Silent Night....

We're just starting to recover from the Christmas family visit. Brother and sister-in-law and nephew came for Christmas after all, so there was nonstop craziness involving a three year old. I can see from where I sit the smudges all across my windows. There was a creche incident. He licked an entire stick of butter during Christmas dinner at my in-laws. His parents don't make him nap; he doesn't have an established bedtime or dinnertime routine. He sleeps with his parents. Poorly at that. I told my dad that if he couldn't eat and sleep, the hard things were really going to be hard for him. My sister told me that the only real structure he has is when he goes to preschool. Poor baby.

The Christmas Eve service was basically done in the dimmest light the light guys could muster without people falling over themselves. BrownBear was tapped to light the Christ Candle this year; her qualifications: tall, present and child. Apparently, she wasn't quite tall enough because when she had got to the Advent wreath, there was a box for her to stand on. Good idea, because the wreath itself was pretty tall. The Christ Candle has been used for several years and had burned down the middle: she lit the candle used to light the candle (confused yet?) and bent over to light the Christ Candle and tried and tried and tried ..... and almost fell over. There was a collective gasp in the church and LawyerBoy and I (he on the front row ushering and I in the choir loft) nearly stood up together. But BrownBear pulled it together and tried again. She righted herself and got the candle lit. Thank goodness.

Now the funny. In this darkness, we always light candles during "Silent Night." This year, things got changed up a little bit and there was a soloist singing the first verse and then the choir was going to pick up the second or third verse (see what's coming?) while the candles were being lit. As the candles were beginning to be lit, that one perfect voice was singing. It was beautiful. Then the choir started. The problem was the darkness. Our candles were still dark. Our verse.. was it the second or third? I know it starts Silent Night, but then what? Oh heavens..... garble, garble, garble. It's a good thing it was Christmas Eve and ChoirGuy was in a forgiving mood. If we could have seen, we would have been gravy. However, we just didn't know.... and as my brother and my father-in-law wanted to know, what was so funny? Didn't you hear? Do you hear what I hear? Apparently not through the laughter in the loft.

Thirteen Christmas Things Found in the After Christmas Sales!!

Thirteen Cool Things I've Bought After Christmas 1. One iron snowman for the front yard!! (Of course it's iron; will we ever get any snow??!!) 2. Two reindeer to go next to the sidewalk. 3. One Santa to go next to the reindeer. 4. Four Crate and Barrel red votives. 5. Four red berry rings to go around the votives. (Gorgeous - trust me!!) 6. Two linen towels - Naughty and Nice!! 7. Christmas Styrofoam cups: they say Ho,Ho,Ho; Ha, Ha, Ha! 8. An Elf on the Shelf 9. A tree shaped cookie platter made by Holiday Traditions 10. Christmas napkins that say: I made a list, I checked it twice, I left it at home. 11. A funky red and green striped plastic napkin holder. 12. The Christmas ornaments I will give to BrownBear and PrepGirl next year. 13. One more box of candy canes: 47 cents, thank you very much!!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:

Remembering Gerald Ford

We were up late last night playing the Christmas version of Monopoly when we heard that Gerald Ford had died. My brother, sister and I began telling the stories we remembered from our own childhood about the Fords; you see, they lived nearby and when he became Vice President, they didn't move from their neighborhood. The Secret Service just moved in. On Halloween, we went trick or treating at the Vice President's house. We went running down the sidewalk of his home and were intercepted by the fine agents of the Treasury department; they had Halloween candy in their pockets along with their walkie-talkies and big guns. So, even though we didn't get to the front door, the Fords made sure the neighborhood children got to celebrate Halloween. Gerald Ford was a good man. God bless him and his family.

Christmas Comes But Once a Year!!!

Merry Christmas, all my fair fans. Okay, I mean all you guys who brave this blog; Merry Christmas!!!! Have a blessed day with those you love and may your day be as wonderful as you!!

Thirteen Christmas Stories in the Basket by the Fire

Thirteen Things about my Christmas books. I always buy PrepGirl and BrownBear a Christmas story every year. Here are my favorites so far:

1. A Creature Was Stirring: One Boy's Night Before Christmas
2. Harvey Slumfenberger's Christmas Present
3. Auntie Claus
4. A Christmas Tree in the White House
5. How Santa Got His Job
6. The Polar Express
7. Who is Coming to Our House?
8. The First Night
9. The Night Before Christmas
10. The Night Henry Ford Met Santa
11. One Wintry Night
12. Get Dressed, Santa!
13. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Not all classics, but they are in our house. I hope your Christmas is joyous and blessed.


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Still Got Some More to Do

Our Superintendent and School Board should be fired. I don't have TWO MORE DAYS with these kids in me. Keeping the lid on them until December 22 is not in my contract.

The youth group is coming here tomorrow night on the first leg of their progressive dinner. Appetizers is the best; by this time tomorrow, they will be gone. BrownBear got invited to go along and all will be quiet in my humble abode. Until then, though, I still have some more to do. I thought I had all the presents wrapped, until I looked under my desk and in my car.

So, wish me luck; the teenagers are coming.

So Much to Do...

I should be baking the cookies and wrapping the presents. PrepGirl is babysitting and LawyerBoy and BrownBear are out doing the Christmas things... and here I am watching Barry Manilow on Entertainment Tonight. Now, I love me some Barry Manilow, but lordy, I should get up off my butt and get something done.

Christmas is a comin' and I'm not quite ready!!

I ate some Pecan Danish from Publix for dinner. (That's how I know I am completely home alone. There would have been all kinds of protests about pecan danish for dinner if others had joined me.)

I priced beef tenderloin today, too. Damn. Have to take money out of the college fund for that.

Okay.. time for motivation. Get the move on in the kitchen and then wrap some presents while "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Elf" are on. I can trade back and forth. In between cutting wrapping paper and mixing cookie dough. But this couch is really cushy. Really. Cushy.

But enough of this madness..... Christmas is getting closer as we speak.

Thirteen Things on my Christmas Eve Table

Thirteen Things about My Christmas Eve Table1. Beef tenderloin and horseradish sauce!!! Oh my gosh. Never eat it any other time of the year and it graces the center of our table after church on Christmas Eve. 2. A ton of boiled shrimp. Cocktail sauce. 3. Sausage balls. (I know it's dinner, but, hey, it's my table.) 4. Honey baked ham. Honey mustard. 5. Rolls. The brand depends on my mood. I prefer the crusty kind with soft middles. I like to place my oh so tasty beef tenderloin inside one with just a bit of horseradish sauce. HMMM, Hmmm, Good. 6. PrincipalGirl's Sweet and Salty: pretzels and peanuts which have been swirled together in a bath of white chocolate. Cooled and broken up. Delish. 7. My dad's miniature crabcakes. Cocktail sauce. 8. PrincipalGirl's chocolate fudge: the main ingredient is jello chocolate pudding. My goodness, it is good. 9. Gingersnaps; homemade. Pumpkin dip to go along with them. 10. Vegetable tray: carrots, celery, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes. A little ranch dressing. (Got to have something good for you somewhere.) 11. We call them beany-weenies; however, in other parts of the world, they are called pigs in a blanket. Of course, someone has to roll them up and bake them. I have a hard time keeping them because people eat them as they come out of the oven. 12. Sugar cookies, cut out and decorated by the girls. Who cares what they look like - they did them and had fun doing it. 13. Bowl of punch - fruity and ginger ale. (Wine chilled and hidden so the in-laws don't realize that's what we're really drinking!!) Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Cantata Update

Last evening, we performed 'Agnus Dei,' complete with orchestra, youth choir and children's choir. We rocked. We were fabulous, if I do have to say so myself. And I do. ChoirGuy said so, too.

Now, the bizarre. About 15 minutes before we were to go into the sanctuary, some dear little old lady up and died. In the sanctuary. Waiting for us to perform.

That's never happened before.

There was a doctor in the house. ("Is there a doctor in the house?") He couldn't do anything. Someone called 911 and the EMTs took her to the hospital down the street. They couldn't do anything, either.

So, I guess if you're going to die, a church is the place to be.

Thirteen Things About the Christmas Cantata

Thirteen Things about Singing in the Christmas Cantata 1. I get to stand behind the bass player from the Symphony; the guy is awesome! 2. Cantata is such a fantastic word!! Can't say it enough: cantata - cantata - cantata 3. The orchestra is so loud that even if I make a mistake, ChoirGuy can't hear me. 4. This is the best one ChoirGuy has picked: AgnusDei. 5. I'm not wearing the old lady dress they used to make us wear; since the choir rail is being left up, ChoirGuy told me short, black concert attire was acceptable. (And if it is good enough for ChoirGuy, it should be good enough for everybody else, ladies!!) 6. I'm a little miffed that the alto solo has been handed over to a soprano. Talk amongst yourselves - if the composer had wanted a screecher to sing the part, he/she would have written soprano solo by the music. Altos always get the short end of the stick. Trust me. 7. PrepGirl and BrownBear are also singing this year. LawyerBoy's mother is playing with the orchestra - this makes it a multigenerational event for us. 8. A reception is being planned after the cantata. Good idea - I never liked singing like crazy and then just walking away. Too much emotion involved just to leave. 9. I need a way to get a drink of water every now and then without anyone detecting just what I'm doing. 10. If #9, I will have to wear a Depends because of weakening school teacher bladder. 11. Might need to wear a visor because spotlights blind me. Black concert attire and tennis visor, anyone? 12. The miracle of Christmas cantata: ChoirGuy didn't take a bite out of anyone's butt last night at dress rehearsal. Years past, he has chewed us up and spit us out. (There is a mighty cold front moving in right now; maybe hell has frozen over.) 13. The best thing of all: personal day on Monday. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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One Down, Two to Go

PrepGirl played flute in her Christmas concert tonight; I'm just overjoyed that one is over. I had to hem her dress with a huge running whip stitch - I was afraid tape wouldn't hold because it's so cold and she's got to wear the dress tomorrow for the concert they're having at school.

Middle school concerts were a hassle. Kids and parents everywhere. I thought I'd outsmart them this year. BrownBear didn't want to go, so she went to a friend's house and I dropped off PrepGirl at 6PM SHARP!! Found myself a prime seat in the front row of the balcony, plugged in my ipod and set forth doing teacherwork. Never saw a rush for seats. Never saw the crowds that were present for middle school concerts. Oh well, I got some work done, saved a good seat for LawyerBoy and enjoyed watching PrepGirl play. One concert down, mine and BrownBear's to go..

Tomorrow is the worst day for any teacher - Observation Day.................I'm all ready, I think. I've done this so many times, I wonder how bad could it be; and then I remember how bad it could be. I just hope it goes well. I just hope they listen and don't ask silly things and that my 30 minutes go by quickly. We're getting our tree tomorrow night to celebrate.

Ahoy Mateys!!

Told my principal on Friday that I was raising a pirate flag above my classroom and I was getting an eyepatch and a pirate hat. She said that we really didn't have to resort to that; we were going to move some of the thug factor out at the beginning of the New Year!!!! Put a bow around that one!! Teachergirl 1, Thugs 0.

ChoirGuy had us singing "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent" this morning. It was pretty good; we are having dress rehearsal for next Sunday's concert Wednesday night. ChoirGuy gets his dander good and up that night. We've got a full orchestra, Youth Choir, Children's Choir and us. Makes for a long, crazy night. He gets fussy. Heck, he is fussy. All that stuff going on makes him crazy. Reminds me of the Maestro on Seinfeld. I'm hoping he doesn't lose his crap like he did last year. He made me so mad last year, I nearly quit. ChoirGuy lost some people because of his pre-concert tirade last year. I don't remember what he was griping about, but it went on for quite a while. I was so mad, I couldn't sleep. I nearly called in sick the next day. Nothing says Merry Christmas like your ChoirGuy taking a bite out of your butt.

PrepGirl has a band rehearsal that lasts from 4:30 - 9:00. Their concert is tomorrow night. She told me this morning that her band dress needed to be hemmed. I laughed. Told her to find some tape. (I'm the bad mother.) I asked her if she was marching around in the band dress; she said no. Merely sitting in the flute section. Great, I said. Walk carefully. Sit carefully.

Hope it works out. Got to make hors d'oeurves for a party.

Hallelujah!! It's December!

So, I messed up the code on the thing below this post; what's new?

Prepgirl's high school football team won their playoff game tonight. EXCELLENT!! They're going to the Dome.

My principal suggested that some of my not so charming students be separated - into other classes - at the beginning of the New Year!! I told her to wrap a bow around them and put them under my Christmas tree. The two worst offenders gone! I think I might be able to function these next 14 school days.

We're having a Christmas breakfast at school tomorrow. BrownBear and I are working the CakeWalk. I've been shopping and we have lights all around. I think it really might be Christmastime, afterall.

The Santa clock just makes me laugh everytime I see him. I'm finally looking forward to the holidays.

But Who's Got the Time to Read, Anyway?

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