Thanksgiving Photo Recap

Sorry that some of these are blurry - I blame the sheer amount of food I consumed and the fact that I think Ryan messed with my camera settings.

Our first stop of the day was at Grandma W.'s

We started off the day with some family photos

I am so thankful for this man, each and every day

Uncle Doug putting the train around the Christmas tree

The boys found a quiet place under a table to play on their Kindles

After dinner, Wesley played some Christmas music for us

So did Duane

Ryan helped decorate Grandma's tree

And he helped her hang up the stockings (starting with his own)

Wild Snarlyhissypusses under the table

This one was captured!

Thankful that the boys both enjoy reading a good book

Aunt Judy and Mark

Beautiful centerpiece made by Aunt Judy

We headed to Aunt Paula's house for the second round of giving thanks

The boys with Grandma Sandi

One wanted to hug, one did not

 

These boys sure love their grandpa

Possibly my favorite picture of the whole day

Me and my daddy-o

Aunt Susan and Uncle Kirk

It was truly a day to be thankful for!

Save the Cookies!

Our church has a small area for refreshments (cookies and coffee) set up each Sunday. Duane and I have joined the hospitality team and supply cookies for the refreshment table about once a month. Last Sunday we took pumpkin molasses cookies with pumpkin chips. Ryan LOVES that particular kind of cookie and couldn't wait to get to church to have one.

He selected his cookie and spent a very long time taking the tiniest little mouse like nibbles of it, determined to make it last as long as possible. I've never seen a child take so long to eat a cookie.  Part way through the marathon cookie nibbling, Ryan noticed his shoe was untied. Rather than shove his entire cookie in his mouth while he tied he shoe, or asking someone else (who may have eaten the cookie) to hold it, Ryan came up with a rather unique way to assure his cookies would be waiting when the shoe tying was over.

Yes, as the somewhat blurry picture shows, Ryan balanced his cookie on the top of shoe while he took care of getting the shoe retied. Actually, once I got over the slight grossness of the cookie resting on top of the shoe, it occured to me that is was kind of a smart move. The cookie wasn't on the floor. He didn't have to entrust anyone else with his partially eaten prize. He could keep an eye on it AND putting it on his shoe had the same effect as licking it - no one else would want it after that. Way to save the cookie, Ryan!

Skating Away

Last night the boys had a scout outing at the roller skating rink in order to earn their roller skating belt loop.  I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the way the staff ran things. They divided the kids up into beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I don't really think Wesley and Ryan qualified as intermediate since they've only been skating three times, but that's where they put themselves and they seemed to do ok.

The first thing the staff taught the kids was the proper way to fall and get back up. Good lesson! Especially for my kids. Then then worked on a couple of different skate techniques including how to avoid someone who was fallen. They had to complete a little skills course to earn their belt loop and both Wesley and Ryan did well enough to pass. Ryan even wore his scout belt and new belt loop to school today so he could show some of his friends.

Wesley left the skating rink asking if he could please take lessons every week and both boys have asked to add roller skates to their Christmas wish lists. Good thing Santa hasn't done anything about the video game he was going to bring - looks like he'll be bringing skates instead.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

I was not flattered when a volunteer (and former coworker) took one look at my pink sweater, pink socks, pink iPad case, pink mug and pink earbuds and told me I was "such a girl."

There is no way I am actually the parent that looks forward to parent teacher conference night because it's generally just spent listening to teachers say that my kids are good. That would be obnoxious.

I did not show up for my desk hours at work a full hour early. Who does that on purpose?

I was not so obnoxious, wound up and stressed out during a televised football game that my football loving hubby asked me to knock it off. Didn't happen.

I did not get so sucked into the setting of a book I was reading that I am mentally planning a trip to Maine.

I know I didn't walk around for most of the day wondering why I smelled apples, only to discover that my apple scented hand sanitizer was open (and leaking) in my purse.

Crazy Talk

Ryan has a particular pizza place that he really likes to go to. We pass it on the way to church every week and every week he looks longingly out the window at it and sighs the name of the restaurant.  Today after listening to Ryan's mournful sigh, we started talking about the time we went there on one of the "dinner of your choice" coupons that the Easter Bunny gave him.

"It's getting close to Christmas," I reminded Ryan. "Maybe Santa will talk to the Easter Bunny and get the idea to leave you coupons in your stocking."

"Yeah, right!" Ryan scoffed. "Like that would ever happen!"

So he buys a rabbit leaves him eggs and candy and good stuff on Easter, and he buys that Santa travels around the world filling stockings and leaving gifts under the tree, but he can't fathom these two imaginary (but real to him) beings having a conversation at some point.

Ah, the logic of a six year old. 

So Thankful

Look what my dear sweet Wesley gave me today:

Yes, I teared up. And yes, I will keep this and treasure it for always.

Ryanism of the Day

As the boys and I were driving to school this morning, we passed a car that had a bunch of icicles hanging off it, similar to what's shown below.

 

 

"Look, Mom! There's a whole gang of icicles hanging out on that car!" Ryan cried.

For some reason that cracked me up. I had this whole "West Side Story" image of icicles hanging out on cars, snapping their fingers and dancing.  Maybe it's just me who found humor in that.

On the upside, now we know what a 6 year old believes a group of icicles is called.

Good Day

Today started off rough with Wesley and I fighting about the need to wear gloves on the way to school. Thank goodness it got better with two great teacher conferences! Wesley's teacher said she wishes she had a whole class just like him and Ryan teacher told us he was a great kid (if only he would stop talking so much.)  We finished the day with Ryan and Duane cutting snowflakes for a Tiger Cub elective, and Wesley and I baking cookies to work on one of his badges. Cookie fueled sweet dreams tonight!

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

I did not drop Ryan off at school one day with a warning not to hit his head or otherwise injure himself at school that day because I was going to be 30 miles away for most of the day and wouldn't be able to go get him at school should he hurt himself.

I did not tell Wesley he could not have any of my Ben & Jerry's ice cream because it was MY ice cream. Surely I am a better example to my children than that.

There is no way that Duane had to have Grandpa pull over to the side of the road so Wesley could pike. That would have been a first in our family.

I know I did not hear Duane tell Wesley to quit fondling the breasts at the grocery store the other night when Wesley was a little too interested in a package of chicken.

I did not walk my first ever 5K then spend part of the afternoon napping on the couch because that kind of laziness would have defeated the purpose of the 5K. 

Hot Chocolate 5K

Well, I did it! I walked my first 5K this morning! Even though it was cold enough to be snowing, it was still a lot of fun - especially because of Ann, Molly, Lloyd, Sarah and Hillary!

We met at 6:15 this morning to carpool down to the race. One of our co-workers scored us incredible parking spots so it wasn't quite as painful as it could have been.

See -it really was me!

Yes, I snuggled up to my friend's hubby to help stay warm. It was COLD out!

Heading to the starting line

Me and two of my favorite work partners in crime!

Molly and me

Selfies in our "corral" waiting for the signal to go

My friend Hillary and I kept up 15 minute miles throughout the race - pretty good for me since I am a self proclaimed couch potato. I just really appreciate her walking with me and keeping my pace (and spirit) up! We even sprinted across the finish line just because.

Finish line here we come!

Our finishing prize - a cup of delicious hot chocolate and a bowl of chocolate fondue and yummy things to dip in it

Me and Hillary at the end!

 I enjoyed myself enough that I am already to planning to walk another 5K, although probably not until next year. I hope Duane will walk with me because I think it would be fun to do together. I'm never going to be a runner, but I can walk with the best of them!

Saturday Recap

Yesterday evening was our annual gathering at Doug's house - you know the one the kids have been looking forward to all week?  You'll be happy to know that Uncle Doug did not disappoint and a good time was had by all.

Ryan hung the first ornament

Wesley hung the highest ornament

Five little ornaments all in a row

Hanging off the stairs is lots of fun

Spirograph time

Wesley's turn on the stairs

Wesley spent some time working on a Rubik's Cube

Still working

Got it!

Uncle Doug and Duane took turns on the Rubik's Cubes too

My guys standing by the trees.

 

Watching Christmas specials on tv

Watching cousins Kierstin and Mark on the computer

Aunt Judy gets in on the action

S'mores time!

Enjoying a gift from Uncle Doug