Snow and Ice

Last night we got a helping of snow and ice.  It is exam week, so I don't HAVE to go into school today - hooray!  So today it's just me, Winston, and a fresh batch of chicken soup.  Yum!!

My Homemade Soup!  I used this awesome recipe!  This is the second time I've tried this.  Instead of using a 4 lb chicken, I used 2 chicken split breasts and 3 turkey drumsticks.  I roasted the meat before adding it to the soup.

This is Winston playing - he spent about 5 minutes doing this - the video is the tail end (pardon the pun).
He is a sweet dog, and I am loving having him in my house.  The drool, hair, and sloppy kisses are ok by me - he is a love.  It snowed last night and last weekend.  The pictures below are from taking him out on a walk in the snow.  He loved it!

Happy New Year!

Nothing quite like bringing in the new year with a cold.  yep.  First my niece (of course), then her mom (of course), then my mom and I.  Sheesh. 

I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Years celebration! 

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but my friend Debbie and her husband Wayne have just moved to the UK.  I am sad to see them go - they are such great people!  But, they had to leave their beloved dog Winston here for 4 months for quarantine.  I picked him up from the kennel on Thursday and so far he has been doing a lot of sleeping.  He get these bursts of energy and we play and go for a walk, but otherwise - sleep.  He is a sweet dog, and so far I am glad to have him!  :-)

Isn't he sweet?!?!?!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  I hope everyone out there has a warm and special time with family and friends this season.

Holiday Season

This holiday season has been filled with baking, decorating and holiday parties.  Busy, busy!  I find that December is sometimes so busy that it is difficult to actually have joy in the season.  I enjoy doing all of those things - baking cookies, cinnamin rolls, and peppermint bark, decorating the tree, and seeing friends, but sometimes it is all too much.  I find myself craving simplicity and peace and ways to remind myself what this is all about.

Finding Kind

We have been showing this documentary to our students the past two weeks and we are going to have discussions about it in small groups after the break.  I think it is really important to say to girls - when you are at a crossroads and have a choice to mean, or be kind, be kind.  When you take a look at yourself, you want to be the best person you can be.  Be kind. 

This campaign to raise awareness and have a conversation amongst girls and women is vital to changing the way we treat each other as children and adults. 

Watch this trailer - think about it, let me know what you think.


The Kind Campaign

Sorry I've been absent lately!

Whew!  I've barely had time to breathe, and it seems that this weekend is the first weekend that I haven't had TONS of work to do, or other obligations.  It's good to just be at home!  Being a bit of a home-body, I am much like Harry Potter in that I have to return home to rejuvenate!

Here's what I've been up to lately!

Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington DC October 30

The Rally was great!  Mom and I drove down early in the morning and arrived about 11:15am.  We got great seats - not fabulous, but at least we could hear the rally!  It was amazing to be surrounded by so many people, see so many in one place there for a reason - the reason was different for everybody, but people came out to be on the Mall on a beautiful October Day.

My mom's birthday November 7

Jennifer and I surprised mom by fixing brunch (spinach and leek quiche, fruit salad with sugared almonds, spiced cornbread muffins, and cranberry cocktails!) and spending the day with her and dad.  She was so surprised, it was great!

Ubah's Baby Shower November 13th

Doesn't Ub look beautiful!  Her whole family was wearing pink and we had delicious Indian food and cake. This was the first time many of us had seen her pregnant and glowing and it was lovely to see her so happy and in her element.  She was also a trooper - barely had a chane to sit the entire time!

First time we'd met Anna!  Poor girl was sick, but she is so cute - we couldn't help oogling her!

We had a wonderful time at the baby shower- it was so good to see Ubah, and I can't wait to see that little girl!

Thanksgiving is coming this week and I'm so glad!  I will post more soon, promise!