Christmas Tree

On Thanksgiving weekend, we went out and spontaneously decided to cut down our own Christmas tree for 2009. We went to a tree farm at the base of the mountain nearby. Tree after tree....hundreds it seemed....we just couldn't find the perfect one. We would find a tree, get ready to pose for a picture and then we would spot another one off in the distance. We were all finally able to agree on tree.

Once we got the tree up, we couldn't find the lights. We searched everywhere. It wasn't until a day later when Matt realized that the reason we didn't have lights was because our artificial tree is a pre-lit tree. LOL! Once we figured that out, we were able to add lights and decorate.

We took the kids out to Hallmark again this year to continue a tradition we just started last year. Each one gets to pick out an ornament so that eventually when they are headed out on their own, they will each have a set of ornaments to take with them.

Brian setting his Polar Express Ornament.

Katheryn...we aren't sure what statement she was trying to make but she sure had us laughing.

Teresa's Birthday

I can't believe we don't have any pics from the girls' night out but that's okay. Teresa and her friend Wendi have birthday's just one day apart. Last year it was celebrated in New York. This year they decided to meet in the middle which turned out to be Gettysburg, PA. Gettysburg leaves much to be desired for a GNO but we made it work.

Then that Sunday, Matt and the kids took Teresa out for a late lunch at the Macaroni Grill. Afterwards, we stopped by Burlington Coat Factory. Matt did his best to get us all home in time because he had invited some friends over for cake and ice cream.

Ethan showing his meatball from Macaroni Grill

Brian enjoying his pizza.

Katheryn enjoying her meatball.

Matt wants to be Rod Rowdy from The Price is Right!

Thanksgiving 2009

Trying to remember back to Thanksgiving...it seems so long ago. The holidays got here so fast and went by even faster.

Matt's parents flew up from FL to join us this Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to be surrounded by family. My parents, brother and his fianace joined us as well as Matt's Aunt Lisa, cousin Ryan and daughter Ana. The table was full of wonderful foods and the turkey was delicious. We bought an oil-less turkey fryer that uses infrared heat. A 14 pound turkey was finished within 2 hours and tasted sooo yummy!

Notice there are no women in this pic! They're cleaning up.

Brian and Ana enjoying their pumpkin pie.

Matt passed out like he did all the cooking! Ana, Katheryn and Brian

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Ethan finds the red!

Oh Ethan, my wonderful youngest son, Ethan. With having my first exam for my microbiology class tomorrow, most of my day has been spent at the computer and in my notes making up my own test questions. I would really love to do well on this exam. As I went to take a study break, I found Ethan at the kitchen table being artistic. He had some paper and scissors which was a big concern for me and then I saw his head. He was covered with some kind of gooey stuff that I at first thought was paint. Upon further examination, I came to the conclusion that it was lipstick...possibly belonging to Katheryn. At this time, Katheryn and Brian walked in the front door, home from school. I asked Katheryn if she had lipstick in her room and she shook her head and seemed a bit confused. I asked her to take a look around the house to see if she could see what it may have been that Ethan used. Well, she found Brian's iDog and it had been made over. She then found my purse was dumped. Aha! He took my lipgloss compact from my purse!!!! When I asked him if I could wipe it off, he said no and that he liked it. *sigh*

School is in session

The kids have been in school for about a month now. Brian has adjusted very well to Kindergarten. I had gone in prior to school starting for an informational meeting with his class teacher. That was the hardest thing for me to sit through. All the parents met in the cafeteria and the principal introduced herself and went over the activities for the evening. We then walked to our child's classroom and sat in those tiny chairs. Brian's teacher had quite a bit of information to share and I was very concerned about Brian's meals. How was he to eat lunch because he is on a GFCF diet. Everything we make comes from the freezer because it has no preservatives and it needs to be heated or it needs to be kept refridgerated. I asked about access to microwaves and got a huge NO response from the teacher. I was a bit offended the way she answered me but then, I know she had a lot to get through. Then she gets to dismissal and car riders. Brian will be riding the bus so the car rider line didn't concern me but I was shocked to hear how dismissal happens. The kids are released on their own. When they go out the door, who knows who is taking them. I let my concern be heard and the teacher's response was, well, we've never had a problem with it, it's worked out well so far. I was in shock. I again questioned her and asked what would happen if a step mother or a parent who was not supposed to have contact with the child shows up before the parent could. The child recognizes the parent and goes with them and next thing you know, the kid's parent is at the school wondering where her child is. Again, I got the same response. I just shook my head and started to get bad vibes about this class. She then proceeds on and lets us know that she is the only adult with 17 kids. I was shocked. Brian's IEP states that there will be an aide in the classroom for him so to hear that she will be alone did not sit easy with me. By the end of the meeting I was a bit shaken. I waited my turn after a few parents had stayed after to talk about my concerns with the teacher. Especially surprise birthday parties. I wanted to make sure there was some way to bring cupcakes in for Brian to eat that are GFCF if his classmates were celebrating. I didn't want him to feel left out. It was so late the principal finally made her way to the classroom with Brian. I spoke with the principal and she was much more understanding of my concerns and we were able to come up with a plan for Brian's lunches. The school will provide a GFCF lunch for him as soon as I brought in a doctor's note. The next week I had the note and Brian was set. We do still pack his lunch but I am thrilled that the option is available to him to eat a school lunch. Katheryn is enjoying her 5th grade year. This is her last year at the elementary school. She is so thrilled to be able to have a locker. I told her they were training her up for Middle School. She and Brian walk together to and from the bus stop everyday. It's so nice having them walk together. Next year Brian will be without Katheryn but at least I can enjoy watching them leave in the morning together. I as well have started back to school. I am taking 3 classes this semester with the intention of graduating with an associates after this semester. Ethan goes to the YMCA while I am in class. The first day he loved it but now it is difficult getting him to uncling from me when I drop him off. It's a great place and he tells me all about how they played outside and the friends he has made. I think it's just a little bit of seperation anxiety in the morning and then he's okay.

Katheryn and I had "the talk"

So many things have been going on that I finally stopped to take a moment to catch up. I wish I could do this as things happen but I get so caught up with our daily activities that blogging seems to have taken a back seat. So, here's a memorable moment that I've been wanting to post. This happened in the summer about a month before school started. Katheryn is now in 5th grade and this is the year where the school seperates the boys from the girls and they introduce to them their anatomy and physiology. So to prepare Katheryn, I decided that I would talk to her so that the information she hears at school will not be so shocking and so that she can hear it with a sound mind. To start our conversation off, I asked Katheryn to join me in the dining room. She sat down with a look of, "uh-oh, am I in trouble?" I then asked her if she has noticed any changes going on with her body and immediately she takes her hands and thumps at her chest and says, "yeah, these!" I chuckled and we talked about it. I explained to her the importance of wearing a bra everyday to school and proceeded to tell her about puberty. I told her she was going to grow hair in her armpits and genatalia area and she asked me what her genatalia area was. I explained that to her and she responds back with, "oh, I just call that area a piece of fruit like kiwi or strawberry." I was dying inside with laughter but I had to keep a straight face. I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable talking to me. I then proceeded on to the menstrual cycle. I think I lost her here. I explained to her that every baby girl is born with tons and tons of eggs. At that moment, she blurts, "what?! I have eggs?!?" I then went on about menstruation and how the egg is released and where it settles and if it's not fertilized then the lining sheds causing blood. Well by this point she looked totally confused. I asked her to tell me what she knew about sex. Thankfully she didn't know too much other than it involved kissing. I could be naive and she may now more than she is letting on but I honestly think she is clueless. So I then grabbed some pictures to show her. Suddenly, she stops, waves her hands towards her face and says, "mom, it's hot in here, can you turn on the air or something?" My toes were freezing! It was no where near hot in our house and I wanted to bust out loud with laughter but I contained it. It was hard. So we continued with our conversation and talked about the fertilizing of the egg and what happens when the egg is fertilized. We talked about abstinence. Katheryn during this part of the conversation had her head buried in her hands and screeched out, "mom, why are you telling me this?!" LOL! "Mom, it's so hot, I'm hot!" The next part of the conversation went like this with her saying, "I think living a solitary life with animals will be just fine for me!" "Katheryn, what will you do when boys start taking interest in you and want to hold your hand or something?" "Well, I will punch them out or I will tell dad to." Again, I am just dying with laughter inside. She then asks me if she will die from the bleeding. I explained to her that it was a sign of her becoming a woman and she then said that she doesn't want anything to with becoming a woman and she wants to stay a kid forever. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. Then she asked me what boys get to go through and there wasn't really a whole lot compared to a girl. I don't think she liked that. I then of course immediately had to run upstairs and call Matt. I could not help but just laugh out loud for the next 5 minutes with him on the phone and I told him what had just happened. Our little girl is growing up and she just doesn't want to. :)