Tree

Does anyone else find this odd?

The fact that we cut down a tree...
And squeeze it through our front door...

Rearrange furniture...
Finding space for a large tree in our homes...

I'm not criticising...
I love the smell!
And I will NEVER have a fake tree in my house...
Pine needles don't scare me!

I'm just sayin...
When you really think about it...
It's kinda weird...

Frychik

Banquet

Christmas lights at the Grotto

So Sunday, instead of singing happy birthday to my step-dad....
Or helping my volleyball team in the playoffs (they finished 2nd!)
Or celebrating with a friend at her bridal shower...

I went to a banquet...

Alone...Dateless...Had to take a picture of myself...
Actually, that was fine, because I'm not much of a date at these things
running around, monitoring hemlines and cleavage sightings....

The location was at The Grotto in PDX...

They have a lovely Christmas light display every year
Carolers...
Concerts in the church..
Puppet shows...
Musicians...

The kids are always so lovely...
Its so fun to see these teenagers all dressed up in their finest....
and trying so hard to be polite...

Some of the boys are just adorable!
All shiny, with their hair combed...
Pulling out chairs for the girls...
Getting them drinks...
Buying them flowers...
Trying to remember all the coaching their parents gave them...

As a teacher, I have been to way to many banquets over the years.
But, this year, I got to be there with my kid...
He was a good sport :)

His lovely friend MacKenzie was his "date" for the evening...
They are so cute!

It was a lovely evening...
I'm so thankful it didn't rain...
I'm so thankful it's another "to do" on the SA list that I can cross off!

Frychik

SALE!!!

National Geographic Warehouse Sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Several weeks ago I received a postcard in the mail at work announcing the

National Geographic Warehouse sale...

Hmmm, that sounds promising...

I am a huge NG fan!  Love them!

My literal dream job is to be a photographer for them

So NG if your reading call me!

Really, call me...

I promise I'll drop everything...

Abandon all my responsibilities and fly whereever in the world you need me...

Shoot!  Which reminds me...

My passport expired Nov 30!!!

Grrrrr

Anyway, back to the sale...

The post card promised 20-90% off

hmmmm, that sounded too good to be true...

Amazing!

I am completely aware of how nerdy I sound...

history teacher arranging her life to be at this sale

But I don't care....

I picked up several books for school and personal use

Everything I love is there...

Travel...

History...

Photography..

Happy sigh....

I bought $500 worth of books...

for $110.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so happy...

This was so much better than Black Friday :)

I would also like to add...

That there was a crazy map lady there...

They were selling large maps for a $1 each...

I to have a love of maps but this lady's cart was overflowing...

In fact, I started looking in her cart because I thought it was part of the sale...

She informed me very quickly that those were "her" maps...

I'm not kidding she had 40 maps in her cart...

I decided I had enough maps and moved on...

When I came back around 20 min later she was still there...

I thought I would just throw that in for some comparisons...

It could be worse ;)

On the way out I was informed that this sale happens every year...

How could this be?

How have I missed it?

I can't wait for next year!

Frychik



One Week Closer...

Reality check friends...

Last week we were doing this...

Everything was still Orange and pumpkeeny....

Why do my boys look like they are sloshed????

Anyway...

Now we are a week closer to Christmas people!

This dude has replaced my pumpkins...
Out with the pumpkins and in with the Christmas chaos!

I drag in large boxes of Christmas "stuff" 
I pack up anything orange or brown...
and I try to create "Christmas" in my home...

Isn't he just to cute!  I have no idea where he came from but I take him out of the box every year and display him....

I brought this guy home with me from Austria...

It's really quiet a transition...
Orange and Red aren't a smooth transition...
Suddenly pumpkins look hideously out of place...

and the first week of Christmas anticipation has already passed!

It's so much in such a short period of time...

Frychik

Doubling up in December

Why do we try to cram so much into this month?
The result is I miss a lot...

For example this Sunday I have been invited to, or in the case of one, obligated to be at the following;

1.  Bday party for my step-dad who is turning 60
2.  Bridal shower for a friend who is getting married on my anniversary weekend
3.  My volleyball team has placed 3rd in our league and our playoff games are Sunday
4.  CAA's Christmas banquet

And they are all happening at the same time people!  I can't even stagger, or try to race from one to the other...

Guess which one I'll be attending...

Frychik

Should I be worried?

My husband and I will be celebrating our 22nd anniversary on the 18th...
In all of those years never once has he said to me
"I'm gonna drive off into the hills and hike around a bit"

That is what he told me last night...
and now he's gone and left...

While I like the rugged outdoorsy type, I have to say I'm a tad concerned...

He's been looking for work for a year...
He is more the dress shirt and tie sorta guy...
There's a ton of snow up there and it gets dark early...

He told me not to worry...
He has his GPS...
The one I bought him 2 years ago...
That he has never used...
Because he doesn't know how to use it...

Shoot!  I should have told him to take the dog...

While I respect "alone time"
I'm still worried...

He smiled...
kissed me...
and said "don't worry"

I hate it when people tell me not to worry...

Frychik

Happy December!

Happy December!
The month we love but completely wears us out...

Yesterday I ran away from school for 30 min to grab a subway sandwich...
While I was there happily munching my "veggie delight" I observed a young mother and
what I judged to be her 3ish year old son.

He was a bundle of energy...
Seriously, he didn't stop moving for even a second while I watched him...

He was wearing crocs and jeans that were soggy on the bottom from walking through the rain...

He quickly noticed that his crocs and the tile floor in Subway made a delightfully slippery combination.

He began twirling around and waving his arms in various kung fu movements...
His mother, being a typical mother, told him to stop or he would fall down...
Without missing a beat he said...
"I won't fall, I'm TRAINED!"

Oh, the confidence
Oh, the attitude
Oh, the energy
of a 3 year old boy...

That's what I want for Christmas!

Frychk