I'm so happy happy HAPPY!!   My babies passed their check outs (all but one)!!!  YEAH!!!  I was so nervous; I kept thinking about how they'd do the night before.  I was so scared they wouldn't make it and that it would be all my fault.  But what a defeatist I was - I feel guilty now for not having complete faith in them!  I was so happy and excited when our reading coordinator came back with their results!!  I hugged each of them and gave them treats.  Boy, do they deserve it.  They worked so very hard.  Actually, I worked them so very hard!  Poor kiddies.  I was telling all of them how lucky I was to have such a wondeful bunch this year.  Oh and it's true.  I wish all of you could meet my students.  Such characters!  You can't imagine how excited each of them were - hmmm ... don't know what they were more excited for, passing their check out or about the treats they got.    But I'm so happy.  Now they are out of kindergarten reading and at level.  That's all that matters.  YAY!  Not to take anything away from my other group, who is at THIRD GRADE reading level!    I'm so proud of them!  Good job boys and girls!!

So I woke up this morning and went through the usual routine: nudged Reggie to hit snooze as soon as the alarm went off for the THIRD time, got my hug-time (I must start my day off with hug-time or I'm afraid NOTHING will go right, right Reg?) and then reluctantly lumbered into the bathroom to get ready.  It didn't help me that Ped and I went out last night - lord oh lord, did we dance Ped??  My memory's a bit foggy, but I think we were the only ones on the dance floor!!!  LMAO!!  Anyway!  As I started brushing my teeth, I felt an odd sensation.  One of the brackets in my braces had come off!!  OMG!!  Luckily, when I called my orthodontist up, the receptionist was able to squeeze me between a few appointments.  I was so afraid that the doctor would be upset with me that I was rehearsing an explanation as to how the bracket came off.  By the way - I have NO idea how it came off!!  PEDRO!  What did we eat last night??  LOL!!

Man ... we must be getting old.  Late nights out used to be nothing for us.  We used to hang out until four in the morning on a work night and get up in a few hours and still manage to get through the day.  Ped, Leo, remember when we went out every night for the whole week?  That was crazy!!  What's happening to us now???    We must be getting old ...    LOL - kidding!

Anyway ...  I'm sad because one of our very dear friends is relocating to the mainland.  Yep, Pedro has already reserved his ticket to California.  We wish him the best of luck and success and will sorely miss him.  If you know Pedro, you will surely agree that there is no one like him.  He is the life of the party and at the same time, a true friend who cares and isn't afraid to show it.  I'm sure that there are many of us here who will feel his absence strongly.  I'm losing a great friend and even worse, my partner in crime.  You would be surprised how evil we both get sometimes!!  AWWW!  I'm getting depressed again just thinking about it.  Just imagine all our other friends ... I'm hopeful that we can make the best of the last weeks that he is here and create some memories to tide us off 'til the next time we'll meet up again.  We'll miss you Ped!   

Tonight is the Christmas exchange for our GANG.  I'm so excited!  I can't wait - I'm sure it'll be loads of laughter and cheer.  I made sure to charge the batteries for our camera and I've got everyone's gifts ready to load into the car.  I know that we agreed to do an exchange, but we wanted to make sure everyone got something from us.  All right - I'd better go.  Reg still hasn't gotten his recipient's gift.    and I must go grab it.  Take care everyone!