my pink life, mi vida rosada

Thanksgiving was fun! We gathered (as usual) at my Aunt's house in the country. The little cousins ran around and played and had lots of fun. They always get together on the Wednesday before for a bit of fun in the country -- they roast hot dogs and make s'mores and try to sleep in tents. This year, the big girls succeeded. One of them even slept late-ish -- until 9:30 -- in the tent! The boys and the little girls ended up sleeping inside, after starting out in tents, too. After a lot of running around, the kids all ate first, close to noon. Once they had cleared out, the rest of the family was gathered up for dinner. We had a "kids" table in the kitchen, where the 20-40's adults sat, an "adults" table in the dining room, where the 60-95's sat, and a mixed table in the living room, with some from each age group. My Aunt had found place cards from a long time ago and mixed us all up -- somehow we usually end up sitting with our own little fam

I am grateful for so many things, starting with my family and coming full circle at my family again. What would i do without them? My family lives close by, and they help take care of us financially, spiritually, and in every way in between. We eat Sunday dinner together after church. My mama goes to yoga class with me. My sister comes over to bake. My brother tells us jokes and asks for haircuts. My dad talks to me about money and makes me do crossword puzzles with him. My mama takes me shopping. My grandma just likes to show us off. The things that i get to do with my family make me so grateful for them. Really, really grateful. Sweet hubby is inviting me to dance. I'm pretty darn grateful for him, too.

Also known as "Self Saucing Puddings," where "pudding" means cake. My sister and I did a test run a few days ago, and decided that this recipe would work for our contribution to Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, with only five ingredients, how could we go wrong? A little bit of self rising flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, and ginger later, we had some very tasty little cakes in cute little tea cups. Forget using ramekins -- tea cups have handles! For the actual day, though, we needed to make more cakes that tea cups (I only have 12 fiesta tea cups -- I think 12 is actually a lot, most days!). We decided to use some small latte bowls, too. And when we had just a little bit more batter from our third recipe, we decided to use a large tea cup, too. (That large tea cup? It will be staying at home for Thanksgiving. No one needs that much of any one dessert one Thanksgiving day.) They smell good and look pretty too! I'm so excited to share them with the family!

that my sister canceled our running date. I'm still not over the cold from 2 weeks ago. Gross.

for a few days off of school!

for sweet hubby, and the millions of things he does each day to make my life nicer.

that my new year-round notebook finally arrived!

to be aware of people beyond the numbers. please read this and this . And cry, like I did. Then pray.

for friends to share dinner with. and a mom to shop at target with. and the free speech to use bad grammar. with.

thankful. for lots of things. tired out after a long day of kids and plants and multiplication and perimeter and guidance lessons at school. recovering from a now 8-day old cold. sad and frustrated for a good friend, whose husband just found out he doesn't get to start the job he thought he would be starting in December. praying for my friend and her husband to see and understand God's bigger plan for them. hungry for some supper, happy that sweet hubby is in charge of fixing it. listening to the rain begin as the season goes back to being coldish. skipping yoga. yoga + snot = not pleasant. excited to hear sweet hubby sing in his school chorus concert tomorrow night. excited also that my parents will be there, even though they both told sweet hubby they had other plans. relieved to have gotten my donors choose thank you packet completed on time, since the deadline is tomorrow and I thought it was Friday. ready for interim reports to go home the monday after thanksgiving. Wh

my voice is returning!

for good friends and their precious babies! We had a great weekend playing with my good friend from college's two year old and two month old. Such precious little beings!

for a day out of my classroom.

for administrators at my school who believe in me and trust me to do my job.

for the minute clinic near my school, and a practically nonexistent wait time today.

for my circle, circle 9. for fellowship with other women who believe in Jesus and are in my age group.

that sweet hubby went to the store and is now cooking corn chowder!

to be a part of the joy as two young people join their lives in marriage. Best wishes to Bess and Tsilavo!

Joining up at the gypsy mama . Yesterday was five minute friday. Five minutes on the word Remember. Remember when we first met? Remember how I was sort of unhappy to be where I was, and it was obvious to everyone who met me? Remember how you were wearing a yellow pullover? And had a mustache and goatee? Remember how I used to sit outside under that tree, on that bench, wearing my polka-dotted skirt, drawing in my journal? Remember how you tried to teach me to play guitar? Remember those long bus rides to la toma? Remember how you tricked me into thinking we were almost to Iquique so I wouldn't get off the bus after 25 hours? Remember how I greeted you at the airport? Remember how much we fought on the phone before you came? Remember how hard it was to meet everyone at church? Remember how you used to ride the bike to school? Remember how much you hated September? Remember how much I loved you then? Remember how much I love you still? Do you remember? I remember how you

for a snuggly kitty.

¡Qué divertido! Y salieron super fáciles hacer. Durante la semana antes, junté cajas vacías de pañuelos. Las otras maestras en mi escuela me ayudaron con esto -- mágicamente aparecieron en mi caja en la oficina. Yo mandé un mensaje a los padres de mis estudiantes, y mandaron bolsas y bolsas y bolsas de dulces a la escuela (usamos algunos de los dulces para celebrar Halloween). Estudié unas piñatas que mi mamita linda me había regalado. Tenían un parte plástico para colgarse. Compré las cosas plásticas que normalmente se usan para juntar alambres y cables y cosas así. Con tijeras, hice agujeros en un lado de la caja, formé un círculo con el plástico, y las cajas estaban listas. En la mañana, juntamos dos grupos de estudiantes. Les expliqué que necesitaban poner los dulces adentro, cerrar la caja con cinta, adornarla con papel, y dejar la parte plástica afuera. 20 minutos era perfecto para ésta actividad. Trabajaron en grupos de 6 a 8 niños. Después de 20 minutos, cambiamos gru

for compliments on clothes I made myself, that the compliment giver doesn't know I've made myself.

for Susan, who is always ready to answer a million questions, calm me down, and help keep crazy piñata-makers under control.

for Gary, who gave me an excellent haircut today.