Christmas Vacation

Here I am, sitting on my couch at 8:08am on a Saturday morning...the sun is shining in the window, my dog is laying by my feet and I am reading Marley and Me in hopes to finish it before the movie comes out. I LOVE CHRISTMAS VACATION!

Simple Joys

Being a teacher, I daily get to appreciate the simple joys in life...or in the lives of my students...

This week...

Having a little boy come in with his hair slicked so tight to one side of his head...he was so proud he did it himself because it was so hard to do - "I had to put a towel around my neck and stick my head in the sink...then I used a lot gel so it stays that way...it still feels wet(as it is dripping down his neck)".

My students were so pumped to get a "Sweet roll and coffee" to celebrate Christmas just like in Sweden...it was really a day old cinnamon roll and root beer...easy to please.

A student coloring the halos near the heads of Mary and Joseph in a Nativity scene coloring sheet yellow..."I was thinking it might be the light of Christ"...how true it is.

Getting 1000 hugs a day...even when I don't deserve them.

Hearing 70 2nd graders singing Frosty the Snowman at the Christmas program last night...wearing hats and scarves...it brought me back to the Minnesota winter days.

Hearing 26 little voices singing along with This Little Light of Mine while working on a report about bats.

When asked how far Mexico is from Orange County, a student replied...very far, I think like 7 miles.

After receiving a present in his shoe from St. Nicholas in the hallway at school while studying Christmas in Germany a little boy yells "I'm doing this every night" and a little girl replies -"He won't find you...he knows your not German!"

It's the little things that make me smile...I have all those little joys everyday...and for that I am thankful!

Winter in the OC

I have come to realize that I should appreciate winter in southern California. Today at carpool(yes, I have to help with carpool at our school...no one rides the bus, everyone pulls up in their Escalades and Ferrari's like we are at a car show...and I do wear a sweet orange safety vest)...and I notice the Santa Ana winds are blowing and it is absolutely gorgeous out. I am almost even hot. On my drive home, I am witnessing another beautiful sunset...the Pacific Ocean to my left and the amazing hill of homes(including Lauren Conrad's parent's house) to my right. Although is seems weird to see an inflatable Frosty and an inflatable snow globe in the front yard of a multi-million dollar home that has no snow...I still sigh and think about how much I love the holiday season. As I continue driving, I think about how different Christmas is without snow...it almost seems just like any other ordinary day...so then I start feeling sad about not being in Minnesota for a white Christmas. Then comes the phone call from my dad...it is like 3 degrees in Minnesota and he has just finished snowblowing the 5 inches of snow that had fallen the day before. I suddenly remember that winter in southern California is pretty nice...even if there is no snow on Christmas :( I would also like to tell you that I was going to meet some friends for dinner tonight...I was freezing in my house...I put on socks and boots(I have not worn closed-toe shoes in a VERY long time...my feet feel claustrophobic), jeans, a shirt, scarf and sweater like coat. I am pumped because I am warm and cozy...I then walk outside, get in my car, look at the temperature and see that it says 70 degrees...I then realize I am pathetic.

Today

What am I good at? I think about being a teacher...I used to think I was a superstar...maybe I was...am I still?? I found out that one of my students will be leaving my class after Christmas break...going to a new school that will challenge her. I can't help to take it personally...did I totally screw up...did I miss doing my job somewhere??? Now I know this sounds overdramatic...but I really wonder...I have I lost my passion, my secret touch? I have tried to think of what I am good at...can I be anything other than a teacher and be successful? I don't know if I will ever have the guts to try it out. How does one truly find out where their talents are?? If you know the answer, let me know.

And...my battle towards eating healthy, living healthy and being healthy has not quite begun...I am trying...atleast every morning when I get up it is my intention...after breakfast is another story...I will get there.