Insert a very COLD title here...

I lived in upstate NY for over 20 years and remember the extreme cold temperatures and heavy snowfalls. I have also lived in the middle of a Kansas farm prairie where the wind just blows and howls in negative temperatures and you become frozen to the middle of your bones and it takes an hour and 2 cups of hot chocolate to warm up your insides. Oh, how I wish I could have a few more of those warm days back...

I love my students - I love what I do - I love their hugs and warm smiles... BUT - with Christmas break just around the corner, they are having a hard time of chilling and being the sweet little darlings that I have grown to love over the past 5 months. So much has gone on in the past month that I am surprised they have been able to focus much at all really - Operation Santa, Cultural week, Thanksgiving, Pep rally, and now Christmas break approaching. Okay, I forgive them :)

I don't have any awesome content to write about for this week. I spent some evenings crocheting, have done some reading, taken a few walks with a few teachers, and that is about as exciting as it gets this week folks. So - I'll just share some beautiful pictures and continue counting the weeks until I am back home with my friends and family. I miss home so so much.

These 2 pictures were taken in October. I walk up this steady inclined hill twice a day and am usually on the phone with Tom from back home while huffing and puffing my way upward. Just as the walk/climb was starting to get easier, winter hit and now I walk this with the added weight of snow boots, snow pants and other heavy and thick winter gear. My heart says thank you for the great exercise!

"Bear" I'm becoming quite fond of this gentle giant. His presence gives me a great deal of comfort on my walks - especially when it is pitch dark outside in the mornings on my way to school.

These 2! I love them so much and taking care of them is my world and happiness at the end of each day.

Ginger loves to run and watch the planes as they land. Bush plane sounds are the norm around here.

 Look at the size of those crows. I seriously have had images of the movie "The Birds" come into my mind some days while I am walking home. These birds are pretty much all over the place and will swarm the dumpster.

Recess at 0 degrees - my kids love going outside no matter the temperature or weather conditions. They have the appropriate clothing and they really do enjoy the outdoor playing. (It wasn't until after I took this photo and looked through them that I noticed a student lying flat on the ground lol.. I have no idea what he was doing...)

You can almost see the cold!

 I introduced my students to Tangrams! It is the best "I am finished, now what" activity ever. They have no idea they are actually learning about shapes while playing - shhhhh... don't tell them!

 Painting feathers for cultural project

The kids made their own Christmas wrapping paper. Cute, huh!

 Less 4-wheelers around and more snow machines.

Saving the BEST for last - Look at this most precious baby ever :) He looks like his daddy so much!! It is photos like this that keep me warm.

As promised - I will explain the one way ticket I bought last month... I am going home at the end of this school year. Why? Not because of the job or students and not because of the crazy insane cold.. not because of the complete remoteness, loneliness and isolation - but - I miss my home, I miss my friends and family, I miss Subway, I miss my car, I miss the idea of being able to drive for 1 1/2 hours and be at my daughter's house, I miss having coffee with Tom... I miss home.

I have zero - I have negative zero - regrets of taking on this adventure... but I will save all that for a much later date... 22 more weeks to be exact - but, whose counting!? :)

PS - I love you Tom.