Christmas 2005 

Merry Christmas Eve to you!!! 

Frosty fence 

This picture is from a few weeks ago when we had a cold snap. 

The finished product! 

And I though MY husband was crazy about Christmas. (this is a video)

http://media.putfile.com/WizardsofWinter-SM

"Teacher, I sang that song at Temptation Bible School last summer."

-Kindergartener

Dad and Annie sell Christmas trees at church for an Alaska missions trip we are planning for.

Paul cuts down our tree. This is ALMOST Paul's favorite part of Christmas, searching for the perfect tree and cutting it down. Even if there were a perfect tree already cut for the same price, he would still prefer to cut one down. Once we get it in the house he is very protective of it, asking me to please not brush up against it lest it lose it's needles. This is very funny to me. He also likes to sleep by the tree at least one night before Christmas, something that his family did. I love that he loves traditions and holidays so much.

This weekend we went to the Santa parade. You can see the nativity scene in the background in front of the library. I'm glad our town still has one.

I have gone to this parade since I was a little girl and Santa is always the same man. I wonder if he's always looked like Santa?

In the parade in our town, there are many tractors. I actually didn't know there were so many different kinds of tractors. We were behind this man driving home from the parade.

SNOW! 

Our kitchen window 

Our driveway 

I actually have a chalkboard in my room (this is really a thing of the past) but I don't use it that much. Today I went to write an addition problem on the chalkboard and from behind me I hear, "Well, I guess she's a REAL teacher now! REAL teachers always write on the chalkboard."

It's a gift to be simple, it's a gift to be free
It's a gift to come down where we are to be
And when we find ourselves in a place just right
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we will not be ashamed
To turn and to turn will be our delight
For by turning and turning we'll come round right

Traditional Shaker Hymn

Just finished reading:

This guy talks about Portland a lot in this book because he lives there. His church is about 10 blocks away from where Paul and I used to live. It's fun to hear him talk about places I love like Palio and Powells. His book is very refreshing. Much food for thought. Know that if I post about a book here I WOULD recommend it, because I never finish books I don't like. On the other hand, Paul is reading "Blue Like Jazz" right now (by the same author), he argues out loud with the book but keeps reading it. I guess it must make him just angry enough to keep reading. I love that guy!

Click here for a great pumpkin muffin recipe:

http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/2005/11/spicy-pumpkin-pecan-raisin-muffins.html

November 27, 2005 4:00-4:30pm

I carried my camera around for half an hour today and snapped pictures. This is the wreath on our barn door.

The sun goes down. 

My husband takes a nap. 

A cinderella pumpkin outside on our porch. 

I made pumpkin spice muffins. 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

I found this picture on the Mother Earth News website. About two years ago I had to give up cow's milk because of sinus problems. Goat's milk has been my new best friend. I love the cheese and the ice cream. It will probably taste funny to you if you drink cow's milk all the time, but if you don't, you can't really tell the difference. I was recently thinking about getting a goat, but quickly realized that I would have to milk it everyday. Touching the netherparts of a goat everyday is not worth the money I would save by having one. I may feel differently someday though.

Paul and I are considering getting ourselves snowshoes for Christmas. We already have an annual pass to Mt. Ranier. It's something that we enjoy doing together.

Now reading:

Light from Heaven, Jan Karon

My mom just got this book and she's LETTING ME READ IT FIRST (what a selfless lady), but I have been instructed to finish it before thanksgiving break. This is Jan Karon's final book in the series. Never fear, in 2007 she will start a "father tim" series. I have read the Mitford series about four times and it gets better every time. I'm really not one for Christian books because many of them are done soooooo badly, but Jan Karon has a real depth. I see new things in her work each time I read the series.

Two funny quotes from my classroom:

"Teacher, you know what I love about America?"
"What do you love about America?"
"I love that there's no quicksand."

and-

"Teacher, I'm in love with _______, it's kind of like he dug a hole in my heart and burried himself in it."

Paradise Lodge, Mt. Ranier

I thought this was really cute. This parent wanted to make sure I got her note!

I have a question, when you look at my blog does my profile show up at the bottom of the page? Leave a comment or email me, please.

When I cut and pasted this from our local newspaper, The Chronicle, it didn't come out quite right, but you can get the point. My brother, Kyle, is in the newspaper!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Youth program raises money, starving themselves so that others may eat
By Aaron VanTuyl
avantuyl@chronline.com

Leaders from three local youth groups got together Monday morning at the headquarters of Love In the Name of Christ in Chehalis, to hand over hard-earned donation checks.The money was raised through World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine program, and on the receiving end were the Lewis County Food Bank, the Mineral fire department and the Salvation Army. The youths involved took pledges from friends and family members, sponsoring them in a 30-hour fast. Most of the money raised goes to World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping impoverished children and communities worldwide. Love INC works with World Vision, taking 25 percent of the total donations raised in its service area and distributing it to organizations in the community. Youth leaders Kyle Tupper (Jackson Prairie Assembly of God), Jim Scott (Oakview Church) and Jennifer Rush (Centralia Bible Evangelical Free Church) were on hand to present a check to Ron Wehnau, pastor-administrator for the Centralia corps of the Salvation Army.Tupper and Scott’s groups held their famine back in April, working with the Shoestring Valley Community Church and staying at the Jackson Prairie building. During the 30-hour period, the youths performed service projects in the community to keep their mind off the hunger.“We thought it was important to do stuff right here in the community,” said Tupper. Tupper and Scott’s group also held a scavenger hunt during its fast, gathering certain types of canned food according to a list. This activity brought in about $646 worth of food for the Lewis County Food Bank. Bush said her group held a car wash during its fast, and raised another $700 on top of its donations.“Our kids worked hard,” she said. Among the three groups, $3,695 was sent to World Vision.“Anyone can make a big difference,” said Scott. “We spend thousands of dollars on stupid stuff. If we were to spend $30 a month, we can save a kid’s life.”World Vision raised $1.3 million, nationwide, last year with the 30 Hour Famine program.The Centralia Corps of the Salvation Army received $452.64 from Love INC and the youth groups. Wehnau said the Centralia branch had about $10,000 in applications for help during the month of November, but only around $600 to spend on helping those people.“The poor in Lewis County are very easily our next-door neighbors, who we don’t even realize,” he said. “Gas prices and food prices going up really put a pinch on people with fixed incomes,” said Carol Druckman, Love INC’s program director.Druckman is working to recruit more local churches to the 30 Hour Famine program.“This year, we hope all 97 churches (in Lewis County) do this,” she said.

These guys are saying, "We saved our wives from lives of boredom."

Paul and I went to Paradise on Mt. Ranier yesterday. We brought along some hot apple cider.

Currently Reading:

Yes, I read recipe books. Kara got me this book for my birthday because I told her I was interested in eating by seasons. So far I have made the cranberry coffee cake and it was pretty good.

Jeff and Alysun met us in Centralia for dinner and a movie at the Oly Club on Saturday. We really like it when people visit us (hint, hint). When we came out of the restaraunt we noticed that the wind was really whipping down the street, it actually blew Paul's hat off his head. We had invited them over to our house for pumpkin pie afterwards but when we got home the power was out. We had planned on apple cider so we got our campstove out and heated our cider. It was great fun. My husband is a really big fan of weather, he gets a big kick out of when school is closed for snow or the power is out or anything like that. One time we had an ice storm in Portland and he was bouncing off the walls with excitement. Simple things, I guess.

Dan Robinson on a recent trip to High Rock. This really freaks his mom out. It really freaks ME out. Dan has always been a "quiet daredevil".

My parents take way less pictures now that they have a digital camera. They are still learning how to use it.

My brother, Dan, turns 24.

My grandpa snoozes after church on Sunday.

I'm sorry, I know, I'm so lame. Almost three weeks has gone by with no posting. Two field trips and 18 report cards later, here I am. Sometimes even I, the queen of relaxation (that's a title my husband has given me) am too busy to post. Recently I have been thinking about the summer and wondering, "Now just why was I so eager to come back to school?" I guess the grass is always greener, eh? I have some great pictures to post but I have to get them from home first, as we are still without internet service. It's not really that we don't want it, it's that we can't find any worth paying for.
By the way, Happy Birthday to my brother, Dan, who is 24 today. 24? Didn't he just graduate from highschool. I can't believe how old he is. He is living in a house in Damascus, OR with his crazy friend, Dan (yes, they are both named Dan) and planning on going to Multnomah in January.

Mrs. Robinson's class made apple pie today. The smell in our hallway was the envy of the school.

As a teacher, I can tell you that five and six year olds are for the most part just plain selfish. Aren't we all though? I try to encourage and praise acts of unselfishness and gratefulness that I see in my students. The other day they had P.E. and I decided to have cold Capri Sun's waiting for them when they came back from P.E. because they are always thirsty. I usually just let them drink water. When they came in and found their Capri Sun's they actually said thank you! I gushed with praise. Finally, a glimpse of unselfish behavior. For once they thought of someone else. There was a brief silence after I praised them. Their conversation follows:

"Well, I said 'thank you' first."

"No, I did."

"Nu-uh, I said it first."

As you can imagine, it escalated from here. For the love of Pete, does it matter who said it first? So their brief bout of gratefulness was followed with a stellar first grade "I'll take the credit for every good thing that happens, whatever you say I can top it" performance. I guess I'll take the good and leave the bad.

Mrs. Robinson

The pictures below are a little off kilter. I am still getting used to putting pictures in my blog. Sorry!

This is a little pumpkin that Paul carved (a man of many talents).



And this is the pumpkin glowing in the dark.




My Dad is an ameteaur filmaker. Stay tuned for the upcoming Tupper filmfestival.

I am teaching my sister in law, Anna, to knit.

I can't even explain this.

I know I said I had a three day weekend - BUT - here I am at school. I love days when no one is here, I get so much done. I told myself I'm only staying for three hours but I know I can get caught up and lose track of time. I need to get to the Walmart Supercenter before the Friday night rush so that's a BIG (and I mean BIG) incentive to leave early. I usually go to the Walmart Supercenter at around 5 or 6 am (to avoid crowds) but since I had the day of I went to "boot camp" (this is an excercise class) with my SIL Anna this morning. Have a great weekend!

Paul and I tried this new recipe from allrecipes.com the other day and it was relly yummy. I thought I would share it with all of you. It's really good with guacamole too. Enjoy!

Chicken Lime Soft Tacos

1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cubed
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 green onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 (6 inch) flour tortillas
1 tomato, diced
1/4 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup salsa
DIRECTIONS:
Saute chicken in a medium saucepan over medium high heat for about 20 minutes. Add vinegar, lime juice, sugar, salt, pepper, green onion, garlic and oregano. Simmer for an extra 10 minutes.
Heat an iron skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan, warm, and turn over to heat the other side. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Serve lime chicken mixture in warm tortillas topped with tomato, lettuce, cheese and salsa.

Interesting Story: "Bloggers Seek to Mix Faith and Internet"

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172054,00.html

One of the things I like most about my job is that my school is small, incredibly small. There is only one teacher for each grade so everyone knows everyone. Kids have a hard time getting away with stuff. Plus you get to watch kids grow up. Parents and community members are very committed to supporting the school.
There are drawbacks to being in a small school though, and one of the biggest is that you don't have anyone to mentor you. There is no one else that teaches the same grade as you so you have no one to share ideas with and no one to compare yourself to (a blessing). Last year I found myself wondering if what I was doing was the norm.
So this year our principal has hired someone to mentor the new teachers in our building, me and my friend Rosie. This woman actually taught for more than fifteen years in my school and most of them in my classroom and she really knows her stuff.
So yesterday she took me to another school to observe what a K/1 classroom looks like. I spent most of the time saying to myself, "See, you're fine. You ARE doing the right thing." I took digital pictures of different things. But most of all I thanked God for the job that I have. I love it. I missed my students all day.
Actually, my brother drives school bus (along with being a youth pastor) for the district I was visiting. So when I saw the buses outside waiting for the students to board. I ran out to tease him.
"Hey Bus Driver Kyle I'm ready to go home."
(with a silly grin on his face) "You're such a dork."
I grew up with only brothers, no sisters, a fact that I love because being the only girl is "the bomb" as my students would say. You get to go on all the shopping trips, you don't have to compete for attention, you get your own room. Yet even now the sister relationship is a mystery to me. Brothers are pretty straightforward. If they think you're a dork, they tell you and you ignore them.
And hopefully you like the person they marry because that's pretty much the closest you will ever come to having a sister. But more on how much I love my sisters in law later.
I have to go home. I have a three day weekend.