Frozen in Arizona

(Can you find Alayna?)

An afternoon at the pool…

This incredible village set up in the garage of someone's house.  It took him 2 1/2 months to create.

More pics

Day 2- Christmas and the best present ever!

We got to skype with Marisa.  It was so wonderfully amazing to see her and hear her voice!  She is doing well, although super hot and tired.  45 minutes wasn’t long enough…

This year has felt quite a bit different but it has been wonderful to be warm and with some of our family.

Christmas in Iowa before we left…

Day 1–Enjoying the gorgeous weather!!

More showchoir pics

Getting into the Spirit with snow and show choir!

Tyler had his 1st showchoir performance of the year and we were amazed.  I was literally in tears.  He looked so amazing and could dance like you wouldn’t believe.  You could tell he was so happy and loved what he was doing so much.  We were so very impressed!!  Tyler, you totally rock!

School was cancelled the last day before break due to freezing rain!  You probably heard my “Hallelujah” all the way from Iowa.  The kids missed their last day of finals but no one cares.  we got done early and got to sleep and relax!!  Last night a major storm hit and dropped about 6-7 inches of new fresh snow.  Church was cancelled which was good because it took us over an hour to shovel the driveway and there was a layer of ice underneath.  Kayla's car is literally frozen!

I got to attend the scholastic warehouse sale this week.  There is nothing better than getting a paid professional day to go shopping for $1000 worth of books!  Its. heaven, people, it really is!!  I got 111 books for the middle school and told the kids as they came in, if they see any they liked, they could put a stickie on it.  Like my picture?

I had more compliments this week that I wanted to share:

From an 8th grade teacher: Never in all my years of teaching have I had so many kids reading and so excited about books.  There is something about you that makes them so extremely excited.

From a custodian who over heard a 6th grade teacher talking about us.  That teacher said, “ Just by what those girls are doing in the library, alone will raise the reading scores of this entire school.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my job??

Another busy week doth pass

….and I forgot to take pictures…

Alayna did great in bball again and made another basket!

Tyler had a great Choir/Band concert.  Bob taped the numbers for you all to see.

Marisa got her VISA!!!!  Flies to Brazil tomorrow.  The time has come.

Here is why I was so busy.  Anamosa Prison Industries made new shelves for my middle school library!  They are beautiful and it was quite the project getting them all set up.  So I did take pictures of that

Before pic: Taking off the books

After shots: