Abby, wearing her princess cape and awesome sunglasses:)Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A happy anniversary in Napa Valley
Our nine year anniversary was yesterday and we decided to take advantage of my parents being here and took off for an overnight trip to Napa Valley. It was a much needed rest after a busy December and we had a wonderful time. Nate and I aren't into fancy stuff or being really busy. We are just happy to have time to sit and talk at Starbucks or so something new that we've never done before.
Below are some pictures of our adventures from today . . . we ended up at Sterling Winery, which was recommended to us by a local guy named Chuck. We ate at this little deli in Calistoga and made friends with the guy sitting at the table next to us. Actually, he tried to get us to give him a piece of our pizza because it looked good to him and we ended up talking to him for a good half hour. Chuck is actually my kind of guy, and I wish we could have talked to him some more. We talked about politics, all the diferent places we've all lived, and even got a mini history of Calistoga, CA. I knew I loved him when he said he would choose to live in Texas if he could choose any place in the country to live:)
Anyway, Chuck recommended this winery, so we checked it out. Everyone had to take a gondola type tram to the top--which was so cool. Once we were up there, we took a self-guided tour and had great views of the beautiful Napa Valley.
It was a great ninth anniversary:)
Below are some pictures of our adventures from today . . . we ended up at Sterling Winery, which was recommended to us by a local guy named Chuck. We ate at this little deli in Calistoga and made friends with the guy sitting at the table next to us. Actually, he tried to get us to give him a piece of our pizza because it looked good to him and we ended up talking to him for a good half hour. Chuck is actually my kind of guy, and I wish we could have talked to him some more. We talked about politics, all the diferent places we've all lived, and even got a mini history of Calistoga, CA. I knew I loved him when he said he would choose to live in Texas if he could choose any place in the country to live:)
Anyway, Chuck recommended this winery, so we checked it out. Everyone had to take a gondola type tram to the top--which was so cool. Once we were up there, we took a self-guided tour and had great views of the beautiful Napa Valley.
It was a great ninth anniversary:)
Friday, December 19, 2008
A Pleasant Surprise
As many of you know, I teach a GED preparation class. I have so many different kinds of people all in one classroom every day. There are those on probation, those who have to be there to receive their state aid check, those who really want to get their GED, and young adults who have to pass the CAHSEE.
The CAHSEE is the California High School Exit Exam. There's an English part and a Math part. I have a few students who are not preparing to take their GED, but need to pass this CAHSEE test in order to receive their high school diploma. And let me tell you, the CAHSEE is one hard test. Teaching high school math has surely challenged me.
I have this one student, M, who is in my class for the CAHSEE test. He is there almost every day--I think because his father makes him come, but he hates every second of being there. For the first two months, he wouldn't even say hi to me. He tells me that I'm boring and that all the stuff we learn is boring---which doesn't bother me because I know he has a motivation issue and everything related to learning is boring to him. So we joke about me being boring and I do my best to keep him on task.
For the first three months, M "pretended" to be stupid. He seriously failed every assignment I gave him. I thought he had some sort of learning disability until I threatened to kick him out of class for lack of effort. Ever since then, he's shown that he can learn and is doing much better. And in fact, he passed the math part of the test, and I am so proud of him. So now, we are working hardcore on writing essays and getting him to pass the English part of the test.
I must say, that I am super patient with him. There were several times that I should have kicked him out, but I have put way too much time and energy into him and have seen some positive results. But I know he hates being there and will celebrate the day that he is out of my class.
The students in my class got me a Christmas gift and in the card, M wrote something that was so surprising to me. He said,"You are the nicest teacher ever and I am learning." Wow! (Just so you know . . . I am not the nicest teacher ever . . . and I sometimes struggle with my ability to help him.) Teaching is not a glorious profession, but one sentence of affirmation can give you all the energy to go on. It will give me the patience and energy to get M to write that five paragraph essay if it's the last thing I do:)
The CAHSEE is the California High School Exit Exam. There's an English part and a Math part. I have a few students who are not preparing to take their GED, but need to pass this CAHSEE test in order to receive their high school diploma. And let me tell you, the CAHSEE is one hard test. Teaching high school math has surely challenged me.
I have this one student, M, who is in my class for the CAHSEE test. He is there almost every day--I think because his father makes him come, but he hates every second of being there. For the first two months, he wouldn't even say hi to me. He tells me that I'm boring and that all the stuff we learn is boring---which doesn't bother me because I know he has a motivation issue and everything related to learning is boring to him. So we joke about me being boring and I do my best to keep him on task.
For the first three months, M "pretended" to be stupid. He seriously failed every assignment I gave him. I thought he had some sort of learning disability until I threatened to kick him out of class for lack of effort. Ever since then, he's shown that he can learn and is doing much better. And in fact, he passed the math part of the test, and I am so proud of him. So now, we are working hardcore on writing essays and getting him to pass the English part of the test.
I must say, that I am super patient with him. There were several times that I should have kicked him out, but I have put way too much time and energy into him and have seen some positive results. But I know he hates being there and will celebrate the day that he is out of my class.
The students in my class got me a Christmas gift and in the card, M wrote something that was so surprising to me. He said,"You are the nicest teacher ever and I am learning." Wow! (Just so you know . . . I am not the nicest teacher ever . . . and I sometimes struggle with my ability to help him.) Teaching is not a glorious profession, but one sentence of affirmation can give you all the energy to go on. It will give me the patience and energy to get M to write that five paragraph essay if it's the last thing I do:)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
What I Miss
My kids don't know snow. Jenna begs me to take her to play in the snow; maybe we'll venture into the Sierras for some sledding. I just think it's funny that you have to drive to snow to experience it here.
I grew up with four seasons and there's something I like about each one. Here in California, we really only have summer and kind of cold. I can't even call it winter because it doesn't snow and I can't call it fall because the leaves barely change. Kind of cold means that it gets cold enough to have to wear a jacket, but I still don't get by people buy gloves or earmuffs or scarves around here. Unless they are visiting the snow.
One of the greatest joys that I miss is snow days. I miss the anticipation, the joy when you hear your school's name called on the radio at 6:30 in the morning. (Although since our district didn't bus, it had to be a blizzard or an ice storm before school was called off). I miss the fact that you have an excuse to stay huddled in the house with the tv and pajamas. I try to explain this to my students, and they have absolutely no idea what I am talking about.
My Bon Jovi loving friend, Tamara, sent me a copy of the book, The Shack. I am only on p. 25, so please don't tell me what happens. But in the first few pages, the author, Wm Paul Young, describes this phenomenon that I love so much. Here's how he explains it . . .
"There is something joyful about storms that interrupt routine. Snow or freezing rain suddenly releases you from expectations, performance demands, and the tyranny of appointments and schedules. And unlike illness, it is largely a corporate rather than individual experience. One can almost hear a unified sigh rise from the nearby city and surrounding countryside where Nature has intervened to give respite to the weary humans slogging it out without her purview. All those affected this way are united by a mutual excuse, and the heart is suddenly and unexpectedly a little giddy. There will be no apologies needed for not showing up to some commitment or other. Everyone understands and shares in this singular justification, and the sudden alleviation of the pressure to produce makes the heart merry." The Shack, Wm. Paul Young
So that's what I miss and it's the best way I can explain to my California friends what they are missing.
I grew up with four seasons and there's something I like about each one. Here in California, we really only have summer and kind of cold. I can't even call it winter because it doesn't snow and I can't call it fall because the leaves barely change. Kind of cold means that it gets cold enough to have to wear a jacket, but I still don't get by people buy gloves or earmuffs or scarves around here. Unless they are visiting the snow.
One of the greatest joys that I miss is snow days. I miss the anticipation, the joy when you hear your school's name called on the radio at 6:30 in the morning. (Although since our district didn't bus, it had to be a blizzard or an ice storm before school was called off). I miss the fact that you have an excuse to stay huddled in the house with the tv and pajamas. I try to explain this to my students, and they have absolutely no idea what I am talking about.
My Bon Jovi loving friend, Tamara, sent me a copy of the book, The Shack. I am only on p. 25, so please don't tell me what happens. But in the first few pages, the author, Wm Paul Young, describes this phenomenon that I love so much. Here's how he explains it . . .
"There is something joyful about storms that interrupt routine. Snow or freezing rain suddenly releases you from expectations, performance demands, and the tyranny of appointments and schedules. And unlike illness, it is largely a corporate rather than individual experience. One can almost hear a unified sigh rise from the nearby city and surrounding countryside where Nature has intervened to give respite to the weary humans slogging it out without her purview. All those affected this way are united by a mutual excuse, and the heart is suddenly and unexpectedly a little giddy. There will be no apologies needed for not showing up to some commitment or other. Everyone understands and shares in this singular justification, and the sudden alleviation of the pressure to produce makes the heart merry." The Shack, Wm. Paul Young
So that's what I miss and it's the best way I can explain to my California friends what they are missing.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Annual Christmas Cookie Decorating
This is an all day event! Baking and cooling and making frosting and decorating and cleaning up. Such a task, but so much fun! Here are a few pictures to show you our fun:
Abby holding the mixer all by herself! 
Jenna carefully applying the frosting.
Beautiful cookies!
Come on, you know you want to eat this one . . . the one with three inches of blue frosting and two inches of pink sprinkles. Really, you know you want it:)Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Magic!
We've had a tough time in the behavior department with Jenna lately. It was like one night she decided to turn sassy and nasty and refuse to listen. I even asked Nate if we had turned into some lazy, awful parents lately or if this change I had noticed was real. Well, it was definitely real! So we broke out the reward charts. If you look closely, you can see that the girls have things they must do in order to be able to draw in their box. Jenna draws faces and hearts, while Abby draws Xs. If they have six good days in a row, meaning that they get 5 out of six spaces full each day for six days, they get to go to McDonalds.
I'm thinking that bar might be a little high for a two and four year old to reach, but for right now, it's working like MAGIC! Jenna's behavior, especially, has been awesome:) We may tweak the reward chart as we go, but for now, we are loving it!
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Our First Successful Trip to See Santa
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This will be our fourth time attempting to visit Santa. Year 1, Jenna was terrified and screamed the entire time we were in line to see Santa. So we left, and I was really disappointed that we didn't get a "Santa picture" with her. Year 2, Abby was here too and I was so excited to get a picture with my two little sweethearts and Santa. Abby was too little to object and Jenna was all for it. We stood in line for at least a half hour. It was almost our turn--we had one other family in front of us. Unfortunately, we had to leave because Jenna threw up all over that family. She had the beginning of a stomach bug and I was mortified. Some nice guy helped me clean up the puke as all the other mommies tried to stay as far away from us as possible. ( I don't blame them!)
Year 3, we were back to being afraid of Santa and settled for a wave to him from afar.
But this year, we did it! There was no line and we had a really great Santa. He sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to the kids, played along when Jenna asked him where his sleigh and reindeer were, and made sure to tell them about the being naughty or nice deal. Which is great, because now I have leverage for a few weeks. Jenna's really afraid of getting coal:) (Not that we would ever give it to her, but it's nice to be able to say, "I'd like to see good behavior or Santa will know that you haven't been good lately . . . ")
It's nice to finally have a picture of the girls with Santa--and so wonderful that they smiled!
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Monday, December 01, 2008
Please Go Away
This is directed to all serious, not so serious, and just down right annoying illnesses that have invaded our home in the past few months.
Here's' what's been going down . . .
Nate--flu
Nate--pneumonia
Jenna-fever
Jenna-ear infection
Abby-fever
Nate-more pneumonia that wouldn't go away
Lots of coughing by everyone.
Jenna-pink eye
Jenna-pink eye, again
Jenna-Fifth's Disease (common childhood illness that is actually a virus and causes fever/rash)
Jenna-fever
Abby-pink eye
Abby-fever
Abby-possible ear infection (doctor's appointment tomorrow)
Notice that my name is not listed there? Yay for staying healthy. I somewhat attribute this to my new love for the supplement, Airborne. Have any of you heard of it? I have been taking it over the past few months and have stayed pretty healthy. Healthy enough to take care of all the sickos in our house!
Also notice that most of these illnesses aren't anything serious, other than the pneumonia. They are just annoying. And I am thankful for annoying because the girls could be much sicker than they are. But I still am requesting that they leave our presence.
I suspect that all of this has something to do with all of us being exposed to different people all day. I work at a school, Jenna is in preschool every day, and Abby is in daycare in the mornings. Maybe we're just building up our immunities .. . who knows.
I am hoping that tomorrow's doctor's appointment is the end of it. You'll know I've gone crazy if you see a post about me getting pink eye. Now wouldn't that be lovely?
Here's' what's been going down . . .
Nate--flu
Nate--pneumonia
Jenna-fever
Jenna-ear infection
Abby-fever
Nate-more pneumonia that wouldn't go away
Lots of coughing by everyone.
Jenna-pink eye
Jenna-pink eye, again
Jenna-Fifth's Disease (common childhood illness that is actually a virus and causes fever/rash)
Jenna-fever
Abby-pink eye
Abby-fever
Abby-possible ear infection (doctor's appointment tomorrow)
Notice that my name is not listed there? Yay for staying healthy. I somewhat attribute this to my new love for the supplement, Airborne. Have any of you heard of it? I have been taking it over the past few months and have stayed pretty healthy. Healthy enough to take care of all the sickos in our house!
Also notice that most of these illnesses aren't anything serious, other than the pneumonia. They are just annoying. And I am thankful for annoying because the girls could be much sicker than they are. But I still am requesting that they leave our presence.
I suspect that all of this has something to do with all of us being exposed to different people all day. I work at a school, Jenna is in preschool every day, and Abby is in daycare in the mornings. Maybe we're just building up our immunities .. . who knows.
I am hoping that tomorrow's doctor's appointment is the end of it. You'll know I've gone crazy if you see a post about me getting pink eye. Now wouldn't that be lovely?
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