December Daily 11, 2015

Tough week fighting a cold and hoarse voice, so I was happy to reach Friday afternoon. I picked up the boys after school. Another teacher from school has his kids at Shaffer, too, so we chatted while we let them run around and chase each other for quite awhile.

Opening packages from Art and Judi, my parents' long-time friends. They used to give me and David ornaments when we were little and they are still some of my most-treasured.

Aiden's latest- the Lego police fending off some Pokemon lizards.

We enjoyed Winter's version of Friday night lights. Chatfield: 80, Lincoln: 69.

December Daily 12, 2015

Christmas Bell

How many days 'till Christmas?

It's mighty hard to tell.

Take off a link every night

When sandman casts his spell.

And Christmas Eve will be here

By the time you reach the bell.

The kindergarteners have 5th grade buddies at the boys' school. During the week Reid was sick, they made these count down chains together. Aiden was able to make his with his buddy, while Reid's buddy made the one for Reid. I love count down chains, so these are a welcome addition.

Playing games on pbskids.org:

Hung the stockings up today:

December Daily 5, 2015

Reid putting together Legos from his Advent Lego set.

I'm pretty excited how this turned out- I finally hung up the boys' kindergarten portraits.

I bought a Christmas wreath from our neighbor boy who sells them for Boy Scouts. They're always really pretty.

The boys and I did some bowling. Well, they bowled and I reset the pins.

We played some "Crazy Eights", "Steal the Bundle", and "Trash".

And set up a marble maze.

Eric and I also did some tidying up, so the boys were climbing in the chairs while Eric was cleaning in the kitchen. I told them that's how they were squished together in my belly.

We put up the Christmas tree. The boys were very excited to help decorate.

December Daily 4, 2015

Early morning views by the entrance to my neighborhood:

I made it back to school on today. I triaged what I could and I think we'll make it through the next couple of weeks of school. (Need my back-log of papers to grade to mysteriously disappear or spontaneously combust.)

When Eric was home during that eight-week stretch, he picked up the boys from school most days so I could stay and get some extra work done. When he was gone on this last trip, I remembered how much I enjoyed picking up the boys (and taking Aiden to school), so I told Eric I would pick up Aiden, as Reid had stayed home with Eric. (Reid's doing much better!) I ended up having quite a few teachers who needed to talk with me after school and I didn't get a Stat HW answer key done so I could post it on my website. So, I drove over and picked up Aiden and he got to hang out at school with me while I finished up. He decided to write math equations on the board. (That's my boy!) Here's 5 + 5 = 10. Still looks like he's going to be a lefty.

(Karen- Do you recognize your fractal posters? One of my Algebra 1 students asked about them today.)

The best part of today was that it was my niece Miri's 1st birthday! Eva Facetimed us on Thursday and we were able to see Miri and my mom who had flown out for her birthday. I can hardly wait to see Miri and Eva over Christmas break. Yah for cousins!

December Daily 3, 2015

I took Reid to the doctor today, because he was having even more trouble keeping things down than on Tuesday night and Wednesday. She gave him an anti-nausea tablet and then after about 15 minutes she had him start taking tiny sips of water in three minute intervals. It did the trick and he was able to eat a Popsicle before we left. He hasn't thrown up since then and has added Gaterade, applesauce, toast, and bananas to his diet. Hopefully he's on the mend as this virus final leaves him alone. Aiden helped me make orange Jello to add to the menu options tomorrow.

I made it over to school for our faculty meeting and to read the sub notes. I think I'm in the minority, but I actually like attending meetings. I like to find out what's going on around the school and see people who I don't normally run into. We have three traveling trophies that are presented at monthly meetings and today I was the recipient of one of them. It was very uplifting to receive some very kind compliments. It definitely made my day.

December Daily 2, 2015

(Waving white flag.)

I was hoping Reid was on the mend, but he woke up round 5 this morning, sick again. Texted my mom that I was going to call in a sub again. Wrote up some lesson plans and emailed them to one of my colleagues. I'm so lucky to have such helpful colleagues at school.

My mom came over at 8:30 to be with Reid while I took Aiden to school and went to the grocery store.

Selfies while waiting for Principal B to open the school doors.

Today was an early release day at the boys' school, so Reid and I returned to pick up Aiden at 1:00. Time for more selfies while we took the van through the car wash.

Reid seemed to feel better throughout the morning, but started feeling worse again during late afternoon.

I had them take baths by themselves to avoid cross-contamination. They both enjoyed the extra space to float and relax.

Managed to get their homework done which comes home on Mondays and is returned on Thursdays. The one worksheet they were working on in the pictures included favorite food: Aiden- ham, Reid- mac and cheese; and "I like to play...": Aiden- with Legos, Reid- hockey. 

I was hoping Eric would somehow be able to defy the laws of physics and arrive in Salt Lake early enough to catch the last flight back to Denver. No luck. So, I called in for a sub. Again. I'm going to have the biggest mess to clean up at school and I was barely hanging on as is. I'm also a little sad because the boys have a field trip next week that was rescheduled from November. I volunteered to chaperone before, but after missing three days this week, I don't know that I can miss any more days. Hopefully, Eric won't get assigned a surprise trip and I'll be able to go to school on Friday and see if I can get my students back on track.

December Daily 1, 2015

Hi!

This year has flown by, so it will be good to slow down and take the time to document for a month. 

Eric switched from an Airbus 319/320 to a Boing 757/767 assignment. He was training in Atlanta most of September. Then he was home for eight! weeks waiting to do his training flights with a check airman. Obviously, they were a little back-logged. It was so nice having him home for such a long stretch, including Thanksgiving week. He left on Sunday for his first trip which has included Salt Lake City, Orange County, Atlanta, and Philadelphia so far. Unfortunately, Reid came down with a tummy bug and I ended up staying home with him yesterday. Not much sleep for me writing up sub plans and taking care of him, but only a few more weeks of school left in the semester. (I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...)

Today's pictures show pretty typical activities. Reid enjoys playing on the Wii U. His newest game is Super Mario Smash Bros. Aiden likes the iPad and plays different games or watches Netflix. He is also wearing an eye patch on his left eye so his right eye can grow stronger. On the coffee table you might notice the two boxes. They are the Lego nativity sets. Today's Lego creations were two remote control cars.

The idea behind December Daily came to me from one of my favorite scrapbookers/bloggers: Ali Edwards at aliedwards.com. My cousin Julie and her husband Kris are joining in again: http://troutandcastiron.com/2015/12/01/december-daily/ (I enjoyed your post today, Kris.)

I tend to post pictures a little bit more frequently on Instagram @kbrusven.

Here's to a good December.