Merry Christmas

A second graders Christmas note to Chris:
You are funnyr then Isiah in music and funnyr then Sarp on the bus but sumtims your to funny. I hope you dot be funny in the snow.

What a great card he received!

We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.

Wrong words

Ryan singing Away in the Manger. He sang the wrong words for everyone to hear.


Chris singing A Silly Holiday Song

Of course since the kids are so loud you can't hear what Chris sang. He had no idea that the song said caroling aardvarks so he sang caroling arm farts. It wasn't until about 2 days later that he looked at the words and figured out he was wrong. However, I do think caroling arm farts fits in the song perfectly and makes it even more silly!

Fundraising

This year fundraising has come all at the same time. Chris is currently selling Boy Scout Popcorn and random crap from GAOTrak. Now here is the best part of his fundraising...bribes!

If the Cub Scouts raise $2400 as a pack they will get a bouncy castle for the Halloween party. I was involved in this decision so I can't complain too much. It's not too hard for them to reach. Each child is being asked to raise $100. Last year we had 3 kids raise over $600 so it isn't too hard of a goal to reach.

Now onto the bribe the school is offering...A Mega Party for each kid who sells 8 items from this Wishlist magazine. It wouldn't be a big deal if they didn't have a kick off party and get the kids all excited about the idea. Also, if the child sells 21 items they get to ride to school in a limo. Chris is so excited about the mega party especially since they are giving each child who attends the opportunity to win $500. To say the least I am not happy about what the school's bribe is!

Ryan is selling Joe Corbi's pizza. His school does not participate in bribes. However, they do make you feel a little guilty if you don't participate.

So MomMom, PopPop, Grandmom, Grandpop, Uncles, Aunts and everyone I missed....get your checkbooks ready!

Pumping

The boys were outside playing on the playground yesterday when I looked out and saw Ryan on the swing pumping. He learned yesterday how to swing! I was so impressed and proud of him.

I called my sister last night to let her know of the big news since she had been trying to teach him all summer. Her reaction: finally!

T-Ball

Ryan had his first T-ball game today. I got a call earlier this week telling me the first game was Saturday without any practices beforehand!

I was surprised because when Chris played for this league they did not play with outs. Today if the kids got out they had to go and sit down. Ryan came pretty close to striking out.

Strike 1!

Strike 2!

And then he had his first hit of his T-Ball career.

He ran the bases like a pro (especially after his brother told him if he didn't run fast then he would have to sit on the bench).

Ryan is so excited to be on a team finally after watching Chris for the last 4 years. Ryan did not take his uniform shirt off for the rest of the day and put his jacket on when he went to play so it would not get ruined.

However, closer to the end of the day he did tell me the dirtier his shirt got the more powerful he became in baseball. I guess he doesn't think I am going to wash it! I'll do it when he is asleep.

The Gift

Chris has been begging asking for a playground in the backyard for the last two years. This year Ken's mom decided it was time. She bought him this playground for his birthday!

The kids LOVE it, absoutely LOVE it. They have played on it everyday since we got it. Often the neighbor kids also come and play on it with them.

I am hoping the love for the playground continues for years since the neighbor kids are 9 and 11 and also love it.

Thank you Grandmom for a wonderful present! The neighbors also thank you!

Two Little Monkeys

My kids this summer have become little monkeys. We have visited different playgrounds more this summer then ever before! They love them.

Cub Scout Camp

Chris and I went to cub scout camp this year. It was filled with activities and we barely had a moment to relax. The only part I did not like about camp was the uncomfortable cots we were sleeping on. Chris was going to sleep in a tent with his friend but they left the tent closed all day and had tons of spiders. He wound up moving to my tent at 10:00pm the first night. We spent just under 48 hours there.
The kids dug for dinosaur bones.

Even I got dirty during this activity!

Next they were able to play stone age miniature golf.

We had to wear our swimming suits for half of the day because each day we went swimming. There are no pictures from the pool because they utilized a buddy system and Chris was my buddy. The pool was great though. Since it was run by the boys scouts it seemed the only rule was no diving in the shallow end. Chris was able to experience a couple chicken fights which we are not allowed to do in our pool. We also played a bunch of games.

After swimming they played a couple games and we were finally released to get changed and have dinner. This was the first time Chris wore his uniform as a wolf.

After dinner I forgot my camera. The kids were handed nets and brought into the woods. We arrived at a swampy area and told to hunt for critters. Chris and I caught a cricket frog but it jumped out of our net before we could get our hands on him. One of the people in our group caught a tadpole that was growing legs. Everything that was caught was put in a container and brought to the nature center for us to see later.

Our last activity was shooting BB guns before bed time. We also shot BB guns first thing in the next morning. The parents got to shot at the very end. This is the dad and the kid we were with from our pack. I didn't get any pictures of Chris because I was helping him. I know the dad did and hopefully will get them soon.

After shooting we head to the obstacle course. They had a mud pit at the end and it was up to the parents if the kids could go in.
Chris running through the slalom course.

Crawling under the ropes.

After this he took off his shirt and threw it at me so he could save time getting into the pit at the end. Here he is on the balance beam.

Then the stepping stumps.

Finally the fun stuff! The lava pit

Finally the mud pit!

After the obstacle course the kids were scheduled for sports. We headed over to the soccer nets but instead they just played keep away with the counselors. In 90 degree heat I was amazed at how long the kids and counselors played for!

Finally it was time for lunch. I was amazed at how hungry I was at every meal! It was crazy. After lunch the kids headed to boating and fishing. We took them out on a rowboat.

Then we headed over to the nature center. They talked about different rocks and plants. One of the coolest things they had was a piece of lightening glass. Then the counselor brought out the snakes!

Then remember the night before when we went hunting for critters. Well, the group after us caught a crayfish. Here the kids and adults are watching the crayfish capture and eat the tadpole with legs our group caught! The tadpole fought for a long time but unfortunately lost the battle.

We went swimming after and finally it was time for dinner. After dinner we went to chapel, on a boat ride and had a camp fire. Unfortunately, my group got lost heading to the camp fire so we missed most of the skits including the one Chris was in. Chris loved the motor boat ride though!

The next morning only had three activities planned before heading home. Since swimming was our last activity we headed out after only two. The kids learned how to fold a flag and also how to raise a flag.

Then we played some ultimate Frisbee and made some cave paintings.

Finally it was time to head home! Boy were we tired from all the activities!

On the way to each different activity the kids would sing a song. This is the song they would sing the most and the kids loved the song!

NYC

A friend of mine from Washington came to visit NYC. Tracey and I were able to meet him there. First we went through the Harry Potter exhibit in Times Square. The ball that is dropped on New Year's Eve was just around the corner. I was amazed at how small it was! I thought from watching all these years on TV it was much larger and went all the way to the ground.

We hit The Hard Rock Cafe for something to eat and then had to head home. It was a short visit but fun. Unfortunately my pictures didn't come out.

State Fair

We love going to the state fair each year. The kids like the rides the best so we of course save that for last. This year they had a little petting zoo and Chris got to feed a giraffe. Ryan had no desire to feed the giraffe at all.

In fact Ryan was a little grossed out feeding the goats. He gave them a little bit of food and said he was done.

We visited the baby chicks and Chris fell in love. He kept asking to go back to them.

Ryan did not want to hold one of the chicks either. He did though put some food in his hand and let them eat it off.

Ryan did enjoy however, sticking his head in every cutout we passed and asking to have his picture taken.

When they were finally able to hit the rides we started at one end and worked our way to the end. They went on every ride they were tall enough and if they really liked the ride they went on it again. They did surprise me by going on the big pirate ship. This was the one ride Ryan did not like at Hershey Park. However, this time he put his head down and closed his eyes when it started. About half way through he opened his eyes, started screaming and enjoying the ride.

Anita's Wedding

Memorial Day weekend Ken and I headed to NY for Anita's wedding. Everyone had an amazing time!

Anita and her Dad

Anita and her bridesmaids.

Anita marrying Chris

Just Married!

Message to Dad

Lacrosse

Chris had his first lacrosse game. Man do they look small out there. (He was assigned number 8 at the Pine Wood Derby and then his practice pinny is number 8 for lacrosse.) So when it came down to getting uniform numbers he asked for number 8.

Chris played defense the first half. He did good. The other team only scored one goal while he was back there.

The second half he asked to play goalie. They had no problem putting him in net.
I tried to get an action shot of him but cut most of his body off. He had an amazing save while in goal and everyone went nuts cheering for him.

His team wound up winning. The other team scored 2 goals and I figured our team probably scored 7 or 8.

Cat in the Hat

Chris had to dress up as a character and walk in a parade for school. We came up with this idea and I thought it was cute. Unfortunately, Chris woke up sick and stayed home from school.