Thankfulness - Part 3

This turkey hand is courtesy of Stephanie. The sentiments from the turkey are in no way meant to represent her real feelings about eating turkey. She loves turkey!

This Thanksgiving we decided to get the kids more involved in the preparations. Last weekend when we shopped for the feast, Stephanie was in charge of the list, Greg pushed the cart, and Heather deposited items in the cart (after an organizing lesson from me). Folks, don't try this at home if you are in a hurry. Letting a five year old put items in the cart (plus remembering to hand them to her instead of quickly putting them in the cart yourself) is no quick task. Stephanie has been in charge of the list on previous trips, but this trip was a full participation event!

The kids also helped some with the meal preparation. In chorus they declared how disgusting it was when I rinsed our fine feathered friend and stuffed her body cavity with apples and oranges. When I pulled the skin back to insert the sage they were sent over the edge of grossness. Later in the day, they donned their kid-size aprons and set about their cooking tasks.

Stephanie was in charge of making green bean casserole (with Daddy's supervision). She was very proud of her culinary skills!

After the casserole she was in charge of peeling potatoes. She was kinda slow at this task and enlisted the help of Aunt Wendy and Uncle Tony. They huddled over the trash can (yes, Danny, the trash can) and got to work. Wendy and Tony said they'd had so much practice peeling potatoes as a kid that this was an easy chore. Maybe that's why kids end up peeling so many potatoes in life. It's one of the first jobs a mom feels like they can handle in the kitchen.

Heather was on celery dicing duty. She complained when I handed her the butter knife about not being able to use a real knife. Then the knife slipped out of her hand and landed on the floor. Greg declared that's why she was using a butter knife. Looks like I need to show her the proper finger curling technique for her non-chopping hand!

The kids were thrilled to be part of the process. They really felt a sense of pride and ownership when we sat down to eat. 

Just look at this beautiful bird!  It was just as delicious as it was good looking.

So today, I am thankful for helpers in the kitchen -- both big and small. I usually feel the need to be in control of everything. But today it was nice to let go, to let my children understand they are important.

Thankfulness - Part 2

This year I have more students reading below grade level than ever before. Their skills are glaringly lacking. I know it has not been for lack of effort by previous teachers. I know my colleagues work hard. But reading with the lowest group of kids in my class is torturous. I wonder if they will ever catch up. I think about how many times in life we are required to read just to survive, much less for pleasure or continued knowledge.

So today I am thankful I can read (and write). How lost I'd be without these skills!

Thankfulness

Yesterday we went to Grandma & Papa's for breakfast.  Heading home on the freeway we passed a pick up with a Barbie cadillac-style kiddie car in the bed, complete with boomy speakers in the back.  Greg looked over and said, "Look, there's Barbie's pimp car. Then from the back seat we hear in echo, "Look, there's Barbie's pimp car." Doh!  Heather was apparently listening! I tried to keep my composure, but just couldn't.

I am thankful for laughter and my very funny family. They keep me in stitches!

Tiny Dancers

Stephanie and Heather are taking another year of dance.  This is their third year at this studio and I am continually amazed by what they learn.  Last year Stephanie accomplished the back bend walk over. This week Heather announced that she did it on her own for the first time. I am forever doomed to the audible quick draw of breath inward as they perform their gymnastic moves. It's not just simple cartwheels anymore. This year both girls are taking a combo class (ballet, tap, & gym) and a hip hop/gym class. In previous years, even though the girls were in different combo classes they were scheduled at the same time.  This year they are still in different combo classes, but one after each other. So we are there for two hours on the combo night. Add to that another hour the next night for the hip hop class.  I might go insane! Sometimes the kids work on their homework while waiting...other times not so much.

Stephanie is concentrating on making the same moves as her teacher. 

Heather watches on during Stephanie's class. 

Heather's turn to dance.

Stephanie watches Heather too, but lately she's been wanting to figure the percentages of the papers I'm grading on the calculator.

Stephanie's self-portrait.

A Morning to Myself

The kids went to Grandma & Papa's yesterday after lunch. They called and asked to spend the night. Sure ~ why not! We are off school for Veteran's Day today. So, this morning the kids were gone and Greg left for work. What do I do with a morning all to myself? Scrapbook? Paint? Clean? (Are you insane?). Nope, I watched t.v. Yup, sat on the couch like a lump and watched two and a half shows. This after I just told Greg that I felt bad for watching too much t.v. sometimes. Oh well. What was so great was that I didn't have to pause for any questions, referee a fight, to pour juice, cook breakfast, or anything! After the third program I pulled myself off the couch to take a shower and go grocery shopping. Now I'm working on laundry...sort of. See ~ the day isn't totally full of lazy behavior! :)

Gotta Wear Shades

About a week and a half ago Greg was getting ready for work when I heard some choice language coming from the closet. His glasses broke! Not a good time since he works outside all day and relies on his sunglasses (on the magnetic clip). He was due for new glasses, but this was quite inconvenient! So we scheduled an impromptu visit to the eye doctor and a week later ~ voila! Stunning!

Since I was away on my scrapbook weekend with Kim on the day of his appointment he had to pick out the glasses on his own.  Very nice choice indeed! Don't you think? Since he went with a new style and no magnetic clip, he needed new sunglasses too. Stylin'!

Three Divas

Everyone should experience the good life ~ right?  Well, this is no exception for my sweet girls! For several years now, I have taken them to see Stacey for a hair cut every other time I do. I cut their bangs in the in-between time. I'm not bad at it usually. I've even trimmed all of their hair before, but I'm very slow (don't want to mess up) and they get antsy. So, off to get pampered we go! I have introduced my children to the sheer joy of having a hair wash. There's no turning back. Ahh, the warm water, the gentle scalp massage, the peppermint conditioner....hmmm. They think this is the best part too. Then they sit very still and watch in the mirror as Stacey cuts their hair. Stephanie has an opinion about her hair now. Last time she requested some layers. Heather likes it when Stacey uses product in her hair ~ but needs to smell it first. Occasionally they make funny faces in the mirror to entertain themselves. We walked in the salon today just a little normal, maybe even a little blue...but we emerged as freshly styled divas!

Trick or Treat!

These girls look positively scary! Ok ~ probably not. It's hard to look scary when you're so cute! 

The kids were so excited to dress up and go trick-or-treating. I was certain Heather was going the burst from the excitement. She could barely contain herself on the way home to get dressed. Much to her dismay (and my relief), Daddy had dinner ready when we got home, so she had to eat first. We went out for about an hour and a half. In the past there was more than one house that gave them pause as they ventured to the front door. There have been houses they refused to go to because they were just way too spooky. This year as long as they were side by side, no spooky house was an obstacle. Until the very, very frightening one. There were lots of people dressed in scariness. Stephanie and Heather began to wind their way up to the front door. At one point they turned around and started back. I didn't blame them. But then a very nice fairy offered to take them to the door. They, again, ventured forth. After they reached the safety of us at the end of the driveway I asked if it was scary. They both burst into tears. Time to go home. We came back with tired feet and loads of candy. After a quick sort by Daddy they settled into sugar bliss. Ahhh ~ chocolate!

Sunday Night Blues

No, I don't have my days mixed up.  I know it's not Sunday yet.  But I've already got the Sunday Night Blues. They started yesterday, in fact. My friend, Charlotte, and I have a term for the way we feel the night before going back to work after a longer break (what-used-to-be-summer, Christmas vacation, track break) and that is Sunday Night Blues. Although we may be excited about the teaching moments to come, we are blue that our vacation is over.  This doesn't really happen on regular weekends and once we get back in the swing of working again the blues go away.  Thank goodness for that! Charlotte is very organized and manages her time perfectly so she always gets her to-do list done.  Me? Not so much.  I am organized in my head only and have the worst time management.  The fact that I am sitting here typing this right now just proves the point. Plus, my list is never-ending. I will never be done. Sure I accomplish a certain number of things, but never what I imagine. So, the blues are here. To make things better (yeah, right) I have to go to school today and do my lesson plans because I was so excited to be on break I just walked out of my class room leaving all the mess and no planning!  Not very smart, but worth it at the time. The upside?  The kids love to go to school and play while I'm working. 

Life ~ as Measured by Hannah Montana

This summer while Greg was home from his hand surgery, Heather would ask him how long until the next event.  Most of the time she wanted to know when Stephanie and I would be home from school. Now, since 5 year olds have a hard time understanding time (heck, sometimes I have no concept of time...stop laughing) he told her how many episodes of Hannah Montana it would take for the time to arrive.

Just now, Heather finished her bead necklace while I was working on the computer.  She wanted to get Stephanie up.  Stephanie, not a morning girl, wouldn't budge.  I told her to give her 10 more minutes and try again. Heather said, "How many Hannah Montanas is that?"

Look Ma - No Cavities!

Today the kids had their cleaning and check up at the dentist.  One of Stephanie's teeth had been loose lately.  When she found out she had an appointment, she starting worrying because she was sure that if he saw the tooth in it's very wiggly state he'd want to pull it.  It's happened to her once before and he was not gentle enough in her opinion.  Plus, what dentist can pass up such a wobbly treat?  I think she over wiggled it just to get it out. During breakfast she pulled on it and it came out.  She said it didn't hurt at all.    

Both girls were very cooperative for their cleaning.  Wobbly teeth aside, they get excited when they hear it's time to get their teeth cleaned. Heather says she likes to get the toy. Even Stephanie likes to get her teeth cleaned even though she's been through more than her fair share of pain with all the appliances she's already had to have in order to give her more room for her permanent teeth.  Good news! No cavities! Music to every mom's (and dad's) ears. What gorgeous smiles! 

Visiting Arizona

Last week we visited my brother and his wife in Arizona.  We had a great time doing not much at all.  Very relaxing.  I read half a book while we were there. We had dinner at Kim's mom's house one evening.  She had pumpkin shaped sugar cookies ready for the kids to decorate along with McKenna.  Oh my gosh! Sprinkles everywhere!  We had a picnic at a train themed park and rode the mini train.  The weather was so nice.  I thought the boys might fall asleep under the trees.  Kim and I also made it to several scrapbook stores preparing for our upcoming Scrapaway weekend.  I probably have too many projects planned...but better too many than not enough. One night I was thinking about my projects so much that I couldn't sleep.   

The kids had a great time with their uncle!  They just love Brent to pieces.  I'm sure he didn't mind all the extra snuggles.  On one of the days Brent had to work, Heather asked about him nonstop. Where's Brent? When will he be home? 

 

We were sad to leave. :(  It was so nice to spend time with them.

Welcome

Welcome to my first blog!  Sure, I should be cleaning or doing laundry (both of which never seem to end).  But this is more fun, isn't it?  

I'm on track break and so far having a really nice, relaxing time.  The kids are enjoying being at home too.  They always find something to do.  Right now they've made a makeshift craft area in the living room.  They are watching tv and making cards for various relatives.  

Ok - now I'm going to do some crafts.  :)