Thanksgiving Bullet Point Re-Cap

I was in an extreme non-picture taking mood on Thanksgiving, thereby only one picture will accompany this post.

• Eric started off the day playing football. He reported that there were more players there than ever before, and his team won all games. Great on both counts!
• This year we spent Thanksgiving with friends. We brought the turkey, which is kind of a scary thing to bring, but luckily Eric is skilled at turkey baking, and carving, as evidenced by the lone Thanksgiving day picture:

• I ate an incredible amount of food. In fact I am now heavier than I have been in over a year. Not good.
• My kids however barely ate anything. Partly due to their pickiness, but mostly due to the fact that they would rather spend the time playing with their friends, than eating. As an adult I have sufficiently mastered the skill of hanging out with friends and eating at the same time. As evidenced by the aforementioned weight gain.
• The men watched hours of football.
• I did not. But I did spend hours talking, and eating leftover rolls (again, reference weight gain).
• Thursday night at 10 pm I sent Eric out to Toys-R-Us to buy a certain toy that was discounted. He called me approximately 10 minutes later to inform me that the line went from Toys-R-Us all the way to the 215 entrance. Needless to say he turned around and came home. Can you imagine waiting in a line that long in the freezing cold? It sounds torturous to me. But if you enjoy that type of thing, I bear no judgement, just admiration. 
• I forgot I have one more picture to share. One I took a few days before Thanksgiving. Check out the cookies I made (or rather assembled) for the women I visit teach:

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Citizen Jackson

Jackson is November's Citizen Of The Month!!!

The ceremony was today, and we were a bit worried he wasn't going to make it (since he has been sick at home the last few days), but luckily he woke up fever free this morning and was able to go to school.

Getting his award.

His fellow November honorees.

With his Principal, Mrs. Popolo, who he had pizza with today for lunch.

And of course posing with the signature certificate, and bumper sticker!

Talent

My family is so talented............

Aviation Nation

On Saturday, while I endured what felt like the longest training meeting known to man, Eric took the kids to Aviation Nation. When he mentioned he wanted to go and asked me if I would feel bad if they went without me, I replied, "Um, no!" Because you see.......I do not love going. I wouldn't mind it if it were not for the crowds, and the looooong wait time for the buses when leaving, but alas you cannot go to Aviation Nation without encountering those two obstacles. So, Eric took the kids and they had a great time.

Eric and the kids in front of a C130, which is the plane his dad flew in the Air Force: 

Watching the Thunder Birds:

 

Poor Megan started to feel sick while they were there, and had to sit down while waiting for the buses. Sadie was more than happy to join her.

 

 Sade quite enjoyed the bus ride. It probably had something to do with the fact that no car seat was required.

They all reported that they had a great time. Even Megan who came home with a fever, and is still home from school with strep throat. I am crossing my fingers no one else gets it!

12 X 12 - November 2010

I woke Friday morning, later than usual since the kids did not have school, and was greeted by this:

A colossal mess!! How could this happen in the mere span of 2 hours that the children had been awake?  I do have to admit that the pile on the bottom right side is mine, left over from the night before. I had been to Savers (for the first time) because they were having a 50% off all clothing sale. Although the selection was fantastic, the prices were about double those at the D.I. But I ended up getting the kids quite a few things, as evidenced by the pile (they were tried on the night before in the living room, and had not yet made it into the laundry pile).

I started my day by cleaning up the breakfast dishes, only to find that I had forgotten to run the dishwasher the day before so there was nowhere to put them. But instead of washing them by hand, I stuffed them in there, and started it.

Sade and Megan played make-over, and this is what they came up with: Cheerleading outfit, a bun in the back with a big bow up top, and of course lipstick.

Although kids out of school means a messier house, it also means they are free from other obligations to clean it up.

And it means I have someone (Megan) to do things like check the mail that I don't want to do.

Sade's of course helped me cook lunch. If I am in the kitchen, she is there too.

Meg and Sade playing the piano. If any of you know of a piano teacher, I am in need of one, and would appreciate the info.

After Sadie's nap time we went treasure hunting at D.I. And I am happy to report I found exactly what I was looking for! If you ever see me at D.I. be prepared to see Sadie like this: Coming out from under racks of clothes.

After shopping I took the kids to the park. But since it gets dark sooooo early now, we only stayed for a little bit.

When Eric got home he played Chess with the kids. I have never learned to play chess and I feel like in my advanced years it is something I can't wrap my brain around.

I made dinner! Notice Sade my ever-present kitchen helper.

Eric plays soccer Friday nights, and although the kids and I usually go and watch, his game didn't start until 8:30, so we opted to stay home.

Stars & Stingrays

Another soccer season has once again come and gone. We had a great season, full of beautiful weather, lots of socializing, and relaxing (since neither Eric nor I was coaching this year!).

Megan's team was called the Stingrays!

Megan did really great this year. She was never afraid to go after the ball (even when kids that looked twice her size were going after the same ball), and worked really hard, often times coming out of games with sweat running down her face.

Jackson's team was the Stars! Now Jackson has always loved to play pretty much every sport, but this year he got competitive and aggressive (in a good way). He took his soccer playing seriously, and scored many goals.

He often played defender and didn't have a goal scored on him all season until the very last game when his own teammate kicked it in. So that doesn't really count. Right?

Check out the look on his face. Like I said he took soccer playing very seriously.

 He even took the pre-game warm-up seriously. Check out that leg extension.

 Although Eric did not coach this season (he was out of town for most of it), he did end up coaching one game. It looks like Eric is giving Jackson a bit of a lecture, which is always easier to do when it is your own kid.

Jackson's first goal of the season.

 And I have to mention Sade's, who excelled at spectating.