End of 2012.

Well, the year 2012 has come and gone quickly. What a busy year! We had a fabulous Christmas. Santa was good to us... and I mean me too! I got tickets to Maroon 5 - it is driving my family crazy! I am on a huge Adam Levine kick and I play his music all the time. It has been nice to be on Christmas break with my kids, as well. This time has flown by. We have shopped, baked cookies, watched tv and hung out with Dave at the store. He is usually off the week of Christmas, but this year has been his busiest by far, so he has worked some this week and all of last. Tomorrow, we are off to the Smokies for our annual trip. We all go every year to look at the lights and have some good family time. This year, we will be gone for four days. When we get back, it is back to work the next day. I love teaching first grade. Those little babies are so sweet. I love singing songs and reading stories and listening to their tales in the classroom - both during lessons and after and before and anytime they can talk. And boy, do they. I have a talkative class. We have started going to a new church. It is called "The Bridge". It is not a COC. And I am just fine with that. I have learned lots about God's love for me even though I have a past and I learn something new everytime I meet or see fellow members. I have learned about transparency and it is OK to be who I am, and with God's help, I will learn and grow. I have a peace like I have never known. The group of people that we worship with love us for us, and they understand that we are all the same - just a group who are trying to achieve a common goal. I look forward for what is in store for 2013.

Christmas Break.

I made it to Christmas break.

I am so excited to have this time off with my family. As you can tell, it is three in the morning. I have a cold (imagine that!) and I am having trouble sleeping. But no worries, because I don't have to be up at any time tomorrow. Horray!

Yesterday we had the big family Christmas, which only lasted for an hour, then we came home and hung out on the couch, just the five of us. Then we divided up. Eli stayed at home, Dave took Tripp to the woods, and Emma and I went on a girl date and did her shopping.

Then, later in the night, Dave threw Eli the keys and we went driving. I about died. I cried in the van as he drove us around town. This was only the second time he had ever driven. The night before, I let him drive around the high school parking lot. Now, on day two, it is open road. I guess that it is just another sign that he is almost grown.

Eli has never shown any interest in driving. Ever. And he will be 16 in two months. He doesn't have a permit. So from one day to the next, he is wanting to drive. And it makes me sad.

This year, it doesn't feel like Christmas. I am not really in the "Christmas Spirit". I am almost done with my shopping. I ordered my Christmas cards a month early, and I have not even mailed them yet. In fact, I have only received three, and I usually get about 50. I guess some others are not feeling it either.

Let's hope this next week brings me tidings of comfort and joy. Maybe I will bake some cookies.

Christmas Time!

Once again, I have sat down to update... I see my last post was on December 6. :(

OK, here is a rundown.

Snow.

Snow.

Finished School. Missed my last practicum days.

Kids missed the last week of school because of..... snow.

Now they are out on Christmas break.

I have stayed in my pj's so much that I forget what day it is. I am loosing track of time. Days are running together. Some days, Dave goes to work and I am reading a book on the couch. When he comes home, I have done nothing more than brush my teeth and read another book, took a nap and watched a movie. Because I did four semesters of school this year, I am tired and enjoying my laziness. What gets me is this - my house was much cleaner when I was working and going to school! Crazy, I know. I just don't wanna clean. And it is just going to get dirty again.

Tomorrow, we will do a good cleaning. That should make everyone happy. :)

Yesterday, Grandma and Granddad took the big kids to Nashville to spend the night at Opryland. That left me and Dave at home alone with just Emma and Tripp. So, last night, we went on a whirlwind tour... we drove to Chuckles in Crossville, played games, went to eat and then drove back to Cookeville and saw Yogi Bear in 3D. We had a blast!

Today, we get to deliver toys for the Jaycees to underprivileged children. Well, this is my favorite part of Christmas.

The big kids will be home later tonight - Grandma is taking the girls to see the Rockettes and Granddad is taking the boys to see the Titans play.

We have major progress with the new addition to our house. One day last week (see, I don't remember the day!) I came outside and we had windows and doors on the new room. So I went and bought some light fixtures for the walls and for the outside. I had no idea how dramatic buying light fixtures is - colors that match (bronze, aged bronze, tan bronze, silver, copper...) glass that matches.... I was in Lowe's for over an hour and it was my third trip to check things out. I also have become fixated on a couch and love seat that I can't afford. :/ When you build a new room, you need furniture. This week, I told someone that Dave and I will be sitting out in "our" room in lawn chairs with our feet on boxes. That is OK, though, because no kids allowed! Ha!