Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Liam visits

I went and got Liam on Sunday, December 19th. I took him
back on Wednesday, December 22. Rather, I met Sarah and
Greg each time around Winnie. We were busy the whole time
he was here. We climbed on the trailers. We hid in the horse trailer.
We climbed on the horse trailer. We sat on tractors, lawn mowers, and
4 wheelers. We have lost the key to the 4wheeler, so we can only
sit on it. We fed the animals. We rode in the wagon(rather Liam rode,
I pulled. When Randy was here, he rode on the lawnmower(or as he
calls it...the longmower) and went for a ride in Pawpaw's big truck.
We went to the synchronized light show at the railroad museum in
Dequincy. You put your radio on a certain station and the music is
synchronized to the lights on and around the museum. Liam loved
the Polar Express song the best.

Liam had helped put up the big tree the last time he was
here, but he wanted the lights on first thing every morning.

I always put up a second tree in the kitchen that is snowflakes,
lighthouses, and pointsettias. Liam helped with the snowflakes.

One day while Liam was here, we went to the post office to
mail some Christmas packages, went to the park, and then
had lunch at McDonalds. While we were at the park, a train
came through. Liam, who loves trains, was frightened by
the large, close, real train. He jumped into my arms from the
slide. He said, "Choo Choo scare me. Liam cry". If you look
closely, you can see how close the tracks are. We had a good
time at the park. We went home and both of us took a
two hour nap!

This is Liam with Christine and John Profito. Christine was
Sarah's best friend in high school, a room mate in college, and
is Liam's god mother. They were down from D.C. visiting
her parents here in Fields. When they found out Liam was
here, they had to come see him. Liam was glad to see his,
"Nan" and John. They brought books and M&M's which
made their visit even better!

Hooking up the bushhog to the blue tractor. Liam loves
tractors and combines so that is what he got for Christmas
at the Brooks house;

Waiting for Pawpaw to get the combine out of the box. When
he opened this combine, he said,"Oh my gosh!" If you have
a tractor/combine loving boy....go to Tractor Supply.

I forgot that if you get busy doing something that a toddler
will make their own fun. As was brushing my teeth and
washing my face, Liam found something to do. He took
the papason apart and got in the base. This was after
he locked the door to the toilet, then closed it. It took
2 days to finally get it open.

Sarah, Greg, and Liam are moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Greg will go up the end of January. Sarah and babies will go
up sometime in March. I am trying to savor all the time I
can with them. The new baby will be here any day. I will
try to spend as much time as possible with her before they
leave. I wish I could retire and become a professional
Nana...traveling between all the babies all the time.

Sweet Students

When the 1st bell rang at 3:03 on Friday, December 17, I
was literally pushing students out the door. I was ready
for the Christmas break. As I turned back into my classroom
and surveyed the damage from the class party, I saw that my
desk top was ultimately covered with gifts from my
students. They had all insisted I open them that morning.
I received a variety of gifts ranging from home made goodies
to candles to mugs and socks. One student knowing that
Nicholas Sparks is my favorite author, gave me the
newest book. I already have it, but there was a gift
receipt inside. One student brought me two gifts. One the
day before party day and one the day of. The first gift
was priceless...her own books(her name was in them). Teachers
are always getting gifts that are like that, students personal
items. I have received slightly stained stuffed animals. I
know a teacher who got a partially used tea bag. It comes
from their hearts and it is priceless.

My array of students gifts for 2010. 5th graders still have
enough innocence to give you gifts. I love them....students
and gifts!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Getting Ready for Christmas

A few weekends ago, Sarah and Liam came over for her last
visit before the baby is born. We had a full weekend of
activities that included going to Sha Sha's with my sister
Carla, nephew Nick, and niece Skylar.

We also went to a Christmas parade in my home town
of Starks. Liam enjoyed it very much, leaving with a
sack full of candy.

The last thing we did was to go to the Christmas train in
Dequincy. It was wonderful and I highly recommend this
activity that is free of charge.

A visit to Sha Sha's was part of the fun.

Waiting on the parade to start

Volunteer fire department of Starks.

Nothing like a small, home town parade.

First stop on the Christmas train..Santa! Although he looks scared
in this picture, Liam was more in awe of the big guy.

On board the Christmas train...there was lots of Christmas
and lots of trains!

The Kansas City Southern Christmas Train