Mel's Box of Chocolates

A Teacher Perk... It's official, I am on Christmas...uh I mean winter... break. 10 days of rest and relaxation or something like that I suppose if I didn't have Christmas Eve dinner to prepare, Christmas shopping to finish, presents to wrap, families to visit, children to entertain, things to be baked, and oh yeah working on my National Boards!!! Oh well, I will be enjoying life and that is all that matters!! Merry Christmas!!!

Thank you for all of your encouraging words about our play. My students were absolutely awesome!! I could not have felt more proud if they were my own kids. Every one of them remembered their lines and sung their hearts out with our carols. The night consisted of pairs or individuals doing little skits from "I'll read to you, you read to me" and reciting some poems, then we ended singing Christmas carols. Of course the night was only complete with Christmas cookies, cocoa, and apple cider! I had 94 chairs set up in my room (think probably a little bigger than the average family room) and every chair was full plus some standing. Here are some pix of one of the most rewarding nights so far in my teaching career... Here I am getting the party started. The set (windows and fireplace) were created by the students. Little pig cooking up the Big Bad Wolf Cinderella with her stepsisters An Ice Skating Poem Snow Poem How to Build a Snowman - the boys created a Styrofoam snow...

So tonight is the night of my first (and perhaps last) annual Christmas, uh, I mean, HOLIDAY school play. My kids have been practicing and practicing and now it's time. I, of course, being the anal person that I am have some anxiety to get this show on the road. My mantra is "But they are their kids and while I say goodbye in June they are stuck with them forever" and this gets me through the fact that if they do something really off the wall at least I can say "That isn't my kid". We are doing a couple short skits, some students are reciting poems, and then we are singing carols. Of course it wouldn't be complete with some hot chocolate, apple cider, and Christmas Cookies. I really was pretty calm about the whole thing, even with my slight touch of OCD, until I received the RSVP's and discovered that I have over 80 some people planning on attending and that doesn't include my 20 students...OH MY! I'm thrilled to have so much parent participa...

WELL ARE YOU COMIN?? Dylan celebrated his 7 th birthday last weekend! It just seems like his birthday comes around way to quickly. I am a huge birthday party fanatic and love a good theme. This year our theme was The Polar Express. Each guest received a golden ticket and had to come in their pj's. As a party favor I took a picture of each guest and then they used them to create a foam engine picture frame . We also read the Polar Express (my absolute favorite Christmas story) and each child got a "first gift of Christmas" full of train stuff. Here is the gang of conductors... As you can see we had a house full of boys and I have to say that even as a 3rd grade teacher I have NO IDEA how first grade teachers manage. We were constantly hopping and I learned that a 3 hour party with all boys is 1-2 hours too long!!! Even with a craft, presents, playing, reading a story, and checking out the goody bags, there seemed to be a bit too much of free time. Dylan had a blast tho...

This weekend was my annual cookie baking weekend so my Saturday was filled with flour, sugar, and butter galore from 9 am until 10:30 pm...no, I am NOT exaggerating. Of course I had a couple lil ' bakers help to make things "easier". When all was said and done though we sent a huge package to grandparents, covered all the teachers in Dylan's school, all the custodians, secretaries, paraprofessionals, and others in my school, plus a plate full to hubby's work. I still even have a plate left over for those last minute little gifts. I meant to get a picture of my handiwork, but I was so exhausted I probably couldn't have even pushed the button. Thank goodness for a Kitchen Aid mixer!!!! My kids are just like me...love the dough!!

I have been so busy plugging away at my list that I just realized I posted about our Christmas tree search , but never shared the finished product. Usually we get the tree home and put it right up, but this year we were a bit slower. My job is always decorating the tree, but thankfully I have a couple helpers and Dave does put the topper on. My favorite thing about our tree is that all the ornaments are unique. Every year since I have been born I have received an ornament from my grandmother and Dave's family does the same thing. So between us we have quite a few ornaments! This is a tradition we have also passed on to our kids so they usually get an ornament from each set of grandparents and Dave and I so they have a little collection going to. I greatly enjoy pulling the ornaments out each year and thinking about all the good memories. So without further ado...OUR TREE! Before... During... Ta Da.

How time flies when you are having fun! I can't believe it has been a week since last weigh in. I'll try to catch you all up with everything we have been up to, but for now let's talk weight loss cause I just can't wait to share my good news. My official weigh in on Saturday was 140, which is a 2lb loss, and takes me to a total of 45 pounds loss! That is like losing my daughter off my body! Unfortunately, I really can't take all the credit considering that my diet last week consisted of sugar free pudding, french onion soup, coco wheats , and ice cream since I couldn't open my mouth. My body is screaming for some veggies and fruits! I did drink my water though which I felt good about. While this past week was awesome, I still have at least 10 more pounds to go and to be honest I have had a rotten couple of days. I made a batch of my favorite Christmas cookies complete with buttercream frosting to take to church and let's just say half went to church and the...

Santa is not the only one who needs a list during this time of the year. Here are just some of the things on my holiday to do list... 1) Bake for relatives out of town, teachers, co-workers, neighbors, school parties, and oh yeah...me!! 2) Buy lots of presents for lots of people 3) Must see "White Christmas" 4) Drive around the neighborhood and check out lights 5) Head into Ocean City, MD to see their light display...it's a tradition! 6) Build a gingerbread house, train, or whatever we find this year 7) Wrap everything I buy 8) Plan a Christmas party for the kids in my class 9) Practice my class Christmas play for the families and oh yeah bake for that too 10) Plan a Christmas party for friends 11) Plan and celebrate Dylan's 7th birthday 12) Girls night!!!!! This is my relief!!! 13) Oh yeah, Christmas cards 14) Got the tree, but still have to get my butt on the roof and in my front yard to decorate there. And of course this is between working full time, being mommy fu...