ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON...

...As I enter the last week of my graduate program classes (Yipee), this has been one crazy week. I've had several assignments and a couple lesson plans to write, papers to write, discussion questions to answer, and on top of it all...work, the kids, and life! The first week back after Christmas break is always a long one!

OK, What's been going on...

THE POLAR PLUNGE
was postponed last month (due to single digit weather), and held last Friday afternoon instead. This is the annual dive into icy cold water that our middle school/high school students and staff make depending on the level of food collected for the annual Christmas food drive. This year they decided to change things up a bit and have the students collect money instead of food. Our little school collected over $4,000; which insured a dive in by the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, as well as the middle school principal (Brett, dressed in coconut shells), a school board member, and of course a bunch of teachers! Jeff is the one diving in with his goggles on.

FRIDAY NIGHT
was the 8th annual Reindeer Games in the football field. Jeff and I were asked to chaperone, so that meant bringing the kids (too much fun not to), and the snow dog. Of course Anya immediately pooped in the middle of the snowy volleyball match and then wouldn't stop digging into (and eating) the cup of hot cocoa that someone spilled in the snow. She had a wonderful time. The snow was so crispy on top that Max, Dylan, and Lyndsi were scooting along without breaking through. There were many events; flag football, volleyball, hot cocoa and cookies, a snow sculpture contest (see below), and the only "legal" snowball fight on campus at the end of the evening.

I love this new snowball maker that Santa brought.

The snow sculpture contest had only two teams this year (the snow was a bit difficult to work with); Jeff, Steve, Shawn, and our kids vs. a group of students. The first attempt consisted of grabbing slabs of frozen top layer of snow and stacking them into a tower.

Once that fell...they made a turtle, which ended up winning the first place prize!

The last 15 minutes are dedicated to a "no rules" style snowball fight. There were about 60 students and staff members gathered on the field while us "others" decided to be observers on the bleachers. The students love the opportunity to white wash their teachers in the snow and the teachers seem to enjoy throwing snow in their 'favorite' student's faces!

JEFF's 39!!!
We celebrated tonight because tomorrow is girl scouts and an out of town knowledge bowl meet (and I have a lesson plan to create and submit). I thought I'd try a new recipe this year and pick something I thought Jeff would like (I usually have him pick). Jeff said my Coconut Shrimp was (quite possibly) the best shrimp he had ever had. I even had three myself (fyi...I do not like seafood of any kind). The rest of the menue; a steamed artichoke (a family favorite, yumm!), steamed baby reds with garlic and dill, Alfredo noodles, "Twisp River Pub" style salads, and Jeff's childhood favorite Jello-Cottage Cheese-Coolwhip-Fruit Salad.

The kids and I did a great job choosing the cordless drill to Jeff's specifications (with rechargeable battery and a flashlight for draining the battery when not in use, this one even came with an extra battery and a carry case). The kids also picked out the new ACDC CD and a couple bags of Jelly Bellys for their daddy!

Jeff, striking poses in his new sweater vest from his parents. "Thanks Mom and Dad, I look so sophisticated!"

And the cherry filled chocolate cake...

I've got a new kit...SNOW DUST
but I'm just too tire to post anymore tonight! I'll have previews up very soon. Happy last week of school (for me!!!!)