Joy

Well, I contacted the parks department and got us a gig at the pioneer Christmas village at Fowler Park.  Evangeline looked forward to this event for weeks.  It was such a fun evening.  We were in the weaver/loom house with a nice couple that really knew their stuff.  Thankfully they did all the talking and history sharing about the huge loom, spinning wheels and fibers to the many, many people that visited our cabin.  All Evangeline and I had to do was spin (Evangeline drafted my wool and practiced treadling) and eat apple cake and soup our neighbors in the adjoining cabin were making over the fire.  We are now officially in the group of historical volunteers and plan to spend a few Saturdays in the summer "pioneering" when the village is open.  I am SO glad I have this girl.  We have such a good time together.  



 

My mom took Evangeline to see Mooseltoes at ISU a few weeks back.  Evangeline made this sign the morning after to give to Mrs. Reynolds (her former kindergarten teacher).  It is currently hanging on Mrs. Reynolds' classroom door.  The sign says, "here is the moose that wants to be a reindeer.  Once upon a mooseltime."  Mrs. Reynolds had asked Evangeline to tell her all about the play the following day so she was delighted to get this sign from her. 

 

I took the kiddos to see Santa at Clabber Girl.  Evangeline always loves attending this event each year.  In addition to seeing the big guy in red, she enjoys playing games, listening to Mrs. Claus read stories, eating cookies, making crafts and getting her face painted.  In the picture below she is fishing for candy canes, which was a lot harder than it looked.  

 

Shortly after Thanksgiving Evangeline asked me if Santa watches her all year.  I told her that I believe he does.  She said that she always gets a little nervous this time of year....I thought that was pretty funny.  Lucky for both of us she's a good little girl.  Now I have two good little children.  I overheard Santa telling Evangeline what a good big sister she has been this year.  He told her that her brother is too little to get into her things yet, but he will soon and he won't be doing it to upset her, but because he wants to be like her.  Santa instructed Evangeline to continue to be a good big sister.  My heart was warmed by this whole conversation.  Evangeline hung onto every word he said.  She told Santa that she would like to have an elf costume for Christmas.  

 

This lil'dude's been pretty good too.  

 

Evangeline was an angel again in this year's Christmas pageant.  She had quite a lengthy reading part and she did a fantastic job.  I love watching the kids put on their pageant each year.  It's so precious.  

 

Colleen and Ainslee handed down some beautiful handmade dresses Colleen's mother made for Ainslee.  They are so sweet and Evangeline has really enjoyed wearing them.  

 

Our annual Company Coffee Christmas gathering was held at our house this year.  I love getting together with these people, some of my dearest friends.  

 

My little boy continues to grow by the day.  He is sweeter and more precious than ever.  He is so so so close to rolling over.  He likes to hoist up his legs and roll himself over on his side and just hang out there.  He hasn't quite figured out how to get that bottom arm out of the way.  We all like to cheer him on....Go Jed, Go! 

 

As you can see we love to lavish kisses and snuggles on the little fella.  He gets so much affection from us.  We just can't keep our hands off of him.  

 

I truly feel so blessed not only to be a teacher, but to be a teacher at the school my daughter attends.  I can't say enough how much fun it is to be a part of her school days.  Every so often the first grade teachers do a classroom rotation where the kids travel around by class to each different room and do a project.  We did a Thanksgiving rotation a few weeks ago (I brought my spinning wheel) and this past week we did a reindeer day.  This rotating of the classes means that Evangeline's class comes to my room at one point. This particular day the kids wrote a poem and made reindeer food in my room.  Evangeline thinks it's so special to be in my room.  She was such a sweet little student.  She picked the desk front and center and got straight to work.  I love watching her in her social element, interacting with her classmates.  

 

I also got to have someone watch my class while I attended her class Christmas party.  We had matching outfits on this day.  Oh, I am just so thankful I get to share the primary years with her at school....I don't see the matching outfit thing flying a few years down the road.  

 

 

Mrs. Crumrin said that Evangeline wore her red nose all day from the "pin the tail on Rudolph" game.  She frequently pops into my class throughout the week.  Here she is bringing me the Grinch she made on Grinch day sporting her red nose.  

 

Mrs. Strohm (Evangeline's reading teacher) stopped me in the hall and told me that they had a few minutes at the end of class and decided to do a talent show.  She told me that Evangeline got up in front of the class and sang Silent Night all by her self.  She said you could have heard a pin drop.  Evangeline sang with her vibrato voice she loves to do.  Mrs. Strohm told me that it was the sweetest thing and that she had tears in her eyes.  Then she started tearing up as she was telling me about it, then of course I started tearing up.  My heart bursts with pride for the person that my little girl is, and not pride because it's anything that I've done.  I could tell from the moment I met her that she was a sweet soul, a special one. 

Evangeline of course told me that she did her favorite joke too:

Knock, knock.

Who's there? 

Turnip.

Turnip who?

Turnip the heat!  It's cold in here!

 

Here is my amazing first grade team.  I just adore these girls.  

 

So it's been party after party...Sunday School, Rotary, 1st grade, Company Coffee, teacher friends...and here we are at the gymnastics party.  Whew!  'Tis the season!  Oh, and might I add that the Sunday School, teacher friend and Company Coffee parties were all held at our house!!  We've done a lot of sprucing and stashing around the house lately.  

 

So today marks the first day of my two week long Christmas break.  It's such a marvelous feeling indeed, to be sitting on the cusp of such a lengthy break.  I plan to cherish every moment of it....there will be lots of snuggling of my babies in my future.