Um...

I'll be the first to admit that Hope needs a greater emphasis on the phrase "Jesus is the reason for the season."

Sunflower

Apples

She has a new hat

Office update

The authorities at my school came to their senses last week and realized that I had to much happiness and space and sunlight through windows (and anti-union sentiments) so I now share my room with about six other itinerant school people and all the kids with whom they work.

Random stuff I like

Strange Boat, by The Waterboys

We're sailing on a strange boat
heading for a strange shore
We're sailing on a strange boat
heading for a strange shore
Carrying the strangest cargo
that was ever hauled aboard

We're sailing on a strange sea
blown by a strange wind
We're sailing on a strange sea
blown by a strange wind
Carrying the strangest crew
that ever sinned

We're riding in a strange car
we're followin' a strange star
We're climbing on the strangest ladder
that was ever there to climb

We're living in a strange time
working for a strange goal
We're living in a strange time
working for a strange goal
We're turning flesh and body
into soul

Pooches and smooches

My friend, Emily, is down south enjoying some warm temperatures (and probably a lot of grits and corn bread) and we are watching her dogs this weekend. Rudy has taken a liking to Hope. Hope said, right after this picture was taken, "Man, that dog sure knows how to kiss."

Tilt-shift photography

Immersion seems to be working

Having a conversation with Hope this morning while she eats breakfast and finishes homework -- she answered a casual question with a sentence that was made up of 50% Chinese, then looked at me and said, "I have no idea why I said that. YOU don't know Chinese, do ya Mom?"

Priceless picture

Follow Marcie's link.

Work

Six little pictures to show you why I love working in an elementary school.

Pictures

Christmas is coming

The teachers are enthusiastic.

But the bell ringers are not feeling the spirit quite yet.

Conversation after showering

"You smell manly. Is that Axe?"

"No, that's Minnesota. This is the Texas one. It's Blade."

This is my cue to the people I live with that I wouldn't mind playing ball with someone.

I hate shopping for clothes

I broke down and went to the Ridgedale Mall a couple nights ago because I started worrying that my coworkers were catching on to the fact that I was rotating the same three outfits day after day, one of which includes my new Monster Half-Marathon running shirt. I look stupid but I figure maybe I'm less threatening to the middle school kids that way. My pants are all either 2 inches too short or 3 inches too long. I get queasy when I go to the mall because there is a 90% chance I will try on 15 pieces of clothing that look like crap on me.

But guess what happened? The Ridgedale Mall gods shone down on me and I found not only a pair of Calvin Klein jeans that will probably change my life, but a sweater AND a shirt. THREE items of clothing! In one tolerable shopping experience!

I'm still kinda high.

I learned something new

Gary has never been ashamed of his reliance on a dictionary or spell-check when it comes to spelling. He used to carry around an Oxford paperback dictionary. Little did I know he was so swift with punctuation. Feel free to direct all of your punctuation questions to him. He's good.

From football to swimming

Some of the 4th grade boys are having a hard time giving up football. They crouch down on the swimming start blocks like they are on the football scrimmage line.