Christmas 2007

Christmas truly is a magical time of the year! While celebrating our Savior's birth, we also have the opportunity to spend time with family. This year I got a heavy dose of family as Ava was born and I came early and am staying after to help my sister with the boys and Ava. The house seems to be a constant flurry of noise and activity, but it sure is fun to see Christmas through the eyes of children. Logan was very excited for the Santa side of Christmas as well, but it was really sweet to hear what he had to say about baby Jesus being born too. Julie unwrapped a Demaco angel figurine of a woman holding a baby that Randy gave to her for Christmas in lieu of Ava's birth. Julie asked Logan who he thought the momma and baby represented, fully expecting him to say her and Ava, and his response was, "I think it is baby Jesus and his mommy because today is baby Jesus' birthday." Yep, he definitely understood the true meaning of Christmas!

Our family went to church on Christmas Eve, with 2 restless children and one sleeping baby and spent the rest of the evening and next day just hanging out together.

I am currently helping out with the kids, trying to give Julie a break until Friday when I will head home to get a few things done at my own house and hang out with Pete, who is coming into town today to stay at my house.

Here are some pictures from our Christmas:

Logan with the snow fort that he and Randy built

Logan and Cooper reading an all-time favorite: "Santa Mouse"

Logan, Me, Randy, Julie, Ava, Dad, Mom, Cooper on Christmas Eve

Logan in his new spider man costume and me

Cooper, who couldn't care less about presents, unloading and re-loading his stocking

Baby Ava

I have been enjoying my Christmas break immensely so far. Though I can't say it's tough when I "have" to hold this little sweetie. Today is her 1 week birthday, and though she spends most of her day and night sleeping, she sure is adorable.

Ava on Christmas Eve-all 7 pounds, 2 ounces of her!

She's Here!

Ava Rose Recob entered the world 8 minutes ago and is healthy and beautiful-chunky cheeks and button nose. Unlike her brothers, she has dark hair, but it could change to the red shade that Logan and Cooper share. Ava is 7lbs, 12oz and 20" long. Thankfully, Julie had a much easier delivery than with her first two babies! Yahoo! I can't wait to see her tomorrow!

Minutes old

Ava and her daddy

Estoy Nerviosa

I was asked, once again, to teach a 2-hour class in a Master's program at CUW about the 4-Blocks method of teaching Language Arts. You'd think I would be used to speaking in front of people, since I do it all day, and yet I was quite nervous. My guess is that teaching adults, who for the most part are older than me, puts me in a bit of an awkward position. Anyway, I was well-prepared, had lots of visual aids and was ready to go. As soon as I walked in the room, I saw a mother of a student I had taught in 1st grade-nothing like setting the nerves on a non-stop roller coaster! Anyway, the class went very well, but I am quite relieved to be done with the evening.

Tonight's agenda includes decorating the sugar cookies I baked on Wednesday and attending the much anticipated FIL staff party.

Happiness

Happiness is having a snow day (Tuesday) that allows you a whole day to get caught up in life and run errands, since it really wasn't too bad outside. Another reason I love living in Wisconsin! As my friend Pete pointed out, although the temperatures in Florida where he lives are in the 70s right now and beautiful, the teachers will never have the benefit of a snow day!

Make Yourself into an Elf

Sarah sent this link to me and I thought it was so much fun! Check it out and then make one of you and your family (it only takes a minute or two!)

Myself as an Elf

Lately

Lately, life has been running at lightening speed. Here's what I've been up to:

Thanksgiving: Great time to be with family, play with the nephews, relax, eat turkey, etc...

Women's Christmas Coffee: An amazing night, with a touching actress from Acacia Theater who portrayed Mary from the news from the Angel to the death of Christ. We had a few technical issues that night and the fact that the actress showed up 5 minutes before she was supposed to perform didn't add to the ease of the night, but it still went well. I was dead tired Monday night, since I had been at Church/School from 6:30am until 10:15 pm that night with a 25 minute break to run home and change around 5 pm.

Christmas Program: Sad to say, but my favorite time of December is after the Middle School Christmas program is done. I would love to say that there is something beautiful about the students proclaiming Christ's birth, but somehow my vision is shaded from disciplining them for a week and a half during their 2-hour practices. We reached an all-time-low this year with kids texting each other during practice-great choices. They did a nice job last night and I am happy to move on to other celebrations of Christmas!

I'm looking forward to girls' time with my mom and sister this weekend when we get together to bake, shop, and hang out together. These plans could get a shake-up too, since my sister is already 3 cm dilated and not due until the 28th of December. It would be great if she went early, but on the other hand, she could stay at 3cm for the next 3 weeks.

Here's a blast from the past picture that I know one of my readers will appreciate. Just think: tornado, Target, and tantalizing fashion!

Bummer

The air is still for now and the sun is starting to peak out from behind its cloudy wall. The snow is resting gently on the ground, over the thick, heavy layer that was put down just a few days before. It's type of snow that almost blinds you because of its reflective nature, a kind of glitter from God. And yet, amidst all of that winter precipitation, I am sitting here in my classroom. No snow day today, despite fervent prayers from students and teachers alike. Bummer!

Great Weekend

My weekends are always so valuable because there is so much to cram into them and so little time to soak in the pleasures of life. Last weekend was an exception as I was able to do quite a few things and still get some sleep.

The weekend started with Jenna and I making homemade applesauce (not the freezer version either-full blown canning). I have never canned anything without my mom or sister there, so it was a first for me and Jenna had never canned anything, period, so I was able to teach her the basics. We were very successful, with only one jar that didn't seal. Jenna will strongly dislike me for posting these pictures, but I thought they were too cute not to post.

peeling all the apples

getting ready for the hot water bath

pulling out the jars-no easy task for two clumsy people

Anyway, beyond the satisfaction of completing something useful, Jenna and I had many laughs and a great time. We went to a friend's house after to shop at her in-home-Christmas boutique and I found some really cute wine glasses, embellished with stones and wire, and a cute scarf.

Saturday, my mom came down and we went to an amazing house (like a castle) of a friend of mine from church and spent 3 hours making cards for our card exchange. The chance to spend a whole morning being creative does something to calm and soothe my soul.

My mom and I took off after that and did some shopping in Cedarburg and Bayshore and ended our evening at BD's Mongolian Barbeque (a favorite from when Julie and Randy lived in Arizona) and Kopps Custard. We also checked out Trader Joe's and I was able to find my elusive Lambrusco wine and some other fun food products.

Later that night, Jenna came over again and we hung/moved around some wall art and watched a decent movie-good times. We also broke open the Lambrusco, which I loved and Jenna liked.

Sunday was church and many hours in my classroom cleaning things up and planning for the next week. Bible Study at night was good too.

This is the kind of weekend that I wished came around each weekend-time to be with friends and family, time for creativity, time for fun activities, and time to get some stuff done. Anyway, I'm thankful for the times I had.

Time is Passing Quickly

I always heard parents talk about how quickly their children grow up and how fast time passes, and I am starting to feel the same. Although there are days that drag on and on or weeks that seem like they will never end, overall the time is cruising by. I can hardly believe that we are already done with 53 days of school (out of 180) and Thanksgiving is just 1.5 weeks away and 4.5 weeks later, we will be celebrating Christmas.

I am making a very conscious effort to take time to celebrate the birth of Christ and to spend time with friends and family during the month of December. Usually I feel so bogged down with shopping for gifts, sending out cards, and the other busy-ness of Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I really do love baking, making cards, shopping for the perfect gift, etc..., I just don't like how it leaves me drained and without time to reflect on the true gift of Christmas. So, I started early. I have most of my shopping done, the cards are almost completed, and the baking will happen with my mom and sister, which will make it a great bonding time as well. I can't, however, bring myself to decorate until Thanksgiving is done or start the Christmas music yet.

I think my 3 year old nephew, Logan, feels the same way. I spent the weekend with the Recob family this past weekend and my sister related this story to me from last Thursday:

(While driving in the car with Julie)

Logan: Mom, what are you listening to on the radio?

Julie: It's Christmas music.

A short pause as Logan thought.

Logan: Mom, did you change the calendar yet?

Julie: No, it's still November.

Logan: Well, we didn't change the calendar yet so it's not Christmas yet. Turn it off, mommy.

I love the simple honesty of a 3 year old.

Congratulations

Congratulations to my dear friends Jessi and Nick who just found out they are expecting a baby! It has been a long journey with many years of prayers and "whys". It is so awesome to see God's hand and his timing in this whole process. Many more prayers for a safe pregnancy!

Old School Teachings

Last week, the little town of Cedarburg was rocked as a young girl, (freshman at the high school), committed suicide by hanging herself on her own bedposts. She was dealing with depression and the usual high school issues and simply made a choice to end her life. The ordeal hit close to home because her family are members at our church and she used to attend our school. What I found most disturbing about the whole ordeal was the way the suicide was dealt with. I talked to many confused and upset students about the situation and they were told, by one person or another, that suicide=eternity in hell. I thought the old school "auto hell judgement" concerning suicide was no longer being preached. How are we to know this girl's heart at the time of her suicide? We can't automatically assume she is in hell. I spent hours offering a bit of God's grace and the hope of eternal life to devastated kids who had been told otherwise.

Big Bad Wolf

Another perk to my long weekend was spending a day at my parent's house, shopping and catching up with the family. Julie happened to be up with the boys and we all went to Zooloween at the Menomonee Zoo in Oshkosh. It was a lot of fun to see the boys decked out in their costumes as they walked around the zoo. Logan was the "big bad wolf" and Cooper was a little pig. The fact that the zoo had 3 wolves in their exhibit was especially exciting for Logan and he loved the homemade costume from Grandma Miller. I think the ears were a bit long for a wolf, but otherwise, the costume was a smash hit!

Cooper-what a sweetie-playing "hide and seek" with me

Two of my most favorite boys

The big, bad wolf and his little piggy friend

Logan poses with a camera at the zoo

Logan and I by the pond

Windy City

Ahh, a long weekend affords me time to do a little bit of everything. I was able to relax a bit, do some creative projects, see family, head to Chicago to meet friends, and be productive as well. On Friday, I met Mike and his new bride, Beth, in Chicago for the day. We enjoyed some classic Giordano's pizza, a little shopping, and a great boat ride up and down the Chicago River and into Lake Michigan as well. It was a beautiful day (weather-wise) and it was great to see some old friends again. Chicago is such a great city because the diversity of people and things to do/see make you feel alive and energized. I wouldn't, however, say that the parking is spectacular because paying $28 to park for 7 hours makes me want to pull my hair out. Here are some pictures from the day:

Old Friends: me, Mike and Beth

Chicago skyline

Amazing Architecture

On the boat tour

In the church square on Michigan Avenue

Why Teachers Love Teaching

There are a few main reasons teachers love teaching:
1) June
2) July
3) August
4) Any other day off school!

This isn't completely factual, but pretty close some days! I have actually been pretty blessed this year. I love having my repeat students (the same group that I taught 5 years ago in 1st grade or 4 years ago when I taught 2nd grade). The connection that is already built up between student and teacher is a great foundation. I can see why looping (where a teacher teaches 3rd grade one year, 4th the next and stays with the same students) is so popular. Plus, I have never had such an enthusiastic and hard-working group of students. They give 100% for the most part and that is qute refreshing after my last year of teaching.

With all that said, I still am looking forward to Thursday and Friday off this week. I am planning on sleeping in, getting a few things done at home, heading to Chicago to meet some friends, making my Christmas cards (so they are done and out of the way), and a few other piddly tasks.

Pumpkin Patch

Last Sunday, the whole family traveled to a pumpkin farm as an annual fall tradition, though it didn't feel like fall when we were walking around in 90 weather. Anyway, the pumpkin farm was fabulous and everyone had a great time. From the corn maze (actually challenging to get out of), the truly spooky haunted barn, the goats you could feed, the hay rides, the underground slide, the pumpkin patch, and the homemade carmel apples, there was something for everyone. The Recob family: Julie, Logan, Randy, and Cooper

Logan checking out the farm implements

Dad and the boys

Cooper blends right in with the pumpkins

The boys giving kisses

Logan in the "john"

The Recob-Munster Family

Dad, Mom, and I posing-yes, we are very dorky at times

"How silly," said Logan

Which way to go in this crazy corn maze?

Mike and Bethany's Wedding

Last weekend, I traveled to Crown Point, IN for Mike and Bethany's wedding. It was nice to see some old friends from Concordia and to see Mike married happily to Beth. Besides driving there and back in one day, it was a beautiful day (90 degrees). Congratulations Mike!

Jeff Everts, Nick Gottschalk?, Me, Chris Rene, Tina Rene, and Mike Goers

Mike, Beth and me

Mike and me

Jeff, Nick, Mike, me, Chris and Tina

An illegal Butt

Here's a story to top the charts:

I had my 8th grade Spanish class in our special technology room today to see a clip on the SMART board. The windows to this room face the side of the street where all of the high school smokers and/or druggies hang out during their open campus lunch. Two of the high school girls were hugging and kissing each other and my lovely 8th graders, who lack even a grain of self-control, started saying, "Ew, gross, nasty...." out the window. One of the high school students looks up at them, turns around and moons them.

I caught a glimpse of what was happening and sat my class down and promptly started the video. I left them to go and find this girl to talk to, since the classroom next to the room we were in is full of 6 year olds in first grade and they do not need to be seeing this girl's butt, nor do my 8th graders.

She and a friend had already walked back across the street to the High School and I summoned them over, which they surprisingly came. I asked her if she indeed mooned us, which she denied 2 times, until I told her that I saw it. She then confessed and said she was sorry and that it would never happen again. I reminded her that there were little children who could potentially see out the window, blah, blah, blah.... Since she was remorseful, I assumed the situation was done.

However, sitting about 20 yards from where I talked to this girl was a police officer in an unmarked car and as I walked back into the school, he asked me to come over to his car. After telling him what had happened, he asked if I wanted to press charges and I said, "No." He insisted that I do and told me that this girl, whom he recognized and knew had quite a few offenses against her, really need to be charged. I told him to do whatever he needed to do, but I had to get back to my class. He took my name and I left it as is.

About an hour later, my secretary came up to me, telling me that the officer charged the girl with disorderly conduct and ARRESTED her. I guess she was a bit defiant towards the officer as well. Yikes! I didn't know you could be arrested for mooning someone.

Never a dull day at FIL. If I am not grading papers, doling out band-aids, fixing jammed lockers, or helping clean up vomit, I'm just getting high school kids arrested.

Alias

Thanks to Jamie for this time-wasting and amusing activity!

1. your rock star name (first pet & first car). Max Cutlass Cierra
2. your gansta name (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie). Elephant Tracks Chocolate Chip
3. your “fly girl"? name (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name). CMIL
4. your detective name (fav color, fav animal). Blue Monkey
5. your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born) Marie Omro
6. your Star Wars name (first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first). Milca
7. superhero name ("the" + 2nd fav color, fav drink). The Green Chai
8. nascar name (the first names of your grandfathers). Clinton Paul
9. witness protection name (mother’s & father’s middle names ). Marie Paul
10. tv weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter). Peterson Philadelphia
11. spy name (your fav season/holiday, flower). Fall Cala Lilly
12. cartoon name (fav fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie" or “y"). Strawberry Skirty
13. hippy name (what you ate for breakfast, your fav tree). Waffle Redwood
14. your rockstar tour name ("the" + your fav hobby/craft, fav weather element + “tour"). The Stampin' Rain Tour.

Happy Birthday Dad

Wow-64 and still kicking it strong! I love you tons-Happy Birthday Padre!

Introducing Peyton James Hilton

This is a bit overdue, but I wanted to post it anyway. Erica, old friend and roomie from college, gave birth to Peyton James on August 14th. He was 8lbs 2oz. 21 inches long. Congratulations! He definitely has your big and beautiful eyes!

The day he was born

Peyton at about 2 weeks

Peyton at about 6 weeks!

Girl's Day

On Saturday, I drove to St. Charles, IL with my dear and patient friend Jenna to attend a Folk Art Festival where my mom and sister met us. We had a good time overall and I spent way too much money on an amazing cabinet made my some artists from Pennsylvania. The unfortunate part of the whole day was the Jenna and I spent 5.5 hours in the car and only 2 hours browsing at the fair-it was a bit of a haul for an art festival. We did, however, enjoy some delicious Mexican cuisine afterwards and I thoroughly embarrassed my sister and mother by speaking to the waiter in Spanish, which they thought was unnecessary. I say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," or "When in a Mexican Restaurant, speak as the Mexicans do!"

Prego Julie, Mom, and me

Jenna and Me

World Record

I may have set a world record for selling my car faster than anyone on the planet (correct me, if I am wrong, faithful readers-all 2 of you). Anyway, I finally put my car up for sale (in my driveway with a sign) and I had a call within 2.5 hours. The guy came to see it the next day and I sold it to him on the spot for $100 less than my asking price. So, goodbye faithful, inexpensive, excellent gas mileage Saturn.

Of course there was more to the story than that, though. About 3 hours before he was coming to test drive it, I was finishing up the cleaning (vacuuming, etc...). I wanted to back the car into the garage so that I could reach it with the vacuum. My car would not start at all. Two days prior, my fabulous watch-out-for-me-friend, Tom, came over to charge my battery because I had not drove the car in over a month and it wouldn't start. Apparently it is not a good idea to let a car sit for a month (the things I learn). Well, it turns out the battery was dead and not just un-used. So, I trooped down to my favorite mechanic, just 4 blocks away and he put a new one in, while informing me that the battery was the car's orginal and had faithfully served its purpose, since the Saturn is over 8 years old. Yea for that! Unfortunately, the mechanic knew me a bit too well because the day before I was there getting a nail pulled from the tire of my SUV and getting a plug put in its place. While I can't say I love paying the mechanic, I do have to say I am blessed to have a mechanic that will fix my car on the spot, with no wait time. Had I not been able to get a new battery, I am not sure my car would have sold, since the purchaser really wanted to test drive it and it doesn't look so good when you are selling a car that doesn't start :0)

Family Wedding

Well, beyond being completely wrapped up the in the school year, I have been kept busy with a few other things in the recent past. Last weekend I celebrated my cousin Lissa's wedding to Brian. It was a great event and I was blessed to be a reader in the ceremony. The whole family thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the reception as well. One of the most touching things is that Lissa's birth mother, from Korea, was flown over along with Lissa' birth aunt, by my aunt and uncle. Not an eye in the church was dry as Lissa's mom and birth mom lit the unity candle together and then as Lissa handed each of them a rose. God's grace is so large that it can span thousands of miles across oceans to different continents and languages. Here are some picture highlights.

The lovely couple-Lissa and Brian

Beautiful and delicious Simma's Cheesecake

Logan and I acting goofy!

Lissa and her brothers/sisters-in-law

Cindy, Brad, Mike, Jessi and of course, Brian and Lissa

The Miller cousins and their spouses

Dad and Logan

Julie and me

The Immediate Miller family (minus Cooper)