Don't laugh at me--you look pretty funny too!
Twin A's first girlfriend.
More photos at my Flickr account here.
Peace
26 December 2006
Bumbo Babies
The twins got Bumbo seats for Christmas. They are from South Africa and are all the rage among hip moms. I think they are pretty funny.
Don't laugh at me--you look pretty funny too!
Twin A's first girlfriend.
More photos at my Flickr account here.
Peace
Don't laugh at me--you look pretty funny too!
Twin A's first girlfriend.
More photos at my Flickr account here.
Peace
21 December 2006
Sick Boy: Updated
This is the big twin. His mother took the picture. He is going to the doctor today. He will probably be the third member of our family to be diagnosed with an ear infection. Little twin was diagnosed yesterday and three year old girl was diagnosed Monday. No one is getting much sleep right now.
Peace
UPDATE: It was not an ear or sinus infection, merely viral. Everyone in the house seems to have it.
17 December 2006
Door into Winter, Part Four
Our Christmas door won the award for "Originality."
Last weekend I was at the computer with my headphones on, enjoying a game of Civilization IV and some DMB, when my wife exclaimed, "There's someone at the door!" It was 9:30pm on a Friday night; who could be at the door? I opened the door to find a group of carolers. They sang a couple of songs with great gusto, but not so much talent and piled into a large black SUV and drove off (we did not invite them in--the house was not ready for visitors). My wife and I have laughed for days about it.
The seven young men (six seniors and one sophomore) were my students. A couple of them had mentioned they might come a-caroling a couple of weeks ago, but I had written if off as typical teenager hyperbole. A few days before, a student had asked me how I would feel if I got t-p'ed. I have gone ten years as a teacher without such a blessing so I equivocated and told him that my neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate it. In retrospect, I think they were trying to plan some kind of event and couldn't decide between a good t-p or caroling. That they actually surveyed me to find out my preference is rather endearing. I approve of their choice.
Peace
Last weekend I was at the computer with my headphones on, enjoying a game of Civilization IV and some DMB, when my wife exclaimed, "There's someone at the door!" It was 9:30pm on a Friday night; who could be at the door? I opened the door to find a group of carolers. They sang a couple of songs with great gusto, but not so much talent and piled into a large black SUV and drove off (we did not invite them in--the house was not ready for visitors). My wife and I have laughed for days about it.
The seven young men (six seniors and one sophomore) were my students. A couple of them had mentioned they might come a-caroling a couple of weeks ago, but I had written if off as typical teenager hyperbole. A few days before, a student had asked me how I would feel if I got t-p'ed. I have gone ten years as a teacher without such a blessing so I equivocated and told him that my neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate it. In retrospect, I think they were trying to plan some kind of event and couldn't decide between a good t-p or caroling. That they actually surveyed me to find out my preference is rather endearing. I approve of their choice.
Peace
11 December 2006
Door into Winter, Part Three
I have been writing about the Christmas door decorating contests at my school. You can read the previous two installments here and here.
One year, I had a class of underachievers in a US History class. We spent a number of days planning outrageous things that I would never actually allow. At last, one of my students said, "I have a mounted deer's head at home. Let's stick it on the door." From that moment of inspiration we came up with an award-winning door that was both simple and unique. We mounted the deer's head on the door, put a red nose on it, and put a big sign above it that said, "Doing our part to restore the true meaning of Christmas." Under that was a list of the names of each of the reindeer with most of their names crossed off.
Fortunately, our high school is in a separate building as the lower school.
Our door for this year is complete and was judged this morning. No word on the winner though two judges had good things to say about it later in the day. Sadly, I cannot share the details of this door as it gives away my secret identity. Those of you in the know, it is a play on "I've been dreaming..."
Last thing: I got a google hit for "Christmas door decorating contest". How about that?
Peace
One year, I had a class of underachievers in a US History class. We spent a number of days planning outrageous things that I would never actually allow. At last, one of my students said, "I have a mounted deer's head at home. Let's stick it on the door." From that moment of inspiration we came up with an award-winning door that was both simple and unique. We mounted the deer's head on the door, put a red nose on it, and put a big sign above it that said, "Doing our part to restore the true meaning of Christmas." Under that was a list of the names of each of the reindeer with most of their names crossed off.
Fortunately, our high school is in a separate building as the lower school.
Our door for this year is complete and was judged this morning. No word on the winner though two judges had good things to say about it later in the day. Sadly, I cannot share the details of this door as it gives away my secret identity. Those of you in the know, it is a play on "I've been dreaming..."
Last thing: I got a google hit for "Christmas door decorating contest". How about that?
Peace
06 December 2006
Door into Winter, Part Two
For part one, click here.
My favorite door was my last one. We cut out a simple green tree on a white background and hot glued sugar gum drops to the tree. We then stuck a toothpick into each sugar gum drop and hung a white ornament from each toothpick. Around each ornament we tied a yellow ribbon. We wrote this letter and pasted it to the door:
Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Christmas Tree
This year, as hundreds of thousands of US troops are deployed around the world, it is our hope that you will take a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by these brave men and women. Many of them will be putting their lives in danger throughout the Christmas season. All of them would prefer to be home with their families. Few of them will have a Silent Night. Some of them will die.
We ask that you would take one of these ornaments for your own tree at home. Each one has the name of a country where US troops are presently deployed. The yellow ribbon has not only become a symbol of the desire for all of our troops to return home safely, but will also draw the eye to this uncharacteristic color for a Christmas tree. When you see this ornament, we ask that you say a short prayer for the safety of our troops, the protection of their families, and peace to all.
We also ask that you take the time to read a sampling of letters from troops away from their homes at Christmas during the American Civil War.
Finally, we ask for a renewed dedication to the preservation of our civil liberties and our unique American heritage so that these sacrifices shall not have been in vain.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
I should probably do the same door until it is no longer necessary to have our boys and girls overseas.
Peace
My favorite door was my last one. We cut out a simple green tree on a white background and hot glued sugar gum drops to the tree. We then stuck a toothpick into each sugar gum drop and hung a white ornament from each toothpick. Around each ornament we tied a yellow ribbon. We wrote this letter and pasted it to the door:
Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Christmas Tree
This year, as hundreds of thousands of US troops are deployed around the world, it is our hope that you will take a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by these brave men and women. Many of them will be putting their lives in danger throughout the Christmas season. All of them would prefer to be home with their families. Few of them will have a Silent Night. Some of them will die.
We ask that you would take one of these ornaments for your own tree at home. Each one has the name of a country where US troops are presently deployed. The yellow ribbon has not only become a symbol of the desire for all of our troops to return home safely, but will also draw the eye to this uncharacteristic color for a Christmas tree. When you see this ornament, we ask that you say a short prayer for the safety of our troops, the protection of their families, and peace to all.
We also ask that you take the time to read a sampling of letters from troops away from their homes at Christmas during the American Civil War.
Finally, we ask for a renewed dedication to the preservation of our civil liberties and our unique American heritage so that these sacrifices shall not have been in vain.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
I should probably do the same door until it is no longer necessary to have our boys and girls overseas.
Peace
04 December 2006
Door into Winter
Update (11/12/2007) Other ideas for Christmas door decorating: Door into Winter II, Door into Winter III, and Christmas Door Decorating Contest.
The SGA at my school sponsors a Christmas door decorating contest every year. We missed it last year (on account of a new advisor), but it is back this year. The first period in a classroom gets the task of decorating their door with prizes awarded for creative, spiritual, and overall. My AP US class is my first period this year, and we brainstormed for eight minutes this morning (that is all the time I could spare). Most of the ideas involved a nude Ben Franklin. I should have never mentioned Franklin's tendency towards naturism (he called it taking an "air bath")as it has become a running gag in class. The one good idea involved using the famous Washington Crossing the Delaware painting and inserting cut out pictures of the members of the class in place of the characters on the painting. I would be Washington. Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas night to surprise the Hessians on the other side leading to one of Washington's finest victories of the war. The painting is, of course, pure patriotic fluff, but wonderful fluff all the same.
I thought I would give you a taste of doors past this week. Only my first two doors failed to win, but only because my first could not win and the second was bad. That first door was also created by an AP US History class. We simply taped a single piece of white paper to the door that stated:
In protest of the crass commercialization of Christmas, our class would like to humbly present the idea that Christmas is not about contests but is, instead, about the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
In Class, December 7, 2001. The unanimous Declaration of the six united students of AP US History,
When in the course of Christmas events, one class decides to separate itself from the bonds of Christmas Door Contests, it becomes necessary to declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all doors are created equal, that they are endowed by their maker with certain swinging motions, that among these are locking, opening and closing.
That whenever any form of contest becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the class to alter or abolish it, and to institute new contests, laying its foundation upon such principles as to them shall seem most likely to effect an understanding of the true meaning of Christmas.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the AP United States of America class, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of this contest, declare that Christmas is not about contests, decoration, winning or losing, or prizes. Instead, Christmas is and shall ever be about the promise of redemption of fallen man by the birth of the Jesus.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, Our Fortunes and our Sacred Door.
The entire class signed it, and we lost. The judges even went to the extraordinary measure of calling us out over the intercom when announcing the winners. They said something to the effect, "Any doors that removed themselves from the contest could not be awarded a prize." They had a point but missed ours.
Peace
The SGA at my school sponsors a Christmas door decorating contest every year. We missed it last year (on account of a new advisor), but it is back this year. The first period in a classroom gets the task of decorating their door with prizes awarded for creative, spiritual, and overall. My AP US class is my first period this year, and we brainstormed for eight minutes this morning (that is all the time I could spare). Most of the ideas involved a nude Ben Franklin. I should have never mentioned Franklin's tendency towards naturism (he called it taking an "air bath")as it has become a running gag in class. The one good idea involved using the famous Washington Crossing the Delaware painting and inserting cut out pictures of the members of the class in place of the characters on the painting. I would be Washington. Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas night to surprise the Hessians on the other side leading to one of Washington's finest victories of the war. The painting is, of course, pure patriotic fluff, but wonderful fluff all the same.
I thought I would give you a taste of doors past this week. Only my first two doors failed to win, but only because my first could not win and the second was bad. That first door was also created by an AP US History class. We simply taped a single piece of white paper to the door that stated:
In protest of the crass commercialization of Christmas, our class would like to humbly present the idea that Christmas is not about contests but is, instead, about the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
In Class, December 7, 2001. The unanimous Declaration of the six united students of AP US History,
When in the course of Christmas events, one class decides to separate itself from the bonds of Christmas Door Contests, it becomes necessary to declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all doors are created equal, that they are endowed by their maker with certain swinging motions, that among these are locking, opening and closing.
That whenever any form of contest becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the class to alter or abolish it, and to institute new contests, laying its foundation upon such principles as to them shall seem most likely to effect an understanding of the true meaning of Christmas.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the AP United States of America class, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of this contest, declare that Christmas is not about contests, decoration, winning or losing, or prizes. Instead, Christmas is and shall ever be about the promise of redemption of fallen man by the birth of the Jesus.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, Our Fortunes and our Sacred Door.
The entire class signed it, and we lost. The judges even went to the extraordinary measure of calling us out over the intercom when announcing the winners. They said something to the effect, "Any doors that removed themselves from the contest could not be awarded a prize." They had a point but missed ours.
Peace
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