The Christmas Loot

I love all these photos, they turned out especially good this year. Well, Hannah got the cell phone she wanted plus makeup, clothes, jewelry, shoes, slippers, and so much more. Grandma made her a pretty new blanket for her bed and she got a slurpy machine and is dying to try it.

Adam got a new bike and a Nintendo DS game system which he has been playing non-stop. He also got clothes which he didn't like and movies and games and other toys. He loves his new UNO Splash game and his Tractor Tipping game. We have to play both games consecutively when his DS is being charged.

Justin got clothes, and shoes, games, a Nintendo DS, and two framed Cardinals posters that he had been wanting. He is really into Monopoly and got two versions of it both of which we have already played. He also got both Pirates of the Caribbean Movies and has been watching them day and night. I got a microwave for my classroom, some new silverware, bath stuff, a movie, dish towels, and we got a new gas barbecue grill. Bob got a paint ball gun and so did Justin and they can't wait to try them out. Bob also got some cologne and shaving kit and we also got a new coffee maker. After almost 12 years of marriage, stuff starts to wear out that's why we got all the new kitchen stuff. Sounds boring but it's what we wanted.

We had a really good Christmas, I was glad to see my 78 year old grandmother and all my aunts and uncles that I only get to see about once or twice a year. This weekend we will see Bob's aunts and uncles that we also only get to see once or twice a year. There are some new babies added to the family to show off.

No plans for New Years as Bob is working nights (someone has to)! I may let my kids have friends over and just hang out with them. I plan on watching The Devil Wears Prada and the Davinci Code, my two new favorite movies, and eating the last of the holiday junk food.

Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Happy Holidays

It's Christmas evening and all is well. We have survived another holiday of monumental proportions. In the course of two days we have seen about 50 relatives and the kids have opened about 30 presents each. Our house is over flowing with wrapping paper and discarded tape, half eaten cookies and chewed up candy canes. We are truly blessed to have our family around us happy and healthy to share in this joyous season.

I will post more post-Christmas news soon including pictures but for now I am basking in the sound of happy voices from the other room and a full belly as I type.


Season's Greetings to you all!

Christmas Blues

I really don't feel like it's Christmas. I have been so busy with the kids' activities and Adam's birthday (which is today) and my school work that I am very stressed about Christmas. The kids seem to want everything and nothing all at the same time. I am still not finished and have a class tomorrow night, and a work Christmas party on Wednesday night. I am off on thursday but my kids aren't so that will be my day to finish shopping, wrap everything, finish those last few Christmas cards and decide what everyone will wear on Christmas and CHristmas eve.

We just finished decorating our tree on Saturday that's how far behind I am.

I kow in my last post, I was bragging about how caught up I am at school but in a week where all the kids have been sick with strep and Bob has worked day and night, I am exhausted and now behind with school stuff also. But still I have time to blog.... don't know how that works except I have a rare few minutes to myself at school because there is a dance this afternoon that I don't have to go to so I am blogging after I graded a stack of papers.

I think I really need to get back to church. I have been reluctant to go to another church because of the hypocrisy I felt at Hope over the last year or so I was there. I need to focus on the main reason for the season and stop letting all the commercialization get me down.

I hope your pre- Christmas hype is less stressful than mine!

Skipping School

Well, my kids are sick today. Justin has a sore throat and Hannah's asthma is acting up so we are staying home from school. I am really upset about it :) I let Adam stay home also, probably shouldn't but he hasn't missed any school yet and he thinks it's fun to skip school with mom. Better not get him into that habit........

Anyway, it's great, I slept late and so did everyone else. We go to the doctor at 11 but until them I am going to finish decorating the tree( no I 'm not done yet) and catch up on some wash.. It is so hectic around here but I still have time to blog.

I am caught up at school, all papers graded and recorded. The end of the quarter is the 30th which doesn't make sense since we are off school then but whatever. I will still make my kids work the rest of this week and next but.... you know how it is my grades are pretty much done since I do my gradebook with excel and it calculates it for me. Anyway not much else to say, finished my Christmas cards and am getting those in the mail they turned out really really good and I did all myself using Word, and Publisher. I may try to link it to my blog if possible.

Oh one more thing, Justin and Hannah's hockey team won their first game. YEAH! Justin scored and he played great and Hannah is finally getting the hang of it.

Adam's 7th Birthday

Adam had his birthday party at Happy Joes again this year. He enjoyed seeing his friends Josh and Kyle and playing games, eating pizza, and ice cream. He also had fun with his cousin Megan, grandparents, parents and brother and sister. Adam was excited to get some new video games, clothes, shoes, a sleeping bag and other toys.

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...........

Adam had a great time sledding and playing in the snow.

The kids went sledding in Francis Park with Max and Alex Rode.

A wintry pose for our Christmas card.

Well the winter weather has finally come and it is a welcome sight to students and teachers alike!! We all had a snow day on Friday and enjoyed sledding in the park, drink hot chocolate and watching movies all evening. The snow and ice left many without power including both sets of grandparents but by the next morning all was right with the world. Bob has been working all weekend and I have just been hanging out with the kids. I even managed to forget my bag of papers and lesson plans at school so it will just have to wait till Monday. Sunday is Adam's birthday party, he is going bowling and to Happy Joes with his two friends and the family. His real birthday is the 18th and we are going to try to go to Our Lady of the Snow's light display and have dinner over there as well. I have been working on the Christmas shopping but still have much more to buy. I hope all of you have enjoyed the weather as much as we have!

Thanksgiving 2

On Sunday, we went to my parent's house with my brother and his family and my two aunts, Sandy and Debbie. Mom made a fantastic meal of turkey and her orignal dressing plus a cornbread sausage dressing, green bean casserole, cauliflower with cheese sauce, sweet potatoes, etc. It was sooooooo good, I stuffed myself. Then she had a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert that was yummy.
It was a great evening all around. We don't see Aunt Sandy and Debbie that often and it was nice to see my mom's two sisters on Thanksgiving.

Monday I took a personal day off work because the rest of the family was off and we hung Christmas lights, did some shopping, ate at a new deli down the street and the kids went and saw Flushed Away with grandma and grandpa Nixon. It was nice to run errands and get some Christmas shopping done on a day when everyone was at work. I really miss my old Fatted Calf days when I got a day off during the week, having to do everything on the weekend is so much more crowded.

Anyway, the holiday has been perfect and I am looking forward to Chritsmas mostly because it means a new year is coming and I am always hopefull that it will be a better one than we just had.

Recent Family Pictures

Justin's football team in action.






Here is a picture of the first day of school.

Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and I was feeling like I didn't have much to be thankful for since we aren't moving, can't sell our house, and have had a pretty tumultuous year. But then, I thought about it and I realize that I am very thankful for my health and the health of my family. I am thankful for my new friends at Monroe and for my supportive friends and family that have helped me through some pretty rough times.

So I invite you all to comment on my blog, you have to sign up but it's easy.

Anyway, last night we went to my Grandma's home for Thanksgiving. My aunt and uncle, three cousins, my parents, and my kids were all there. The food wasn't as good as I remember from years past but i enjoyed spending time with my 78 year old grandma and her boyfriend Gene as well as my much beloved Aunt Leslie and her family. I was reminded of the last Thanksgiving before my grandfather passed away. He was very ill with liver cancer at the time but Thanksgiving was always his favorite holiday. I remember him being so tired that he had to put his head on the table for a while but he perked up when the meal was served and even asked for a second helping of Grandma's good stuffing. It's hard to believe it has been 10 years since then, but I am greatful for the memories!

November 2006

Adam turkey bowling.

Two of my favorite student, Sam and Tiffany

Hey, I can't believe it's been since July since I last posted. Let me get you up to date quickly. Our new house deal fell through and we havn't been able to sell the old one. We have decided to narrow our search to Affton so that we can keep the kids in the schools. They are doing great and loving school.

Hannah is in a classroom that has computers on every desk, sh e has become quite good at typing and power point. She is playing hockey and basketball and keeping busy.

Justin is playing hockey and wrestling and he loves his new school. He has started to make friends and he enjoys switching classes. He had a lot of fun on the football team this year and looks forward to next year.

Adam is playing hockey and he is also in cub scouts. He has an active troop, they just had a turkey bowl which was quite fun.

Bob is wokring two extra jobs over the holidays and he is keeping busy with that and coaching 2 hockey teams.

As for me, school is crazy but I'm hanging in there. My 7th graders are challenging in everyway but I love them all.

Life in Summer School

Well it has been a while since I've written but things have gotten really busy. The end of the school came and went and I was glad to get a week off before starting summer school. But now summer schoolis in full swing and it is not easy to keep these kids busy for so many hours during the summer.

The kids are fine, enjoying their summer and Hannah has been playing lots of ball. we went to the Ozarks last week and had a good time on the boat and and swimming in the pool as usual.

The house is still for sale and we haven't heard anything on it yet. The new house is underway but we haven't been out to see it in a while. We did pick out all our colors which was a lot of fun, yet nerve racking.

Hannah leaves for Girl SCout Camp on Sunday and she is happy to been able to go to Fiddlecreek again with her best buddy Kasie. She turns 10 on July 1st and we are trying to plan a party for her. Justin and Adam have been hanging out, Adam has had a few friends over and Justin has seen his friend Alex a few times.

Nothing much else on the home front.

LATER!

Welcome the Nixon Family News

Hi, this is my first post in what I hope will become a weekly thing. I am jsut about finished with my first year of teaching and am really looking forward to a week off before summer school. Bob is doing well with his job even though there have been many personnel changes recently.

The kids are almost finished with school for the year and looking forward to summer break, trips to the Ozarks, and sleeping late.

Hannah has been busy with softball and pitching lessons, Adam is playing tball and Justin is gearing up to play football at JB. They always keep us busy.

We'll be at the Ozarks in June and July and hoping to go to Disney World sometime next year.

On the home front, our house is for sale and we are planning to move to Imperial, MO where we have a contract on a new house to be built by September. The kids will attend Seckman School.

That's about it for now but check back next week for updates!