Well, another Christmas has come and gone. This was the best one in a long time. Nothing major made it so special, just a bunch of smaller things. First off, our 19 yo son stuck around and hung out with us a lot more than usual, possibly because 2 of his buddies lost their moms in the past month--I think it really hit him. So sad, these boys are so young to deal with that. It made dh and I very happy to have him around a lot more though. Second, although money is still pretty tight this Christmas wasn't as frugal as ours have normally been. We were able to buy the kids many things that they wanted and needed. It was wonderful to see their faces when they saw the piles of gifts this morning--still small by most standards but a bonanza to them. And finally, we were able to spend more time with family this year. We spent Christmas Eve at dh's mom's with about 40 others, and today at my sister's, with our family & her dh's family. Good people, good food, good times had by all.
Tomorrow we will attend the funeral of dh's 86 yo uncle. We will miss him do much. It was hard to lose him just a few days before Christmas, but we will celebrate his life. Uncle Mikey was the kindest, most gentle, generous, and joyful person you could ever meet. I'm blessed to have known him for 25 years.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! We're getting ready to head to Boston for our annual Christmas Eve family feast, Italian style. Lots of seafood, pasta, and best of all--people! Tomorrow it's my side of the family, much quieter, but still fun. And best of all--little kids there! That's always fun since my own kids are almost grown.

I hope you all have a very Merry, Happy and Healthy Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

My crazy kids relaxing on the patio!

And my cutie pie furbaby. She loves to stick her face in the snow--she feels the need to try to eat every last flake.

I DID IT!!

I passed the Praxis II on the first try, without studying! WOOHOO! Such a relief. I really did not want to have to spend the time or the money to take that test over, but I had absolutely no time to study because of my coursework. Now I just have to wait for approval for my field observation hours and my student teaching application. At this time next year I will be finishing up my semester of student teacher and will be a certified elementary education teacher. The end is in sight! It's been hard working full-time, attending college mostly full-time and caring for my family, but I know it will all be worth it the day I welcome my students into my own classroom.

"Borrowed" this from my CT pal Nancy...

A= Attached or Single: attached for 22 years
B= Best Friend: hubby
C= Cake or Pie: Pie
D= Day of Choice: Saturday
E= Essential Item: laptop
F= Flavor of Ice cream: anything with chocolate
G= Gummy Bears or Worms: Neither--swedish fish
H= Hometown: Medford, MA
I= Indulgence: lobster
J= January or July: January
K= Kids: AlanaL= Last movie I saw at a theater: Hairspray (John Travolta version)
M= Musician: Jon Bon Jovi
N= Number of Siblings: 2
O= Oranges or Apples: both
P= Phobias or Fears: heights
Q= Quote: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. Henry David Thoreau
R= Reason to Smile: Next year at this time I will be done with college & student teaching
S= Season: Winter
T= Tag: anybody who wants to play
U= Unknown fact: none--my life is an open book
V= Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: Oppressor
W= Worst habit: procrastination
X= Xray or Ultrasound: ultrasound is more fun...if you're pregnant
Y= Your favorite food: pasta
Z= Zodiac sign: aries, but I don't follow that stuff

ICE STORM
So this is my backyard right now. We're in the middle of an ice storm. I hate ice storms, but I love having no school or work! We were without power, heat or water for most of the night. It did come back on a little while ago, but I don't expect it to last too long. It keeps flickering and threatening to go off, plus the freezing rain is supposed to last all day and it's supposed to get windy later. Wind will cause huge trouble with all this ice on the trees.
I had vowed if I didn't have work today I would finish all my college paperwork. What am I doing instead? Checking my message boards and updating my blog while I still have a connection. Aaah the internet.

OK, I so stole this from a friend on a board--thanks Jessie! Here's what you're supposed to do...delete my answers, type in your answers TYPE ONLY 1 WORD...IT'S HARDER THAN YOU THINK!!!
1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? bed
3. Your hair? "brown"
4. Your mother? bitch
5. Your father? ok
6. Your favorite thing? truck
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? wine
9. Your dream goal? graduation
10. The room you're in? kitchen
11. Your fear? heights
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? library
14. What you're not? skinny
15. Whats for breakfast? oatmeal
16. One of your wish list items? money
17. Where did you grow up? Medford
18. The last thing you did? meeting
What are you wearing? sweats
20. Your TV? ignored
Your pet? Julia
22. Your computer? dell
23. Your life? good
24. Your mood? frazzled
25. Missing someone? Dante
26. Your car? Tahoe
27. Something you're not wearing? bra
28. Favorite Store? Borders
29. Your summer? hot
30. Your favorite color? purple
31. When is the last time you laughed? tonight
32. Last time you cried? yesterday
33. Who will/would re-post this? Patti
34. FOUR THINGS I COULD VISIT OR DO OVER AND OVER:
1. read
2. kayak
3. mountains
4. ocean
35. FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME:
1.Kelly
2.Sidney
3. Lorna
4. boss
36. FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1. Pizza
2. Pasta
3. Lobster
4. ice cream
37. FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW ?
1. Bermuda
2. Alaska
3. kayaking
4. hicking
38. FOUR PEOPLE I THINK WILL RESPOND:
1. Kelly
2. Sidney
3. Patti
4. Cassandra