A Griswold Family Christmas

Christmas at my house is nothing short of magical.  It always has been and I can only hope for many, many more years of it's twinkling, sparkling goodness.  The Husband and I both come from big families who might make others feel a little uneasy because of the immense love that we all share.  Both of our families will love all there is to love about you, squeeze you real tight until you are just about to squeal, and then they'll squeeze a little tighter.  We are really blessed.  I've always admired how we brought together two families that cannot seem to out match each other in love and pure craziness.
At Christmas it is amazing that our house does not explode with the amount of energy running through it.  My mama spends much of December as a cosmic ball of energy making sure that everyone's Christmas is magical.  She really has a connected spirit with Clark Griswold.  "Is your house on fire, Clark?"..."No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights."  A lot of times you can't see the Nettie whirlwind, but she blows through with greenery here and candles there.  You'll smell the Chex Mix and bacon.  You'll hear the ancient Christmas tunes of my grandmother's play on itchy record albums.  It is wild and crazy, but it is what Christmas has always been to me.  No matter what-we always slow down to eat together- even if we have to force Nettie to pump the brakes and sit a minute. 

The slow down is when we actually get to look around and see the little parts of our Christmas.  This was a Christmas of many special little parts, but there were three that really made the Smith house even more exciting.

Lula

Miss E

Lukins

It's the little details that Nettie adds year after year that I love.  I can remember the year we added icicle lights or the year we gave her the glass crystal Christmas trees.  My favorite addition this year was the tiny Christmas tree that sat in the kitchen with my great aunt's old Christmas tags hung on it (it was the Depression-they seemed to save everything). 

Snow was a beautiful finale to our magical Christmas this year even though I always hate to see the season end.  Although the crazy may slow down for a bit, the love our family shares never seems to dwindle.  It's part of the magic that continues to grow throughout each and every year. 

Our Bridge

Jason and Lukins

Jack and Bailey

Think again, Bailey.

   Merry Christmas to all.  See you in 2011!!

O Tannenbaum

Well, we had a rocky start.  We slapped each other around.  We screamed.  We broke things.  We cried.  We called each other terrible names.  We really showed our bad side.  We were ready to call it quits and never see each other again.  But then The Husband stepped in and insisted that we don't give up so soon.  He showed me the beauty of the situation and encouraged me to pick it up and try again.  So after many tears, we came back and picked it up, swept up the broken glass, and we tried all over again.  If it weren't for The good ol' Husband, I would have probably purchased a fake Christmas tree next year that was sure to never fall over. 

Merry Christmas!

Red Wine and a Screen Door

The Husband is a really great uncle.  He loves him some Pat Pat.  So tonight on my way home I snagged Pat Pat from tearing apart his Gammy and Pappy's house and brought him over to see his Uncle Bubbs.  They fed Cricket.  They played in the yard with Jacques and Bay-Oui (both very "French" sounding in Pat Pat's language).  They fed Cricket.  They went through DVDs.  They fed Cricket.  They went in and out of the screened in porch because that is Pat Pat's favorite thing to do here.  He loves the sliding screen door.

Well, then later on tonight-Pat Pat- you got your Uncle Bubbs and his red, red wine.  Real nice.

An Early Start

I suppose I just need it.  I'm looking for Christmas music on the radio rather than being shocked that it is here so soon.  I can't wait to start putting a 12 for the date on my checkbook.  I'm counting down the days until I get to pull down the giant Rubbermaid boxes labeled "Reindeer" or "Ornaments-fragile".  Now, don't worry, I'm not trying to skip right over Thanksgiving and not give it enough attention-no.  I do love some Thanksgiving- turkey, sweet potato pie, ambrosia, all of it.  But I just want to soak up Christmas- actual Christmas- a bit longer this year.  I need it all just a little bit longer than before.  So I guess until everyone else is with me and my early decking of the halls, I'll spend my time with Cindy Lou and Linus. 

 Just 6 more weeks left...

A Lazy Saturday

I love lazy Saturdays.  I love the moment to catch my breath and find myself again.  It takes some time to find me underneath the week of dirty clothes, stresses, pet hair, and dishes; but, I'm in there somewhere.  I get a chance to reflect on my week- think about what went well and what went wrong.  And I had lots to reflect on from this past week.  It was a long week to say the least and it felt like like everything was going wrong.  Until yesterday. 
I realized yesterday that I had created a family.  (No, crazy Nettie and hopeful Papa, no grandkids yet).  And in all honesty, I can't take credit for this creation.  It's one of those things that just seems to happen.  I have a family of students in my classroom.  If need be, I know that these youngins would go to bat for me.  Don't get me wrong- they never miss an opportunity to tell me that I'm having a bad hair day or my outfit doesn't match.  But when it comes down to it, they will always protect me and each other.   
Even though many of them have confused ideas about family, they are learning what it means to have a safe place with consistency.  My only hope is that one day (after they graduate from college and have a job), they foster their own families with the same values, honesty, and unconditional love that has emerged in our classroom.
And so now on my lazy Saturday, I hold onto that small beautiful accomplishment of my week.  I put all of the "what went wrong" to the side and stay encouraged that there are still things that are going well.

Milk Duds and Popcorn

There are some combinations that work so well together and we can't always figure out why.  You might not know it, but Milk Duds and popcorn are one of the most delicious snacks when you put them together.  Sure...they are pretty good on their own, but together they make something that is truly unlike anything else.  It's almost as if they have needed each other all along.

There is an unlikely combination in my classroom that I have just recently started watching.  Derrick and Monti are clearly opposites- a salty and a sweet, if you will.  Derrick is what you might call a "problem child."  He has a home life that few adults would be able to survive in.  He is well below grade level and has severe anger issues.  He's obsessed with watching himself bleed and he always sits by himself.  Most teachers just try to tolerate Derrick until the bell rings.  Most students fear him.  I've never known him to have one single friend.  Monti is also below grade level.  Most assignments are challenging for her, but she always tries.  She is very outgoing and is always making friends, but Monti struggles with childhood obesity.  Each day she faces grade school teasing and hurtful whispers behind her back.  In the year that I have known her, she has never once acknowledged the teasing.  She ignores it and pushes on through her day.

It was about 2 weeks ago when Derrick asked to be moved from his isolated seat and to be back in a group.  He wanted to know if he could sit with Monti.  This surprised me, but Derrick is always surprising me.  I decided to keep my eye on him.  I soon realized that he was different sitting with Monti.  He was protective of her which caused many of the cruel whispers about her to be hushed.  My salty Derrick was becoming sweet. 

One day last week Derrick used a pencil to stab himself in his arm.  He was escorted out of class and didn't return for the remainder of the day.  The next morning before class began I overheard Monti and Derrick talking at their group.  Monti was asking why Derrick stabbed himself.  When Derrick told her that he wanted to do it because nobody cares about him, Monti softly replied, "I care.  You're my friend."

With that, I melted.  I melted just like Milk Duds and popcorn.  I realized that this was most certainly an unlikely combination that has needed each other all along.

Thank the Lord for New Days

Our school news broadcast opening song is Will.I.Am's "It's a New Day."  Amazingly energizing. 

Giving "The Boot" the Boot

The Boot is gone.  It's been about a month since I starting wearing a left and right shoe daily.  It was a long and hot summer with that stinky wool boot, but we did have quite the good time together.

We rocked out with friends at Panic in Chicago and climbed the many stairs at Wrigley Stadium.

 We boogied again in Charlotte.

And quite possibly my favorite, we played air guitar together in Montana after doing a bit of hiking in Glacier National Park.

So now, I say goodbye to the boot.  As much as I enjoyed our many travels together, I am happy to see it walk out of my life forever.  I'm finally giving the boot to The Boot.

I Like Myself

Guidance Class Assignment:: Write 10 reasons why you like yourself.

by one of my all time favorite students

I like myself cause
I can rhyme anytime.
I like myself cause I can sleep in my bed
even though people call me a jug head.
I like burgers and chicken fiheatas (fajitas)
I like myself cause I'm a leader.
Don't talk to stranger
Talk to people I know.
If a stranger tri (try) to get me
I'm a call the popo (police).
I love education so I pay attention
I don't want to be like fuls (fools) in detention.
I love God.  He brought me in this world.
I love myself. I ant (ain't) worrying about getting a refurl (referral).
Treat people who you want to be treated and they'll do the same.
U can tell the Guidance Teacher don't play no games.
I love myself cause this is me.
I ant (ain't) got to be my friend cause this is me.
I can do anything always fast.
Love my family even when they send me to class.
Now I'm done so I'm going to pray.
Now this is just what I had to say.
Word.

The Secret to a Long and Happy Marriage...

At our wedding, The Husband and I asked our family and friends to leave a piece of marriage advice on these small cards.  Due to the distracting weather, many people didn't see the cards until late in the reception when not only their feet were wet, but so were their whistles.  Every now and then we will read through them and laugh.  Here are some that really crack me up...

Him- always say "Yes, dear!"
Her- always say "GO TIGERS"
-The McCrarys

Just remember that if all fails, always resort to the bowl cut.  -Love you, AK

Let love be everywhers -Love yall, Sarah

Don't ever sleep in a bed with Steven.  BBQ

Behave Yourself

She is always right except when it comes to sports -Love, Kyle Shirley

Chicken-wing-in-the-string -CW & JD

Never go to bed angry- Stay up & FIGHT! -Mr. David

The secret to happiness is to lower your expectations (ie Gus) -Anonymous

Good Luck !!! -Brislin

If your gonna pee your pants...make sure its raining.

Love awlays -Matt

Sleep naked every night. -Dad

She needs silver.  -Granny

Listen to Your Mama!

So come with me into a world I very rarely ever step into...baking.  Mom called around her normal time today to check in on me and hearing the complete boredom and cabin fever in my voice she suggested something to keep me busy- bake something.  Well, ladies and gents, don't get too excited- I'm not Pioneer Woman yet, but there is something about using a mixer that makes you feel a connection with Kitty Foreman or Florence Johnston.  It's okay to spill a little flour and eat a little bit of the raw egg in the dough- nobody's watching.

Anywho, I cleaned out the cabinet taking note of the ingredients that I already had from some old one-hit wonders I had baked before and then went in search of a recipe that fit my ingredients.  I settle with Hershey's Kitchen's "Toffee Bits Cookies" because I just so happened to have a bag of toffee bits and ooooohhh how I love toffee.   

I got to beatin' and mixin' and stirrin' and then I got to worrin' about the dough.  "Beat together until well-blended."  Well-blended? How am I to know how well well-blended is?  But I keep mixing and I end up with this ooey-gooey stick to your ribs (and your hips) goodness...

 ...and that turned into these little ooey-gooey morsels that tasted so delicious that it shocked even me.

I was reassured that I had done a great job when The Husband came in for a taste test and walked out saying "You should listen to your mother more often."

Thank You, Chicago

All I can say is that The Husband and I live a pretty spectacular life.  Last Thursday we flew to Chicago with 2 of our buddies to see that old friend I've written about before, Widespread Panic.  The 3 nights of shows at the Chicago Theater were amazing.  First of all, the Chicago Theater, itself, is amazing.  The architecture and artwork is something to marvel over.  I felt as if I was walking into Les Miserable or Phantom of the Opera.  I wanted to slap anyone that spilled their drink or attempted to smoke in the place.  Each night we had perfect seats where we could really boogie in our socks- or in my case, boogie in my boot.  We danced, sang, smiled, and got goose bumps with the music all weekend.

On Saturday we took the train to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs vs. the Phillies.  JB, from Widespread Panic, threw out the first pitch.  Unfortunately the game ended with a win for the Phillies, but I am now a Cubs fan as I respect their attitude about losing.  "Win or Lose, We Booze" I think is how it goes.  All they worry about is having a good time and everyone was very welcoming to us southerners.

 Harry Carry

 John Bell after throwing the first pitch of the game.

I'm telling you, the place has stopped in time.

We left early to beat the crowd.  I have to get a head start with the boot and all.

 After the show Saturday night, we went to a blues bar that stayed open until about breakfast time called Kingston Mines.  It was probably one of the coolest holes I've ever been to with 2 stages and plenty of toe-tapping tunes. 

 

It was another lovely time where The Husband and I looked at each other wondering how we'll ever top it.  We have nothing but good things to say about the city.  Hope to see you again, Chicago.  Thanks for your fabulous hospitality and your good time.

 I know what you're thinking...a person with one broken foot already shouldn't stand in the middle of the street, but what a great shot.  Panic's tour buses to the left and our hotel to the right.

The Cat Lady

I am a cat lady.  I imagine myself as an old woman in my recliner watching late night talk shows with my cat snuggled in my lap.  I'll probably be wearing a sweater with a cat on it chasing a ball of yarn (thank you Miss Frey).  And I will probably have framed pictures of my cats all over the house.  I've loved cats for as long as I can remember, starting with Blackjack and leading to Snuggles, Boo, Sassy, Spookers, Perry, Pickles, Lemur and now, Cricket. 

I will defend that my cats are not your normal cats.  They ride on bumpers of cars for 3 miles and survive.  They kamikaze off of 2nd floor porches and survive.  They nap while birds make a nest in their fur.  They live to be 23 (human years).  They are extremely talkative.  They fetch.  They play hide-and-go-seek.  They love dogs.  Typical??  I think not.

Yeah, not too much that is normal about this fine specimen.

Shenanigans

GREAT NEWS!  I finally left the house!  I had a conversation with someone other than Cricket, the cat or one of the girls from MTV's "The City" (of course, they do not talk back either).  My brother-in-law's dearest friend is in town and so we went for dinner and drinks and drinks and...you get the picture.  The night consisted of many laughs, beers, seafood dishes, good friends, Jenga blocks, and darts.
 

It was a good time, even if El doesn't seem to dig all of the shenanigans.