Christmas Traditions and an Untraditional Family

You know I haven't been swept up by the Christmas spirit this year. Only because the time has gone by so fast that in my mind it should still be November! But there are some traditions that we keep that serve as a reminder to me that yes indeed Christmas is here. We always decorate sugar cookies. My mom rolls out the dough and cuts and bakes the cookies. Ange and I decorate with frosting made from confectioners sugar and sprinkles. We've done this since I was a baby. Ange and I always argue about who decorates better (for the record its me!) I have pics on mom's camera and I'll post them sooner or later.

I also gave a talk in Church yesterday at our Christmas sacrament meeting. It went pretty well if I do say so myself. :)

Since my dad's accident a new tradition has popped up. A few of his old cronies stop by and visit around this time, also some of the kids he coached call too. This is my favorite new tradition. You see I don't come from a big family, but I have this HUGE family of old football and wrestling coaches and their wives. And since my dad's accident that family has extended to alot of the guys my dad coached in football and wrestling back in the day too. I will get to see them all in a few weeks when they put on a fundraising golf tournament for him. They really are a bunch of great guys and of course they all remember me when I was a baby and used to crawl off with their car keys! I have really been blessed with my untraditional family and I always look forward to seeing them, and hearing them tell old war stories with my dad each year! So Merry Christmas to you and your families both the traditional and the non-traditional! :)

The Countdown is on 7 Days to go!!!

If you looked at the date of this post and did the math I am sure you thought to yourself "Hey what the heck is Sarah talking about?!? there are 11 days till Christmas!" And you would be right. However that's not what I am counting down to. I am counting down to Dec 21. Why you ask? Because that is the day that the kids have their Christmas party and then LEAVE at 12:15 for 2 whole weeks!!! (Insert cheer here). You know I really do love my class, but I am looking forward to my winter break like nobody's business! Next week we are mostly doing "Holiday" activities and learning more about Hanukkah and Kwanza. There is actually very little teaching planned. Why you ask again? Because the chances of me getting those kids to sit still all at once for more than 10 min at a time next week are slim to none!! This week we made Christmas poinsettias and ornaments made out of Cinnamon and applesauce (2 cups of cinnamon, 1 cup of applesauce and cookie cutters are all you need, oh and straws to make a whole in the ornament for the ribbon) and we started to make "stained glass" out of transparency paper and sharpies. You know I got craftier when I joined the Church, but this just takes things to a whole new level! I am tired! Tired of telling the kids not to eat the cinnamon dough mixture while we are making the ornaments, tired of telling them 50 times they can only make 1 stained glass picture, tired of making the boys go sit down when they make farting noises and complain that the cinnamon dough looks like poop, tired of making them rewrite their Christmas traditions paper OVER and OVER and OVER again b/c they don't follow my directions the first 4 times, tired of telling them that we do not have teacher pe today 3 times a week, tired of breaking up skirmishs over someone cutting in line or taking too long at the water fountain.......I could go on and ON
But then they all sing along with my Bing Crosby Christmas CD and I fall in love with them again.
PS Did you know that Disney has an AM radio station? And who are the Jonas Brothers?

Night In Bethlehem

Soo they do this awesome thing at my church in Tampa called night in Bethlehem. You start out in a kind of market place where you can learn about writing Hebrew, play with a dradle, get some food etc. Then a trumpeter calls you for the start of the show. The show is the Nativity and its very well done and then you end up at the church for hot chocolate and cookies! It was fabulous! It was a reminder to me of what the Christmas season is supposed to be about. And I had a great time with my friends as well. I highly reccomend stopping by and seeing it. Its free but they accept canned goods as "taxes". Yes I am starting to be a social butterfly again! Who knows maybe in 2008 I will even date! (but don't hold your breath!) :)

PS Here is the info if anyone wants to go!

A Night in Bethlehem: Sing with shepherds and angels during the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' live nativity tonight, Saturday and Sunday starting at 6:30 p.m. and repeating every half hour until 9 at the church, 7851 Lutz-Lake Fern Road in Lutz. Call (813) 995-2345

Jesus Loves You but I am His Favorite! :)

That is actually a t-shirt slogan I saw in a catalogue. I wanted to buy the shirt buy my mom pointed out that it wasn't very Christlike. But lemme tell you why I am His favorite! :)

So there I was....
I decided to go to one of the local beauty schools to get a facial. Why? Because it only costs $20 and I am worth it! :) I actually got a marvelous girl who was also a massage therapist! Guess who got a 15 min neck and shoulder massage while my mask was drying? Oh that would be me! It was AMAZING! I have not been that relaxed.......EVER! I told the girl that if I were a guy I would propose to her! Turns out she is married so I just gave her a generous tip and I have an appointment with her again in 2 weeks! :) Pretty sure that was my tender mercy from the Lord! No I am not kidding! :) And I am now exfoliating and moisturizing on a regular basis! Who knew? :)