Christmas today

Christmas today was special and cozy and comfortable.

There were some girls who were warmer with their new arm warmers and hats.

I was a bit snuggly with my new teddy bear.

The cat on  the other hand couldn't decide if she should attack the remote control helicopter or run for cover.

Turns out the pointsettia plant should have been hidden from Gene's destructive path.

We had a chance to finally try out Skype and talk to and see far-away family all at the same time.

Jacob stayed quiet and happy and constructive all day with his 1200 lego pieces.

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

 We had our first real stick-to-the-ground and stay a while snow this week.  We had a total of 3 days off of school.  It was a welcome surprise and gave us a taste of what the Christmas holidays will be like.

 We bundled up and were outside for maybe 20 minutes.  It was a light powdery snow that didn't pack together very well....so, no snowman...but, we did huck it at eachother....well, in the general direction of each other.

We made a gingerbread house and used all our left over halloween candy.

We've done two new Christmas puzzles ...and are now working on our third.

Here's the finished product  (you can't see the teeter totter or slide around back)

 Here we are the Sunday  before Christmas.....in our red and green

Gene and I had a date night out last night...we have plans to make up all the running around we couldn't do last week....and I think we will be ready for Christmas on Saturday.

braces update

This week was the braces check up. Emily chose red and green.

Tara chose pink and purple.  She had more brackets put on  (as new teeth are finally growing in)

and Jacob  went with red and green.  He no longer needs the bands.  He may get them off

in 6 weeks if they don't move.

Gene and I finally went on a date night and saw Harry Potter.  We have almost all of our Christmas decorations up.  Emily has done most of the holiday decorating herself.  Jacob has made up 3 separate lists for Santa.  Since there are no more Harry Potter lego castles available in the WORLD, this might be the year Jacob understands that Santa is more of a feeling than a magician....

Emily  has passed off her multiplication tables...one test for every number.  She took the 50 question test on Friday and only missed 3....oh, so close.  She's almost in the mighty math club.  She's still ahead of the rest of her class.

Gene wouldn't let me take a picture, but he had a 2nd degree burn on his foot from spilling boiling water from the stove.  Layers of skin came off when he took off his sock.  He's taken really good care of it, and got some cream from the drs. that seems to be really helping.  Yesterday was the first day in 2 weeks that he could wear shoes without a bandage.  I felt really bad, I was in his way serving dinner with my back to him while he was trying to stir.  He had just made a fantastic Italian meal, including meatballs.  I had to mention it because, I know I will forget about it someday.  He is amazing how he doesn't complain, ever , even when he's in alot of pain.  Because it was on his foot, I didn't see it often and really forgot it was even there.  I wish I was more like him.

The Nutcracker

The girls and I went to the Nutcracker.  It has become a welcome tradition.  It was a magical time.   It even started to snow a little flurry.   We listened to the music on the way to the Auditorium, we gave the girls each a Nutcracker of their own for this year's rememberance.  I think this is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  This year we sat in the balcony and it was wonderful.  We could see the whole stage at one time without having to turn our heads. It was a girl's only afternoon.  We agreed that our favorite was the end of the first act.....the snow queen and the ahh, ahh, ahh, ah ah.....chorus and snow.  So beautiful!

                                        In our seats, it was much to dark to see anything else.

The final curtain call....when it was ok to take a picture.

Here are the tickets and a super smile. 

Tara was selected to have her turn to do the news this week. She regained the use of her voice that has been gone since Nov. 24th!!! just in time to present the news on Thursday.  This was her "Mom, I can't believe you are standing here taking my picture and embarrassing me infront of Matthew S.!"
Her keys on her safety belt represent the 100's that she has achieved so far this year....although she has made it clear that Mr. P has not given her all the keys that she has earned as of yet.

The temperature has dropped ....alot.  But, we still have to wait for Tara after school.  When it is warm enough we play outside.  We bundled up this week and ran and ran for 25 min. to keep warm. 

We had our ward Christmas party and Nativity this week too.  Tara was an angel...3rd from the left, top row.  Quite the choir!

Emily was the inkeeper's wife (not shown...hiding in the Inn). and Jacob was a shepherd.

Reminded me a little of Linus.

Tara played "Oh, Come all ye faithful" on her lap harp.

Jacob was the only one who talked to Santa (I guess he's too big now to sit on the lap).

I asked Emily if she wanted to see Santa...she said, "No, I'm just in line to get a candy cane."  I remind her she can't eat a candy cane because of her braces......."ugh.  Mom, there's no fun in Christmas anymore."

We'll work on finding a little true meaning of Christmas before the 25th.

Emily has been working on passing off her multiplication tables to get into the "mighty math club"...she is the only one in her whole class to pass up to the 6's after 6 tests...she's on track and has a mighty math brain....seems to be super easy for her.  Yay, Emily!

thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a well appreciate break from our regular days of school and work.

We spent the day playing baseball and frisbee outside, in gorgeous weather that we didn't even need a coat for.  And then danced almost every "JUST DANCE" song on the wii.  After all that moving we sat to eat dinner and named our thankful list alphabetically....things we were thankful for included :

Appalacian mountains,

Bahamas,

Electricity,

Family,

Jello,

Kitten,

Umbrellas,

Water and of course,

 the Zoo

Uncle Bennett and Richard and Richard came over to eat most of our leftovers and play "oh heck" card games until super late.  It was a great day.

We wish all of you could have come to enjoy the day with us too.

I am thankful

I found this and just had to share:


Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving.


I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes:Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries.

After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.

Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make.

Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.

The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork.

Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper.

The artist assures me it is a turkey.

We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline.

Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.

As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them.

They are lying.

We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method.

We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like.

Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers.This will not be happening at our dinner.

For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed.

It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in the head with warm, tasty bread.

Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance.

Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice among 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints.

You will still have a choice, though: take it or leave it. Thought you might all enjoy.

Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either.

I am thankful.







.

Tara's 5th grade music concert

We had a good week with little to report.  Jacob and I both had a cough but, seem to have 5 healthy people here today.  Tara had her 5th grade performance on Thursday evening.  My camera doesn't work well enough to have filmed a great shot of the actual singing but, here are a few of before and after the show.

Tara, Olga and Caroline

One photo with all the younger sisters too.

Tara's in the middle

Nothing like a flower and a chocolate bar to say "good job"

Christmas cards

Christmas Cards!

So I have been wanting to do some Christmas Cards this year and I just found the perfect way to do it. Why is it perfect? Because it is.... FREE!

Shutterfly.com is giving away 50 free Christmas Cards if you blog about them.

Want to participate? Use this link HERE.

Fall Decor

Before we close the door on Fall Holidays, I thought I'd take a few photos and let you see how we decorated this season.

Emily and Tara painted these pumpkins in October for Activity Days.

Our plentiful basket in the front room.

Not-so-scary-scarecrows in a basket.

What we did today

Jacob played StarWars wii with his appropriate starwars attire after he finished his list of 10 chores (all before 11am!)

Gene found his happy place outdoors in the sun under the guise of "needing to clear out the garden".

He was out for hours.

Tara played with Kristin and the cat.

Emily and Kaitlin giggled until they couldn't giggle anymore.  Then they made a mess of every thing that Emily had cleaned this morning.  Guess that's an 8 yr old's way of having a great day.

I just did laundry and read.  Makes for a great Saturday.

Falling, falling, falling down

Monday we DESCENDED abruptly from our candy high.   Wheeee!  Thud.

 We muddled through as Emily's class went on a field trip to see the play "Charolette's Web".  You can see fun photos of her on facebook.  I haven't figured out how to get them to link yet.

Tuesday was a "break from school".  I put that in quotes because we were still at school, just not 'in' school.
It was voting day and the kids had a break, I had inservice and had to go DOWN town for 3 hours for a waste of time training on developmental appropriate activities.  Then we had Tess' babyshower.  Tess is the teacher I work for and baby Crosby is due end of December. (that was the fun part).  I made a baby bootie cake out of campfire marshmellows (which made giant boots that took up the whole cake). 
That night I went to a RS activity and learned about individual and family preparedness.  I learned I am prepared to begin being fully prepared. 

Wednesday was a DOWNER of a day because it felt like Monday all over again. And it was raining alot and we couldn't go outside and now all of our leaves are off the trees.  The temperature began to FALL and just kept FALLING for the whole week.  We ended up all the way DOWN to 27*.  Yikes.
I volunteered in the library (always a highlight of the week).  Jacob is 3 AR points away from getting a reading award.  Tara was asked to be in a hand-chosen group to sing at Knox County School Board meeting DOWNTOWN on Weds. night.  She carpooled with her friend Madison and stopped by Olive Garden for dinner on her way home.  While I (and the kids) stayed behind for an inservice on handwriting techniques from our Occupational therapist (actually fascinating and fun).

Thursday came too quickly (all of our kids were in attendance all week-while our teacher was not)  I was exhausted by noon and went home for lunch, laid DOWN and fell asleep and forgot I was supposed to help in Jacob's class that afternoon.  OOOPS!  We then had Caroline and Stephanie over for a study session to prepare for the 5th grade social studies test, and a few swings and one quick game of hide and seek.

Friday I actually FELL off of a rolling chair...it was in super slow motion and surprised me and the teachers around but didn't even phase the kids.  Day 2 I hurt alot...whiplash feeling from the waist up, but now I am recovering.  Emily attended Hope's sleep over birthday party (came home at 9:30).  We got netflix movies this week of Castle in the sky and Clutch Powers Lego Adventures.  (all very fun). 

Saturday we worked on Emily's biography report on Princess Diana, it was quite the revelation for Emily to see that she was no longer alive.  Her reference book from the library is very OLD.  Jacob and Gene got hair cuts and went to look at new tvs since I was watching an HGTV program earlier and they mentioned how beautiful sky blue the paint was and all I could see was a light rose, infact everything was rose colored.  That's the only color working on the tv anymore. 
Jacob DROPPED a brand new full peanut butter jar on my toe....smash.  OOOH it hurt.  It's very colorful today...and I'm walking a little crookedly....
We caught up on laundry, bought our Christmas tree (note just bought, didn't put up yet!) and then attended Draven's baptism( trying to help Jacob prepare for his in 3 1/2 months.)

Good news is that we are officially free of fleas (the cat's donation to our household).  Good thing since the temps are so low.  We decided she can stay for now as long as she's quiet and doesn't escape outside anymore.