Why is January so long?

Is it because no matter how nice the break, you never want to go back? Is it because December's paycheck came on the 21st instead of the 31st? Is it because it's too cold in the morning to get out of bed, no matter how warm the shower will be? Whatever the reason, January is officially TOO LONG!

So, let's have some Pink - 'cause the girl can sing. And you MUST love Glee...they start back in 2 weeks. Speaking of starting, the new American Idol starts next week - we'll see whether that's still watch-able. Yes, I kept Josh Groban's "Jesu" because you just can't go wrong with Josh...and I love that song.

And you just can't go wrong with a happy puppy pack picture...

Have a happy 2nd half of January!

I waited too long...

We were so busy having fun that I completely forgot to update the blog.... Now I'm going to have to edit pretty stringently! I'll never get the pictures all added on. It was raining for 6 days...

We made cookies and gingerbread houses...





We went to see Santa once the rain stopped. Megan got to make it snow in the mall...







We had a great Christmas morning! For dinner we had pork, spaetzle, and sauerkraut...yum!






Then we watched the weather and decided to get the girls back a day early... good decision since we got 6-7 inches of snow the day they had been planning to go. The puppies LOVED the snow.




We forgot to dig out Henrietta before the storm, so we had to do some maintenance...

MB got on the road home on the 31st - and we actually made midnight!
Remember what I said about the pictures? Well, I've been trying to upload for 2 hours now... no pictures. I'll post and keep trying.

Modern week before Christmas...

The office is clean...

The snowman is up...

The stockings are hung by the chimney (pipe)...

Santa (who rocks) and the Grinch are hanging out...

The movies are prepped...

The corner has a tree...

Decorated even!

And the train runs around the bottom...

Ah, happy moments!

New Music...

I love holiday music - blame Mom & Dad. They always had this amazing mix running through the house this time of year. I can't find some of my favorites, like Barbra Streisand's version of Jingle Bells, but here are some oldies and new ones - I've decided to go upbeat this year, but you can't go wrong with Josh Groban and Johnny Mathis. Enjoy!

Happy...December!

Yes, it's that most festive time of year...the numerous birthdays, 25 lbs lost, and then Christamas. Oops! did I write that? I think I heard a little kid say that once when they were trying to enunciate clearly, and it stuck. So, celebrations abound (except around here...we're on the dl). I'm thinking that with a couple of tests today it will be a low-key night at the White house. He's got quite a few more before the 17th when this semester will finally be over.
Did I say "25 lbs lost"? Why, yes, I did. I really never thought I'd have it in me to be so...disciplined??? But, it is fun to watch the numbers drop and to have to cinch up the belt another notch. I'm thinking that by birthday time for me, I may invest in a new pair of pants.
Also, another moment no one ever thought would come...after 13 years, 3 districts, 5 schools, I have hit the ultimate point in my career. A group of 7th grade boys have come back to say that I am cool. I know, I don't know how it will ever get better. I despaired (literally) over getting through to these guys last year, but they have been hanging around the last couple of weeks and today they decided that they are going to come see me when they graduate high school (I'm not holding my breath). I have to say that when they left, I did a little jig. Of course, I'm not entirely sure if it's me or if it's the red goop that Uncle Jim bought one year as a stocking stuffer at the Mesa flea market. I'm soooo not kidding. I have had SERIOUS offers on that thing - it FASCINATES kids! I think it's just corn syrup, red food coloring, and some cheap plastic in a cylindrical "hour glass" configuration, but there are kids who don't take their eyes off of it. I have used "the goop" as a reward, motivator, and even hidden it when they can't focus. It's amazing. If you have kids, I highly recommend it.
Of course, does anyone else remember Grandma & Grandpa V's blue and white sand thingy? I could stare at that for hours, come to think about it...

Winter wonderland...

As I sit here typing, my house is clean (relatively), there is a good fire going, the Christmas lights are up (and on), and there is about 3 inches of snow on the ground. We woke up this morning to about 1 1/2 inches, and MB and Mary were in a hurry to get home. We drove them down as far as Hurricane, then they hit traffic outside of Las Vegas - all the way home. Andy and I got a lot of school stuff done today.
I'm so excited to have Christmas at my house. Thanksgiving went well...a little over-indulgence, but nothing I'm feeling horrible about. We had a "leftover" party on Friday with Dee & Steve, and Kathy & Joe! It was great to see them all.
I promise to take pictures of the house with Christmas lights and post them. Needless to say, Sarah's in heaven...she hardly came inside today. She just runs and dives into the snow and rolls around - yep, wet dog smell! Happy December!

Over the River and Through the Mud...

Hello! I have been so bad about posting this fall... I haven't even been near my camera to take any new pictures. Things have been so busy with school for both of us. I had two quick trips up to Salt Lake for school, one for content and another for gifted observation. We did do the Butch Cassidy 5K (walk, of course) again this year...MB and Mary joined me!
With the family all over the place, we will actually be spending our first holidays at our house in a few years. MB and Mary are coming for Thanksgiving this week, then I really have to decide how to Christmas shop on a budget. We are going to have MB (maybe Mary?) for Christmas, and she wants to go "borrow" the girls from Colorado. I'm just excited to cook...and have my tree in the living room (we haven't even put one up since we built the house).
I promise to take some photos...I want to get a couple of me to see if I look any different. I'm down about 23 pounds. I'm just nervous, because I never liked pictures of myself and I'd hate to not look any different now that I've been working so hard. Most of my clothes are loose...that's exciting! I've re-established a relationship with my belts, although I don't like looking like a paper bag.
Sorry for the blather... we had our first taste of winter weather today. Fortunately, we had warning, so Friday night we had stacked the woodpile by the fence and tarped it. This sounds easier than it was, since Andy had to split a bunch and I had never stacked that much wood before, so Andy had to help me start over... Anyway, so we got wind, and rain, and snow, and cold, and sunshine today. It was great! Of course, wet weather means mud... and muddy puppy feet. I did get the house cleaned and "decorated" for winter... I refuse to "Christmas" until after Thanksgiving. I HATE seeing lights and decorations up the end of October...
Sarah's holding down Grammie's bed (yes, there's a blanket and no nice quilt Mom) until she gets here tomorrow. Sadie's dreaming about chasing something here on the rug in front of the fireplace. I'm closing the computer and heading for the bath...