Merry Christmas

This was Gianna's first Christmas. We went a few days beforehand to John's parents in Temple for a Ludlow Christmas. Then we went to Galveston to be with Charissa's family in Galveston. It was actually a little cool on the beach but did not prevent us from enjoying ourselves. We had cajun seafood, Christmas cookies, and a whole lot of little girls. There was Gianna and then our three nieces, 9, 7, and 4. Lots of pink, high shrills, and lots of fun. We had a fantastic Christmas and hope each of you did as well. We have more pics on our photo albums if you want to see. Merry Christmas.

Happy Birthday!

Well, Happy Birthday to me! It has already been so great. John took the day off to celebrate, and to fix the shower with my dad, but mostly to celebrate ME!
I love my birthday, but don't like it being so close to Christmas. December is like a month long celebration anyway. I feel like I get to enjoy my Birthday Season. So when someone says Happy Holidays they are not just referring to Kwanzaa, but to Charissa's birthday as well. It's a known fact. I know and now you do too! :)
John is so good at celebrating. One year he had a surprise party for me 2 weeks after my birthday. He took down all the ornaments off the Christmas tree and wrapped it in streamers and a balloons for a "birthday" tree. No July birthday has that!
One year I did get to have my birthday at school- 4th grade (even though I'm older I still have a mind like a trap!). My mom wrote a letter on each cupcake that spelled out- Happy Birthday Charissa. My friends got to pick out the letter they wanted. She made the coolest cakes: circus ones, shape ones like a bear, and my favorite of all- She actually made Cinderella's coach- the one that took her to the ball with horses , glass slippers, mice and all!
We used to (my brother and I) pick the restaurant we all got to go to on our birthdays. I picked TGIFridays and they tied balloons in my hair and sang happy birthday. I got wished well by some strange men in a bar. Sadly, not the last time!


How old you ask- UMMMMMMM you guess!!!!!!!!
This was going on in my birth year- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,911945,00.html


What's your favorite birthday memory?
One of mine has to be that this year I get to hold my baby that just one year ago was still inside my tummy.

Who Does She Look Like Now??

You have done this before. Do it again. Do you agree? What is your vote? Or whose personality do you think she is more like and why?

11 months

Time got away from me, but here is her photo of 11 months!
I can't believe she is almost a year old!


Her Granny and Grandpa are here with us from Alaska and she is so enjoying time with them.

I'm done!!!!!

I'm done grading my papers! But it never ceases to amaze me the mystery of college students.
Yes, I am an easy professor. I really feel that the most important thing for students is to do the activity and learn the things that I want them to. So I do accept late papers, I do give a review sheet, and yes, I round up.
I really try hard to remember what it was like as a student. Maybe I haven't been a professor long enough to be burned by the students yet. I'm sure it will come, but hopefully it won't! I did have someone say- "I didn't know it was a test today, can I take it later?"
Yes, because folks- in grad school, that's right GRAD school- yours truly forgot to study for a final. I kept having those dreams that I was forgetting something and lo and behold. Well, the professor was kind enough to let me take the test the next day. So I HAVE to remember that kindness and let my students do it too.

Matthew 18:33-35 (New International Version)

33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

So here is what I am truly amazed by. That some students still choose NOT to do the work. There was a paper that was worth 30% of the TOTAL grade and I had 3 students not do it. WOW. And there was one student who came to class all semester and got A's on the tests, but because of not coming to class for 3 times she was dropped from the class as WF. That's an F.
So sad.
But I had 14 students with A's! So yea for them and all the hard work that they put in. And I know that they leave me with a not only some more info on special education, but a new found love of it as well!
Thanks to my wonderful husband and his wicked smart excel skills, and to my darling daughter that let me leave her one night a week and let daddy put her to bed! Thanks my family for another great semester!

An Ode to Fondue

Last night we had some friends over for fondue. We had all afternoon to prepare and clean the house. Our friends played with Gianna for a short time and then as she went down to bed we began our party. Now this was not an ordinary fondue. No this was extraordinary fondue. Cheese dip with bread, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, etc. We also had meat with some amazing sauces Charissa put together. And then for dessert.... Chocolate fondue!! Charissa made a fantastic chocolate sauce and then cut up bananas and angel food cake. We were stuffed. It was simply wonderful.

I love fondue. Not only is it good food but I love how you have to eat it. Its a very slow meal. You have to take one bite at a time. Savor it. And ponder your next bite. With more time comes more conversation. It lends it self to the European meals I remember well from Paris. It was a chance to enjoy the company and actually felt like dining when you take your time.

I now blog this for the mere chance to encourage you to bring back fondue. Its up to us to carry the banner and recreate a culinary trend that should become an American fixture. Share with me in my passion. Together we will change our culture's palette, one bite at a time.

Baby Talk

My Other Job

All of you know that I'm a full time mom, but some of you may not know that I'm a part time professor as well. I teach class at the local junior college here in town Blinn College
I teach one class a week. It's an introduction to Special Education. It's right up my ally. That's the area I got my Masters in and I am very passionate about sharing my love of teaching with others. I REALLY REALLY enjoy it- except for this time of year. It's the end of the semester and I have TONS to grade. Some you you teachers can feel my pain. But when I was a teacher- I never GRADED!!!!! What how did I do that?
Well, I taught 3 and 4 year olds how to toilet. Not much grading there. I also taught them colors, shapes and how to join a group of friends in play. Still no grading there. If you are not familiar with 3 and 4 year olds- most CAN'T write yet. And I taught ones that were developmentally behind- so no writing. No grading!
The good news is that I only have one class left and then the final. But they all have a major project to turn in, the last test I was supposed to grade, the pre/post test and a minor project left to grade. YIKES!
So if you don't get many updates in the next two weeks (Grades are due the 12th for me!) Just think of me trying to grade papers and projects while Gianna sleeps.