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I have been so neglectful of my blog lately. So here I will take the time to quickly update. We've been keeping busy with sports on the weekend and in the evenings. At school I got a smart board installed in my classroom this week. It's the one that I wrote a grant for and received over $6000 for technology in my classroom. Not sure I mentioned here but I was pretty proud of myself. The weather has been really good lately and we've been able to get out more. This is a three day weekend for me and a four day for the kids but we've actually kept ourselves busy and have enjoyed the time off. I've been addicted to facebook's word challenge like crazy so that's why I haven't blogged. The kids have one more hockey game and I plan to take some much needed pictures to post. WHEW, that's the update. Now back to more word challenge :)

Buerkle Talent Show Video

I worked with a group of five 8th grade boys from my school for a talent show act. Orignally they wanted to be the Village People but I talked them into trying the Temptations. The video below is from our talent show Wednesday night.




Way to go Joe, Will, Brendan, Phoenix, and Blake!

Welcome Rogers Middle School Readers

It seems that by chance a few classmates of Justin's have found this website and have been giving him a bit of a hard time. He is totally embarrassed but me being me, I think it's hilarious. So Hertel, Jimmy, Scott, Codie and all the others........ you might want to check out these other posts for embarrassing moments from Justin's past.

Just click on the blue highlighted words.

Justin's birthday, football highlights

Enjoy! (and comment if you'd like)

Hello February!

Hello February, when did you slip in? I didn't really note the calendar change this week, it sorta slipped by but I am thankful that with every turn of the page we get closer to warm weather.....BRRRRRRRR. It's cold here today!

Lovin' January Now!

I admit that I may have been wrong about January, see this post and this one to understand. I mean what other month has such great snow days???? Yep, that's right snow day number 2!! Here we are hanging out after having slept til 8:30 instead of 5:30, eaten chocolate chip pancakes, and then leisurely checked out facebook, hotmail, and blogger for an hour or so!! What could be better?!?


I also want to thank those that commented on my blog after I whined that no one ever comments. Thanks Amy, Andrea, Aunt Anne, and Mom. It's nice to know that there are a few but faithful who read this wonderfully written publication :)

Now back to the regularly scheduled snow day routine of laying around, watching movies, playing board games with the kids and making cookies. Jealous anyone??

PS. Justin's feeling a lot better, Hannah still has a runny nose and Adam is fine.

Another negative thing about January

SICK KIDS!

All three of them seem to be under the weather. My mom took Justin to the doctor yesterday and he has a sinus infection and asthma flare up (hence the hacking cough and clogged nose) This morning Hannah woke up with a fever and said her throat hurt, so she's home sick and hopefully my mom (who's off work cause she herself had her gallbladder removed last Friday) will take Hannah to the doctor. Adam was blowing his nose this morning and wheezing a little (just love asthma) but I sent him to school with a dose of allergy meds and a puff off the inhaler. I think Bob is okay although he always has some kind of sinus thing going on and I am feeling fine (knock on wood) except for a backache that has turned into a chronic thing. Every winter it's the same thing.... BLAH!!

But I do appreciate the fact that my mom is home this week and able to help out (as she always does). Thanks mom!!

No comments

No one ever comments on my blog. This isn't like facebook where everyone has something to say. COME ON!!

1 reason to like January

Okay, there is one reason to like January... Hannah playing basketball!! Just got home from an AWESOME game. She was kinda sluggish in the first half but came on hard in the second. They were behind 21-10 at the half and Hannah scored 4 baskets. At the end of regulation play it was tied up 23-23. They went to a 2 minute overtime, Hannah got a basket and they were up 23-25 when the other team tied it up with no time left so they went to another 2 minute OT. The girls were playing tough defense and holding on to the tie. At 11 seconds left in the OT, her coach called a time out and then with 7 seconds remaining Hannah came up with a rebound from someone else's missed shot and put it in the net!! It was AWESOME as the clock ticked the last few seconds!! What a fantastic game!!

BUT>> I forgot my dang camera! :( ARGGGGGGG.. oh well still have 10 more games to go.

Who likes January??

Does anyone like January?? Unless maybe you or your child's birthday is in January, I see no reason to like it. First you have the holiday letdown, then the New Years Resolution guilt trip, then the cold, cold, cold, days of no sunshine. Sorry to those that actually like this weather but I need some sunshine and temps above 50. I know in 6 months I'll be complaining about the St.Louis HEAT but since its been a pretty slow week in blogger land I thought this might be a good complaint for now.

WOO HOO for the 4 day week coming up though. Gotta love those National Holidays that keep the schools closed!

Going to Hannah's b-ball game soon so maybe I will have some pics or video to post, if I can get the camera to work right :)

(also, I'm still loving facebook so that may be the reason to blame for my lack of blogging)

Nothing new really

I'm back to work after my two week hiatus and back to running kids all over in the evening so I really haven't had time to post. Plus I am secretly hooked on Facebook, shh don't tell blogger!

School's been pretty good this week. Luckily I prepared in advance and things went smoothly. I was also fortunate enough to get to go to my writing class all day Wednesday so it was technically only a 4 day week for me. However, first semester grades are finished and the school year is half over. OH YEAH!!!

This 50 degree weather has got me thinking hard about spring though. For the first year ever, my school's spring break coincides with the kids' spring break. So I, for one, would like to do a little trip. I'm thinking Memphis for a few days maybe. I actually have never been there and since it's pretty close... I'd love to go to San Antonio to visit friends but that would likely be a lot more costly considering I don't think my friend Bridget and her family of four would want my family of five staying with them for any length of time. Maybe I should go by myself?????? (that would be the day)

I'm on Facebook

Yep, I did it. I'm on Facebook and I found like a zillion of my old Affton Classmates. Too funny to see how much they have all changed in the last 18 years. Did I just say 18...YIKES!

Another link

I have another link on my sidebar. It's to an old high school friend, Amy. She and her husband have a 3 year old boy and are expecting a daughter soon. Amy and I first met in middle school when we played softball together for my dad's team. (Smitty's Welding) She also grew up on the street that we live on and her parents are still here. It's fun to see them in the neighborhood and at the grocery store. Amy and her family also live nearby. Can't believe it's almost been 20 years since high school graduation!

What did YOU get for Christmas?

Here's the re-cap:
Justin: couple of hoodies, cell phone, XBOX games, Dark Knight Movie, sports stuff,
Hannah: IPOD Nano, sewing machine, purse (not coach), makeup, PJ's, Wii Fit
Adam: Several Nerf Guns, Spongebob sheets and comforter, shoes, PJ's, XBox games, WallE Movie...

Me: who cares...boring
Bob: new watch, Nose hair clippers (he asked for them ?!?)

All in all it was a really great Christmas. I was stressing it pretty hard but it turned out just fine. We finally saw all the relatives as of Saturday evening. I feel like I have gained about 20 lbs with all the eating we've been doing. Low key day yesterday spent taking down the tree!! (my favorite thing about Christmas) Switched the seating arrangement around in the living room. I do that about 2x's a year just to change things up. Threw out a bunch of outdated Christmas stuff and sent a huge pile of old clothes to Goodwill. My OCD side was really happy about it too.

I'm posting some really poor quality pictures for some reason our camera is acting up or maybe it's just the person taking the pictures :)


Justin's homeplate shaped clock


Hannah's new purse (no cows harmed in creating it)


Tommy 20 Gun, not MY favorite toy :p


Wall-E


Pink NANO


Hannah getting her first sewing lesson from grandma, who also gave her the machine


CAT boots for Justin


I did not get a picture of Bob opening the nose hair clippers, maybe I can get one when they are put to use!! HAHAHA

It's Over

Christmas is over WOOO HOOO!!! One week left to de-stress before I go back to school. I'm taking the tree down tomorrow and doing a thorough house cleaning and re-organization/throw out stuff that we don't need or use anymore.

Our holiday was nice, I will post pics and the re-cap later. I, for one am just really glad it's over!!

Updates Abound

My father in law's cancer has not spread to any other parts of his body but it is in his skull and brain as the surgeon previously told us. He will undergo chemo and radiation beginning in January. This somewhat good news and he is in much better spirits today.

I have ALL the shopping finished and everything (except 2 last minute gifts that my dad bought my mom but I have to wrap) wrapped. I mean everything!! Yippee. The tree is up, the stockings are hung, WE are ready for Christmas!!

Looking forward to see my mother's side of the family tomorrow evening, my in-laws for brunch on Christmas day, my father's side of the family Christmas evening and Bob's extended family on the 27th. Yeah, these next few days will be BUSY!!

My previous post was a copy of our annual newsletter. I did not have time to mail it before Christmas so I emailed it and posted it on my blog. (I know, I know, HI TECH!!) I'll mail out a few to far away friends and relatives later this week.

But we do wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and blessed holiday season!

Copy of our Christmas Newsletter

Season’s Greetings from our family to yours. This past year we have seen a lot of changes in the Nixon home. First off, we finally moved to Affton in March. Four days later our basement proceeded to flood. After a three month process of installing a sump pump, drainage system and restoring the living spaces down there, we had the house complete. It’s a small 4 bedroom 2 bath ranch in an older section of Affton. But with the finished family room and other areas in our basement, we are making it work.

In June, I left my job in the St. Louis Public School District to teach 8th grade in the Mehlville School District at Buerkle Middle. It was tough leaving all my wonderful co-workers but the much needed change has worked out well. Bob also changed police departments in August. He left Crestwood after 7 years to take a job with the Kirkwood Police. So far, Bob reports that Kirkwood is extremely busy but he enjoys the change of pace.

Our kids are still doing well in the Affton Schools. Justin is in 8th grade at Rogers Middle. He and the Junior Cougars Football team had a winning season this year. He’s currently playing floor hockey for the Stealth and doing well with his monster hard shot from the point. It’s hard to believe but we just attended high school orientation with Justin in early December. As we toured the school that was our alma mater, we couldn’t believe how quickly the years have flown by since we were there.

Hannah is in 7th grade at Rogers also. She is still excelling on the softball field and holding her own on the floor hockey team with Justin and the 10 other boys. Just last week Hannah got her first hockey penalty for tripping. She doesn’t take anything off those older bigger boys. She’s also gearing up for another great basketball season. Both Justin and Hannah made the Honor Roll again this year.

As for Adam, he has grudgingly entered the 3rd grade at Gotsch Intermediate. He hates the early mornings but was happy to have his best buddy in class with him again this year. While Adam does get good grades, he will happily tell you that his favorite class is lunch! Again this year, Bob is coaching Adam’s floor hockey team the Mohawks. It’s been a tough season for them so far but they still have fun. Adam is also still actively involved in Cub Scouts. He even placed third in the Pinewood Derby last February.

Life has begun to slow down after the hectic pace we had during the spring, summer, and fall. We did manage to get to the Lake of the Ozarks a few times and went on a trip to Branson in late July. Recently we hosted 20 family members for Thanksgiving for the first time. All in all it was a successful holiday. In closing we ask that you keep Bob’s father, Richard, in your thoughts and prayers as he battles cancer. Don’t forget to catch us on the web at http://nixonfamilynews.blogspot.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
The Nixon’s

Prayers for Bob's Dad

Tomorrow my father-in-law goes in for a cat scan to see how far his cancer has spread. Richard was diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland in November which had spread from squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer. He had surgery about 2 weeks ago to remove the cancer on the side of his face and neck. It was an extensive surgery requiring a large skin graft. The doctor told us then that the cancer had spread to the skull bones and possibly beyond to the brain. Tomorrow Richard will undergo the tests needed to evaluate how extensive the cancer has spread. We are quietly optimistic that it hasn't spread too far although the surgeon did state that she gave Grandpa about a 5 year survival rate at this point. But she would further adjust that depending on how far it has spread.

With my mother-in-law having just recovered from knee surgery in October, Barbara and Richard were planning on doing more traveling this year. The cancer diagnosis coming this close to Christmas has really zapped our spirits. I ask that you keep them in your prayers tomorrow as they find out the results from the tests.

Adam's Birthday part 3 and 4

(the birthday boys, ages 9 and 5)

We celebrated Adam's actual birthday by going to Chris' Restaurant. We've been going there for years. He received an XBOX game and a Nintendo DS game from the Geiler grandparents. He's all about the video games!! Then Saturday night I had extended family over to celebrate his birthday and my 5 year old cousin Nick's birthday. We had fun eating pizza and playing games like Pictionary Man.

(We also snuck in a visit to Culvers Friday night which is Adam's favorite place)

Where I'm From

Here's another poem that was created in my writing class. It's based on a poem of the same name. This is a teaching technique when you have kids copy the style of a poem but sub their own words.

Where I'm From

I am from acorns
and apple butter on a crisp fall day
I'm from the cub cadet tractor
parked under grandpa's carport
from Vine Avenue
and metal swimming pools
that glistened in the sun

I'm from 3 Eds and a Vicki
and grandma's dumplings
I'm from 5 hour car rides to Cloud Nine Ranch
with Pinkie the bear
and a station wagon with no air
I'm from Atari, VCR's and MTV
from the 82 World Series
and the Challenger Explosion
from the smell of money
on trips to AB
to see where dad worked hard

I'm from softball and hockey
and basketball and more
from sprained ankles, broken fingers
and trips to the sporting goods store
I'm from "You can do better."
to "Have another plate."
From "take care of your brother"
to "I Do" in the blink of eye
I'm from little girl to woman
how time flies.

They Will Never Know

Did I mention that I am taking a writing class as part of ongoing professional development? I think I did! So we have been working on creating a body of work in that class. Last time we were asked to take a group of words and write a story, a memory or a poem with those words. I chose these words: car, chrome, polish, grandpa, smile, treasure.

As I sat and looked at the words, I remembered that as of January 25th my beloved grandfather Ed Reidel passed away 20 years ago. I was just 16. This got me to thinking about my much younger cousins who never knew their grandpa and how he never met his 5 great-grandchildren. So this poem, while not totally true and will probably make my mom and Aunt Sandy cry, is my recollections of truly memorable character!


They will never know
his goofy smile,
through the unfiltered cigarette
that seemed to stretch out a mile

They will never know
his love of rusty tractors,
that seemed to shine
like an old protector

They will never know
how he polished up my bike,
so I could ride down hill
and didn't have to hike

They will never know
his big old boxy car,
with two chrome exhaust pipes
that never went far.

They will never know
how he treasured Sunday fun,
when grandpa's creaky voice
said there's my favorite one.