In the last four days:

I played Scene It and won

I enjoyed my spa day at Jardin Salon and Day Spa. After a relaxing time at Panera for my favorite: icey mocha and playing Sudoku; I went to the spa and started off with a half hour massage. How amazing! Following that was a hair wash with head massage, pendicure, manicure, make-up, hairstyle and lunch. I was so grateful for the experience, but couldn't help thinking of all the people I would love to have there with me. Four and 1/2 hours can be kinda lonely. However, I got to meet some cool people. What was my favorite? The hair wash with head massage. Ahhhh!

After my day of pampering Luke and I got dressed up and went to Red Lobster to spend our gift certificates. After waiting for a while, the power went out. The mall next door lost all power too, so the movie we were going to go to afterwards was out of the question too. We tried to wait it out, but decided to go to the theater downtown, so we left the restaurant. Traffic was crazy. We saw Happy Feet. It was very enjoyable.

Speaking of enjoyable movies...today I went to The Nativity Story with my class. I LOVED IT. I thought it was so different than any Nativity interpretation that I have every seen. I liked how it didn't paint Mary to be this holy, untouchable, unrealistic girl--it was very thought provoking and overall realistic, I thought. I laughed (a little), I cried (more than a few times), I enjoyed! After the movie one of my boys said, "There should be a Nativity 2!" I thought that was funny. I said to him, "It's called Passion of the Christ."

And lastly, in the last four days I got a financial lesson from a seven year old. Today little Natasha said, "Mrs. Demarest, do you want to see my credit card?" Sure! I said. "Have you used it yet?" "No, I don't have any money. If we don't have the money, we can't use the credit card." She is wise beyond her years. Apparently she heard that from a fifth grader named William. I believe it. He's obsessed with money.

Just Tell Us!!!

Today I really stumped my students. They decided to sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," so I decided to play a little Christmas game with them. That's what you get for singing in class. I had them guessing all day. I got a little annoyed when they wanted to guess instead of doing their math homework, and when they stayed inside for recess so they could ask me for clues. Oh well, it's just for one day. I'm ending this madness tomorrow.

So, I said, "It's a little known fact that there actually is a tenth reindeer."

"What? No there's not!" (What followed was a reciting of the introductory part to the "Rudolph" song: "You know Dasher and Dancer...")

So we listed them all on the board, counted them up, and then I said, "There's one more."

This blew their minds.

We sang the song again. And again. Then...

"Oh! I've got it!"

My brightest student wrote it down real quick and submitted it for my approval. He was right. Then we broke for lunch. The second half of the day was filled with guesses like, "Is the other reindeer's name Glee? Foggy? Eve?" No, no, no. Seriously, foggy??

Anyway, all of them but one has gotten it. I'm really proud of the one who got it first, and the one who will most definitely get it tomorrow because they are the ones who have figured it out for themselves. The rest of them quizzed me and each other all day long, thus getting hints from EVERYONE!

Just a little holiday fun. I'm certain many of you out there know what I'm talking about and already have it figured out, but in case there's anybody out there who hasn't, let's not give it away.
Hidden within "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is the name of a tenth reindeer. Can you find it???

What do Sunday nights mean to you?

For 18 years Sunday nights used to mean going to church. For a long time I just sat with my mom. Then came the teen years where we would sit in the front as a youth group. It was fun for us cause we could all be together. It was fun for the adults because they could have a clear view of their youngsters sitting in church and not out on the streets.

In college it meant going to Bible study with Stacy Elizabeth Billings for most of the years. Other years it meant just studying or spending time with my roommates.

The past two summers they have meant staff fun night. One night in particular was not so fun: rock wall climbing. The strangest thing though: when it was over, it was a little fun.

Since school has started Sunday nights have meant Amazing Race. Tonight, however, Sunday night meant going to a Christmas program at a church I don't normally go to in order to see my students preform. It meant seeing one of my students from last year who doesn't go to my school anymore. I was assured that he is doing ok and that all the hard work and frustration we experienced together has made him so dear to my heart. I was brought to a point of pure joy in seeing him tonight. It was worth it. This particular Sunday night meant catching up with my cousin James who happens to live in Sioux City, but whom I never see. He's handsome and funny and so caring. It was worth it to go just so that we could have the best conversation that we've ever had. Amazing Race was just going to have to wait this Sunday. So, I set the Media Center to tape it. What I wasn't counting on, but should have thought about, was that football runs late on Sundays, so 60 Minutes gets started late, and that pushes Amazing Race back a half an hour. 7:30-8:30 instead of 7-8. The computer set it to tape 7-8. So, I have no idea who won the race, but I do know how it started. I kinda feel like I watched the whole season for nothing! What's the point in watching the process if you can't see how it ends?? Hmmm, my mind is racing because I feel like there should be some kind of spiritual connection to all of this. I'll think on that one. Anyway, I suppose missing the final episode of Amazing Race is worth it for the chance to be with James and to see my students. Teaching is the most wonderful profession to have. What else is there? All my life I've thought I would be a teacher because seriously, what else is there to do?? I honestly thought that. Now I know there's more, but there's nothing else I'd rather do.

It's Christmas time

I won a watch at our staff Christmas party. Wait, correction: Luke won this watch at our staff Christmas party. He gave it to me. I'm pumped about it. I really enjoy wearing it and it was completely free. I had said before that my New Years resolution was going to be to accessorize. Well, here's my first accessory.



This is our tree a little bit after the cats knocked it down. It doesn't look quite like I would like it to. There's no ornaments on the bottom third of the tree, and everything that is on the tree looks all messed up. I'll get around to fixing it by the time family comes over for Christmas. Oh yeah, Luke and I were asked to host the family Christmas get-together this year. I'm excited about it. It will be lots of fun with the Demarests.



I didn't want to put any of my Precious Moments ornaments on the tree because they are too heavy and also because they might get broken by the cats. So I created a home for them in the kitchen.