Santa No More

I think this may have been the last year for Santa. At least the last year that The Boy actually believes in him. This morning after he was finished opening his gifts he looked at me and asked if Santa really came or if I put the things in his stocking. I lied of course but I think he knows and is now pretending for my sake. Last night when he was so excited about it and writing letters I thought for sure that he still believed so I don't know what happened between last night and this morning. I had a feeling last night when I put the shelf elf away that it may be the last year for him as well. Sad. It went so fast.

Santa or no Santa, The Boy was happy with his electric scooter and new skate board...plus all the other gifts he got. I think this was also the last year before he starts asking for Ipods and video games. He is getting a Netbook for his birthday from me. My dad won four of them in an online contest so it was perfect timing for Jayke's birthday next month. Now I won't have to share my laptop anymore!!!

Dear Santa...

Merry Christmas!! Here is the letter Jayke wrote to Santa

Letters to Santa

Jayke is so excited for Santa to come that he cleaned the entire living room and his bedroom so that Santa wouldn't have any problem getting in with all his things. He wanted to be sure he could easily locate his stocking and have plenty of room to pile up all his toys. He obviously doesn't know the financial status of his personal Santa. He even wrote him a letter and colored two pictures for him to take. He has put a bowl of candy on top of the pie safe for him...I was trying to convince him that Santa would really like a Diet Coke and some left over pizza but he didn't believe me. We are about to say good bye to Fisbee, the shelf elf, as he will be leaving tonight for the North Pole until next year. After that is off to bed cause Santa doesn't want to be up all night!!

Jayke's December Writing Journal

Dec 1, 2010--I like to read because it will help me read better. And my faverit book is weer wolves don't go to summer camp.
Dec 2, 2010--Cats are very fluffy. Some times they will attac you with ther clawls.
Dec 3, 2010--Dogs are really cute. Some times they will bite.
Dec 4,2010--All by myself I can take the dogs out back.
Dec 5, 2010--I hate to eat lazanya. Lazanya is really yucky.
Dec 13,2010--Yesterday I watched a movie called cloudy with a chanse of meat balls. I really liked it.
Dec 16,2010--At the Christmas program I was in the third row. my mommy couldn't see me.
Dec 17,2010--Dear Santa, nI want a lot of toys. I hope you bring a lot of toys.

Sneeze, Hack, Whiiiiiiiiine!!!,

I'm sick. Double ear infection, sinus infection, etc...therefore, I'm not blogging. Maybe if I ever get my hearing back I will feel like it again. Blech!

Photo Collage

A Year in Status Updates

My Facebook Status update collage...

Fa lalalala...la...la...la...la...

No pictures of The Boy on stage at his Christmas sing again this year. I did manage to get a seat right down in front this year but unfortunately we weren't as lucky with Jayke's placement on stage. Last year he was in the very front row and was even chosen to be one of the six children who got to play the bongos for one number. I, however, was stuck up in the balcony and couldn't get a picture of him. This year I planned ahead and got there plenty early to save a seat for Oma, Opa, Bob, and Alec so that we could all see Mason and Jayke and be sure to get pictures. Turns out I wasted my time. Mason was up first and was stuck standing behind the mucsic teacher so that we could barely see him at all. Couldn't get a good shot.

The first graders traditionally get to perform the frand finale at the program so Jayke was up last. Once again...time wasted getting there early to save seats in the very front. Jayke was 3 rows back and standing behind a very big kid so none of us could see him at all. I was able to get glimpses of him every now and then but they were brief and I definately couldn't get a picture. So...we sat through that entire program and weren't even able to see him.

I took the picture above when we got home just so I would have one in his collar shirt that he HATED! When he put it on I was talking to Mason's dad on the phone and he said, "I know that is Bob!! Ask him if he has one of these STUPID SHIRTS!" I was just trying to put him in something different than what he wore last year...geesh! You would think I asked him to wear a tutu or something the way he carried on. At least I now have an entire year before I have to worry about this again. Darn Christmas program!! I may boycott!

SNOWWWWW!!!

Well, the weather people weren't as incorrect as I figured they would be. We did actually get enough snow for the kids to be able to play in it. Jayke has been out playing with Bea, Hunter, and Nolan. This is Nolan with Jaykeb just getting ready to go back out.

My entry way has been littered with gloves, boots, and other random articles of cold wet clothing all day! The kids come in and it takes about 10 minutes to remove them from their gear, all the while snow flying every where. My feet were wet several times from stepping in the little puddles left by a random boot here and there. They managed to stay in for an entire 34 minutes before we were stuffing them back in their wet clothes for another romp through all the neighbors yards. About 20 minutes later Jayke was back and we were doing it all over again. So not worth the trouble. I remember my grandpa used to say that when I was a kid and I went out I didn't get cold! I would stay out there forever. Not my kid...he, apparently, has a 20 minute limit. Need to toughen him up a little!

Mason's Birthday

Jaykeb and I went to a party at Chuck E Cheese's for Mason's 6th birthday yesterday. I think I will have Jaykeb's party there this year. Everyone is now forewarned!

Here's the birthday boy with his Daddy!

First Big Snow

We are supposed to be getting our first big snow tonight and all day tomorrow!! We aren't going to get too excited yet. The weather people seem to always get this wrong. Predict 3-5 inches and we get under an inch almost every time. Jayke did a little artwork in anticipation of our potential blizzard.

A Mini Me in the Making

I turned the tree over to Jaykeb this year. I know it's hard to believe but I did. I barely helped him at all. He did a pretty good job! I have tried to explain to him not to hang similar ornaments next to each other and to try not to leave empty spaces. He has the art of "tucking" ornaments down! I was pretty impressed with his tucking abilities. He didn't even have to be told this trick. I think he remembered from last year. He is a mini me in the making! Tree decorator extraordinaire! I was glad to see him grab up his basketball and start practicing spinning it on his finger tip after the tree was done. Don't want too much decorating in his blood if you know what I mean!

Now comes the hard part. I have to refrain from jumping up and rearranging things. Filling in empty spaces. I may not have to though because Luna is doing a fine job of moving things around herself! I give it a day before I have to redo the whole thing.

Jaykeb's November Writing Journal

Jaykeb writes a journal every month in school. Here are November's entries. (Typed exactly as written)

11/1/10-- I'm thankful for my cat lunu. She is a lunutic.
11/2/10--I'm thankful for my turtl. My turtl has bumps on his face he is very cote. His name is fish.
11/3/10--I'm thankful for my littleist dog lany. She is really good but win she gose outside it is so hard to get her back in the house.
11/4/10--I'm thankful for my biggest dog simien. He can run verey fast. He is really big.
11/4/10--I'm thankful for my frind Hunter. He is my best frind. Hunter and me wint back in to the woods. My naber came over to tell my gradma that thairs a wolf den.
11/5/10--I'm thankful for my frind Nolin. He is really fun to play with Nolin is my frind.
11/6/10--I'm thankful for the sun. It makes it hot. I like it becuse it makes it so I can play with my frinds.
11/7/10--I'm thankful for my mommy. She lets me get my lingkin logs out. She lets me play with my frinds.
11/8/10--I'm thankful for my gradma. She helps me stay alive becuse her dog Jackson always tris to bite me.
11/9/10--I'm thankful for Ben. He is my best frind.
11/16/10--I'm thankful for my toy cars.
11/17/10--I'm thanful for Jared. He is kinda crazy. Jared and me like to play tag.
11/18/10--I'm thankful for Eli. He is my bestist frind.
11/19/10--I'm thankful for rabbits. They can run and hop. They can get killed by wolfs thats the bad part.
11/23/10--This is how you make pumpkin pie. I think you have to put a littel water in the pumpkin pie. You have't to cook the pumpkin pie.
11/24/10--If you had a feast what would you have. I would have turkey. I would have puttose.
11/29/10--On thanksgiving I whent to see my daddy and I went to my Gradmals houes.
11/20/10--When I get angry I should scish a scweacky toy. It really helps me.

My favorite is the November 19th entry. I think I will start putting more of his writing assignments on here. Some of them are pretty funny.

Pilgrims

Play Date

Jayke had a play date the other night. Mason, a friend from school, (and I'm friends with his dad) rode the bus home with him. This was a first. They had a blast together, as you can see from the pictures in this post. I know you are all still trying to get past the fact that I let these two rowdy boys jump on my FABULOUS white bed...forget that and try to focus. You can go back and admire my boudoir in a minute.




When I got home from work they were quietly trading silly bands and drawing matching pictures on Jayke's easel. Jayke was very considerate of his friends feelings and wants. He was extremely agreeable and was sharing all his things with his friend. He even let Mason put stickers in his prized Lego sticker book! I was wondering when the pod people came down and replaced my son with this child who was bouncing around my house. Jayke is always a great kid but he usually isn't as agreeable about everything.

The boys took a vote and decide they wanted to go to McDonalds and eat INSIDE for dinner. I agreed and we were off. As soon as we walked in I realized what a huge mistake I had made. They were every where! Climbing on the seats and jumping off. Running around. Laughing like little maniacs. I was unable to respond for a minute. This was my first experience with more than one kid. Two kids together is a whole different ball game! Why didn't someone warn me? My mother probably purposely didn't say anything so she cold enjoy the blog entry that would follow about my horror at how these kids behaved.

I didn't want to be that mom you see (and hear) yelling at her kids across the restaurant as she stood and tried to place their order with the poor cashier who couldn't hear. (Literally, she had to turn her good ear to me every time I spoke) I resorted to flailing my arms wildly at them to try to direct them into their seats. This, I'm sure, made me look like I was suffering from some kind of condition. The boys obviously didn't understand my gesturing because they continued to climb and carry on as if I weren't even there. That is what I'm going with because I'd hate to think that my cherub was purposely ignoring his poor distraught mother!

When I finally made my way to our area of the restaurant (Yes, we had an area because clearly no one was brave enough to sit near us) Jayke decided that he HAD to have his own table. Fine, whatever...as long as he would sit down and put food in his mouth. I was all for it. Anything to turn the noise level down a decibel. Mason and I sat together. I was afraid for a minute he would require his own table as well and I would have to move away to my own booth down the aisle. I think he felt sorry for me and allowed me to join him. They ate their food in like 2 minutes flat and were back to terrorizing the fine patrons of our local Mickey Ds. Once I saw that it was starting again I inhaled my own cheeseburger and got the little angels into the car as fast as I could.

The rest of the evening went pretty well. It was starting to get late, later than I would normally have kids up, but Mason's dad was at a business meeting in Marion so I knew this was going to be the case. Their were starting to be signs of grouchiness but nothing to serious...until...I went to take a 10 minute phone call in my bedroom. The boys were in the living room and they were very quiet. They had the video game they had been playing paused and I didn't hear a thing. I finished up my call and went to see what was going on. Apparently they were having a very quiet fight which included threats of never playing with each other again. Only 20 minutes shy of the end of our night together and it all went awry. Tears were being fought back and the threats were flying. Once again, this is something I have never dealt with. I was busy trying to diffuse the situation when Mason's dad showed up. As soon as he walked in the door all was well again. Whew!! Off the hook! Good thing because I wasn't real sure how I was going to handle that.

All in all, it was a good evening. I feel like it was a learning experience for me, an only child raising an only child. (step-sisters excluded) We will definitely invite Mason back. The next day everything was fine...I'm sure the little disagreement was just a result of them both being tired. I know I was exhausted!

1st Grade

Watch out blog...I learned how to use my scanner! (finally, lol) I may stay up for days posting pictures on here!

My Kid the Rock Star

Today was parent lunch day at school. I was pleased to learn that one of the menu selections was school pizza. Haven't had a school pizza...well, since I was in school! We won't count how many years ago that was. I had really built my hopes up for this little rectangular piece of pie. I remember how pizza days were always my favorite. I liked the school pizza so well that my dad, who was a teacher, even used to buy slabs of them for us to eat on the weekends. I couldn't wait to enjoy my lunch with The Boy.

I got to the shool plenty early...Jayke tends to start to worry if I'm not there waiting for him when I'm supposed to be. The class comes by and each child picks up their parent as they pass through the lobby. This was our first awkward moment as I immediately, and obviously thoughtlessly, reached for and took his hand in line. He looked at me like I was an alien. I let go right away and then there was a moment where we both just looked at each other, not really knowing what to do next. He relunctantly took my hand with this look on his face that told me he was going to do this but ONLY for my benefit.

Our second awkward moment was when I accidentally stepped too far forward in the line and he felt I was cutting the boys in front of us. My bad. I figured I better just let him lead the way the rest of the time so I didn't get in any more trouble. He instructed me the rest of the way on how to take my tray, where the utensils were, and where we were going to sit.

When we entered the cafeteria I thought for a moment I was with a rock star! Little girls screaming his name. Boys waving him to the spot next to them at their table. Jayke just walking as if it were a normal everyday happening. I listened after that to see if any other kids got that kind of reception and no one did. He must be quiet popular. LOL

We found a seat and finally, my little square pizza was in front of me and I was about to take a trip down memory lane. Ha! Man was I disappointed! School pizzas have either gotten way worse than when I was a kid or I have developed much better taste as an adult. I'm going with the latter. The flavor was pretty much the same it's just that I've had so many other kinds to compare it to that now it just wasn't as wonderful. They also apparently care more now about your health and/or weight because the french fries that we used to get with our pizza were now replaced with about two tablespoons of salad. Still had the same ol chocolate milk though and it was just as I remembered. The school chocolate milk is just a little different than what you get at the store...at least I always felt (and still feel) that way.

After lunch Jayke promptly directed me to the trash cans and showed me where to put my tray. I think he enjoyed taking on the roll of teacher. I left him in his classroom diligently working on his vocab worksheets. Tonight he had a friend ride the bus home with him for the first time. Gotta go take them to eat INSIDE McDonalds right now. Maybe I will have a post about his play date tomorrow.

Cub Scout Cake Update

He didn't come home with his own cake but he did come home with a cake. Jayke's cake sold for $7.00...five of which Oma paid (Oma took him because Opa had a meeting) and then she bought him a different cake for $6.00. Soooo...all together she has about $41.00 invested and we ended up with a cake we could have baked for probably $5.00. I know, I know it's not about that. He had fun and the pack made some money. And now we have a big cake just sitting there calling to me...Weennnnnnnnnddddddyyyyyy...come get me! Bad cake.

Do I Hear Ten Dollars?

Here is the cake that Jayke and my mom made for his Cub Scout cake auction tomorrow night. The Boy doesn't want to part with it, of course. We have to make the starting bid of $5 so we may end up with it anyway. I'm not saying it's not worth $5 but everyone will have to bid on their own so I doubt there will be any other bids. Kinda a weird system if you ask me. My mom has spent at least $25 dollars already making the crazy thing! She has declared that she will now make a cake of some sort with the mold for every holiday. All of this was said after a near nervous breakdown and while still wearing green icing on her face.

I'm just glad that Opa takes him to scouts and not me. He will get to deal with the fit that will ensue if that cake doesn't come home with them tomorrow! Sitting quietly, chuckling to myself.

It's like a Catalog!

Thanks to my Aunt Karen, I got my blog printed and made into a book. It's more like a catalog! At least that is how big it is. This is only the first year of entries. I still have three more years to print. The next three won't be nearly this big, as I got a little lax in my blogging since moving back to Indiana. Anyway, my aunt told my mom about the website Blog2print.com where they will transfer everything for you, print it, and ship it to you. I couldn't wait to get mine done. So there it is...on the ottomon with The Boy staring at it. He was in a bad mood and I was forcing him to take pictures with a BOOK!

After he got over his crankiness and I made sure his hands were spotlessly clean I let him browse the book that is ALL about him. Now it is his favorite book, of course. He sits and reads it and cracks up. Sometimes he looks at me and says, I CAN'T beeeeeelieve you wrote that about me!" with disgust in his eyes. Believe it boy! I write it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly stories about potty training! He will appreciate it more when he is like 35. I will point out to him that not too many moms spent that much time, energy, and money on their kids baby books.

I have sat and read much of it myself and I must say it may be the best book I've every read! I laughed, I cried...and then I began to blog...again. So thank you Aunt Karen for motivating me! I will try to keep up with it.




Note to self for future blog book orders...Find a better picture for the cover and leave off the 22 (out of 356) pages of table of contents.