What a cake!

I spoke briefly about Teachers’ Day in this post. In addition to the entire country taking a day off school my students brought me delicious dark chocolate (and a few other gifts, but that’s my favorite!)

School also throws a party for any teacher who wants to go. They have us RSVP and then find a venue to accommodate the number of people expected. This year it was a lovely time with good food, delightful company, open bar, and lots of dancing.

The celebrations didn’t end there. Today there was a catered luncheon for elementary teachers. Parents covered our classes while we ate at linen covered tables with fresh flowers and real china. The food was a range from Indian to Chicken Caesar Salad with huge slices of parmesan. The heavenly hour was capped off with this cake.

I couldn’t make this stuff up.

Thankful Thursday

Tonight I am thankful for owning more than one device. It has been a full day topped off with a delightful visit with a friend this evening. She left, I took care of the load of laundry in the dryer, and then sat down to slice before heading to bed.

The laptop won't let me log in.

I tried a couple of times. My husband tried. We each tried again. I have gone on to plan B while he is working on the laptop. I am not even going to ask if there is hope. I am wiped out and grabbed my iPad and found some work arounds. (I prefer to blog from Windows Live Writer and that's not an option on this device.)

I am thankful for more than one option that didn't involve walking down to school to log in to my work machine. I am thankful to still be able to chronicle a small bit of my day. I am thankful for my husband who took on the task with out being asked or grumbling. I am thankful that I am a couple of clicks away from being in bed.

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

This tattoo shop recently opened along our route home from school. Since we walk along the sidewalk in front I hadn't seen the sign. Today I happened to cross the street nearby and couldn't help laughing. Do you really think the tattoos are available for deliver?!

Bedtime Routines

Bedtime routine for our daughter includes picking out clothes for the next day, specially selected taking into account the weather forecast and what activities will be that day. It also includes putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, reading some books, saying prayers, and getting tucked in.

And then I leave.

There are all kinds of other routines that I can only piece together by what I discover either when I go in as I head to bed in order to turn off a light that has been turned on or in the morning when she emerges from her room.

I know that there is loads of reading that happens by the stack of books I find her in bed with. This is nothing new and will (hopefully) continue for years on end, though the books will get longer so the stack for that night won't need to entail twenty.

There is also a new routine, one which I hope is short lived. She has been changing into her clothes for the next day before she goes to sleep. Her reasoning is that she is then all ready in the morning.

I'm not sure I want to know what she will think of next.

Birthday Fun

I will never have to work on my birthday for as long as I teach in Lebanon. Why? March 9th is Teachers' Day and all schools are closed. Pretty great, right? Even better is that school throws a big party for teachers, so I always get a big bash with zero effort on my part, other than showing up.

The party was last night and I boogied until way past my bed time. This morning my husband made sure I could sleep in. When I did get up I was greeted by my daughter running toward me saying, "Happy birthday, Birthday Girl!" This was followed by snuggles and kisses and the presentation of presents from her, which she had wrapped in cloth found in her room - one in a doll blanket and one in an abaya from her dress up bin. The contents? A book she is writing, though it is still in the early stages. The other is a (probably antique) flour sifter that my aunt gave my daughter along with a bunch of other old, aluminum kitchen gadgets.

What you wouldn't know about this flour sifter, without this further explanation, is that it isn't a flour sifter in my daughter's mind. She has decided it is the ultimate bug catcher. You simply leave it sitting in a room and any bug will go into it to check it out. This is your opportunity so wind the crank and kill the bug. Where does she come up with these things?!

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

"one and two and three and four and"

"one and two and three and four and"

"one and two and three and four and"

This is being sung repeatedly by my daughter. She isn't practicing her counting, nor her singing (though she does change pitch as she goes). This is what I hear as she practices piano. Sometimes it changes to, "one and two and three and", but that is about as exciting as it gets at this point. 

It's Late!

I just walked in the door from Lady's Night and head to get ready for bed when I realize I haven't sliced yet today and it is 11:56.

Uh-oh

Of course the computer isn't on and takes three minutes to boot. Now I'm not going to make it for sure without playing the time zone shuffle.

Uh-oh

This morning wasn't laid back morning as we basically had to get up like it was a school morning to be at church in order to head for the Family Service Day. We successfully packed loads of food for refugees with Heart For Lebanon. (Enough for 46 families for six months!)

Family friends had asked if we could have their daughter all day today and tomorrow morning so my afternoon 'game' was off too with two girls in the house. I still managed to get my Saturday chores accomplished, everyone fed, and out the door for my anticipated evening of girl fun.

Here I am begging for forgiveness as it is now 12:04. (And I can't remember the last time I was up past ten!)

Uh-oh