Santa Tracker!

Click HERE for the NORAD Santa Tracker and follow the big guy as he makes his way around the globe!

:)

Holiday party

I carved out some time last week to bake with my students. We made treats all week, saving them for Friday's holiday party before winter break.

First up, peppermint bark with Taylor and Madison:

Stephany, Alex and Kennedy made green sugar cookies:

Leslie, Alyssa and Bryan did some green banana bread - with marshmallows because, why not?!

Then Tony brought out the Santa hats - one for everyone!

Alonzo, Reza, Sean, Sydney, Monique, Kennedy, Sue and Jazmin:

James wasn't feelin' it:

Friday finally arrived, and we presented our goodies - Bre with muddy buddies, Alonzo with Germna chocolate bars and Kelsie with fudge:

And the cookie/banana bread crew:

I love spending time in the kitchen with my CE2 peeps - especially when we share our yummies with our friends! :)

Overcast

Trying to decide if I should go out on a lunch walk yesterday, I asked Alex if it was raining. He said it was sprinkling but that I wouldn't even notice it. So I went. And it was glorious!

I just strolled - no sweating for this one. But over an hour, I think I covered about 2.5 miles. And I saw all this beauty:

I recently concluded that I really love most kinds of weather. But one of my very favorite is high overcast on a winter day. While some find the gray gloomy, I find it invigorating and so very peaceful.

In thinking about goals for next year, I want to continue challenging myself to get out on my breaks and explore the beauty that is literally right outside my office door.

No. 46

No. 46, Josephine Tey's The Franchise Affair, took a while to get through.

The mystery was good, but the book was written in the '40s in England, and it was laborious to read, taking me way too long to finish.

I was talking with a Spanish-teacher friend of mine about how reading a novel in Spanish takes so much more time because your brain has to work harder - it's not all automatic. I felt like that with this. Phrases and words were different, so my brain wasn't able to just cruise through it. Interesting.

:)

Holiday 5K (12/14/14)

My second Christmas-themed race of 2014 was Sunday's Holiday 5K in north Portland.

We've done this event several years now, both the 5K and the half marathon. Because I'm still recovering from my Achilles injury (I hope to be released at my next PT appointment!!!), I wasn't up for the half. So I decided to run the 5K with Eryn this year - in matching tutus, of course!

Brad's had a couple horribly stressful weeks at work and decided at the last minute to skip this race in favor of sleep. So I got up alone, long before dawn, to prepare my festive race outfit. Ready!

Fortunately, my fam was also doing the 5K, so I hitched a ride with them.

Dad's outfit kills me! (and also demonstrates where Eryn and I get our short legs!)

Racing sisters!

We passed Mom on the out and back, and she-who-is-never-without-her-iPhone snapped an action shot. What a beautiful morning!

Happy racers! Don't I have a fun family??

Dad thought he was a Christmas present:

I really wish Brad could have joined us, but sometimes taking care of the basic needs comes first. We're already looking forward to a January redemption race :)

Christmas Eve invitation

Are you looking for something to do Christmas Eve? Join us at Newberg Friends!

The candlelight, music-filled services are casual and family friendly - and include the NFC Handbell Choir with Mom, Eryn and me :)

We hold three 45-minute services to fit your busy schedule: 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

307 South College Street, Newberg 

I hope to see you there :)

Christmas with Grandpa

Last night was an early Christmas dinner with Grandpa!

The amazing staff at Friendsview put on a spread just for the Special Care residents and their families. I've said it a million times, but the food there is so, so good.

Sister and brother with their dad:

Eryn, Mom and Dave joined us, too:

My dad :)

This is the first Christmas since Grandma died. Aunt Pat asked Grandpa if it felt kinda strange, and he said it did. Sigh. They were married 70 years! And their anniversary was on Thanksgiving this year.

:)