Well, I noticed today that my big brother Dave had linked this sad blog to his actually informative and more frequently updated blog (see www.smithdm3.com). So, I figured, I had better put in an update...
Christmas is just around the corner and there are only three days left until I am off for two weeks... I was at a department head meeting tonight after school and realized how in need of a break we as teachers are... I know we get enough time off, and I'm certainly not saying that we don't all deserve a break now. However, for those of you who have children, or for those of you who remember being a child, imagine having thirty of them in a room, so close to Christmas... They are wound like tops (or dreidels?? though I teach at a Catholic school, and dreidels are more spun than wound), and the smallest things set them off on tangents, usually Christmas related. I was lucky today to get 45 minutes of productivity out of my grade 12 university bound chemistry students... Of course, I had them for 72 minutes!! So, for the other 27 minutes, it was a challenge...
I have tests planned in all three classes in the next two days... I'm not sure, but in the past, this seems to keep them focused. Then, on Friday, we have an assembly in the afternoon, so my teacher friend, Meaghan, and I, have planned "Demo Day." We had this last year, and it was a great success! We save a bunch of really fun, blow things up, demonstrations and perform them for our classes this day. We have a few new ones up our sleeves this year, including something with Lycopodium powder, to honour my big brother and his old chemistry teacher Doc Jacobs. Never had the man, but I hear he is an awesome teacher!
Just to top off the pre-Christmas exhaustion, the dreaded cold that has been lurking around the halls of school has finally caught up to me. Just when I thought I might get away with not catching it... Arrgghhh..........
Over the weekend, Darren and I started our Christmas festivities, including both our staff parties and "Christmas with the Curries." Although Christmas with Darren's family is a little more laid back and low-key, it was very nice, nonetheless. Because Darren's staff party was in Kendall, we headed to Orono early Saturday to spend a bit of time with Liz and Gord. We spent a few hours there, and then headed to Vitalaire it up. We slept on the magical BYObed we purchased with many gift cards from the wedding.
Darren and I gave his parents a variety of things, including a camera bag for his dad and a salad bowl set for his mom. Darren and I received way too many gifts, all of which we are thankful for, including Grey's Anatomy Season One for me!! YEAH!!! I am watching episode 3 already!
When we arrived back home in Belleville, we took a quick tour over to my parents place to see them, as well as my grandparents, Aunt Laura and Brad, Jessie & Michael. Michael is walking (most of the time) and up to lots! He gets around so quickly, but is still occasionally a little unsure about people. Still a cutie though!
We missed the annual pilgrammage to get a Christmas tree on Sunday, but from what I hear, it was a good day to miss it. Mud and all that... A beautiful tree was chosen for us, and it was awaiting us on the deck when we returned. After a two day process, it is beautifully decorated. We actually now have too many ornaments, but they will get cycled on the tree.
I've also been playing with the camera we bought for our wedding gift to each other. I am experimenting with all the possibilities... It's tons of fun!
I even got it to work so that you could see the lights on the basket o' cones my Grandma made for me. They look like they are stars!! YEAH!!
Oh... We also started off the month with some good old Christmas baking with Mom, Anne, Lori and I (and a guest appearance by young Kate-Anne McCaw). It's quite an event every year, making a million (well, 14 or so) varieties of goodies. It's quite an ordeal, but we all survive it. This year, Lori brought along Kate-Anne, who was just over 2 months old at the time. Here's a pic of her in the sling! Cutie!
Well... three more days to survive, and then, it's trying not to eat too much so I don't gain back any of the 45 lbs I've lost since April... Hmm... Wish me luck!
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