Thank You Note

A second grader dropped off a note for me this morning. It was a thank you note and so very sweet.

It reads, in all it's second-grader glory:

Thank You so much Ms. Broun

In Ms. Roch class 

Love You So Moch! 

I love your Art werke! 

Your a nice teacher! 

Love Gabby

Attached was a coloring book page of a witch with pumpkin stickers as earrings and a moon sticker on the hat.  The note was written with a Sharpie (oh, it smelled so strong!) and I have no idea what she was thanking me for.  It still made me smile after a stressful morning waking up 35 minutes late.

Playing Catch-Up

I've been spending a lot of time lately doing other things.  Things like not spending massive amounts of time on the computer (and that includes blogging).  I'm still spending too much time watching TV, but at least with that I can work on little projects at the same time.  

I went with my neighbor to drop off Mr. Tom at his new home on Sunday (finally!).  I was really sad to see him go, but Neighbor said that he's doing really well.  She called his new mom yesterday and she reassured that Mr. Tom is loving all the new people and love in that home.  It's a log cabin set on a bunch of land in front of a big farm and lots of trees.  But I think he's going to be an indoor cat with her.  Either way, as long as he's not biting and fighting, then he's going to be fine.  I miss him, but he's happy so I am too.

With that, we kicked Keagan the Sprayer outside for good!  I took a little "cat tent" that I bought at IKEA and put a nice fluffy blanket and small pillow inside, and set it out on the front porch for him.  I've seen him hanging out in there at night, so it's helping him keep warm, which is exactly what I wanted.  During winter break (2 weeks off from school!), I plan to go around all the carpet near the baseboards with stain remover and clean up the yellowed spots where the spray dripped down.  Disgusted?  Me too.  It's horrible, but we couldn't kick him out sooner due to Mr. Tom's territoriality.  

All the other cats are doing well.  Cassiey (with the recent surgery) is feeding exclusively on wet food and feels like a diva.  Skit, my 17-pounder (was 19 lbs. just a few weeks ago) is also on wet food and his coat feels nice and smooth and he's losing weight.  Finally!  And Tan One, our food allergy cat who's now on a rabbit and pea diet (at $37 for an 8 lb. bag!) and she seems to be doing better, but we won't really know for a while if it's really working.

I've put up my Christmas tree, and I smile each time I look at it.  I went with silver ornaments and white lights like last year, but I added some lime green ornaments to pull in the color of the kitchen.  I love it!  I also put a few things up in the living room, but I have a lot left to do before decorating is done, and it's almost the middle of December already!  Grar.

I'm totally slacking on making holiday gifts and cards.  I just feel so busy lately and without a ton of motivation.  My goal is by the end of this weekend to have all the lights up outside, decorating done, and cards in the mail.  Then I can focus on making everyone's gifts. I'll try and take pictures to post later!

As Promised, Thanksgiving Pictures

[Just being us and in love.]

[Little man loves the drums!]

[The wind took his music.]

[Family playing in the (freezing) water.]

[Granddad who makes it all possible.]

[Thanksgiving sunset.]

[Flying a kite!]

[Oh my.  I love this man!]

[Now, tell me your heart isn't growing at the sight of this!]

[This totally makes me want a boy!]

[Hanging out, while the boys play poker and the girls drink wine.]

[Kevin and his mom.]

[New Friday night tradition: the kids cook for the adults (even though we are all in our mid twenties to early thirties ourselves!)]

[Driving home.]

Thanksgiving Break Helped Me to Reconnect...

...with myself.

While on break, I only thought about the TV once (Friday night, Ghost Whisperer, a show I hardly even like anymore), and the show was a rerun so I turned it off.  I barely got on the computer (probably only 2 short times in 4 days).  I spent more time unplugged, and it felt good. I sat out in the sun just to soak it up.  I spent time watching dolphins play in the ocean.  When my body was tired, I napped.  Sometimes twice in one day.  I attributing that to the Tempur-Pedic mattress we had in our room.  I indulged in good food (still no soda or caffeine!).  I felt more peaceful, relaxed, less stressed.

...with my husband.

It's always good to get away together.  We really do reconnect.  We spend more time lazing in bed.  In the mornings, we opened the door in our bedroom to the balcony, which let in the sunlight, cool breeze, and sounds of the crashing waves.  What a perfect way to slowly wake up.  We spent more time together: playing pool, flying a kite, starting our Christmas cards.  We always hug a lot and show our affection, but these hugs were longer because we took the time to do so.  We played.  We talked.  It felt good.

...with others.

The beach house that Kevin's grandparents rent is huge.  I mean it.  Humongous.  Big enough for a total of 16 people in very accommodating rooms/bathrooms/living areas.  We like to have family discussions.  We had a "Socrates" discussion, where we picked one word ("water") and everyone got a chance to share anything and everything about that word.  We bring up moral scenarios based on different grounds of thinking.  We learn more about each other and catch up on our lives.  I spent time getting to know a few family members even better.  There was lots of baby talk.  Mostly, questions about when we're going to have little Kevins and Kristinas running around.  (Still waiting.)  I keep falling deeper in love with my nephew.  He calls us Bistina and Bevin.  When someone misses a pool shot, he says "almost."  He makes me want to hurry up and have a kid.  We all cooked and ate together.  It felt good.

Lessons to take from the feel-good break:

1. Spend less time on the computer and watching TV and more time doing the other things that I love to do, or want to do.
   
2. Bring quality time with Kevin to the forefront.  Sunday we made it a point to take a 45 minute walk together.  Monday (yesterday) we met at a restaurant after work instead of just going home to do our own separate things.
3. Keep in touch with family.  Send emails, write letters.  Make it a point to see them every once in a while, not just Thanksgiving and Christmas.
4. When my body needs it, slow down.  Naps are good.
5. Never move to a place with hard water.  Not good for my hair.
6. Continue on the family path.  We're almost there.  Seeing Kevin playing with our nephew reminded me that it IS a priority to get this debt paid off and savings built up.

[Thanksgiving break pictures tomorrow.  Promise!]

(On another note, can you believe it's December???)

Sweetness and Travel

Sweetness

Last week I was bombarded with made-at-home goodness from students. Seriously. Bombarded. The kids usually find me in the morning before specials start to give me their handmade presents, with a shy glance and waiting anxiously for a hug from me.

It is especially good to be an art teacher because of this thoughtfulness. I don't know that the P.E. teacher gets more than a few stickers every once in a while. This is way better. (Neener, neener.)

This post's particular treasure came from a 2nd grader. She's taken summer art lessons from me in the past and has always been an attentive and wonderful student. The gift was wrapped up nicely in a round box with purple tissue paper.

When I pulled off the rubber bands and opened the lid, this was waiting for me: a clay slab with a snowman drawn on, and rocks and glass pressed into it. And a pretty light blue background. You can't tell, but the dark glass piece to the right of the snowman has a smily face drawn on with a Sharpie. That's a total 2nd grader for you.

So wonderfully sweet. She doesn't know how much this brightened my day, or even week. It is now nestled up to a mirror on my bookshelf and I smile whenever I look at it.

[It looks lovely in the candlelight.]

This would be an easy gift to make for any teacher, and would be really good for a holiday present. Totally handmade by kid, loved always by teacher. I mean, gift cards are nice, but who can beat a snowman plaque?

Traveling

I'll be leaving for the beach this afternoon with hubby for Thanksgiving with his family. His grandfather always rents a huge beach house so that everyone can get together for the week. I'm almost one hundred percent sure there's wireless, so I may post a bit from there. (Maybe not!)