Life and Times in CA: Week before Break! - December 10

So....let me just say I am not good nor am I a huge fan of arts and crafts but when you say Disney Arts and Crafts, I am intrigued....Last year I went with Christy and her family to make Gingerbread Houses at Disney and we did it again this year. Now, last year I just helped on a house but this year, Katja and I did a house together. The gingerbread house did not come out much more artistically than the snowman painting a few weeks ago.

The supplies!

Construction on Walls and Roof complete!

Peppermint Sidewalk Done!

Front of House

Back of House! Santa fell off the roof!!!
If you zoom in, he has a concussion and the reindeer are staring at him.

In the box and ready for the trip home.

Ready to go home!

The O'Rourke Family who have adopted me!

This past week was a little nutty. It seems like we were all trying to get in the holiday parties and on top of that, I have been trying to fight off a head cold. On Tuesday, December 12, I met the girls (Christy, Ali and Katja) after a district office meeting for dinner at Hero's. This was out time to have our "Christmas" together due to all the events going on in the next two weeks and all of us leaving for events when school gets out. It was a great dinner and we got to hang out together for a hour or so. We exchanged our Christmas presents also, which is always fun because we know each other so well. On Wednesday, December 13, Mike took us out to dinner as an admin team to celebrate. We went to TAPs Fish House and had yummy food and a great talk.

King Admin Christmas Dinner!

On Thursday, we had our district leadership meeting which was a holiday celebration as well. While that did not make it a really late day it does put the drive home a little longer because of the location of the school we meet at and the traffic. On Friday, we had our King High School party at Romano's. There was not a lot of people that showed up but I think many people who work at King had other parties and activities to attend as well. After this event I went and crashed the North High School Math Department Christmas party at Christy's. It was so great to get to see everyone and catch up with the math department. Seeing Alina pregnant, getting to catch up with the Schive's about their kids, hearing how Jesse and his wife are doing, and hanging out with the Reed's was so nice since I don't see everyone on a consistent basis. Before I knew it, it was close to midnight!

Sunday brought Erin's 50th birthday brunch with her friends and family. Her mom hosted at the Pacific Coast Grill, which is an awesome restaurant overlooking the ocean. We had a little room off the main area and had a great time.

The Girl's

Veggie Egg White Omelet

I was not feeling real great since I seem to be fighting a head cold this past week. Good thing I got a flu shot a few months ago.....however, I have been wanting to go to San Diego and hear the Spreckles Organ which is played on Sunday's at 2:00 pm. I decided today would be a great day since I was already halfway there. I got there about 1:45 pm and found a seat where the sun was setting and therefore there would not sun in my eyes. A very nice retired Air Force Fighter Pilot came and sat down next to me. His name was Colonel Reagan and he lives in Maryland. He is here for Christmas and is staying at the Naval base in San Diego and will spend Christmas and New Years with fighter pilot friends.

He has four kids but his one son passed away a number of years ago, he was a minister and had some complications with medication he was on. All of his kids ended up going onto college and he has a lot of grandchildren, three of who are in college now. He was so interesting to sit and talk with. After the program, which consisted of Christmas songs and caroling, we were able to go and explore the organ area and see everything up close. The Colonel did ask me to go to dinner with him but I had to come home and get some work done.