Day 349

Goodbye 2011

Celebrated at Bosco's

Tonight, Chris and I joined my parents out at dinner to one of our favorite spots...Bosco's Restaurant.  This is the restaurant Chris and I went to for our third date and remains a special place to us.  

As you can see from the picture, there is a black lab on the bar.  It is even better than that...when the dog's leg is lifted it pours beer!  The reason there is a black lab is a funny story.  During a mayoral race in Sunol a black lab named Bosco won and the town was ruled by a dog!  This restaurant was named after the famous mayor.

We had a yummy dinner.  Chris had a peppercorn filet with shrimp and I enjoyed the crab cakes.  Great way to say goodbye to 2011.  The past year had some peaks and valleys so we are excited for the next year which will hopefully only bring us peaks!

Day 348

2 Years in the Making

Finally, our oranges are ready and they are delicious.  We were given 6 oranges off of our hard working tree and we have been enjoying them. 

Day 347

The Patient- One Week Later

Snuggling Has Been the Key to Recovery

The Jealous Others

One week later...

One week of giving medications twice per day with spitting out of pills.

One week of being woken up at 4 a.m. each morning because the pain pills had worn off.

One week of a naughty doggy learning how to use the cone as a megaphone for her barking.

One week of recovery, giving us our wild Dixie back.

Dixie has done so well with her recovery but it hasn't been easy.  Lots of snuggling and spoiling have been the keys to recovery.  But, our other two furry friends have become VERY jealous!  When the opportunity struck and Dixie was not occupying the couch, Kona and Harley more than willingly jumped up to be snuggled and spoiled. 

Day 346

Oven That Never Stops Working

On Christmas morning, I noticed how the range still felt warm.  Sure enough the oven had never fully shut off from our Christmas Eve cooking.  We turned of the circuit breakers and put in a repair order to Sears.

A Sears repair man came out and $129 later I learned that it would only cost only a little more just to replace the range compared to fixing it.  Ugh!

Day 345

Miss You Grandma!

One year ago, my grandmother passed away.  I cannot believe it has been a year.  

I can still remember the smell of my grandma's perfume, her lipstick stains on my cheeks, and her love for hugs.  She is missed!

Day 344

Oh, Felicia

This photo is from college...shocker!  My roommates and I were throwing a Hawaiian themed party and Felicia came up from Pepperdine to surprise me in Santa Barbara.  It was:

1.)  A surprise to see her!

and

2.)  A surprise to see her in a swim cap and goggles!

The reason I reminisce Felicia for today's post is because it is her birthday.  My oldest friend and dearest friend is the girl that walked into my 8th grade class.  The girl that I was oh, so mean to during the first few months of 8th grade.  But, we became so very close and remain close even though hundreds of miles keep us apart.  

For this year's birthday I was able to meet up with Felicia to have a celebratory brunch with her husband and little girl, Alexandra.  Thank goodness Felicia comes up to the Bay Area often to visit her in-laws so that I can see her often, but not often enough.

Day 343

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Merry Christmas!

The festivities continued today.  Chris and I ventured over to his parents' house this evening with his sister and her husband.  We were spoiled some more with gifts and good food.  

Unfortunately, we had to head out early due to this ugly cold I have been battling.  Today, I had a difficult time talking, ugh!  

But, all in all...it was a great Christmas! 

Day 342

All Set for Dinner

Thank You Mom and Dad...Our New Flat Screen TV

Attempting a Family Picture

Merry Christmas!

Chris and I had my parents over for Christmas Eve.  I worked on setting the table with the china from our wedding...only second time we have used in in 8 years!  In addition, I prepared the appetizers, salad, and mashed potatoes.  Chris worked hard on smoking a big ham.  My parents brought yummy desserts and spoiled us with gifts.

We were/still are mesmerized by the new flat screen TV that my parents so graciously gave to us.  I think we were some of the last people we know to get a flat screen with HD and it is sure amazing.  Although, I did get annoyed because Chris has complete ADD for the TV.  :)

At the night's end we attempted a family photo.  Harley would not cooperate, Kona had to do her usual by lying on her back and refused to sit pretty, and Dixie (i.e. Cone Head) was just all over the place. 

It was a great Christmas Eve!

Day 341

Our Collection of Christmas Cards

Receiving mail becomes fun again during the Christmas season.  Instead of all bills, we get Christmas cards and bills. 

Day 340

Before...On the Couch

After...On the Couch

It was so difficult to motivate to take Dixie in for her eye removal.  I waited until the last minute to leave.  

I understand that she was in pain with the pressure in her eye causing a constant headache and she had lost vision in that eye.  But when you take in a silly Dixie and pick up a miserable Dixie...it breaks my heart.

I don't think I was warned about how much pain she would be in and how difficult this patient would be.  Dixie has not been drinking water but finally took a few licks of an ice cube.  She has eaten very little...only one bite of a hot dog!  And, getting medicine in here is nearly impossible.  

Not only is her "eye" all swollen but her entire face is sore.  She yelps when we open her mouth for medicine.  But, all along the tail still wags.  

Oh, how I love this little girl!

Day 339

One Bright Gift

Our favorite neighbor came by the other day with this wonderful surprise.  He had crafted this fun, festive present.  We LOVE it! 

The funny thing was that I had been admiring a lit up gift like this one at a craft fair last week but they were set as decorations and weren't for sale.  Now I have one as my own.

Day 338

Yep, A Flat Tire

I was all set to go and visit my friend.  I loaded up Dixie in the car so she could meet my friend's chickens and little girls.  Then, I heard a noise that didn't sound right.  Thank goodness I had to stop to mail off the Christmas cards.  That is when I looked at the tire and sure enough, it was flat.  So, back home we went and I called AAA to come put the spare on.  No, I did not know how to change the tire.

This tire issue has followed last night's arrival of a red light ticket from Arizona.  But, that ticket is lame and Chris is determined to fight it. 

Day 337

Harley's Favorite Spot...Under the Tree

Up to No Good

We woke up to a "dingle, dingle, dingle" noise and soon learned it was Harley whacking at the ornaments.  He may look sweet and angelic but that is so far from the truth.

Day 336

De La Salle vs. Westlake

The game was last night but we fell asleep and found out the results today.  De La Salle really beat up Westlake...but so proud of my alma mater.  The funny thing is that De La Salle beat San Ramon Valley to get in the finals.  Had San Ramon Valley won then Chris' high school would have played my high school.  Not common since one is in Nor Cal and the other, So Cal.

Day 335

Pictures in Front of Bass Pro Shop?!

Today, Chris and I went to Bass Pro Shop to do a little Christmas shopping.  As we pulled in...we saw a group with a limo taking pictures!  Oh my!!!

Well, we moved on from staring at this group and did our shopping.  After, we visited a favorite spot...Texas Roadhouse.  This spot has the most amazing biscuits.  We had some yummy wings too.

Day 334

SPOILED Teacher

It really does feel great when the kids and their families spoil me.  I am so appreciative!

Day 333

Our Annual Winter Breakfast

LOTS of Food

Each year, the fifth grade classes have a Winter Breakfast.  My class' day was on Thursday.  The students each chose a special person in their life, as a guest.  

The families of each student signed up for a breakfast item to share, as you can see there was plenty to eat.  Guests and students visited for a while and then the kids shared a special gift.  The students all wrote a unique poem and read it to them, in front of everyone.  As a gift, the poem is presented to each guest on pretty stationery.  

I was so impressed with the manners of the fifth graders (we really talked about manners) and I was so proud of each and every child for presenting the poems so beautifully. 

Day 332

Our Christmas Card

Gotta love Costco!  I uploaded the photos on Monday night and they were ready to go today, and they were reasonably priced.  And, when I walked in there was someone selling "forever stamps".  Now I just need to print those address labels.

Day 331

Who Did This?

I think I saw each animal mess with this poor Santa!  But none of them fessed up...go figure!

Day 330

"Thinking Mints"

Yes, Kona is thinking about eating them all up!  

But that is not why I call them "thinking mints".  These are the type of mints I give to the students during a test.  I had read somewhere that mints help during tests.  Worth a try!

Day 329

Oh, Christmas Tree

Santa Babooshka

Jim Shore's Nativity Scene

Pomegranate Wreath

Dickens' Village

Our Stockings

A Charlie Brown Tree

Nutcracker Collection

We are almost finished with decorating, we did a little at a time all weekend.  

After we had a real tree topple over from our last cat, we now opt for an artificial tree and love the easy clean up.  Chris put up all the ornaments as I put the accessories around the house. 

You may have noticed a missing stocking for our kitty...he has a bag of coal under the tree.  Ha, ha, ha!  Actually, they will soon all be getting only coal.  Once the boxes come out and new things were in the house, they all became very naughty.  Harley is already batting at the ornaments, Dixie has eaten a few things off of different decorations, and Kona is just hyper and sniffing it all.

Day 328

Shadelands' Victorian Tea

New Christmas Collar

Raggedy Anne Pillow

My mother-in-law treated for me, my mom, and my sister-in-law to attend the annual tea at the Shadelands Museum in Walnut Creek.  It was wonderful.  We had our tea, scones, sandwiches, and cookies then looked around at all the items for sale.  I got a few things including the pillow pictured above.  

After the tea, my mom and I did a little shopping in Danville where I got the dogs new Christmas collars.  They were very happy!

Day 327

Grow Oranges, Grow!

Our oranges are just about ripe.  We haven't had oranges on this tree in years.  So, with the freezing temperatures at night, we have been putting a tarp on the tree in hopes that the oranges will be okay.

Day 326

My "Peppermint" Socks

When my mom and I were shopping for quilt fabrics, I found these fun socks and threw them in the cart.  They are my favorite socks!  I can't decide if they are my favorite because they are fun and warm or because I can actually find them both to make a matching pair.

Day 325

Math Website- sumdog.com

Our school is competing in a contest using this free online math site.  Today, I had the organizer's child log-on for the class to see some of the games.  The class loved it!  You can make your own character (like a wii) and play all sorts of fun games while actually practicing math.  

Well, I gave all the kids the login information and highly suggested that they tried it out tonight (okay, I bribed them).  But either way, I just checked the site and about 26 out of the 30 kids were on the site!  I am so happy.  They do need to go on again tomorrow and they will get their promised homework pass :)

To get them to do it all next week I gave them a choice between Daily Spiral Review (paper/pencil work) or working on the website...wonder what they will choose!  ;)

Day 324

Pleasanton's Wreath

And, Again

As I was driving home from picking up take-out dinner, I was blinded by a light at the intersection.  I looked around and realized that the blinding light was aimed at the sparkling wreath hanging from the intersection over hang.  So, I had to take a picture out of my window.  But in case you can't quite see the decoration, I added a better picture from a day time view.

Day 323

Saint Nicholas

Tonight is the eve where many kids around the world put out their shoes for a treat from Saint Nicholas.  This was a fun tradition we did at my last school (a Catholic school).  

Well, today on Wonderopolis.org the Wonder of the Day was all about St. Nicholas and a few of my students observed this tradition.  We read all about St. Nicholas, including his date of birth and death.  After closing up, I heard a student saying how she didn't know that Santa Claus was dead!  

"Oh no!"  I screamed in my head...I had to clarify this one!  I reiterated that I was referring to Saint Nicholas not Santa Claus.  Eeeeeeek!

Day 322

Chris' New Obsession

The other night, Chris and I visited our neighbors.  While there, we got a chance to play with their new iPad and Kindle Fire.  I guess Chris and I are behind in the times, because we FINALLY were able to learn what this "Angry Birds" craze was all about.  Well, Chris found a way to play on the laptop and he loves it/hates it.  There are some difficult levels.

Day 321

"Mimi" and The Girls

Me and Chris

My Mom and Her Three Sisters

Today was the Bokanich Christmas Party (my mom's side of the family).  Our big family has grown and grown, so many that I have lost count.

This year's party was held at my parent's house.  They even got a bouncy house for all the kids, and the kids at heart.  We had a wide variety of foods and lots of good company.  Thanks to my parents for being the great hosts!  

Oh, and thanks to my sister-in-law, Megan, for her blood, sweat, and tears...we will enjoy her MANY dishes that she made today as our yummy leftovers :)