Eleven--Minecraft, Bouncing, and iTunes!

Birthday party time!  He chose Skyzone again so I enlisted Jeff to help drive 10 boys to Indy to bounce their brains out at the indoor trampoline park.  We had a really good group of kids this year.  

Mathew, Kaidan, Landon, Jonathan, Brayden, Mason, Mason, Jayke, Zach, and Perrin.  We had to wait a bit before our jump time so Kate, the party hostess came out to entertain the boys.  As  you can see, they liked Kate a lot.

Jayke got a special shirt that would allow him to jump to the front of the line...his buddies chose pink for him.  He didn't mind.

We had a minecraft creeper cake.  Dad and MJ picked it up for me, as usual.  They had no idea what it was.  I had a hard time explaining as I'm not even sure what that crazy game is.  Jayke loved it though and knew exactly what it was, of course.

As he opened his gifts we all had to laugh as each gift was the exact same thing.  He got $110.00 in iTunes gift cards!!!  I asked him if he told everyone that was what he wanted and he said no...it was what I told everyone who asked me though.  It was, after all, the only thing he told me he wanted since he just got everything you can imagine for Christmas.  He did get another pair of shoes from Meemaw and P'pa!  

When we got back from Skyzone they played outside for about an hour running around playing hide and seek.  By the time they came in they were worn out and the remaining five who were spending the night quietly watched a movie until they all fell asleep.  In the morning they went out and played in the rain and mud until everyone was picked up and it was time for Jayke and Zach to go to their basketball games.  They will probably all have pneumonia in a day or two.  Happy Birthday, Jayke!  Hope he enjoyed this party because it will probably be the final one since he is off to middle school next year.  I don't think you have birthday parties in middle school...at least that is what I'm going to try to get away with!

Josie...For Now

It is a really bad idea to watch Pet Vet on the morning of your son's birthday party when you haven't gotten him a gift and don't have a clue what to get.  I've had fur baby fever for a while now.  I know the dogs are not going to be with us much longer and that will eliminate a lot of cleaning so I finally talked myself into it.  I decided to get The Boy a kitten for his birthday.  Now, I just had to find one.  

I made a quick stop in Pet Smart and checked the Action For Animals kitties but they were all full grown.  I refuse to bring an adult cat in because I think that would be more difficult for the other furry kids to adapt to.  Jayke was immediately onto me when I came out of Pet Smart with nothing.  We checked ARF next but they were closed.  I posted it on Facebook that I was looking for a kitten hoping someone would have a freebie that needed a home but no luck.  We finally decided to try the Animal Shelter with not very high expectations.  

I had an idea of what kind of cat I wanted.  White, long hair, maybe a seal point...something pretty and different than what we have.  When we went in I knew immediately they didn't have anything like what I had in mind, but sometimes a cat chooses you...and that is exactly what happened.

The volunteer handed this little girl to Jaykeb and she wrapped him around her little paw!  She cuddled up to him like she had loved him her whole life.  Then he handed her to me and she just lay her head on my chest as if she was saying, "Finally, I've been waiting for you."  That was it.  She had a home.

We went to the counter to pay and were greeted by Izzy, pictured above.  She approved the adoption, Jayke forked over his birthday money (by choice, so now I STILL owe him a gift) and we had ourselves a new baby!  He even made a donation to the shelter for the other kitties.  Such a softie!

Her name at the shelter was Josie.  So far, it's still Josie but I feel like we should give her our own name.   He disagrees.  It will probably stay Josie.

She has to stay separated from the others until we can have her tested for feline diseases but everyone knows she is here.  We let her come out as long as we are watching and making sure the other cats stay away.  They are curious but so far, no issues.  Josie walked right up to Laynie and rubbed on her.  Laynie is an old pro at receiving new pets into the house.  She was less than impressed but Josie is determined to make new friends.  

She has made ONE for sure.  The boy had tears in his eyes when we finally got her home.

I took the picture below of the other two feline residents and I think I interrupted them about to smack each other.  I can't say whether that is due to the newbie or not, they smack each other quite often and I'm sure will be smacking Josie soon too!

Bet you thought that was a picture of my new dog in the beginning, huh?

Amp

Finally got it hung.  I have to figure out what else to put up there with it but it's up!  Love it!

Fun Gift

Happy Birthday, Oma!  For Mom's birthday, Jayke wrote 52  (one a week) "Remember Whens" and "I love you Because" notes on paper, folded them and placed them in a jar.  We decorated the lid with matching scrapbook paper and ribbons and made a card referencing which color was which kind of note.  Weren't we creative???  I have a feeling many more loved ones will be receiving a similar jar in the future.  I may have one already in the works for someone. ;)  

New Do

It's hard to tell really but he now spikes his bangs and he loves it.  The other kids at school told him he "upped his swag points" and made his day!  Now we have to keep him stocked up on hair product though.

We Like to Rub it In!

For anyone who may be in Colorado wishing they had one...here is our dinner when 

Jayke finally got back from Georgia!  Aunt Robin has been trying to get someone to send her some PK...we decided to send her a picture and posted this on her Facebook wall!  :)

Jayke spent 11 days with his dad this Christmas.  This was the first time Mike has asked to have him this long over Christmas.  I think next year we will make is shorter.  Jayke was texting me with about 4 days to go asking me when he was coming home and I was ready for him too as well!  He was sick the first few days and Mike was sick the second part of the visit.  Hopefully next year, no sickness!

"Just Because"

I literally saw the idea pop into his head the day he sent me these.  We were sitting in the car having lunch and his eyes lit up and he started smiling.  I asked what he was smiling about...he said, "You'll see."  One of the girls from Accounting brought them up about an hour or so after lunch.

Facebook Celebrity

Nemo made the work Facebook page...he is a celebrity!

Glue Gun, Dremel, and a Tub of Glitter...Stuff Just Got Serious

Making gifts for the Grandmas is serious business.  We never know what to buy them so after some discussion (and some convincing) we decided to make their gifts this year.  It's been a looooong time since I've busted out the craft cart and I found all kinds of goodies in there that had been long forgotten.  After looking over the inventory we finally decided on snow globe ornaments with bottle brush trees!  I was really happy with the way they turned out and they were pretty simple to make.  Messy, but simple.  Good thing I had that Dremel just laying around unused or we would have never been able to get the tree inside the bulb.  We made three, one for us, as well as the Grandmas.  Each one got a little more difficult for some reason and the trees ended up looking a little crooked.  This sent Jayke's OCD into over drive until I explained that it made them look "wind-blown".  He loved this idea and was satisfied with the finished product.  We popped them into a cute gift boxes and were all finished!

Misc Christmas pics

Santa filling the stockings!!  Barely any room for them!

Jayke was way excited about these custom Nike Elite socks.  He is obsessed with his clothes.  The socks are every bit as important as the rest of the outfit.

I don't know about these two nuts.  Jayke is taking a picture of Oma's eye with his new iPhone.  It just happened that his phone case matched his outfit perfectly.  He was thrilled about it and asked if we could go get phone cases to match all of his clothes.  He is out of control!

This is what two stockings at my Dad's holds.  I don't even have room to put this all away!  Jayke is well stocked on his snacks now.  I didn't even put the non food items in this pic. 

Happy Christmas Eve Gift

from Jeff.  Kissing Crystals ornament and Meet me under the mistletoe sign, Love it!  I don't even want to pack it up with the Christmas decor, so I think I won't.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

Opa got Jaykeb a rifle for Christmas.  I agreed with a couple of stipulations, he isn't to shoot any animals with it and he has to keep it at Opa's house so that he doesn't end up shooting me with it!  With The Boy going to hit puberty the same time I am going to hit menopause the fewer weapons in the house the better!

I might make an allowance on the shooting of animals though if THIS dog doesn't stop sitting at the table for dinner...

More Elf Antics

Frozen underwear for The Boy

Charlie, Jayke, and Mason

Bob took the boys to the Ball State game tonight.  They hung out with Charlie and made it on the jumbotron.  Apparently he bought a $10 pretzel and slushie too.  How do college students afford that?  Fortunately, no injuries were had at this game.  Probably because of the lack of tailgating.

So Helpful

I think she is waiting on the tape...

Basketball Season has Started

Jayke is playing on the same AAU team he played on last year.  We got new uniforms with the Delta colors this year.  Unfortunately, Jayke was injured in the beginning of the season and hasn't been getting much playing time since.  Hopefully that changes soon.  If only his grandmother would take him to the Y after school to work on his shots...

Throw back Thursday...

Naughty or Nice?  Always nice, in fact, sometimes I wish there was a little more naughty in him.  Not a lot...just a little bit.

More Antics...

First, he took a selfie...an elfie selfie!  Then he did this...

A Witty Elf for a Witty Boy

I can only imagine how red his face will be when he sees what that naughty elf did this time...

He's Back!