Tearin' It Up On The Dance Floor

The video is a little dark, but that's Luke (in the green jacket) and his cousin Anna getting their groove on before the Gregg Russell concert in Harbor Town.  At first Luke was a little unsure about it all so he started in the corner by the speaker.  But once he hit his stride, he was all over that stage.  I told my sister-in-law Stacie that he reminded me of Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack with those rockin' pants and stellar dance moves.

Thanksgiving Checklist

Turkey?  Check
Green Bean Casserole? Check
Pumpkin Bars?  Check
Time with family?  Check
Cool condo with plenty of room?  Check
Bike rides?  Check
Bike with attached Kiddie Kart and 35 lb child and beach gear?  Check
Sore legs?  Check
Climb to the top of the lighthouse?  Check
All 118 steps?  Check
Really sore legs?  Check
Time at the beach?  Check
"Beach hair"?  Check
Getting caught on the bikes in the rain?  Check
"Rain hair" mixed with "beach hair"?  Check
Pizza the day after Thanksgiving?  Check
Washing clothes after I vowed I was on vacation and wouldn't be washing any clothes?  Check
Golf for the guys?  Check
Two rounds?  Check
Seeing an alligator on the bike trail? Check
Afraid he might eat my children?  Check
Cousins giggling, playing and making memories?  Check
Cinnamon Roll hugs?  Check
Gumbo?  Check
Potato Salad?  Check
College football?  Check (Go Noles!)
Too many late night card games?  Check
Too much tv?  Check
Shopping for HHI tshirts?  Check
Sitting in the Harbor Town red rocking chairs?  Check
Watching the big boats/yachts?  Check
Seeing Gregg Russell in concert under the big oak tree?  Check
Watching family reminisce about being there in that same spot years ago?  Check
Seeing Santa?  Check
Luke not freaking out over Santa?  Check
Beef tenderloin?  Check
Packing up?  Check
Saying good-bye?  Check
Crazy traffic on the way home?  Check
Figuring out when we can come back?  Check
Taking lots of pictures?  Oops!  I only got a few. I'll share those tomorrow.

Black Friday

Today you may be out with all the crowds doing some shopping.  More power to you.

But I'm here enjoying time with my family and this cool view:

And a little bit of this too:

Shopping can most definitely wait.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether you're having popcorn and jellybeans or turkey with all the fixings, take time today to be thankful to our God who has given us immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

Gettin' His Craft On

You just have to love preschool crafts.  Of course, between school and church we end up with LOTS of crafts so I'm not sure what to do with all of them.  But they make me smile.  These are Luke's creations. 

That boy loves him some purple marker.  At the beginning of the year we sent in a list of supplies in a box with his name on them.  They are his supplies to use for the year.  They no longer share crayons, markers, play-doh, etc.  I guess to keep germs from spreading.  (Can I get an Amen?)  Almost everything comes home with purple marker on it.  Lots of purple marker. 



Smiling's my favorite. ~Buddy the Elf

These were posted on the wall in the chapel area where they had their performance.  I had to laugh out loud when I read Luke's.  It says he is thankful for "kisses and prayers before bed."  This is from the little boy who told me "I don't want to kiss you today" when I dropped him off at carpool line.  For the record, I had showered, brushed my teeth and even put on makeup.  This is also from the little boy who wiggles constantly during Bible time and is known to interrupt prayer time with his proclamation of needing to go to the bathroom. 



Biologically Thankful

Fletcher made this cup of blessings in Sunday School at church. 

I guess it is important to be thankful for good liver functions. 

(Not to be Captain Obvious, but I think he might have been going for "Bible" instead of "bile"). 

Finished Product

Here is Fletcher's finished diorama.  As a brief reminder history lesson (don't feel too badly - I had to look it up too), Squanto was an Indian who was captured by an Englishman, taken back to England, taught to speak English and returned to his homeland.  There's more to his story, but those are the basic details.  After the Pilgrims arrived on Plymouth Rock and barely survived a brutal winter, he offered to help them by teaching them how to fish and fertilize their crops to grow more corn. 

 Squanto and the Pilgrims are figures from Fletcher's Playmobil toys.  See the corn growing in the real dirt?  See the GIANT fish in the basket?  The little house is a typical house that the Pilgrims built with clapboard style siding and a thatched type roof made of straw (kind of like straw from a broom). 

 Their costumes are made of felt, sticky foam, pipe cleaners and a feather.  The Indian warpaint is Mom's eyeliner. 

I think he is proud of the finished product. 

Let's just say I think I may have inhaled too many fumes from all the rubber cement we put into this little

project. 

The Show Must Go On

This was Luke's debut performance at his preschool holiday program. They've been working on these songs and the pledge for weeks. While he had practiced in that very same room many times before the performance, he had never done it with 40 or so parents watching him all holding video cameras. I love how God makes each child unique. If you recall (if not, click here for a reminder), Fletcher is my very social child. He thrives on being with people and so being on a stage and performing is right up his alley. Luke, on the other hand, prefers smaller groups. Often if we have other kids over to play, he will play for a while and then he will go play by himself. It's like being around lots of people for too long is draining for him and he needs time to recharge his batteries. I'm sort of like that too. He loves, loves, loves to sing and we constantly hear him singing at home when he is awake and when he is supposed to be going to sleep or napping. He likes to listen to music in the car and always asks for me to "turn it up wouder." So I wondered how he would do today. Singing + crowd = ?

Note his long hair that I mentioned in yesterday's post.  And his cute sweater.  That's a truck with pumpkins in it.  So cute. 

My first clue should have been his hesitation at the door when he saw all the people.  The poor boy next to him kept his eyes covered.  I guess he thought "If I can't see them, they can't see me."  (I didn't show it in the video because I had to edit it down, but the teachers did help the crying boy off the stage and his parents took over.)  I have to explain the last part.  After he'd had enough, Luke just walked off the stage and came and sat in my lap.  He would NOT go back up and stand with his class and sing.  He was done.  Kevin tried to convince him.  I tried.  We bribed him with the promise of cookies afterwards.  Wasn't happening. So for posterity's sake I turned the camera on and video taped him watching instead of singing Jingle Bells - his current favorite song.  His teacher told me afterwards that she almost called me the night before the show to tell me that she wasn't sure he would actually stand up and do it.  I told her that I had the same feeling, but I thought he might surprise me. 

I did ask him what he leaned over and told his little friend who was covering his eyes.  Luke said he told him, "It gonna be ok."  How sweet is that?!

The funniest part was not caught on tape.  I put Luke down for his nap and he didn't sleep probably because of all the cookies he ate after his performance.  Instead, there in his dark room, he sang every single song he was supposed to sing for his performance.  If I could have figured out a way to sneak the video camera in his room I would have. 

Oh Luke, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and whether you sing with the crowd or sing all by yourself at the top of your lungs in your room.   We will always love you and we love the way God made you!

Psalm 139:14

School Pictures

 Fletcher, 1st grade

Luke, 3 years old

Kevin mentioned awhile back that he wanted to let both of them grow their hair out just to see what it would look like.  So neither one of them have had a haircut since August (I think).  Fletcher's hair is definitely showing some wild waves.  Luke is going for the Justin Bieber look.  For those of you living under a rock, Justin Bieber is the 15 year old pop singing sensation who got his start on youtube.  Not sure how long I can let it get since Luke's is starting to hang down in his eyes, but they are having fun with it.  They especially love to make it stick up everywhere and look wild when they get out of the tub and it is still partially wet. 

Self, Party of One?

Kevin had a late meeting last night.

Luke decided not to take a nap yesterday afternoon. 

I let Fletcher and Luke call Kevin to say good night and tell him about their days at school and preschool.  We were all on speaker phone. 

Fletcher:  I had a good day.  I didn't have to stand.
Dad:  Good job, buddy.  I am proud of you.
Luke:  I didn't have to stand.  (They don't use this as a punishment at preschool, but Luke likes to say it too because he knows it is a good thing )
Dad:  You didn't have to stand either, Luke?  That's great. 
Fletcher:  Luke didn't have a very good day.  (note how he throws his brother under the bus)
Dad:  Luke, what happened? 
Luke:  (silence)
Fletcher:  Do you want me to tell him or you tell him?
Fletcher:  (not waiting for an answer) Luke took all his books off his bookshelf and wouldn't pick them up so he got a spanking.
Fletcher:  AND he didn't take a nap today.
Dad:  Luke?  You are supposed to listen and obey when Mama tells you to do something.
Luke:  (silence)
Mom:  So Luke, what do you have to say for yourself?
Luke:  Sorry, Self.

Why do I feel like he missed the point entirely?  As a side note, we generally do not encourage tattling in our house.  We have to remind Fletcher quite often.  

"Three Dimensional Replica" aka "Diorama"

He's a first born.  His mother has neurotic tendencies.  We might need an intervention. 
When I was a teacher, I assigned math related projects to my students all the time.  I believed it was good for them and allowed those who were more creative and artsy to feel successful in a very structured mathematical environment.  I am regretting that decision now that I am on the other side.  I guess this is payback.

Of course, we will post pictures of the completed project.  I promise I am trying really hard to abide by the "let them do most of the work" directions. 

Breakin' A Sweat

Our trip was great, but I am one tired mama. 

Hope this brings a smile to your Monday morning.  He's just getting started, but I am sure if he keeps it up those extra pounds will be gone in no time!

On The Road Again

Leaf peeping

Grandma hugging

Papa Charlie golf cart driving

Golf playing

Goat feeding

Mountain seeing

Curvy road driving

Road trip

Guess He Told Me

One day Luke and I were home for lunch.  He was going to eat pasta noodles with red sauce so I took his shirt off  so he wouldn't get sauce all over it.  This is not our first spaghetti rodeo if you know what I mean.

I sat down to eat with him and well...this one probably works best in conversation format....

Luke (pointing to his nipples on his chest):  Mama, what are deese? 
Mom (wishing we could just eat):  Those are called nipples.  Everyone has them but the boy ones don't really do anything.
Luke:  Yes dey do.  See?

At this point he proceeds to shake his shoulders like he is doing some sort of shimmy dance and moving his arms so they will move up and down.  Then he pokes on them again pushing them so that they move the tiniest bit.

Luke:  See?  Dey can do awot of tings. 

I'm going to let Kevin be in charge of all future biology lessons.

Reminiscing

Ever since our computer incident last week, Kevin has been diligently trying to get our picture and video files in some sort of order so that we can quit backing up the same files over and over which overloads our external hard drive.  I should be helping.  Instead, I've had fun watching some of the videos we've taken over the years.  I know we have more that aren't on the computer but are on tapes somewhere.  We probably need to do something with those before that technology becomes obsolete.  This one of Fletcher always makes me laugh for so many reasons.  I think he was about 13 months old because that's about the time he learned to walk. I thought he would never walk!  He just didn't care to go anywhere.  But the boy could talk!  Couldn't understand a work he was saying, but those were sentences with subjects, verbs and prepositional phrases.  Loved those curls too.  (An overzealous barber chopped them all off one day when I sent Fletcher with Kevin to get a "trim").

Really?

This video showed up a few weeks late. Fletcher's team could have used this in flag football!

Happy Fall!

We had a fall party and bonfire for Fletcher's first grade class this weekend.  I was hoping to get some great pictures of the kids playing in the leaf pile, but  my camera needed to be on a different setting because I couldn't get any action shots.  They had so much fun roasting marshmellows, going on a hayride and playing in the leaves.  It was really cold so after the sun went down I put my camera away and stood by the fire to stay warm!

Friday Round Up

Luke came home Thursday afternoon with this large pink horse in his backpack.  At first I thought he might have accidentally swiped another child's toy that she brought for Show-N-Share.  But Luke kept saying, "No, Mommy, dis is Sammy."  Turns out (after I read the note) Sammy is the class pet and Sammy gets to go home with a different child each weekend and have adventures. Sammy has a journal in which parents record all of his (Luke insisted that he is a boy even though he is pink) fun times.  So far we know that Sammy is a very good listener and obeys very well.  We are hoping Sammy sets a very good example for some other boys in our house while he is visiting with us.  

 Fletcher has been studying all about Indians in his class at school.  They made Indian headbands and necklaces.  Note the bear claw and eagle claw on his necklace.  He says they did an Indian dance.  I hope to get that on video because, well, you just know it is going to be spectacular. 

 Finally, it has been raining for two days here making the ground too wet for either of the boys to get out and play at school or at home.  They were wound up Thursday night.  I walked in Luke's room and found this massive vehicle pile up. It almost looks like a work of art. 

Happy Weekend!

Who Dat! (one last time)

Fletcher is #4.  He is playing defense in the first clip, then he is the quarterback in the second clip.  

Kevin put up new shelves in his room to display the trophies.  (It usually isn't this clean.  I took this picture while Fletcher was in school the moment the cleaning people left.)

 And I included this picture just because he is cute and he endured flag football season by happily playing in his sandbox during practices and games.  I'm not sure what we will do about basketball season since I can't bring the sandbox in the gym. 

Dun Dun Dun DunDa Dun DunDa Dun

The Friday before Halloween a friend and I decided it would be fun to carve pumpkins with the boys.  I wanted to do a very simple, basic, traditional, not too difficult jack-o-lantern face consisting of triangle eyes, a triangle nose and a zig zag mouth.  My friend is the artsy type.  She thought the boys would enjoy something related to Star Wars since they were both dressing up as Star Wars characters.   I am not at all confident in my artistic abilities.  When I taught Geometry, my students made fun of the triangles I drew if that tells you anything.  But I stretched myself to my artistic limits (and my hand and arm are still sore from all the punching and sawing and teeny tiny details). 

Oh and the "with the boys" part?  They were in the kitchen for approximately 2 mintues - long enough to take obligatory photos then they were off to play leaving the moms with all the work and the clean up.  They did come back later and try the pumpkin seeds we roasted. 

The light saber fighting while mom prepares.

 Luke getting in on the action.

 Removing the top and seeing the stringy insides.  Ewwww!

 Fletcher and Tucker decidee they want to help me scoop out the insides.  I brought gloves for me to use, but they wanted to use them too.  I am not a big fan of sticky stuff getting on my fingers. 

 Fletcher went to town.  Tucker not so much. 

 In fact, Teresa (Tucker's mom) captured him throwing up a little bit in his mouth. 

Luke wanted to try too. 

 The goggles - just in case any pumpkin guts splattered out. 

 Note that there are two pumpkins here.  We realized that we were going to have to make two Star Wars characters because if we only made one then whose house would it go to?  Both boys would want it. 

 The finished product.  May the force be with you. 

I told Teresa that next year I'm choosing the theme and the template.  :)

P.S.  The title is supposed to be the Star Wars theme music.  Do you hear it now? 

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2010 has come and gone.  We made some fun memories with friends and now I am trying to figure out a way to hide or dispose of some of the candy so a certain little person in our house doesn't spend every waking and almost asleep moment asking for more candy.  This little person has no recollection of last year's event so this (not to quote a Disney movie) was a whole new world for him.  Strangers?  Giving him candy?  Lots of it?  Yes!!!

We went to our friends' house and had pizza before we headed out to a nearby neighborhood.  Since our neighborhood isn't built out yet (only 40 of 200 homes are built), we decided it might be easier with the little kids to go to another friend's neighborhood where houses were closer together. 

Getting ready for the group shot.Star Wars was well represented.  I love that Bob the Builder has his tool belt on upside down.  Glad none of his tools fell out. 

 Here they are. 

 Piling in the golf cart to ride over to the next neighborhood.

 Brothers. 

 Bob and Bob's dad. 

 Checking out the loot.  Tucker (far left) told me he was "organizing his candy."  Note that Fletcher and Luke didn't bother organizing.  They went straight to eating.  Luke wanted to stop at each house and eat the candy right then.  It took alot of convincing for us to get him to keep going. 

 I couldn't get a great picture, but the homeowner at this house was wearing a giant Pink Panther suit.  Between Pink Panther and the skeleton guy in the corner I thought there was no way the kids would go to the door.  Luke wasn't sure at first but once he saw Fletcher do it, he followed right along. 

Boo! (Update added at the end)

No, not "boo" as in ghosts and Halloween, but "boo" as in what people say when someone calls a bad play in a sporting event.  As in "this stinks."

Right before I went to bed Saturday night, I posted a picture of our pumpkin on Facebook and checked email.  Everything was fine.

Sunday morning, I tried to turn the computer on and nothing.  Fan runs, it grinds a little bit but that's it.  We have no idea what's going on.  Kevin is trying to figure it out.  Of course,  I can't remember the last time I backed up my pictures.  Boo!  I had some great blog posts planned for this week.  Boo!  We'll probably have to buy a new computer.  Boo! 

Our monitor quit just a few weeks ago too.  I wonder if any of this is related to our lightning strike awhile back.  Like a delayed reaction or something. Kevin says he doesn't think so since we had a surge protector on the computer stuff. 

I'm typing this on Kevin's laptop.  Not sure what this week's posts will look like.  In the meantime, if you are on FB, you can look on my profile and see our pumpkin for 2010.

Edited to add:  In case you didn't see the comment, my super awesome talented husband was able to get us back up and running with a quick trip to Best Buy to diagnose the problem and get a replacement part (power supply, I think).  I had no idea when I married him that he had so many cool skills.