Snow Day (I Wish!!)

Unfortunately, all the snow came AFTER we got to school.  It was beautiful, but cold!  Of course, I had recess and parking lot duty.  I still can't feel my feet!

On the way to school--nothing.

By lunch--looking out from my classroom door.

My car as we left to head home.

I think it's time for a new ice scraper!  I couldn't even reach the middle of my windshield.  Luckily, another teacher was scraping his and saw my difficulties.  He loaned me his long one with a brush, and then told me I needed to upgrade from a California scraper to an Idaho one :)  Only 5 years back in Idaho, you'd think I'd have a better one.

Our normal 20 minute drive took 40.

Now the boys are outside playing--trying to build a snow fort.  I only have slippers on, though.  A photo of that will have to wait until they're done.

They say it's going to stop by midnight, so I doubt we'll have a day off tomorrow, but one can always dream.  After all, this was supposed to be mostly rain with "less than an inch of slushy accumulation."  Not even close.

Back to School Tomorrow

This break has been so wonderful, and I'm having a difficult time wrapping my mind around getting up and heading back to school tomorrow.   I look forward to seeing my students and hearing about their Christmas and break, but 5:45 is going to come way to early.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks we've had off as a family.  It's been a time of relaxation and rejuvenation.

It's also been a time of denial.  Below is a photo of the work I brought home to get finished over the break.  About a tenth of it is what I accomplished.  I'm hoping to get their big writing assignment edited/commented tonight, but it still won't be nearly what I hoped I'd complete.  I'm trying to be ok with that.  I love that work didn't invade our family time.  However, it's only two weeks until the end of the quarter, which means report cards and comments on top of grading the rest of these assignments.  Not to mention all the new exciting stuff we'll do in the next two weeks.  It's a good thing I LOVE my job!   Ready, set, here we go again!

Work Around the House--Before and After

We've lived in this house more than 5 years, and we still had a couple blank walls.  We bought paint a couple years ago and didn't want to hang anything until we painted.  We finally had time this week to paint and Mike's been busily hanging everything.  

Before--looking from our family room to the front door.  

After--same shot

Family room--these photos are from our school dinner auction a few years ago.  The theme was Rock Star and the decorations were the huge canvases of all the siblings.  We had to buy it and have it framed.  THe smaller photos were ones we took.  Mike wants to hang drum sticks or a guitar up above.

Dining/entry way shots

Austin helping with the painting.

I'm loving the results!  The only problem with accomplishing this is that now we want to put in new floors, paint other walls and rooms, and get new furniture.

A few Christmas Cards

Posting these way late, but here's a few we made at my Christmas Card Workshop.  For some reason, two won't post.  

Card # 1--My favorite.  I made bunches of these as gifts and to send.  I love this stamp set, Glory to God.  It makes a perfect simple Christmas card.

Card #2  I saw the idea for the poinsetta on another consultant's blog through Pinterest.  I'm sorry, I can't remember who.

Card #3

Here's a couple shots of our Christmasy house.  It looks so sad now with the decorations gone :(  This is one of our three Christmas trees (actually five, counting the ones in the boys' rooms).

December Club Pages--Avonlea

I offered these as an alternative to CHristmas pages, but the colors would make pretty Christmas pages or snow pages as well.

Avonlea Layout 1:  I used the Canvas Complements with the papers

Avonlea Layout #2: I loved how perfectly this went with our Oregon Coast beach photos.  

December Club Pages--Pear and Partridge

I offered my Club two options for December.  Traditional Christmas pages with Pear and Partridge or non-Christmas with Avonlea (though you could totally use these for Christmas, too).  The following are the Pear and Partridge layouts.  I'll post the Avonlea tomorrow.

Pear and Partridge Layout 1:  This was the Workshop on the Go layout.  I added in the Dimensional Elements Holiday in Color to the Glitter Rub-Ons

Pear and Partridge Layout 2:

Pear and Partridge Layout 3:  I still want to cut "SANTA" to fit along the left page.  

Penguins, Owls, and Snowmen, Oh My

Happy New Year!  Welcome 2013!  One of the many blessings of working at a Catholic school is the generosity of our families, especially at Christmas time.  It never ceases to amaze me.  This year, I spent a day making 40 thank you cards to send to students and their families.

I found this kit, Winter Wishes from Echo Park, at Archiver's and knew I had to use it for the cards.  I loved the colors!  Plus, penguins, owls, and snowmen are a few of my favorite things!   With the stickers, tags, and little cards included, it made for easy fun cards.  I love that even though they are simple, they are fun and each one is unique.  I did end up having to stamp a few snowmen once I ran out of stickers.