Celebration Saturday

 I'm so happy that Ruth Ayres started a Celebrate Link-Up on her blog!!!  I will be joining the celebration every Saturday!!

Here are my celebrations this week:

1.  Unfortunately, my daughter didn't have much to celebrate at the beginning of the week because she caught the nasty stomach bug that's going around and was up all night Sunday night.  I ended up taking Monday off to stay with her.  Even though she's 17 and can obviously stay home alone, she needed some help!  When I got back on Tuesday, I loved that my students had missed me and gathered around to talk to me in the locker bay (I have 5th grade locker bay duty).  One of my students  said, "Mrs. Mueller is  back!  All is right with the world again."  I loved that.

2.  My fifth graders are participating in Scholastic's partnership with Pajama Program, and I loved seeing cozy pjs coming in every day this week.

3.  Both my daughters were involved in giving back this week.  Libby organized a successful date auction night for her business fraternity, and they raised $3000 for a cancer charity!  Katie threw several bowls for Empty Bowls.  My friend, Karan Witham-Walsh, a potter and ceramics teacher, taught her how to use the wheel and is working with her students to make 200+ bowls for the charity.

4.  Snow day on Friday!  There's nothing like the excitement a snow day brings!  I always feel like a little kid when we get one.

5.  Snow didn't stop my husband's company holiday party.  We are so lucky to count Ed's colleagues as some of our closest friends.  We've known some of them for over 20 years, and we always have a great time together.  This year it was held at the Cincinnati Zoo in a heated pavilion.  Unfortunately, because of the storm, they closed the Festival of Lights, so we couldn't enjoy the beautiful Christmas decorations, but we did enjoy learning about a few critters!

 

6.  My town of historic Lebanon celebrates the holidays with a Christmas Horse-Drawn Carriage parade every December.  With the snow, it's going to be extra beautiful this year.  There is an afternoon and an evening parade.  The evening one is special because of all the lights on the horses and carriages. 

 



 



 

 

7.  I know a lot of folks are celebrating #nerdlution this week!  I've loved it because my goals of writing and exercise have been met so far because of the positivity of the movement.  Thanks, Katherine, Colby, Chris, and Franki for creating such a fun community on Twitter!  I've blogged about it a couple times already this week.  If you want to know more, read Chris Lehman's post.

 

8.  This awesome e-mail from a parent after I sent her one asking if I could copy a summary response letter this student wrote about Countdown and send it to the author, Deborah Wiles:

 

Your email gives me a wonderful opportunity to let you know how much Megan is growing and learning from your classroom. To say that Megan LOVES your class would understate how much she is enjoying the work she is doing in your room.  We often hear Megan talk about your classroom as being her "favorite part" of the day!  I am amazed at the work she is producing this year and how she is becoming such a "thinker."  I love hearing of the books Meg is reading and several of her book recommendations are now on my reading list! :)

 

Thank you so much for all that you do.  Megan has had a fantastic year so far and we know that she is developing and building many new skills from her experiences in your classroom!

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that you were able to enjoy a much deserved break.  Take care and thanks again for your wonderful email…it sure gave our family one more thing to be thankful for at this special time of year. :)

 

I celebrate parents and students who take the time out to say nice things.  It sure made my week!

 

9.  Advent - I love this time of year.  I love the decorations, Advent services at my church, our Advent devotional that is written by members of our congregation, focus on family and friends, and holiday parties.  I love the Christmas story: Luke 2:1-20.

 

 

10.  I finished Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco this week.  This is a very special book and definitely worth celebrating.  Readers who loved Wonder will love this book.

 

Now I'm off to read other Celebration blog posts to see what other people are celebrating!