merry nerdy christmas

I am super indecisive about everything. Everything! So when it came to getting a Christmas tree, I couldn't decide if I wanted a traditional green tree, or a funky and fun white tree, or our tiny Charlie Brown tree again.  I even had a little survey going on with my facebook friends! Most people voted for the green tree, and the bff was pushing for a white tree! 

I couldn't decide, so I did what any normal person would do when they can't decide... Go onto pinterest and scroll through a gazillion different trees!  As I was scrolling I came across the book tree. The little sis sent me another picture of a book tree, and John was lovin' the idea of bustin' out all his books, so I knew it was meant to be. ;)

John and I put the "tree" together pretty quickly and I wrapped it in pretty lights. It isn't very big, and not very traditional, but I love it. It's very us. We are big time book nerds! Nothing else in my house is decorated and this is the only corner with any fun holiday decorations. But this one little corner is better than nothing, right?

The box set of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia is not looking to festive... I'm in desperate need of a "tree" topper!  Any ideas?

christmas in room 37

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my classroom! The fun Christmas art is in full effect and it will continue on through next week. I don't know who's more excited, me or the kids!

For my birthday, I got another Charlie Brown Christmas tree from my dear friend, Ellen. She gave me permission to put it up in my classroom, and seriously, the kids went wild! It was probably because I hyped it up, BIG TIME, but seriously, when I showed them it was a special music playing one, it was game over. The were so excited to have it up in the classroom. I went into full 5 minute rant about how to take care of it, and "to be mindful of our own personal space so we don't knock it over", and only "look with our eyes". Blah, blah, blah. I probably sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher, "wah, wah, wah, wah, wah".

2 hours into our day and I hear a thud and the gasp of half the class. Some little stinker had knocked over the tree and broke the ONE ornament. I should have known... What was I thinking! Of course it would be broken if I didn't put it on a high shelf in the corner of the room where no one could see it. But what fun is that?!

It worked out in the end because I had to think of a quick activity for a sub to do and now we have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree with cute lil ornaments made by first graders. It makes their Readers Workshop book bins look so much more festive!

On that note, would you care to give and help out my first grade class? My project has only 30 more days to be funded! From now until the 12th, any donation that is given will be matched DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR! Can you spare to donate a few dollars, maybe more?! Click HERE to see my project and enter the special code, SPARK, in the payment step to have your donation matched. Thank you!

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

...even with the 70 degree California weather!

John and I finally took out our tree for our mini-house! Our idea of decorating for the holidays means we bust out our Charlie Brown tree and hang the ONE ornament. Our house is really way too small to have anything else up or hanging. Plus, I just like to keep it simple; which always is a plus when it's clean up time!

So now our home is ready for Christmas ... I'm sippin' on hot chocolate, Brian McKnight Christmas music is playing, and I'm warming up in front of our "fireplace" AKA our space heater. I love it! This is the way the Parks do it!

In the movie, Charlie Brown Christmas, lil Linus reminds depressed Charlie Brown about the real meaning of Christmas! Taken from the gospel of Luke, he recites these verses:

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Amen, Linus! Amen.