Thanksgiving Feast #1

Sunday night the boys and I went over to my Maw and Paw's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Andy couldn't come because he had to work. We missed you babe! We had a good time and enjoyed great food. It had been a long time since we had all been together. We ate turkey, ham, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls and fruit. My mom also made a delicious cake- it was so good and chocolatey! I brought a big plate of food home for Andy and a big slice of cake. He ate it all last night when he got home.

My sister and Jason shared AWESOME news! They are hoping to adopt a precious boy named Silas from China. He turned one in September and has special needs. He is so cute! Their story of how this all came about is really neat. I'm hoping they'll start a blog and then I can just link you to and let them tell you! I'm so excited!!

Madelyn & Wilson and Luke & Caroline began dancing towards the end of the evening. It was so cute Jason took a video of it from his phone.

Luke Matthew- Man of MANY words!

Luke is talking up a storm! He will repeat almost anything but has sooo many words he uses on his own all of the time. About a week ago he started saying "witson" (Wilson) - it sounds so cute! He says so many things I can't list them all. When I set his dinner in front of him, if it is warm he yells "HOOTT" like he can't believe I set something in front of him that was too hot to eat. His favorite stuffed animal, Henry is "renre". He loves chocolate milk- when he wants that he says "choc". We have gotten to the point (since he is only allowed to have it once a day!) that we pretend to put the "choc" in but only put a drip or two!

He had a check-up with the ENT last Thursday. Everything about his ears is fabulous! He hasn't had a single ear infection since his tubes were put in. You can read about that here. He has had them for about 6 months. At our next checkup in about 3 months, they'll test his hearing and see if the tubes are ready to come out. The tubes were the best thing we could have done for his poor little ears.

A Day to Breathe

Wow. I didn't realize what a day was like without stress! I am working towards my National Board Certification this year. I have to complete 4 rather large portfolio entries that reflect and analyze my teaching and accomplishments, take two video tapes of myself teaching, and a written test. They estimate it to be a 200-400 HOUR commitment. Anyway my school district gives 5 paid days to work on your portfolio. Which is really nice! So today I took a NB day. I woke up at my usual time and got ready. Then I went to Panera with my laptop and began writing. I started around 7:30 am. I got home this afternoon around 3:15. I had written a little more than 10 pages today, almost the whole draft of Entry 4 - Documented Accomplishments. It was so NOT stressfull of a day for me! I didn't have to repeat myself 10 times for anything! I didn't even talk to anyone until after lunch when I was getting rather lonely so I decided to call Andy and check in on the boys. It was a really quiet day. Around 10ish this morning I moved over to the public library to keep writing. It was quieter there and I focused a little easier. By 3 though my brain was shot. So for Entry 4 I only have a 2pg reflection left to draft. I'm going to have Andy proof it tonight (he was thrilled when I asked!) and then have Jenn proof it (she just found out last week that she is National Board Certified!) and then my NB Mentor proof it. During all the proofing I'll be gathering my evidence- I can have 16 pages of evidence to prove my documented accomplishments. The whole process is very detailed and specific all the way down to which pages you can paper clip together. I really hope I can keep on top of this process- next I'll be working on the reading entry. I'm sure you'll be hearing about this off and on from now till March 31st- that is the day my portfolio is due. If (I mean when) I pass, I'll be Rank I certified!!

Tricia's Wedding

Tricia and Curtis were married on October 27, 2007. The wedding was beautiful! I am so happy for them! The wedding was at 3:30- Tricia looked gorgeous! The bridesmaids wore cranberry and carried cream flowers. Tricia carried white and red roses. They had an excellent photographer, great music and lots of friends and family around.

There was an overall theme of Mickey Mouse on the program, invitations, cake, etc. They even went to Disney World for their honeymoon! The ceremony went well and Tricia and Curtis are now Dr. and Mrs. Curtis and Tricia C.!! So happy for you all!! The reception was really nice. The place was beautiful and the food was great! They had a dinner for the guests with a picture slide show , a DJ, and dancing. It was fun. I got to catch up with some old friends. It was so nice! We missed you Jana! Wilson and Luke really enjoyed the cake.

Congratulation Curtis and Tricia! We love you!

My Man!

Yesterday, Andy had a birthday! He turned 29. We had a nice evening of celebration! The day was long for him as I didn't get home until 6:15 (national board meeting after school) so I felt badly about that. We had planned to order Pizza Hut for dinner. I also had made a peanut butter pie, his dessert of choice. Here he is with his present, which was a big surprise! These are hiking poles. He had been wanting them for a couple of years. These are not just from me, also from my parents and he is using his birthday money from his Nanny to go towards them too. He is ready for a strenuous hike!

Back to the birthday dessert, here he is with a delicious piece of pie, hamming it up for the camera. We also had cupcakes because Wilson did not think pie was a birthday dessert! Danny, Stephanie, Meghan, Lily, and Trey came over to help us celebrate. They helped us sing to him and enjoyed some dessert with us.
Then we listened to some loud drumming by Wilson and Lily and had a foam block fight! It was fun! The kids were having a blast as were the adults. When they left I had a bit of a headache! Got the boys a bath and into bed. They were tired little things! To my wonderful husband: Happy Birthday! I love you!

WHAT? I can't hear you!

Yes, that is what Andy and I are saying to each other all the time now! Well no, not really. But my dad, Wilson and Luke's gampa, bought a drum set for them. We talked about it, and I knew it was coming. It was a great idea on my dad's part as a behavior incentive for Wilson. Wilson earns time on his drumset by being a good listener. When he isn't listening or following directions he loses time on the drum set. It seems to be working! He's had the drums for about 2 weeks. My dad repairs musical instruments so he bought it at the music store where he works. Funny story, I sent him the picture posted here and he printed it out and hung it in the music store with this "Another Satisfied Customer" with the brand of the drum set printed on there too, like an ad. Sounds pretty cute! Luke enjoys playing too and Wilson has done a great job at sharing his drums. So, if you come over and ring the door bell or try to give us a call and we don't answer, it might be because WE JUST CAN'T HEAR THEM!!!!

Trick-or-Treat & Harvest Party

Our Knight! Being a bit shy at trunk-or-treating!

Pooh Bear!

A beautiful sunset on the hayride!

Sunday night we had a Harvest Party at our church- chili cook-off, trunk-or-treating for the kids, hay ride, pumpkin bowling, etc. Wilson and Luke had a blast! Some of the pictures are from that. It was so cold on Sunday night.


For Trick-or-Treating the weather was beautiful! We went part way down our street and came back up the other side with the boys. Then we passed candy out to trick-or -treaters at our house. Gamma and Gampa came over to see the boys. Wilson was a Knight and Luke was Winnie the Pooh. They were cute! After the grandparents left we drove over to Ma and Pa's to trick or treat there. Wilson was shy about going up to the houses. Luke wouldn't talk, but he sure was willing to hold his pumpkin out for candy! He ended up with way more than Wilson. Will's favorite treat from a house was a small thing of black play-doh. He found that pretty cool. Luke'll stick to the candy!

Wilson carved the small pumpkin in the middle. Check out the eyes! I was so proud of him!
Lukie with his hunny pot out trick or treating!