2. Learn how to do something new
3. See a moose in the wild (maybe when we go to Maine?)
4. Go to Maine on Vacation (hopefully with our friends Casey and Christina)
5. Survive my school year, hopefully cheerfully (I've got a tought group this year)
6. Maybe look for an Administration position (not sure if I'm ready yet)
7. Learn to play the piano better
8. Scrapbook with my daughter
9. Read a book on my list (or two, three or four....)
10. lose 20 pounds (or more, but you have to start somewhere)
11. Excersise with my husband before work 3 days a week
12. Take more walks
13. Enjoy quiet moments with the teens
14. Get to MN for Christmas
15. Get to know my dad again

Okay, my list is getting pretty big. I am a dreamer at times. I have a lot of hats to think about and when I make goals for all of them it can get pretty lofty. I am pretty excited about getting started. I shall see how the year goes.

Another One Bites the Dust

Now that the packages, boxes, and bags have been unwrapped, unpacked, and emptied we are settling down for our long winter's nap. Ha! We had a whirlwind of a day, but that makes them more interesting I suppose. I woke up early with Kyle today and went to work with him...sort of. I dropped him off at his work, then headed over to mine to put in a few hours getting ready for the work week next week. I got a ton done. I worked 5 hours uninterrupted (minus a few phone calls from my hubby, and one to make a dinner date for tomorrow.) I got my entire classroom rearranged moving the trouble makers to the far corners so that they won't be as tempted to act out. I have my lessons planned for the first week back, and my lessons altered for those who need extra help and for those who need a more challenging road. Whew!Then I got to have a bite to eat with my hubby before we went home to tackle the undecorating of the tree, despite my friends theory that taking the tree down before New Year's Day is bad luck. I have never heard that theory before. You know we break the pork roast and sauerkraut on New Year's Day for good luck too! We both hate sauerkraut, except Kyle likes it on a Reuben sandwich.

So out with the Santas, tree, garland, ornaments and poinsettias and in with the snowmen. I have a small collection, but each little piece makes me happy when I put them out.

We ended the evening watching Kayla cheer at the basketball game. We watched the JV lose again. And the varsity win 69-40 against the Northwestern Huskies. Kayla is getting better at her side-line dances. She did all but 2 tonight. Much better! I'll have to remember my camera to get another video. She got her pictures tonight.

I have had fun posting my journal and meeting new blogging friends. I hope to meet many more in the year to come. Thanks for introducing me my friend chatty Kathy!

Merry Christmas Weekend

We started our Merry Making Christmas Eve by having Kyle's sister Kim and her family over. We ate well on the raclette machine and then we played games.

This was the yummy feast. You know there is something rewarding about grilling your own food, melting cheese and feasting on great food. We got to share a lot of good conversation too.

The cousins got to dance on the Wii. It was fun watching them bust a move. Little Kole-Kole was quite funny trying to keep up with the big boys.

I don't remember the last time Kyle and I played Euchre, but it's been a long time. We lost two games in a row. But it was fun playing.

You know the teens still wake up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning. They were up and ready to go at 6:20 ish Saturday morning. You know they are never up before their alarm on school days....

They were both excited to open their presents and then try them out. Kayla is becoming a digital camera pro. I even stole a couple of her shots for the post today. We spent lunch with Mom and Tom and had some more raclette. I made a very rich chocolate cheesecake. I usually tackle a more delicate dessert for Christmas. It's kind of fun for me to bake so I try new recipes every year for Christmas day. I think this was just a bit to chocolatey. (never thought I'd say that)

We spent the afternoon playing the new Wii. It was a lot of fun. We laughed a lot.

My brother Mike enjoying Christmas dinner at my Dad and Kathy's house.

My sister Amy and her husband Carlo. Mike's wife Hannah and the granddaughters Maddie, Malea and Riley. We got to eat ham and my grandma's famous (in our family) potato salad. We always have pickles and olives which for some reason is craved by me only at Dad's house. Isn't it interesting how sometimes a setting makes certain foods more appealing than others.

Carter was unwrapping presents while we were eating dinner. He couldn't wait any longer. He unwrapped the present he had picked out for dad. That's the great thing about grandparents, they don't mind whether they get to unwrap their presents or if their grandsons do it.

Dad and Cathy passing out gifts to everyone. Christmas day was very relaxing and fun for us. I really enjoyed every thing we did this weekend. I really felt like I can come around my dad more often. I think it's time to let bygones be bygones and move forward forgetting the heartaches of the past. I think it will be best for both of us. I can tell he misses my family. I really feel like my days will be merry and bright for awhile. Maybe it's just the perspective. Who knows, but I like it.

Stockings were Hung by the Chimney with Care

Most years there is so much hustle and bustle that Christmas sometimes is a nuisance. It requires more time and energy than I want to give. I decided that I was going to have a happy Christmas this year. I've had a few snags, but all in all, I am enjoying time with family and friends. Today, Kyle is home and were are preparing to have Christmas with his sister and family. Out of all his brothers and sisters; they are the only ones in Ohio. I'm excited to have the nephews and niece here to have some little pitter patter of feet and the excitment of santa in our home. I have the buffet all prepared with goodies. The best part about this is I didn't make hardly any of it. I was focused on getting cookies ready for people in our church I gave most of what I had made away and was planning on baking yesterday. I got so many gifts from my students and people of the branch that I didn't have to bake at all yesterday. I just dipped a few pretezel rods because I had bought all the stuff to do so.

The next thing I am excited about is a new tradition that we are starting with our family. We are going to use the raclete machine to make a great meal that everyone does their own, while we sit around the table and chat and share what's going on in life. That's the best part of being in a world-wide church you meet people that have been around the world and bring traditions to you that you never knew exisisted. The raclete machine is a European tradition (Swiss?) where you grill meats and veggies then pour melted cheese over what you just grilled. Thank you McDonald's for sharing this tradition with us last Christmas.

I made fresh bread and we have our potatoes baked, and will heat up broccoli, cauliflower and carrots for later. You put your cheese under the grill and it melts while the other food is grilling. We have chicken, shrimp, steak and ham to grill. Yummo! Of course we have the Crawford family tradition of pizza on Christmas eve too. We can't forget the egg nog (not my favorite, but the family likes it).

This has been an exciting Christmas for me. I've actually taken time to enjoy people and decorating and get into the real meaning of Christmas. I've let Christ's spirit touch my heart. I needed the spiritual boost! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas Surprise

I have been wanting to sing the Hallelujah Chorus for several years now. When I was in choir in High School it was tradition to end the Christmas concert with that song. It is a difficult piece and is not something that we would be able to pull off with our little and most of the time non -exisitant choir at church. I haven't had time to dedicate to the community choir at AU, so I've just been wishing the opportunity would present itself. Well, at Kayla's Christmas concert last night the choir director said, it's Hillsdale's tradition to invite anyone who has sang the Hallelujah Chorus in the past to come up and sing it with the choir. I was so excited! I got to do it, and it sounds like I'll get three more years of it! We weren't as majestic as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but it sure was fun!

It's funny how little things can make you happy. It didn't cost anyone anything to get me that little Christmas gift, but so far it's my favorite one, ...... next to my new kitchen-aid, of course!

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I thought I'd share some of the things that I heard from my students this week.

student: Mrs. Crawford I really got my homework done, I just left it at home. Can I get another copy in case I lost it?

me: Did you forget or did you lose it?

student: both

My favorite for the week:

Student: I couldn't do my book report because my dog "pooped" on it.

me: I would like for you to bring in the book in a ziploc bag so that I know that really happend.

student: okay, but it had diahhera all over it!

me: okay, I'll let you borrow another book to finish up, but I want you to bring me the book tomorrow.

(He brought the book the next day. It really was "pooped" on).

Public education is a hoot!