Oh the weather outside is frightful…

In preschool we had “ice cream” day and I found a cute art project on line.  I tested it out on my own kids.  We made the “ice cream” using shaving cream, Elmer’s glue & food coloring.  It makes a puffy paint and when dry, looks just like ice cream.  It was so fun, and really not too messy.

The elementary school had a free skate night at Classic Fun Center.  We all had so much fun!  We ran into Santa and the kids found some of their friends there too.

  

We got our first big snow storm of the season.  Cedric LOVES the snow and went out to play in it four days in a row (despite the highs only being in the teens that week)!  Sophie had fun too, until she got a snowball thrown at her face.

 

The kids love their daddy!

 

Thanksgiving 2013

The Sunday before Thanksgiving we had  “fake”sgiving with my side of the family.

There was 26 of us, we missed our brother, Nate who lives in Germany.

First we got the food prepared, visited and played.

  

Then we ate!

Grandma Great and Uncle Ted came up later for pie.

 

On Wednesday, it was Cedric’s preschool Thanksgiving Feast.  Here he is with two of his buddies.

Since Cedric can’t have his mom come help with parties as a visitor (I’m always there, so it’s not as special), I invited Lily, Jeff and Suzy to come help instead.  Cedric thought that was neat.

   

Thursday was Thanksgiving!  Tom, Jeff and Lily went and played Turkey Bowl (football) that morning with other family and friends while I got the house ready. 

We had 26 people at this dinner too, but missed Alan & Jodie’s family who did their own dinner. 

After mingling and getting the food all ready, we ate!

   

Eric and Tom being silly.

Maren, Tim and I took off after dinner to hit the Black Friday/Thanksgiving day sales.  I felt like it went well and we got what we wanted.  The crowds were crazy, but I thought it was fun :)  Usually Tom does the Black Friday at midnight, but since it was early, I went.  There was a DVD we wanted, but didn’t get.  While we were in line to check out, I noticed the lady in front of me had the DVD I wanted.  I was joking about her having it, but it paid off.  She had two of the same sets and offered one to me!  I was so excited I asked her if I could give her a hug (we were pretty close after standing in line for 30-40 minutes together walking up and down the women’s underwear isles). 

That night, the kids/Tom made a hut and the kids slept over in it.  Cedric didn’t even last twenty minutes, Jeff made it until 4am, but Lily lasted the whole night.

 

Tom’s extended family on his mom’s side always does an after Thanksgiving dinner.  We went to that on Friday.  The also did a talent show and Lily sang and Jeff played the piano (Sophie and Cedric just ran around).

 

Then yesterday we finally put up our Christmas decorations and tree!

The Holidays have officially begun!  I’m almost done with my shopping and the weather’s been extra warm, so I feel it’s off to a great start.

November adventures

I love getting together with my two friends, Tiffany and Chris.  We all have four kids and always need a break, so we try to find any excuse we can to go out together.

This particular trip was my belated birthday dinner/shopping trip.

It snowed for the first time this month.  It wasn’t much, but Sophie was fascinated by it.  She loved to pick it up and throw it.  And yes, she eventually tried eating it too.

 

The kids did pretty good on their report cards first term, so after parent-teacher conferences we took them out to Sizzler for dinner.  It was so ironic running into our friends, Jeremy and Cheri and their kids there!  We walked in one door, and they walked in the other at the same time.  They also had just been to PTC and like us, were taking their kids out for a reward dinner too (it helped that we all got free kids meal coupons for Halloween).  It was fun, but also a good reminder why we don’t take our kids out to nice restaurants very often.

 

I hate mornings.  I’ve never been a morning person.  One perk of having older kids is I don’t have to get up when they get up.  I usually put Sophie in the playpen with toys, a snack, juice and a movie and the kids babysit her.  If she wants to get out, they get her out.  This particular weekend I came downstairs to find my sweet kids sitting together on the couch watching TV/reading.  I love how sweet Jeff and Sophie looked.

 

Despite getting our first snowfall this month, we’ve also had record warm weather too.  About a week after it snowed, we were back up in the mid 60’s.  I took advantage one day by taking Cedric and Sophie to the park.  It was the best weather day!  I was even a little hot in the sun, with short sleeves and no jacket!  It makes me sad this season is almost over.

 

Lily tried out for our local high school’s musical, “Joseph…”  They were casting a handful of children to help be in the kids chorus.  Lily tried out and made the part!  She was in seventh heaven!  The past month she’s pretty much lived at either her elementary or the high school.

 

The practices went so late that parents volunteered to help bring in dinner for the kids.  I offered to help one night (not realizing what I was getting myself into) and made nachos for the kids.  I, along with three other parents, made enough food for 120 kids!  I brought in three crock pots full of cheese sauce, and together we brought in about 20lbs of ground beef!  The kids loved it though.  Here’s Lily enjoying her dinner.

 

Then performance week came.  Wednesday they did a matinee for several schools.  Lily’s class was one of the classes that got to come watch and she loved performing for them.  Then Thursday night Tom & Nana went to watch opening night, Friday I went with Tom’s parents, we didn’t make it Saturday night, but Monday night was closing night and several family came to support Lily (Teresa & kids, Aimee & Matt and kids, Dad & Suzy, Natalie & Travis, Tom & I and our boys).

 

When the show was over I gave her a rose and she started crying.  Lily grows very attached to people.  These kids have been her second family for the past month and she was sad to say good-bye.

Here she is with some of the other kids, now her friends.  Who knows, maybe in five years she’ll see them again when she goes to high school?

   

Here she is with the very talented leads.  Lexie was the narrator and did an amazing job.  Carson was Joseph and was so animated and also did great!

I’m proud of Lily.  She did such a good job too.  It was a good experience for her.  Hopefully it’s the first of many school musicals she can perform in.