*Yawn*

So tired. So so tired. Today's Lego Advent Calendar goody was also yawn-worthy. But before I get to that, let me give you a long, drawn out version of my day. It is good to have patience. I'm just teaching you life lessons. Don't scroll past this!!

I am tired because for some reason (I was being dumb, preoccupied, and in denial about my early morning start), I didn't go to bed until 1 am. Regretted this very very much when my alarm went off at 5 am. Spent the day in sixth grade. Watching the same lesson three times. Chilling with the teachers. Sitting in on a meeting with a parent. Then teaching my first lesson! So frightening and exciting. I literally just mimicked the lesson I had seen three times that day, though looking back there were many things I still forgot to say (don't worry, I don't think I damaged the children permanently, yet). Almost killed the smart board out of nervousness--the touch screen part of it really doesn't need much pressure to work... I also rambled a bit. Stumbled over words. Knew very few student names. BUT I survived. The kids paid attention very well. Volunteered to answer all my questions. And did the assignments well. Success! Basically.

I literally drove straight from school to my LAST CLASS OF THE SEMESTER! I knew I'd be late, so my professor was prepared. (Middle school gets out at 2...class starts at 2:15). But I was also the snack person (yes, my class had a snack rotation...) so when I walked in everyone looked at me excitedly and a whisper of "foooood" went around the room. Since it was the last class I went all out for them: Christmas [store-bought] cookies, grapes, and Munchkins, as well as Coke and Hug drinks (because I'm five). Fun times. Can't believe I'm done class. Time to start writing my research papers! 3 papers, 43 pages, minimum.

But first...

Did I not call the presents after getting the tree?!?! So boring. What am I going to do with these present blocks, and who is going to use the skateboard? Johnny's got the tree hostage on the police station roof and Stan the Man has since woken up and has been trying to regain his pride by shaking his fist forcefully at the out of reach criminal.

O Christmas *spoiler* O Christmas *spoiler*

Yum yum yum...today I woke up and went to Pinkberry with Mum, who was coming to the area for Christmas shopping at the Natick Mall. And I mean that literally, of course, since I only had enough time after getting out of bed to brush my teeth and get dressed before eating frozen yogurt at 11 am. Lovely way to start the day!

Mine on the right with coconut, strawberries, brownies, and oreos, and Mum's with strawberries, pineapples, and granola. We were also quite boring with original yogurt, although we did try the new mint one they had. Wasn't a big fan of that.

So after my fro-yo excursion I spent the afternoon at preschool, which was a quiet day, and as usual, infinitely amusing. At group time the kids were interested in being "bigger" than each other, but they try to combine age and size and it doesn't work out. So we taught them how to stand back to back with another child to compare heights, and as an example, our teacher had me and another student teacher stand back to back with her. The first girl was much taller than the teacher, but I was much shorter, and alas, had to endure little three year old hands pointed at me and "You're short" comments. Typical.

But now it's time for you to turn up your Christmas music because the Lego calendar has finally given us....

The Christmas tree!! So excited to see this because I was a little worried about the direction LegoLand was headed in. It's nice to see that after six days the Calendar makers got over their initial sense of "let's do a crime theme!" excitement and remembered that we were counting down to Christmas. That said, I don't want the next three days giving me lego squares to put under the tree as presents. Keep the crazy coming, LegoLand! Where's the fisherman!

Surprise, surprise

Happy Monday! I'm a little sleep deprived today, although I just celebrated ending two more classes with Fritos, M&Ms and Sprite, so the eating and the sugar is keeping me awake. Just clogging the arteries, no big deal. I've found that a bag of Fritos lasts much longer than a bag of Doritos or chips. The Fritos just never run out! Though taste wise, well you can't have everything.

So as I said, sleep deprived today, thanks to an unfinished research paper and an unproductive weekend. Sooo my advent calendar opening was a little choppy and frankly, I'm kind of foggy on what happened this morning. Took an afternoon nap that left me more disoriented. What a day. In any case, sorry to have kept you on the edge of your seats all day for a Lego surprise that is only of average excitement. Today's door gave us...

Another wall! For the prison. Only this wall says Police, and has an open window, yet attaches to the jail wall. Stan's quite proud of his growing building, but Johnny's more or less just confused as to where he is, and how tight jail security really is. More walls, yes, but less window bars? Hm.

The best part about this Lego piece was getting to build it. Also it came with two police signs, in case you're a young child prone to swallowing things, or a super awesome adult who wants to make sure her Lego buildings are adequately labeled. (I stuck the second sign on the backside of the wall, just in case Johnny forgets who's in charge.)

Time for some order

Whoops, can't forget to update everyone on the crazy shtuff popping out of the calendar doors. I try to be cool about opening one every day, but I'm often tempted to open a new door as soon as midnight rolls around. But because I'm a mature grown up I make myself wait until morning.

Today's Lego surprise was fun because it involved some serious construction.

It's a jail cell wall! Don't mistake it for the side of a cozy log cabin. There are bars in the windows. It seems as though the Lego gods are trying to force order into this world. Give a cop some handcuffs, and he'll want a jail to go with it.


So while Johnny Shush was off celebrating his victory as ruler of Lego world, Stan the Man's energy revived at the sight of the jail wall...Johnny never saw him coming.

For now Stan can smirk all he wants at this small victory, but it's only a matter of time before Johnny realizes there's only one wall in his jail cell.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Just saw a swan float by on the lake. Happy birthday to me! Thanks little swan.

Well, before I spend my birthday furiously writing a research paper on cyberbullying and trying not to cough out my left lung (that ones my favorite, don't tell the right one), I just opened my third Lego door! I also ate a pumpkin muffin and listened to Christmas tunes.

Welcome to the world, Officer "Stan the Man" Stanley. He came fully equipped with zippers, a sly smirk, and two handcuffs. TWO OF THEM! Look how he yields them as mighty weapons. Nothing can get by Stan the Man. Don't bother crossing him. He will cuff your hands and your feet. Or your hands again. Cuffed twice, yo.

Who thought it'd be a good idea to arm the criminal?

Just sitting in the dark, in my room, looking out the window at the sunset on the lake. The picture is a pretty crappy representation, but it's a very pretty sight, what with the colors and the water.

Spent another day in sixth grade, trying to learn eighty or so names and attempting to answer questions about plot and theme. Overall pretty good day, despite the exhaustion I felt by about 10am and the fact that I had no idea what the other teachers were talking about 90% of the time. But they're all just so nice and amusing.

But now I'm sure you're all wondering what was behind door number two of the Lego Advent Calendar...

Yay mysterious pieces! The best part of this calendar (and that's a tough call considering how much awesome it's made of in general) is getting to build the pieces. Although finding the head of Johnny Shush's evil, gold toothed, grinning face was a little scary. Anyway, today brought...


...a catapult! (And just so you're aware, I opened this at least an hour ago and couldn't for the life of me think of the word "catapult." It took way too many google searches of variations on "war slingshot?" to finally find it.) AND it's not just a regular catapult...it launches snowballs??!? Lego snowballs?! Have we finally learned what the random white pieces are? I only assume, what with the winter wonderland scene, that these represent white chunks of snow. And now it really worries me that Johnny came equipped with his own snowball.


And this snowball catapult actually works! I won't tell you how long I lay on the floor launching snowballs.

Also, Lego does not condone launching Lego snowballs at peoples' faces. Safety first, people! When I first opened this, I got scared I was somehow going to poke myself in the eye with this Lego contraption.

HAPPY DECEMBER

First things first: where the heck did November go?!

I still can't believe it's already December...I also can't believe it's already Thursday. All day I kept thinking, I need to memorize my music for choir rehearsal on Thursday...oh no...that's tonight! Too late.

I also had my last education class today (although the seminar with the same people continues next semester), and it feels so strange to be done. The wise parting words my professor left us with: "Don't hit your students. And don't swear at them." Words to live by, people.

I also discovered that my friends have decided what we're doing for my birthday Saturday, but refuse to tell me and then laugh at me. And then criptically state that it'll be fun for me, and for them. And laugh some more. I got scared and left them for choir rehearsal, where we practiced for our Christmas service Sunday. It was kind of disorderly but we did get to practice with real fire! So no complaints. Also I was given alcoholic cider in a tradition known as wassailing (thanks wikipedia) because I am a senior. I did not expect this caroling and giving of cider because of the leaving-mandatory-rehearsal-early-and-angering-the-almighty-choir-director debacle of 2010. I politely took one sip and then poured it down the drain in the bathroom. I'll take my hot cider sans alcohol please. But I liked the gesture.

Anyway, guess that's it....



...KIDDING! We've got a Lego Advent Calendar goodie to check out!! I opened my first box early this morning and reveled in my first Lego buddy, even though I don't trust him...

Meet ex-convict Johnny Shush (I just read a book with a mobster by this name). He's clearly an escaped criminal, as can be seen from the number on his shirt and the evil glint in his eye, but he's also got a pretty nice jacket and a gold tooth. Mobster connections, obviously.

Can't figure out the extra white Lego piece though. In the picture its top is black, but no such black piece could be found. At first I thought perhaps, a Lego thermos? But he's way too badass for a thermos. We probably don't want to know what that white thing is...

Johnny in his lonely lego world, only a mysterious white object, a hobo hat, and a stylish red bandana for company. Hope he enjoys it while it lasts.

I can't wait until tomorrow!

And I don't know about you, but this box promises great things. Great, Christmasy things. The criminals, the cops, the fisherman, preoccupied Santa and his dog...it all really embodies the religious countdown that is an advent calendar.

(Just ignore Lego's age limit of 12...Just because I'm turning 22 in less than 48 hours doesn't mean I don't enjoy good, wholesome Lego fun!)