Golden Gate Bridge

Yesterday we took the bus to the Golden Gate Bridge and walked partway across with the scores of other camera toting tourists. We are loving San Fran and have another two days here before heading home. Today we headed to Alcatraz and took a jillion photos which I hope to sort through and put up tomorrow. Another very interesting place!

San Fran Chinatown

 

 

 

 

Guess Where We Are?

 

 

 

 

December Snapshots

Last Two Weeks: SNOW, Cookies & Crafts, Christmas Parties, Family

Playing Hooky

Conversations I had with two lil boys as soon as they entered the classroom this morning.

Lil Jonny: Mrs. Lai, here's a note from my Mom. She's coming to pick me up at lunch.

Me: [slightly alarmed] Oh, is everything alright? Do you have a doctor's appointment?

Lil Jonny: [excited] No, we're going to buy our Christmas Tree.

Me: [incredulous] You're going to buy a Christmas Tree?!?

2 fine minutes later

Lil Marky: Mrs. Lai, remember... I have to leave at 2:30 today.

Me: Oh right. Do YOU have a doctor's appointment?

Lil Marky: Oh No...I have to get my hair cut.

Imagine the ensuing gossip and complaining by parents if I announced that I had to leave class early to buy my Christmas tree and get my haircut! That latter of which I really do need.

FELT Like Sewing

While The Husband naps on the couch, I've been in a felt frenzy, creating silly little pouches, purses and pockets.

From scraps of felt...

to a button adorned case for our new GPS (I love buttons and I love our new GPS which I have affectionately named Kelly...she just sounds like a Kelly.)...

a coin purse to keep in the glove compartment of our car for parking money (especially when we head downtown)...

a sunglasses pouch...


a set of homemade ornaments for my tree

...and same flower...another little pouch to put in a small treat and give away this Christmas.

I HEART felt.

Domesticity

Once in a blue moon, I get the overwhelming urge to bake. Since these spurts of domesticity are far and few between, thought it best to document these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies here. After all, it is that season.

CHRISTmas or christmas

Have been doing lots of thinking about Christmas as we begun our advent celebrations this past Sunday. Love the premise of this clip! It's so easy to get caught up...especially for a shopper like me. This shall be my challenge this Advent season. How 'bout you?

Saturday Night Lights Seattle

Shopping in Seattle on Thanksgiving (US) weekend.

Went to my new fave store Anthropologie
and found the cutest duvet cover on sale.

Report Cards

Three times a year, we teachers hunker down, furiously marking and assessing to have something worthwhile to tell parents about how well (or not so well) their lovely cherubs are fairing at school. The comment section of the report cards are the most time consuming, where for each child I average about 300 words...a small essay. It's amazing how many ways a teacher can disguise negative behaviours into a more positive comment. The language is just rolling of my tongue this week...

For aggressive fighter child: Name has been working on displaying increasing amounts of self control when interacting with peers and solving problems with words only.

For child who is always centre of attention: Name is learning to listen more actively and respectfully when others are speaking. He is learning to raise his hand when he has something to share.

For child who is completely clueless: Name is encouraged to be more aware of the world around her and to increase her general knowledge.

Sometimes what I really want to say is...

Name is an active child who just cannot keep his fingers out of his nose. He is unable to sit still for even a minute and I am not sure that he is physically able to raise his hand when he would like to speak. He cannot read to save his dear life and his penmanship is absolutely atrocious. What is the point of lined paper I ask?

On that note...back to my reports. Thanks for the vent.

Operation Shoebox

Over the past two weeks, we (my students and I) planned, purchased and packed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to send to children in less fortunate countries. It's always awesome to see how much the kids get into it and many used their own allowance, birthday money or did chores around the house to earn some change.

One group of girls brought seeds (for the children to grow their own food) and a water bottle, so they can water the seeds.

Toys, treats, and trinkets were packed and re-packed into their boxes.

Cutting the appropriate labels for our boxes. Gift for a GIRL or BOY?

Field Trip Day

Took the kids to gymnastics today and got to take loads of photos of them...

walking the line,

balancing and...

bouncing.

My biggest complaint/nightmare of the trip: these BOOSTER SEATS!
[Which each child needed in order to ride in a car and had to be collected this morning as their parents dropped them off]

Saturday in Seattle to Scrapbook and See Starfield

On Friday morning, The Husband and I threw out the idea of heading to Seattle that afternoon as we knew that there was a scrapbook convention (yes, I am a craft geek.. you should have seen the look the border/customs officer gave us) and Christian Musicians Summit (for him) happening this weekend.

The Husband, Pricelined a Bellevue hotel on a whim (unbeknownst to me) and we ended up at the swanky Hyatt Regency for $77 that evening!!!

I spent my afternoon taking scrappy classes and wandering through the many displays and booths selling all things crafty. A craft-geek's dream come true!

Selecting mini chipboard albums to create as Christmas gifts. (For you crafty people, these 7Gypsies supplies were $1-$2.)

After my crafty afternoon, we headed to see Starfield and a number of amazing worship composers/leaders perform. By the time we started making the 2.5 hour return trip home, it was well past midnight. But, oh so worth it!