Santa Picture 2014

Dear Santa,

This year we would please like to have new bicycles, because ours are getting a little too small.  We have recently been adding remote control monster trucks and remote control helicopters to our list.

Lots of Love,
Heath and Hunter

Gingerbread Train

We bought a pre-made gingerbread train and the boys begged for an entire week to put it together.  Finally, we found some time.

I was trying to cook supper, so Chris tried to help with this little project.  Here are some of the following things I heard while this was going on:

From Heath and Hunter: "Can't we just get Mom to do it."

"Mom, I need help."

"Quick, the train is falling apart!"

From Chris:  "Just eat the candy so we don't have to put as much on there."

"Do we have any JB weld?"

"Geez!"

It's done.  We finished.  We have two happy boys, and that is all that matters.

FYI: The train lasted about an hour before they dismantled it and started to eat it.

Happenings

This week, being the wonderful mom that I am, I forgot to have the boys pick something for their turn at show and tell.  As we were walking into school, it dawned on me and I began to panic.  My ever so kind, pre-K sister volunteered anything that they boys could find in her classroom for them to take.  So, I sent the boys to her room and they came back with treasures to show off for their show and tell.  Hunter came with a stuffed animal duck that danced and sang when you pushed the button on its wing. (Boy, his teachers going to love that!)  Heath came back with a rather large pine cone.  Perfect! (and thanks for saving me Aunt Kay)

I later got this email from their teacher.  Heath was really excited about his pine cone.  Here is what he told the class about it:

"I found it in Mrs. Davis' room.  Mrs. Davis found it at a beach that has pecans on it. It's an acorn."

and then later after she reminded him it was a pine cone...

"She found it at the pine cone station where they make pine cones."

Oh My Goodness!  That Child!

When it was Hunter's turn, he also told the class that he found it in Mrs. Davis' room.  They both ratted me out about forgetting show and tell.

Also, one morning while driving into town to go to school this week, the boys yelled from the back seat, "Hey Mom, want to hear us count to 100?"  I sort of cringed but happily told them yes.  It went on and on and on.... seventy.....eighty.....ninety.  When they neared the end, I couldn't help but smile, and then I heard it...ninety-eight, ninety nine, ten-ty.

Logically, it makes sense, but I guess we are going to have to work on what comes after 99.  

Life from a Deer Stand

Deer Stand Selfies

He's so serious!

Entertainment!

Pumpkin Review 2014

Because I'm sure you are all curious...here is my Pumpkin Review of all the new inventions that I have found that come in pumpkin flavoring.

Pumpkin flavored gum:  This didn't taste bad, but it was definitely different.  When I think of gum, I think of something minty to freshen my breath.  This gum did not do that.  It was more like snacking on a pumpkin flavored dessert for a really long time.  It was the pumpkin pie that last forever with less calories.  This package was a gift from a friend.  I loved it, but would I purchase it, after having tasted it...no.

Pumpkin Spice Almonds:  I had a few friends text or send Facebook photos of this gem.  It was very hard to find.  I went on numerous hunts, and I finally found them in a box in the middle aisle of Walmart still in the shipping packaging.  I may or may not have ripped off the plastic to get to them.  It was well worth it.  These are by far my favorite pumpkin invention of the year.

Pumpkin Chapstick:  I first saw this in my classroom.  One of my students had it laying on her desk and I seriously had to resist the urge to grab it up and try it.  However, from that moment, the hunt was on.  I finally found it packaged with two other flavors ( cherry and cake batter).  I really like the pumpkin and will continue to use it (until I lose it, because it's inevitable with chap stick, right?), but out of the trio, the cake batter flavor is my favorite.

Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls:  My brother-in-law was the one that let me know these babies were out there.  We laughed about how they would probably never be found in my neck of the woods (since he lives in Dallas).  Well, imagine my surprise that I have found these not only once, but twice!  Yes, they are so good that I went back and bought another can after the initial taste test.

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake:  These are super yummy.  It really does taste like cheesecake without the crust.  It's perfect for my household because Chris doesn't eat cheesecake of any kind, and I don't feel the need to eat the whole pan in one sitting.

Cookies:  These are pretty good.  I bought this package with another seasonal purchase, candy cane and chocolate cookies.  To be honest, I liked the candy cane ones better.  However, all of these disappeared off the plate, too.

November 2014 Kindergarten Junior Brave

At our school, once a month each teacher picks a student from their classroom that is exhibiting good scholastic and character qualities to be presented with the Junior Brave Award. This month, Hunter was chosen for his class. We are so proud of our little man.   

This honor is very prestigious. Students were taken to an elite banquet hall back of the cafeteria at a respectable lunch time 10:30am. Where there were linen plastic table cloths and silver plastic cutlery. The ceremony was lengthy about 3 minutes tops where the principal and her assistant the school nurse handed out the golden awards hot off the printer certificates and told us how awesome our children are. Then we moved on to the fine dining experience cafeteria food and chocolate milk to go with our meal. As we dined on our fine cuisine chicken nuggets, for our listening pleasure, they brought in some entertainment pre-k kids there for lunch.  The noise level was just right deafening. I absolutely loved it!  It was the greatest ceremony ever, because we were there to celebrate Hunter, our little Junior Brave.

How to use up all of the Leftover Halloween Candy

Then feed it to the church family for dinner day.  Hehe