My Banner Babies!

I finished my first two banners tonight!  I think I'll take a little break and then work on some that say "Merry Christmas".  My uncle, Estuardo, is heading back to Guatemala tomorrow night.  It seems like it went really fast.  I'll be sending these with him for his two grandkids, my cousin's kids: Trisha and Victor.  I hope they like them!  I posted earlier with a picture of the letters cut from paper, here's the rest of the process:

I pinned the paper letters to the felt, and cut them out:

Then I cut out the triangles from the felt:

For Trisha's banner I had some fun fabric that I cut into triangles and I had to iron those:

Then I pinned the felt letters to the flag parts and then sewed them on by hand:
I sewed the fabric triangles onto the felt.

Finally, I had to sew the bias on the top so the flags would be all together.

Ta da!!!

I'm so proud of my banners!  I was sad to send them off to Guatemala.  Hopefully they like them!!!

Someone to Love Me

Most Recently Read Book:

Someone to Love Me

By Anne Schraff

This is the third book I have read in the Bluford series.  I felt really bad for the character in this book whose mother seems to be more involved with her boyfriend than with her.  How sad is that?  I like how this series talks about teen issues that I think my students could really relate to.  

A Matter of Trust

Most Recently Read Book:

A Matter of Trust

By Anne Schraff

This is the second book in the Bluford High series.  This book is also about Darcy, but this one is more about her and a boy she likes, named Hakeem.  Darcy really likes him but is not sure he likes her.  She helps him try out for the talent show because she believes in him even though he stutters.  She also starts to feel like maybe she can trust her dad who was gone for five years.

Lost and Found

Most Recently Read Book:

Lost and Found

By Anne Schraff

I have heard about the Bluford High Series from my students for a while now and decided, finally, that I had to read them.  Lost and Found is the first in the series.  All the stories are about students at Bluford High.  This story was about Darcy and her family.  Darcy's dad left them five years ago and all of a sudden is back in their lives.  At the same time, Darcy makes some new friends, and takes care of her grandma, and worries about her sister who is hanging out with a boy who seems to be pretty dangerous.  I can definitely see how kids relate to these books because they are about true life and experiences that all kid may be facing. 

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Most Recently Read Book:

Al Capone Does My Shirts

By Gennifer Choldenko

This is another fun read!  I definitely reccommend this to boys and girls.  The story is about a boy whose father goes to work on Alcatraz which means his whole family goes to live on Alcatraz.  The boy is trying to make friends and trying to avoid the warden's daughter, who seems to always get him in trouble, while trying to also help his autistic sister and his parents.  It's a fun story and also a good family story.  Loved it!

Inkheart

Most Recently Read Book:

Inkheart

By Cornelia Funke

What a great book!  I thought this was a very cute book.  I have read The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke and I loved her writing and the characters she creates.  She did a great job with the characters in this book also.  This story is about a girl whose father repairs books.  She finds out he has a secret: when he reads aloud, he makes characters come out of books.  When the girl was a baby, her dad was reading aloud and three characters came out of the book Inkheart...but, unfortunately, the girl's mother and their two cats were transferred into the book.  Meggie's dad never told her his secret until one day one of the characters from the book, Dustfinger, shows up at his house and they end up going on an adventure to save the book.  There are other books in this series and I'm sure I'll read those books.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  Aren't these turkeys cute?  I cut and put them together last night after I saw them on a blog last week.  I'm going to give them to the kids today at our Thanksgiving feast.  We are all going to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner.  In attendance should be: my mom, my dad, my grandma, my sister, and my sister's boyfriend, my mother-in-law and father-in-law,  two aunts, two uncles, two cousins, one cousin-in-law, two cousins' kids...oh, and my husband and my son!  I think that is everyone!  Usually we don't have everyone at our house for Thanksgiving but because my grandma and uncle are in town from Guatemala everyone is getting together this year.  

Speaking of this year, we are especially thankful this Thanksgiving.  I haven't really posted at all this week...and it's been a crazy kind of week.  The biggest news is that my mom was in the hospital for a clogged artery, had an angioplasty(sp?) and is now home.   It started last week when she had a pain in her chest and some tingling in both of her hands.  It would kind of come and go and it was bothering her but it always went away.  Finally, on Monday she decided she better go to the doctor and see what was going on.  They admitted her right away and did EKGs and stress tests and found a clogged artery.  Her operation was on Tuesday and she went home yesterday.  

I can't even tell you how hard it is to imagine a Thanksgiving, let alone any day, without my mom.  Seriously, I couldn't even let myself think about it.  Luckily, they caught it, figured it out, and she's doing well.  She'll be home for a couple of weeks resting. 

I thank God every day for all the people Chad, Jordan, and I have in our lives.  Thanksgiving is a great holiday because it really makes you stop and think of everything we can be thankful for.  I really try not to take things for granted and to cherish everything I have but it doesn't hurt to have a whole day reserved for being thankful.  And we are.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Banner Beginnings

I saw really cute felt/fabric banners on a blog the other day.  The woman makes them for baby showers or birthdays.  I think the idea is that you have these banners that you can put up for every birthday celebration.  I decided I am brave enough to try these and I thought I would make them for my cousins' kids in Guatemala, that way my uncle can take them back with him when he goes back.  My uncle has two kids, and then each of them has one kid.  My cousin, Chipi, has a daughter named Trisha, and my cousin, Andrea, just had a baby boy about a month ago, named Victor.  Today I printed up some big letters on Word and then cut them out.  I already have some cute fabric that I think will work for Trisha's banner, I just need some felt.  I think for Victor I'll need to get some fabric, I'm leaning towards a sports theme.  Next, I need to get some felt to make the banner triangles.  I'll post as I go through the process.  For now, here are what the letters are going to look like, I'll pin them to the felt and cut the letters out.  

Sunday Funday

We made a trip to the mall today...I'm trying to figure out what to wear to my 10 year high school reunion on Friday...and then hung out here at home the rest of the day.  Yesterday we were at my parents because my uncle is in town from Guatemala.  Today was just a hanging-out-with-our-little-family day.  When Jordan woke up from his nap we had to have a snack first of all!  Here he is so proud to hold the giant bowl of popcorn.  This is the smile we got when we asked him to say, "Cheese."  Is it already the age when he has a goofy smile?  Oh well.  He's still cute!

Here's Jordan sitting with his eehee (his blankie).  
And then, I can't remember what we were doing here, but it looks like he was counting...even though he doesn't really count on his fingers.  Isn't it cute though?
And here's Jordan walking around in Chad's shoes.  He loves shoes...well, except his own, he's quick to take off his own shoes!  
I really noticed today that he is saying more and more two-word utterances when he talks.  He'll put together a person and a thing or an action.  Like, he'll say, "Dada, shoes."  Or he'll say, "Mama, coat."  It's really sweet!  We had a fun day!

Smoothie Smoothie

Friday night I suggested we go out for smoothies at Robek's and then to Corner Bakery for dinner.  We all love smoothies and we have never been to the new Corner Bakery that opened up near us.  Here Jordan at Robek's patiently waiting for his smoothie:

He's got his smoothie now!!
Jordan and Daddy sipping away at their smoothies!
Yum, yum, Jordan loves smoothies!

Twilight!

Where were you on 11/21/08?????  Kathy and I went to see the midnight showing of Twilight.  When I got there, Kathy said we were the only ones over 18...and we pretty much were.  There were some moms there with their kids but I think we were pretty much the only moms there without kids.  The movie was pretty good...the acting was pretty cheesy at times, and I didn't really like the action/special effects that much, but overall it was good.  My favorite part was hearing the girls shout and giggle every time Edward came on the screen or when he touched Bella or when he smirked or when he talked or when he talked...it was seriously non-stop.  I would definitely see it again right now in a heartbeat.  I'm ready for the next one!

The Higher Power of Lucky

Most Recently Read Book:

The Higher Power of Lucky

By Susan Patron

This book is a sweet story about a girl whose mother dies and who is being raised now by her dad's ex-wife.  She lives in a teeny-tiny town with only 43 people in it.  The girl, Lucky worries that her dad's ex-wife, who is now her guardian, will leave her and she'll become an orphan or a ward of the state.  

Twilight Here I Come!!!

I wore my Twilight shirt today because I'm going to see the movie tonight at midnight...12:02 to be exact.  Kathy said she would go with me so we are both sneaking out of the house tonight!  I can't wait.  There were so many people talking about it today.  One teacher saw my shirt and told me I had to go take a picture with Edward Cullen who was in the library.  Check it out:

Me and EDWARD!

I didn't even have to fight any crazy Twilight moms to get to him!

In less than two hours I will be watching the movie.  I am so excited because I really love this book.  I'm not sure I am going to like the actors they cast for the characters, but I'm sure it'll be good.  I'm not sure I'll have enough energy to post when I get home...but I'm sure I'll post some time tomorrow.  I CAN'T WAIT!

10 Things You May Not Know About Me

Well…if everyones doing it…I guess I will, too.  First, Laura posted 100 things about herself, and now Kathy has posted twice about herself in 10 “thing” increments.  So, I’m starting with ten myself.  I have to say it was kind of hard to think of 10 things people may not know about me.  I feel like Chad probably knows all these things…but he doesn’t really read my blog, so I think there should be at least 1 of these things that you other readers may not know about me. 

 1. I secretly wish I could be a barista at Starbucks.  (For those of you who don’t know, baristas are the people who work at Starbucks and make those yummy drinks.)

 2. I count how many steps I take each day.  My pedometer ran out of battery so I seriously count every step I take…give or take a few.  I’ve gotta try to at least get to 10,000 every day.

 3. Last night, I dreamt of eating a yummy birthday cake with lots of sweet sugary frosting.  It wasn’t even a slice, I was just digging my fork right into an entire cake.  Yum.  I love birthday cake!

 4. There are times when the roof of my mouth itches…and I scratch it with my tongue.

 5. I hate it when a dish is left in the sink with food still in/on it.  I know sometimes the dishwasher is full or there isn’t time to put it in the dishwasher, and I can handle if there’s a dish in the sink…but, I loathe the crusty cereal that dries to the sides of a bowl after it’s been sitting there all day.

 6. I hate physically washing dishes…this the explanation for number 5 above.

 7. I love the dishwaser and believe it to be one of the greatest inventions (see 5 and 6).  It might be because we didn’t have one growing up…although I never really did the dishes anyway…my mom usually did them. 

 8. I can make friendship bracelets with my eyes closed.  I used to make them all the time when I was a kid and seriously don’t even have to look.  It’s completely automatic.  Sadly, this is not really a useful skill, seeing as most of my friends to not go around sporting frienship bracelets.

 9. My favorite color is pink.  Maybe you could have guess this about me but it wasn’t until recently that I officially declared my favorite color to be pink.  It was red for a really long time…but I told Chad the other day that my favorite color is now pink.

 10. I love talking to Chad in bed before we go to sleep each night…unless he falls asleep watching TV while I’m still reading.  

Will Work For Cookies

We introduced Jordan to sweeping this weekend!  He thought it was so fun to hold a big broom.  I would start sweeping, he would say he wanted a turn, I would let him sweep...he'd get bored and go off to do something else...and that's when I would start sweeping again...and when he'd come back over and say he wanted a turn.  Needless to say it took me quite a long time to get the floor swept, but it did get done and  Jordan had fun.  

And...if you finish your chores, you get to make yummy cookies as a reward!  (Although, Chad would have made them whether our chores were finished or not!)  Daddy and Jordy breaking the cookies apart:

A cooke close-up.  These were mini-break-and-bake cookies that Chad found.  Perfect size for Jordan.  

A perfect treat, cookies when they're just cooled enough that the chips are still melty.  Yum!

 

Sick Munchkin

I was sick this weekend and Jordan was sick too, I guess.  It didn't really seem like he was that sick but boy was he cranky and super snuggly.  At one point Chad tucked Jordan in on the couch while he was watching Elmo.  He just looks like a big kid.  He's growing up!  (He was 18 months last week!)

What do I have to do to get the special "tuck-in" service?

Melting Crayons

I found a decent-sized bucket of old crayons in my office the other day.  (I inherited an office full of great stuff from one of my co-workers when she retired, thus why I am finding stuff in my office!)  I remembered melting down crayons once and creating a kind of mixed up crayon.  Of course, I found the "recipe" on Matha Stewart.  It was super easy:

1. Search for broken crayons, old crayons, crayons without the paper.

2.  Take the paper off of these old crayons.  Co-ed naked crayons!
3. Break the crayons into small pieces and put them into a muffin tin lined with muffin liners.  I used my mini muffins and I tried to put lots of different colors in each tray.
4. Put them in the oven.  Our oven would only go as low as 200, but Martha said to do 150.  Our oven usually cooks things really quickly so I watched the crayons closely and took them out as soon as they were all melted.  Martha said between 10 and 20 minutes but it didn't take us even 10 minutes. You have to be really careful not to burn the wax and also know that crayon wax can be very flammable.  
5. Take them out and let cool.  I read that you can put them in the freezer for a few minutes.  I did this, but I think by using the paper liners they won't stick so you don't really have to put them in the freezer. 
Voila!  New-old crayons!  Jordan thought they were kind of weird because they are not the right shape, but I had fun coloring and seeing the different colors pop up!

Goodbye TRL

Tonight we bid farewell to TRL.  Chad and I are currently watching the TRL Finale.  TRL is a show that has been on MTV for the last 10 years, since 1998.  TRL stands for Total Request Live.  It was always on in the afternoon and basically there was a veejay who hosted the show and they played videos and talked to musicians and about music news.  They taped in a studio overlooking Time Square in New York.  I didn't realize the show started in 1998, I just kind of always remember there being TRL.  The main host was Carson Daly and then there were others along the way.  Here's a picture of Carson Daly:

Chad thinks I am completely insane but when we started watching the finale I became overcome with emotion.  I have cried three times now.  They keep looking back at moments from the past ten years.  I watched them interview Christina Aguilera and play her first video, they interviewed Eminem and played one of his videos.  What really killed me was the Backstreet Boys singing "I Want It That Way".   Here are the Backstreet Boys with one of the other veejays, meaning not Carson, in the middle.  

That killed me because we just saw the Backstreet Boys at Ravinia in August and seeing them on TRL Chad and I were both saying how old they look and how different they look...and then I realized they aren't at the top of their game any more if we just saw them at Ravinia...and it just made me sad.  I fully realized that I am not in high school or even college any more and I'm starting to borderline be old.  I just feel like TRL has been such a part of my life because we watched it all the time in college.  Basically, when we were in the dorms, excuse me, residence halls, we had TRL on.  I can't believe it's over.  As I was sitting in bed crying I realized I had to come and blog this sad event.  It just doesn't seem right that Jordy will grow up in a world without TRL.  Years from now I'll be telling stories like, "When I was your age...there was this show called TRL..."

Jordan and Mom

Please ignore the crazy coat situation...here are Jordy and I after getting back from Chuck E. Cheese.  Again, this was pre-sickness.  I hate being sick!  I start to feel like I will never feel like myself again and it's hard to remember what it's like to be a functioning individual.  I was basically useless for all of Thursday, Friday, and most of yesterday.  Today, I'm finally feeling somewhat back to normal, even though I still have a nasty sounding cough.  

My mom picked up Jordan for me on Thursday afternoon.  I could tell he was feeling pretty out of it himself when he just wanted to cuddle with me all night.  It was really sweet.  He sat with me on the couch and we watched Elmo.  Usually he'll sit for a little bit and then he's off to play but he had no problem snuggling with me until Chad got home.  I'm glad, because I could not have handled much more.  

We've had a really nice weekend just being home and relaxing.  Sometimes we get so busy and it's nice to stay home and hang out.  Jordan loves to read books and watch football with dad.  The kid loooooves football.  He drank lots of "joop" as he calls juice...I made him a lemonade drink, I guess that's what you would call it.  My aunt made it for me when I was sick when I stayed with her during my student teaching.  It's basically water, sugar, and lime juice all warmed up.  Chad thought I was crazy for drinking it myself and for giving it to our son, but it's soooo good.  

Chuck E. Cheese

I forgot to post pictures from Tuesday when we went to Chuck E. Cheese.  That was before we got sick...We were off Tuesday and we took Jordan to Chuck E. Cheese.  He had never been there before.  Wednesday night I got sick and I think Jordan got sick around that time, too.  I'm not sure how we got sick...it might have been all the germs at Chuck E. Cheese...hmmm, note to self.

We were only there a short time, but Jordan was running around like a chicken with his head cut off.  There was way too much stimulation for him and he couldn't concentrate on anything.  We would put a token in to play a game and in two seconds he was off running to another game.  It was a little wild.  He had fun though!

They had a neat corner with games and rides for toddlers.  They even had a little slide just Jordan's size.  Here he is in the Bob the Builder tractor.
Whack-a-mole for kids...

I like how Jordan watches the road...

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Most Recently Read Book:

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

By Gabrielle Zevin

I have to say that when I checked this book out from the library I was thinking it was about an insomniac...and then I realized the whole time that I had mistaken insomniac for amnesiac.  So, this book ended up being about a girl who gets amnesia and can't remember the last four years of her life instead of a girl who can't sleep.  I was a little wary starting this book because I just read Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella and that book is about a girl who loses her memory.  Both books are completely different, Kinsella's was very funny and romantic.  This book wasn't really funny, but it was romantic.  It's hard to describe this book, it's one of those books that you finish and you just want to hug it.  I'm not sure how to explain it.  It did start off about a girl who loses her memory, but halfway through she gets her memory back and then it becomes more about a girl finding herself and finding love.  It kind of had me reminiscing because the girl is in high school and my ten year high school reunion is coming up on two weeks.  It's interesting to think back of all the things I thought were so important back then and to think of how they are mere memories now...and that's okay. 

Christmas Cards?

Okay, I'm sure everyone who reads this is going to think I'm crazy and off my rocker and all that stuff...but really, I've just been completely inspired and motivated lately!  Are you ready...here it is...I have started my Christmas cards!  I always make my Christmas cards.  So far I have the base cards cut, the greetings and our little "signatures" cut.  I also started to cut a little border I am going to put at the top.  I'm still working on some of the embellishments, we'll see what I end up with.  I'm hoping to get them pretty much done and then just have to add our picture when we get that taken.  This year the card count is about 60 so that's another reason I have to start early.  I love this time of year and this craftiness is really making it a lot of fun.  

Secret Paper Mache Project

I feel like a mad crafter working on all these hush-hush projects but I don't want to give any Christmas presents away.  Tuesday afternoon I spent doing the first layer for my paper mache bowls.  They are mostly dry now and I'm going to do at least another layer or two so they are pretty sturdy before I paint them.  I love Color Me Mine, a pottery place where you can paint your own pottery, but it's waaaaaay too expensive, so here's my wallet-friendly alternative!

Secret Knitting Project

I have been talking about getting crafty again...because it's been a while since I did anything really creative.  Finally, I took the plunge.  I got inspired by Kathy's blog and by a blog I saw that she reads.  I realized that I could make some pretty cool Christmas presents this year.  I love homemade/handmade gifts.  I feel like they are really special.  And, hopefully, we can save some money by making gifts this year.  

On Tuesday, when we were off from school, I made a stop at Hobby Lobby for a few supplies.  I was on a mission for some really pretty yarn.  I wanted a really thin yarn and the kind that changes colors as you go so you don't have to do anything to get a really fun design.  I found a great color mix and I am so excited.  I can't tell you what this is for but I love it already!

Those Who Save Us

Most Recently Read Book:

Those Who Save Us

By Jenna Blum

Wow, this was a great book.  We chose this book for book club this month but it wasn't the book that I voted for.  Quite frankly, I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction lately and I was kind of not in the mood for another one, but this book was well written and the characters were very interesting so I easily got into this book.  There are two main characters, Anna and Trudy.  Anna is the mother who is a German in Nazi Germany who does what she has to in order to protect herself and her daughter. Trudy, is her daughter, who only remembers a few things from her first few years when she was growing up in Germany.  Anna has never talked to her daughter about what it was like during the war and it creates a huge distance between them.  In the book we get to see both of their perspectives.  It is well written, heart-wrenching, and unbelievable like only WWII books can be.  I am eager to talk about this book at book club!

The Doll People

Most Recently Read Book:

The Doll People

By Ann M. Martin

I recognize Ann M. Martin as a well-known author but this book was creepy to me.  I didn't really like the cover...I did read it despite the cover, but the dolls on the cover freaked me out.  When I started reading the book, the characters were just strange and I just couldn't get into the book.  It's a neat idea that dolls come to life while we are sleeping but it was just weird to me.  What's the point in coming to life if you can't eat or really go many places because you have to be back in the position you were left in when people wake up.  Plus, they don't age.  I don't know, maybe if I was in 3rd grade I would like it?  I just can't say I recommend this book. 

Girl Bonding and Eyebrow Threading

Saturday I headed to the mall with my sister, Jacquie, and my mom.  We had some shopping to do at NY and Company and, my favorite, Victoria's Secret.  Just a little FYI, Victoria's Secret has a great deal going on right now.  When you spend a minimum of $10 in November you get a gift card for December.  The cool thing is the gift card is a surprise amount.  Everyone gets at least $10 back...but some cards go up to $500!  

Jacquie was brave enough to get here eyebrows threaded.  This has always scared me but she said is wasn't so bad!

Voila!

Rollerskating Party!

Friday night we went rollerskating at Chad's school.  Jordan had a lot of fun getting into the equipment room and pulling out random stuff to play with.  It's so fun to watch kids be imaginative.  I guess as an adult you just don't think about putting a cone on your head...at least I don't.  Aren't Maddy and Jordan cute?  They are so fun together!  
Here's a close-up of our conehead!

We thought we should at least try to put Jordan in skates.  I really didn't think it was gonna work but Chad managed to hang on to Jordan for a little while.  Jordan actually seemed to like it!  

Chad's Hero

If you didn't know, Chad is a huge Rex Grossman fan.  Rex is now the second-string quarterback for the Bears but the first-string quarter back, Kyle Orton, hurt his ankle last week so Rex got to play part of the game last week and again on this last Sunday.  Chad made sure to wear his Grossman jerseys this week seeing as Rex was actually going to be playing.  

I saw this on the wall at one of my schools last week and just had to take this picture for Chad.  He's not the only one who thinks Rex Grossman is his hero.  It reads: "Rex Grossman is my hero because he has a good arm for passes and he is a good quarter back."  

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

Most Recently Read Book:

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

By James Patterson

Well...I have to say this was my least favorite in the Maximum Ride series.  As far as I know this is the last book in the series and it really was not a good book.  I did listen to this entire series on CD and this book was narrated by a different narrator so maybe that makes a difference, but I really didn't like the plot.  I loved the first and second books, and the third book for the most part, but this one was bad.  In this book Max and the flock go to Antarctica to try and do some research to help stop global warming only to get captured by another mad scientist kind of creature.  I know they are out to get them, but this was a little crazy, even for this series.  The whole time we have heard about Max's mission to save the world and this just didn't seem like a good ending.  Also, I'm a big fan of the romance that has been becoming more and more evident between Max and Fang.  Patterson addressed that in this book but at the same time just kind of said Max was freaked out and ended the book never talking about it again.  Maybe there will be another or more than one other book in this series.  If this really is the final book it was a very sad way to end the series.  Ugh.

All Children Need a Laptop

"All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, Dads, Grannies and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles – someone to hold them, read to them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experience, rituals and knowledge of a hundred previous generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams."

-- General Colin L. Powell
Founder, America’s Promise – the Alliance for Youth.

I'm taking an online technology course that is offered by the school district I work for.  It has been really great to discuss different kinds of technology with my colleagues.  When I first started to read this quote, I immediately was thinking of my technology class.  I thought, "Totally!  Every kid should have a laptop, I want a laptop!"  ...And then I kept reading and realized he wasn't really talking about laptop-laptops.  

Sometimes we get so caught up with the cool new gadget that we have to have or other material things and it's easy to forget that spending time with your child is so important.  I'll never forget seeing two of Chad's students at Chuck E. Cheese one night.  This family had tons of money, the kids were loaded with coins to play the machines, and their pockets were overflowing with tickets they had won.  They were so excited to see Chad and wanted to play games with him.  Do you know where their parent was?  Their dad was sitting at a booth intently working at his laptop while his sweet kids were craving his attention.  It really showed me that it doesn't matter if I have all the money in the world as long as I care about my child and spend time with him.  

Lately I've been reading our friend Kathy's blog and she has been posting all the cool things she is doing with her daughter or for her daughter.  She has been doing lots of hands-on, crafty projects which I'm sure her daughter, Maddy, will remember and cherish for the rest of her life.  I feel blessed to have a friend who is such a good example of a parent and how we should really care for our children.  (I have her blog linked on the left, "Words of Whimsy", if you want to check in out.)

When I read the quote above it made me stop and think about life and remember that our time with Jordan is the best thing we can "spend".  

Jinx

Most Recently Read Book:

Jinx

By Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite young adult authors.  I love The Princess Diaries series, and I also like the All-American Girl series.  Honestly, though, I have to say this was not one of my favorite Meg Cabot books.  Jinx is about a girl who moves to New York City to live with her aunt and uncle and to get away from an obssessed ex-boyfriend.  The weird part about this book is that the main character, Jinx, thinks she might be a witch.  It was just a little strange for me.  I love the Twilight series and vampires and everything, but I didn't really like reading about a witch.  I don't always like every book I read, and that's okay.  

Michael Phelps

I think we can safely say we got the autograph of the year this weekend.  We went to a Sports Authority grand opening to meet Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer.  He won 8 gold medals in this summer's Olympic games in China.  He set the record for most gold medals in one Olympic games.  We were in line at quarter to eight even though he didn't start signing until eleven and there were tons of people in front of us.  We had no problem getting through to get our autograph though.  It was so exciting to meet him.  He seemed to be a really nice guy.  I was sad that he didn't have any of his gold medals with him, but I did get to shake his hand and Jordan gave him a high five!  
Every time we get an autograph we set up a plan so we can get pictures but this was going to so fast that we barely had time to think and we were all caught up in meeting him...we did get pictures of us at least though!  Here are Chad, Jordan, and Michael Phelps.  

And here I am completely absorbed in picking up the picture and getting ready to ask if I could shake his hand that I forgot to look at the camera.  What can you do?  Me and Michael Phelps.

We really wouldn't have been able to even think about getting this autograph without Gramma and Papa Jack.  While Chad and I waited in line for three hours, they took Jordan to stores in the area and kept him busy for us.  I think we had it easy!  

The Sea of Monsters

Most Recently Read Book:

The Sea of Monsters

By Rick Riordan

Last night, I finished the second book in the Percy Jackson series: The Sea of Monsters. This series is about Percy Jackson, who is a demigod. A demigod is someone who is part Greek god and part human. I love these books because they incorporate ancient Greek mythology and real life as we know it.  It's fun how the author incorporates all the characters from Greek mythology that I remember studying in school. Very creative!  I think these books are great for students who like action and adventure.  

Halloween 2008!

Happy Halloween!  We had a fun Halloween on Friday.  I met Jordan Patty's so we could go and trick-or-treat with her and any kiddos that were there.  Maddy was the only munchkin left so we went trick-or-treating with Maddy.  I love to see Jordan with kids his size.  It's so cute.  Here they are a Cheyenne's house!

Jordan was having fun choosing which candy he wanted...I just had to help steer him away from any nutty candies...

What was his favorite?  Lollipops of course!  Again, he sought out the lollipop and then that was all he could think about and wasn't really interested in anything else after that!

After trick-or-treating with Patty we went home to meet Dad.  We still had one uncarved pumpkin, so Chad and Jordan carved an Elmo pumpkin.  

Jordan was kind of freaked out by the slimy insides of the pumpkin.  

Mom and Jordan with the pumpkins on our front porch!

Here is an up close picture of our pumpkins.  Oh, how we love our pumpkins.  As Jordan likes to say, "ooo, punkin!"

Elmo Live 2008!

Silvia, Alex, Elmo, Chad, and Jordan in front of the theater!

We had been looking forward to Elmo Live for a long time!  Last week, the day finally came for Elmo Live.  We met Rob, Silvia, and Alex before the show for the pre-show reception.  Everything was decorated with Elmo and we ate a kid-friendly buffet and did some fun activities before the show.  

Rob and Alex.

Jordan and Mommy.
Jordan, the little cookie monster!

After a while it was time for the show to begin!!!  Jordan was so excited!  We were way in the upper balcony, but we were in the second row and we could see perfectly.  It was so fun to see Jordan sit nicely in his comfy theater chair.  He wore his Elmo costume, and looked like a cool dude!  He was pretty tired, but he still had fun cheering, clapping, and dancing.  I was sentimental about it.  I grew up with Sesame Street and it was awesome for me to see the show. 

Dad and Jordan.

Family picture! Mom, Dad, Elmo, and Jordan...you can tell this was near the end because Jordan was so sleepy and had his thumb in his mouth.  

Chasing Vermeer

Most Recently Read Book:

Chasing Vermeer

By Blue Balliett

This is the first book in this mystery series by Blue Balliett.  I didn't realize this was a series and I listened to The Wright Three first, so now I had to go back and listen to Chasing Vermeer.  I like this series about 2 (then 3) young kids who live in Hyde Park in Chicago and get involved in solving mysteries about art, in this case the Vermeer painting called A Lady Writing.  

It's amazing all the thinking that Blue Balliett has to put into her writing.  She incorporates art, puzzles, writing and exploring.  As a parent, I think this would be a cool book to read, especially because I live in Chicago.  There are fun places to visit, especially from The Wright Three but also from Chasing Vermeer.  There are also fun things to learn about like Pentominoes.  I would love to read these books with Jordan and play with Pentominoes.  I'm not sure how she does it, but these books are very detailed.  

Now that I have read Chasing Vermeer and The Wright Three I have to go read the third book in this series, The Calder Game, which was recently released!  

RLB Halloween 2008

On the Sunday before Halloween, my parents neighborhood has Halloween.  It's nice to trick-or-treat during the day, and it usually means we can get in a pre-Halloween trick-or-treat and then trick-or-treat on Halloween itself.  Gotta love a double Halloween!  

Grandma and Bubba even came in for the Halloween celebration.  Here is Jordan and Grandma!

Chad and I wore our Las Vegas football jerseys.  I thought it was kind of costume-ish.  Kind of.  Anyway, here's our little family!  Chad, Jordan, and me!

Here's an up close of Jordan in his Elmo costume.  The kid loves Elmo!

Finally, we were off to trick-or-treat!  Here are the boys: Alex, as a dragon/dinosaur, Sergio, as a vampire slayer/sharp bad guy, and Jordan, as Elmo!

Here's the group coming down the street.  Bubba was pushing Jordan in his little trike for a while.  The weather was great for trick-or-treating!

We went house to house, down the street and around the little cul de sac.  It was a little slow moving with Jordan and Alex, especially when Jordan just wanted to dig around in his bucket for a lollipop.  

Alex and Jordan did a good job of saying, "Trick or Treat" when we got to the houses.  
By this point, Jordan was preoccupied by his lollipop so I was carrying him around.  That didn't last long before we had to call it quits.  
So cute!
Here is Gama with Jordan looking at all his loot!