Santa

This is the gingerbread house the kids made with alot of leftover Halloween candy. Uncle Richard and Aunt Leigh Ann gave them the kit and they did this themselves.
And here is a photo with all the kids with Santa. We were surprised that they asked to go and see him even though they know he's not the "real" santa. Cute picture, eh?

Tara's cooking cupcakes

Tara spent all day yesterday cooking cupcakes. The "fun fetti" brand. She painstakingly poured the mix into mini muffin tins and cooked 9 batches of cupcakes. She was so proud. Thanks Mom for the outfit. Most of the fun was watching her watch the muffins "poof" up and then her jump as the timer went off. She decorated 54 mini cupcakes yesterday.

We had a really nice Christmas at home this year. We had a few gatherings but, mostly just enjoyed being together. Thank you to all of you who made it great for the kids. We appreciate your generosity. There's nothing like seeing an 8 year old get tears in her eyes because her Christmas wish has come true!

After Christmas recall

I am sitting here recovering from EVLT vein surgery on Monday. I've been on pain medication and am trying to remember all that has happened in December. I was called in to substitute almost every day possible. Gene was gone to Chicago for the first week of December...he actually had to find his scarf and gloves for that trip.
We had a weak snow storm come through....enough to see the white flakes in the sky and all around...but they dissappeared quickly. We had alot of rain and alot of cold, but never on the same day.....so, we've ended up with a cloudy, semi warm Christmas. The kids would really like to see snow...but, I was really glad today I could send them outside in the lovely 69 degrees and say "stay outside til I call you in." The kids all had great Christmas parties. Tara's whole third grade had a "polar express" party....they dressed in their pajamas...danced to "hot, hot, hot chocolate" and drank hot chocolate, made ornaments and had the real train conductor from the Tennessee Rambler come and punch their golden tickets to get in to see the movie "the Polar Express". Emily's class made reindeer from their hands and feet...traced their hands as the antlers. They made snowmen from powdered sugar donuts (mini)and donut holes as the heads...twizzlers as a scarf and mini choc. chips as eyes and buttons. Jacob's class party was put on by their 5th grade reading buddies. There's a photo here of Jacob with his 'buddy' Jared. They went
'ice-skating' with saran wrap paper on their feet...and had lots of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had an indian and pilgrim at our Thanksgiving meal, how about you?
Jacob had fun painting symbols on his vest and head band.
Emily had a day of "stone soup"...there really was a stone in there. It was a fun day to have moms and dads come and share in a feast....with turkey cookies.

Tara made this cute scarecrow pot at girl scouts on Monday.

Tara's music show

Tara participated in her school's 3rd and 4th grade Disney Magic Music show last Tuesday evening. She did a great job...and had a lot of fun singing great songs.
Here's the best photo I could get of her far away.
She's near the middle in a pink t-shirt...looks peach.