December Daily 6

I worked on sewing Christmas stockings for the four of us using a pattern from Crimson Tate. I'm using solid red for the main fabric and a cream white for the cuff. I'm also going to appliqué our first initials to the cuff. I have a really pretty aqua blue fabric from the Cotton +

Steel Basics collection I would like to use, but the guys out voted me and I'm going to use a green from their collection instead.

We got to FaceTime with baby Miriam!!! She's perfect, of course.

Reid wanted to know why "Miri" wasn't waving back.

Aiden thought it was funny when she stuck out her tongue at him. Thanks for calling us, David and Kelsey! We did miss talking with Eva, but she was out and about with her grandparents.

Sometimes the boys look like they've already settled into the teenage years.

While I was sewing I started listening to The Goldfinch on Audible.

A bird's eye view of Reid schooling Eric in basketball.

Aiden and I walked over to get the mail and stopped off at Grandma's house on the way home. She showed us her new fabric cutting machine.

I like the display of lights Eric puts up on our house each year.

Tough to get in 10,000 steps today because I wasn't on my feet teaching. Took two episodes of Grey's Anatomy from the first season, but I did it. Eric even came down into the basement to check on me because I had disappeared longer than usual.

My mom made a pretty ornament for us.

A quote posted on Audible's Instagram account today.

December Daily 5

Sunset out my clssroom window:

My classroom:

Our students hosted a holiday party for one of the elementary schools that has high proportion of students on free and reduced lunch.

The boys were playing Legos when I picked them up. I picked them up after 5, because I wanted to finish grading my Algebra 1 quizzes. Mr. Alex is an assistant teacher and was the one who was still there. He's a former Chatfield student and is really good with the kids.

Next two pics are from the email reports for today.

More ironing for my Grand Illusions quilt. The 2nd clue was revealed today, but I'm not quite done with the first clue. I signed on knowing I could use Christmas break to catch up:

Bedtime reading. We have a list of sight words to work with the boys on. They're getting better at finding them.

Grey's Anatomy during treadmill time:

45 minutes, 2.50 miles. 10,000+ steps.

Eric put lights on the Christmas tree today:

December Daily 4

and more importantly... 

Our new niece's birthday! Welcome to the world, Miriam Kathleen! 

I showed the pictures of Miriam to the boys and Reid said, "Ooh, she's sooo cute!" Aiden said, "Aww, can we call and talk to her?" Hoping we can FaceTime with them in the next few days. It sounds like Miriam is a name Kelsey has liked and Kathleen is my mom's name. Nice honor for Grandma.

I didn't realize until I was writing this post that I didn't take any pictures today. So here are a couple of crafty items for Miriam:

I knitted this hat a couple of weeks ago. As the saying goes, it flew off the needles and I was able to finish it in one day. The pattern is from Purl Soho.

I'm also making 4/9ths of Thimble Blossoms' Swoon quilt. I'm using fabric from the Wer Wander collection which matches the fabric Kelsey chose for the curtains in Miriam's room.

One block down, three to go.

Another half hour treadmill time tonight. Have reached that and my 10,000 steps goal all four days so far.

December Daily 3

Darker sunrise this morning. I'm so appreciative of the community members who are willing to decorate our neighborhood entrance.

I had a doctor's appt this afternoon near the hospital where the boys were born and my dad passed away. Always a strong mix of opposing emotions when I see this building. When my dad was sick, my mom and I said it was nice to have happy thoughts about the hospital because of the boys being born there.

Stopped in my local yarn shop, A Knitted Peace.

The pictures of the boys from today's email reports.

I snuck in a few minutes of ironing the aqua and pink half square triangles for my Grand Illusions quilt, while Eric made supper. Thank goodness for Eric's willingness to cook.

Time to set up the Christmas tree.

And train!

1.86 miles in 30 minutes. 3.7 mph for 28 minutes and 4.3 mph for last 2 minutes

Time for bed. Hoping to get more than 4 hours of sleep tonight. Honk shoo.

December Daily 2

Howdy!

Busy day of teaching followed by a training/meeting at the Ed Center from 4-6. I was glad to finally be home. The boys had a "stay home day" with Eric. Eric tends to fly trips which overlap weekends, so he keeps them home from Pre-K a couple of days a week to be able  to spend time with the boys. It's a nice break for the boys, too.

The sunrise was beautiful this morning.

Aiden's glasses were stepped on during naptime at school on Monday. I fixed them Monday night, but he and Reid were playing in our bedroom this evening and the frame sprung open again. It took a while to find the lens, but we did finally find it among the blankets. This time I couldn't get the screw to catch the threads, so I think we're going to need to order new glasses. The lenses are getting little scratches, so it wouldn't be bad to replace those either. Except for the cost, of course.

Put in my treadmill time after the boys went to bed, since I spent so much time trying to repair the glasses. Another 30 minute, brisk walk for a distance of 1.80 miles. I had the speed set on 3.6 mph except for the last 1:30 when I jogged at 4.0 mph.

It took another .33 miles of cool down walking to get 10,000 steps in.

After that, I wrote half of the Algebra 1 final and typed up the HW for tomorrow's lesson. I like to listen to audio books and podcasts (Serial!) while I'm working on school work. Helps to keep me awake. I'm currently listening to the following book. It's set in Australia and the narrator has an Australian accent which I enjoy since I student taught in New Zealand way back in 1999.

Here's a picture of yesterday and today's Lego Advent pieces. Today's addition was the mailbox.

I hate to leave you with no people pictures, so here are a few from last week's sewing adventures. I have several works in progress, but these show my work on a mystery quilt being posted each Friday on Bonnie Hunter's website. My mom was the first to follow her blog and went on a quilting Alaskan cruise through Bonnie. The mystery quilt is related to Bonnie's trip to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. (Marita!) It's called Grand Illusions and I'm using my treasured Cotton + Steel fabric.

December Daily 1

Welcome to this year's December Daily, inspired by aliedwards.com.

Today was the first day back after Thanksgiving break. I did a ton of sewing, knitting, and sleeping. It was wonderful. School went well for me today, too. I still can't figure out how to get caught up with grading, but that's always the yearly December miracle since it has to get done in the next few weeks. 

The boys had a good day, too. Today's pictures showed their parade noise-makers, which were made from folded over paper plates and I'm guessing dried beans taped inside. The Broncos were victorious last night and they were disappointed they weren't wearing their Broncos shorts during the game, so I'm guessing that's why they picked them for today. Grandma had drop off and pick up duties today. Thank goodness for Grandma!

I think I get this picture every year- driving through Downtown Littleton after exercise class. I picked up Panera for me, Grandma, Reid, and Aiden.

Another idea from Ali Edwards- Lego Advent Calendars. Each day includes part of the overall Christmas City. Today's included a little boy carrying letters. Maybe to send to Santa?

I'm going to attempt to put time in time on the treadmill every day in December. The boys were happy to play with my iPad while I put in a brisk 30 minute walk and covered 1.79 miles. I also reached my 10,000 steps for the day according to my Fitbit. I've only reached it twice since school started- when I was setting up my classroom in August and on Halloween. So, that's my other goal for December- 10,000 steps every day. Obviously, those goals overlap.

The boys enjoyed exercising after I was done. Aiden said he was the trainer.

Eric arrived home tonight after being gone for 8 days. Yippee! He did have a Denver overnight on Thursday, so at least he was home for Thanksgiving.