Christmas Tree & Exhausted Dog

I'm not sure why Millie is so sleepy, she didn't really help set up Christmas decorations.

When life is busy, I should let sleeping animals be a soothing sight. But it's not. It only creates envy. I envy how animals can sleep and not have a care in the world.

But it's an even game: they're usually envious of our meals.

TV and Musical

Today was a weird and wonderful day. Wonderful because I am gainfully employed and I really like the work. Now here's the weird part. I was asked by the assistant superintendent to do an on air interview for the cable access channel for my district discussing my job. I agreed. Then I got nervous. Today I showed up and the room was a real studio with all kinds of lights and cameras and an interview couch- the whole nine yards. The guy running it couldn't have been nicer which put me at ease--- a little. The only thing was that he said that there were no retakes. One and done. So I got my microphone on and off we went. The assist. super. started reading the prompter and then turned to me. My first thought was, What if I open my mouth to speak and nothing comes out?!!! Well, I did OK. I didn't appear nervous, I don't think. I was asked couple of questions about how I would change things in my program and I think I got a bit repetitious but otherwise I sounded moderately intelligent. At the end, she wrapped up speaking and we were to remain "chatting" while the video went to black. I felt like I was on the View or something. hee hee. I'm going to be on the cable access for a month. Oh, the poor citizens. They are going to get really sick of me.

Tonight's Emily's Christmas play/musical.

They say there may be a snow day tomorrow due to the weather. WOOT!
I mean, darn, I really want to impart knowledge to the children. :)

tagged

Oh boy! I have been tagged. I have never been tagged. Since we got a new computer lately the files were buried but I found it! The 4th picture from the fourth folder is Tara 4 years ago in a restaurant after visiting Santa.
I tag Amy and Bookgrrl.

Graduation!!!!

I did it!!! I finally graduated. I had a heck of a time last night figuring out how to wear the hood over the gown. Then when I got to the ceremony and we were all waiting to line up, I ended up helping two other graduates with their hood.

The day went smoothly. Although, they gave us this card to give to the announcer with our name spelled phonetically. Well, when I got up to the announcer, she asked me my name. So I told her Joann Marie C. Well guess what? She called me Joann RAY C. Nice. Oh well. She messed some other names up, too so I was in good company. :)

My family came and I spotted them in the crowd rather quickly. My mom and dad had very close seats since my mom is in a wheelchair and couldn't be in the stands.

My goodness I feel relieved and happy that my seemingly never ending studying is over!!!!

We all went out to eat afterwards and had fun. I got wonderful graduation gifts of beautiful jewelry from my dad and aunt and uncle.

Here are a couple of the pictures of one of the best days of my life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOANN! DECEMBER 5TH

Hey everyone, it's Jay sneakin' in on here...

I've got a little secret to tell ya... Today is Joann's BIRTHDAY!! She is waaay too modest to post it herself, but today is her actual birthday. She'll be at work all day, then she has to make sure the kiddos are off safely to scout camp tonight. No rest for the weary.

Anyway, I know she is very grateful for each and every one of you reading her blog. So let's at least use this moment to give her some virtual birthday cheer.

yay!

Thanksgiving

Dad waving. He always waves in pics. hee

My sweetie

Mom

The girls goofing around.

Part of the meal. The turkey tasted better than it looked.

It was a great day. I went over to my parents' house early to put in the bird. My dad helped me get it started. Everyone was going to come to our house but our oven broke. We got another one online and it is sitting in our family room right now until an electrician can hook it up. So I took everything over to Mom and Dad's and cooked it there.

Later the girls and Jay and Aunt Dee and Uncle Jim came. We all ate and fun was had by all. Then Aunt Dee washed what seemed like a million dishes and I helped tidy up.

The girls played outside only briefly. They weren't really dressed for the snow.

Some of the favorite moments of the day:

• Being with my mom and dad early in the morning
  
• Everyone being together during the meal.
  
• Stuffing
  
• Talking to my aunt
  
  
  
• Turkey finally getting cooked!
  
• Invited to Christmas Eve at McGraw house


• Making food for the ones I love most in the world.


• Emily riding home with me and talking "woman to woman" as she put it. :)

new do's

Tara's new haircut, wearing her favorite zoo shirt

I love Emily's new cut so much! No more tangles!

I'm gonna wash that gray right outta my hair!

Today we all three got our hair cut. I love how Emily's turned out the most. Her hair is now in a bob. It's a bit hard to see in the picture I took. I need a new camera I guess.

I'm really liking my new job. I got my ID cards for my medical plan in the mail a couple days ago and felt giddy. I know it doesn't take much to make me happy. :) I am really glad that a big test over six chapters for my night class is finished. I don't know how I did. I think I did alright.

Jay has been on leaf duty for the last couple of weeks. Imagine 12 oak trees surrounding the house. Nuff said.

We have decided to move our girls to my new district for school. It has much more opportunities since our current district's levies will just not pass. Because I am a full time teacher, the girls can go there tuition free. Yay!

Our oven died. I mean really died. It was 43 years old and it had duct tape on it since we moved in five years ago. We ordered a new one that should arrive right before Thanksgiving. I hope so, since I have lots of family coming, and I imagine they might want some turkey!