Who Put me In this Minivan?

JOLLY Decor

Every year, the kids get a new ornament to put on the Christmas tree.  My goal is to build up their own collections so that when they grow up and move out (and are responsible enough to take care of them), they will have enough ornaments to fill their first tree.  The Goodmans have been great about sending ones to the kids each year as well.  We have a great collection just from them, marking each year of their babyhood up until now.

I try to pick one that marks something from the past year or a special interest they have.  I'm excited about this year's batch.

Of course, for Hannah, it's all Jonas (and this is the only wee picture I could grab from the world wide web of its fantastical-ness.  It plays MUSIC.  That's what I'M talking about!)

For Aron, it's all about the music too.  Only this year it's the music he's making in our garage.  Hannah found it for me but promised to keep it a secret til our tree is up.  Cute, huh?

It's just a wee bit different from this one, but cute.

Now, what ornament for James?  James, the little man with a penchant for weaponry and mad sword skilz.  What holiday ornament could possibly capture his personality this year?

I can't find the ornament anywhere online, but this merry fellow is on it!!  Nothing says Christmas like a ninja warrior, I always say.  I also know, James will love it!

Once we get the tree up after Thanksgiving, the kids each get their new ornament.  And of course, you know which ones I love to put up the most for myself, don't you??

(Oh, my Ralphie, it's almost that time of year!!)

My Lovely Angels...

Hannah's Halloween costume.  So pretty and feminine...

Aron says, don't fear the reaper!

 
Our baby, the ninja.  He's got mad sword skilz!!

Spooky times in Tennessee!!

Back to regularly scheduled programming soon.  

Please, no more costumes or sugared-up kids or doorbell-ringing trick o' treaters, mommy!!  
 

Awesome Attire Courtesy of Walmart...

There are many more Halloween pictures, but man, I am way toooo tired to post them here.  If you are on facebook, they're posted there.  If not, I'll try and get them up here soon.  We had a very busy and very fun weekend.  Trick o' treats, drum set construction, school projects, a sleepover, dinner out, playdates, and on and on and on.

I am either hungover from all those Snickers I snuck, or just flippin' exhausted!  Either way, it was a full and fun time.

Thanks to Sarah & Matt & Mrs. Malinda for joining us!!  Also to Justin and Noah and Seth.  It was a wet Halloween, but no one dampened the wildness!!

Happy November friends!!  17 days until the bestest holiday EVAH!!

Sew Much Fun

This site has the best little holiday gift projects you can find.  Maybe I'll let the Singer out of "time out" and try a few.  MAYBE....  She has been a good girl the last few projects I have tried.   And sewn on boy scout badges oh so well. 

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/

New projects everyday! 

Stellar Morning *(bragging straight ahead)

Our Bulldog Award Winner.  VERY big award.  Only  4 chances a year to be one of two in your class to earn this for character, behavior, academics.  This makes Aron's sixth straight year of earning a bulldog award.  I am so very, very proud of him.

Aron also earned straight A-honor roll and a Citizenship award.  Go, my little brainstormer!  You go!!

(Please ignore my concerned face in the background.  I am deep in conversation with one of his friends about his mother's gall bladder surgery.  I have no editing software for this flippin' camera.)

Aron hanging with his best buds.  They are sweet guys.  I'm glad he is smart, but I'm also thrilled he is well-liked. 

Now for m'lady...

Hannah earned a Citizenship Award AND straight A's too...she was the only person in her class to earn straight A's.  She works so very hard and I am so very proud of my girl. 

(It's hard to ignore her precious two buddies in the picture.  The one squeezing the other is Hannah's bestest friend who was recently in the plane crash I talked about.  As you can see, she is doing well.  Just wanted to update you on that.)

They don't hold awards ceremonies for K-2 in our school, but our little James also earned a Citizenship award and got all E's and S's.  He is smart and sweet and behaves well, so we are proud of our wild little man too!

Random shot of sheer adorableness...

Normally I don't go on and on about my kids, especially in conversation with other folks. I find it kind of nauseating, in fact, to be stuck in a conversation with another parent who yammers on and on about their wondrous child(ren), but never once asks how my family is doing, and I get stuck in these little chats all the time.  It is irksome.

 I do, however, choose to spotlight these little wonders on my blog because

1.)  They are my life, and this blog is about my life, and

B.) It is my blog, I can write what I want to, and they have many loving relatives who read it.

So please excuse my button-popping.  Because I am SOOOOO proud of my little guys!!

 
 
 

Riddle Me This...

While I think these boots are snazzy and all, why is every third woman in East Tennessee wearing these without hose or tights, with minskirts, and into SCHOOLS??  Including some teachers??

I'll admit I don't get it.  I am a Crocs/mules/slipper type gal.  I think they're stylish and all, but to me, when I look at these, all I see is sweaty feet and pain.  But I get dressing up and wearing them out on a date or night out on the town, especially in a really cool metropolitan area.

But in an elementary school in Tennessee?  With exposed knees and thighs?  Chasing down 'younguns?'

Puh-leeaaasseee.

And don't even start me on how the majority of the ladies I see in these have neither time nor fitness on their side to be able to pull this look of regardless of where they wear them.

I really don't want ladies in my kids' schools looking like, for lack of a better phrase, "sex on a stick."  Just my opinion.

Slipping my crocs on,

Frumpy Fredrika

One Wild Thing Down...

My "wild thing" James will be taking a break from his regularly-programmed wildness.  He has a cold and a nasty little cough.  He is currently parked on the couch watching "Phineas and Ferb" and resting his little body until a more normal state of happy recklessness and joy returns.  There will be no roaring of terrible roars or gnashing of terrible teeth or rolling of terrible eyes or showing of terrible claws today.

Possibly back to regular rumpus-ing tomorrow.

For now, be still....

Pa-Rum-Pa-Bum-Bum...

Looks like our drummer boy Aron will be jamming in the garage within the next week or so!   His lessons are going great, his instructor said Aron is getting more confident and loving the lessons, and it's time for the actual drumset.  Progressing nicely. 

We will be clearing out a spot just for him to jam, riff, scat... whatever you call it.  I see cool posters going up on the garage wall (and earplugs in my future!) 

And guess who starts keyboard lessons in November??  A certain eight year-old lady you may know.  I see a family band starting up...and you KNOW who that makes me think of...

I need a bus STAT!  And a jaunty headscarf and a groovy manager named after a sandwich....
 

Splish Splash

Rae and James

SPLASH!!

Slidin'

Wiped out...

Ah, fruit smoothie and nachos!  Better!!

Exiting the wave pool...

What a feeling!

Keep away...

Boys being boys...

Aron about to be catapulted by his uncle Mark...

A rare glimpse of the Great Goggled Hannah.  She was almost impossible to capture on film.  The child was running rampant between waterslides NONstop with her cousins.  Far too busy for pictures...

More launching of nephew by uncle...

Counter-attack by nephew on uncle...

Crossing obstacle course by littlest sweet niece...she totally rocked it, by the way...

Communing with the wolf...AROOOOOOO!!!!

So long GWL...you were just as much fun this fall as last fall.  Probably more!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Let Me Tell You a Little Story

One of the best parts of our trip last week was the time we got to spend with family.  We got to see Matt's sister, or as she is best known, "Aunt Donna," every day we were in Charlotte.  And on Friday, we had the distinct honor of visiting her school and watching her teach one of her classes. 

Donna is a media specialist for a creative arts magnet school in Charlotte.  And she does a fantastic job.

Here is a picture of her library (it is beautiful.  Notice the paper cranes.  Her students at the school made them based on a famous story that I knew nothing about.  Maybe you do.  Will be researching it myself.)

We sat back and watched Donna in action.  From the morning news broadcast she helps guide the 5th graders to produce and air on live feed in the classroom each day... to the lessons and guidance she gives to every child who comes into the library either as part of a class or individually to ask questions, she is warm and responsive and oh-so knowledgeable. 

And her students are enraptured.

My kids were very impressed.  After all, they know exactly what a good media specialist does.  They go to library class every week at their own school.

But after watching and seeing their Aunt Donna teach, they now know how the very BEST media specialist teaches.

It's a pleasure and a blessing to be able to see how someone you love spends his or her days.  It's an honor to watch when that daily pursuit is done with passion and excellence.  We have some very prestigious and accomplished members of our extended family.  But I would wager that none of them do something as important or precious as to spark curiosity and wonder each day in a child's life. 

Aunt Donna is obviously a very important person.  We knew that.  Now you do too.