"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!

First Injury

Nemo doesn't look like he likes hugs.  

Not much going on around here.  No new pics to post even though basketball season has started and he got a nice new uniform.  He isn't going to be able to play for a while since injuring his leg a little over 2 weeks ago while playing football in the parking lot at a BSU football game.  Tailgating is dangerous!  We went to the hospital today to get x-rays.  The doctor is trying to rule out a fractured hip.  I guess if he has a fracture I will be up for a "Mom of the Year Award"!  Results will be back tomorrow.  I'm betting there isn't a fracture.  He wouldn't be able to run and jump if it were.  

Didn't Mean for that to Sound Ominous

I requested pictures for the final Grandparent's Day.  It is the last one since The Boy goes to middle school next year.  I said something about it being the last Grandparent's Day on Facebook and got a bunch of questions.  I guess I should have explained WHY it would be the last one.  It's just because The Boy is growing up!

Thanks for cooperating Grandparents...I know how you all love to have your picture taken, and you wonder where I get it!

By the way, Mom, I have your pictures. LOL...obviously!  They are on top of the pie safe.  I know I won't remember to tell you since I now have "40 year old brain"!

40 is the Magic Number!

Finally, made it to Kings Island on our second attempt.  We first tried on Saturday but once we got there we were told that they wouldn't run the roller coasters unless it got over 40 degrees.  It was 35 when we got to the park an hour before they opened.  The forecast predicted sunny and 50 the entire week as we watched to see if we would be able to go.  Unfortunately, it didn't look like it was going to turn out to be what was predicted.    We decided to go find a restaurant where we could eat lunch and give it a little time to warm up.  We found a "bar and grille" near by.  Turns out we spent the next four hours in that restaurant watching the weather channel, hoping it would hit that magic number, 40!

It didn't and finally, I convinced Jeff to leave and try again the next day.  There was no way the kids were going to last much longer couped up in that restaurant.  They were really good, but I could see that was coming to an end and it was time to go!  He agreed, and we headed home.  

We came back the next day and had much better weather.  The sun was shining, the rides were running, and it was nearing 50 degrees.  Being that it was Sunday, we wouldn't get as much time in the park but we lucked out with no lines so we were still able to ride everything there!

We took a friend for Emily.  My co-worker's daughter, Kaylee.  That was a great plan since it gave someone to occupy her and for her to ride the rides with.  We went straight to the back and jumped on the Racers to get our feet wet.  The boys ended up leaving us shortly after that to go ride the big coasters while Jeff and I took the girls to Snoopy Land.  It worked out well.  Everyone got to do everything they wanted including me, which was leave early!  LOL  Since the park closed at 7p.m. I got my wish too and no one could even protest!  Good day.

The Hunter

Jayke the Zombie Hunter.  Last year the zombie, this year the hunter.  Another awesome costume!  Love the pose too.  I had to keep telling him to stop smiling.  We had terrible weather for Trick or Treating this year.  Jeff and I ended up driving the van the entire way so they could get in and warm up when there was a gap between houses.  It started out cold and rainy then the wind picked up and before it was over, it was snowing!  They hung in there though and got a huge haul.  I think they lasted over 2 hours and covered all of Carrington Woods and part of Farmington, then our street on the way home.

Look at this scary bunch!  Zack Jeffers, Jayke, Mason, Jonathan Chimbanda, Emily and Zach.

Jonathan says he is a Dingus Wingus...whatever that is.  His costume was pretty creative!  

Any Reason to Bust out The Booze

This group looks like they need some booze.  The work crew, all decked out in their Halloween best!  Above is the entire group who dressed up.  I think we had more this year than we did last and the costumes were better too!

Above is our department.  I didn't want to wear an uncomfortable costume all day so I just made a prop and went as in Instagram post.  

Our boss, The King.  Rollerskating Elvis who later, when the booze was brought out, dedicated songs to different departments/people.  I left early so I missed this part of the party, along with the booze, but I did see a video.  My favorite dedication was the one he did for the warehouse and EDI department (This would be Jeff and all who participate in the drop ship program) Return to Sender.  Hilarious!

Creepy the Clown was waiting for us in the darkened cubes.  Good thing clowns are about as scary as kittens to me.  He chased people around all morning with his creepy voice and laugh.  Not all are as unaffected by clowns as I am though.

My favorite, by far, The Gingerbread Man!  Doug, from Quality, as The Gingerbread Man.  He had a video from Shrek all cued up for us to watch with the part including The Gingerbread Man.  Then he had a performance of his own...running, flopping around on the floor, and yelling EAT ME!  By far the best and most entertaining.

Our sales team, Neil, Jeff Bird, and Brad.  We work with the BEST people!  There was tons of food and entertainment all day and at the end of the day they brought out the wine for one of Midwest's infamous "Happy Hours".  The owners enjoyed themselves so much they told us to figure out something for Thanksgiving so we could party again!  I love my job.  Stressful as it is, this makes it worth it!

Meet Jimmy

He said, "When you put that on Facebook, make sure you say it's Jayke and Jimmy!"  Meet Jimmy the Jack 0 Lantern.  He thinks the stem makes it.  I tried to shred it some.  It was a little too dry to get the full effect I was going for but The Boy likes it...that's all that matters!