No one ever said we're perfect

This post is mainly to make a point...to my friend, Jean...who said the other day" your family always seems so perfect on your blog"
Well #1 of course I'm going to post the "good" stuff...I think of it as a SHOWCASE!
But in an attempt to be REAL I'm going to describe the events of today and then you judge for yourself.

This morning with no school on the horizon we decided to take in a Movie. With a family of 7 you learn quickly that any showing before noon is priced at $5. So we promised the kids last night we would go see Tangled before noon.

I also subscribed to the Whataburger 12 days of Christmas emails. Today when I woke up the coupon in my inbox was for a free Whataburger. Yipee! There's a Whataburger in the parking lot of the movie theater. FREE LUNCH!

So after a leisurely wake up and breakfast, I asked David, "Will you please go get the boys haircuts while I get ready?" I had taken them yesterday but it was too crowded and only 2 barbers. So he heads out with the boys. At which point Kaylee starts to get dressed and noticed a buttom missing on her shirt.

I thought good timing...I just read an article that said, Does your teenager know how to do various things...one of which was sew on a button. So, I said "let's have a lesson here and sew this button on"....Insert Waterworks and Crying...with something blubbering out about "HOW THIS IS MY WEEK OFF FROM LEARNING, I DON"T WANT TO SEW ON A BUTTON" Not sure where that came from, but we sewed the button on together.

At which point the boys came back home because the barber shop was just as full as yesterday and we'll try again later

So we get in the car to go to Whataburger and a movie. As we're headed there I realize, "Hey is today the 22 or 23?" It is indeed the 22nd and the coupons for the free sandwiches, They're good for the 23rd only....OK Plan B ....the movie theater has hotdogs for $1 we'll just eat there. But we realize we'll have to pay 42.50 for drinks. So we make a quick stop at Wal-Mart so I can buy drinks. I bought a 6pk of mini rootbeers and one large one for David. They're small and they will fit in my purse. Next stop movie.

As we unload in the parking lot, Trent decides to go over Ty's car seat instead of around. Which meant as he caught himself going down, Ty shut his door because no one else ever gets out his door too....yes, Fingers slammed in the door. No Blood, Able to wiggle, Let's go in....

As we wait inline to purchase our tickets I realize Tangled is only showing in 3D which means the tickets are 9.50 not 5.00. This has just increased our total bill from $35 to almost $70....um, NO THANKS! (btw I had checked the movie times on-line and it did not say 3D showing)

We get out of line, explain to the kids that we could own 4 DVDs at the price of viewing this one showing...Perhaps we can try again tomorrow at the Mall Theater...at which point I almost had a coronary thinking of what traffic will be like on the 23rd at THE MALL!!!!

David asks do you need to go anywhere else?" Yes, I need to go to Sams. So we head to Sams in hopes of little traffic and hoping the pizza and pretzels will be hot. Things work out well, except that we had to cram 6 people around one of those little table for 4 and I had to sit backwards next to a complete stranger in the attempt to be part of the conversation. (YES, I took in the rootbeers and we drank them there)

Next stop was Wal-Mart, Zane needed to pick up a few gifts for his siblings. That went quickly and while we were in there we found little recorders(flutes) for $1 each. I had mentioned to Zane that I wished we could all learn one song on an instrument and play it for Christmas. So we bought everyone a recorder.

Once we got home &everyone in the house started playing their "WHISTLE" I apparently had not thought through the fact that no one has any training. I sent everyone outside to Learn to play a song. Hopefully Zane can come up with something and he can do the teaching on this one. I don't know if my nerves can handle it.

It seems as if everyone has calmed down a little but it's only 4pm so I'm a little apprehensive about how the rest of the evening will turn out.

Perfect? No, I don't think so,....I never claimed to be either

Whoooooo

Mia's Owl Artwork...This child doesn't leave any detail undone. I don't think I would have the patience to draw all the squiggly lines like she did. I can at least guarantee none of my artwork looked this good in 1st grade...or 11th grade for that matter.

Mia had to write 3 sentences about the owl as well. (For those of you who don't read Spanish, like me, here's what she told me the sentences say)
1. Owls have excellent senses.
2. Owls have big eyes.
3. Owls don't have purses. (She Always has fashion on the brain)

Seriously?

Has This ever happened to you?

You're going through all your digital pictures... You finally find a picture that you think you look pretty decent in and what do you know?

Some idiot is making a face behind you?

And it a COMPLETE STRANGER!!!!

Paper Beads

Kaylee and I made these really cute paper beads and bracelet. I tore the idea out of a Family Fun magazine but we are just now getting around to trying it out.

1. Cut out a long triangular template. Then cut several triangles from Brightly colored magazine pages.

2. Roll each triangle around a wooden skewer and secure with a small drop of glue. Let 'em dry.

3. Gently slide each bead off

4. Use elastic beading string to weave in and out of the beads and wear your new "Earth friendly-Green" Bracelet.

The Thinker...

Black Friday Fun

Well today I was a poor excuse for a Black Friday Bargain Hunter. David and I tried to go last night to a few sales but ended up gawking at the line and then walking over to price-match two things at WalMart. This morning I didn't leave the house until 9:30. I knew I wouldn't find much but hoped that maybe a few things would be getting re-stocked. I was pleasantly surprised and it was just fun being in some of the hustle and bustle with no time limit.

So after a few hours and a trip to Casa Manana I went home with a few nice sized bags. The contents seem like a good start on Christmas shopping. Emphasis on "start."

After dinner I settled into the recliner and worked on this:

All in all...It seems to have been a very good Black Friday!

Ty's thanksgiving

Ty's Pre-K class had a little program and Thanksgiving feast for the parents.

On the table the kids had made a few little crafts for decorations. This one gets me a little tickled everytime I look at it. It's definitely a keeper and I'll get it out every year.

Ty and I had a very indepth conversation about Pilgrims. It went something like this:
Ty: Mom, the Pilgrims came to America on the Mayflower
Me: What is the Mayflower?
Ty: It was a big boat
Me: That's right
Ty: Did I come to America on the Mayflower?
Me: No, you came on an Airplane
Ty: Yeah, I guess that would be easier

Work Stuff....

David has to exhibit at tradeshows and conferences. So, he's been working very hard getting his booth ready for the large CAST (Coallition for the Advancement of Science Teaching) conference here in Houston. It was a very large conference that brought in over 7,000 people.


Part of the new booth visuals are these large stands. Of course we like using real life models....

Here's the booth all set up and ready for action! I got to go downtown and meet David for a few hours on Friday, it was neat to "work" again. The kids saw me dressed and ready in the morning and were like "Mom, where are you going?" Why are you all dressed up? It was funny. I guess they're not use to seeing me in anything other than shorts and a T-shirt in the morning. I told them you know I use to get up every day and do this.
After my few hours though it made me grateful that I get to be a stay-at-home mom!

Crazy Hair Night

Crazy Hair night at Awana is one of the kids favorite nights. It's always fun to see what everyone comes up with.

You know I love Free Stuff

Ni Hao Ya'll is having a fun Chrismtas Giveaway. You can enter yourself at www.nihaoyall.com
Good luck

Trip to the Capital

Back in August we went to Austin to visit the Capital. It was a nice evening while we were waiting for the bats to come out from under the Congress St. Bridge. However, we were disappointed in the slow trickle of bats we witnessed. We see that many at night swooping above the swimming pool.

I love this picture...They've always seem to have a special bond. and Isn't the grass green...

Ole'

All the 4th graders preformed dance skits during a recent PTA meeting. Kaylee's class danced to a Spanish song. She was right up front and did a great job

Last year of middle school

It's so hard to belive that this is Zane's last year of middle school. Seems like I was just worried about him going to Middle school. He's had a great two years and is really enjoying being the top dog this year.

Majhong

Mom & Mrs. Eva came over for the weekend. Saturday afternoon not much was going on so we broke in the Mahjong set. I was so eager to use it and Zane really wanted to learn how to play as well. So while David yelled at the TV, I attempted to teach everyone to play.
Everyone did very well, but I was concentrating so much on helping everyone else I could never remember my hand. Stacy ended up coming over and so I was able to sit and play with Zane more. However, I think he did better without me.

Here's Mom's hand when she Mahjong(ed)!

First Payin Gig

The girls were invited to Avery's birthday party. The night before the party Avery's mom asked if Kaylee wanted to do some balloon animals for the girls. Kaylee was beside her self with excitement.

We had to make a party city run and get her supplies. Then Kaylee practiced a little bit and made a sign for the girls to choose from. She limited the choices to: Ladybug bracelet, Kitten, giraffe, Monkey in a tree, or dog on a leash.

She was so cute and so confident. I love that about her!

Busy doesn't even begin to describe what it's been like around here. A better word might be exhausted. But it's been a lot of fun things! I got to go on my weekend scrapbook retreat, last weekend we went to Baton Rouge to the LSU game and our church voted in a pastor after 2.5 yrs.
We have national Orphan Sunday coming up, which we are helping to lead this year, and adoption seminar in November, plus all the usual amounts of homework, laundry and meetings. (Halloween costumes...can't forget those)

I always forget how busy October is. It comes in a close second behind May.But I'm not complaining....Just more things to scrapbook....eventually. But if I keep going on this digital kick I've been playing with, I might be able to go to my next girls getaway all caught up. That would be OK too. It would just mean more time to play Mahjong and talk.