Thanksgiving Feasts

This THANKSGIVING season we talked a lot at our house about things we were THANKFUL for.  We talked at almost every dinner meal (and some other meals too) about what we were thankful for.  The kids would each say what they were thankful for and then of course mom and dad. 

(Some nights I wanted to say---I am thankful we're going to bed early tonight!) 

 But, I refrained from those "thankful thoughts!!"

One night, I had the great idea to have each person tell what they were thankful about---for all the other members of the family.  This was a great IDEA!!  It took A LOONNGGGG TIME! 

But, the kids' faces really did brighten up when they heard all the nice things that were said 

about them.  Tyler would then suggest we do it this way several other nights.
(I will confess, a few times I told him let's just each say 1 thing we're thankful for.)

We are talking a lot of being GRATEFUL and APPRECIATIVE!

My kids have always been appreciative of little things, but I want them to understand that we have A LOT compared to many other families and other kids.  I try to say the words, "grateful" and "appreciative" as much as I can.

For example...if someone complains about dinner, I will say, 

"Do I hear someone being unappreciative for the food we have???"

It really does quiet them up quickly!!

THANKFULNESS was also talked about at school.

Paige's school had a FEAST!  Check out this table.

I helped decorate and serve for the feast.  I walked into the room and saw this 

LOOONNNNNGGGGG table and was amazed!  The kids were amazed as well.

A feast for a 4 year old...yum yum!!!!

Spencer and Paige

Paige informed me that he was her Best Friend!

(I am pretty sure he was just her best friend for that moment---because I have never heard his name before this day!!)

Ms. Ginger's class--we LOVE Ms. Ginger.  She is so awesome with these kids.

She has taught Pre-school for 28 years.  And STILL LOVES it!!

WOW!!  

This is Paige, "taking a bubble".  

This helps the kids remember not to talk in the hall-way.  On the way to the gym for the Feast, Paige told her teacher, "I cannot hold my bubble that whole way" (because basically you are holding your breath.)

The teacher told her she could get a breath and then "take another bubble"

Paige probably meant---she could not go that long without TALKING!!!!

She LOVES TO TALK!!!

Jaden had a feast at school too.

He was a Pilgrim and the other class, Indians!

I helped at his Feast too!  (you can't help at one and not the other)

But, this is one thing I am THANKFUL FOR---that I can go to all my kids' special events 

at school and work in their classrooms!!  

In Kindergarten, you get an Indian Name.  Jaden was BIG BUFFALO!

Here, Jaden can't decide if he is an Indian or a Pilgrim!

Happy Thanksgiving!! 

We have done a great job of being THANKFUL in November and we are 

going to continue being THANKFUL for the rest of the year!!

More Halloween

And, I thought buying Halloween costumes was sort of a waste of money----

but with all these posts--- it seems as if they at least get some good use out of them!

Or I am just "recording" too much!

This year we did good---

For 3 Halloween costumes, we spent a total of $12--to buy Jaden football pants!

Everything else we had or borrowed!  I was impressed with ourselves!

Tyler's buddies

I know the picture is blurry---but it's the only one I had of his friends

Harrison,      , Jacob, Tyler, and Austin

Mrs. Whelan's 2nd grade class

The older kids have a parade in the Gym and parents can come sit along the edges of the gym to watch!  (We tried to get Tyler to wear his cleats to school--but he wouldn't and he didn't tuck his shirt in either!)

Back in the classroom---Tyler and Parker

Mrs. Whelan in the background!

Back to the classroom for yummy snacks, a craft, and a game!

It was MUCH, MUCH harder to get pictures of Tyler this year.  

He is more social and moving around more and just not interested in mom

 taking his picture the whole hour!!!

Little does he know---

I'll be around, with my camera, for MANY MORE YEARS!!!!

School Halloween Parade

Around a holiday---with 3 kids in school---

I am busy.  Going, Going, Going, to their different parties!!

The boys' school does a Halloween costume parade before their Fall Parties.

Since Jaden is 1/2 day Kindergarten, this means 2 different parades on 2 different days and

2 different Fall Parties.  But, it's SO FUN!!!!

Sitting at his table---waiting for the next directions.

Lined up in the hallway--

the Kindergartener's get to parade through the halls of the school while all the big kids 

(1st through 4th grade) sit along the hall and watch.  

The older kids LOVED Jaden's K-State costume.  
He got LOTS OF CHEERS and "GO K-State"

Shy little Jaden just walked quietly down the halls with his head slightly down.  

He hardly cracked a smile and surely did not interact with any of the students.  I walked

beside him through the halls and encouraged him to give the kids a "thumbs up" 

or something...

but no response from Little Mr. Serious!!!

I thought it was so FUN having all those kids yell for or at Jaden!!!

When we got in the car to go home, Jaden said, "All the kids liked my costume"

So, at least he heard them cheering for K-State and for him!!!

Mrs. Williams AM class

And, then back to the class for treats and games!!!

I wish I was 5 again!!

Thinking back to my Halloween Parades----

Makes me remember one year when my mom MADE ME be a pig and wear a pig nose!  

I don't remember what any other part of my costume was, I just remember the little pig nose with elastic around the head.

I hated it!  I have a horrible memory and I do not remember much from my child-hood, 

but I do remember HATING the pig nose and not wanting to wear it for my 

school parade at McKinley!  Funny huh!!!

Jaden's Pumpkin Patch

In Kindergarten, you get to GO to the Pumpkin Patch!

I am BLESSED and THANKFUL that I get to go on all the field-trips with my kids.

I get to work in their classrooms, go eat lunch with them at school, help with PTO, etc.

I am THANKFUL I can work from home and work the hours I choose---

so I can be apart of my kids' school activities. 

I can get to know their teachers personally by working in their classrooms and 

this is a treasure. 

Pumpkin Patch day just happened to be HAT DAY at school---

for Drug Awareness week.  Hence, the hat!!

Searching for the Perfect pumpkin!

Jaden and Logan

A trailer ride from the parking lot to the actual Pumpkin Patch.

Each student got to pick 2 pumpkins.  And, of course, Jaden right away decided he would pick one for Tyler, since he didn't get to go to the Pumpkin Patch and Paige did.

Will Jaden ALWAYS be so THOUGHTFUL and KIND?

I sure hope so.

Paige's Pumpkin Patch

Insteadi of GOING to the Pumpkin Patch in Pre-school, 

they BRING the Pumpkin Patch to the kids!

(I think the schools have decided that packing up all the car-seats, etc., is just too much work)

So---first stop...

Paige's classoom

Then, to music and Bible lessons in the Big Room.

Leah is not in Paige's class--but all classes meet up together for music/bible

Then, outside to the "Pumpkin Patch"

It really was set up cute--

there were 5 different stations to go to with games at each one

and then of course---finding the perfect little pumpkin in the grass.

Halloween

Happy Halloween 2010

Because the boys are 150% into FOOTBALL---it was on appropriate they be 

football players this year for Halloween

For their school parties, they were BOTH K-State football players and then for Halloween Night, 

Tyler got to borrow football pads and be a "REAL" football player.  He thought it was SO COOL!

We found Jaden a pair of pads to borrow too, but then he couldn't be a K-State player---

so he choose NO pads, so he could wear KSU!!

I had a fairy costume for Paige, but we decided a Cheerleader fit so nicely with her brothers!!

Aren't they precious!!

I can just see them in High School---the cheerleader and the football player!!

I hope they like each other this much in High School!!

We had our Annual Halloween Garage Party!

It was super fun again--especially for the kids! 

There were even MORE kids this year.  So, many that we could not get an "all-kid" picture!

The adults all bring a soup to share. 

We eat really well.

The kids eat hot-dogs (soup if they want) and cookies!

Then, the kids all played in the back-yard---they had a BLAST!!!

Jaycie Ontiberos, Paige, Leah Wilkinson, Jayden Burkhart

(the neighbor girls!)

The BOYS--and Paige sneaks in the picture too!

After the party---we had fun trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

It was BEAUTIFUL outside, but did cool down and get a bit cold.

The kids wanted to go home then and pass out candy.

Most of the trick or treaters were done by the time we got home, 

but they got to pass out candy to a few kids.

They dumped out their buckets to see what all they got.

We have had terrible teeth problems at our house and Paige is currently not allowed to have sticky candy.  SO---she went through EVERY SINGLE piece of candy, asking, 

"Is this sticky"  yes

"Is this sticky"  yes

"Is this sticky"  yes, I would say again.

and I mean EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF CANDY, she asked, "Is this Sticky"!!!

We learned that more than 50% of candy is sticky---which means MOM gets it!!!

They each had 2 pieces of candy and then.....

Jaden asked for an APPLE!!  I just think it's funny, he's eating an apple on Halloween Night!

And now---it's a week past Halloween and I bet my kids have not eaten more than 4 pieces of candy each.  They do not ask for it.  NOW, me on the other hand, I have eaten more than 4 pieces!  My kids just aren't big candy kids.  They LOVED getting it all and as excited as they were about GETTING IT, you would think they would try to eat it all in one night. 

 I guess it's just the thrill of GETTING something!!

Other funnies--

I bet Jaden and Tyler have worn their football outfits EVERY day since Halloween.

  When they go outside to play football, they always put on their football uniforms! 

 And, they play football almost daily.

Today I told them they could put their football pants back in their drawers---grass stained and all.

I am not washing those pants AGAIN!!!  We'll wash them in a few days :)

I was helping Jaden tuck in his jersey and he asked me, "do you know how to do it like real football players?"  Yes, I assured him, I know how to tuck in like "real football players".

'Til Next Halloween!

Teaser pics

Check out our pictures!

My friend, Deb, took these pictures!

I am thrilled!!

We tried to get the kids to walk in a STRAIGHT line, but as I look at this picture, this is SO our family!  Jaden is the silly one, trying to get others to keep up with his "Craziness"!!

I love this one!  Just fun!!

Tyler is SO photogenic!  age 7

Here's a funny----Tyler got his hair cut the day before and it was a little short on the sides.

So--I took my flat iron to it---I think it looks SO CUTE!!!  I am laughing typing this---

that I flat ironed my SON'S hair!!  And, just so you know---he did NOT mind and loved 

how it looked when I was done.  Of course, we put some good hair product in his hair too!!

Steve was less than thrilled with me doing it, of course!

Jaden (5) was so proud---he CHOOSE this spot.  He walked around the entire park---acting like

 he knew where he was going.  He finally stopped in this grassy corner and said this is where

 he wanted his picture taken!  This was going on an hour and a half....anything to get him to smile!!

And Paige (4).  At the beginning he as "hamming it up" and posing.

By the end she was sticking out her tongue (literally) and being a bit of a "brat"

But, isn't she cute!

There are more----but these were some of my favorites!!

Maybe one of these will show up on our Christmas cards, maybe another one!