Merry Chrismakwanzaahanukkah to everybody!

Eight days until I am outta here. I am pretty sick of kids hacking their goobers all over me. I also got a flu shot. I am super pissed at myself for getting it. I kinda got talked into it, and flu shots just arn't my thing. But I was sick all last school year due to all the kids and there goobers... so people advised me to get one. I listened. I am stupid. I got the shot three weeks ago. I immediately felt wosy. My arm went numb and for a week and a half my arm was useless. My right arm. I would wake up in the night with no feeling in it, I couln't lift it, or extend it. Severe pain. It finally went away. Now its back again. Its been three weeks. It hurts so flippn bad. I feel like a gimp. Anyhoo I am thinking about going to the doctor, cause maybe there is an infection. What if I had to get my arm amputated? I have been thinking about loosing my arm all day. All the things I couldn't do. Hopefully I survive.

We got two inches of snow Monday night = no school on Tuesday. Whooo hooo. Wednesday there was a water main break = no school again! It was a great week. Tomorrow is Friday, and then I'll be home in a week. I am pumped.

I went to a cookie party last night. Everyone brings 2 dozen cookies or more, and then you switch. You end up with tons of different cookies. They are tasty and I am gorging myself on all the tasty treats.

Tomorrow I am hosting a Christmas Par-tay. I am excited, I love to be the hostess. We'll have about 12 people or so over. I am gonna cook all sorts of tasty appetizers. Yum. We'll drink of course too, so that will be great.

I am mostly pumped about our van Leeuwen family Christmas these days. The last two years I have forced everyone to share a "interesting" talent. Last year it got a little out of hand. Oh and in case you are interested my talent is my ability to lick my elbow. Yes the Guiness book of world records says its impossible, but not for this chick! Anyways this year instead of the old talent sharing we are starting the First Annual van Leeuwen Family Christmas Ugliest Christmas Sweater Contest. I just hope everyone goes along with it, and I am not the only one who shows up in a hideous garment. I should really just walk down the hall and ask some of the teachers for their sweaters, but I don't want to offend anyone.

I watched Christmas Vacation on Tuesday. I laughed so hard I cried, but that coulda been the wine... hmmm. Its a good movie. Funny.

Hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season!

Here we are cutting down the Christmas tree.

The wonderful Donkersloot family!

The tree all decorated.

My bedroom. I just ripped out the carpet, to reveal these wonderful hardwoods!

The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle

This is by far one of the best books on the planet. It is not wise, it does not hold the secret to life, it was not life changing, but I laughed my pants, well 'trousers' off. If you live close to a library you must go check it out. I just read it aloud to my class, although some of it may have been over their heads, we had a great time. Here is one of the quotes that had me in tears. The premise is that this kid is justifying why his dad is not a bad guy.
"Jimmy: And even though he wouldn't let me pick my nose, even though there was a brilliant bit of snot up there and I wanted to flick it at Grandad because he was asleep and his mouth was open."
I seriously lost it, and I don't think my students knew what was going on. The book is ridiculously awesome. Please read it.