Son-Day Post

Another regular feature I would like to add this year is the Son-Day Post. One of the boyz will be writing something each Sunday. If I can convince them to. :)

So for starters - here is Little S

i saw a consert on 12/15/10. I loved all of the songs. my favret song is hot choclet from the polar expres. my brother tween was in it. he is in the middle of the picksher.

my birthday is every 12/17. I get lots of toys and trios. I made a yoyo at my party. I played bingo and I called the numbers on the balls.

Everything above was typed by Little S. I am aware of the spelling errors, but I wanted this post to be in his words.

Stacy

November 30

Whew....I made it! This is at least 3 years in a row, maybe 4 now! WooHoo. I was kind of burnt out for a while and only posted every couple days, but this month has gotten me back in the swing of things. I can't promise I will continue to post every day, but I am going to post more often now.

When I first started blogging many moons ago, I would look for things each day to write about. Then I thought maybe I was getting a little boring. Last year I liked the theme that NaBloPoMo had for the month and I followed along with that. This year, I just tried to think of things each day. There were a couple of days that I struggled, but for the most part it just flowed right out.

So who wants to join me for another month of posting. I know there are several of you out there that used to do November NaBloPoMo every year and you didn't this year. Why don't we all band together and go for it in December? We can take weekends off if you'd like.

Let me a comment if you are willing to take on December with me. And no weekends, mean not having to worry about posting on Christmas or New Years!


One more last note: Happy Birthday Tony!

Stacy

November 28

Thanksgiving is over, it's back to reality tomorrow. I have enjoyed my nice long weekend. We did a lot of nothing and a little of nada and a LOT of driving.

Friday afternoon I drove into Pittsburgh to pick up Teen's girlfriend from college for a few days. It's a long story but basically her parents weren't going to get her. She worked Black Friday morning since she wasn't going home and then I picked her up after work.

Teen slept out in the living room on the blow up mattress while Hubby slept on the couch beside him and GF stayed in Teen's room. Teen had to work for a few hours on Saturday so she just hung out in his room and played online until he came home.

She left a little while ago to head home. Her roommate was home for the holiday so she road back with her.

We went out for a little bit Friday morning and I got a new Christmas Tree. Our old one was a pre-lit and several of the rows of lights no longer worked. It is now up and decorated. The last one was all white lights and this one is colored. I also bought some new decorations and we got it all decorated. It is taking me a while to get used to it. I have had the same theme for the past 6 or 7 years so it looks so different. I may have to rearrange some things yet.

We bought a few other things that morning as well, but not too much. I don't like the big crowds. My sister-in-law is one of the nuts that stands in line all night waiting for something. CRAZY! I would never do that.

So what about you? Are you a Black Friday up at 3:00 am to stand in line type person, a get there right after it opens and if you get a deal you get a deal type person, or do you just say forget it and sleep in? I'm the second type. Although I may get up a little early tomorrow and see if there are any good deals online. I am dying to get my hands on a Kindle!

Stacy

The holidays are upon us. Every year I wait for this commercial to come on tv. Eat 'n Park is a family restaurant chain that started in the Pittsburgh area. You can click on their link here to check them out. All three of my boyz grew up going Eat 'n Park with their grandparents before they started school.

They are famous for their Smiley Cookies and each child gets one at the end of the meal.

So without further adieu, here is my all time favorite Christmas commercial:

I don't even know what it is that makes me love this commercial, but it just touches me for some reason. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I do. And if you are in the Pittsburgh area and have not gone to Eat 'n Park, you need to eat there. The great service, family friendly atmosphere and food are all worth it.

Stacy

November 25

We had a great Thanksgiving. We went to Hubby's brothers for the day and had a day filled with food and laughter.

We played the White Elephant Game. My sister-in-law and myself each bought a bunch of small gifts and gag gifts and wrapped them up. Then you all sit around the table and roll the dice. If you get doubles you get to take a present off of the table. Once all of the presents are claimed you continue to roll for a set amount of time, we chose 10 minutes, and if you roll doubles you steal a gift from someone else. It gets to be a riot as you have no idea what you are stealing.

Usually there is one gift that everyone thinks has to be the best gift and it gets taken again and again. This time it was a bag of pretzels that were wrapped up in a shoe box. Everyone wanted the shoe box.

Here are some of the presents that were unwrapped this year:
A pringles container full of dum-dums and smarties.
Lottery scratch off tickets
Candle
Mancala Game
Box of Tissues
Calendar
Pez dispenser
Silly striped toe socks
Baseball cap

There were about 20 gifts in all and it was so much fun. If you are ever looking for just a fun little game to make everyone laugh and have a good time, this is it. My SIL and I decided at the last minute to play the game this year so we got all of the gifts but you can always just have everyone bring a wrapped present that day for a game later.

And I have no idea why it is called the White Elephant Game, but it just means you are supposed to bring something that you already have laying around. You know that awful mug that someone gave you and you refuse to drink out of? That is a great one to use. Or those photo frames you got one year from Aunt Jane that are pink and you have all boys? That is a great gift to wrap up as well.

Maybe you can sneak this game into your holiday season this year. And if you do, please let me know how it worked out for you and if you had as much fun as we do.

Stacy

November 5

Better late than never. Here are some of my Halloween pics from this year.

This is my friend Kandy's son Logan. I had to share this picture cause to me he looks just like a little Eddie Munster.

This nutso kid is not mine. In fact I don't even know who he is but I had to take a picture of him to share. It was about 50* during trick or treat and he walked around like this the whole time. I'm not sure if I am appalled or entertained at his creativity.

This is my little munchkin Little S. He was so proud to be a 'fighter-fighter'. Our local VFD (volunteer fire department) was on almost every corner slowing down traffic and helping kids to cross. He walked by them so excited that he was 'one of them' that day.

This was our seniors at the Halloween football game. The whole band turned into Zombies for half-time and then they played Thriller as the seniors were featured by doing a Zombie dance. Teen is the third from the right in the ripped white shirt with the green underneath. And yes, that is Shrek standing there watching them.

These are my two 'zombies' Teen and Tween. They are so silly with their faces. They even had scar tattoo's all over themselves. Tween had a nice one right across his throat with blood dripping from it.

And this was a little something I picked up for them last night in the clearance Halloween candy aisle. There were 3 flavors: Snottermelon, Sour Green Boogy, and Lemon Loogy. The back says they were 'Picked Out Especially For You'. Sometimes having boys can be gross and fun at the same time.

Stacy

November 3

Little S and Daddy were in charge of carving the pumpkins this year. I have been so busy and so sick that I just didn't have the time or energy to do it.

This one was carved by Daddy and it is a witch:

Daddy and Little S shared this one:

This on belongs to Little S alone:

Tonight the neighbors and Little S got together and voted on who had the best pumpkin. And guess who won?

This little pumpkin won the carving contest!!

Stacy

November 2

Our church recently got a new pastor. He is young and full of life and ideas. We went from almost never having anything at our church to it being used 3 and 4 times a week for different things. I am so glad we got such a young energetic pastor to keep up with us.

One of the ideas he brought to us for October was Treats at the Trunk Night. It's a fun safe way for the kids to collect candy and play some games without the worry of strangers and moving vehicles.

The youth and leaders organized a few games for the kids while the adults went back to their cars and 'decorated' their trunks.

They had silly games like Pumpkin Bowling

And Put the Pumpkin Together. They had some one cut a pumpkin in a few pieces and then left long toothpicks sitting there for the kids to put it back together.

Pumpkin Decorating - Lots of markers and glitter glue and stickers and such.

Guess How Much Candy - Jars with different types of candy to guess (Little S actually guessed the exact amount on one of these jars)

And then after cider and donuts, the kids went trunk to trunk and collected their goodies. This is my trunk. It looked much scarier in the dark with just the flashlights shining up through the webbing.

The kids had a great time and we can't wait to see what else is in store for the future. Thanks Pastor Jeff!

Stacy

June 3

Today's prompt: Define 'FREEDOM'

Websters has 17 definitions for the word. Seventeen!

So how do I define 'Freedom'?

With these pictures:

Because of these brave: (This is our Honor wall at my house)
And these brave:
And they were proudly honored Monday by these students and many citizens:

And finished by playing Taps on the hill.

Teen is the far one on the left. His friend John was the first player and my son was the echo. We were so proud of him. My heart swelled until the tears fell from my eyes that day. I cried not only because of the pride I had for my son, but also for what so many have done for us.

Stacy

Handsome

Look how nice my boyz clean up!

Stacy

Happy Easter!

Today remember what He did for you!

These are pictures from the Easter display at Kraynaks.

Have a great Easter!

Stacy

Lunch with the Bunny

Saturday morning the local Women's Club sponsored a lunch with the Easter Bunny. As we walked in up the steps guess who was standing at the top for pictures:

There were a few games for the kids to play and then there was a huge line for face painting. Little S wanted a lightning bolt, but I asked him to get something Easterish. He settled with a bunny.

Later as we were eating one of his friends came and sat down beside us. He had gotten the lightening bolt. Little S made a point of telling me that "D" was allowed to get a lightening bolt. When he finished going on about how I 'made' him get something Easterish, "D's" mom (God love her) let Little S know that the only reason he got a lightening bolt is because she wasn't with him in line or he would have gotten something else....hehehe. Chalk one up for the mom team!

After he was done eating he got to sit with the Bunny. He got a stuffed duck and a packet with a few pieces of candy, a bunny cookie from Eat 'N Park, free admission to the Fun Zone and a gift certificate for a free personal pizza at the local pizzeria.

After we were done there, we headed over to the lawn behind the bank where the local Kiwanis set up an Easter Egg hunt for the kids. They divided the sections up by age groups, through out boxes of candy on the lawn and 3 eggs in each section. If you found an egg you got an additional prize. Little S didn't find an egg but he did get a bag full of candy.

He had a blast and Hubby and I enjoyed watching him be so happy and have so much fun and delight in his eyes.

Stacy

Down & Out

The new year has brought me either a bad cold or more likely the flu. I have had aches and chills and a sore throat and earache and fever on and off for the last two days.

The first night I didn't sleep at all. I woke up at 1am and finally got back to sleep a little after 5am. Wouldn't you know it, the alarm goes off at 6:30am.

Hubby went and bought me some night-time cold medicine and I slept much much better last night. I think if I could stay in bed and rest all day today, I would feel so much better by tomorrow.

As I was sitting here waiting to send Little S out the door, I was looking through some of the Christmas photos. I love this one.

They cleared enough space so that they could sit and play their new game. I had never heard of MouseTrap before Santa brought it, but it was fun. I loved sitting back and watching them play together.

Stacy

Brothers

Sometimes my kids surprise me and do things for each other that I would never have thought they would do.

In the bottom of my Christmas box was this:

It's a countdown to Christmas calendar. We have never used it. I don't even remember where I got it. Tween dug it out this year and hung it on the door jamb. No idea why he chose that spot. Little S was so excited about it. It was hung up a few days after Thanksgiving when we were decorating and I didn't give it another thought.

Tween has been filling the little bags every day and giving the "present" to Little S. Little S thinks that the elves fill it each night. Tween took this all on himself and has been having a blast with it. He sometimes sticks a piece of candy in it, a coin or even a little trinket.

I am so proud of him for sticking to it and for making Christmas come a little more alive for Little S.

Have your kids done something for one another recently that surprised you?

Stacy

Mitzvah Month

Ok, by the end of last month I was totally tired of posting every day. That was 2 months straight that I posted.

I was absolutely not going to post today. I was going to take a break. I deserved it after posting for 60+ days straight

Then I got a little email from NaBloPoMo saying that this month is "Mitzvah" month. Basically you give something away every day for the whole month and post about it. Jeez, it being the Christmas season and all, I am just not sure I can pass this one up.

So, here we go again. This does not mean I have to buy something every day to give away. The rules state it can be something as simple as giving a "smile" to someone.

So to start us off, I just did this to the doors in my hallway of the building. I put one for each person that lived there. Hope they enjoy it!

Stacy

November 29

Do you have Ham or Turkey for your holiday meals? For Thanksgiving we have both and for Christmas just a ham.

This was our Thanksgiving Ham:

Here is our Thanskgiving Turkey:

Oops...Wrong picture....This was our Thanksgiving Turkey.

Stacy

November 26 - Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that you have a wonderful day filled with the love of family and friends.

Last night hubby made the pies. Pumpkin and Pumpkin Cheesecake.

This year I made a little treat for the table. Chocolate dipped pretzels and marshmallows.

We got up early, hubby put the turkey in the oven and the ham in the roaster and we went Christmas shopping.

We had dinner about 12:30 and after everything was put away and everyone left, we all took a nap.

How was your day?

Stacy

November 24

Today was the last day of school for the kids until Tuesday. Monday is an unofficial state holiday - the first day of deer.

Little S had a Thanksgiving Program at school today. He is such a little ham. He found where I was sitting and just played it up to the camera. He is in the green.

I was trying to get a picture of my girlfriends child and he thought I was trying to get him. He sticks out back there like a little monkey. That is him in the background in the green. What a goof...

And this is me and the little monkey, i mean pirate, i mean handsome fella.

Stacy

November 23

Here are a few more photos from the play. Can you tell I am a proud mum?

This is Tween declaring that the Wicked Witch is indeed dead.

Ding Dong the witch is dead, which ol' witch, the wicked witch.......

Uh, Oh.....Here comes her sister, the mean one.

And this is the Great and Powerful Oz......

All of the kids did an amazing job. I recently fessed up that I really didn't want to go and see this play. I have seen schools do plays of well known musicals before and have just slaughtered them. I just didn't want to be disappointed.

Believe me when I say I was not disappointed at all. The kids did such a great job you could almost hear the original movie stars there on the stage. I have been going to the plays there for over 10 years and every year they do a good job, but this year was exceptional. The last play I remember them doing this well was South Pacific and A Christmas Carol many years ago.

I am so proud of the whole cast, crew and staff and now I can't wait until next year.

Stacy

November 1

Here we go again. Another month of posting every day. Aren't you lucky.

Due to last month being 'haunted' I have held a few things back to share this month. But first we will start with Halloween.

Little S decided he wanted to remove the seed from his pumpkin. Besides his hand was the only one that fit down into the little opening on this pumpkin.

Then he drew the face that he wanted on his pumpkin. He is still way to small to be yielding a knife.

The next night, we made treats for his little friends at school. I took pretzel sticks, dipped them in colored white chocolate and then put sprinkles on them. (I am sure that pretzels fit in with the schools new wellness policy ;)

Little S then decorated the bags and I put 2 sticks in and attached the cards we made.

We had so much fun with this project I am hoping to do it again for Christmas.

This is the boyz with all of their loot after they were done trick or treating. Yes, even the high school kids go around here. I even saw a few adults out this year collecting candy. I don't mind the high school kids, but I draw the line at the adults collecting candy.

After the trick or treat hours almost the whole town gathers down at the school. The band (all dressed up in costumes) plays while every one that is dressed up marches around a few times in front of the judges. They give out prizes for several different categories.

And this picture just creeps me out. It is so real. The kid that was dressed up as Jason really played up the part.

Hope all of you had a great Halloween also.

Stacy