What a great day!

I am so proud! You are my President!

¡Feliz Navidad!

We're having a very quiet Christmas.

Earlier yesterday, our new appliances were delivered. So we spent most of Christmas Eve arranging everything. We got a new refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave (yet to be installed.) We went to the Mandley's in the evening and saw lots of Wade's extended family and their little ones. It's always nice to be around little kids during Christmas time. Wade started to feel a cold coming on, so we returned home fairly early. He woke up with a sore throat etc so we decided we won't be driving to Wade's dad's for dinner like we had planned. Guess who had to go grocery shopping on Christmas day? I stocked up on oj, soup, and am going to attempt a pork tenderloin with roasted veggies. I figure he won't be able to taste very much and might not notice if I screw up horribly.

We have sunshine and brown grass here in Denver, but the snow is really falling in other parts of the world where our hearts are.... The Swansons in Portland were snowed in several days this week. Flagstaff is reporting 2-3 feet of snow and more expected. Camp Verde and Tucson are also expecting a light dusting.

Maybe Taos (our adopted niece-dog for the week) and I will go for a walk later today.

I'll remember this Christmas for a long time as it is very uneventful and simple.

Peace,

am

Only the Good Die Young

You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We aint too pretty we aint too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
Aw but that never hurt no one

-Billy Joel

Happy Birthday.... Miss you!

Anniversary Extravaganza!

This weekend was a lot of fun celebrating our first anniversary! On Friday, we met up with teacher friends and Mary and John for drinks and appetizers. Saturday, we went to dinner at the Chart House in Genesee. Sunday we went to see the new James Bond movie and then Wade made chicken parmigiana for dinner. Deeeeeelish!

We have a short week at school (Monday and Tuesday) and then we're off for Thanksgiving break. Looking forward to a little quiet before the insanity of finals begins!

Election Results

I can't really explain how I am feeling today. I'm elated, satisfied to finally be on the winning team, reflective that I was a part of such an historic moment in our country during this presidential election. And yet....

TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED that the bond/mil levy for our public schools and library did not pass! What? We live in one of the top 10 richest counties in the nation, where the average home price is over $300,000, and people were so concerned about higher taxes that they voted no? The land for the new library in Parker was donated, so most of the money would have gone to materials and buildings. Wade hates going to the library because the parking lot is the size of a postage stamp and all those Douglas County mommies drive HUGE SUVs that barely fit.

It makes me sick to my stomach to think of the school budget cuts that will come and the "raises" that will not. You see, in education, we don't get 'end of the year bonuses' or trips or dinners or cruises or much of anything when we meet our goals of having students succeed. It's what is expected. I got an e-mail from a mom last week that ended by thanking me for taking the extra time with her son so he passes Spanish. She said she "really appreciated it." Seriously? Because almost 60,000 people voted against the measures. Maybe I am taking this too personally, and it is about a systems change etc. But, I feel deep down in my gut, very let down by the parents we "serve." It is fair to say I feel very low on the job satisfaction scale today. Making it harder to do my job with budget constraints isn't much of a motivator for me to do better.

Did you make history today?

I am looking forward to going home, eating delicious green chile, and watching the results come in!

Trip to Portland

We went to Portland to visit our cousins last weekend, and had an awesome time. Friday we walked around Ikea and then went to Edgefield for some adult time. Saturday, we hit the soaking pool then rode a train to a pumpkin patch. The kids had adorable costumes. Brooke was a dragon and Hadley was a Penguin! Sunday we watched football and then came home. The weather was amazing!

Thanks for a great time, Blake and Morgan. You spoiled us rotten! Hope to return the favor in Colorado sometime.

Here's a link to all the pictures!












Mommy with the CUTEST pumpkin EVER!
(pre-costume)


















Wade with the Penguinita in costume.













A big girl ready to do some pumpkin picking! She got off the train and headed for the biggest ones she could find.








All weekend, Brooke would approach Hadley and say "Hello, cutie!" Ahhhh, sisterly love!



















Wade and a tired dragon.












The Swansons. What an awesome family!