Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

It depends on how much of a hurry I'm in.  :-)  I like the look of wrapping paper better, so I usually use that.  But if I'm in a big hurry, or if the shape gives the present away too much, I will use a bag.

2. Real or Fake Tree?

I like fake better.  It lasts from year to year, you don't have to worry about what to do with it after Christmas, there are no needles to continually pick up, and it doesn't hurt to put the ornaments on.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Sometime after Thanksgiving.  Since we had Thanksgiving here this year (on the Sunday after Thanksgiving), I put the tree up the following week.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Sometime between Christmas and New Year's.  Definitely before I go back to school.

5. Do you like eggnog?

No...GROSS!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I had so many gifts that I loved.  My parents were (and still are) great at finding things that they know we will love.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

A tiny one.  I don't know where it came from.  I would like to get a new one.

8. Hardest person to buy for?

Probably Scott's dad.

9. Easiest person to buy for?

Kids are usually easy to buy for because they're so happy with everything!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever got?

I appreciate the thought that goes into any gift, but I don't really like chocolate, so the random boxes of chocolates that I get from students aren't my favorites.  And, of course this year, I got a mystery-mix-in-a-bag from a student whose mother is always drunk and/or high.  Definitely NOT my favorite.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

I mail them.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Of course, Christmas Vacation.  I also love the newer version of Miracle on 34th Street.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

I shop throughout the year when I see things that I know people will like.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Of course.  Other people like those chocolates mentioned in #10.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

???

16. Colored or clear lights on the tree?

I think clear lights look fancier, so I like those right now.  Once we have kids, we'll get more colored lights because the kids will like them better.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

All I Want for Christmas is You

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Travel, for the most part.  We go to Mom and Dad's the Sunday before Christmas for the Pastore Family Christmas.  On Christmas Eve, we go to Scott's parents' house.  We go to church with his mom, and then the four of us celebrate Christmas.  On Christmas day, we go to my parents' house again for Christmas with my parents, brother, and his boys.  This year, we are going to Scott's sister's house the day after Christmas to celebrate Christmas with she and her family.  Scott's parents will be there with us as well.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Of course.  Even out of order.  Yesterday, Connor asked me which reindeer's name starts with "B," and I was able to answer "Blitzen" right away.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

We don't really have one we like yet, but it will always be an angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Both, plus some.  We open them at each celebration that we have. 

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

People who lose the spirit of the season and look at it as an annoyance.

23. What do you enjoy most about Christmas?

Getting together with family and seeing the kids open their presents.  I love how excited they get.

24. Hot Chocolate or Cider?

Hot chocolate, of course.  Cider is gross any time of year, and it's a drink that annoys me.

25. What do you want for Christmas?

Happiness for everyone I know.

My Job

Today was the last day of school for students.  I still have to go tomorrow, but this was it for the kids until January.  It was an upsetting day.  At first, my reasons for being upset seemed selfish.  It seemed a little out of character for me, so I've been thinking about the real cause of my bad mood tonight.  And I think I've figured it out.

I miss forming real relationships with my kids.  I loved my first year of teaching.  I didn't really like anyone I worked with, but I loved my kids so much that it made up for it.  When I went to Garrett, I pretty much liked my first year there.  Yes, Megan and Sam were little bitches, but I loved so many of my kids that I had a good year.  The second year was good, too.  Third year there...horrible.  Bad principal, bad year with the kids, bad stuff going on for my brother.  Just bad.  My first year at Clay was back to being great.  As was my second.  My third was a little more stressful, but I still really liked my kids.  This year, I have a good group of kids.  I love what I'm teaching.  I like the people I work with.  But I feel like something is missing.  So, I started going back through the years to see what the common problem is with the bad years.

It's more students.  I can't argue that it's the group of kids, because last year was a "bad" group, and I still had a pretty good year with them.  My two worst years were the years that I had the most kids.  I feel like I don't get to know as many of them as well.  I don't see them for as much time during the day, and I don't get to know them as people as a result.  It makes it harder to see the good in every kid, which I've always prided myself on being able to do.  This makes me sad.  I didn't get into education to teach math.  I like math, but I could've been an accountant if that's all I cared about.  I got into education because of the kids, and I really feel like something is lost this year.

So, what's the solution?  Working on a half-team was good because I still got to see the kids two hours each day.  Those kids knew me so well, and I knew them.  But, with budget cuts, I think the half-teams are going to go away.  I don't think that will be an option for me.

What about elementary?  I don't miss teaching reading/writing, and I'm not sure I want to go back to doing that.  Plus elementary teachers are weird (as a general rule - no offense of Jenn and Miesha).  Among other things, they wear weird jumpers and sweaters that scream, "I have no style because I just spend my days with eight-year-olds, so who cares?"  I have a lot of middle school materials, and I don't have a lot of extra money to spend on elementary materials right now.  I would miss being able to focus on math, and I would miss all of my friends at Clay.  But, I would be happier with the kids.

So, what should I do?

P.S.  Elementary teachers do tend to get more students to tutor in the summer, which would be nice...

P.P.S.  There are about 30 teachers that I could "bump" at the elementary level, based on experience.

More Christmas Decorations

I finally found a candle to go in the center of the pine cone wreath I found for our entryway table...and then it was too small.  Scott laughed when he saw it.  Hard.  So, I went back to the snowman candle, and I've decided he looks cute burrowed into his pinecones, so I'm keeping him.

The final decoration (for now, anyway) is thanks to one of the students I tutor.  About two weeks ago, when I got to the girl's house, her mom was hanging their wreath, and she had found a framed initial to put in the center.  I loved it!  I told her that, and she told me she got it at Hobby Lobby.  I asked if she would mind if I copied, since we don't really know any of the same people.  She said she didn't mind. 

Unfortunately, when I went to Hobby Lobby, I found the pre-lit wreath and I found the framed initials...but they were out of the letter H.  :-(  So I got some other things to spruce up the wreath, and figured I would keep looking for the H.

When I went to tutor last week, the mom asked if I made my wreath.  I told her that they didn't have an H, but I was going to keep looking.  Today, she surprised me with my Christmas present.  She put in a special order for the H so I could complete the wreath.

Here is the finished product (still unlit)...

Merry Christmas (again)!

Christmas Decorations

It's our first Christmas as a married couple and in our new home.  As the years go on, I'm sure we'll add more to our Christmas decorations.  For now, this is how it looks.

Introducing...our Charlie Brown Christmas tree (we plan to get a new one for next year)

The wreath on our front door (and our snowmen).  I added the pine cones and berries.  It has lights, but I need to get a cord that doesn't look too tacky.



















A Santa and his snowmen.  Behind that is a snowman picture, drawn by the mom of a former student.

Random Santas, snowmen, and Rudolph figurines.

Another snowman and a countdown Santa.

The world's smallest Nativity scene.  I think I need a new one.  :-)

Our snowman pillows

A snowman basket with pine cones.  And a bell that Scott loves.  He likes to ring it at me.  I like to call him Dot when he does this.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus watching to see if we are naughty or nice.

Our reindeer friend.

Our greeters

Mom just got us this tart warmer.

Here's another view.

Another tart warmer

Our Christmas garland at the back of the couch.

Another snowman at the end of our garland.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm Not a Screw

I was told tonight by my adorable nephews that I am a Screw.

They want my mom to get a big blow-up lawn figure to decorate for Christmas.  Not quite my style.  Mom knows this, so she blames me when the boys ask her to get one.  She tells them that she would get an inflatable doll for the lawn (my preferred name for these things), but Butbo (that's me) won't let her.

Tonight, the boys pressed the issue a little more than usual, and they decided that I am a Grinch and a Screw.  You know, that Ebenezer guy who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. 

So, to prove to my nephews that I am not a Grinch or a Screw, I've updated my blog with a Christmas background.  Personally, I think it looks a lot better than this:

Good Student Day

I had such a good day as far as my students are concerned.

My day started off with an email from the mom of a student I tutor.  I've only met with her three or four times, but she's already one of my favorites.  She's so sweet!  When I started working with her, she was struggling to maintain a D in math.  I worked with her twice before the end of the quarter.  She had two tests to prepare for, and she managed to get Cs on each of those.  She started doing a little better at the beginning of this quarter.  Today, her mom emailed me to say that she got an A on her test last week.  I couldn't have been more thrilled for her!

A few hours after receiving the email, it was time for my lowest class of the day.  We have been working on one-step equations with addition and subtraction.  Since I haven't taught 7th grade math for a few years, I had forgotten what a struggle this was, but the other 7th grade teachers reminded me before we got to this chapter.  I was prepared to deal with it.  I came up with a hands-on activity to help my students understand WHY and HOW we solve equations.  It took awhile.  In fact, it took about 3 days for my lowest class to grasp the concept.  But I knew it was all worth it today.  At the end of class, one of my students came up to me and said, "Thank you Mrs. Herman.  When you first told us what we were going to be doing with all of this equation stuff, I thought it looked SO hard.  But, now, I really get it and it's so easy.  I know you didn't have to do all this extra stuff to help us get it, but it really did help."  It was such a great thing to hear!

The Upstairs

I finally got around to taking pictures of the upstairs rooms in our home.  Here is the rest of our house.

This is the upstairs hallway.  I'll start by heading down the hall to two of our bedrooms.

This is one bedroom.

The bookshelf in this room.

And the closet

As you walk out of the room and turn right, you come to the bathroom vanity.

Behind the sink is a door to a room with the tub and toilet.  Here's the shower curtain we chose.

There is another door on the other side of the bathtub.  This leads to another vanity.

In the picture above, you can see a doorway to the left.  That is a walk-in closet for our other bedroom.  You can see the reflection of this bedroom in the mirror.  Here is a better shot:

And another view

As you walk out of this bedroom, and back down the hallway, you come to the laundry room on your right.

Across from the laundry room is another bedroom.  Right now, it is Scott's music room.

At this end of the hallway is our bedroom.

Here are the doors to our bathroom.

The vanity in our bathroom.

Here is our tub and shower.

Our toilet has its own little room.

And finally, our closet.

I hope you enjoyed your "tour."  We'd love to have you come visit if you are ever in the area.  Just give us a call!

Family Pictures

I know, I know, I'm gone for days, and then I'm post-happy.  These are some of my favorite pictures from the ones we had taken today.

We started with some Christmas shots.

The boys loved wearing their jammies!

Connor, checking to see if his brothers are ok.  He's a great big brother!  :-)

Our family

We didn't get any copies of this last one, but I love it because it's so natural.  Connor is being responsible and posing for the picture.  Quentin is hamming it up for a funny picture.  Zeke just wanted his binky, and was unhappy about having to give it up.  :-)

Thank you!

My 30th birthday party was on Saturday.  Scott did a WONDERFUL job of organizing the party, and I had a great time!  Thank you to all of my fantastic friends and family who were able to attend.  It means so much to me to have such great people in my life, and I truly felt loved and appreciated by everyone at my party.  I am glad the kids had such a good time.  I'd like to give a special thanks to my mom for being the emcee for musical chairs.

In no particular order, thank you so much to the following people for helping me celebrate my 30th birthday:

Mom, Dad, Brandon, Connor, Quentin, Sue, Ron, Melinda, Andre, Leo, Fiona, Deb, Tony, Andy, Heidi, Ashtyn, Brock, Brian, Rebecca, Libby, Charlie, A.J., Bryan, Stephanie, Madi, Caden, Liana, Matt, Belle, Jeff, & Jena.  You are the best!

Here are some pictures from the party.  Mom was using my camera, and isn't quite used to how STILL you have to stand when taking pictures, so they are a little blurry.  But I really appreciate her taking pictures for me.

My cake.  Thanks Deb!

Zeke, making sure everything is ready upstairs.

Zeke and Poppy, having a chat before the party.

Getting ready for cake

Scott, giving his speech to thank everyone for coming

Blowing out my candles (or watching as all of the kids blew them out before I could).

My guests...

After the party, my parents, brother, and his three sons spent the night so we could have our annual family pictures taken today (Sunday).  Here are some (less blurry) shots from this morning.

Zeke (and his tongue)

Connor, reading the morning paper

Quentin, just chillin'

Dad, talking to Quentin