Advent Calendar

Feeling a little crafty this year, I attempted a homemade advent calendar.  Success!  In the end, it took me longer than I thought to pull it together....mostly with finding 24 unique fillers.  I am really excited about the end result and looking forward to the daily surprise.

Here's how it's filled:

Day 1: a note explaining how it will work (i.e. some days the whole surprise didn't fit, so they need to come to me for the remaining.  A request to be gentle etc).  Followed by a piece of candy.

Day 2:  Puzzle pieces.  Parts of a Christmas puzzle.  Part 1 of 3 they will find in the calendar

Day 3: money

Day 4: theater ticket for the next days You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

Day 5: Coupon to redeem a sweet treat from Mom (Hershey's chocolate milk)

Day 6: glitter tape

Day 7: a gift from Korryn

Day 8: a note to redeem a wrapped book from Mom and Dad

Day 9: Part 2 of 3 of the puzzle

Day 10: a note from Kerri.  (She did her top 10 favorite things about both kids)

Day 11: toothbrush

Day 12: candy

Day 13: movie tickets (Paul's birthday - this was his contribution)

Day 14: eraser/pencil sharpener combo

Day 15: coupon/money for pizza at lunch this week

Day 16: gift from Korryn

Day 17: part 3 of 3 of the puzzle

Day 18: candy

Day 19: coupon for each to redeem to Mom for me to clean their room x 1

Day 20: pair of socks

Day 21: gum

Day 22: candy

Day 23: coupon to redeem a wrapped book from Mom and Dad

Day 24: coupon to look under the Christmas tree for a specially wrapped gift, which will be a lego kit.

School Open House and such

The kids school Open House was held in early November.  Theme was cultural diversity and every child was to pick a country to study.  Both kids picked Korea because of their Korean heritage.  Pictured is Kathryn with Aunt Korryn, traditional Korean bride and groom (Paul and I were given that as a wedding gift from some Korean relatives) and Kathryn is holding her brochure.  We all walked in to the school that evening to find a table full of school brochures with her picture on them.  A true honor, our little cutie.  : )

 Ryan is standing in front of a locking rice chest, used to store and protect rice years ago in Korea.  On the wall is an outfit Grandma Soon brought back from Korea when she visited when he was little.  Both kids also gave out Korean candy.  Some good, some VERY interesting in flavor!

My handsome boy

Kathryn was lucky enough to be treated to Disney's Frozen on Ice, by Aunt Bobbi Ann.  I got to go along.  So much fun. Watching Kathryn's reactions was just as much fun as watching the show.  

 Truly enamored!

October 2015

Soccer has concluded for the season, relieving Kathryn of her angst.  She was gung ho in the beginning.  Soccer was her decision to try, and apparently not her thing.  By the end of the season the power struggle was on and I heard "You made me do this!" Along with other negative statements.  Sadly the coaching was not all that great, making it a somewhat unstructured 8 weeks for her.  She did make one goal in the second to last game, making it worth it, or so she says.

 Pumpkin patch field trip with the first graders. 

 Nice face, Miss Kathryn

 We bought a new in October, 2015.

2009 Ford Escape with 19k (ish) miles.

Hopefully this one lasts a while.

 We tried a new version of pumpkin decorating this year.

Pumpkin drilling!  

Out with the pumpkin carving, in with the power tools.

I've never been a fan of knives and pumpkins. 

 It's just begging for someone to lose a finger.

Drilling seems much safer - truly!

 The final results..........

 This years Halloween costumes.

Kathryn wearing a Kelsey hand-me-down!

Kelsey wore this in 2001

 Ryan as my fearless Ninja Turtle.  He borrowed this from his friend Cooper.

 This picture makes me giggle.

And of course, the haul.

6 full size candy bars - even one king size candy bar!

What kid needs that?!

 November 6, 2015 the Peanuts movie premiered.

Being the Snoopy fan I am, of course we had to see it. Even sprung for 3D

* (ok - that was $52 for the 4 of us - ummm, ouch.  3D was not worth it........ but I am glad I did it because  a) I have never seen a 3D movie before and   b) I would always have wondered if I should of spent the extra on 3D when I had the chance.  So I did.  And I learned.  Not worth it.)*

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  The movie is quite good, very fun to watch and was a joy to watch with my kids.

25 years and counting of being a Snoopy collector.  I still get giddy when I find a treasure.  Snoopy still makes me smile. 

And because of that Peanuts gang I found a life long friend.... even though we are miles away.  : )

This kid!   

He looks extremely grown  up here!

A school year update. 

 Ryan's interim teacher, Mrs. Rossiter is now done. Having her leave was emotional, yet a positive experience for the kids.  She did an outstanding job filling in on such tragic circumstances.  The search for a permanent 2nd grade teacher was unsuccessful - but the school's music teacher has 5 years of 2nd grade teaching experience in Canada and she agreed to take on this class for the remainder of the year.  She went from part time to full time instantly and as a Mom herself, that's quite a feat.  This was an easy transition for the class (and parents) as Mrs. Bakker is well liked and the rest of the school year should be great.

The search will be on for a replacement teacher for next year, when Kathryn's class moves up.