Thanksgiving Festivities

Festive Food, Family, Friends and FUN!

 Happy Turkey Day!

My mom and step-dad came from Utah and

we had a complete blast!

 I was lucky enough to have a friend offer to help me make pies

this year. I have never made apple, pumpkin or pecan pies

from scratch, so I was loving doing it!!

 We had the Vivar family over and a new friend, Cynthia, who brought

the most delicious pumpkin bread I've ever eaten.

ahhhh

 maddie and nick chowing down on the rolls

all the kids ate about 5 rolls each!

 Wendy and Chrissy

 My mom, bella Bella, and Nick

 Here's out crew.

We laughed and ate and played

our favorite holiday game:

it involves tapping people in the circle

with a wrapping paper tube (sans paper)

and everyone comes up with a "christmas name"

Ted is always "Heat Miser" or "King of Jing-a-Ling"

and we have Dancer, Comet, Cindy Lou Who, Mrs. Claus,

the Grinch, Max (his dog), Jingle Bells, Rudolph, etc.

If you have a good name for this game, we'd be VERY interested to hear it!

 (see my mom crocheting? she made us all scarves while she was here!!!)

This is our other tradition:

The Thanksgiving Gratitude box

(a cereal box covered with drawings and words

the kids put on it)

We fill it all month long by writing what we're thanksful for on little pieces of paper.

Then during dinner (or after in this case, as there are many inside jokes...so we read

them after our guests left). We even had my sister, Christie, fill some out when she was here

and we had Nani and Pop put some blessings in there. The kids were cracking up

at all their inside jokes! we did have some serious ones, too, thankfully!! :)

Last day of school!

Our Elemetary School has a tradition of Field Day (photo below) where classes tie dye shirts in all the same color for unity and for fun. Then on the last day, the PTA hosts a big party, which free snow cones, hot dogs, bounce houses, water slides, hula hoops, jump-roping, etc.

School ended on June 5th and here is a re-cap of favorite teachers.

Nick had two teachers for 3rd grade. This is his homeroom teacher who taught Math and Science. She awakened a lot of curiosity in him and by the end of the year "Elementary school Math teacher" rose to the top of his list of Future Careers! Mrs. Rogers always inspired the kids, loved them and they knew it, and she made learning fun! We loved her and will miss her like crazy next school year!

I went up to Maddie's school on the last day to pick her up and we sought out her favorite teachers so I could get a photo with them. Who takes photos of kids in middle school with teachers? I DO! and why not? that is still a place where our children as super influenced and where they need an advocate, an inspiration, and a laugh now and then.

So here are three of Maddie's favorite 7th grade teachers:

Ms. Heinritz (Language Arts & Cheer Coach)

When she couldn't get me to let Maddie cheer (due to vocal nodules that Maddie has), she did get Maddie in her dual period L.A. class, which Maddie loved! This teacher is super enthusiastic, happy, cheerful, creative, and loving (wonder why maddie loves her??)

Mrs. Hill (Math teacher and future theatre teacher next Fall)

She loves Maddie and the 'Theatre' in them both is SO excited to pursue Acting and NYC (Spring Break) and UIL (University Interscholastic League) One Act Plays and the Middle School Musical this next school year. Maddie received so much help in math during lunch time from Mrs. Hill, for which we thank her! She loved the fact that Mrs. Hill speaks "hip" and that she laughs a lot, is sarcastic in a fun way, and that she is a theatrical person also.

Mrs K (Skills for Living teacher and Student Council Advisor)

Maddie is a big fan of FUN classes and this one was #1: cooking and more cooking. The kids learned about health and nutrition and child care among other things. We donated (or Fidelity's Charitable Gift Fund did via us) to her class for next year and she was so surprised (sports and band must get all the donations!) that she sent us a HUGE basket of Edible Arrangements....which Maddie and I have LONGED for when we see the store with it's huge fruit "flower baskets".  When we got it, we were so hyped up--we tore off the plastic, practically kissed the delivery boy and then dug in! Pineapple/strawberry-centered flowers are our favorite!!

Me and the PTA ladies (Kandi, Misty, and Lara) whom I have volunteered in several capacities with over the past three or four years. From Hospitality Committee to Reflections (Art Contest) and Arts in Education PTA Chair. I really enjoy being part of what happens in the schools, knowing the faculty and administration, and working with other women who like to help kids and like to help make FUN things happen at our kids' schools!

Ted on grilling duty for the elementary school last-day social.

Way to go Teddy B!

These heavy-hitters are neighbors and buddies: Dave & Dave. They and Ted grilled hundreds of hot dogs for the end-of-year school party. Ted has some great dad friends in the neighborhood. They all volunteer with WATCH D.O.G.S. which is a dad-orienteered nationwide organization that focuses on being present and hands-on at the kids' schools. So, Dave & Dave--they have helped us move, done yard work, installed Gladiator gear in our new garage, watched Nick (he is friends with their sons, both Nick's age) and have been the most pleasant and cheerful neighbors. We love them and their wives and their kids.

Nick grew a love of jump-roping this year when in 3rd grade they did a Jump-For-Life. He got 3 or 4 different types of jump ropes for his birthday earlier this Spring.