Sounds like fun, Tammy. Best present I ever made with K kids-take a bar of Sweetheart soap-I don't know if they make it anymore. Have the kids bring in broken jewelry, beads etc, You can make legs by threading beads-and it stands up. Then put other things on top-designs etc, The kids used common pins to thread beads. You wouldn't believe what they created and they were only 5 years old. Some messy, some beautiful. It works with other soap but the Sweetheart was oval and pretty. A decoration for the bathroom. Course now they sell beads. Walmart yesterday-Target today. Saw the budget for Brad's church here-9 million and they get more than they need, 10% is Missions. God is blessing that church. Mima

That craft sounds cute! Wow to the budget for the church!! They are definitely being blessed.

When I got to school this morning, I was concerned because it was so cold. I figured my room would be an iceberg since the heat was turned off yesterday. It was wonderful!!!! One of my little girls said, "Now I can wear my sweaters!" Too cute.

We are getting lots of snow right now. It started as soon as school let out. Should have 5+ by midnight, not sure how much by morning. A couple schools around have already closed. The HS principal is in charge of calling ours off or delaying in the morning because the superintendent is out of town. Joel (other 4th grade teacher) and I gave him 50 cents to help him make his decision. He cracked up!!

We are getting 6-10 inches at home!!! Just hope it stays away after that. You could use a day off Tammy. How is Eleni doing, Joanne? We went to our Sunday School Chritmas party and the couple in chrge didn't get anything hardly to eat because 2 extra people showed. But it was nice. Low key. In a big church like that, you have to get into a small group. Bye for now. Mima Oh yeah, i went to Target and got lots of gift cert. but now I am stuck on the last 8 gifts!!!

Mima, Bob and Tim spent quite a while on the driveway this morning with the snow blower and shovel. We received our call last night about no school today, so that was great. I've been going through things and packing today. I really need to get my Christmas cards done. I printed labels and a Christmas letter, so I really don't have that much to do. Stick labels on, fold the letter, sign the cards! I usually still write a handwritten note to some of the people though.

That's too bad about extra people showing up for the party. Not that they weren't welcome, I'm sure, but that there wasn't enough for everyone to eat. My class decided yesterday about our Christmas party. We are having a gift exchange and having pizza! Each child will donate some $ (not more than $1) toward the cost of the pizzas. I'll make up the difference and also get pop, plates, napkins.

Well, I think I'll go see what else I can do while the guys are gone. They took a vanload up to the house, and then they are picking up the U-haul for the furniture.

Hope everyone will have a good weekend! I keep thinking this is Saturday since we aren't at school.

Tammy, a snow day was nice for you. We NEVER get those here, except out in the country and that is ONLY if the road is blocked. Enjoy that snow. We hardly have any and probably won't get much until next year Hope your moving is going well.

Mima - Well, it sounds like you had a good turn out, but really, if only 2 extra people appeared they didn't allow for much. Hope your tummy is doing better.

Work was so busy today. The wait for getting your blood work done was about 1 1/2 hours if you didn't have an appt. My goodness, EVERYBODY must have decided to go to the Dr.

Today felt like Spring had sprung. It was around 48 F, so the kids will have fun playing outside. Because it has turned warm, that dry snow has filled with moisture and they will have fun making snowmen and having snowball fights as well as going sleding. Winter is such a fun time for kids.

Where has Meme gotten to. Seems like such a long time ago she was here.

Joanne - I wish you would stop in as well.
Hope you all have a good weekend.

Anne, it sounds like everyone really did decide to go to the doctor! Keeps you hopping, right? It's in the low teens temperature-wise here, so there weren't many people out if they didn't have to be. I was out once on the back step to let the dog out.

I agree that we need to hear from everyone. Puts my mind at ease to hear from them when we haven't heard for a while. I'm a nervous nelly I guess.

Wow-moving day tammy!!!!!Great to have that day off yesterday. We got a foot at home-I called my brother while I was sitting next to the pool. Massage today and just in time -back hurts again but I haven't been stretching, Hi to everyone. Mima

Hi there,This is Joanne's sister Eleni. I am doing much better . Joanne's computer is all messed up and she hasn't been able to post.She wanted me to let you all know she will be back as soon as she gets a new computer. She hasn't forgotten you guys it is just her computer.
Happy Holidays from us both

Eleni, good to see you posting. Hope you are feeling better, and yes, I really miss Joanne. Give her a hug for me.

I'm here ... been really busy. Had to go with hubby to Knoxville today to pick up another trailer then we went to the mall Christmas shopping. Got a lot done and that's a good thing because I hadn't done any! I haven't even started on my cards yet. I just bought them a couple of days ago. I'm really behind. I got my tree finished Thursday and came back home tonight and finished my village. I'm so tired I could drop and I'm going to. I'm headed for the shower right now and then to my warm water bed ... can't wait.

I'm posting a picture of my Christmas village and also of my manger scene. The village was too long so I couldn't get the train station in it but everything else is there ... you can't hardly see the ice pond, though ... you can see the people sitting on benches around it if you look really close - by the bridge on the right side.

Hope you all have a good Sunday and Tammy gets moved and off the couch and Joanne gets her computer fixed! More later, about to fall asleep.

Love your decorations, meme. Oh Eleni-it's good to hear from you and hope you will continue to feel better. Hi tammy!!! Hi Anne!! Relaxing day today-church, Sunday School and eat out. Mima

Good Morning! Tim and I stayed at the new house last night. Bob and Kramer stayed at the other one. Bob was doing some things in the basement and thought he'd just stay there instead of making a trip here just to sleep. We're meeting my brothers and families at Olive Garden at noon for our Christmas, then back to one of their houses for gifts, then I need to go to school and get some lesson plans done since we didn't have school Friday. I'm supposed to be observed this week, so I guess I should know what I'm doing (even if the principal doesn't, HA!). Also need to bring more things up here. I still have clothes hanging in my old closet. I also realized that the only socks I brought up here were white ones. I think I forget to empty some drawers. The dresser that I had things in is going in the auction, so I wasn't thinking about emptying.

Eleni, so nice to hear from you! Glad things are better with you. Tell Joanne to get that computer fixed soon!!!

Meme, the pictures are great! My aunt has a village that she keeps up year round. Lucky she has the space for it. Tim has a few of the little buildings, but they aren't going to be out of their boxes this year, that's for sure. You had to be exhausted after everything that you did! Take it easy today.

Mima, enjoy the day!! It does sound like a relaxing one.

We ate at Olive Garden in Knoxville yesterday ... split a Choc. Lasagna for dessert. Can't eat all of one of those ... OD on choc! I love that place. Ate at Chili's today, I'm stuffed. Gotta take it easy for a few days ... Christmas is a comin' and I'm not gonna be able to get in my jeans!

That village is a lot bigger than it looks. It's sitting on an entertainment center that has a 25" flat screen TV in the center, a stereo system with DVD player, etc. on one side and a video cabinet with end door on the other side. I shrank the size of the picture to try to get all the building in and still couldn't get it all to fit. The hardest thing about it is getting the street lights and trees to sit up. The lights all work so they have wires attached to battery boxes that sit back behind the buildings ... what a pain. The only one you can tell that's shinning in the picture is the one by the blue garage door to the gas station on the far left. All the buildings are lighted, too ... you should see all the cords behind my entertainment center! Oh well, my little kids love it ... they have to get the stool out and then they take turns standing on it to look. So it's worth the effort. Garrett is almost tall enough to see it now without the stool ... hard to believe! I wonder which one of them will wind up with my village someday! Hmmmm ...

Gotta go pack gift bags for my piano students. This will be my last week to teach until 2006!!!

(Can you tell I'm happy???)

Sounds like Brad's wiring for his trains. Go tammy Go!!! We ate at Mimi's -a great restaurant around the corner. Our friends are going back to West Virginia but will be back after Christmas. We were in Sunday School and one of the members got sick and had to be taken to the hospital!! I had a busy afternoon because I had to empty all the cupboards-we signed up for pest control so they have to come in the house the first time. Living in Fl brings its problems. After this we should be pest free. Mice in the North!!!!The high is 20 toady-do we really want to go back??? Brad says we should stay at a motel-I agree. Art class today-hope I can stay. Mima

Meme, my niece and I talked about splitting one of those desserts, but we decided against it since we were going back to her house for dessert afterwards. Very tempting though!!

I want to come and see your village. I don't think I'll need the stool!! Yes, I could tell you are happy!!! 6 more school days until break!! 5 for me because I have a personal day on Friday!! Woo Hoo!!!

Mima, I agree about the motel! Get one with a whirlpool!! Have fun at art class. Oh, I guess that was yesterday. Hope you had fun at art class!! lol
Hope the person from Sunday School is alright.