Months End

I can't believe this month is over already. It seems like it was Christmas just last week. I guess time goes by faster and faster the older I get.

I took my German students on a field trip this week to Siegfrieds downtown. It turned out really well. My students had a fun time. Hopefully I will be able to recruit more students for next year. I currently teach 3 German classes and 3 US History classes. I enjoy teaching both of the subjects, so I am not sure which I would prefer, but since I am the only German teacher at the school, I want to make sure there is still a need for me by increasing the enrollment.

Our house is getting close to put on the market. Steve has been working on updating the bathroom. He took off all the pink tile and is about ready to re-tile the bath surround. We will get rid of the green toilet and get a new vanity as well. Once we are done we will put the house on the market, and hopefully it will sell quickly, but I am not keeping my fingers crossed in this market!

Body World

We went to go see the Body World exhibit in Salt Lake City yesterday. It was very interesting seeing what the inside of the body looks like. Mariane seemed to enjoy it and she wanted to get an anatomy book. Paul did not like it. He got bored very quick. We decided that we should start taking the kids to museums once a month so that Paul will get use to it. We really want to take a trip to the D.C. area, but as long as Paul gets bored at museums after five minutes, we don't want to spend the money for the trip Hopefully he will learn to like going to museums.

Back to School

I had a nice Christmas break spending time with my family. I enjoyed seeing Steve everyday. The hardest part about my teaching job is that I can't see Steve everyday. I guess that is just a sacrifice we will have to continue to make for a couple of years so that Paul doesn't have to spend the whole day in day care.

I am excited to go back to school, though. I enjoy teaching and I enjoy being around my students. Tomorrow morning we will be back to the grind!

New Year's Eve

This year Steve had the night off. We invited LeiOna and Joel and family to come over for dinner and games. I must say, that I do not enjoy staying up. I hate the way I feel when I am forcing myself to stay up and I also hate the way I feel the next morning. The kids actually slept in a little bit the next morning, but I still felt horrible. At least it is only one night a year!

Van Orden Christmas Party

Christmas Pictures

Merry Christmas

We had a fun Christmas morning. The kids enjoyed their presents. Paul did not want to unwrap all of them, though, He got interested in a gift, and then did not want to open anything new.

Mariane got an American Girl Doll....not one of the historical ones, but one that looks like her. She got several outfits for it as well. She has been playing with it all day.

Paul got tools so he could be like daddy. They are not toy tools, but real ones. He also got a batman mask. he really likes batman for some reason. he puts the mask on and then growls at people. Earlier Matthew and the rest of my family came over for our Christmas morning breakfast. Matthew was teasing Paul. Paul did not like the teasing, so he pulled his mask down from the top of his head and growled at Mimi.

I got some cartridges for my Cricut and some software for it. I also got some German dvds that I can use for my classes.

Steve got a circular sander, some binoculars, a remote control car, and some stuff for his gun.

For the family we went to the Black Friday sale this year at Walmart and got a big screen tv. It is so different from our little tv.

We had fun, but sadly Steve had to work again this evening. He left earlier than normal, because there is a snow storm today and he wanted to make sure he had enough time to get there.