Christmas blessings!

Hope you all had a great Christmas and time with your families. We did, even though it was short. It is always a blessing to spend time with your family.

Before everyone was awake on Christmas morning.


The giving of gifts.
Later in the week, the making of the gingerbread house.
And just having a good time.

The get away car!

Went to a wedding reception last night. Keith went to the wedding in the morning. Two young people we have known for years and both their families. He is one of Keith's high school buddies from the beginning. It was a fun time, we enjoyed our time there. B. asked Keith to chouffer them back in his '59 - so Keith readied the car for the trek.
Keith used his car to chouffer the couple back to their apartment, and they will leave on their honeymoon.

Now he will have to clean the car or people will think he just got married.

Yesterday Morning.

Yesterday was a long day for me. It started out on a really sad note. I went to the services of a little boy in my class. Just 2 weeks shy of his 5th birthday. So hard and so sad. I have known his family for 6 years, having various cousins and his 2 brothers in my class over the years. plus working with his aunt for 2 years. Plus because of his family I have seen this little boy grow from a little baby. When you work with young children you let them into your heart, but I let his family in also since I have known them so long and they are such a great family to be around. I have never been to Hmong funeral before, and it continues for days. His service is over today at 2, and his burial is at 3, I will also be there for his parents and his aunt and uncle and cousins, his brothers and grandparents. He died from a type of pneumonia. It doesn't matter who or what type of service, the feelings run deep and the emotions are very real. He will be missed, so very special, very social ~ all the children liked him, very lively, so full of energy, loved doing his work. I could go on.

Telling my parents at a special meeting was very hard, I had melt down in front of them, I couldn't help it ~ some of their children were 'best' friends with him. We had other school staff, the GIS, school psychologists, nurse, my supervisor there to help the parents. I left it to the parents to tell their children. I will have some paper set aside and markers and crayons for any of the children to draw pictures and "write" letters for him. We will write their words and I will give the 'cards' to the family with his school memories. I will bind his work in a little booklet (like I do at the end of the year), and I will get copies of pictures I have taken in the class and put them in an album for the family. All I can tell the children is he was very, very sick and will not be coming back. We will miss him so much.

Sad day

A child in my class died last night. Such a tragic thing, they don't know why yet. He would be 5 in 2 1/2 weeks.

Jury duty-- blah!

Well, I didn't have to report today. I don't have to call again until Wed. evening. I am glad our country has a system that allows people to have trial by jury, and I am really glad there are people out there who enjoy jury duty and feel it is their civic duty. I am not one that looks forward to jury duty and will be glad when my time is over. I am hopefully praying that I don't get called.

Strange noises?

I am sitting at the computer, finalizing my lessons for next week and I keep hearing strange noises. Now I don't have any little kids running around and most of the time it is just Dan and I here - so what is under my tree? I actually took the pictures without seeing my subject but I wasn't the least bit surprised. I just didn't know what cat it was. Chloe was attacking the tree and eating/chewing on one of the branches in the back of the tree.


I think this is the new kitty hang out.

Nativity

I got this Fisher Price Nativity last summer and have waited months to set it up. It is also for play when the little ones are here.

Chloe

I heard a strange rustling and this is what I found amidst the Christmas garland. Chloe had found her calling, but it last about 2 minutes.

Rain?

How I feel some days.

Yes, it did rain! And it is so needed.

Rain?

They say rain? What's that?
Hopefully a good one.

2 years today

It's been 2 years today since you passed away. Rest in peace mom. I love you.

Her Angel Face rose, her favorite.

After lunch

I headed to San Jose on Saturday. I had an enjoyable brunch with Donna and Jackie. After a really nice visit, I headed to Valley Fair to do some shopping. I got a few things but couldn't handle the entire mall after while. So I headed to Eric's in Morgan Hill. I got a few grocery's for dinner then headed up the hill to his place. The pictures aren't to great, but you get the jest. This is a picture of the sunrise from his place. Just spectacular.
Another view from his place, just in a different direction. The mountains go on and on. You can't see what the fire ravished from his place, which is nice.
This is the barn and parking lot near the visitors center, needless to say it's right in front of his place. He does have a fenced yard, which is big enough if a family with young children lived there.
We had a good visit and dinner. I slept on the couch, which is comfortable. After breakfast and some good conversation I headed to Gilroy and the outlets. This is a picture of the view on the way down the mountain from his place. One thing he has is fantastic views in all directions, as he sits on top of a mountain.

I couldn't find parking to go into the shops I wanted at the outlets. I did go in a couple shops and got a few things. I am not big on outlet shopping, as I am not big on most brand name products. There are some that I really do like, but for the most part, since I can sew really well and know how the cloths are made - they are just uhhhhhhh.

I stopped at the visitors center going over Pacho Pass. I wanted to take some pictures. This is at San Luis Reservoir. You can see how low the water is. If we don't get some rain this year we can have major water restrictions.

I do like rain, even if it means being inside with 24 - 4 year olds. That is substantial rain.