BUGZ

That was the title of Hannah's second grade play.  They were the cutest bunch of bugs ever!!  The music teacher did such a great job with simple costumes.

Some of the bugs spotted in the garden were...

army ants

roaches who of course sang, "La Cucaracha"

a bumblebee played by one of Hannah's BFFs, Bess

dragonflies

and our own little maggot played by none other than Miss Hannah.

Alien Heart

Hannah has been studying the human heart in her Target class.  She has learned the different parts and their functions.  To wrap up the unit, the students were assigned the task of creating an alien heart.  They were to use supplies they could find around the house.  The alien heart had the same basic parts as a human heart, but in different numbers.

I have a hard time with projects like these that are done at home because many come back with more than a little help from parents.  Hannah designed and created her own heart.  My part was to use the hot glue gun.

After Hannah drew her sketch, she went through the house to find items to represent each part.  The only items we purchased were purple tissue paper to fill up the lung and a bright colored sock to use as the chambers.  The lung is a recycled container cheese balls came in.  It was perfect because it gave a sturdy base and surface to attach the parts of the heart.

I was worried that Hannah's teacher wouldn't realize this was a totally student created project, but she came up to me at school the morning Hannah turned it in and told me how much she loved it.

Tender Heart

Aaron has been reading the Harry Potter series.  He can't seem to put it down.  He finished book three one night in bed.  He came into my room almost in tears and said, "That was such a good book."  I asked him if someone died and he said, "No, it was just a good book."  He went and told PK and then went to bed and just bawled.

I am reading the series along with him and finished book three a couple days behind him.  There was nothing that was really sad, so I started talking to Aaron about the end of the book.  Without giving away too much of the story line, as a baby Harry is saved from evil by his mother's love and readers find that out in book one.  Aaron said, "It is just nice how love is so powerful."  That is why he was crying.  So stinkin' sweet.   

The New "F" Word

There is a new "F" word in our house.  It didn't even occur to me that it was a "not so nice" word until I had to use it to describe myself.  Actually, I think the first person to use it in actual reference to me was my husband.

Today is my birthday.  We started celebrating this past weekend.  We went to my new favorite Mexican restaurant and to a movie.  The first sign of old age may be falling asleep in the middle of a movie that started at 7:15.

PK got the kids up


a bit early this morning

and they set up a little party for me.

There were cards (this one was from Hannah)

 

and cake (the same husband who used the "F" word also called this cake a campfire due to the number of candles)

and a present!!

What could have possibly been in that big ol' box?

My brand new KitchenAid!!  I've wanted one for quite a while, but I couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money.  They were on sale on Black Friday and even with the additional coupon I had, I still couldn't do it.  PK did!!!  Now all I have to do is decide what to make first.

As we are celebrating and eating cookie cake for breakfast (that's just the way we roll), my husband says, "Well, you are (wait for it...think of it in slow motion) fffff.....oooorrr.....ttttyyyy."  He didn't really say it in slow motion, but that is how I remember it.  I looked at him and said, "That is now the new "F" word and we will not say it in this house." 

Arrow of Light

Aaron is in his fifth year of Cub Scouts.  He and PK have enjoyed many scout activities together.  Aaron just received his Arrow of Light award.  This is the highest award a boy can earn as a Cub Scout.  He technically has the rest of the school year to finish up as a Cub Scout, but he and the other members of his den have chosen their new Boy Scout troops.  We will have even more scouting adventures in the not too distant future.

Aaron receiving final awards from his den leader.

PK and Aaron with his Arrow of Light award.

Aaron being accepted by the Boy Scouts.

Aaron with his old den.

Lovin' Ray Style

There was a time when I would make the kids a hot breakfast several times a week.  When Hannah was in kindergarten I would get up and make homemade muffins and send some to the teachers.  I lost my mojo somewhere along the way.  Now they grab PopTarts, cereal and instant oatmeal.

I got motivated for Valentine's Day and got up early to make them a special breakfast.

I got out our heart shaped plates.

Then I made pancakes and used my handy dandy heart shaped cookie cutter.

They each received a little heart Pez.

Then all four of my Valentines enjoyed.

A Christmas Gift From Rachel

Rachel had to write a poem about her life in her language arts class to give to her parents for Christmas.  That child made me cry.

Where I'm From

by

Rachel Ray

I am from a place with shimmery sand in my toes,

And blazing beams of light in my face

I am from fluffy white snow on the mountains in 90 degree temperature

I am from a place of proud patriotic chants and snappy salutes of men that camouflage into the flag of red, white and blue

I am from a place with companions of new and old

I am from a family that scours across the map from the top of the thermometer to the bottom

I am from the "Hallelujah, Amens" to the "Hey Ya'll's" and the "Yo Peeps"

I am from "if you can't say something nice don't say something at all"

I am the taste of sweetless coffee and under baked cookies made with love

I am a family of kids from Thomas to Legos to Dora to dogs

I am from a mom that's a part of all my memories and a dad that spreads the message of the Lord to people under metal bars and chains

I am hearing the cries of spunky little Holly Berry in the morning

My sister claims it has hers and hers it shall be

I am from a family I love and that will always love me.

Many of the descriptions in the beginning are from where we lived in California where she was born.  We lived on a Marine base in the high desert and during certain times of the year it would be 90 degrees or higher and we could see snow on the top of Big Bear Mountain.  Of course, even as a Navy wife, I know Marines give the best snappy salutes. 

We have my niece on video when she was about 3 being not so nice.  She meant to say, "If you can't same something nice, don't say anything at all" but instead she said, "If you can't say a something nice, don't say a something at all."  We often repeat her version around out house.

PK loves to bake chocolate chip cookies.  His version are oogey googey and maybe a little under cooked.

It is such a blessing to know she has such sweet memories.