December held lots of special days at school! We powered through and still had some great learning times with our letters and numbers. It is fun to see everything start to move to a new level in learning. This week...we practiced building sentences about different things. Then we went on to building a story...who says that my students don't hear what I say?!?
Chica loves her Teddy...no matter what he is doing!
Saturday therapy....made for excellent Christmas gifts! Never fails...I ALWAYS work myself into a small workspace! The mess is part of the creative process...I guess! Teddy walked through multiple times giving me a hard time about finally using all my crafty stuff..."Mom, you haven't touched this stuff for a couple years, have you?" Uh...jerk...but yes...pretty much...you are right...maybe. "So, is this your way of saying that you don't want to get rid of any of it and downsize?" Hey...watch it, bud!
My little buddy by my feet!
Took a break from card-making to bake while the puppies played with their cousin.
Fun little Christmas treat for the wedding of Q and U...this year, it happened the week of all our Christmas crazy fun. My big kiddos gave me a hard time about the shot glasses..."No, they are elf size punch cups!" I am really hoping my kinders don't know what shot glasses are.
In the middle of it all...special training for 3 hours for daycare/preschool department! Who makes due dates in December? Oh yes...licensing bureaus who want to get ya with fines if you don't do it on time. "Oof...the small print and government agencies!"
So much creativity to be frugal!
Program practice is always an anxious length of time!
Our not so ugly sweaters...and a little sass to go with it!
Time out for coffee with friends...turned out to be exactly what we all needed! In the rushing, in the noise, and in the busy...stopping to just sit and breathe and visit...touching people's lives...sharing what we have...is important.
Every day we had a special treat and activity for December. The last...and most special...a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS celebration! It was limited as it was our program day...but it was our main focus! We had fun with all the usual traditions and Christmas fun...but the most important focus...Jesus...He came for us!
Program day...so cute all dressed up! They did a great job!
I got to eat a piece of cake after everyone was gone...oh yum!!!
Coloring and singing Christmas songs...
Story with Miss Alisa! They love stories and we were so excited that our Scholastic box made it with all sorts of new books!
North Pole breakfast with waffles!
My girl...teaching the kinders how to eat a strawberry!
The K5 teacher survived Christmas fun week, the program, and the party! So thankful for my girlie who came Thursday and Friday to just be there to help in anyway she could! Love that we could do the day together...and it is because of her that I am sane and smiling! But...I am still ready for a break!
A kinder picked out a gift for the puppies! They loved it and have been keeping it close ever since!
Saturday practice...and when they passed out the order of service...we both pulled out our readers in order to read it! I got the giggles...and then Mari did a little snort too.

Oh...my...I had to look away and stop listening for a little bit to gain composure. Watching Mari sing the words that are on the screen behind them was very emotional for me this morning! A year ago...we stood looking at a very scary pathway...BUT GOD! He sustained Brad and Mari in every decision and treatment. There were hard days and fall apart days...BUT GOD!
Teddy...ever the entertainer!
Watching the snow fall!


Love my little friends! They have a sense of humor! "Look, Mrs. T.! Santa and his reindeer with two of his elves!" You are right...we need a picture! I was reminded this year that Christmas is for memories! Slow down and stop long enough...to notice and enjoy the little things that make memories!