Our Alpacas Will Capture Your Heart…

…and that is exactly what happened. One of my co-teachers bought an alpaca. She has been talking about it and showing us the wool that she is spinning that she will eventually knit into a sweater. I had to go see what all of the fuss was about. I have to say I am in love.

 

This is a baby that was born yesterday. That is not her mother.

That is the Kisser. The one that kisses everyone.

This is the mother, Surprise

 

Brittni, Santa, OP (Optimus Prime) and Jensen

My favorite. She was my buddy.

 

How can you not love that face?

Black Friday

I started out celebrating my holiday, Don’t Change out of your Jammies, Sit on your Fat Tookus etc. Day.

Jensen came up to me and said, “I need clothes.”

Me, “Now?”

Jensen, “Yes.”

Me, “Ok".”

I don’t usually just jump up when she says she wants something. I knew she really did need new clothes. She has gone through a growth spurt believe it or not.

I was leery because I had just read the story on AOL about the security guard who was trampled to death by Black Friday shoppers! I was outraged! I hope you guys are feeling grumpy about the holidays now, too.

We headed to Target. I have to admit that I partook in some of the sales. Jensen played with the hats.

Afterwards, we went to “Light Up Eustis,” with Alana.

Thanksgiving 2008

I'm grumpy when it comes to holidays. I haven't figured out what it is yet.

Maybe it's all of the commercialization? I hate spending money on nonessentials.

Maybe it's all of the stress?

Maybe it's because I think we should celebrate the purpose of holidays every day? We should give thanks, fly the flag, respect veterans, contemplate the birth, life and death of the Savior everyday.

Maybe it's because I abhor all doemstic skills because I am no good at them? I hate cooking, decorating, shopping, and crafting. I think this is the real reason. Why don't holidays center around things I am good at? Like National Weeding Day, Car Washing Day, Home Repair Day, Blog-O-Rama Day, Read a Good Book Day, or my favorite Don't Change Out of Your Jammies, Sit on Your Fat Tookus and Eat Carbs Until You Slip into a Coma Day. These are reasons we should get time off of work. this is what I am good at.

I decided to celebrate Thanksgiving the traditional way. We went to the Strickland/Boone house in Wildwood. There weren't as many in attendance as in days of yore. It was enjoyable none the less.

Reagan Chase
Jensen on the bag swing.

Morgan Boone, Andrea Watkins,Crista and Lew

Mink & Talmadge

Layle, Mart & George

Jensen & Makynna

Lew & Debbie

Then we stopped by my mom's house where my brother Jeff is staying for a few weeks. His girlfriend Debbie was visiting also. It's weird having a sibling with a girlfriend with the same name as me. It's hard for me to say it.

We came home and I weeded my flower bed. (See I'm making my own holiday.) Then we went to the Garrett's for dessert. Yummy Turtle Cheesecake.

This is what Lew will do for a living if we move to Montana with the Garretts.

Lew's Blog

Lew is crying because no one reads his blog. I told him we could share friends. Please go to his blog and comment so he will stop the insanity. Here it is http://lewsartstuff.blogspot.com/

Peer Pressure

Tonight I succumbed to peer pressure. (My peer group being Jensen and Lew). We went to see Twilight. Does it count as Family Home Evening since the author is Mormon? I think so. The movie brought to mind some questions and concerns for me to ponder.

1. Does Bella ever close her mouth? Is that supposed to be sexy? All I could think was that at any minute a fly was gonna buzz in and never come out. Maybe she had a sinus issue and could only breathe through her mouth. Who wants to kiss that?

2. What's with Edward's pompadour? Pompadours make me uncomfortable. It's like, "Pass the creepy." I didn't like them on Elvis, Brandon or Dylan. I guess since vampires don't eat or sleep they have lots of time to play with their hair. I would prefer the tossled look of Heath Ledger or Owen Wilson. I guess because that is how I style my own hair.

3. Isn't Bella a co-dependent? Edward tells her he is a killer and she says, "That's ok." Listen here Missy, IT IS NOT OK!!!! Young Women, if a Young Man tells you that he is a killer, quickly turn around and high-tail it out of there. It reeks of women who marry men that are in prison, What?!? Bella needs to sign up for Co-Deps Anonymous. "Hi my name is Bella, I'm a co-dependant."

4. I wanted to be in love with Carlisle. All of you women who are in love with Edward...I worry about you. Unless, of course you imagine yourself at 17 and he is 17, then that's ok. I prefer the older men. According to the book, I pictured Carlisle as a hunk o'burnin' love. He wasn't. In fact, he reminded me of my own doctor. Who is cute, but not a hunk o'burnin' love.

5. Rosalie was not the most beautiful woman in the world. Why does Emmitt look like John Travolta? I fell for him as a high school teenager in Grease, but his glory days are over. He can't possibly be a high school vampire. And what about Jasper's hair. What the heck? It looks like they took my grandma's wig, parted it down the middle, gelled it up and said, "There, that looks good". And he being a new actor said, "Ok." Again, it is not ok! I liked Jasper in the book beause of his struggle of who he really wanted to be. In the movie, I am just embarrassed for him. I don't know if he will even get his SAG card for this, but if he does I hope he has the backbone to stand up for better hair.

As you can tell, I'm a visual person. I had their looks all planned out in my mind and I was wildly disappointed.

My rating is Wait For Video. Unless, of course, you've read the book. I know you won't wait so go ahead.

I Said it Would be Worth it

Today I got one of the biggest paychecks of my teaching career. This is my "Little Buddy". When he came to our school he was very angry and aggressive. I latched on to him immediately and he became "my buddy". I showered him with love and stability. I worried about him if I took a day off. I cried when he was suspended after only a week at our school. Even though I only work with him for half an hour a day this year, the other teachers consider him "my buddy" and give me updates on how he is doing.

I was reviewing his vocabulary words with him. One of the words was priorities. We discussed his priorities as a second grader. His priority is to pass the second grade and move onto third. I asked him what my priority is. I figured he would say to teach him or help him with his work. He said, "You love me Ms. Clayton". It was so rewarding to know that my efforts have paid off. His behavior has improved so much and I love him to pieces. I am glad that I can make a difference in his life. He has made a difference in my life.

Everyone is Invited

Busy as a Bee

Saturday morning Jensen and I went to the Beehive/Deacon activity with Sister Doerfler, Melena and Brianna. It was a tad bit cold when we left Eustis. We arrived early to the Weavers home in Bellview, even after getting lost from listening to the GPS. Soon two other Beehives and about 6 Deacons and a one week old Mia Maid showed up. The leaders outnumbered the youth and the food outnumbered everyone. The kids were crazy and nutty and jumped in the Arctic temperature pool. Some went kneeboarding and some went on the tube some went down a giant slide. Of course, the Eustis girls were not without injury. Jensen kept stepping on mussels and Brianna got konked in the head and blacked out momentarily. I think Melena was the only one unscathed, which in and of itself, is unusual. Toward the afternoon the weather turned absolutely beautiful.

When I got home I went to see, "The Secret Life of Bees" with a really good friend of mine. On my rating of scale of "You Must See It" or "Wait For Video", I give it, "Wait for Video". It was really good with good acting and a good story but I think it could wait if you are a penny pincher.