January up-date

So, it's been awhile and I really haven't had that many "exciting" things happen since the last post. I'll just give you an update on the month so far. My parents and grandparents came down a couple of weeks ago, and my brother and sister-in-law came down last weekend and we headed for Topeka on Friday. It was good to go "home" and see lots of familiar faces. We also got to bring home our new entertainment center that my dad made and we rearranged the living room a little bit. I'm so excited for the new piece of furniture! My dad is so talented.

School's been going good. We will celebrate the 100th day of school on Wednesday. This week is going to be a busy one in Room 1B. There is no school for the students tomorrow, but the teachers are headed to Hutchinson for an in-service. Kansas Day is next week, so we are going to start preparing for it by looking at Native Americans and early settlers in Kansas this week. We're also in the middle of our Matter Unit for science and the kids are having a blast with it! (I am too for that matter.)

Shaun is keeping busy between going to car auctions and working on the "honey-do" list. Our termite damage from earlier in the year is going to keep him busy this week. He's planning on re-doing the sheet rock above the stairway going downstairs sometime this week. I'm not really looking forward to the clean up afterward, but I know it will look better after it's finished.

Christmas, New Year's and Christmas Break!

So it's been a busy Christmas break. It doesn't really seem like it's been a vacation at all. We've been to Topeka two times and hit a total of 5 Christmas's this year. We celebrated with my mom's side of the family in Topeka the weekend before Christmas, at Shaun's Grandma Alice's on Christmas Eve, at the in-laws' Christmas morning with Sara and Jason, at Grandma Clara's house for lunch on Christmas Day, and in Topeka at my aunt and uncle's on Friday. I am so tired of the typical "Christmas foods" that I haven't touched the leftovers in the fridge. We had a great time while Sara and Jason were here. We also had a blast playing volleyball with the Ortman side of the family on Christmas Day and at Shaun's aunt and uncle's. I do have to say that the Ortman's beat the Lindenberger's!

We celebrated New Year's Eve last night at our friends' Chris and DeAnn's with our Sunday School class. We had a good time eating LOTS of food, spending time with friends, playing games and of course, the White Elephant exchange. I wasn't too happy with the gift Shaun came home with, as it is the one I had given last year at the exchange! I have to tell the story...."Some friends of ours got married 6 months before us and at a shower, she was given this attractive flannel night gown. Since it was so beautiful, she thought she would share with me at our shower. Anxious to get rid of this article of clothing, we took it to their shivere (sp?) and hung it in their tree. I thought it would surely be thrown away, but of course, it came back at our shivere. I decided it would be the perfect White Elephant gift last year and that it would find a good home. One of the guys in the church received this and modeled it quite well. A year went by without sight of this night gown. It was the first gift to be openned at the exchange. I thought the owner was thrilled to receive this. NOT! She decided Shaun's cat toys was a better suit for her and ended up exchanging, so we brought it home once again." That's the story of the flannel night gown and I have to start thinking of creative uses for it. Do I give it to my mother-in-law for Mother's Day (since she knows the story), does it have a date next year at the exchange, or maybe you can give me some good ideas!

Enough about the night gown. I can't believe my Christmas break is almost over! We go back to school on Monday. I was able to go to school one day and take down my Christmas decorations and do grade cards. I finished lesson plans tonight and am ready to go on Monday (at least prepared, maybe not ready to go back!).

Have a great weekend and Happy New Year!