{Christmas Eve}

T'was the night before Christmas, when all thru the house

One creature was stirring, cleaning quietly as a mouse.

The children were finally sleeping snug in their beds,

While visions of  Apple products, danced through their heads.

Dad was snoring in front of the TV,

With presents half wrapped beside his knee.

Only mom heard the sounds of reindeer hooves clatter,

Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With a Swiffer duster still clutched in her hand,

She rounded the corner, and saw the old man.

He was covered with soot, which fell when he shrugged.

"Oh great," sighed the mom, "Now I have to vacuum the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."

"Your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some rest or maybe even a little break."

"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a carbon copy duplicate."

"You mean a clone?" she asked, "What good is that?

Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."

The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes.

"She'll cook, she'll dust," She'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, watch Grey's, Private Practice, and then some Revenge." 

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered with delight. "My dream come true!

"I'll shop. I'll read. I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room down the hall, the youngest began to scream.

"Mommy?! I'm scared... I had a bad dream."

The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."

The clone hugged the small one, and hummed a slight tune,

as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.

"You're the best mommy ever. " I really love you."

The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."

The mom lost her smile and then she said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal."

That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."

Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it's clear, "

Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked him into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.

I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,

When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

With the clone by his side Santa said, 

"Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right." 

(original poem author unknown ~ altered a little by me)

Merry Christmas Eve

{Tis the Season}

The Christmas countdown is just about over!!! I was reminded this morning (at 6:45) by a certain little boy that there is "only 1 more day until Christmas Eve!"

This Christmas season flew right past me. I have shopping to finish and baking to start. Wrapping and sorting to figure out.

Sadly no Christmas cards have been mailed out this year but I promise the New Year will bring a big surprise.

I have a few pictures I'd like to share but before I do that, I made a promise and I intend to keep it. I have been promising and promising to share some video's of Bry's big honor choir debut. Once again, please be kind to the amateur videographer.

~Christmas Concert 2012~

Before

 After

For some extra Christmas cheer, Trav's first ever performance.

2nd Grade Choir

{Hope}

I’m not one who shares thoughts freely especially on topics that don’t pertain to me or my family. However, the devastation of yesterday’s tragedy has filled my heart with grief, a sadness and an ache I have never felt before. 

Every morning, I wake my children up and get them ready for a brand new day. They eat breakfast while I pack their lunches. We chat about our daily happenings. We have our morning meeting in the bathroom while brushing our teeth. We bundle up and head out the door. As they get ready for a new day of learning adventures, I get ready for a new day of teaching adventures.

I spent my day oblivious to the outside world. I had no idea what had happened until I walked my first graders out to meet their parents. As I watched my parents hug their children tight and heard pieces of what had happened, my heart literally sank. When I listened to the news and read the stories online, I was grateful that my day had been consumed by reading, writing, and Christmas crafts.

My gut reaction was to find my own children. A tight hug, a kiss on the forehead, a silent thank you for being able to hold them in my arms.

As I packed up my things and turned out the light in my classroom, twenty little faces flashed through my mind. Twenty little faces that make me smile with their warm hugs, their sweet words, and their bright smiles. Twenty little faces that make me laugh with their silly stories and their quirky qualities that make them unique. Twenty little faces that have become a part of me.

Countless experts in just about everything will be interviewed. They will all assign reasons and illnesses and excuses as to why this person did what he did. No matter what is said and written, they will all be wrong. It's impossible to wrap your mind around something like this. We will struggle with reason, we will question why, and endlessly attempt to find sense in it all. Unfortunately, we won't find it. There is no sense or understanding to be found. The only things to be found are sadness and pain, heartbreak and anger, anguish and suffering.

In the midst of it all, there is also hope.

It seems impossible, unthinkable, and maybe even unbearable because for some it won’t come today or tomorrow. For some, it won’t even come before the New Year approaches.  

But it’s there!

Yesterday terrified me and challenged my beliefs. Yesterday shattered a sense of security I took for granted. Yesterday created a change deep within my soul and all though I may never fully understand the effects, yesterday has shown me the importance of holding on to hope.

Today, there are twenty families who won’t be able to hold their children and that is the worst thing in the world.

The events of this horrible tragedy have proven how completely connected we are as human beings. We find ourselves tied by the love and support God has given each and every one of us.

As I sit here surrounded by the sights and sounds of Christmas, the thing I find myself desperately clinging to is the magic that Christmas holds. 

Christmas is magical.

Christmas is selfless.

Christmas is pure. 

Christmas is peace.

Christmas is love.

Christmas is hope.

Christmas is promise. 

The true meaning of Christmas is inexplicably perfect.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this unexplainable tragedy. My hope is that they can find some sense of peace and hope.

{October Flashback}

October was a very busy month at Casa de Mall. I had truly hoped to wrap up October activities before November decided to move in but as you can see, that didn't happen. Although I tend to be away from time to time, my MIA status doesn't mean that I can’t share “old” news. 

My new motto in life these days: 

“Better late than never!”

Way back at the beginning of October, we attended the annual Fall Festival that is held at our church. This has become one of my favorite events. We became a part of the Holy Trinity family shortly after we moved here a little over 2 years ago. Two short years but it feels like we have been family forever!

Blessing the Church Garden 

Fall Festival day was the same day that Bry’s BETA induction ceremony was held. For those of you who don't know, BETA is an organization that promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, leadership and community service. The BETA motto is "Let Us Lead by Serving Others." Students are awarded membership based on their grades and character traits. Bry has become very involved in her BETA duties. She has to complete 50 hours of community service by the end of the year. One of her favorite ways to earn hours is by volunteering at local elementary schools, especially the one that her sister and brother attend. The induction ceremony is a tradition that has taken place since BETA was first founded. It was such an honor to be able to watch her and a few of my favorite “teenagers” take on this new role in their lives.

The month of October marked the end of the first 9 weeks grading period. For the first time since Bry started Kindergarten, I missed out on her honor roll assembly. I was sad that I couldn't be there for her. As she walked out the door that morning she offered me a few kind words. “Don't worry about me, you have a bunch of first graders who need you to help them get their first real A.” Okay, really?!?!? How many 12 year olds think like that???? Of course after saying that, she looked at me and said “Besides, I’m going to be all covered in dead people cooties and you really won’t want to hug me anyways!”

You see, the 7^th graders went on a field trip to one of the local cemeteries that day. I wish I had pictures to share but the students weren't allowed to bring any electronics on their trip.

I was able to sneak out of my class for a few minutes in order to watch Miss Kalyssa receive her all “A” honor roll award and her Terrific Kid award. This is the third year in a row that she has earned both awards in the first 9 weeks of school.

Mr. Trav didn't make it these 9 weeks. I had a hard time figuring out why because he was doing great on all of his tests. We did manage to get to the bottom of it and I do believe that he has learned his lesson. Let me just share how different my children truly are. Trav was sad about not making the honor roll this time but only because he won't get to take his report card over to the arcade to earn his free play time! 

True story, I am not ashamed to admit that I will hold the arcade visit over his head!!!

Fast forward to Pumpkin Light Night. If you have been a follower of my blog, then you know just how much I have always loved this yearly event that is held at school. This year was a little different. Why??? Well, I was able to participate not only as a parent but also as a teacher. Granted by the time the day arrived, I was kind of over the whole thing. Although very tiring, it was fun to watch the excitement of my class. They were so proud of their work and they all agreed that we had the BEST display even if we didn't win. Of course our first grade competition was very steep! My kids parents worked really hard at putting my classroom display together. I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful room moms!

This year, Trav had to write a book report and then create a pumpkin to go along with his report. He chose “Always in Trouble” by Corrine Demas. Toby the dog is one our favorite book characters. Trav was very excited to share this book with his classmates.

Kalyssa’s class did a theme that included Star Wars characters. Kalyssa had to create the most renowned and powerful Jedi Masters in galactic history also known as Yoda. When it came to this pumpkin, I gladly stepped aside and let the force be with Daddy.

Mrs. Berry’s Bunch won first place for the third grade wing!

The end of Pumpkin Light Night only means one thing around here,

Trick-or-Treat Smell My Feet!

How do you know you have a teenager in your house? Trick or treating becomes way more fun with friends rather than hanging out with mom, dad, and your siblings!! Yup, this year Bry ventured out on her own, well without us! 

I guess I should still be grateful that I still have two kids who think trick-or-treating with mom and dad is fun!!!

One final thought

Don't forget to vote!!!