Big Changes Ahead

In the past two weeks, I have gotten a glimpse to what lies ahead in the next school year. Normally, I try not to think ahead as it is all I can do to get through current life....but these events have left me no choice..... Last Friday, the principal of our school announced he would retire at the end of the school year. He has lead the school for the past 10 years and been an educator for over 39 years so I guess it is time. Then, yesterday, my immediate boss announced she would be retiring at the end of the school year. Needless to say, next year could prove to be very different....but I am up for the challenge and, no, I have absolutely no interest in taking my bosses place!

On a thankful note, the Mom of the child who is currently in preschool and is a brittle diabetic told me the other day that she is considering leaving him in preschool for one more year. That would be a big relief for me.

Happy Friday everyone....more snow is on the way....UGH!

iPad Obsessions

Santa was kind enough to bring me an iPad this past Christmas. Since then I have a set of new obsessions (as if I needed more). My most favorite is playing Words with Friends. It is an electronic version of Scrabble that you can plan with other iPad and iPhone users. I have had an ongoing game with TSAnnie. So far she has beat the pants off of me every time....of course she does not have a nine year old playing in her absence. The concepts of Double/Triple letter and Double/Tripple word placement escapes JBM. He is just so happy to be able to play a word for me and proud to find a new way to use his growing vocabulary and help his Mom at the same time.....gotta love it!

With another storm on the horizon.....

Here is my question for each of you today......

Washington, DC

A trip to Washington, DC for business turned into an exciting opportunity for JBM and FlyBoy. I left on Tuesday and they joined me on Thursday. Not without some drama at home as FlyBoy had to find alternate care for Hope before he left. Once they arrived, they had a wonderful time. Our Congressman helped get them a tour of the Pentagon and the Capital Building. They also visited the top of the Washington Monument and Arlington Cemetery. Together we took a night tour of the city which was wonderful.

It was a wonderful bonding experience for the boys and we also enjoyed interstate train travel which none of us had ever done before. I think we may have found a great alternative to traveling by plane....within reason of course.

Unfortunately, we were not invited to dinner at the White House. Maybe next time.......

Man's Best Friend

Our weekend was filled with emotion. We said good bye to our special pet, Hope, yesterday. She was 14 years old and had been steadily declining in health. By Monday morning, she was no longer walking well or eating. We were all with her (incluing JBM) and she went peacefully.

This is never an easy decision but we went to bed last night knowing we had a new guardian angel to watch over us.

We love you sweet girl!

The First Gift of Christmas

We visited with Ellen and her hub this weekend for their annual Holiday Open House. It is always such a fun time as they have a wonderful group of friends and neighbors.

While visiting, JBM received his first gift of Christmas. No it was not a silver bell that only those of us who believe in Santa can hear. JBM had seen Ellen with a LED book light and thought how nice it would be to have for those days when he starts (or finishes) his homework in the car. So, that is what he received and he also has a new lap desk for the car.

The first official use of the desk....writing a letter to Santa on our way home yesterday!

Thanks to Ellen and her hub for a great weekend and a wonderful gift! Both will be well used and loved!

Copycat Meme

Ellen and Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl have this meme on their sites and I loved it so I will play along too!

1. Hot Chocolate or Apple Cider? Definitely hot chocolate or as Fly Boy and Ellen's hub would say hot chauwcolate (northern NJ accents).

2. Turkey or Ham? Love turkey but Christmas dinner needs to be beef.

3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it yourself Christmas tree? We do fake as I am highly allergic to pine. We do go to the local tree farm to enjoy the festivities.

4. Decorations on the outside of your house? Lighted wreaths and a blow up of Santa flying a helicopter. Would you expect anything else?

5. Snowball fights or sledding? Sledding

6. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping? We do not have a downtown for shopping and I hate the mall but I do try to shop with the vendors in town.

7. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night

8. How do you feel about Christmas movies? Love to watch them and our family favorite is Miracle on 34th Street. It has to be the original one with Natalie Woods.

9. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music? Before the decorations go up in our house....Thanksgiving weekend.

10. Stockings before or after presents? After...we used to do them on Christmas Eve but with JBM that cannot be done any more.

11. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them? We do not have any in our area...they would get killed trying to maneuver our road.

12. Go to someone else's house or they come to you? We have Christmas Eve at our house and go to my Brother's on Christmas Day.

13. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so, when? We read both the Christmas Story and the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.

14. What do you do after presents and dinner? Get in the car and head to the OBX for the rest of the week.

15. What is your favorite holiday smell? Cookies baking.

16. Ice skating or walking around the mall? Always prefer to be outside!

17. Do you open present or presents on Christmas Eve or wait until Christmas Day? Christmas Eve with my extended family and Christmas Day with our little family.

18. Favorite Christmas memory? The first year that JBM took piano lessons, he learned Silent Night for the Christmas recital and it made FlyBoy cry......I love it.

19. Favorite part about winter? Playing in the snow with JBM and then having hot chocolate in front of the fire when we are done.

20. Every been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes. The one kiss I miss the most is the one from my Dad.

Let's keep playing!