'Tis the Season Continued...

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Our Secret Santa crew...

     I had an awesome SS, and I enjoyed all of my fun gifts especially the scarf Becca made and my new Steelers bag!! :o)

Our English department the Friday before Christmas break...

     We love blue & gold Fridays (especially the ones where we can wear our comfy blue & gold flannel pants)!!

Christmas with the kids...

We are so blessed!!

Dani loved her new down pillow.

Dakota and JJ sporting their pretty ribbons. 

Time for the kids' stockings...

The whole process just wore the big fella out!!

'Tis the Season for Baking

     Our "bake-off" started years ago when I taught Tina's oldest son.  We both enjoy baking a lot, so she decided it was time for another competition now that McKenna is at the middle school.   The class decided that it was a draw; I made frosted cheesecake brownies, and Tina made nut goodie bars.   I read The Snow Tree while Bridget, Tina, and McKenna dished out the treats!! 

     My next baking adventure was a couple of nights later with Dallas.  We made LOTS of Christmas cookies; some of them for my cookie exchange the next day at school.

     Thanks to my friend, Sara, for giving me the awesome recipe for Santa's Surprise Cookies!!

Smiles for the camera...

Another successful cookie exchange :0)

Alison, Heidi, Ann, Deb, April, and Me 

(Bridget participated, too, but couldn't be present for the picture.)

The Days Leading up to Christmas

A beautiful sight on a cold December morning...sun dogs :0)

Our annual Ugly Sweater Day...

 Alison and Me

 This year student council collected canned goods for the food shelf in exchange for wearing a hat.

 Bridget and Me 

(Now that is one ugly cowboy Christmas sweater!!!!)

Getting ready for hall duty...

Our Christmas celebration after hours...

Sandy, Alison, and Me

Holly, Sheri, and Ann

Becca gave Alisha and me a craft lesson for a fun Christmas gift. 

 

Catching Fire time!!!

Clearly, for some, all of this Christmas activity is too much!!

Pampering

Nothing like being pampered...

 Cathy treating Faith and mom/grandma to a pedi...

Nothing better than one of Greg's fires :0) 

(This photo looks like a painting or a postcard!!)

A new toy for JJ...

A rawhide for Dakota...

 Cozy buddies...

And

.

...an early Christmas present for Rache...Daisy, an adorable little Yorkie!!  :) 

Thanksgiving 2013

We always have so much to be thankful for!!!

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving:

Mmm, grandma, that is good pop!!

 Michael showing Uncle Gary and Uncle Mike his pictures from his Germany trip.

 So glad that Kati and Brayden joined us, but their hearts were heavy on their first holiday without Jim. ):

 Just relaxing...

 Hi, Ian!!

Erik had to photobomb us!!

 Hosting Thanksgiving really wears us out...