Meteor Shower to Peak Thursday
A Geminid meteor streaks across the night sky, with circular star trails whirling the background, in a time-exposure photo made by astronomer Jimmy Westlake in December 1985.
What could be the best meteor display of the year will reach its peak on the night of Dec.13-14. The Geminids perform excellently in any year, but British meteor astronomer, Alastair McBeath, has categorized 2007 as a “great year.”
Last year’s display was hindered somewhat by the moon, two days past last quarter phase. But this year, the moon will be at new phase on Dec. 9. On the peak night, the moon will be a fat crescent, in the south-southwest at dusk and setting soon after 8 p.m. That means that the sky will be dark and moonless for the balance of the night, making for perfect viewing conditions for the shower.
The Geminids begin to appear noticeably more numerous in the hours after 10 p.m. local time, because the shower’s radiant is already fairly high in the eastern sky by then. The best views, however, come around 2 a.m. local time, when their radiant point will be passing very nearly overhead.
Heidi, Heather, and Mel you have the best chance of seeing this since you’re up at this time anyway. I will probably miss it, so I expect a full report. 😉
Read MoreReport on Last Week
1. Solicit parents in Emma’s class for $ for teacher’s Christmas gift.
Done, now I just wait for the money to trickle in.
2. Solicit parents in Hunter’s class for $ for teacher’s Christmas gift.
Done, now I just wait for the money to trickle in.
3. Solidify plans for Hunter’s and Emma’s class parties next week. Yes, I am a room parent for both classes, crazy I know.
In progress. Went this morning and cut out winter themed die cuts for making door hangers.
4. Drop off the girls at Gretchen’s house (thanks!) so I can go work at the school’s holiday shop. I’ll be helping the kids buy little things as gifts for their family. My job is to keep them within their budget.
Done. It was so fun to see the kids trying to find the perfect gifts for Grandpa or baby brother. Especially fun to watch Emma because she used money she had earned herself.
5. Finish sewing costumes for the ward Christmas activity, A Night in Bethlehem. I have one tunic finished so far, but have 4 others that are only just cut out.
Done. Got one for all of the kids, and Rob and I went Toga, wrap a sheet around you style. It was a nice party too. Great turnout!
6. Get fabric to make some humanitarian blankets for the victims of flooding in Mexico. They have to be turned in on Sunday.
Done.
7. Sew the blankets, I have one finished already.
My goal was 3, but 2 was ok too.
8. Start to Pixie !
Done. Although as we were unloading the kids to leave it on the front step, guess who came walking out of the garage? Oh well.
9. Clear a path through the house so that the repairman coming this afternoon can find the repairs he needs to make on our running toilet, and exposed carpet tacks.
One done, still waiting to hear back from the carpet guy on getting the tacks redone.
10. Trip to the post office to mail a package.
Did it this morning.
11. Finish shopping for Christmas.
Almost done!
12. Keep up with Secret Siblings – we all drew names on Thanksgiving and are supposed to do something nice for the person we picked every day until Christmas. I’m also doing Hannah’s and Sabrina’s. Maybe should have thought this through a little better…
Maybe not something every day, but I made an effort.
13. Grocery store trip for the basics.
I decided to use a coupon from Vons.com for free delivery and got them online. A cool thing, but they arrived at 10:30 at night instead of between 4 and 8pm that I had signed up for. The poor driver was way overloaded when a guy called in sick, and it was also his birthday!
14. Write off any cleaning, because realistically, it’s not going to happen this week!
Yep, didn’t happen.
15. Send Rob a cute email message or call him because this is our only communication until his deal at work closes on Friday.
Done. Thanks to Hallmark.com
Read MoreGotta Love Josh
Last night was the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The opening act was one of my favorites, Josh Groban. Rob took me to one of his concerts a few years ago as a Christmas present, and it was so much fun. He’s got such an interesting mix of fans from teens to Grandmas and it was great! I love his performance of this song. It seems so sincere, not just for show. Enjoy!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFq2JhPce5I
Read MoreTo Do List
This isn’t me, but it could be… If I ever ironed.
Well, so much for getting a peaceful Christmas season. Maybe next week, but for now I can’t belive how much I need to get done between today and Sunday.
1. Solicit parents in Emma’s class for $ for teacher’s Christmas gift.
2. Solicit parents in Hunter’s class for $ for teacher’s Christmas gift.
3. Solidify plans for Hunter’s and Emma’s class parties next week. Yes, I am a room parent for both classes, crazy I know.
4. Drop off the girls at Gretchen’s house (thanks!) so I can go work at the school’s holiday shop. I’ll be helping the kids buy little things as gifts for their family. My job is to keep them withing their budget.
5. Finish sewing costumes for the ward Christmas activity, A Night in Bethlehem. I have one tunic finished so far, but have 4 others that are only just cut out.
6. Get fabric to make some humanitarian blankets for the victims of flooding in Mexico. They have to be turned in on Sunday.
7. Sew the blankets, I have one finished already.
8. Start to Pixie !
9. Clear a path through the house so that the repairman coming this afternoon can find the repairs he needs to make on our running toilet, and exposed carpet tacks.
10. Trip to the post office to mail a package.
11. Finish shopping for Christmas.
12. Keep up with Secret Siblings – we all drew names on Thanksgiving and are supposed to do something nice for the person we picked every day until Christmas. I’m also doing Hannah’s and Sabrina’s. Maybe should have thought this through a little better…
13. Grocery store trip for the basics.
14. Write off any cleaning, because realistically, it’s not going to happen this week!
15. Send Rob a cute email message or call him because this is our only communication until his deal at work closes on Friday.
I’m stopping here, because I just can’t spend any more time on the computer, too much to do!
Read MoreChristmas Pixies
As we enter December and the Christmas season, let us remember the true meaning for this holiday. That has become sort of a trite little phrase that is easy to say, but not always easy to implement amidst the hussle and bussle of life. I am trying especially hard this year to make this a memorable Christmas, and not because of the magical gifts that were received. I took step one by committing to a three gift Christmas. Rob and I will give each of the children and ourselves: Something to read, something to wear, and something to do. We’ll let Santa take care of the toy. 🙂
I have such happy memories from my childhood when we would leave gifts for a family on their doorstep, ring the doorbell and run. It is one of my fondest memories of the spirit of Christmas and was so much fun for my family. I still vividly remember laughing quietly with my Dad as we hid behind a parked car when the kids came running out their front door to try and catch us. We called it “Pixies.” It was done ward-wide then and we would all meet at the ward Christmas party to discover who our “Pixie” family was. I decided to organize this on a smaller level with some of the families in our ward. I sent out an email message, and there was a great response. There will be 19 families participating and I am so excited! I have several ideas already, but can’t share them here because I happen to know that many of them read this blog (even if they don’t comment 😉 ).
If you’d like to start up Pixies in your area, here’s the information:
Pixie 2007
1. You fill out my questionnaire and send it back to me by November 30th. Then I will put all families in a hat and draw names to assign each family to another family (from those who gave me a questionnaire) to pixie. I will send you the information for your family to pixie by December 4th.
2. You will be the pixies to this family for two weeks (December 7 – 21). You can leave homemade goodies, crafts, decorations, notes, flowers… anything fun and festive.
These are the rules:
*You must leave at least 2 pixie surprises each week. More if you like… You can either doorbell ditch or wait until you’ve made a safe getaway and call with a pixie message (although with caller ID this is a bit tricky), or even mail a package etc.
*There is a $20.00 spending limit (total for all gifts). Please don’t go over, it will just make the family feel awkward if the gifts are too expensive. Homemade is best and the more creative the better!
*The goal isn’t really to catch your pixies, so the family inside the home must count to ten before answering the door.
3. On your very last pixie you can either choose to remain anonymous or reveal your identity!
—As a side note, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can also do a pixie on your own for someone who would not be participating, but could use some special attention this season!
Pixie Questionnaire
Participating Family Name:
Parents or Head of Household:
Children (name, age, and gender):
Pets (name and type of animal):
Any allergies:
Days you are planning to be away or on vacation:
Your address and phone number (and gate code if required):
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I hope this will help build the joy in giving and serving, and don’t forget to read the scripture story of Christ’s birth:
Luke, Chapter Two
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
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