3 Families, 3 Christmases (is that plural even right??? weird...)
1. Christmas Eve. Duane and I joined the sisters along with Mom and Dale at Dale's sister's house. It was a pleasant evening with the yummy food that always seems to go along with these events. After the festivities we went to Mom's La Crosse home (Dale's parents are currently in assisted living and since mom works in La Crosse now, she stays at their place a few nights a week to avoid a commute) and did some of the family presents since Duane and I weren't going to be around on Christmas Day. Emily, Dan, Duane and I got in a game of Euchre, gifts were exchanged, and we headed home. It was a wonderful little Christmas even if it wasn't exactly traditional.
2. Christmas Night. Duane had to work on Christmas Day. Brandi and I slept in (as much as a dog with a bladder on a timer lets you sleep in anyway) and picked up around the house. That night, despite his reservations about the bad weather that had been threatening to roll in, I managed to talk Duane into heading into Tomah to Dad and Mary's house. It's a good thing we went because Grandma and Grandpa hung around waiting for us and we got to say Merry Christmas and hand out hugs to loved ones we don't see often. Uncle Steve was also still there as well as Cousin Jean and her entire family. We had fun trying to convince shy little Laura (Jean's little girl) to take pictures with us. Emily finally succeeded by promising Laura she could open one of Emily's presents for her. Very cute! After a frozen pizza (Duane and I missed supper and the leftovers had been sent away to re-appear at Grandma's birthday party the next day) and another round of gift opening, the remaining family members all went to the basement for another round of fun. I won't go into detail now because that is part of the next blog. (Is that enough to entice you back?)
3. Jan. 16-17. Hey, look! It's in the future. I can't give you further details right now except to say that Duane and I are REALLY looking forward to visiting his Grandparents and his Parents on that weekend for the last Christmas. I'm pretty excited about the gifts we have for Duane Sr. and Wendy...so I'll do my best to get you an update after the event actually takes place.
Ok...that's all I've got. I'll try to do better with pictures next time.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WENDY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WENDY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Past tense
So what have we been up to since my last post? Good question. I guess I haven't posted much because nothing sticks out as extraordinary, but life is very good indeed. I can't find my camera. It's around somewhere but pictures will be lacking so I hope this post is not too boring.
Dec. 7 was our Christmas concert at school. I am fortunate to work in a school district that EXPECTS Christmas music at a Christmas concert. That doesn't always happen in public schools today. I was satisfied with the concert although as always, I know there is more that I could have gotten out of students. However, several parents decided to share with me that they thought it was not only a great concert...but the best concert they'd heard in a long time especially out of the High School. Good. I'm glad. And maybe it was. It is very possible that I've just greatly raised my standards for this year's group based on the abilities I know they have.
After the concert, the students were GREAT at tearing down. In fact all equipment was stacked and ready for transport within about 10 minutes of the end of the concert. I was in my car and on my way home only 2 minutes into the second quarter of the Green Bay Monday Night Football Game. (It was the game vs. the Ravens...and GB won 27-14) The night was a complete success on multiple fronts.
The day after the concert was pretty basic. It really was just a normal day at school. We were all hoping to be let out of class early due to the snow storm blowing in, but it didn't happen. I did skip out on the music booster's meeting after school though...the snow was falling and another hour delayed would have made the roads a mess. I got home and made a quick grocery list and headed out into a storm so I could hunker down at home with the dog if we didn't have school Wednesday. Other than nearly losing my purse at Walmart (just being stupid, no story here) and having to scrape 1/2inch ice of my windshield after only 35 minutes inside there is really nothing to tell.
Wednesday there was a SNOW DAY and we even got a late start on Thursday out of it. Other than that, to pass the days I picked up a few hours at JCP, and Duane at Best Buy. We got 3 of our 8 regularly scheduled pep bands performances out of the way and basically just chilled out.
Winter break came and went. It found us freezin' Brandi's paws off playing in the snow, burning my arm on the over rack when Brandi decided she wanted to help with the monkey bread, much cleaning of the house and doing laundry, and Duane in bed sick by 9:30 on New Year's Eve (I went to bed at 11:30...no point in staying awake alone). All in all, it was relatively but not entirely uneventful...and it was VERY restful...which was MUCH needed.
I plan on writing up a couple of blogs yet tonight about the specifics of those few events over the holidays (something about wii festivals and Christmas celebrations) but I'll wait a day or two to actually post them. I intend on posting one on Thursday night and one on Friday, but we'll see. Anyway, I guess that gives you all SOMETHING for now. Sorry it's been so long!
Dec. 7 was our Christmas concert at school. I am fortunate to work in a school district that EXPECTS Christmas music at a Christmas concert. That doesn't always happen in public schools today. I was satisfied with the concert although as always, I know there is more that I could have gotten out of students. However, several parents decided to share with me that they thought it was not only a great concert...but the best concert they'd heard in a long time especially out of the High School. Good. I'm glad. And maybe it was. It is very possible that I've just greatly raised my standards for this year's group based on the abilities I know they have.
After the concert, the students were GREAT at tearing down. In fact all equipment was stacked and ready for transport within about 10 minutes of the end of the concert. I was in my car and on my way home only 2 minutes into the second quarter of the Green Bay Monday Night Football Game. (It was the game vs. the Ravens...and GB won 27-14) The night was a complete success on multiple fronts.
The day after the concert was pretty basic. It really was just a normal day at school. We were all hoping to be let out of class early due to the snow storm blowing in, but it didn't happen. I did skip out on the music booster's meeting after school though...the snow was falling and another hour delayed would have made the roads a mess. I got home and made a quick grocery list and headed out into a storm so I could hunker down at home with the dog if we didn't have school Wednesday. Other than nearly losing my purse at Walmart (just being stupid, no story here) and having to scrape 1/2inch ice of my windshield after only 35 minutes inside there is really nothing to tell.
Wednesday there was a SNOW DAY and we even got a late start on Thursday out of it. Other than that, to pass the days I picked up a few hours at JCP, and Duane at Best Buy. We got 3 of our 8 regularly scheduled pep bands performances out of the way and basically just chilled out.
Winter break came and went. It found us freezin' Brandi's paws off playing in the snow, burning my arm on the over rack when Brandi decided she wanted to help with the monkey bread, much cleaning of the house and doing laundry, and Duane in bed sick by 9:30 on New Year's Eve (I went to bed at 11:30...no point in staying awake alone). All in all, it was relatively but not entirely uneventful...and it was VERY restful...which was MUCH needed.
I plan on writing up a couple of blogs yet tonight about the specifics of those few events over the holidays (something about wii festivals and Christmas celebrations) but I'll wait a day or two to actually post them. I intend on posting one on Thursday night and one on Friday, but we'll see. Anyway, I guess that gives you all SOMETHING for now. Sorry it's been so long!
Monday, January 4, 2010
I promised
I know I've been REALLY post lazy lately, but I was really busy before Winter Break at school and then I was really enjoying not doing anything during break. This post isn't much but I'm posting because I promised Wendy that I'd post before I went back to school. I leave in 5 minutes.
I seem to do better posting when I make promises because I'll do anything I can to NOT break them...so now to all of you that MAY be reading, I promise a better post on Wednesday night. I work tonight, have pep band Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and then work the weekend...so Wednesday is it. I'll spend my down time between school and pep band on Tuesday preparing either one big post or a sting of smaller ones. See you then!
I seem to do better posting when I make promises because I'll do anything I can to NOT break them...so now to all of you that MAY be reading, I promise a better post on Wednesday night. I work tonight, have pep band Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and then work the weekend...so Wednesday is it. I'll spend my down time between school and pep band on Tuesday preparing either one big post or a sting of smaller ones. See you then!
Monday, December 7, 2009
My Favorite...
I have a favorite lottery ticket. I don't play often, but every once in a while I will...and I have discovered a ticket in which there is NO WAY I'll ever lose. It's a MN Lottery game called Border Battles ($5). The ticket features several ways to win but the whole idea is a based on each ticket being an individual Packer/Viking Game. Since it is a MN lottery thing, you scratch as if you were a Viking...but...I still love it because:
1. Either I win money
OR
2. I lose the money, but the ticket says the PACKERS WIN. When the Packers win, I can't lose! So yeah. Way to go MN! Being a lottery ticket, more often than not, the Pack wins...according to the officials at MN state lottery. Maybe they didn't really think that one through...but I'm loving it.
Now...off to school. Christmas Concert tonight. (I am lucky to work in a school that still EXPECTS Christmas music at the Christmas concert!) I know there is a Packer game on but I'll only miss roughly the first half, so not too bad. I'll write again really soon about the Harley Christmas party we went to last night.
1. Either I win money
OR
2. I lose the money, but the ticket says the PACKERS WIN. When the Packers win, I can't lose! So yeah. Way to go MN! Being a lottery ticket, more often than not, the Pack wins...according to the officials at MN state lottery. Maybe they didn't really think that one through...but I'm loving it.
Now...off to school. Christmas Concert tonight. (I am lucky to work in a school that still EXPECTS Christmas music at the Christmas concert!) I know there is a Packer game on but I'll only miss roughly the first half, so not too bad. I'll write again really soon about the Harley Christmas party we went to last night.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
What do band students do...
...to get out of rehearsing?
2 of them decided to tell me at the start of rehearsal that they needed to leave the last 15 minutes or so for yearbook. I'm thinking they are getting ready to start sales at lunch time.
Rehearsal progresses. It's going well but I've got a migraine. The room is really warm and dry. Lots of kids have been sick lately. Now one kid has to use the bathroom urgently. She's a good kid. I trust her. Another kid asks for a drink of water. She's been ill. We were all actually told to let her go when she needs it. And she's a good kid. I trust her. Then a third. He needs water too. I'm getting cranky but we need to get on with it. My head is splitting and I just want to get through. We started the next song without those kids. It was "The Grinch" and on our run through I had to start again because the trombones missed their entrance. Apparently they forgot to count for themselves when their section leader left for yearbook. It's OK. They nailed it the second time.
We weren't more than 30 measures or so into the piece when all of those that had gone missing came pounding through the door again. It is no longer any wonder why the seniors were giggly all day. They parade in with cake and juice. Apparently the fact that we have a concert in only 2 more rehearsals doesn't matter...they've decided to throw a party. How they managed to keep it a secret is beyond me. Secrets aren't easy in little ol' Spring Grove.
How could I argue? The cake said Happy Anniversary (really? What HS kids do THAT for a teacher, they are strange...but you gotta love them!)...and we had already gotten through the songs that really needed it. What goofy kids. They were pretty bummed that Duane couldn't make it, they DID invite him but he was working at Best Buy so he couldn't stop in. Don't feel bad for him though...they sent leftovers home.
2 of them decided to tell me at the start of rehearsal that they needed to leave the last 15 minutes or so for yearbook. I'm thinking they are getting ready to start sales at lunch time.
Rehearsal progresses. It's going well but I've got a migraine. The room is really warm and dry. Lots of kids have been sick lately. Now one kid has to use the bathroom urgently. She's a good kid. I trust her. Another kid asks for a drink of water. She's been ill. We were all actually told to let her go when she needs it. And she's a good kid. I trust her. Then a third. He needs water too. I'm getting cranky but we need to get on with it. My head is splitting and I just want to get through. We started the next song without those kids. It was "The Grinch" and on our run through I had to start again because the trombones missed their entrance. Apparently they forgot to count for themselves when their section leader left for yearbook. It's OK. They nailed it the second time.
We weren't more than 30 measures or so into the piece when all of those that had gone missing came pounding through the door again. It is no longer any wonder why the seniors were giggly all day. They parade in with cake and juice. Apparently the fact that we have a concert in only 2 more rehearsals doesn't matter...they've decided to throw a party. How they managed to keep it a secret is beyond me. Secrets aren't easy in little ol' Spring Grove.
How could I argue? The cake said Happy Anniversary (really? What HS kids do THAT for a teacher, they are strange...but you gotta love them!)...and we had already gotten through the songs that really needed it. What goofy kids. They were pretty bummed that Duane couldn't make it, they DID invite him but he was working at Best Buy so he couldn't stop in. Don't feel bad for him though...they sent leftovers home.
Monday, November 23, 2009
I'm sorry
I know it's been a long while, and I've really been thinking about posting...I just haven't had the time. It's been busy at school and both Duane and I are working second jobs. Life is good though and we very much enjoy the time we DO get to spend together in the evenings which is why I haven't been spending it blogging.
So let's see...this blog will be totally random, but it's all I've got right now (although I do have a list of "off the beaten path" topics I can post about when life settles down a bit.
Random thought #1: Tonight, I'm doing laundry. Exciting. I know. Duane left for a couple of hours to help a friend hook up their entertainment system. He also spent a large chunk of the day pouring concrete as the foundation for our shed. He has been a VERY hardworking man lately. We are also sitting around playing MARIO BROTHERS on our Wii...WOO HOO...WHAT FUN!!! He is currently playing without me because I played without him while he was gone. Once he has played a while we can play together...it looks like you can play up to 4 people at the same time...so it will be fun. One of these days we're going to set up a Wii night with the sisters and their beaus (and mom and her beau if they are available that night...since she now stays in LaCrosse during the week).
Random thought #2: Thanksgiving is coming. I'm excited...and not. It's a short week at school. That's good because I'm still pretty beat from the long weeks and late nights for the musical (which was AWESOME by the way). I work the 3am-1pm shift on Black Friday. Whew...I mean...I know I asked for the early shift (so I didn't have to stick around to help clean up at the end of the night)...but GEEZ... Oh well. Duane works Thanksgiving Day. He also works black Friday at both the sheriff's office and at best buy...so he's got the rougher end of the deal. Guess I'll have to rub his back when he gets home.
Random thought #3: We just celebrated our first anniversary! Yeah Us! The year-old-cake that you traditionally save...um...well...the frosting wasn't great at all...but the chocolate was good. Brandi took care of the frosting for us so it worked out.
Random thought #4: I have a new TV series I like a lot. NCIS. I started watching it because I didn't realize my dad was a movie star. But I swear...both looks and personality...the lead character dude is my dad. Then I watched it enough to actually really like the show itself too. Check out these pics and tell me I'm wrong, I dare you!
Random thought #5: I bought myself a present. If you're ever looking for gift idea...Barnes and Noble gift cards would be great. I can use them to build my library.
Random thought #6: Go PACK! We're at least as good as last year by record! Woo Hoo. Hopefully we hold together without Harris and Kampman. But you can at least all help feed the state. www.chunky.com We're still undefeated there!
Ok...laundry's ready...and all of Duane's little Mario guys died. Guess that means I'm done for tonight!
So let's see...this blog will be totally random, but it's all I've got right now (although I do have a list of "off the beaten path" topics I can post about when life settles down a bit.
Random thought #1: Tonight, I'm doing laundry. Exciting. I know. Duane left for a couple of hours to help a friend hook up their entertainment system. He also spent a large chunk of the day pouring concrete as the foundation for our shed. He has been a VERY hardworking man lately. We are also sitting around playing MARIO BROTHERS on our Wii...WOO HOO...WHAT FUN!!! He is currently playing without me because I played without him while he was gone. Once he has played a while we can play together...it looks like you can play up to 4 people at the same time...so it will be fun. One of these days we're going to set up a Wii night with the sisters and their beaus (and mom and her beau if they are available that night...since she now stays in LaCrosse during the week).
Random thought #2: Thanksgiving is coming. I'm excited...and not. It's a short week at school. That's good because I'm still pretty beat from the long weeks and late nights for the musical (which was AWESOME by the way). I work the 3am-1pm shift on Black Friday. Whew...I mean...I know I asked for the early shift (so I didn't have to stick around to help clean up at the end of the night)...but GEEZ... Oh well. Duane works Thanksgiving Day. He also works black Friday at both the sheriff's office and at best buy...so he's got the rougher end of the deal. Guess I'll have to rub his back when he gets home.
Random thought #3: We just celebrated our first anniversary! Yeah Us! The year-old-cake that you traditionally save...um...well...the frosting wasn't great at all...but the chocolate was good. Brandi took care of the frosting for us so it worked out.
Random thought #4: I have a new TV series I like a lot. NCIS. I started watching it because I didn't realize my dad was a movie star. But I swear...both looks and personality...the lead character dude is my dad. Then I watched it enough to actually really like the show itself too. Check out these pics and tell me I'm wrong, I dare you!
Random thought #5: I bought myself a present. If you're ever looking for gift idea...Barnes and Noble gift cards would be great. I can use them to build my library.
Random thought #6: Go PACK! We're at least as good as last year by record! Woo Hoo. Hopefully we hold together without Harris and Kampman. But you can at least all help feed the state. www.chunky.com We're still undefeated there!
Ok...laundry's ready...and all of Duane's little Mario guys died. Guess that means I'm done for tonight!
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