35

 Yup, I even told my students the number, thankfully most of them were surprised!

A great celebration this weekend, beginning with a delayed opening on Friday, followed by a cake handmade with pride by one of my students, a nice quiet night at home of cleaning, a hair appointment all by myself, a dinner out on Saturday night with our favorite couple, dinner with Jon, Julie and Audrey on Sunday and some surprises in between.

View outside my classroom on Friday

Even though my weekend has to end with grading and planning, feeling thankful for the people in my life who make me laugh and are a reminder of God's goodness.

18

Saturday morning was unusually quiet.  The girls have been doing more fighting than loving lately, but on Saturday morning, they were both in Jenny's room.  Kirsten was playing on the iPad, and Jenny was paging through her library books.  I was cleaning the bathroom, and stopped a moment to overhear this conversation:

K to J:  Mommy and Daddy said we have to go to college when we turn 18.  We're not going, right Jenny?  Let's live here forever.

J to K:  Right!

A conversation I wanted to write down to show them when they are about 14 and 16 =).

no love tuesdays

Dear Tuesday,

I am sorry to say that I do not like you.  As the school year continues, you get more and more annoying.  The only good part of your day happens at 5:30, when I get to share life (and grumbles) with my best friend.  Between 6:15 and 7:20, breakfast (if it happens) is haphazardly served, little girls fight with me about their clothes, school library books are searched for and lunches are carelessly put together with whatever is in the fridge and the closet since food shopping is now a novelty experience.  You cause me to leave the house at 7:22, shoes untied, hair undone, runny noses unwiped so that I can attend my weekly 7:30 team leaders meeting.  With a quick kiss, you rush me to settle my girls into their waiting "spot" for the arrival of the bus.  My meeting ends at 8:16, and now I am late to homeroom.  My 6th graders quickly enter my personal space with their questions and are busy tearing down the Christmas decorations outside my door.  Your time ensues and with no breaks to use the bathroom and in tears after failing at every attempt to handle 1 particular student, your 3:00 timing rolls around which brings outdoor bus duty and the elementary school bus with one of my daughters who is looking a bit "dirty" . . . when IS the last time she had a shower?  Your daylight fades quickly as I sit at my desk grading and planning and leave the building at 5 to pick up dinner at Market Basket, chicken fingers for the girls, a salad for me, Matt out tonight, and drive to MP to pick up Kirsten from dance.  Home at 6.  Feed, bathe, and spend an hour on homework with the girls, and exhaustion sets in when the tears and the fighting reaches a new height.  We play one game to settle in, then your hour reminds me it is time for bed . . . for them.  I fight off sleep as I read to Kirsten, and stumble out of her room to the kitchen table.  It's now 9:00.  You tease me until midnight.  When 2:00 am rolls around and I am still at the kitchen table, I now don't like you OR Wednesday.

on TV

conversation #1

Kirsten:  Mommy, I really would like that Dora thing for Christmas.
Me:  Really, honey?
Kirsten:  Yes, and on TV it says it's cheap at Toys R Us on Fridays and Saturdays.

apparently, the Toys R Us advertising plan is working on my 5 year old. . . . and apparently my daughter watches enough TV to pick up on when the Christmas sales are going on when things are "cheap!"

conversation #2
(after her sister was sent to her room for a sibling "quarrel")

Kirsten:  Mommy, when I go in my room and talk to Jesus, can I ask him to forgive me?
Me:  Of course, sweetheart.  Jesus will always listen to you.

phew!  I'm not the worst parent after all!

metaphor

My desk at 3p.m.
A metaphor for how I'm feeling this week.

forty something's

This weekend was one of celebration.  40.

Friday night was Sarah's surprise party (Dec. 17) and Matt's was Saturday night (Nov. 11).
Friday night was elegant and "spirit-filled," and Saturday night was rustic and "spirit-filled."

Both nights gave grateful glimpses of God's provision and God's grace.

Happy Birthday to the man in my life who is now closer to 60 than to 20. . . . but looks 35 =).  I wouldn't want him any other way.  We love you tons!

 our friends know Matt oh so well!

 a 40th party is not complete without 80's dance music and cheesy decorations!  

they are now up for grabs!

appetizers, beer, pizza, 2 fire-pits and s'mores . . . good times . . . 

 "The 40 Things We Love About Daddy"
by Jenny and Kirsten

Good Stuff

November.

Hmm....not sure where September and October went, but then again . . . I know exactly where they went!

Seems that the only way I can keep up with our lives is through pictures on my i-phone.  And I'm okay with that =).

So here's just a few from the last few months.  We'll start with the wedding of the year!  Uncle Jeff married Aunt Lynnette!!  VERY exciting for the Braunius family!  What a weekend that was!  Of course because it was Uncle Jeff, nothing goes as planned . . . including a tornado.  So from outdoors to indoors and a lot of broken glass . . . we will cheers to happily ever after!!

Right before the reveal . . .

So stinking cute they were . . .

Jenny took this picture, so a few members of the bridal party got cut off =)  The 3 girls to Lynnette's left are my 3 new step-nieces.

 

So the ceremony moved inside . . . notice that sky . . . and is Matt crying???

Let the party begin!!

Okay, so this dress was not the most flattering bridesmaid dress ever, but I can't resist a picture of dancing with my dad!

Then we had an awesome fall festival weekend in BML with our very favorite Miss G!

A LOT of mac and cheese (why does it look like it is glowing??) in the car to and from soccer, dance, GEMS, school . . .

A little bit of pumpkin carving . . .

AND just today, a hike up High Mountain after Hurricane Sandy . . .

Who else hikes with Oscar's cheese, summer sausage, a cutting board and knife?!

Good Stuff.