Take Flight, 12-19-07

Well, Jared worked 26 hours in two days, got home from work around 8:30 pm, had a quick dinner and went to bed. We had to get up at 2:15 am to meet Pam and Joseph and be at the airport by 4 am. For those of you who doubted it, we arrived WAY early! Whoo Hoo! When I say WAY early, I mean WAY! We were the first ones through security that morning. I was in one of those "stayed up way too late and now I make no sense and everything is hilarious to me moods." Naturally, Jared became annoyed and so did Pam, but she is easily swayed and soon she began laughing at everything as well, which only mad Jared even more annoyed. The funniest thing to us all was the fact that EVERYONE stunk! It is really not a good idea to opt out of a morning shower when you plan to sit on a VERY small plane with lots of strangers! Now I know it was early, but please be considerate people! In case you are wondering, all 3 of us showered that morning! We arrived safely in Phoenix at 2:20 pm. Randy picked us up from the airport and then we ran a few wedding errands with Randy before heading to church where we got to meet Tara-Nel (Randy's new wife) for the first time. After church, their friends came over and we stayed up late having a good time.
The pictures above are of Jared on the plane (you might say our silly mood rubbed off on him eventually) :), and the view on the plane ride. Enjoy!

Jared's Birthday Celebration, Sunday, 12-16-07

We celebrated Jared's birthday because we were leaving for Phoenix on his actual birthday (December 19). Jared got to pick what we were having for lunch and who made what. Mama made steaks and bread pudding, Pam made homemade mashed potatoes and garlic cheese biscuits, and I made purple hull peas. He got lots of good gifts! He is so spoiled!

Christmas with the Glenns, 12/15/07

We spent Saturday having Christmas with my dad's side of the family. I always enjoy this because I love spending time with them all. After the festivities we Dawn, Stuart, Brianna, Nolan, Jeff, Marley, Chandler, Me, Jared, Pam, and Joseph all went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks at the theatre. It was cute!

Christmas Movie

Tonight Pam and Joseph are coming over to watch The Polar Express. I love this movie! Everytime I watch it, I get chill bumps. So, today my question is... What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Christmas Rush

A lot of Christmas fun has been going on around here! Last Friday, my class had a filed trip to Tannehill. We saw Santa, a basket weaver, a fish man, an old school room, rode a train, and visited 2 country stores/sweet shops. It was a blast, but I was wore out by the time I got home. When I got home, Jared had a Christmas present waiting on me to open. It was a Sony Walkman ipod! I was so excited! He's so sweet! Silly ole me forgot that it was Jared's work Christmas party. It was my fault, not his. It was his fault that he forgot to mention that it was a very dressy event!!!! I pulled something together!
Saturday was the little kid Christmas party. We had fun playing games, baking cookies, and listening to Christmas music. After the party I brought Addi home. We played Dora UNO and watched The Polar Express. When Jared got home, we were off for Addi's birthday treat-to see The Bee Movie. I was really having trouble psyching myself up for this movie, so as we passed Chuck E. Cheese, I suggested to Jared that we go there instead. He said it was all up to Addi. Well, she was excited for the movie, but WHOA, she was really excited for Chuck E. Cheese and so we went there instead. Maybe we'll go to the Bee Movie when it hits the Dollar Theatre! By the way, CEC has a new game, Deal or No Deal! It is really fun, too! I could be that old grandma that sits there all day and plays, but instead of bingo, it would be Deal or No Deal at CEC! I actually only stood in line for the game twice. Sure, I got a couple of stares, but I was there with an actual kid...I mean she was there somewhere! Don't worry, Jared followed her wherever she wanted to go! Now the question is, what to get Levi for his birthday? I like to give these kiddos a gift that is fun because they are so special. I've only came up with a ride on The Polar Express, but haven't really checked into it to see if the train station is even doing it this year. I better do that now, or I'm gonna have to come up with something else.
Saturday night, late (sorry Kim and Paul) we dropped Addi off and went home. Jared declares that we are opening all of our Christmas gifts as soon as we get home. He shopped while I was at the little kid party. I agreed, as long as we would save our stockings for later. I got 2 beautiful sweaters and short sleeved blouse, which I got to wear Monday because it was so hot! I love when he picks me out clothes! He has such good taste!
Sunday, mama gave us our Christmas money and ornaments. We were all really excited. I am always eager to see what my and Jared's ornaments will be! This year, again, of course, were 2 cute ones! Sunday night was the Christmas get together at church. As always, there was plenty of good eats and I went home stuffed!
Monday I came down with the stomach virus, but made it through the day at work, barely! My class was so good for me, they could tell I was not in the best shape! It lingered on to Tuesday, but as the day wore on, my energy came back, and again, my class was so good! I bragged and bragged to them. I really was thankful because I really shouldn't have been there. It's just that I went to work feeling just fine, but about an hour into school things started going down hill. Anyhow, all is well now!
Tuesday night, Jared came home and stated that we must head to Wal-Mart to get the new Harry Potter movie. So, after dinner, us dorks went to get our movie! When we got back, we decided we had waited long enough and it was time for us to open those tempting Christmas stockings! So, we only lasted 3 days! This year is not exactly a normal Christmas since we will be leaving for Arizona EARLY next Wed. morning! We're traditional, but not. After the stockings, Jared started watching Harry Potter, but I was still tired from being sick and went on to bed.
Today I am a very proud teacher! I got my reading (Dibels) scores back and my class did AWESOME!!! Every child jumped BIG time!!! The test times how many words you can read correctly in one min. My best score increased by 68 words and my lowest (which is still unbelievably sweet) increased by 22 words!!! I was near tears! Out of 18 students, 8 of them read below grade level when tested at the first of the school year! Now I have 1 or 2!!!! They all got a compliment sticker for doing their best! At the beginning of the school year I was a little leery about how tough it would be to help so many who struggled. Now, most of them do not struggle or need extra help anymore, of course, I will still teach them, they just don't struggle and need as intense of a push to succeed, they already have!

Christmas Music

I thought we could take the time to share some Christmas favorites. I really like just about all Christmas songs. The one I really don't care too much for is "Feliz Navidad." Now, I mean no offense to my readers of Spanish decent, the song just kind of annoys me, and goes on forever. You already know that I love the Chipmunks Christmas album, but there are two songs that caught my attention (thanks mom) near the end of the season last year. They are Dean Martin's "Baby It's Cold Outside" and Louie Armstrong's "Mrs. Santa Claus." I just couldn't wait to hear them this year, too, and they are still at the top of my list! Just behind them are "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Bells," and "Rocking Around the Christmas tree."
So, this leaves me with one question....
What is your favorite Christmas song?

Christmas Cheer

This weekend was full of Christmas cheer! Friday night wasn't exactly Christmas fun, but it was birthday fun! Addi turned five and had a way cool High School Musical party!!! Saturday Jared had to work for a few hours, so I met Ben, Rachel, Paul, and Addi at the PG Christmas parade. The highlights were the big Mayfield cow and the painting of Jesus wearing a santa hat! Just weird! I went home and cleaned and put up Christmas decorations. Then, Jared and I were off to met the Glenn's. I was so excited to see the cousins! They were so cute and fun! I didn't get any good pictures, but my aunt did, so I will see if I can get some and post later. There is an adorable picture of Nolan and me where is has his hand on my face! Stuart gave us a Christmas cd he made. It has quite an eclectic conglomeration, from Kermit singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to The Chipmunks, Sponge-Bob, The Looney Tunes, The Twisted Sisters singing "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," to some song that says "..please daddy don't get drunk this Christmas..."??? Sunday afternoon Jared put up the outside decorations while I decorated the tree in the livingroom (other tree goes up tonight). We played Christmas music and everything! My dorkiness has rubbed off on my husband; however, there is one thing he will not change his mind about, The Chipmunks Christmas! He doesn't like them, finds them annoying while I feel it is the best Christmas album ever! That night the girls went to Katie's to watch Hairspray. I really liked it and will have to watch it again soon because I snoozed some throughout the movie!
Last night, Xander was in a Christmas program, and I didn't go, but Joseph did. After hearing about it, I feel I made a mistake and should have went. Joseph said he laughed the whole time, plus he looked handsome in his black corduroy jacket and tie. He refused to wear the vest because he said it was a girls' shirt. Joseph said he stood when the group sat and sat when the group was standing. He exclaimed, during the singing, "Oh look, flowers!" and went over to the poinsettias, away from the group to look at them. Said, "huh?" and climbed down from the stage to better hear the teacher on the front row trying to tell him to get back with the group and sing, in which he replied, "Oh, OK!" He waved at his dad when he noticed him in the front filming and then noticed Jojo in the front taking pictures. He yelled, "Hey Jojo I'm gonna sit with you!" as he proceeded to climb back down from the stage. The teacher and Jojo were shooing him back to the stage. Joseph said that after it was over, they had Xander pose for all these pictures because he looked so handsome. When I get some pictures I will post them. Well, I better go work on the tree. Merry Christmas!