YAY! It's Christmas!!!

Without a doubt in my mind, Christmas is my favorite time of year! I love curling up on the couch and watching lots of cheesy Christmas movies. I love the brisk feel in the air when you walk outside. I love working on my Christmas cards. I love Christmas music 24-7 on the radio. I love walking through the mall and window-shopping and people-watching. I love decorating our house and how pretty the lights and decorations make it look. So as soon as Thanksgiving was over, I couldn't wait to "deck those halls!" Here are a few pics of our almost-finished product:

Because of both of our allergies, we have to have an artificial tree, so one by one I put the branches on. Then Patrick put all the ornaments on the tree while I worked on the outside. For an artificial, I think it looks really good!

But most importantly, I love how this season seems to bring people together. I love knowing and being able to share in the whole Christmas miracle! It's just a wonderful time of year!!!

Thanksgiving 2008

We spent Thanksgiving Day with my Mom and Dad in good ol' G'Vegas, and as always, we had a good time!

It was such a pretty day that we decided to take a walk down by the lakes in their neighborhood (which are-surprisingly-still full!) and feed the ducks. Bailee loved throwing the bread into the water and watching the ducks scurry to gobble it up, all-the-while she kept saying "kack, kack." She then insisted on walking all the way up the hill back to Mom and Dad's house (which is a long walk for someone her age and stature, but further proves how she's growing up all the time!)

After our walk, we ate a meal big enough for an army even though it was just the five of us. But as Mom confesses, she can't make a meal for just one day...there HAVE to be leftovers! Absolutely DELICIOUS! But, by far, the best part of the evening came after dinner when I whooped up on Patrick on the Wii... not just once, but TWICE! Woo Hoo!

For us, Thanksgiving was very laid back, which is perfect because that's just the way our family is! When we are surrounded by the people we love, we are reminded of how fortunate we are!

Goodbye Minimally Adequate

When I was a student at Clemson, I was assigned to describe my philosophy of education. As a naive college student having led a sheltered life, I began by saying "As cliche as it might sound, I believe all children can learn." Now, with seven years of teaching experience in a variety of settings representing various socio-economic classes, I can honestly say that I still believe that to be true: ALL children CAN learn!

I grew up, as I know many of you did, in families and communities where an education was not only valued but expected. I attended good schools, had good teachers, and genuinely felt supported. Anything less than this would have been hard for me to imagine.

Sadly, what would have been a nightmare for me is a day-to-day reality for many students in parts of South Carolina. In fact, some school districts along I-95 through Jasper, Dillon, and Allendale counties have been given the unfortunate title of "Corridor of Shame." As you'll see in the video, some schools in the "Corridor of Shame" can't warm the building with heat, forcing children to wear coats and gloves in their classrooms. Some schools have to use rags wedged in cracks in the walls to keep water from flooding. Some schools have raw sewage seeping into the hallways where students walk through it and then track it back into their classrooms. The main reason all of this can continue to happen is that the current law states that all South Carolina children only have to be provided with a "minimally adequate" education.

Despite all of these adversities; however, I still believe ALL children CAN learn! These students just need to be given the same opportunities and advantages that many of us received.

Currently, there is a petition drive that, if agreed upon by 2/3 of the House and Senate, would change the law requiring all children must be provided with a "high quality" education.

During this holiday season, I encourage each of you to stop and reflect on your own schooling. If you're like me, then you're probably thankful for what you received. I then ask you to think about those children who have to try and learn in those horrific environments. Would you want your child in environments like that? Finally, I encourage you to visit www.goodbyeminimallyadequate.com, sign the petition, and help us provide all South Carolina students with a high quality education.

After all, these children are our future, and ALL children CAN learn!

History....

tends to repeat itself. Or so I've always been told. Well, now I have proof that this statement is true!

As a child, about Bailee's age, I liked to play in the bathroom cabinets. It was a perfect hiding place and there was only room for one in there! I even decorated it by drawing a "mural" in there.

Well, the other night while I was cooking dinner, Bailee proceeded to pull all of my pots and pans out of the kitchen cabinet and lay them out on the floor. I didn't pay too much attention because, quite honestly, she wasn't hanging on me or begging for something. So when I turned around to see the mess of cookware scattered on the floor and no Bailee, I deduced that she was following in her Momma's footsteps. So, with a camera always within arm's reach, I snatched these pictures and a video to preserve this moment.

Who knows....maybe when Bailee has children of her own and they start climbing into cabinets, she can whip these photos out to show them!

Dirty Words

No, we are not teaching them to her, but in her "vocabulary explosion," a few have slipped out...and it is HYSTERICAL!

On Tuesday night, we were playing "Hide and Go Seek" and singing one of her favorite songs, "Ring Around the Rosy." In the first clip, she asks to "see it," and in the second she's singing "ashes, ashes."

I know I shouldn't condone the use of bad words, but it was too funny not to share!

Bailee's First Performance

Whitefield had their Open House Thursday night, and we went as excited parents. This was our first time attending something for Bai, and even though she didn't do anything, we were proud of her all the same! She didn't sing or dance, but she didn't on cry or run from the stage either!

After the two songs, we went to her classroom where we got her art work and mingled with her teachers.

Bailee with Mrs. Joan (director and mother of my college roommate, Niki) Ms. Sheba

Ms. Karen

Ms. Jaclyn

Her teacher, Mrs. Karen (Bailee absolutely LOVES her!)
Bailee loves her school and we couldn't be happier!

Parker Place

Patrick's Dad owns another farm down off the Due West Highway in southern Anderson county. I had only driven past it once last year, but had never riden through the property until yesterday. Patrick went down there to help Ron cut and bale hay, and my parents, Bailee, and I drove down there to join them. We took an afternoon walk through the pasture and Bailee and Daddy played hide-and-go-seek around a giant round bale. It is a beautiful place! The fall colors on the trees and the setting sun made for some excellent Kodak moments! It was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Staff Development Day

Monday was a staff development day for our district, and rather than take Bailee to school, I opted to let her stay home with me. We were so busy!!! We started out the day by cleaning the house, which I had a little helper. (Some of you might think I am making her do this, but NO, she's chosing to do this!!! After the house was clean, we went to school for a couple of hours. (I know, go to work on your day off, but that's my life!) Anyway, Marla and Robin Bracken were there and the two girls played while the mommies worked...well, we tried! They wore themselves out, and I wasn't even off the school grounds before she was conked out! We then took a nice long nap, and then headed back out again. Now that things are settling down, we were sitting on the couch and Bailee proceeds to take my sunglasses off the top of my head and put them on her own head. I guess she's more like me that we first thought!