GOOD NIGHT!!!! Feel free to post comments on my posts!

Oh, by the way, I LOVED TWILIGHT!!!!!!

More pics of the week will be posted as soon as they are uploaded onto Picasa....I was a little trigger happy, so it is taking awhile....

More wedding pics

These were taken by Amanda.....

Saturday

Nathan and I were up early to say good-bye to Amanda and Bill.

After they left, we watched tv for a bit (well, Nathan watched tv, and I napped on the futon)...then we decided to get ready and head to Potomac Mills. We both ended up buying two shirts each, went to lunch, then went to our storage unit to pick up our Christmas decorations. When we got home I took a nap while Nathan watched tv (I think?), and then I put up the tree, my Christmas in the City village (which I am totally excited about since I have never been able to put them up before) and some lights on the porch. Unfortunately we left the one box of ornaments in storage, so the tree is not decorated yet, but that is ok.

Our couch came a little after 8 after we have been waiting all day! Here is a picture, but keep in mind that it just came out of the plastic and wasn't cleaned off or anything yet. It isn't anything fancy, but it was very affordable, and VERY comfy!!!

Now I am blogging and Nathan is snoring next to me. The neighbors upstairs are blasting music and I am tired...Oy!

Friday

Friday I was wide awake by 7am. No early morning shopping for me! But Nathan and I decided to go to this one furniture store while Amanda and Bill were still sleeping. We have been looking for a couch since the one we had was trashed when we couldn't fit it through our door back in July when we moved. Since then we have been using a small futon for our couch. Not very comfy, or large enough for guests.

We came back home and everyone was ready to go. Today we went to DC since Amanda had never been there before. We took the metro in and started our day at the Air and Space Museum. I'm not big on this museum, but Amanda and Bill loved it. We bought some astronaut ice cream. I tried one when we got outside. It was weird, but not terrible. I'm going to save the other 3 packets for my food storage...

After Air and Space we trekked down to the American History museum. Since it just re-opened the line to get in was around the corner. It took us about an hour and a half to get in. We stayed until we were kicked out at 5:30 and by then we were so tired from walking.





We got back on the metro to the car, and then took a drive down to Ikea (another place Amanda has never been). Nathan and I actually found a couch we liked (and it is already assembled!) so we bought it. (this is another post). Amanda found a table for her printer.

After Ikea, it was time to go home for some yummy leftovers, and finally sleepy time.

Thanksgiving

My table that I set.

The cooking potatoes

I was up around 7ish and started to peel and cut the potatoes and the squash. The turkey went into the oven around 9. We all watched the parade together and ate my yummy pumpkin bread muffins. After the parade, it was on to the 24-hour marathon of House on USA.

A-MAZ-ING.

Around noon I started cooking the potatoes and squash, and then the broccoli casserole, corn, and rolls. Luckily everything turned out perfect at just the correct time. Nathan carved the turkey. The food was DELICIOUS!!! The turkey was the most moist I have ever tasted it in my entire life.

My plate before...... My plate after. Man, was I full...

After dinner we continued with the House marathon until Amanda, Bill and I passed out from too much turkey. When we woke up we got out Rock Band and rocked out for a while (until Nathan passed out in his chair since he didn't nap).

It really was an amazing day!

Wednesday Night

CHEESEBALL!!! I totally forgot to take a picture, but oh well. We had a few friends come over (along with Amanda and Bill) for my annual cheeseball party. It was yummy and fun. After we visited and ate cheeseball we played Catch Phrase and another fun game Apples to Apples. Bill and I tied for the win.

Tuesday

Tuesday I had school. After school I had a handful of lessons, then home to make the cheeseball. This year I decided to make 2 batches - one regular and one extra spicey.

I have a lot of posts coming...so stay tuned!

Wednesday Day

Wednesday I did not have school. Nathan had a half day. I still got up early because I needed to get a lot of things done. I started out with the baking. I needed to make 3 pies (pumpkin, apple, and pumpkin cheesecake), pumpkin bread, and a pastry I got from "Family Fun" (yes I know I don't have kids, but I get the magazine for free and I really enjoy it.) I really enjoy baking, so I got out my mixer and started......

Hours and hours later I had my delicious deserts.

After the deserts, I prepared my broccoli casserole for the next day.

Later came the cleaning. Nathan's sister - Amanda - and her fiance came down from New Hampshire to visit for Thanksgiving. So I had to make sure the house was in tip top shape - scrubbing the bathrooms, mopping, the works. I also had to set up their bed.

I barely had enough time to hop in the shower before they arrived around 5pm.

We took a trip to Chipotle (YUM!) because they have never been...and then back home to prepare for the CHEESEBALL PARTY!

Today I had my first high school concert. We got to perform in front of the entire school jammed into the gym. GREAT acoustics (not). It was loud and cramped. But the kids did a good job. And the arts director of the county came up to me after and said my kids did a good job too, so at least that is a good thing. Our real concert is in a few weeks.

Today at the middle school we had a pep rally. Now I never was the hoo-rah, team spirit, go *instert mascot name here*, with school pride, et all. I really did not enjoy myself at the pep rally. It's kind of sad. Too much screaming and noise. The kids enjoyed it very much though.

S0 ABC Family is having a "Countdown to the Countdown of the 25 days of Christmas". Does this make sense to anyone?

My shoes. Cute, I know. But wearing them all day is killing my feet. I have blisters on my heel, the side of my toes, and the bottom of my feet. The shoes fit when I bought them but now my feet slip out when I walk so ihave to curl my toes to walk and now I am hobbling around.sigh I don't know how people wear them all day long AND with higher heels.

Ah. The first real flurries of the season...Luckily it started just after all my little six graders left so there wasn't the craziness from last time it snowed 3 snowflakes.

I gave blood yesterday...what did YOU do?

Finally have something to blog about. Nothing really exciting or interesting-just my day today.

Scene: High School Orchestra class with 34 kids. 10:45a.m.

"Ok now, take out Hungarian Dance. Let's try to remember all the dynamics." They play. No dynamics. "Now, come on, I know you can do it. You need to play soft at the slow section. Play. No dynamics. "Ok. It's a competition. I'm going to be staring at the section that is playing loud. I want to see who can play the softest." Play. Freak Out. "Wait! What was that? Where did those come from? Who knew you can play so soft!?" I am almost jumping up and down, my hands flailing in the air. Kids are staring at me with amusement.

Who knew that all it would take was a "competition" for them to get to play softly. It was like night and day the sound they were making. I totally wish I was observed today, just so someone could have experienced the difference in the piece at the beginning, and then at the end.

They are playing this song in a school assembly next Tuesday. Hopefully they will remember today's class and how great it sounded!



Scene: 6th grade orchestra class. 18 kids. 2:05p.m.

"OK everyone, please take out Soda Creek." Play. Midway through the song some leaves are blowing around outside. They slightly look like snow. Kids freakout acting crazy. Kid:"wait, those are just leaves". Calm down. Play. Midway through, Amelia yells "SNOW!" Chaos ensues. The entire class runs to the window, noses pressed on the glass, as people are whooping and cheering. Two seconds later the snow stops. There were literally 3 snowflakes that fell.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like to wrap with paper, but I think gift bags are pretty
2. Real tree or Artificial? I have an artificial tree, but really want a real one
3. When do you put up the tree? sometime after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? after New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes (I even have eggnog ice cream in my freezer right now)
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I loved littlest pet shop
7. Hardest person to buy for? Boys
8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself ;-)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I just got my first one from Madre!!!!!!!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? That year I opened BOOTS on Christmas Eve
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle of 34th Street
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November-ish
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Umm...I don't think so
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything!
16. Lights on the tree? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas song? Mitch Miller, Frank Sinatra Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I like doing both.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have an angel from Nathan's mom
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve, the rest in the morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? not having enough moolah to buy everything I would like to
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Music tree
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and Ham
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a honeymoon
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? hopefully everyone

I just bought my ticket to Twilight!!!

All my middle schoolers are uber-excited. Wait till they see my shirt on Friday!