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We had a nice 2-hour delay this morning for some ice.  That meant a very busy rest-of-the-day, to at least get the basics done!  It's days like these that I really appreciate being in a self-contained classroom!

I actually got to get out and do recess duty this afternoon...it's been quite awhile since I've had duty on a day that we were allowed to go out!  It was snowy and blustery, but not bad.

It was harder to get up this morning than yesterday morning...Hmmm...The kids at school seemed more awake today, however.

It was a good day at school, even though we have a mess outside with snow, sleet, freezing rain, etc.  It got icy just in time for the kids to go home...of course!  We'll see what is still here in the morning.

I had too much fun tonight posting pictures on my Facebook page.  I finally decided just to make time to do that. 

Sleepy kids at school today!  We did get our abbreviated Christmas party in at the end of the day and now I suppose we can move forward....!

I appreciate the routine, but I don't like how busy I feel all the time during the school year.  Oh well.  We're almost half way!

I thought I might walk to church today, but ended up driving thanks to a damp/foggy/misty mess outside.  I did do a long walk this afternoon and, for the most part, the moisture was gone.

Today was a good day.  I do think dear Andrew is a bit more excited about school tomorrow than I am, though!  We'll end the day tomorrow with our Christmas party that was cancelled with no school our last day before vacation.

It was nice to have a less busy Saturday than usual.  It's hard to believe Christmas vacation is over!  It sure was nice!

Dear Dee came tonight to stay with Andrew while DH and I had a very nice dinner with 2 other couples.  Lots of fun, like always!

We put away all of our outside and inside Christmas decorations today.  I don't like this task, but it feels good when it's done.  DH was a great help, and dear Andrew wanted to help with all parts of the putting away, too.  I can't complain I don't have help!  :)

I also filed important papers from the entire past year and did some other things that should have been done last summer...Feels good to have them done!  Sorted through more of Andrew's things and once again, he helped to decide what to give away and what to keep.  He's a good sport!

We finished the day by having our weekly Suter supper...not at my parents' house like usual, but at Tu Pueblo tonight.  Nice!

I slept in today, so I walked outside this afternoon.  It was cold when the wind was gusting, but otherwise, not too bad!

My in-laws were here through lunch and I'm now appreciating some good time to relax and do some things I won't have time for once school starts again.  Andrew and I went through lots of books this afternoon to donate to Book Reviews uptown.  I also cleaned out some toys, etc. he's done with and will make an Etc. Shop trip tomorrow, too.  We kept meaningful items...still hard to part with some, though!

I'm over my goal for December, as of yesterday, so I didn't worry about steps today.  Most of my steps were kitchen steps, preparing supper for my parents, my grandma, and DH's parents.  We had fun together and, once again, enjoyed the Wii tonight.

BEST walk of 2008:  July 9--I walked for more than an hour along Lake Michigan in Chicago.  The temperature was in the low 70's and the humidity was low, too.  The skies were blue and the water was amazing, too!

WORST walk of 2008:  October 19--I walked early on that Sunday morning so I'd be ready for church in good time.  A beautiful frost covered everything and I enjoyed the crisp air.  Just as the morning light was appearing and I was nearing the end of my route, I tripped over two sidewalks coming together, fell, and broke my thumb.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!  I've been on WT for 9 months and I'm having a great time...Thanks, Mary, for encouraging me to do this!!!!

Spent today catching up on things that didn't get done while we were gone this weekend.

As it turns out, my in-laws are now coming here tomorrow.  We left Andrew's breathing machine at their house accidently yesterday.  We do have a loaner from our supply company for as long as we need it, but my in-laws wanted to bring it back now.  (MIL had a hard time watching her DS and DGS leave yesterday, so I think this is a good excuse for her to see them again!)  They will be here most of tomorrow and tomorrow night.  Now I'm busy again...

One of Andrew's favorite gifts this Christmas came from my aunt and uncle...Mama and Papa Berenstain Bear!  My aunt who is responsible for this fun gift is watching...and, of course, cousin Tori is close by, too!

We traveled home today from my in-laws and it feels nice to be home.  I hope to enjoy more time relaxing this week.  I'm loving having 2 weeks off of school this year!

This is my FIL with Andrew when we were opening presents on Friday night.

My walk this morning was terribly different than yesterday's walk!  It was very cold and the wind was gusting to 40-50 mph!  Brrr....

We had a nice day together here.  We did a little shopping to get new coats for DH and me.  DH ended up ordering his online, after finding one he really liked in the store, but wanted a different size and color.  I found one I liked a lot.

This is sweet Makayla on Christmas morning...what a look!

I enjoyed a beautifully warm walk outside this morning.  It was close to 60 degrees at 8:00 a.m.!

I also got to read this afternoon and take a nap!

My MIL has two sisters, older than her, and they came over with pieces and parts of their families for a pizza supper tonight.  We had a nice time together and Andrew loved it all, of course.

Had a long trip to my in-law's house today.  It took about twice as long as usual because of freezing rain just as we were leaving.  About half of our trip was driving on a sheet of ice.  We were glad to arrive here safely!  We had a nice Christmas dinner and then opened presents.  DH and his brother enjoyed playing Wii games together and we even got grandma and grandpa to join in, too!

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!  Many wishes of happiness and peace to all of you!

We had a wonderful day, starting with opening presents here.  I loved the look on Andrew's face as he was carefully checking to see if Santa had arrived...priceless!  We then had a big brunch at my parents' house with DB and his family.  We opened presents there and then came home to a peaceful afternoon.  I spent the evening packing for our trip to DH's parents' house tomorrow.

I skipped my treadmill routine this morning, but the afternoon was so beautiful with blue sky and bright sun, I had to get out to take a walk!

On a sad note today, we heard that Andrew's dear nurse, Dee's, house burned down last night.  We think everyone is okay, but all was lost in the fire.  We are still waiting to hear directly from Dee.

This is my grandmother opening the present DH, Andrew, and I gave her on Monday.  We made a photo album for her from the past year.  We included pictures of my parents, DB and his family, and our family.  She was pleased!

We enjoyed supper with my Chappell relatives tonight...a Christmas Eve tradition since forever.  After the church service, my parents and DB and his family came over, also a tradition started many years ago.  We had fun playing the Wii games with them!  Everyone enjoyed them!

Today is DH's and my 14th wedding anniversary!  It was 65 degrees and gorgeous outside that year on this date.  I didn't even need a coat for our evening wedding and DH wore shorts to the church before he got his tux on!  This surely was not the case today!

We exchanged cards this morning, only to realize we had gotten each other the exact same card...how about that?  I bought his in Columbus several weeks ago and he bought mine here in Bluffton last week.  Andrew thought this was hilarious!

We enjoyed lunch out with my parents at Olive Garden.  It's their anniversary today, too. 

I got a lot of wrapping done today!  More tomorrow...

We had our Christmas for my dad's side of the family today at my mom and dad's house.  There were about 23 of us there.  I made my homemade stuffing (none leftover...shucks!) this morning for it and also packed up all the cookies I baked this weekend.  We had two yummy meals together and opened presents in between!  The adults exchange names, but still buy for all the kids. Andrew had a ball with his cousins and with his new gifts.  I think you can tell from the smile on his face in this photo...he got the new Wiggles CD and a Berenstain Bears' DVD.

It was a nice day together.  We have lots to be thankful for!

The wind is a howling today and we have the coldest temperatures of the season so far...as winter officially starts...  The ground is littered with what looks like pieces of glass everywhere.  They are all the pieces of ice that have blown off the trees and bushes.  They sound terrible hitting the house.  The sun was out for most of the day, so at least it was bright outside!

I finished baking cookies today and actually wrapped a few presents tonight.

The ice is still here...wish it were snow!

I spent most of the day baking cookies for various Christmas gatherings.  Tomorrow I need to get serious about more cookies and starting to wrap presents!

Our first school cancellation day!  I enjoyed a more relaxed day and got almost all of our Christmas cards ready to send tomorrow.  Our printer ran out of ink, of course, so DH will get more tomorrow and the last 21 will be done. 

An ice storm was the reason we missed our last day of school before vacation today.  I would have been fine going to school, also, because it would have been a fun day!  I did enjoy my day at home, though!  DH took this photo this a.m. in our yard, looking across our street at our neighbor's house.

We had supper at my grandma's apartment tonight with my parents.  It was nice to be there.  At 94, she still has everything so nicely arranged and cared for.  She had all kinds of reports from her various card games this week...mostly Bridge.