Christmas 2013

Our Christmas this year was very low key and quiet. I worked on Christmas Eve, but my amazing boss made me go home early. Kyle and I got ready and headed to Hooper for the Maughan/Wright Christmas Eve party. Niki and Greg's home is gorgeous. I have to confess I did some major coveting. We had a delicious dinner and enjoyed the nativity. I realized when we got home that for the first time in my memory we didn't sing the 12 Days of Christmas. We failed Grandma and Aunt Venice miserably.

Kyle and I opened our Christmas pajamas when we got home and went to bed. Kyle's parents got up and went to see the grandkids open their gifts the next morning, while Kyle and I slept in until 11:00. There are benefits to not having children. We just did stocking gifts for each other, so we got up and opened them. Kyle's siblings and their families came over around 1:00 and we had dinner and opened gifts from his parents. Kids make Christmas so much more fun. When those 7 boys get a few years older the house isn't going to be big enough to hold them.

We gathered up our stuff and went to Newton and met up with my family and the Petersen's for a delicious dinner. We watched the kids open more gifts and it was a lot of fun. Ella is old enough to get into Christmas this year and it was fun to watch her open her gifts. We gave Garrett a little sticky octopus I found at the dollar store. I bought it for him because I remember having one when I was a kid. You throw it against the wall and it crawls down it. Garrett quickly informed us all it was a squid, and created a game which involved taping a container to the side of refrigerator and enticing the kids to come and take turns trying to throw the "squid" into the container. He later decided he was the mayor and was very busy. Too busy to come open presents.

We got back to Wellsville really late. We had Marijka's name for Christmas. She didn't know what she wanted so I got her gift cards to Hastings. I split the amount among 6 gift cards. I took a bag of taffy and wrapped it in packing tape. I kept going and added in cards and candy as I rolled the tape. So when she opened the box there was a big ball (2 rolls worth) of packing tape she had to unroll to collect her gift. I figured we needed a little entertainment. It took her a while, but she was faster than I thought she would be.

It was a quiet, but nice Christmas.

My Memories Software Giveaway

You may recall I gave away a copy of this cool digital scrapbook software last month ago on a website called www.MyMemories.com. It is extremely easy to use. It comes with lots of album templates. You can just choose your pictures and the software will add them to the albums they already have created. Or you can do what I did in the Wedding Album I created and loaded below and start with one of their templates changed the colors, and added a few embelishments. What in the past would have usually taken me several hours to complete took me just over an hour and most of that time was spent choosing what pictures to use.

You can also purchase additional scrapbook kits to use with the software if they don't have what you are looking for, but I found plenty of options for what I needed.

They have generously offered to let me give away another free copy of their software to 1 of my readers. Just visit www.mymemories.com and browse around. Then come back to my comments and tell me your favorite digital paper pack or layout by December 31, 2012.  I will assign each comment a number and will randomly draw a number.  The person who made that comment will receive a code to download the software totally free.

If you aren't lucky enough to win the contest you can use my code to receive $10 off of your purchase of the My Memories Suite V4. The code is: STMMMS70839

The winner is: Marlee Anderson

Merry Christmas!!!

The Teaching Spirit

In light of the tragedy in NewTown, CT on Friday I've been giving a lot of thought to the women who gave their lives to protect their students.  For those who may not know I come from a family of educators. My Grandma taught 3rd Grade at Wellsville Elementary forever, her daughter Susan continued that tradition just retiring 1 1/2 years ago, followed by my sister Janalee who teaches there now.  Susan's daughter Natalie is a secondary teacher.  My Great Aunt Venice taught in Tremonton. Her daughter Kathy and son Scott following behind her to teach as well. Venice's grandson Rick, granddaughter Whitney, and great-granddaughter Brooke all following in their footsteps. My sister Marlee is currently in the Special Education program at USU.

When I imagine what went on in that school on Friday I think of my sister Janalee.  She is an amazing teacher, will be a great principal when she decides to make that change.  Someday she will be a wonderful mother.  I envy her patience and skills she has in dealing with the kids. When they tell the story of the teacher who hid her students and told the gunman they weren't there and lost her life for it, or the principal who tried to stop the gunman, I know that is something she would do without hesitation. She is just that caliber of person.  It takes a special type of person to be a teacher.  I'm proud that there are so many in my family who have the teaching spirit. The true love of watching a child learn.

Thank you to all educators for the sacrifices you make to provide a good learning environment for the nation's children. For practicing lockdowns, duck and cover, and other safety practices.