Hello Old Friend

I haven't blogged in over a year. Bad blogger, I know. I didn't feel like I had anything interesting to say, but then I realized that there are two or three blogs I read on a fairly regular basis and those folks aren't writing about momentous things either.

Here's the update:
Me - moved into a spacious classroom with WINDOWS; took a class to renew my teaching certificate; got a Nook tablet for Christmas; gained 5 lbs due to the stress of taking a graduate course, teaching 59 Honors sophomores and 23 AP seniors, and maintaining my role as MOM/WIFE/social secretary/chauffeur/maid/#1 guard fan...

Daniel - organized the garage (lots of peg board - even one dedicated to Owen's Nerf guns), put foot through garage ceiling (again), working too hard, came in runner-up in his fantasy football league

Owen - taking trombone lessons, made region band as an alternate, is first chair of his school's Honor band, making good grades, taking Algebra 1 as a 7th grader, addicted to X-Box Live

Sara - successful band season (Breakthrough), made INDIGO (only the 2011 8th place finisher at the WGI Championships in Dayton, Ohio...and that's before they had Sara), making good grades (all A's on her last interim report), got her braces off, got her learner's permit and is learning to drive

Never-ending snow event

If you're reading this, you lived it too. No need for me to go on and on about missing 5 days of school because of 6 inches of snow and 1/4 inch of ice. It started out as fun and now we're all just so over it. Can't we just go back to school? Not until Tuesday! Great...it's only Thursday now.
Anyway, here are some pictures of the crazy things people in Spartanburg County do when it snows.

Ride on a mattress being towed by a jeep.

Ride on a chair bolted to some skis and being towed by a truck.

Switch places with friends for the chair-ski ride. Throwing snowballs at the riders from the back of the truck is apparently fun too.

Dry your pants with a hair dryer instead of in a clothes dryer.

Forget Legos. Use storage containers to create a snow castle.

Find an abandoned tractor and pose for pictures.

Snow angels? That's normal. How'd that get in here?

Camp-o-rama 2010

Daniel practices his aim for Nerf Wars with the boys.

Owen is ready for battle!

Daniel and Pa hanging out on the front porch.

Sara using her new camera.

Tracy and Devin. Look, he's bigger than me now.

Ham sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, presents, Camps...what else could you possibly need for a fun Christmas celebration?

Neither rain, nor snow will keep the retired postman from Christmas dinner

Zeb is happy about the snow. (Yes, that IS a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hat he's wearing. No, I don't know why.)

Only one of us seems happy about the snow.

Watching a You Tube video on the iPad. Check out the kid who got books for Christmas. It's hilarious.

Scout seems to be intrigued by Zeb. She stared at him for the longest time.

Despite the miraculous Christmas snow beginning to fall, the Toneys and Todd came over for a traditional Christmas dinner complete with the broccoli casserole that both Jeri and Zeb had asked about in recent weeks.

Santa was here

Boo and Scout got their very first Christmas present, a fuzzy blanket. Boo seems to have taken control here, but now that it's on my chair in the bedroom, Scout uses it the most.

A very rare hug between Sara and Owen. It's a Christmas miracle!

Santa emptied the Lego section of the workshop this year.

Sara's tiny haul. Do not feel sorry for her. That gift in front is a big one.

Though there had been predictions of lumps of coal in stockings or another rock incident, Santa came this year with some awesome gifts. We gave each other some neat things too. Daniel got a big flat screen for the bonus room so he can enjoy (read: see) his video games. I got a comfy chair for the bedroom so I can read, relax, or take a timeout when needed.

Later Christmas Eve

Sara got the giggles while opening presents.

Madeline too.

Daniel got the jacket he wanted.

Grandmama and all of us.

Madeline and Grandmama

We spent time with Grandmama and Madeline. We had lots of fun opening presents and just laughing together.

Breakfast with Nanny

Christmas Eve brought a visit from Nanny at breakfast time. We ate some warm sausage gravy and biscuits and grits before opening presents.

Sara is about to open her warm peacoat.

Owen knows the sound of Legos.

My mom and I are thankful to share another Christmas together.