Tis the season

I can't believe it's close to the end of the year. It feels like just yesterday I was getting ready to start a brand new school year. It's amazing how time just keeps moving us forward. I have to say that Christmas time is a lovely time, but not right now. The weather has been so erratic. It was up to 67 degrees yesterday!!! What's up? I dunno, but I think the temperatures are going to be falling and falling yet again. Which is the way it should be, no?

Any who, J and I finally got up the tree, and it looks good. It's a little bit on the small side, but slightly larger than last year. I love the decorations we have. I have a lot of sentimental ones from when I was a kid, and even some of the ornaments that were from my parents' first trees when they were first married. They weren't expensive by any means.... (99 cents and Dart Drug for12 round, glittery balls in green and red). But they hold memories of hanging on so many of our family trees. And that's the best part.

I'm also on a baking spree. I've made 3 batches so far. Chocolate chip (of course), lemon cookies, and peanut butter balls. I am still setting out to do at least 3 mores (Russian tea cakes, chocolate, and Linzer cookies). I love to bake, and this amount of baking only happens once a year. Plus, they make good gifts. And since I have neighbors this year, I feel like I should extend a batch of cookies there way.

So, there's about 2 1/2 more days of school, I have kids finishing up some self portraits (too big, they're never going to finish them) and the girls are working on prints (which are coming out nicely, but it's hectic trying to clean it all up). The kids are pretty low-key these days. A lot of students are actually finishing up their sentences, and are able to go home before the holidays. But each day we get a couple of new ones in...

I'll be glad to have a break. We've never gotten 2 full weeks off before, and it's much needed for all of us. It's been so erratic these past few months, and even though we're all handling it well, and doing our jobs, we need this break. I kind of wish we could have a year 'round schedule so we could more breaks like this.....never going to happen.

NO huge plans this Christmas time. Just spending it with the family and some friends. I hope to catch up on some reading, and painting (for myself) and watching some movies, and of course trying to catch up on some sleep (easier said than done).

So this isn't much of a post. But I did get a new camera, and I'll be taking pictures throughout the holiday season.....

Ok. Merry Everything.....