The Kohlmans

We had Christmas on Thanksgiving since Sarah and Jamie can't come for real Christmas. (Click on the collage to see the pictures larger.) I am happy to report that the monster did not destroy Vacationland.  Maybe you had to be there...

I love Christmas. Everything about it. Our lights and ornaments sit out in the living room, waiting patiently for this year's tree, a reminder that I am not waiting quite so patiently.   Our mantle... Brad really did choose his blue stocking. And it was great until yesterday when he saw a KU stocking at Target. This Willow Tree nativity was a wedding gift from my aunts and uncles on the Klaassen side.     In case you're wondering, the wise men are slightly separate because they don't actually show up until Epiphany. One year, in my mod, we had the wise men move around the room, closer and closer to baby Jesus, all advent long.   This carved nativity was a wedding gift from my growing-up pastor.    This is probably one of the most special gifts I have ever received. One year, for Christmas, five mysterious gifts showed up under the tree, one for each kid and one for mom, the labels scrawled in dad's unmistakable handwrit...

I've been taking great comfort in this over the weekend... Sometimes smart people do stupid things. Like bang body parts on doorways and shelves. Hard. Like misplace a cookbook. Like lose a hubcap. Uh-huh, that's right, a hubcap like from the car. Like break a kitchen drawer. Just in case you're still unclear, yes, I have done all of these things in a matter of days. Well, the hubcap could be weeks ago. I don't pay that much attention to my tires... I'm not sure how I managed to get anything done this weekend. But I did. Of course there was the laundry. And cleaning up after the high school girls who took over our living room Friday night for the annual showing of Hoosiers. The Christmas decorations are up (minus the tree) and all presents are purchased and wrapped (purchased mainly thanks to Brad's patience and help). Four batches of peppernut dough are in the freezer. The kitchen is as close to spotless as my house ever gets. I guess I did alrigh...

It was tough to hear today that Grandma's cancer numbers (for lack of a better simple explanation) have gone back up - the cancer is active. I can't describe how I feel right now. So instead of dwelling or even processing... another: IV. "Meggie" Meet Meggie. She spent years in front of Grandma's porch, in the midst of mums and pansies and begonias. I still remember when they first bought her and put her out. She was unmistakably new. I immediately picked a few flowers and placed them in her basket, with the puppies. From then on, my daydreamed stories at Grandma's revolved around this girl and her puppies. Her "life" was at the mercy of my imagination. Her life stretched my imagination. I do not remember if it was that same day or one day later that week or even months later. But one day, Grandma told me, "I named the statue 'Meggie.' It's after you, but I couldn't use 'Megan' because the other grandkids would ...

Basketball has begun. Yesterday practice was over by 5:30 and Brad was home long before 6, ready to eat. Today, I made supper, anticipating another such day. Alas. I wait still.  Now, you know, I'm sure, that I'm definitely not complaining. I love basketball season. It's just an adjustment. And this year, I think, it will especially be an opportunity for - um - growth (especially in the patience category, for Coach K.). So while I wait... Blueberry Muffins 2 c. flour 1 c. sugar 1 tbs. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 2 eggs 1/4 c. vegetable oil 1/4 c. melted butter 3/4 c. milk 1 c. blueberries, fresh or frozen (I like to buy them when they're on sale in the summer and freeze some) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients; in a separate bowl combine all wet ingredients. (For muffins, it's important to combine the dry and wet ingredients separately to avoid over mixing and therefore tough or chewy muffins.) Fold wet into dry, careful not to...

One of the unheralded benefits of my job is being culturally enlightened by 11- and 12-year-olds. It must be time for the holidays when a student is singing " Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey ." Yes. It's true. The song exists. S. did not make it up as I had originally thought. I looked it up on You Tube during class and almost fell out of my chair laughing....... Check out that link and watch the video. It's funniest the first time. But it's pretty darn funny every time after that. (If you don't laugh, don't worry. It just means you should not work with sixth graders. And you are slightly less cool than I.)

I am not prepared for this weather. Snow?! Seriously... I'm not even allowed to put out the Christmas decorations yet - and we all know it should never snow before that happens! So for now, as I wallow in cold misery, some pictures of the first half of the weekend.                  

On a more joyful note... Kraft Foods is donating 10 meals to Feeding America for every single one of these e-cards that are sent during this holiday season. So click here to send away! Also.... if you are planning to buy gifts from Barnes and Noble for any event in the near future, go this Saturday (November 21). My school library, along with the other middle school library in town, is hosting a book fair, and a percentage of all proceeds goes to our library. The one catch is that you need a certain id number in order for that credit to benefit us, book fair id #10060523. You can use the number at any B&N in the country. If you live in the Wichita area, there will be some entertainment at the Bradley Fair B&N starting at 1 (there will be a puppet show, in case anyone with little kids actually reads this, along with some music and maybe something else).

Please don't misunderstand me. I teach in a public school because I believe in public education and what it provides to kids. All kids. Without exception. I go to work every single day knowing that my job is important. I matter. I make a difference. I care deeply about each of these children, and I know that these problems will affect them, as much as we try to avoid that. Please remember that about my post, if nothing else. Yesterday was rough. I had inservice. It included a faculty meeting. Our district principals met on Wednesday to talk about money. Those of you in public education can probably guess where I'm going with this. The state of Kansas has no more money. In fact, they have less money than they planned on having. All services are suffering. It's true. Everything the state provides is getting cut in some way, shape, or form. (I know that the state provides many, many services. But the one I do know is education. So that is what this post, for the most part,...

Our Christmas present came yesterday: I have almost no regrets. Was it expensive? Yes. Was it needed ? No. Was it maybe a bit frivilous? Yes. Do I feel guilty, especially now that I've read Sarah's post ? Yes. But is it wonderful? Absolutely. Yes, my little old point-and-shoot has served me so well these last few years. But it doesn't take good action photos, which is basically what I use my camera for from, oh, December to March.     This afternoon  I finally convinced Brad that it's fun (yes, it took me all of about 22 hours).  He has stopped referring to it as "your camera." I think. I have lots to figure out.  Basketball will start before I know it... so in the meantime, I will practice, read, and practice some more. And debate about whether or not to find a place to donate the old camera, since we really don't need two?    

This came in the mail today. It's our Christmas present. (I know, we're early.) I could hardly wait for Brad to get home so we could open it. So instead of sitting at home to wait, I took a little walk. While on this walk, I had an interesting conversation. Two little girls played in their driveway. I've seen them before. I think one of them tried to call me mom once. Yeah. Strange. The younger of the two, who was probably about four years old, called out to me, "What are you doing?!" "Just walking," I replied, "what are you doing?" "We're playing a game." The older sister told me. "I say 'Raise your hand if you like pink!' and she raises her hand if she likes pink. And stuff like that." Seriously?! That's a game? "Sounds like fun!" I kept walking. But right as I passed their house, I looked back. The younger girl called out to me (at least, I think it was to me - she was lookin...

for my husband (which I especially realize when he goes away to a reading conference for 48 whole hours) for my parents for my sisters and brother for my in-laws for my whole family, basically for my church for my small group at church (the cupcakes were a big hit, by the way) for my job for my coworkers who are my friends for my students (well, most days, anyway) for my home for "my" town - really, for the community that living in a small town (and being involved here) brings for my friends for my life. just all of it. I am blessed. And so thankful for it all.

Sorry about the lame title. I just couldn't resist. And, all my creative juices have been poured out for the day. I got this book the other day: And earlier this week I signed up to take dessert for our church small group on Sunday. What a coincidence! After my quick weekly grocery store trip, all the ingredients were ready to go... The vanilla (from scratch!) cupcakes cooled... I found the "recipe" I wanted to make... (two pages of instructions really weren't that daunting. they actually made it easier for me. promise!)     And the result:    And now owls go on the menu for my "when teaching doesn't work out and I suddenly have money and courage to open a business" bakery. Ha.

Today I taught my sixth graders that "u," "r," and "i," while apparently perfectly acceptable in their text messages, are not actual words. Yes, it needed to happen. After two PAW (paragraph a week) assignments, it had become quite clear to me that we needed to clear this up. "u," in fact, needs a "y" and an "o" before it in order to become a word, while "r" needs an "a" and an "e," on their respective sides. "i" simply needs to be capitalized. In the midst of this, they were lol-ing and rotfl-ing.* For some reason, all of this is hilarious when you are 11 or 12.  p.s. And yes, in case you're wondering, it's true. Things like "ttyl" and "omg" and "g2g" and "lol" also don't count as written communication in language arts class. *laughing out loud, rolling on the floor laughing

Words from "Song at Sunset" by Walt Whitman    Splendor of ended day floating and filling me, Hour prophetic, hour resuming the past, You earth and life till the last ray gleams I sing. Illustrious every one! Illustrious the passing light--illustrious the pale reflection on the new moon in the western sky, Illustrious whatever I see or hear or touch, to the last. O amazement of things--even the least particle! O spirituality of things! Wherever I have been I have charged myself with contentment and triumph. Because why should I write it myself if it has already been beautifully written?