from Christmas time

This is what happens at Christmas time when there are nine kids all under the age of eight in the house. :)

Oh, I'm missing these'uns...

behold the effect of Legos

Behold the effect of giving Legos to a five-year-old.

Good to be home!

quote of the day

I read Wemberley Worried by Kevin Henkes to my three-year-old-almost-four-year-old nephew, Luke, last night via Skype. At the end of the story, he said, "I want you to come back."

And commence heart melting...

In other news, Little Diomede students participated in a video conference with two schools in Australia. It was really cool to hear their stories and to compare them with our own. Such different places!

good earth of Tennessee

 Thank you to my 2nd- and 3rd-cousins -- Sandy, Joseph, Samuel, Benji, and Gracie!!! Their surprise box of leaves, acorns, mimosa, pine needles arrived yesterday on the chopper. I happy-cried. Oh, how I miss the fall time...

 Early Christmas present.

I showed my students the leaves. One of my 7th-graders said, "They feel funny!"
One of my seniors said, "Can I have one?"
"Sure," I said.
"Really?" he said incredulously.
"Yeah, go ahead."
"Thank you!" He was so happy that he could keep a leaf.
Then all of my other students wanted to keep a leaf for themselves.

Thank you, Sandy, Joseph, Samuel, Benji, and Gracie for this amazing gift! Since I can't go home to Tennessee, you brought Tennessee to me.

the first time I ever saw a polar bear

I ordered a new coat made -- one that is made for arctic temperatures. I don't think my Columbia coat will cut it. My new one has a faux-fur ruff, but I hope to eventually buy a polar bear fur ruff and switch it out. It'd be expensive...anywhere from $150 to $300, but how often does a person get a chance to have real polar bear fur on their coat?

This picture was taken at the Philadelphia Zoo. It's the only time I've ever seen a polar bear. I'm in the middle. You can see my excitement compared to that of my sister and my brother. Is this foreshadowing? An overabundance of enthusiasm for arctic animals?