12.31.14

Happy New Year's Eve!
Had to get a pic of the final sunset of 2014...unfortunately, it wasn't anything super fabulous.

The Silver Oak and fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies were super fabulous!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! Looking forward to an amazing 2015!

12.30.14

Vacation Knees
You see them everywhere. Photos of someone's knees overlooking a crystal, blue ocean. Well, these particular knees are from inside the physical therapist's office...overlooking a balmy zero degree day in Castle Rock. Very glad to say that this therapist is a million times better then the last one...glad I kicked him to the curb!! (So very close to counting the hours/days/weeks/months until an actual beach shot!!)

12.28.14

Christmas Gifts
Enjoying Chad's new coasters and my new Macro lens...thank you babe!!

12.26.14

Last Bit of Fun
Yesterday there were Legos for both young and old. After some inspiration from Matthew, Kelly and I decided to make a Lego movie using his gold mine set. Below is the video.

Fortunately, the roads weren't too bad heading back home. Glad the weather forecast of 6-12 inches didn't pan out.

12.25.14

Christmas Fun
Well, the big day finally arrived. It was filled with laughs, tears, and a couple of time-outs.

It ended with a beautiful sunset, while we were out in the cold trying to launch a rocket...Houston, we had a problem. 

And then a great nightcap with my new ice sphere!

12.24.14

Christmas Eve
Just a warning...picture overload for today's post. Just remember, it is Christmas Eve after all!!

The sun was back out today...beautiful day! 

Renee made her yummy pecan rolls for tomorrow morning.

Was very excited that I could bet a run in...had some extra calories to burn!

During church tonight, Matthew wrote the sweetest note for Santa. It was set out with the cookies. My mom got an early start teaching him some of the editing marks. 

12.23.14

The Weather Outside is Frightful
Had a blizzard today! Not sure how much snow we ended up with, but I-70 eastbound was closed from Limon east. Glad we made it out yesterday and everyone else is coming out tomorrow. The wind was absolutely CRAZY!!

Since I couldn't get out to run, hung out in the kitchen getting ready for the next couple of days. Made some "Christmas Crack" AKA Peppermint Puppychow. 

12.22.14

Home for the Holidays
Headed east with most of the Kenyon family today. In addition to the bourbon, brought along an Odell flavor as well. Beautiful sunny day before the storm.

Mr. Big made his big delivery tonight as well.

12.21.14

First Day of Winter
Made it to the first day of winter, December 21st, with a little tan line still left! Even had my holiday red nail polish and snow to show it off!

12.19.14

Getting Ready for Christmas
I got one of my last-minute gifts done for the boys...it is actually from Mr. Big. 

I also stocked up for the adults! Anxious to share some Breckenridge Bourbon during the holidays!

12.18.14

Final Day
Today was not only the last day of our Holiday Spirit Week, but it was also the last day before Winter Break...YEA!! Today was pajama day...appropriate for school pajama day! ;)

Had a very busy day so it went fast. Forgot to ask the last classes of the day to shut down our laptop carts, so I found myself shutting down 94 computers...not fun in many ways! Need to bathe in hand sanitizer afterwards.

12.17.14

Day Three
Here is our Ugly Sweater Crew! What a fun group!

12.16.14

Day Two
Today was Red & Green Day. Had to get some cute t-shirts for this one and the kids loved them!

Also had my first PT session for my knee. Got them taped for the rest of the week and a list of exercises...we'll see.

12.15.14

That Time of Year!

It's back...Holiday Spirit Week at school!! Wendy and I have been planning our outfits. Day One: Crazy Sock & Hat Day.

12.14.14

Leftover Turkey
We finished up the last batch of leftover turkey by making some Turkey Curry Soup...came across the recipe on Pinterest. I used sweet potatoes instead of squash and added rice noodles. It was pretty tasty! (Here is the recipe.)

12.13.14

Busy, Busy, Busy
Got up early enough to workout and catch the beautiful sunrise.

Started off the day with a helicopter ride over downtown Denver. This was part of the Teacher Envoy Program with the Wings Over the Rockies Museum. It was a short ride, but fun. Link to my photos on Google+

On my way home, stopped off and took holiday photos for my sister's family...found a great bridge.

Then it was back home to take care of last minute cleaning and decorating for hosting the dessert & white elephant portion of our CSE Holiday Party. We had a GREAT time and I ended the evening with a nightcap...then realized that I am out of Breckenridge Bourbon!

12.12.14

Crazy Week
Today I finished up a busy week of visiting classes for the Hour of Code. Earlier in the week our district's Superintendent paid our school an unscheduled visit. She spent some time in the 5th grade classroom that I was teaching.


Will wrap up the crazy week tomorrow night with our staff holiday party. Go my new dress and I'm ready! 

12.11.14

Who Wants an Oreo?
Staring to get some gifts ready for next week while also enjoying some treats from this week.

12.10.14

Full Circle
Almost a year to the day, we made our first trip to Bear Dance...ready for a change. The funny thing was, I was "sold" when I went in the restroom and saw the lockers. This is the photo taken a year ago and tonight. The one difference...my name is on locker #19. We are looking forward to our second season at Bear Dance...NOT missing The Ridge anymore!

12.09.14

Amazing Day!
We had our second day of "Hour of Code" today at school. It was literally a non-stop day...made it into 7 classrooms! I absolutely loved it when several 4th grade boys asked their teacher if they could go to study hall and keep coding instead of going out to resource. This was one of those moments when I remembered why I teach...LOVED IT!!

Last week, I received the honor of "Employee of the Month." I got to move SHARKB8 up to the front of the parking lot! 

12.08.14

Code & Cookies
Had a GREAT day working with students today for the Hour of Code. Most of my time was spent with the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students...and the loved it!! I saw some promising computer programmers today!

This evening several of us gals from work got together for the First Annual CSE Cookie Exchange. LOTS of yummy treats! Thanks to my favorite LM for hosting!

12.07.14

Yummy Sweets
Got all of my cookies made for tomorrow night's Cookie Exchange. Went with my Great-Grandma Vance's sugar cookies.

Enjoyed Kelly's yummy Black Forest Cake at family dinner later in the night.

12.05.14

Wednesday Nights
Just a little over a month and I miss them!

12.04.14

"Throwback Thursday"
Last week we decided to start thawing out a turkey. Tonight we finally got around to cooking it. We did the full Thanksgiving dinner. I was absolutely surprised at how well my pumpkin pie came out. Too bad I wasn't in charge of that for Thanksgiving this year versus the rolls! We had everything done, including the turkey, in 90 minutes!

Also came across the "Limited Edition" flavor of Oreos while I was at Safeway.

12.03.14

Good News, Bad News
Had my ortho appointment for my MRI results today. Good news...I don't need surgery. Bad news...I have patellofemoral arthritis...something that I shouldn't have for another 15-20 years! I received a steroid injection in each knee today. In addition to the arthritis, my right patella is "out of the groove" so I will be headed to PT next week to work on that. Good to know there are still two different rounds of injections that I can get prior to any type of surgery. (Not the actual syringe from my injections, but an exact replica.)

Did end the evening on a high note with a BDay dinner...Happy Birthday Babe!