"Hey Dude, we've got some nodders!"......quote from Cars (the Movie)

C-man cuddled up with his book he got from the school library; "Iowa Historical Tour Guide," By D. Ray Wilson. He read to the Paleo-Indians and then started falling asleep!

What cracks me up and why I think my son is such a cool kid is how many 1st graders do you know who would bring home a thick Iowa History book???? C-man is an excellent reader and reading above his grade level so his teacher encourages him to read non-fiction books, so he goes above and beyond the duty! The other book he got from the library is about the Statue of Liberty.......let's just say, I'll be learning right beside him!
Watching a Christmas movie on TV.......just couldn't stay awake to the end!

Pass the Buck

Miss-O and I experienced the "Pass the Buck" this morning.
Now, this does not mean what you think........

In the nursing field, I learned early what "pass the buck" means.......when doctors don't want to be responsible for a pt's issue and they keep passing it back and forth or to other doctors....or when nurses that you follow decide not to finish a task and pass it on to you...when clearly they had enough time to do the task.........anyways you're getting my point and I'm sure in your work fields you may have witness "buck-passing."

This morning was exceptionally different. It started with a quick stop at the grocery store. We were in dire need of pull-ups, milk, and meat......(especially since there's a storm approaching).
Miss-O LOVES the shopping carts that are built like cars and we found our fire-truck and was giving it a quick wipe down with sani-wipes......just usual stuff........

Well, usual stuff evolved into a "thorough" cleaning of the fire-truck......Miss-O scrubbed down every nook and cranny and I'm surprised she didn't get on her back and wipe down the under-carriage!..........

During the extensive cleaning...there was an older woman on a scooter smiling and enjoying Miss-O's compulsion...ahem..I mean hard work. After we were through, the lady gave Miss-O a dollar and told her she did such a good job cleaning. Miss-O just looked at the dollar with a blank stare.......I told the lady that it wasn't necessary, but I knew that this was such a gracious act on her part and that O brought her much joy, that we took it and told her she was very generous....
We stuck the dollar in Miss-O's pocket during the shopping...........

On our way out, there hung the isolated red bucket from Salvation Army....swinging with the wind....misting up with the drizzles.....Miss-O and I came to a decision to drop that dollar into the bucket so that someone else could experience a little joy as well..........so we passed the buck today.......Miss-O is still oblivious to the warm fuzzies a person gets when giving....but at least we've started a foundation........

So may you pass the buck in a good way this week! (whether it is literal or not).

What have we been up to?????

It's been a snow-ball fightin'-manicurin'-singing-roller-skatin'-snow-forting-goodie-making week!

Monday morning: Snow Ball Fight!
Monday, our day off...what to do???? How about our nails!

Tuesday: C-man went to his Boy Scout Christmas Party and came back with his Bobcat Badge!
Congratulations, my man!

Wednesday: Christmas Sing-a-long at church.

Thursday: Roller-skating party for the school. This was C-man's first time roller-skating....many a falls, many a bumps, some frustration, change of shoes, tightening of wheels and he had a hang of it.

Here are some older girls that swept him unto the floor when he first got there.

He said he liked it and would do it again....just need lots of practice!

Friday: we had a winter party at his school. Being a second-timer at home-room parent, I made things very simple; cut snowflakes out of coffee filters and play some winter BINGO.....it was a hit and the time went way too fast!

I didn't have time to take photos this year, but on our way to the car C-man showed me the snow-fort that his class and the 5th graders are making during recess.

He also had to show me what the 4th and 5th graders have been up to during their recess!

Saturday: we had some down time.....played some games, finished shopping and hung out....also did some reading. Miss-O loves reading books to Indy! I love listening to her stories; they always change with the same book!

Sunday: We finished up the week with some goody making.....instead of cut-out sugar cookies, we went for cut-out Rice Krispie Bars.....the kids enjoyed decorating trees and snowmen.

There might have been some licking involved!

The chefs with their end product!

"Under the weather"

Miss-O has had quite the span of illnesses....Saturday, she threw-up and was lethargic for most of the day and finally perked up in the afternoon. Sunday, was a day off from illness and a day of recovery. Monday, diarrhea. Yesterday another day off from illness and a day of recovery...and Today: Pink eye! Poor Babe.....she woke up with both eyes sealed shut with matter....one good thing about this is never having to go to the doctor....just talk to the nurse, get medication prescribed at the desired pharmacy and pick-up! Hopefully, this is the last of the illnesses!

Pacem In Terris

Anyone want to gander what that means????

Peace on Earth

This is pretty appropriate for this time of the year. However, I'm very excited to be involved in it on a different basis.

A friend of mine, her sister-in-law and myself are planning a Hermitage.......
Some time in March/April season we wish to go North and hit the Peace on Earth Hermitage Resort. We will be in our own cabin; furnished with one bed, one chair, and a chair our in the screened-in porch and a basket of bread, fruit and cheese. What we bring; clothes, journal, and a Bible.

There is a commons where we gather for meals and can talk, otherwise we sit silent with God and pray with him, talk to him, and get the chatter out of our heads.....I'm sure God understands my interrupted prayers now.....praying......."MOoooM!".....back to praying.....get a glass of milk.....but, I'm excited to pray without interruption.!

There is also an exercise room and a dock where you get alone time on it over-seeing a lake...
Here's the link:
http://www.paceminterris.org/
if you'd like to see what we'll be up to.......
I mentioned this to Paul, and he said, "You're going on a fishing trip, aren't you?!"
Okay, it sounds very similar to fishing....there may be eating of fish, but no we will not be holding poles, hooking slimey worms, or landing floppy fish.........

I'll keep you in-tuned to when it will be!
Meanwhile; Pacem in Terris, and good will to men!

AboutMe. I like Math and seinse I like DS.
My life is cool.


{written by C-man in computer lab yesterday!}

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Here's the picture I was writing about when we visited Santa.......

it's cute....(Miss-O has a similar look as the reindeer beside her)

I think this is the first time she didn't cry, but she didn't make eye contact with him either.

C-man whispered what he wanted to him and Miss-O just wanted to get out of his sight!

I remember being scared of Santa too. I think I liked to wave at the big guy from a distance and make sure my letter was mailed in the big mail-box at the mall.

Santa, I can explain...........

SNOW DAY!

Take 15 inches of SNOW

add a Temp 10 degrees with -11 windchill

then factor in winds averaging 26 mph with gusts up to 50 mph,

this would equate Blizzard of 09'

This is taken from our garage's point of view.......nice big drifts.......Paul has been working off his buns to get the cars dug out because I work a double shift this evening into tomorrow am and he works in the am.

I worked last night and offered to stay and work extra if any employees were unable to make it, but everyone did and so I slithered my way home.....not bad driving, slow going and not much traffic at midnight......BUT, I landed the car right into a big honker drift in the driveway and got myself stuck.....so, I woke up Paul and he and I worked on getting my tail end out of the street.....this morning he finished the job.

The thing about being a nurse at a Hospital....there's never a snow day at the Hospital and so the show must go on....and since we live in town....I feel very obligated in getting to work, no matter what we need to do! We decided that Paul will take me in tonight with the trusty 4-wheel truck and then in the morning when he comes into work, I will take the trusty vehicle back home and pick him up at 8pm........where will the kids be, you ask?

Thank God for our life-line: G&G Roberts!

The kids will stay over-night and will either have another snow day or go to school tomorrow.....we'll just have to see!

What do we do now?

Make cookies!

"Tastes good!"


My assistant baker!
We had to ad lib a bit since I didn't have frosting for cut out sugar cookies........ball rolling was a good choice, the kids' attention span soon fell and I was left to the ball rolling and sugar dipping.......but boy does the house smell good!

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree!

Sunday: We trimmed the tree with decorations and ornaments of the past....some didn't make the tree this year, it is much smaller than our artificial one.....and yet we weren't too bummed.

"Ta-Da!"

The kids were really into decorating the tree, in fact they started without us and let's just say, we had to get out the gorilla glue for a few ornaments......they got into the fragile box instead of the "kiddie" box....ooops!

Oh-well, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to take to watch their faces delighted with cheer!

Indy's First Christmas!

These two are BFF's! Now, Miss-O may throw herself on Indy WAY too much, but he takes it and tolerates her. I think he secretly loves having her follow him around and hug him and kiss him constantly....in return he licks her and we hear ALL about it!
"I saaaaw Indy kissing Saaaaanta Claus" oh, I mean C-man!

Christmas # 1

Christmas #1: @ G&G Roberts' House

Friday Night, we had dinner & dessert. Then we followed it up with the movie, "ELF" and those who were still awake played the game "Apples to Apples."

Saturday morning, we had breakfast then FINALLY opened presents! (The kids could hardly stand the wait!)

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Starting out with Lego fun!

After dinner, pretend that Daddy is a train! ALL ABOARD!

Honey, would you like some German Chocolate Pie with that whipping cream?

Miss-O is cracking Mommy up with her doctoring techniques!

Lovin' the chocolate covered fruit sent by Uncle John and Aunt Sarah....Miss O looks good with a chocolate mustache!

Unwrapping some fun!

Lego Power Miners!

Marin makes sure all the wrapping paper is off her gift.

Grandma opens up a present!

Chris wondering which shirt he's going to have to let go (per Angie's order).......the one from 2000 or 1999?
Chris, I say save them and use them as paint shirts for Marin!

Aunt Angie guessed right again!

Aha! Romancing the Stone....a classic!

Daddy being like "Grandpa Joe," first he took out his pocket knife and made a straight slice down the paper, then diligently opened the present with the paper intact!

"It's snowing, it's snowing, it's snowing, it's snowing.........."

This was much better to listen to, rather than the screams and cries of fighting over each other's presents!

Another year of Christmas memories in the G&G Roberts Household......

Thanks for having us over and thanks for all the fun!

Drive Thru Christmas Tree!

The conversation goes as follows:

Me: "Oh, how I miss a REAL Christmas tree, we always had one when I was growing up." speaking with a sigh and maybe a bit dramatically.

Paul: "Do you want a real tree this year?" asking in his serious tone.

Me: "Yes, but do you want a real tree this year?" making sure I didn't over-step any of his "tree"ditional boundaries.

Paul: "Ya, if it means I don't have to put together the artificial one this year." showing a twinkle of excitement.

Me: "Really?" Astonished that it would be this easy to talk him into a real tree.

Paul: "Ya, it'll be faster to put up a real one." sounding relieved and very rational.

Me: thinking to myself, "SCORE!"

But then I took it too far......"Oh, we could go to Howell's Tree Farm, you know the one that has the pumpkins and........" before I could go any further.

Paul: "Aah, I was just thinking about going to that place down the road and getting one."

Me: "Okay, if we have a real one, I'm okay with where we get it."

Here it is, the product of our conversation........the tree that we got from the Drive Thru Christmas Tree lot.....I joke (a little)....but we actually bought it from the Boy Scouts Tree Stand Market.....down the road from us!

Hello Frasier Fir!
The kids are enjoying the smell of the tree.....I explained to them how it will fill the house with a wonderful scent of pine and a new scent of Christmas, one that I knew as a child.
p.s. they really didn't have to get that close to get a whiff of the aroma...it was more for picture embellishment.

Indy & Taty posing by the tree........okay pups, no rough-housing by this tree.......got it???

Who us? Innocent, angelic, always on our best behavior, us?

I Spy with my little eye.......... Santa!

Santa, at the Bass Pro Shop?

We're in LOVE!

This is a new store in our neighborhood....

Next year folks, everyone's present comes from this place!

Waiting in (a very short) line to see Santa and get a free picture.....I'll scan it later and show ya, kinda cute!
C-man working on his aim.....Dad is near by, giving pointers.

Miss O was excited to see a Snowman in the store!

Christmas Jingles!

Okay, so I went a little over-board on the Christmas music....you could probably just set your computer to my site, crank up the speakers and go about your business....I have enough songs to supply a party......but I can't help it....I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas music....so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.....there's an eclectic bundle of music....Disney, Muppet's, Elvis, Bing, etc..........just reminds me of getting the 45's out and playing them on the record player.....(that may be dating me a bit!)

Candy Girls

This Friday is our last Mommy-n-me preschool day for the year.

I can't believe it's already over, it went too fast.

So in celebration and thanks to Ms. Michelle, our teacher, we are making her

home-made candies! YUM!

This brought back special memories of when my sisters and I made home-made candies with our Mom. Miss O and I didn't get too creative, we just dolloped the melted goo in the molds!

Miss-O did add some pizazz to a few molds by sprinkling colored sugar and sprinkles before we dolloped.

My little candy girl, boy she's getting too grown up!
Miss O made a special card for Ms. Michelle and she wrote her name on it!
For 3 years old, this isn't too bad; especially when she wrote her v and said, "ooops, it's upside down!"

The Goodies!

(sorry, my display technique is not up to catering par!)

Disney on Ice

The Princesses patiently await the princess show.
YUM! This should keep me entertained before the show starts.

Princess Cindy and Princess Lizzie

Hi Cinderella!

The Finale! All the princesses with their princes!

9 of us total went to the princess show and we all loved it. Princess songs were implanted in our heads as we floated back to our car, in our princess daze! aawwhh!