Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Siiiigh. Gift Registries! Yuck!
While it was really fun creating our gift registries, I am totally at a loss with Nicole's (girl I work with) registries. She registered at Target, WalMart and Sears. First of all, WalMart? Ugh. Well, aside from that, she registered for like five things at each place. And they are really, really dumb things. I'm not going to buy her some 5 dollar curtains from WalMart. That's stupid. So I was trying to think of other things that perhaps my team (the other first grade teachers and I, there are 6 of us) could do for her. I mean, if we each pitch in an average of 30 dollars, we would have practically 200 bucks. So we could get her something pretty nice. But should we really just stick to her registries, or should we be more creative?
Some of my favorite gifts were actually things not on our registry. So I was trying to think of some fun stuff we could get her, but I'm not like, her best friend, so I don't feel comfortable getting her massage oils and kama sutra books or anything like that (that's what I'm getting Susan when she gets married ::wink, wink::)!
We could just get her a large gift card (the third grade team gave me 200 dollars at my shower for Target!), but since she is a fellow first grade teacher and I do know her pretty well, I figure we should do something a little more personal than that.
Plus, she's marrying the PE teacher, so maybe we should really shell out some extra dough and creativity.
Maybe we could do like some sort of a theme basket, like I did for Lindsay. Since her fiance is Mexican, he really has a large family with get-togethers all the time, and he already has two kids. So, maybe something kid-friendly or something to get away from the kids?
I need help. Please comment.
Some of my favorite gifts were actually things not on our registry. So I was trying to think of some fun stuff we could get her, but I'm not like, her best friend, so I don't feel comfortable getting her massage oils and kama sutra books or anything like that (that's what I'm getting Susan when she gets married ::wink, wink::)!
We could just get her a large gift card (the third grade team gave me 200 dollars at my shower for Target!), but since she is a fellow first grade teacher and I do know her pretty well, I figure we should do something a little more personal than that.
Plus, she's marrying the PE teacher, so maybe we should really shell out some extra dough and creativity.
Maybe we could do like some sort of a theme basket, like I did for Lindsay. Since her fiance is Mexican, he really has a large family with get-togethers all the time, and he already has two kids. So, maybe something kid-friendly or something to get away from the kids?
I need help. Please comment.
Monday, December 26, 2005
On the THIRTEENTH day of Christmas...
...my true love gave to me a brand new SUV!
Well, brand new to us, anyway. John and I have started a FAMILY. You know, you can't "start a family" without an SUV. Well, we wanted a car, but we needed something big enough to hitch a trailer, carry things like ironing boards and tv's when we buy them, etc., and this was the most gas-efficient deal we could find. It's a Hyundai Santa Fe. And it is very cool. I'd like to say that it's cute, but then John would feel emasculated. The poor dear already has to drive my Cavalier sometimes. The Santa Fe is kind of this bright blue that, to the pessimist, is hideous. However, to the optimist, the bright blue is very unique. Since John and I are optimistic, we both agree that it is a unique color.
:)
Well, brand new to us, anyway. John and I have started a FAMILY. You know, you can't "start a family" without an SUV. Well, we wanted a car, but we needed something big enough to hitch a trailer, carry things like ironing boards and tv's when we buy them, etc., and this was the most gas-efficient deal we could find. It's a Hyundai Santa Fe. And it is very cool. I'd like to say that it's cute, but then John would feel emasculated. The poor dear already has to drive my Cavalier sometimes. The Santa Fe is kind of this bright blue that, to the pessimist, is hideous. However, to the optimist, the bright blue is very unique. Since John and I are optimistic, we both agree that it is a unique color.
:)
Thursday, December 22, 2005
It was a great year!
I don't remember a lot of it, but here goes (this survey found on Veronica's blog, copyright 2005)...
January
1. Did you have a New Year's resolution this year?: Yes, that I could start wearing socks to bed again.
2. Who kissed you at midnight?: No one. I think I was with my family.
3. Does it snow where you live?: Hahaha…no.
4. Do you like hot chocolate?: I do.
5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?: No and I don’t ever want to be there at that time of year, either.
February
1. Who was your Valentine in 2005?: John
2. What did your Valentine get you?: Ummm…I don’t remember
3. When you were little, did you buy Valentines for your whole class?: Yes.
March
1. Are you Irish?: Half.
2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day? Of course. And wobbly shamrocks on my head.
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2005?: We made St. Patrick’s decorations at school (teacher).
April
1. Do you like the rain?: no, unless it’s really warm and I have a swimsuit on.
2. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year?: don't think so
3. Do you get tons of candy on Easter?: tons? I don’t think so. A little bit though.
May
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?: roses, daisies, sunflowers, gardenias, hibiscus
Where's #2?
3. Do you like the spring?: Yes.
4. Finish the phrase: April showers bring may flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims! (I stole that from Veronica)
5. What would you think of as a spring color?: yellow, white, green, blue, pink..
June
1. What year did you graduate from school?: Orrville High School: 2000
Muskingum College: 2004
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: I don’t think I did.
July
1. What did you do on the 4th of July? Went to the Orrville fireworks with my sister, the Wineys, and Emily, high school friends.
2. What about on July 12th? I don’t know.
3. Do you go on any vacations during this month?: Ohio!
August
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?: Wedding plans
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '05?: Wedding plans?
3. Do you go swimming a lot in the summer?: No…I don’t really like swimming.
4. Do you go to the beach a lot? No. Not a whole lot.
September
1. Did you attend school/college in '05?: If first grade counts
2. Who is/was your favorite teacher?: Shirley Wallner, who I work with, Scott Bardall (history in 10th grade), Carol Brenneman (6th grade English), Jackie Conway (1st grade)
3. Do you like fall better than summer?: I love fall more than any other time of year
October
1. What was your favorite Halloween costume ever?: a princess
2. What's your favorite candy? Krackle bars, fruity tootsie rolls, bubble gum, Snickers
3. What did you dress up like this year?: a bride
November
1. Whose house do you usually go to for Thanksgiving?: Aunt Cathy’s
2. Do you like stuffing?: definitely, I love it
3. What are you thankful for?: I have an absolutely amazing husband, a beautiful cat, a wonderful home, a terrific, loyal and dependable family, a few great friends, enough money to get by, good food to eat, and of course, Jesus in my little heart
December
1. Do you celebrate Christmas?: Certainly, just like 94% of America
2. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?: Yes! Thanks to Aunt Cathy when I was little and her mistletoe
3. What do you want this year for Christmas?: Well, Christmas just ended, so I made out pretty well already. We got a big tv, an SUV, new watches, some clothes, gift cards, etc. We are spoiled rotten.
4. What's the best present you ever got for Christmas?: my vanity was nice, and my silky pink pajamas that made me feel like a princess, jewelry boxes that played music and had dancing ballerinas…oh, and my engagement ring!
5. Do you like cold weather?: Not at all. I can’t even stand the 60 degree weather we are having here in FL!
6. How would you rate your '05 from 1 - 10?: I would say 9, 10 if not for all the hurricane stuff, tsunamis, etc.
January
1. Did you have a New Year's resolution this year?: Yes, that I could start wearing socks to bed again.
2. Who kissed you at midnight?: No one. I think I was with my family.
3. Does it snow where you live?: Hahaha…no.
4. Do you like hot chocolate?: I do.
5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?: No and I don’t ever want to be there at that time of year, either.
February
1. Who was your Valentine in 2005?: John
2. What did your Valentine get you?: Ummm…I don’t remember
3. When you were little, did you buy Valentines for your whole class?: Yes.
March
1. Are you Irish?: Half.
2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day? Of course. And wobbly shamrocks on my head.
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2005?: We made St. Patrick’s decorations at school (teacher).
April
1. Do you like the rain?: no, unless it’s really warm and I have a swimsuit on.
2. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year?: don't think so
3. Do you get tons of candy on Easter?: tons? I don’t think so. A little bit though.
May
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?: roses, daisies, sunflowers, gardenias, hibiscus
Where's #2?
3. Do you like the spring?: Yes.
4. Finish the phrase: April showers bring may flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims! (I stole that from Veronica)
5. What would you think of as a spring color?: yellow, white, green, blue, pink..
June
1. What year did you graduate from school?: Orrville High School: 2000
Muskingum College: 2004
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: I don’t think I did.
July
1. What did you do on the 4th of July? Went to the Orrville fireworks with my sister, the Wineys, and Emily, high school friends.
2. What about on July 12th? I don’t know.
3. Do you go on any vacations during this month?: Ohio!
August
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?: Wedding plans
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '05?: Wedding plans?
3. Do you go swimming a lot in the summer?: No…I don’t really like swimming.
4. Do you go to the beach a lot? No. Not a whole lot.
September
1. Did you attend school/college in '05?: If first grade counts
2. Who is/was your favorite teacher?: Shirley Wallner, who I work with, Scott Bardall (history in 10th grade), Carol Brenneman (6th grade English), Jackie Conway (1st grade)
3. Do you like fall better than summer?: I love fall more than any other time of year
October
1. What was your favorite Halloween costume ever?: a princess
2. What's your favorite candy? Krackle bars, fruity tootsie rolls, bubble gum, Snickers
3. What did you dress up like this year?: a bride
November
1. Whose house do you usually go to for Thanksgiving?: Aunt Cathy’s
2. Do you like stuffing?: definitely, I love it
3. What are you thankful for?: I have an absolutely amazing husband, a beautiful cat, a wonderful home, a terrific, loyal and dependable family, a few great friends, enough money to get by, good food to eat, and of course, Jesus in my little heart
December
1. Do you celebrate Christmas?: Certainly, just like 94% of America
2. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?: Yes! Thanks to Aunt Cathy when I was little and her mistletoe
3. What do you want this year for Christmas?: Well, Christmas just ended, so I made out pretty well already. We got a big tv, an SUV, new watches, some clothes, gift cards, etc. We are spoiled rotten.
4. What's the best present you ever got for Christmas?: my vanity was nice, and my silky pink pajamas that made me feel like a princess, jewelry boxes that played music and had dancing ballerinas…oh, and my engagement ring!
5. Do you like cold weather?: Not at all. I can’t even stand the 60 degree weather we are having here in FL!
6. How would you rate your '05 from 1 - 10?: I would say 9, 10 if not for all the hurricane stuff, tsunamis, etc.
Hello!
Oh, excuse me. I was just saying hello to the bald eagle that is...sitting outside my window! Whoa!
Anyway, today is my first day of vacation. I've watched a bunch of tv shows, trying to keep myself from cleaning our ridiculously messy house. How do people keep their houses clean? I haven't figured this out yet.
Well, I've already cleaned anyway and now our kitchen is more of a mess than it was and I took a break to look at wedding pictures and that made me think of my mom's Christmas present, which made me think of the internet, which made me come on here, which made me check everyone's blogs, profiles, away messages, catch up on what's going on at target.com, etc. etc.
Oh, vacation. I love you.
Anyway, today is my first day of vacation. I've watched a bunch of tv shows, trying to keep myself from cleaning our ridiculously messy house. How do people keep their houses clean? I haven't figured this out yet.
Well, I've already cleaned anyway and now our kitchen is more of a mess than it was and I took a break to look at wedding pictures and that made me think of my mom's Christmas present, which made me think of the internet, which made me come on here, which made me check everyone's blogs, profiles, away messages, catch up on what's going on at target.com, etc. etc.
Oh, vacation. I love you.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
"Season's Greetings!?"
What the *%^&$ is that?
Okay, so if you're Jewish, go ahead and say Happy Hanukkah. If you're celebrating Kwanzaa, say Happy Kwanzaa. But if you're not a believer in Christ and if you're not Jewish, come up with a better holiday greeting than "Season's Greetings." This is the time of year we celebrate Christmas, not the season.
But I guess some people like to celebrate Santa Claus and presents.
It just seems worse this year, and when I talk to my students, trying to prompt them..."What is Christmas REALLY about?" Not one kid said Jesus, God, or anything close. They said presents, Santa, snow, family, love...
Okay, so if you're Jewish, go ahead and say Happy Hanukkah. If you're celebrating Kwanzaa, say Happy Kwanzaa. But if you're not a believer in Christ and if you're not Jewish, come up with a better holiday greeting than "Season's Greetings." This is the time of year we celebrate Christmas, not the season.
But I guess some people like to celebrate Santa Claus and presents.
It just seems worse this year, and when I talk to my students, trying to prompt them..."What is Christmas REALLY about?" Not one kid said Jesus, God, or anything close. They said presents, Santa, snow, family, love...
Monday, December 12, 2005
Poor Rosa...
John and I lit all of our Christmas lights and candles tonight as we were eating our yummy chili dinner. It gave us a remarkable sense of peace. I felt like breaking out into song, "Leeet theeere be peace on earth...!" Before I could ruin the moment, I held back my beautiful singing voice--not to be arrogant or anything, but it is beautiful.
Ha...
Well anyway, Rosa was trying to find a spot where she could: a.) cuddle with one of us or b.) capture our attention by doing something ridiculously bad. So, she climbed up on the armrest of the couch and started clawing, not realizing that her enormous, feather-duster tail had landed right in the middle of our caramel-scented candle.
I didn't realize it was happening until the smell of caramels suddenly morphed into the smell of burning fur, and lo, there was the smoke to prove that yes, our dear cat's tail was burning off right before our eyes. John grabbed her tail with his hands to quench the smoke (there were no flames, thank goodness).
Rosa was fine, and only lost a bit of fur (completely unnoticeable). She was obsessed with the smell of it, though. The funny yet awful thing is that she couldn't find exactly where the smell was coming from, so she walked in circles trying to figure out the source of the singed scent...
But, as far as I know, she never did figure out that it was actually her tail that was smoking.
Poor Rosa!
Ha...
Well anyway, Rosa was trying to find a spot where she could: a.) cuddle with one of us or b.) capture our attention by doing something ridiculously bad. So, she climbed up on the armrest of the couch and started clawing, not realizing that her enormous, feather-duster tail had landed right in the middle of our caramel-scented candle.
I didn't realize it was happening until the smell of caramels suddenly morphed into the smell of burning fur, and lo, there was the smoke to prove that yes, our dear cat's tail was burning off right before our eyes. John grabbed her tail with his hands to quench the smoke (there were no flames, thank goodness).
Rosa was fine, and only lost a bit of fur (completely unnoticeable). She was obsessed with the smell of it, though. The funny yet awful thing is that she couldn't find exactly where the smell was coming from, so she walked in circles trying to figure out the source of the singed scent...
But, as far as I know, she never did figure out that it was actually her tail that was smoking.
Poor Rosa!
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Saving Jane
I am regretting that I don't live in Ohio right now, because people are telling me that Saving Jane has made it into the Top 40 and is on the RADIO...
Now some of you don't know Saving Jane, but I'm telling you, go to their website right now (www.savingjane.com) to buy their CD for just $10.00, and if you continue on to their actual website, you can listen to 4 whole songs on the CD.
I started listening to Saving Jane because Marti, the lead singer, is best friend and soon-to-be maid of honor of my cousin, Autumn (who is in a song on the CD, by the way). And, thanks to Autumn, I have come about the closest I'll ever come to knowing a real live singer on the radio...............
Okay, so I've never even met anyone from Saving Jane. Whatever.
I knew Saving Jane would be famous!!!!
Now some of you don't know Saving Jane, but I'm telling you, go to their website right now (www.savingjane.com) to buy their CD for just $10.00, and if you continue on to their actual website, you can listen to 4 whole songs on the CD.
I started listening to Saving Jane because Marti, the lead singer, is best friend and soon-to-be maid of honor of my cousin, Autumn (who is in a song on the CD, by the way). And, thanks to Autumn, I have come about the closest I'll ever come to knowing a real live singer on the radio...............
Okay, so I've never even met anyone from Saving Jane. Whatever.
I knew Saving Jane would be famous!!!!
Christmas Cookies
Erdman Family Tradition Number One:
Amanda makes cookies to join the cookie exchange (at school) because it would be cruel not to show others what REAL Christmas cookies are like.
And it's sort of competitive. For example, I know last year my cookies were the best ones, but this year, I may have some tough competitors. I like doing the cookie exchange because it's fun to bring 14 different kinds of cookies home, try a bit of each one...throw away the yucky ones, and eat all the good ones!
But you know, it's kind of torturous to be doing this. I mean, I'd rather just have 7 dozen of MY cookies to myself than all these other kinds. I am trying to figure out my motivation for this, so I am guessing it could only be because I want to show off. Or maybe I really do like to share this most wonderful recipe. I think it's a little of both.
You should see how beautiful our cat, Rosa is right now. I think she truly believes she is a human baby, because she always wants to lay and sit up just like a baby in my arms. I love kitties.
Amanda makes cookies to join the cookie exchange (at school) because it would be cruel not to show others what REAL Christmas cookies are like.
And it's sort of competitive. For example, I know last year my cookies were the best ones, but this year, I may have some tough competitors. I like doing the cookie exchange because it's fun to bring 14 different kinds of cookies home, try a bit of each one...throw away the yucky ones, and eat all the good ones!
But you know, it's kind of torturous to be doing this. I mean, I'd rather just have 7 dozen of MY cookies to myself than all these other kinds. I am trying to figure out my motivation for this, so I am guessing it could only be because I want to show off. Or maybe I really do like to share this most wonderful recipe. I think it's a little of both.
You should see how beautiful our cat, Rosa is right now. I think she truly believes she is a human baby, because she always wants to lay and sit up just like a baby in my arms. I love kitties.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Rosa is Very Naughty
She's getting a lump of coal for Christmas. She's already broken two of our ornaments.
Our picture website isn't letting us order our pictures or Christmas cards. Has anyone else tried it?
Does anyone have any tips for keeping cats away from Christmas trees?
Christmas is a very busy time of the year. I am spending beaucoup dollars on my classroom. Kids, buy your teachers gift cards.
Our picture website isn't letting us order our pictures or Christmas cards. Has anyone else tried it?
Does anyone have any tips for keeping cats away from Christmas trees?
Christmas is a very busy time of the year. I am spending beaucoup dollars on my classroom. Kids, buy your teachers gift cards.
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