it's beginning to look a lot like

CHRISTMAS! (pictures to come).

at home:
lights up around our front door.
nativity on our mantle.
a fresh christmas tree that smells amazing.
new ornaments and a few old ones, too.
the beginnings of a santa claus collection.

at school:
puzzle piece wreaths.
the polar express.
the driedel game.
paper christmas light garland.
ebineezer scrooge.

at play:
brighton ski passes.
bailey gets home on friday. (woot)
family parties.
singing with dad and the 4 B's. 
SLG's birthday on the 22nd
3 weeks off of school

and so, as someone very wise once said: well hoop-di-doo... and dicory dock... and don't forget to hang up your sock!

so much to be grateful for

We arrived home from NY safe and sound.  It was a fabulous trip.  And, without being to mushy or cheesy, I would just like to say that it was such the best to be able to hang out and explore everything with Samuel.  He's great.  Here are some highlights of our trip:

the "de-icing" of our airplane at salt lake international

 delicious bananastrawberrynutella crepe at artopolis

 staying with the wilcox fam, and walking through beautiful columbia university daily

 navigating the subway

visiting lady liberty 

walking the brooklyn bridge 

 best pizza ever at grimaldi's

 samuel's first times square experience

 empire state building

 macy's + oldest escalator in the world

 samuel's first broadway show

 the met!

 frozen hot chocolate at serendipity

 THE parade (dream come true)

 great spot to see santa

 manhattan temple

"don't you just love new york in the fall?" 

the STRAND = 18 miles of books

 safe plane ride home

thankful for:

incredible family and friends

a job I love

warm home

learning new things

books

the holidays

the gospel

happy thanksgiving to you.

new york, new york

WE ARE GOING TO NEW YORK TOMORROW.

in my future house:

this is the coolest thing I've ever seen!  made out of globes!

how could we make one?

post 161: a smattering of thoughts

Have you seen Laura's new blog?  I always miss Lars.  I loved living with such a talented and creative person.  Just a couple nights ago I was thinking about dressing up as old men, complete with mustaches.  Good times, good times.

Holy moly, Parent-Teacher Conferences are next week.  When did those sneak up on me? Yikes.

Samuel made a fire for us tonight.  It is so cozy.  SO cozy, in fact, that I do not want to grade any tests, or work on any plans, or think about work.  I just want to read, or watch a show, or look things up on the internet.  Perhaps I'll make some more plans for our upcoming trip to New York.  I may make hot chocolate.

I'm attempting to convince Samuel to do his Writer's Portfolio for his english class on William Wordsworth.  When I think of Wordsworth, I think of this moment:

or this place: 

We went shopping for Christmas lights last night!  You know what that means...

nothing makes me more content than this:

• watching my students play in the leaves
• getting our garden "winterized"
• baking pie
• sleeping in

happy saturday.

nice to have him around

welcome home, samuel.