Christmas vacation!!

I made it!! Christmas vacation is finally here and I am so ready for holiday relaxation and fun!! I only worked until noon, but still had a really busy day. One of my best students is being sent to our Alternative school on our 1st day back to school after committing a serious offense this week, and I begged and pleaded those in important places not to send her, but it's one of those situations where you really don't have a choice. Currently our Alternative school stays are 45 days, but as of our 1st day back, it is changing to 90 days, which would mean this student would not finish 8th grade with her class before moving on to high school. While my begging didn't help, I was told that if I could get her enrolled TODAY and have her attend school there TODAY, then she could still qualify for the 45 day program. And yes, you know me, I somehow pulled that off! I got permission from the important people to allow this student to enroll although all of the paperwork wasn't finished and no drug test (which is required) had been done yet, then convinced the parent to meet me with the student at the Alternative school this morning before our 9am meeting to complete the paperwork, and got her in! It wasn't easy, but it's done, and the student should be back at her home school by the first week in March, assuming she doesn't have any behavior problems while she's there. It's just all worth while when you help a child! I wouldn't have even asked, but this girl wont do well at the Alternative school, in my opinion.
So, then I attended that meeting, helped another parent with an issue with her child, then went to a Christmas lunch at our main office. It was a lot of fun and we even had an ornament exchange, which was great! I got a cute teddy bear ornament. And, so, now I'm ready to let my brain rest for a couple of weeks.

I did get word today that the student will be getting the free braces!! An anonymous family donated the money and the student is going the first week in January for an evaluation to see what all she needs to have done. This sort of thing is life-changing for these kids. I am really excited for the girl and her family.

I went last night to a party at my friend, Christine's house. We went to graduate school together, worked at a hospital internship together, and now are in supervision together. She had a party for our colleagues (yes, we have to call each other big words like that now that we are professionals) and we had a great time. We did a white elephant gift exchange and I got some cute Christmasy red votive candle holders. Here are some pictures of us last night:

This is Christine's tree!

This is Aimee, Elizabeth, & Jessica

This is Elizabeth, Judith, Jessica, Jennifer, & Christine

This is Cathy & Rachel

This is me & Amanda

Tonight, I am going to another graduate school friend's party, Becky. It is just a small group of us who get together pretty often. We will have a white elephant gift exchange and some shrimp & crab bisque for dinner! Yummmmy!

I will be going by my Elizabeth's house on my way to Becky's to drop off their Christmas gifts. If you don't know my adoption story, you should read it here. Elizabeth's biological father's family doesn't want anything to do with her, but his best friend wanted to meet her as soon as he knew I had reunited with her and he says she is his niece and he tries to stay in contact with her and the boys. Today, he sent me a check for $200 to give her for Christmas! She is SOOO excited and said she could really use it, so I will bring it by to her today. I am giving her some money too, but she really wanted to be able to spend that on herself, so this will really help out with that.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!! Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then post this on your blog and tag 5 people. Tis' the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? Pretty much as soon as Christmas is over!!!
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, especially a Cajun Eggnog daiquiri
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably a doll...I had hundreds of them
7. Hardest person to buy for? Walter
8. Easiest person to buy for? Landen
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Sometimes none, sometimes mail
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Clothes that aren't my style
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas
13. When do you start shopping? Novemberish
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies

16. Lights on the tree? Have white now but want color!!!!
17. Favorite Christmas song? Blue Christmas
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? dasher, dancer , prancer, vixon, comet, cupid, donner, blitzen and rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Maybe one on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas day
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? That we allow this holiday to become stressful by focusing on money

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Anything my kids make

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Gumbo
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Wii Fit, Cosmo shaker and glasses
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Lesley
27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Dunno

And yes, consider yourself tagged if you want to play along!!

I hope you all have a great Friday night!!!