The Family Christmas Extravaganza

The 1st Annual

"Family Christmas Extravaganza"

Another new tradition we added to our Christmas this year was "The Family Christmas Extravaganza". The kids sang songs and danced during a Christmas show.. Next year Scotlyn will add her own routine to the show. It's a wonderful idea that is memorable (and humorous). More importantly it's something we can all do together and it's practically free. I hope it's something we continue far into the future with daughter-in-laws, son-in-law, and grandchildren.

Andy performing his song and dance routine for the show

Andy and Braden (look closely) performing in the show.

Braden doing his dance routine in the show.

Christmas Down on the Farm~2nd Santa Pictures

We attended the Rutledge-Wilson Farm's "Christmas Down on the Farm" event on Sunday, December 21st. The kids were able to get their pictures taken with Santa. You should have seen Santa's outfit. It was so beautiful! If you look closely you can see the Nativity scene on the lining.

Scotlyn's First Haircut

Scotlyn had her first haircut today...just a bang cut. She did not like it as you will see.

Before

The saddest face you'll ever see!

Snip, Snip!

It's over!
After

Extra Christmas Break

Due to the snow & ice, I was able to have almost another whole week off to make my Christmas break almost 3 weeks long! I did have to go back on Friday, December 19th. Gee, for one day!!! My class made origami snowflakes and watched a movie. Pretty rough day, don't you think?

Andy's Christmas Program

Tonight was Andy's Christmas program. This was probably my favorite program out of all he's ever had. The kids sang five Christmas songs making every student have equal parts, the kids were dressed in Sunday best clothes, and they did a little dancing while on the risers.

Winter decided to make itself known during the program. The sound of sleet could be heard hitting the rooftop of the auditorium. The sound added a special touch to the program and gave it more meaning.

Welcome winter!!!!

St. Nicholas Eve

Tonight is St. Nicholas Eve.

St. Nicholas was the patron Saint of children. Many years ago I wanted to find a way to honor my German heritage at Christmas since there are so many wonderful German Christmas customs. That's when I discovered Saint Nicholas Eve and Saint Nicholas Day. Our family adopted the tradition and it is enjoyed so much by the kids. Several years ago, I talked to my mom about Saint Nicholas Eve. She knew exactly what it was and told me she remembered it from when she was a little girl. Tomorrow we honor the generosity and kindness of Saint Nicholas.

Andy, Braden, and Scotlyn are fast asleep, but have left their shoes out on the porch with their Santa letters. Santa will come for a short visit during the night to get their letters and leave a special sweet treat.

The Christmas Tree Skirt

Any of you that know me well, know that I'm into starting family traditions. Several years back, I read about a way to make a family Christmas tree skirt. You buy a cloth table cover, dip your childrens' hands in seasonal fabric paint and press their hand prints on the table cover. Below the hand prints you add the year with the fabric paint.

We started this tradition back in 2004 and of course it was just Andy's hand prints that year. Then in 2005 and 2006, it was Andy's and Braden's. Our family grew again by "two feet" in 2007 and it was Andy's, Braden's, and Scotlyn's hand prints.

This year when we added the hand prints, we noticed that we've almost made our way around the first row of the skirt. Soon we'll be on the second row. The skirt will probably only allow three rows, then I guess we'll go to thumb prints on the ruffle.

Our Christmas tree skirt is very special and the kids anticipate adding their hand prints each year. Last year the skirt was "accidentally" vacuumed up and torn. Never fear though...Grandma to the rescue!!! We are so fortunate Grandma could fix it. The vacuum cleaner "scar" has added character to the skirt and so much more.

So along with the memories of adding the hand prints each year, the memories of Christmas pasts, we have the story about the year dad vacuumed it and tore it. We have the story of how Grandma was able to sew it back together. We have our appreciation and love for Grandma. We have the memory of how Grandma added her own special touch to our Christmas tree skirt.

Thank you mom.

Santa Pictures Take 1

Santa Pictures-Take 1

November 29, 2008

Scotlyn's 1st Birthday

"Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Scotlyn,

Happy birthday to you!"

Waiting for the birthday girl

Scotlyn in front of her cake. She doesn't seem real happy.

She really is not happy!

She's not getting any happier!


"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!!!"

She completely does not like this birthday cake deal!

Okay, so let's put a hat on her. That might make her happy....nope!

I think she's calming down.

Scotlyn with Andy and Braden. She finally tried her cake.

Andy and Braden helping Scotlyn eat her cake. Is that a smile?

Andy helping open a present.

Scotlyn looking at her boots.

Andy and Braden helping Scotlyn with her toys.

Andy watching Scotlyn look at his gift to her.

Election Day

"Election Day 2008"

Today is election day. The day that our founding fathers created so that each citizen's voice could be heard. I've been intensely teaching my social studies classes about the constitution and the voting process. Every September I require my students to learn and recite the preamble by memory. I love it when this project is assigned because it involves having them go around to 75 different people and recite the preamble by memory. The person that listened to the student recite the preamble then signs their name to a paper. You'll see fifth graders all over the school asking different teachers, administrators, and even the superintendent to listen to them recite the preamble. I've heard through the "grapevine" (aka parents) that the papers have been brought to church and students have recited the preamble during a special time during the service. I've also really focused on teaching the electoral college. I think my students have a clue about the electoral college process which is wonderful since most adults don't understand it!

I got up an hour earlier today so that I could leave and get to our voting poll by 6 a.m. I stood in a line that went out the doors and around the building. It was freezing cold at 6 a.m., but the pride in my country I felt during that 40 minute wait was overwhelming. I loved hearing the various conversations around me...all political. People were pumped about this election. People realized the historical importance of this particular election. People knew that their vote did indeed make a difference.

No, the presidential candidate I voted for did not win. Am I disappointed? Yes, of course. I have my concerns about our country. I realize, though, that my vote made a difference because it allowed my voice to be heard. I was helping the legacy our founding fathers created for this country continue.

I am thankful to live in a democracy.

I am thankful and proud to be an American.

The Cats

The Cats

Whiskers-17 years old

Gremlin-15 years old

Lessons Learned from a Halloween Party

Tonight Andy had his annual Halloween party. Several years ago this started out as a party for the neighborhood kids. We usually had 4-5 kids of various ages come over in their costumes to play games such as Boo Bingo, Carry the Ghosts, Bone Hunt, Cupcake Walk, Balloon Bounce, Ghosts in the Middle, Pumpkin Toss, Candybar Walk, and Break the Pinata. We would serve mummy dogs, graveyard pudding, and ghoulish punch and give out finger popcorn bags, cupcakes, and candy. The kids would also take home treat bags filled with Halloween pencils, spider rings, and toy snakes. It was a nice way for the kids to have fun around Halloween time.

Last year the party branched out from the neighborhood and included a few friends from Andy's classroom. We had a total of 6 kids and it was a really good party. It ended with a bonfire and roasting marshmallows.

Now let's talk about this year's party....imagine having 8 fifth grade boys and some neighborhood kids come to the party that for some insane reason included spending the night!!!! The party started out with them playing in the back yard and then playing several Halloween games.  Next we had a fight break out between two boys because one boy broke another boy's costume sword! Everyone calmed down and the boys were able to play Night Tag before the bonfire and we started roasting marshmallows. Afterwards, the boys came in to watch movies, eat popcorn, and play with Legos.

Will Andy have another Halloween party? That depends on my level of insanity next October.

Halloween

Our alien, fireman, and bunny on October 31, 2008.

The alien grabs the fireman!

The alien carrying the fireman off to the spaceship!

Our little bunny.

Our little bunny.

Our alien.

Our fireman.

Our bunny.

Our bunny.

Our bunny trick-or treating.

Our bunny trick-or-treating.

Our alien and fireman trick-or-treating.

October 31, 2008

Today was Halloween and it brought our annual tradition of participating in our town's trick-or-treating event. Over 50 businesses keep their doors open for the kids to come in with their costumes on and trick-or-treat. It's a safe, but fun way for our kids to enjoy Halloween. We are very fortunate to have our town do this and are so appreciative. We also go around two neighborhoods where some of our friends live and we know it will also be safe.

The Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to the Rutledge-Wilson Farm's Pumpkin Patch. This was Scotlyn's first time in a pumpkin patch and it's a family tradition to take pictures of this occasion. Andy and Braden enjoyed walking through the pumpkin patch, climbing on the tractors and hay bales, and visiting the animals.

Fall...in Braden's Words

We were driving around town and Braden was noticing how the trees are really starting to change colors. Our town has an array of trees with red, orange, yellow, and purple. Braden was naming the colors of the leaves when in his infinite wisdom he says, "I think God painted the tree leaves."

How can you argue with a three-year-olds' logic?

Searching for "Black Gold" Again!

We spent our afternoon searching for our families' "black gold" again. Our black gold comes in the form of black walnuts and helps bring in a little spending money for Andy and Braden. Today we went to the ranch of one of our friends. There were soooooo many black walnuts! We spent about 3 hours picking them up before getting tired and leaving. Our afternoon adventure brought in $18.00 for the boys.

Congrats Jessica and Chuck!!!

Congratulations to my niece Jessica!!! These are pictures from her early October wedding in Jamaica. Chuck's a great guy and we're glad he's joined our family!