Nicholas' 9th Birthday

First Day of School

Yesterday was my son's first day back to school. He is in the third grade. That is really hard for me to believe! We went to open house the night before and they gave away backpacks. DS took a picture because it he thought it was so neat. It was filled with school supplies. This is the first year they are allowing "regular" backpacks. They used to only be allowed to carry mesh or plastic see thru backpacks. Also, we ware not doing 4 day week school. That was a rumor going around although they did talk about it.

4 day weeks?!?

School is going to start back soon. I can't find the date that it starts back though. I looked on the county and school websites but I find nothing? I guess this would have been a good time to get the local newspaper. Anyways, I have heard rumors, which I think now are true that our school system is going to 4 day weeks. This is due to the rising gas prices. The kids will go 1 1/2 hours extra each of the four days. For me this is really not a big problem, as I am a stay at home mom, but if I was not, this would mean more money out of our budget to provide childcare for the day that the school system is "saving" money. A lot of schools around here seem to be going the 4 day week. As a former working mom, I see there side, but as a stay at home mom, I see this as time to spend with my ds doing different things for fun and learning. Hmmm. I am undecided on how I feel about it. Are any of your all's schools going to 4 day weeks?

Who do my kids look more like?

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Vintage photos - Finding relatives

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Ancestors - Free family history

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Geneology - Free genealogy

I find this really interesting! Everyone always says all my kids look like dh. I always thought that they just said that because of the hair color, but now I have proof that all of my kids look more like me! Ha Ha! Thanks to Jenn for sharing this site! Fun!

My son's school project-Native American Rattle

I hate school projects with my son! I have a hard enough time getting my 2nd grader to do homework, much less doing a big project. This time, he went online and picked a project by himself and with his dad's help completed it. He has been out of school for two days because of bad weather and he has researched information about his project and he will finish his paper tonight that must accompany the project. This time he had to make something to do with Native Americans. He ended up making this Native American Rattle. The rattle was an instrument of independence and was used during ceremonies and dances. The rattle refers to 3 kingdoms. The animal kingdom is represented be the feathers used for decoration. The mineral kingdom is represented by the rocks used to make the noise of the rattle. The plant kingdom is represented by the wooden handle on the rattle. The rattle has become a symbol for music, dance, and medicine as well as spirituality. When used for meditation, it is said to clear ones mind. Native Americans used rattles to find their spiritual energy. The beating of the rattle helps break up stagnant energy that is blocking the natural flow within your body. It can also help us focus on our souls.
This was an interesting project, but I am glad it is pretty much done.

Playing in the Snow!

The kids got up today and were so excited to go outside and play in the new fallen snow! Yes this is our first measurable snow. So, we got dressed and bundled up real good and while Neil was taking a nap, we went out for about 20 minutes. The kids got to try out their new snow boots they got for Christmas. It was 19 degrees and they screamed because they wanted to stay out longer! Then we came in and had Tomato Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. It was so cold! Here are a few pictures!

Just Before we went out.

Katie Sue

Nathan

Nathan

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Nicholas

This is what they both looked like when we came back in.

My son's Christmas Present

Nicholas wanted a MP3 player for Christmas. We found a nice one but it was a cheaper one since he is only 8 years old. I was wrapping gifts tonight and I asked dh if he wanted to look at it before I wrapped it. Of course, he wanted to "play" with it. Man am I glad he did! They already have songs on there and the first song on there was full of curse words! Boy am I glad that we checked it! Dh deleted all of the songs, most were rap. We don't listen to much of that. We put 5 songs on that we know he likes and then put it back in the box. Now, I want one! I never knew how neat they were! There is even some audio books already on there. I am so behind the time. I just wish they would not have put those bad songs on there and that I got them off before Nicholas listened to them!

Nicholas' Baptism Pictures

Nicholas was baptised today. In the family picture is my dh's mom and his step father.

Nicholas's Birthday!

My first baby turned 8 yesterday. Sometimes I wonder where the time went! He is in a soldier phase right now. He wants to be a soldier in a war, no less. He says that is what he wants to be when he grows up. Here are some pictures from his birthday which we had after the Thanksgiving meal. Poor child, every so many years, he has to share his birthday with the turkey. He really did not seem to mind though!

Trick-or-Treat Night Pictures

Trick-or-Treat Night at Granny's

All of my kids, (this was a HARD picture to take!)

Neil very tired!


Nicholas as a soilder

Neil another happy smile!

Nathan and Katie Sue with the glasses Granny gave them.

Pumpkin Carving Night

Every year that we have been married, my dh always carves the pumpkin. I collected Pumpkin Masters books every year before we got married, had lots of pumpkin carving tools, but never got around to carving(and really I do not like it) so every year we get out the books and dh picks a challenging one and has a really neat creation when he is done. Well this year, he decided he wanted to do one that was considered easy because he really did not have a lot of time to spend on it. This is the one he picked. I still think it came out pretty neat though. Also Nicholas' class went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch and they all got a small pumpkin. Nicholas carved his first pumpkin. I thought he did a great job.

Halloween Party Pictures

Halloween Party 2007

Nicholas as a Soldier

Katie Sue as "Elmo"

Elmo's world

Neil as "Blue"

Another one of Neil as Blue

"Elmo" eating

Nathan as "The Cookie monster" doing what The Cookie Monster does best...EAT!

Nathan as "The Cookie Monster"

"Blue" on all fours

Weekend in Review, Random Thoughts, Update, etc!

This weekend was a very interesting day in the kids department. You all know I have tried to potty train the twins, but without any luck. I decided to give up! People kept saying when they are ready they will do it, so I decided to just let that happen. Mind you now if they turned 4 and still did not do it, I would have done something, but I decided just not to worry about it until they showed more interest. All week Nathan has been going and sitting on the big potty for like 15 minutes at at time. Today he did the same thing only he went #2 in the potty. He got a sucker and Katie Sue wanted one I felt so bad, but I told her she had to go potty and she did go pee pee. Wow that was hard to believe! It was like a party in my house tonight. Tomorrow we start panties and under wear, pray for me!

Also, I got out this toy and Neil is walking with it. Hard to believe he can do that and he is only 8 months. I really think he is going to walk sooner than any of my other kids did. I am so happy for him, but sad too because he is so growing up and he is my last baby!

In other news this weekend, my toe has really been hurting. Yesterday my whole nail came off. I got a band-aid on it and it is a Sponge Bob one and it looks like my toe is Sponge Bob. It hurts really bad!

We also went outside yesterday. It is so pretty out, all the trees are gorgeous! It was like 6o degrees yesterday and I sat outside and read a book while the kids played in the yard on there yard toys. We had such a good time! I just love this time of year. I get this feeling in me that I just can not explain. The first time I noticed it was when I was in college.
It is kind of like an excitement! I love this time of year!

We also finally have all of the Halloween costumes. Nathan wanted to be the Cookie Monster so Katie Sue is going to be Elmo. A friend gave me an outfit for Neil it is Blue and it is so cute on him! Nicholas is going to be a soldier. He is into soldiers right now. I do not know why but he is. We went to the library and he had a Librarian find him books about soldiers and war. It kind of scares me really, but he has not been fighting or anything. When we went to Wal-Mart the other day he went to see the board about the men who have served our country and are veterans and he really liked that.

I have got to get back into menu planning, I have not done it for about a month and I can tell the difference! So, tomorrow I will be posting my menu. We cooked a spiral ham tonight. Yummy! So, we will have leftovers, anyone know any great leftover ham recipes? Well that was my weekend.