Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String...

I just had to tell somebody that I have FINISHED WRAPPING! It is 11:50pm on Christmas Eve-Eve and it's too late to call anyone and Danny really doesn't care because I "bought too much again and that's why it's taking forever."

I'm relieved that Kevin is better & at home (it's very scary to hear those dreaded words "Kevin is okay, he's okay, but he's in the hospital...) Hopefully, we will get to visit with Kevin & Jennie and the boys sometime during the holidays. Then I will believe that he's alright. (Love you, Kev.)
I'm excited about seeing our parents and everyone else who will be there tomorrow. Drive carefully and remember I love you all. ~V~

Highway to the Phobia Zone

Well, aside from the snow in Chicago (thanks a lot, Mom, for pointing that out to me), and the fact that I am going to have to take THREE (count 'em) airplanes to get to Virginia, I am doing really well today.

The administration bought the teachers breakfast this morning, which was wonderful, and very New Mexican: I ate posole, red chile enchiladas with sour cream, and tortillas, and, I also ate a cinnamon roll that wasn't very Southwestern, but tasted pretty good. Three of my students brought me Christmas gifts, which is pretty good for a high school teacher (usually the kids are too busy buying for their girl/boyfriends to worry about their educators - ha ha), and, best of all,
I also had a chance to talk with our district's curriculum coordinator, who offered me the chance to go with her to the New Mexico Public Education Department meetings on revising the state's standards of learning for English/Language Arts.

I am thrilled to have been asked to do this! Next year, I am planning to work on getting my National Board Certification for Teaching (NBCT) and this is such a terrific professional opportunity for me as I begin the NBCT application process. It hasn't been finalized yet, but the principal here at the high school gave her "o.k.," and now it's just up to the state committee to accept me as a member of their team.

I will let you guys know what happens.

Meanwhile, I am stocking up on anti-anxiety medication for my 10 hour trip home. Yes, it really is going to take 10 hours. About 5 and a half of them are going to be in the air. And I will get to spend some "quality time" in the great city of Denver on Sunday, so you can all think of me and send hopeful thoughts that the airport is well stocked with books and coffee (which are all I really need to call my time 'quality'). I will see you all soon!

LOVE,
Emily
P.S. - I am planning to stay overnight, just so you know, Mom. (laugh)

Kevin Awarded Additional Vacation Days

As most of you are aware, Kevin was hospitalized yesterday (12/19) for diverticulitis. Fortunately, he listened to Jennie who insisted he go to the Doctor, as the affected areas of his colon were highly inflamed and could have burst at any time (remember that Dad nearly died with a perforated colon years ago). So, altho' this is not a good way to acquire vacation days (or lose weight!), I am thankful that he is doing well and looking to be released on Friday if all goes well. He is at Williamsburg Community Hospital, Room 338, phone 757-984-9338 and welcomes any diversions!
Regarding Christmas:
I would appreciate anyone staying overnite to let me know when they are coming and how long I will enjoy their company (simply for housekeeping details and meal planning). I, too, welcome all comers!
I have checked the weather for Emily's flight home on Sunday. It appears the only glitch could be Chicago where they expect some light snow...yike!

We are looking forward to soup at the Waltrip's in Rocky Mount on Christmas Eve (about noon). Jeannie is preparing soup (of her choice) and we will bring bread, salad, and dessert. Vicki, we need to talk!

Well - the time is drawing close. This wonderful, wipe-the-slate clean, begin again time of year...I pray that in 2008, God will send you all that you need to be all that you are. I am thankful for the blessing of a wonderful family. D.

The Goose is Getting Fat (and so am I!)

It's been a busy advent season for me so far. Thanksgiving at Vicki's was so much fun - terrific food, family & friends and we made gingerbread houses! I got to ring bells for the Salvation Army 2 weeks ago and had a warm and wonderful visit with Annie Lee (with Vicki) this weekend. As you may know, she has cancer of the lung (with liver & bones already involved) and the prognosis is grim. She has lost her hair and looks quite like an elf in her knitted hat ( we just needed some snow!). Still, it was a lovely visit with a "lady" lunch at the Chickahominy House and delicious lasagna with Kevin & family the night before.

Most of the presents have been purchased and decorating has begun (my favorite is the candles in the windows!). Ben has even put the lights on the shrubs! Our neighborhood has gone wild with lights - one even has a blue tree as tall as a flag pole (it is a flag pole!) with a rotating star on top! I simply love it...my family thinks it's tacky. Oh, well, to each his own I say!

We are so enjoying having Katie here - I think she's beginning to think Roanoke is ok, too. We are really looking forward to Emily coming home on Sunday the 23rd. I want it to get here quickly, but I need all the time pre-Christmas that I can get!

Christmas Brunch is planned for Christmas Day at noon. As some of you have INSISTED on bringing something, I am happy to have the assistance. Ben will still do sausage gravy (with English muffins and fried apples) and we'll have an egg dish. Vicki is doing a coffee cake (and other stuff, too, but I'm all about the cake!). Livi is bringing her luscious "egg strata" (did I get that right, Livi?) which is a vegetarian dish. We'll have lots, including hot dogs & fixings for later in the day should people stay a while!

I also wanted to suggest that we have a "Game Night" on Friday or Saturday after Christmas. Everyone could bring a snack and beverage along with his favorite old game or a new one to try...what do you think? It's possible Kevin & Jennie will be here; and even Keith may be here by then. I volunteer my house, but am willing to travel.

I don't know what plans people may want to make for Christmas Eve. I'll talk with Vicki & Jeannie about maybe having soup & salad at Rocky Mount for lunch, then everyone can scurry to church or present-wrapping or "secret stuff". Will let you know what comes of this.

Really sorry Mike & Pacie will not be here. Really glad that Lynn & Brian will make it for Christmas Day!

Hope everyone is doing just wonderfully...Christmas is coming as the song says. Love.

You've Been Elfed!!

Life is all about BUTTS
you're either covering it,

laughing it off,

kicking it,

kissing it,

busting it,

trying to get a piece of it,
or behaving like one ......

Merry Christmas to our wonderful family.

Grandma Got Run Over by a Schnauzer.

Last night my friend Liz came over to have dinner and watch a movie with me. Kiere did her usual thing: barked like a frenetic, rabid muskrat on crack; jumped up on Liz's legs, and generally acted as though she were possessed by evil spirits. I sprayed her with a water bottle (my friend's trick for calming badly behaved dogs), which worked for all of two seconds at a time, and then, in desperation, I banished her to her crate in my bedroom.

Unfortunately for all of us except Kiere, my bedroom doesn't have an actual door. The hallway is also the wall of the bedroom, and then you go around a little privacy wall, and, voila, what some lunatic Santa Fe architect decided would be a great addition to "Southwestern style": a bedroom with no door. Did I mention that my sink is in the hallway instead of in the bathroom where it belongs? Yeah, there are a lot of things out here that don't make sense. I believe it's related to the tequila habit of much of the population. That or there was some translation problem between the cultures -- maybe bedrooms are supposed to be part of the main household if you live in the Santo Domingo pueblo.

Anyway. Liz and I had dinner. Kiere barked exactly ONE bark exactly every TWO minutes. Which meant that every time we had just settled into conversation, we were startled out of it, sometimes dropping our forks to the table, by this piercing, horrible, rat-death kind of bark that Kiere had cleverly come up with during her exile.

We started the movie. Same thing. WHAT A BAD DOG. Because I got tired of missing the end of every other line of the movie, I let her out of her crate. (bad mommy.) She promptly jumped up into Liz's lap, tried to french-kiss Liz, rolled over on her back on Liz's knees, and fell asleep.

Lord help me if I ever have children.

Kiere (and coat) will be spending Christmas at Happy Paws Kennel. Maybe she will wear out her voice before I see her again. It would be the best Christmas present for this household.

Funny and cute videos, Lynnie! I can't wait to see ALL OF YOU GUYS!

~Emily

"Bride and Groom Dance" and "The Mom Song"

Hello Family! I hope some of you are still checking this blog!!

I'm not sure if you guys have had the chance to see these three video clips, but they are hilarious!
I hope you are able to see them!

Bride/Groom Dance (Brian wishes we would have thought of this idea)https://www.webmail.henrico.k12.va.us/exchange/alcullather/Inbox/FW:%20Wedding%20Dance.EML/1_multipart_xF8FF_2_bestfirstdanceataweddingever.wmv/C58EA28C-18C0-4a97-9AF2-036E93DDAFB3/bestfirstdanceataweddingever.wmv?attach=1

This is more like what I wish we had done for our wedding:-) It's long, but funny like the evolution of dance that we've seen before:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHRk2v5MtE4

The mom song (listen carefully to all the lyrics-too funny, not sad Vicki!)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Hope you all are doing well! I am excited that we are almost out of school for "holiday break"!
Can't wait to see all of you for Christmas!
Love,
Lynn:-)