Coal In Your Stocking?

Text: Aaron, Noah and Rachel failed to read the sign "Please Keep Off Coal" outside the Blacksmith's building at Colonial Williamsburg. They were very curious what it was, so we informed them it was what they deserved in their stockings every Christmas. The children were incredulous! They began defending their behavior. I, on the other hand, made a mental note, about the location of this stocking stuffer emporium.

_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB LIZ at The Digichick
Bren Boone: Luscious Solids
Michelle Coleman: Handstamped Alpha, Glitter Stockings
Jenn Patrick: Backward Staples
Kate Hadfield: Doodled Alpha, Heavy Duty Staples
Tiff Brady and Kate Hadfield: Wordy Bits Date
Weeds and Wildflowers: Layered Alpha
Natalie Braxton: Cutouts II, Really Big Bows
Katie Pertiet: Vintage Curled Frame 4
Nancy Comelab: Vintage Frames
Meredith Fenwick: Caution Stamp
Font: Jane Austen}

::::::::::::::::::What Do you Do When There Is A Teacher Work Day?::::

Well, I scheduled check-ups for Aaron and Rachel. Rachel asked that I cancel the appointment and reschedule for a time during school, so I could check her out. I told her no. When we were called into the back office the nurse informed Aaron that he would be getting the meningitis vaccine. Aaron suffers...and we along with him...from anxiety. He started to cry. He was able to calm down for a bit while the other regular check up stuff was happening. The doctor asked about the kids diets. I told him Rachel was a pretty diverse eater, and that Aaron accidently eats vegetables every once in a while. Aaron was in 40th percentile in height and 20th in weight. Rachel was 14th in height and 38th in weight. She was scheduled for a chicken pox booster, but the vaccine availibility was too low and she was healthy, so they skipped her shot. As Napolean Dynamite would declare..."LUCKY!"
Aaron, on the other hand, was not so lucky. He came to get me when the nurse was ready for the shot. He tensed up and cried. I told him to squeeze my hand, instead he clawed the cr@p out of my right forearm. Note to self...wear Kevlar long sleeve shirt when going to doctor appointments with Aaron. He flinched and grabbed for his upper arm and made the nurse drop the syringe to the ground after giving Aaron a nice scratch across his arm. Aaron apologized profusely while shaking. The nurse came back with a new syringe and prepped the other arm. This time I took hold of Aaron's hands and the nurse quickly gave the shot. Aaron was surprised that it happened so quickly and he was fine. Like...every other time. ARGH!


***WARNING...Not A Fluff Light-Hearted Entry::::

Michael has been asked to speak at the next meeting library board meeting. He is apprehensive because he dislikes confrontation, but he ,with a bit encouragment, decided that supporting The Bill of Rights would override his apprehension. The issue before the board is the libraries internet policy.
There is a pernicious problem in the world in regards to pornography and their are many who would like to censor what people view at the public library. I know from talking it over with Michael that he feels like people will see him as supporting those who make evil choices. In actuality, he is supporting their right to choose between good and evil. If we force or compel people against their will to make the choices we want we are no better than regimes throughout the world and throughout history that we have fled or fought to find a place for freedom. That very freedom is being chipped away in small ways here and there and I don't think it is of any small consequence that he has an opportunity to speak up for those freedoms that are penned in our Constitution.

::::::::::::::::Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Program:::::

Just because I saw it on the shelf at the library and wanted to read it. I grabbed The Twits by Roald Dahl.
The book was a short read and the kids were eager to hear the story. At one point I think I had 3 kids laying around me to see the illustrations. The story was bizarre, but the moral of how you look and your attitude can determine how people perceive you was great.

We then went back to our regular reading book. Rachel says she doesn't get the book, yet. She doesn't particularly like the story, but we are only on the 6th chapter, so I told her to stick it out with me. I like the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

:::::::::::::::::::Costume Ideas::::::::

Rachel: A Lollipop...I will have to find a set of white sweats for the "stick" part and Michael will come up with something clever for the candy bit.

Noah: Ben 10...he just needs a t-shirt designed like the cartoon.

Aaron: The Black Knight...Michael is sewing a black tunic and Stephen made the chain mail last year, so he is pretty much covered.

Eve: I'm not sure about her. I'm trying to talk her out of being a fairy...just tired of that idea.

Check ya later!