Nativity Make Over

Earlier today I was thinking, all smugly, about how this is the first year I've been able to decorate my entire Christmas tree because all of my kids are old enough to leave the ornaments alone. (In years past I have only decorated the bottom half.) I am not so smug anymore because I just spent the last 45 minutes getting after Tess and Cole every 39.2 seconds to LEAVE THE DANG TREE ALONE!!!! They were eventually banished to the basement, and now I am sitting on the living room couch, guarding my tree from those two little imps who obviously cannot be trusted.

Harrumph.

So I have this old nativity set that I *think* my Grandma Roper bought for me long, long ago when I was first married because I didn't have a nativity and she is an awesome grandma who does things like that.

And while I really appreciate the thought behind the nativity, I have fallen out of love with it over the past few years, especially after I bought my own nativity which I love and think is beautiful, but not enough to actually get up and take a picture of right now.  Sorry.

Look, this one wise man has always driven me nuts because there is a blue dot of paint on his nose. (He's the one on the far left.) Why?  WHY!?  I'm pretty sure there were no blue-nosed wise men in Bethlehem.

Pinterest is full of projects that take objects like this and update them with just a bit of spray paint, so I decided to give it a try. (It must be noted here that my friend Deidra recommended painting them gold, and I was all set on doing that, but 1) Lance didn't like the idea of gold, and 2) we already had the silver spray pain. Silver won out.)

So I stuck the nativity in a box and gave it a few layers of silver spray paint. It was a little odd spray painting the baby Jesus.  But highly satisfying painting that blue-nosed wise man!

Voila! I'm really happy with how it turned out! (Not so happy with the lighting in my living room. One project at a time, Maren...)

It was such an easy project, which makes me like the results all the more.

Growing Up

I was in the kitchen making dinner tonight.

Okay, not making dinner.  Reheating leftover pizza from the other night.  But still, I was doing something.

Anywho, Spencer came in and said "Look! I lost another tooth!" (Yes, he's taking FOREVER to lose his teeth.)  It was a big molar and it was gross.  He was worried that some of the tooth was still in his gums, but I reassured him that it was probably just the adult tooth pushing through.

He handed me the bloody tooth.  Gross.

And I thought "Dang, I'm gonna have to remember the tooth fairy tonight.  I always forget because Spencer's room is downstairs. And then I'm gonna get in trouble."

And then I thought "This is stupid.  There's no way this kid still believes in the tooth fairy."

So then I said, "Well, Spencer. Would you like the tooth fairy to make a visit tonight? Or would you just like to cut out the middle man and get the dollar now? Or, better yet, I can just directly add it to your account."

And without skipping a beat he said "Add it to my account."

Sold.

While he watched me pull up the account we had a little chat about how this was NOT to be mentioned to younger siblings.  Spencer's been really great about this so far, but I felt a reminder couldn't hurt, especially around this time of year.

(ESPECIALLY because Cole is totally buying into the being good for Santa thing. Not that he does it all the time, but I'll take what I can get.  Earlier a commercial with Santa came on the TV and Cole kept saying "I'm not naughty, am I Mommy? I'm good.")

It's kinda sad that this era has ended for sure for Spencer. (I'm pretty sure the jig was up at least last year if not earlier.) But it's also kind of exciting to have a kid who will be 11 in a few weeks. I love little kids; they're super fun and cute. But I think having an older child will, at the very least, be pretty interesting.

And easier. Because now I won't have to go sneaking around in the dark, leaving dollar bills for bloody teeth. Blergh.

Half Birthday

Last week Cole got to celebrate his half birthday at preschool.  They do this for the kids who have birthdays in the summer, which I think it pretty cool.

Cole was SO pleased with this!  We talked about it all month because he checked the preschool calendar on our fridge each day to see how much longer it would be until his big day.  I was a little worried that he would demand and cake and presents, but he was a champ with the whole thing.  I baked chocolate chip cookies for the class and sent along party cups, plates, and napkins, all per his request.

He got to have a birthday crown and everything, which he wore for several days.  It was super cute.

Thanksgiving

This year I am thankful that I can live in the moment instead of feeling the need to document every second with a camera.

At least that's what I'm telling myself, because this year I took exactly 3 pictures at Thanksgiving. One of them doesn't even have a person in it.

Dang.

This year we had our good friends the Souths join us for Thanksgiving.  And it was awesome. Even though we hadn't seen each other in well over a year it was like no time had passed!  Their kids ran into our house and made themselves at home, and all the adults sat around and chatted and chatted. We played some games in there, too.  Then we talked and ate and talked and then ate some more, as people are wont to do on Thanksgiving.

Here's our Thanksgiving table.  Like the "china"?  I got it at Sam's Club, because I decided I didn't feel like dealing with real china this year. (The silverware is real, though, because it's new and we have tons of it!) ((I am happy to report we never even came close to running out of spoons.))

I even splurged and got real flowers to match our napkins.  I was quite pleased with myself. :)

And here's the one real shot with people in it and it's kinda fuzzy and Lance and I are missing from it.  Because I'm cool like that.

I am now trying to persuade Misty and Paul to skip Thanksgiving with us at Wisconsin Dells next year.  Because that would be awesome.

It's a bummer we don't get to see them as often as we used to, but it was also fun to catch up.  A few things I learned:

1. Champaign/Urbana IL? Not really the best place to raise a family.
2. Addy and Tess are both DRAMA QUEENS who like to (try) to run the roost. Both sets of brothers vary on how well they can ignore the drama.
3. Paul and Misty are suckers because they caved in and bought not one but TWO cats! Paul and Misty are not cat people.
4. Ashton and Spencer wished they lived by each other so they could play computer games together more often. (I overheard them talking about this. It made my heart smile.)
5. DisneyWorld is going to be AWESOME. The Souths went last spring and loved every minute.  Misty has been my go-to gal for random questions.
6. Paul is considering applying for a job at Purdue.  It is now my quest to MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS.  Then my next quest will be to make sure they buy a house in our neighborhood.

It was a great Thanksgiving, and we're so glad Paul, Misty, Ashton, Dominic, & Addy were able to spend it with us!

Hail the Conquering Hero!

I did it! I conquered pies! 2014 is my year, baby!

Okay, Maybe Not My Nemesis

But I still don't really care for making pies.

Baking Nemesis

In case you were wondering, pies are still very much my baking nemesis.

Stupid, stupid pies!!

Seriously.

Cole's Pre-K Thanksgiving Program

Last Thursday was Cole's Pre-K Thanksgiving program.  I love that they have a Thanksgiving program instead of Christmas - much easier on the schedule.

Cole's program was what every pre-k program should be: well organized, short, and cute.

While Spencer, Josh, and Tess were all misbehaving and complaining about being there as we waited for the show to start, I snapped a few pics of the program. (I am most definitely NOT a mom who keeps all the programs and stuff. But take pictures? Yes.)

We were pretty far away, so I didn't get any great pictures of Cole.

It took him a few minutes to find us in the crowd, but he sure was happy when he did!

He did a great job singing and doing all of the actions! I was just glad to see him cooperative and not belligerent. There is hope...

Here's a couple of short videos of them singing. The first is Mr. Turkey or something like that.  The second is the prayer they always sing before snack. I've tried to get him to sing it before lunch, but no dice.  Of course, he refuses to say regular prayers at lunch, too, so I shouldn't be surprised. (Cole & Tess's preschool is Methodist, which I'm fine with because I figure my kids need all the religion they can get!!) (Plus, at a preschool level they're not going to be taught much doctrine that's really different from what we as Mormons believe.)

After the show there was a Thanksgiving Dessert Feast. Josh was in HEAVEN. Actually, all of my kids were in heaven.  But especially Josh.  I got Cole to show off his super cute turkey shirt. He sure was proud of it!

Don't be deceived by the empty plates - much dessert was eaten.

Here's Cole with his good buddy Evan. They're always hugging in the mornings at drop off. Evan is super friendly and social and generally willing to listen to adults - in other words, the polar opposite of Cole.  They sure are cute together!

Good job, Cole!

Guess Who I Am!

True story: When I first saw the face I thought "I thought Black History Month was in February..." 

Also, I am in love with the peanut nose and slit eyes. And that he included his love of shrimp.

Also, I am a horrible mother for these things, I know.

Turkey Hand

Cole made this for his Thanksgiving Program the other night. (More on that later.)  I can honestly say this is the first piece of art he's ever really cared about - he was quite upset when he thought we had lost it.

I can see why.  It's plainly the darlingest turkey ever!

Blood Draw Lab

So I'm still getting my blood drawn every 2-3 months to monitor my hormone levels.  The lab I go to is an interesting place. I go there for three main reasons: 1) it's right next door to my general practitioner's office, where I pick up the blood draw paper work (which is about a mile away from my house); 2) it's cheaper than other blood draw places around town (yes, I've checked); and 3) I've never had to wait and they do a really good job.

But.

It's just kinda, for lack of a better word, ghetto.

I mean, it's totally safe and clean. I've never felt uncomfortable or scared while there. But still. Ghetto. Maury Povich ghetto.

It's the lab that does all the drug testing for the local retail and fast food places new hires. I'm pretty sure they do the same thing for parolees, too.  And they have a room dedicated to paternity testing.  Seriously - a whole room just for that.  I didn't even know there was such a demand for that sort of thing. My favorite phlebotomist (I've never had a bruise from her!) was telling me all about two young kids they had to take in there this morning.

That kinda broke my heart a little.  Seriously, baby daddies, claim yo babies.

Anywho, I suspect I'm a bit different from most of their clientele; I can kind of tell by the way the employees there treat me.  It's like they have to remember "Oh right, she's not going to be belligerent/defiant/freaking out in a drug-induced rage." And while I am never dressed up while there, I'm generally the nicest dressed. (This can be said of my trips to WalMart, too.  Which, BTW, is just up the street from this lab!)

There's no real point to this post, other than I was thinking about all of this after my blood draw and feeling pretty grateful that the reason I have to go there is only because my thyroid stopped working. I mean, a broken thyroid is pretty annoying, but seriously, my reasons for having to go to this lab could be so much worse. I'm blessed all around.

Flower Noodles

A real conversation I just had with Tess and Cole:

Me: Tess! Look what I found! Should we have flower pasta for dinner?

Tess: No.

Me (trying a new tactic): I mean flower noodles.  Should we have flower noodles for dinner?

Cole (who is wearing headphones for his computer and thus thinks he has to yell): FLOWER NOODLES?! I WANT TO SEE! I WANT TO SMELL THEM!

Me: Um, they don't smell...

Cole: I WANT TO SMELL THEM! LET ME SMELL THEM!

Me: Um, okay. But they don't smell like flowers...

I put the box by his nose and he gives it a good sniff.

Cole: YUMMY.  I LIKE FLOWER NOODLES. I WILL EAT THEM.

Me: Good to know, weirdo.

Cole: WHAT?!

Me: Nothing...

Challenger Field Trip

It's so freaking cold today - 20 degrees at 4pm - TWENTY DEGREES AT FOUR PM IN MID-NOVEMBER - that I thought it would be nice to sit back and reminisce about a warmer, happier time.

Like last Tuesday, when it got up to 54 degrees.

Last Tuesday I chaperoned a field trip for Spencer.  It was a little strange because it wasn't for his whole class. Okay, wait, how do I explain this simply?

Okay, so ALL 5th graders in the school get to go on this field trip.  But since space is limited, each class takes one day for a week to go. Since Spencer is in the 4/5 multi-age class, his teacher just sends a few of her students each day with a different class, since there are too many to go all at once but not enough to warrant their own day on their own.

It's called the "Challenger" field trip and all of the kids at school look forward to the day when they're old enough to go.  It's something of a rite of passage; you get to go to Challenger and then you're ready for middle school. Or something.

It takes place at the Challenger Learning Center in Indy. Long story short, the kids get to pretend to be on a space mission; each kid has their own specific job and each kid REALLY gets into it.  Like really. (I talked to one of the staff and she said she rarely runs across a child who doesn't go all out when they're "on their mission."

Since it was in Indy and we had to be there fairly early, we had to be at school at 7:15am OR FACE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. Like being left behind. Which we were not, because we were there at 7:15.  But there were several kids who weren't there until 7:30 and even 7:40 who were also not left behind. Harumph.

Riding on the bus is pretty much my least favorite part of any field trip.  Have you been on a school bus lately?  No leg room, whatsoever.  So I wasn't too pumped for this, until I realized we had few enough kids that I could have a seat to myself!  I sat right in front of these three amigos:

That's Spencer with his two good buddies, Clayton and Kolten.  Sitting in front of them for an hour on the bus was a kick in the pants - they were so fun to listen to!  I could tell they were really good friends.  Who knew you could talk video games for so long? These were the only 3 kids from Mrs. Rambo's class that day. I suspect she put them together because she knew what good buddies they are.  I also suspect she enjoyed having all three of them out of class for most of the day, too. :)

So we got there and our mission commander gave a little presentation about the space program, NASA, and the Challenger shuttle. I mean, I know the space program seems to be in its death throes right now, but it's still pretty exciting for this child of the 80's to talk about NASA and such.

**Side note: Here's a real conversation Spencer and I had the day before the field trip.

Spencer: It's called Challenger.  You know, like the shuttle that blew up.
Me: I know.  I remember when that happened.
Spencer: WHAT?! How can you remember that?  It happened A LONG time ago.
Me: I was in 2nd grade, Spencer.  It wasn't that long ago. We watched it in class. It was sad.
Spencer: No, it was a LONG TIME AGO.
Me: It was like the mid-80's, Spence.
Spencer: How old are you?

**Thus endeth the rotten-child side note.

So the kids were given their jobs and then separated into mission control and shuttle groups.  Spencer was lucky enough to be in the shuttle group the first time around.  We went into this little room to watch a video to explain their mission (Send a probe from the shuttle to the moon.)

Then we went into the shuttle room.  Spencer was a probe scientist, which meant he got to wear a super-cool and much-envied lab coat.

They were given instructions and clipboards that showed exactly what they needed to do.  It was interesting because even though everything was spelled out in those clipboards they still made mistakes because they just wouldn't follow or read all the instructions or they decided to do something a little different.  It was a good lesson in teamwork, because when they made a mistake it affected the entire crew.

Parents weren't allowed to intervene at all, so for the next 45 minutes I just puttered around, took lots of pictures, and bemoaned the fact that I couldn't get any cell reception at all. (It's like the entire building was lined in lead or something...)

Workin' on the probe.

The shuttle commander giving out instructions.

More of the shuttle room.

The kids really did get into it.  It was fun to see them so excited.

Here was our view of Mission Control.

Some kids got to use these robotic arms to perform experiments. They all assumed it would be easy because they played video games so much.  They assumed wrong!

Getting some help from the shuttle commander.

Oh no! Emergency!! (See the flashing red lights?) I'm not sure what Spencer and his buddy did, but apparently the probe caught fire.  Smoke and everything!  We had to evacuate and fast!

At this point the crews switched, so it was Spencer's turn to be in Mission Control.  The new group in the shuttle had to figure out how to fix the probe and launch it - with Mission Control's help.

The kids all agreed that being in Mission Control was harder because they had to tell the kids on the shuttle what to do and had to make all the hard decisions.

Fortunately, Spencer loves to boss people around.  He was pretty good at it.

After the mission was successfully completed we ate a quick snack lunch and got back on the road. We were back at school by 12:30p, even though we were told we'd be gone until 2p.  I had toyed with the idea of taking Spencer out to a movie after the field trip, but felt like missing 3+ hours of school would have been a bit much. Plus, Spence was really excited to get back to class and tell his friends about his adventures.

All in all, a pretty great field trip: a seat to myself, very well-behaved kids, very little actual chaperoning, and a very happy boy. Sign me up again for when Josh is in 5th grade!

Full Circle

Me: JOSHUA!! Come up here right now and put away your coat!

It must be noted that this was the THIRD time I had made this request. The fact that it was laying on the floor right in front of the coat closet made it all the more exasperating.

Lance (grinning): You know who you sounded like just then?

Me: No. Who?

Lance: Your mother.  Just replace "Josh" with "Kyle" and it would have been spot on.

We have come full circle, people.

This tickles me to no end. I'm sure my mom feels the same way.

Bad Dreams

Miss Tess is going through a phase right now.  Not a cute little girl phase; an ornery, tantrum-on-the-hall-floor-at-preschool kind of phase.

It's way fun.

Fortunately, she's not awful all of the time,  Just enough that it's getting a little old.  This is the look I got when I asked her to smile for the camera.

Then she claimed "I want to be NAUGHTY!!" and gave me this gem.

I have to wonder if part of this is due to all of the crazy dreams she's been having lately.  On more than one morning she has come out of her bedroom describing all sorts of crazy things that Lance and I did to her in her dreams,  My favorites include Lance repeatedly throwing her in a river even though "I really didn't want him to!!!" and me turning into a bear and eating her all up while she was in bed. (Note to self: no more "Goldilocks and the Three Bears before bed.) She's mentioned a few things about the boys, but on the whole it's usually Lance and I who are being jerks.

Which, if you think about it, is probably how kids often see their parents - especially when they're a three year old who feels like they're being bossed around all the time.