Simple Joys

Last weekend Natalie went with me to Michaels to get a few things I'm sure we didn't need, but I thought would be fun projects. She was very much enjoying mommy time and being a great shopper! They of course, like everywhere else now, have the dollar bins. Her absolute favorite thing to do? Write and draw. What did she choose? A Christmas journal and tree pen!He looks thrilled to be wearing a Santa hat!!!
(Abby wouldn't sit long enough to wear one!)

Stringing Popcorn

I don't know what came over me, but last week sometime I thought it would be fun to start a family tradition of stringing popcorn to decorate the Christmas tree! Yesterday morning while the kids were at school I popped several batches of popcorn so it would have time to cool and "stale" somewhat before stringing. (This was not all of it, we had waaaay more than enough!)

After school the kids had to do their usual after school routines and put their clean clothes away. Then I showed them what our project was! They were extremely excited and didn't want any help! They were even able to thread the needle by themselves!

Being careful not to push it off the end of the string.

Working side by side.

Popcorn string lined up so it wouldn't get tangled...

They really wanted to see what was going on! (Probably just wanted to eat what was dropped!)

On the tree!
(I'm not sure what Abby thinks about food being on the tree so I sprayed it with some bitter spray--not this exact spray--we'll see what happens!)

This was a lengthy process, but didn't take as long as I thought it would! We worked on it after school, then again after dinner. I'm glad I didn't pop that extra batch, because we only used about half the popcorn I did pop! It looks adorable, and we all had a good time! It will for sure be something that we do again next year! I have to go to work tonight, so we'll be hanging the ornaments tonight quickly, or tomorrow casually!

Not So New Camera Pics

I seem to keep forgetting to post these, and they are too cute to not share!

Roby took this one of Ethan this summer when they were waiting for the fairy before the baseball game. True Ethan form!!! This pic was from Oct. 25th. Cold then, and cold now! If you can't tell I'm in love with that hat! I really don't want her to outgrow it!!!

Abby Is 1 Today

The other day when I was at work, Roby took these pictures of Ethan and Abby spending some quality time together. Ethan playing video games, and Abby cuddling with Natalie's "tucky." :-)

Roby took several pictures of Ethan's expressions as he played. This was my favorite. Unblinking concentration!She can looks sweet sometimes!

According to the paper someone filled out when they dropped Abby off at the Humane Society, today is Abby's birthday! I try not to be "that" person and go all out and celebrate our pets birthday, but with Natalie in our house its hard to do nothing! Today at school she even made a card for Abby during free time!!!

Abby smelling a flower in our front yard.

The other week when I went to Old Navy I got her two toys on clearance!!! Gotta love clearance!
(Don't mind the Christmas decorations in the background!)

Abby has been carrying the pink one around for quite some time now!

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving this year was quite simple. It was nice in many ways! We wore our pj's most of the day and didn't have any odd requests for food! No time line was required and nothing was demanded! I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would! I got a bigger turkey than we needed, but leftovers are grand I am finding!!!

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Natalie wanted to help get it ready for the oven this year! I was impressed with her willingness to do this!!! I am in love with this picture! This is her looking at the turkey after I told her what we would be doing with the chopped up vege's. After a few failed attempts, she stuffed all the yummy stuff in for me!

Failed attempt #1.

Success!!!

Looking inside to see how much room was left.

Asking what the garlic was, and why I had so much of it! :-) Yummy!

After we had it stuffed full, I turned it around to see if we could get any in the other end...Natalie goes, "Are we going to put some in the butt now too?" I had to laugh and tell her that that's what we had just filled up! Her reaction?!?! "EEeeewwwwwwwww!!!" It didn't faze her too much though! I'm sure she'll help me again next year!

After the turkey was starting to smell scrumptious in the oven, Nat got out her drawing stuff. She started with a picture of a turkey...then me as an Indian. I suggested that she make place cards for all of us to have at the table for dinner. She couldn't have been happier!!!

Her place card with a flower and her with an Indian "hat."

Roby's turkey. He must be bad instead of dad! ;-)

Ethan got a dog and a little turkey.

And I am an Indian too with an Indian "hat."

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the turkey! It looked sooo good!!!

Our dinner was simple. No extravagant dishes, but it was perfect!

I hope everyone else had a great day!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

It will just be the four of us this year. A lazy day for sure! :-)

Natalie just helped me get the turkey ready for the oven. I will have pictures to share later!!!

First Snow

We are currently getting our first snow of the year. It's not supposed to be much or last long, but its here and the kids and dogs are loving it!

Max waiting to be let in. (The dogs have to take turns to go out.)
Abby romping around with a stick.Later with MORE of the white stuff.

Scantastic

In an attempt to rid my desk/table and every other surface of the piles and piles of papers and projects the kids bring home from school or make at home...I have decided to scan and take pictures of most of them. (I am still finding it hard to throw these away even though I know they are recorded!!!) They are usually ok with me tossing most of the things they bring home because I have made a point of letting them know from the beginning that I cannot keep every math/writing page they do.

I won't bore you with most of these things, but I have to share a few.

Like this one.

I'm not exactly sure when we had Ethan do this...at least two years ago. I do remember it quite vividly! This was not the only page he had to write this on. There were at least three like it! I believe we even made him do a page over because we could not read his writing. We are mean mean parents!! ;-)

As I sort through them I'm sure I will have more to share, and hopefully I will keep this up instead of spending hours at it again like today!

While Watching Football Last Night

Natalie: "Mom, sometimes those baseball players get hurt right?"

I Thought I Had Nothing To Post About

Its been a lot different for me working evenings and most weekend days, not bad, just different. I love taking pictures, and haven't had the opportunity to take many of the kids lately. So, you will probably see several of them all bundled up on the way to school (like again in this post) or in their pj's...'cause that's what kids wear on the weekends when its cold outside! But, I completely forgot that they only have school today and tomorrow this week, so I will hopefully catch them doing something fun while I'm home with them!!!

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Every single day when I pick Nat up from school she screeches, "MOMMY!" like she hasn't seen me for days and days. It cracks me up! It is for sure a good feeling to be that loved by your little one! I wanted to get it on video, and finally remembered to take my camera with. Believe it or not, this is not as good as it usually is...but its what I got and honestly I probably won't remember to take my camera again for a while as I'm usually running out the door!

On the way to school. I don't think there is a straight face in that boys body!

Cheese please!
(She needed to wear her sun glasses 'cause it was so bright out...yeah ok.)

"Look mom, its airplane tracks!"

Giving Thanks Program

With Roby being in the Air Force for almost six years now, we have been extremely lucky. He has only had to deploy once (and several short TDY's) and has never missed any major holiday's or birthdays. I am beyond thankful for this! Although we are not loving this base yet, we are very happy that the longest he will be leaving from here will probably be a month.

I don't usually like to write long, boring, annoying, or "preachy" posts...but this is a simple thing that I thought could make a difference for all those families who are not as lucky as us during this week of thanks.

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On Friday the kids' school sent home a note saying that:

• People can text a message of thanks to 8-9-2-7-9, beginning at 6am EST on Saturday, November 17, and ending at midnight, PDT on November 22, Thanksgiving Day. Within a matter of seconds, the sender will receive a reply on their cell phone from America Supports You. The reply message will come from a member of the Armed Forces or a family member of someone who is serving, who will express his/her appreciation for the support, both personally and on behalf of others who are serving.
• The goal is to get people to take a moment during the Thanksgiving Day holiday to think about those who are serving this nation, and take an action that signifies they appreciate their sacrifices. Giving Thanks is expected to be a unifying moment for the nation, during a time in which families traditionally come together and express gratitude for things large and small that contribute to their lives. The United States currently has troops serving in 177 countries. The troops and their families will be told how many people have texted in their thanks and will get to see many of the messages.
• All the major mobile wireless providers--AT&T Wireless (Cingular), Verizon, Sprint, Nextel, Qwest, and T-Mobile provide access to The America Supports You Text Message program.

Too Many Bubbles

Everyday after school the kids get to chose one thing out of the "snack drawer." Lately Ethan has been obsessed with bubble gum, and because we still have some from Halloween, more power to him! He wants this gum, chews this gum, and does not want to throw this gum away!

Yesterday after about an hour he came up to me with gum all over his face from blowing bubbles. I was laughing hysterically! He ran away 'cause he didn't want me to take a picture of the sticky goo on his face! What did he think was going to happen! I'm the mom with the camera perpetually glued to my hand! :-)

There we go, much better! You can't see it all...it was everywhere!

It took him a while to wash it off, with soap and water...but that was for sure an experience we all have to have! I'm sure it will happen a few more times before he outgrows it!

Apache Projects

Ethan's class worked for about a month on Native American projects. He would come home telling me all kinds of things he was learning about the Apache tribe. They did several things including research in the library and computer lab, made posters, and read books in class. Today he came home with a note telling us to check out their PowerPoint presentations! I knew they'd been working the computer lab, but I had no idea they were doing a full fledge PowerPoint presentation! In THIRD grade!!! He will be able to show me how to use the computer in no time, it will be grand!!!

(To see his presentation you have to have PowerPoint on your computer.)

You're Perfect!

Last month around conference time Ethan got this certificate from his teacher for perfect attendance and for turning all his work in on time. We finally decided to try the restaurant out last night! Natalie was super excited, telling me "We've seen a show for 'Bazoli's' on TB mom!" Then trying to guess which sign was for Fazoli's the whole way there!

I was surprised at how good it was considering they have a drive through! It was not as good as Olive Garden, but for the price pretty darn good! Not to mention it ended up being kids night (99 cent kids meals!!! Hello!!!) We saved his certificate for another night!

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About half way through our dinner, Ethan had to get up to use the bathroom. I of course, paranoid self, kept looking over my shoulder to make sure he was coming back. When I finally saw him, he was holding the door open for a family that was coming in to eat. I was so proud of him at that moment! Something that made me fall in love with Roby (besides his good looks and humor! ;-) ) was how "gentlemanly" he was...and still is! He would let me wear his jacket when it was cold, would always open doors for me, and the kicker that pushed me over the edge because I'd never seen or thought about it before meeting him...he walked on the "street-side" when we walked together. I see these gracious manners in our kids now, and I hope they are instilled lifelong.