Santa!

I was forced to visit Santa at Christmas.  I loathed having my picture taken and was terrified of strangers and/or people in costume.  This also held true for a trip to Disneyland when I was nine.  Anyhow, I love the story that the Santa pictures of my childhood tell.

1979     "Charlotte is 8 weeks old and has no idea of anything."
1980     "Charlotte is terrified."
1981     "Charlotte is conspicuously missing from the picture but her two sisters are happily smiling with Santa."
1982      The best by far. "Charlotte still has her 1970s wool plaid coat on and is being held like a rag doll by her father and is making a terrible face, but is IN the picture."

Sometimes traditions need to be carried on.  Santa pictures is one of them.   Here is the story this year tells,
   "Once upon there were three children, who despite some serious naughtiness the past day, were probably still on the nice list.  The oldest, a boy of 8, knows mall Santa to be a fake.  He is willing to go along because he understands that if he doesn't there will be no screen time all weekend.  He still believes in the REAL santa.  He asked Santa for a Nintendo 3DS.  not gonna happen
    The middle was a girl of 6. She refuses to let her stringy hair be pulled back.  She has recently lost 5 teeth and looks not too unlike a jack-o-lantern.  She still believes in Santa, but has started to question the logistics of mall Santa.  She asked Santa for a giant teddy bear (like they have a Costco) any gifting of a giant stuffed animals will result in a permanent banning from the house
    The youngest is a boy of 3.  He is so excited about Santa and Christmas and everything Christmas related.  He isn't scared this year.  He asked Santa for a stick and a blue birdie.  we can make this happen
    Despite at least 7 shots, in not one are all three looking at the camera.  They do not know how to look at a camera.  I told them to all say, 'Starbucks' and that got them pretty close.  Starbucks was had by all after photos."

I like this particular photographer.  Does the background look familiar?  It's the same one used by Frederick and Nelson back in the day.  It adds just the right amount of retro.  The only thing missing was the mint Frangos.

Later in the weekend we met up with our PEPs group.  I love our PEPs group and getting together only once or twice a year is just not nearly enough.  The kids played and decorated gingerbread houses.  Robin slept through the Seahawks game -- given how the game went it was probably a good choice.

I can now cross visit Santa off the list.  I still have more cookies to bake, Christmas menus to plan, and a couple holiday parties to attend.

Snowy Day

Once upon a time I was a teacher that disliked snow days.  They were an inconvenience, especially if it fell on a block schedule day.  It meant going longer into summer.  That was then.  Today is now.
Today was a snow day and it was glorious!

I had given up hope that we might get snow this week.  It kept getting pushed back in the forecast. When it finally started to snow around 9:30 pm last night, I assumed it would be gone by morning. Dave awoke me to tell me school was cancelled and I didn't need to call the next person in the phone tree.  Despite my tiredness, I was so excited about the snow that I couldn't go back to sleep.

I had to sneak downstairs and take a picture.  I love the purple sky that comes with snowy darkness.


Robin woke up early as per usual.  I took him to the window and asked him what he saw.  He kept looking around perplexed.  I asked him if he knew what it was and he responded, "I don't remember." Poor Robin has been denied a snowy day since birth.  He did not know what he was seeing.  Eileen's response to snow was pure glee and leaping up from under the covers and jumping on her bed.  I woke up Linus at the time we should have been leaving the house.  I told him school was cancelled due to snow.  He said nothing at first. Linus sat up, peered at the window, and exclaimed, "Shut.Up."
Within minutes of awakening, Linus had everyone out the door.

The kids spent a good hour and a half outside before bothering to ask for breakfast.  I sat cozy by the fire, coffee mug in hand.  I baked some gluten free pumpkin bread to add to the cozy factor.

I wasn't stressing about school.  I was supposed to make Christmas presents with my students for their parents and then take students on a field trip to watch the Blanchet production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Moore Theater.  If you're going to miss a day, it's nice when it's one where you aren't planning to teach a lot.  I made sure this week to give a math test, grade it so kids could make corrections, and even give the kids a head start on studying for science just in case the weather got in the way of school.  With all the fun, merrymaking of Christmas in a Catholic school it can make the last week a little insane.

Ready for his first time playing in the snow.

The first round of play occurred while it was still dark.

The kids dried their clothes by the fire, ate breakfast, and went out in the snow again.  I used the time to bake gluten free, dairy free, egg free Christmas cookies (chocolate crinkles if you must know).  The kids played together amazingly all day.

They came in every once in awhile to warm up and relax.

Linus got a hold of my phone and snapped a picture through the window.

Robin got my phone and captured me using the opportunity to catch up on a little housework.

It was the coziest of days.  I baked, read by the fire and drank coffee.  I watched "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and snuggled each of my 3 kids.  Apparently, we needed a day when all plans went out the window and we could just relax.  Dave is gone winter camping this weekend with some other dads.  Thankfully, we are now off to a good start.

Hooray for Snow Days!!!

From the Mouths of Babes in November

Robin:  Grandma used her PBS to get home.

Me: (puts rotting pumpkins in compost)
Eileen:  No! I wanted to keep my pumpkin.  It was the most perfect pumpkin for me to carry. I loved it more than my lovey.  You are making it harder for me to love anything more again.  sob sob sob

Robin:  And then you gave me a binky.  I was so proud of you.

Eileen:  I just need to eat more butter.  Then my skin will become loose and that will make my warts go away.
Me:  I'm sorry.  I don't think it works that way.
Eileen:  Yes it does work that way!

Robin:  Mama I will vacuum you.  You need to get in here (points to canister).  Then I will be the teacher!


The kids on Veteran's Day the kids remembered an activity I had done with them months ago.  They did it with zero help from me and were entertained for a good 45 minutes.

Christmas cuteness

After a chill Thanksgiving, the kids were bursting with anticipation at the mere thought of decorating for Christmas.  It didn't help that not one, but TWO Seattle stations were playing Christmas music several days before Christmas.  Linus was mildly disgusted by the Christmas displays that went up just as Halloween was occurring.  Despite his cynicism over commercialism, he was the first to don his ugly Christmas sweater this weekend to get things going.

I made the kids wait until Saturday to decorate, using Friday to take down fall and take care of fun things like oil changes.  Once the first box was brought in from the garage, there was no stopping them.

Linus decided we needed Christmas music and pulled out some sheet music to play.  Eileen and Robin love the snowmen.

After listening to the smooth sounds of Linus on the piano, we busted out one of the Christmas music mixes put together by my sister.  This is the first year I didn't put a single ornament on the tree.  I only moved a couple so the ornaments aren't spaced out at all.  The kids were sure to put on every.single.ornament.

There were board games and lots of playing.  Robin really remembers Christmas this year and was excited to play Santa.

 Eileen wrapped a blanket around him.  He's saying, "Ho ho ho."

I like to give the kids Christmas jammies on the day we decorate, get some in-season wear out of them.  Linus did not feel like getting his photo taken.

After the kids went to the bed, I attempted a new holiday drink (you have to test them all out to see if they are okay).  Red wine with cocoa.  Not bad.  Might need to tweak a little still.

It's been a restful holiday weekend.  I think I'm ready to head into a few weeks of craziness.

Giving Reflective Thanks

So yeah, 2016 has been an interesting one for the books.  In the midst of so much happening around me, I had to think differently about what I was thankful for this year.

I am thankful for the obvious -- my family, my friends, having a nice house, enough food and clothes, the ability to go on vacation -- essentially I am thankful for being surrounded with loving people and living a middle class lifestyle.

2016 has been a year that has required me to examine you I am as a person.  Who do I want to be? How do I want to be remembered?  In 2016 I am thankful for the hard things.

I am thankful that Dave's employment got questionable and I went back to teaching.  I am thankful for my amazing co-workers.  I am thankful for the reminder that even though it is hard, I love teaching.

I  am thankful for my students.  They work so hard.  I watch those students with significant learning difficulties continue to try.  They show more grit than most adults.  I know that if I was in their position, giving up would definitely be the easier option.  I am thankful for the example they set for me every day.

I am thankful for the Pantsuit Nation.  It has been a ray of hope as I've struggled with the results of the election.  I am thankful for the inspiration to be a better person, to be willing to not be a bystander when I witness racist acts.  I am thankful for the camaraderie offered, to not feel alone.

I am thankful for those individuals willing to go to Standing Rock.  The irony of the treatment of the protesters as we prepared for Thanksgiving was not lost on me.  Again,  I am thankful for the example set by individuals who put the needs of others and the greater good before themselves.

I am thankful for the hard questions posed to me about my faith.  I think it's important to reflect upon where I am in my journey.  No one ever said being Catholic was easy.

In the end, I am thankful to 2016 for the hard questions it posed.  There have been a lot of sleepless nights.  It is my hope that in a year I can look back at this year of gratitude and know that I used it to be a force for good in the world.  That I stopped letting others being an agent of change and led by example.

Big goals, big hopes, and lots of thanks.

And here are a few pics from last night with the family at Thanksgiving.  Robin only ate a roll, but was thankful for all the food.  Eileen has officially become a turkey and cranberry sauce fan.  Linus still doesn't like Thanksgiving.  I offered him to take the Thanksgiving food challenge -- try a little tiny bit of everything and I'd pay him a buck.  Linus turned me down and his cousins looked at him like he was crazy.

Happy Birthday Eileen (a couple days early)

Eileen is 6!

Okay.  Maybe she isn't quite 6 years old just yet.  Technically, she turns 6 in two days.  However this mama is taking her 6th grade students to camp tomorrow for four days and will miss Eileen's birthday.  Eileen decided she wanted to celebrate the bulk of her birthday today while I was still here.

We baked cupcakes for her class and muffins to eat tomorrow for breakfast.  This girl is such a young lady this days.  She never complains about all the delicious gluten and dairy missing from her life, even as she watches everyone else eat it.

After breakfast we opened presents (which also gave Dave time to assemble and meant we could put all the recycling out for tomorrow).  Eileen got to have a birthday party this year so Dave and I decided to get one big gift (a dollhouse) and one little gift (mittens--she has been asking for them for a year).

Eileen spends hours in her room playing.  She had converted a small bookshelf into a dollhouse. Once Linus realized how cool a dollhouse could be, he wanted in on the action and asked for his own.

After lunch everyone minus Robin headed out to Eileen's birthday party.  We generally don't do birthday parties, except for kindergarten and I'm thinking age 10.  First stop was Mighty-O donuts. Eileen requested the raspberry riots instead of cupcakes for her party.  Since they are vegan, we let her cheat on the gluten factor.  Turns out Mighty-O had lost the order.  The employees were awesome.  They immediately got to work making 2 dozen fresh donuts and gave them to us free of charge. Woot!

We held the party at Moonpaper Tent.  I needed the party to be organized by someone other than me.  I also wanted something different, something magical, and special.  This definitely fit the bill. We invited the entire kindergarten to the party since it's a small group.  The Moonpaper Tent Fairies organized a magical fairy adventure, where the kids helped come up with the own characters and story.  They looked for the lights that had been stolen, made lanterns to recapture the light, and hunted for treasure.

Upon arrival the kids picked their own costumes and got face painted.  Once one had gone full face, the others followed. Linus wanted to attend the party.  At first he acted like he was too cool for everything, but eventually got into it.  Linus decided he was Bilbo Baggins while still on the journey.  He had no magical powers (like all the other kids), but rather a small dagger.

Big brothers Linus and Cayden kept watch over the group.

Our large group of adventurers

                                           
                                               A motley crew of pirate boys.

The kids were fully engaged.  I was so impressed by their behavior.  There was a lot of listening and sharing required and not once did anyone interrupt another or have to be asked to be quiet.  

                      Happily making a lantern.  Eileen's lack of teeth cracks me up to no end.

                                                  The birthday cupcake.

Using special birthday powers to unlock the treasure.

They found the light.  I think these might be my most favorite pictures.

It was a wonderful, magical party and strangely calm.  Eileen isn't used to being the center of attention.  It was fun to watch her revel in being the special person.  6 years old and growing more and more into a young lady every day.  Still full of wonder.  Still my little schnitzel.  Still Eileen.

Facing Tomorrow

I hate politics.  Always have, always will.  I feel sick to my stomach right now.  My arms are shaking. I feel hopeless and lost like I never have before.  It's not like my candidate has always won, but this time is different.  This time it feels like the end of civilization in a way.

I really tried to keep my kids away from talk about the presidential candidates.  NPR has been absent from our morning radio.  I wouldn't let the kids watch as election results rolled in.  Before bed my eight year old asked if we would move to Canada.  I told him no, it wasn't that easy.  I hugged him.  I told him it would be okay.  But will it?

How will I go to school tomorrow and walk among adults (more than I realized judging by the voting) whose values are so different than mine? We are apparently electing someone who we know to lie, cheat, sexually assault women, insult people, and makes fun of those who he judges to be less valuable.  Someone who has vowed to break up families, break up marriages.

If this is the "Christian" candidate, does that mean that as a Christian I can now call people names, lie, cheat, and steal?  As a person in power (in terms of my relationship to my students) can I now belittle them if I don't like something they do.  Can I decide to only teach those I deem to be "winners?"  How can I expect children to believe me when I tell them that all people are worthy of dignity and respect if we just elected someone who so completely embodies the opposite.

This election is causing a seismic shift.  Instead of voting for people who held our values or voting for the most qualified, we have voted for someone who values himself above all others.  I can't imagine that any decisions he makes regarding the economy will be in the best interests of anyone, but himself.

"Conservatives" are in charge of the legislative branch, Trump is in charge of the executive and has the ability to nominate people to the judicial branch.  If there is no one in the system of checks and balances to look out for the needs of others, what will happen to our country?

I can only assume that the election of Trump will cause the stock market to tumble.  Dave and I were just planning a family vacation.  Now I'm second guessing that.  Maybe it's better now to just save our money, start doing with less in preparation for lean times ahead.

I have to wonder if this is the end of America as we know it.  My second grader is afraid he is going to die because Trump will start a war.  It breaks my heart to hear that.  I really did try to keep the election stuff away from him.  But this kid isn't dumb.  He understands that Trump is a volatile personality and that giving him power has serious ramifications.

So what happens now?  At my school, we were under strict instructions (as we should have been) to not talk about the candidates.  What happens now that the president is Trump?  Do we have a new policy that doesn't allow us to discuss current events ever until Trump is no longer in office?

So tomorrow.

Tomorrow  I will hug each of my children, tell them I love them and that they are people worthy of dignity and respect.  I will walk into my classroom (shaking, uneasy, slightly ill) and lead my class in prayer and pledge, we will make cards for Veterans, take a math test, and finish our science investigation.  I will make sure that my students understand that they too are worthy of dignity, love, and respect.

This election is different.  I get to examine who I truly am as a person and how to go forward.  If I'm honest with myself, I expect some of my relationships to change.  My frame of reference has been altered.

Tomorrow I'll go forward.  We all will, even as our nation slides back.  It's my turn to decide what role I'll play.  It's easy to condemn those who became Nazis under Hitler, who turned a blind eye toward the Holocaust, toward apartheid.  Will I be brave enough to speak?  Will I be brave enough to say no? Will I be brave enough to stand on the right side of history?

I'm not looking forward to tomorrow.