April 18, 2008

Friday Funny

So, yes, I stole this catchy title from the Girl Talk blog. That's okay though! I just felt like posting something funny today. It's been a long week of testing at Trinity and my brain is kind of fried. No, I'm not the one actually answering the questions but I have had to walk around for the ENTIRE time the kids are testing, check for bubbling errors, making sure they are on the correct page, correct section of answer key, etc, etc. There have been MANY major errors caught! But my brain frazzling has occurred because of looking at the answers the kids are marking. I would figure out one answer on the test and then I would walk around the room checking for everyone's answer on that particular question.

Like for example...according to three of the 4th graders in my room, did you know that the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches are the three branches of the US Navy? Huh. Neither did I!!!!!!!

Or, you walk by one kid's desk and he's on #14. Thirty seconds later you check him again and he's on #32. Huh. Strange. Speedy and diligent worker? I think not!

It's okay, it'll all pan out in the end. Of course, it will be a major reflection on what I've taught them all year, but who's worried?

Not me.

Anyway, on to the funny.

Twice a year we have Bible Bowl competitions in our lower school chapel service. They ask the kids Bible questions and they answer them, competing on boys vs girls teams. The kids love it. So the funniest answers of recent Bible Bowls...

1) What three gifts did the wise man bring Jesus?
A: gold, a pretty box and......and..... a check?

2) When God created Eve, what part of Adam's body did God remove?
A: His backbone

HA!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday, y'all!

April 15, 2008

Baseball Game #1

What fun! B's first baseball game as an Angel. They were so stinkin adorable!



B spent most of his time in th outfield dancing. Seriously, the kid has some moves. Don't ask me where he got them from, because I know he didn't get them from me and I can assure you he didn't get the dancing gene from his daddy either!

Chris shared these pictures with me. He can do some really cool things with his photo software. I get to benefit from his love of photography when he takes cool pictures of my kids!





Sweet little feet

April 14, 2008

Homemade Vanilla


Okay, so do you love to bake? Well if so, you need this vanilla. You've never had anything like it and nothing I've ever tasted compares.

Best of all, it is EASY and way less expensive than buying the cheap, less yummy stuff from the grocery store!

Here are the girls on our vanilla making night!



Okay, so here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Vanilla Extract


1 bottle of 80 proof Vodka (we made Eric go to the liquor store and buy 2 cases of Vodka!)
6-8 Vanilla beans (we ordered in bulk from an on-line based company)

Split the beans with a sharp knife. Pull open to ensure that they will stay open.
Drop beans into Vodka bottle.
Shake. Done.

You will want to continue to shake the bottle several times a week to help the process along. It needs to sit for at least 4-6 weeks before you can use it. However, the longer it ages, the better it becomes! Store it in a dark place for best results. Julie said that when she gets to the bottom of her bottle it's almost a little syrupy. Yummy!!!


We're planning to make jelly together again next month. Can't wait!
Any other ideas of fun and simple things our little group can make or learn to make together? Please share!

April 12, 2008

Overtime for the Tooth Fairy!


Well, B lost his very first tooth last Friday and it was quite a day for all of us. Then, Tuesday it happened again! He lost his second tooth. It was wiggly, but not ready yet...I thought. Anyway, it came out alright. He's getting rich!

The Tooth Fairy brought him $2 and a fruit-by-the-foot again. She brought that particular treat again because B said as he was climbing in bed that night, "I sure hope the Tooth Fairy brings me the same thing she did last time." So, well, she listened and brought the same thing. So, on the way to school the next morning Benjamin said, "You know what? I think the Tooth Fairy has been taking those fruit-by-the-foot out of our pantry!"

I had to laugh!

Such a silly boy I have! He's trying to master the art of jokes. Knock-knocks are his favorite right now. Here's an example:
"Knock, knock."
"Who's there?"
"apple"
"apple who?"
"apple"
"apple who?"
"apple"
"APPLE WHO?"
"aren't you glad I didn't say apple again?"

And then he laughs hysterically at himself! I'm left sitting there trying to figure out the joke!
I think that joke works better with the orange. But who cares?

Kindergarten was studying bugs this last week. Here B is showing us his spider. "Spiders have eight legs and 6 eyes," he told us. "And this is a grandma spider."
"Oh really? How do you know it's a grandma spider?"
"Because she has blue hair."

I kid you not! And NO I do not call older people blue-hairs!!!! Where he got that, I have NO idea!!! We got a good laugh out of that one, though!!!!

Fish Story



I know!!!! Can you believe this catch? Dad caught this fish on our lake at Camp Creek.
8 lbs. 9 ozs!!!
It's funny because that is exactly how much his second daughter weighed when she was born!! This fish weighs almost twice as much as Benjamin did when he was born!!! He was a little runt!

Sharing a fish like this for a fisherman, is like a mom sharing the stats of her newborn child! Dad is actually going to be in the Tomball newspaper for his catch! Fisherman's dream. Way to go daddy! When is the fish fry? Count me in!

Love you daddy!

April 08, 2008

Day at the Zoo


Don't you love that time of year where you start getting outside again? Gosh!!! It is SO good for the soul! Well, this past Saturday was a perfect day! Absolutely gorgeous! We spent the day at the Fort Worth Zoo (along with 10,000 other people I might add).

Here are Benjamin and Cait with our friend Tyler






Ms. Kristi giving Tyler a piggy back ride.



Welcome spring!


My boy


Sweet Tyler


Baby girl




We LOVED feeding the birds!!!

Cait got brave and even stroked the bird's feathers



A perfect day!

April 07, 2008

Baseball Superstar!!!

Baseball season is upon us! Getting outside after the long winter, taking in the changing season, feeling the warmth of spring. Ahh...... Just what the doctor ordered for all of us!

Here's my sweet, sweet boy getting ready for baseball season. The Angles have been practicing to get ready for their first game next week. I had to share some of the adorable pictures of my little superstar!



I love his face here! He looks like he's having so much fun!


Yes, they're practicing with tennis balls for catching...they're friendlier!




Ready...


Set...


swing!!!!


Another hit!


Out of the park, people!!!!


Home run star!!!

Double-Timing Tooth Fairy


It happened! B lost his very first tooth!!! We have done some serious wiggling over the last month on that poor little tooth. We stepped up the diligent working on that baby tooth after we noticed that the permanent tooth had completely come in already behind it...very much in the wrong spot! Don't worry, I immediately set up a savings plan for braces. Braces start so much earlier these days! Did you notices all these 8, 9, 10 year old kids with braces these days? Like half of my 4th graders have or have already had braces. They do them in two stages these days. Those same kids will have them again in their early teens if needed, but for a shorter time.

Anyway...back to MY boy! I will try not to cry as I type this....He lost his tooth at school. I wasn't there when it happened. BUT, BUT, BUT.....his sweet teacher brought him straight up to the 4th grade hall to find me! Wasn't that precious? He was covered in blood and grinning from ear to ear with that little wad of paper towel stuffed in his mouth to stop the bleeding. All the 4th grade teachers were with me to scream and do a victory dance over the celebration of the tooth. It really was special, which made it a little easier on this mama that I wasn't there. I'm so trying to think about what I should be SO grateful for, instead of focusing on what I'm missing out on by not being at home with my kids! And this is one instance where I am so grateful!

So, because B lost his tooth on a Friday (his night at daddy's house) the tooth fairy visited Benjamin TWICE! Cool for him, right? (No, we don't do Santa or Easter bunny, but we do play tooth fairy. He's knows the fairy is mom and day, but he still plays along and it's fun for all of us!) This parenting thing is fun, y'all. Are you all having fun? I hope you are as much as I am! These are the moments we'll be talking about when they've got kids of their own. OH, I'm gonna cry again. Guess that's enough sap for one morning.

Have a blessed week you guys!

April 01, 2008

Bon Appetite!


So, Kindergarten outdid themselves again this week! To conclude a study on France, the students had a French Cafe and invited one special person to share it with. It was so elaborate and fun! All the little girls dressed in a Madeline costume and all the boys wore their regular uniform with a little beret. SO cute!!!



Here are the place settings that Benjamin made just for he and I. The menu has colored pictures of what we were being served.


Mrs. Goude, a Kindergarten assistant welcoming the parents...so funny!

Each Kindergartener paraded in to the song, "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. Precious! B served me my plate and said, "Bon Appetite!"

He served me buttered french bread, strawberries, mini quiche, and cheese.
Here we are together...ooh, la, la!!!


After eating the éclairs that Benjamin made just for me, we all went back into the classroom for their Madeline presentation. They quoted the book to us, with each child having a segment of the book. So stinking cute, y'all! Here is B, my little ham. He does have some drama blood in him after all!





The kids thanked us for coming. They were saying, "Merci, Merci!"
I love Kindergarten and I'm so glad I get to do it again next year! Did I tell you all that Cait was accepted to Trinity? Yay! We're good to go now, as far as I can see for next year! We'll all be together.