Care Packages to Afghanistan

Before we left for Thanksgiving, I convinced the kids to help me prepare two care packages for an old friend from home who is currently on active duty in Afghanistan, and has had his tour extended through the holidays. I explained to the kids how we had to mail the packages before Thanksgiving if they had any hope of arriving in Afghanistan before Christmas. Hayes went with me to Target where we stocked up on items that we thought my friend would like such as granola bars, Pringles, trail mix, sunflower seeds, deodorant, Altoids, Wet Ones, a small artificial Christmas tree, and tiny ornaments. (We also bought Gatorade as seen in one of these pictures but later determined that (1) it was too heavy and (2) liquids were not allowed.) When we got home, we started packing. I had the kids write him notes or draw pictures of appreciation to add to the boxes. I love Eleanor's message of peace, especially since we were sending these boxes directly into a war zone!
Hayes focused on some Christmas wishes and a few "Go Gators" since my friend is a big Gator fan.

Once the boxes were ready, off they went on their half-way around-the-world journey to Afghanistan. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the boxes make it before Christmas and that the "supplies" provide him with a little bit of Christmas cheer!

Small-town Christmas at Seaside

We celebrated an early Christmas Saturday night on 30A. First, the quaint town of Seaside had its annual Christmas parade. We walked over from Watercolor (yes, walked in-between towns - so cool) and took our spots along 30A next to our friends. The parade started at 4pm in Seagrove Beach and was expected to finish up in Seaside by 5pm. The challenge was that everyone began jockeying for positions on the parade route in Seaside by 4pm. So, the waiting game began. Luckily, the kids were very patient and excited about seeing their first small-town Christmas parade. So was everyone else. The catch in this part of Florida is that the sun sets at 4:30 Central time zone. It made for a nearly dark but still very festive parade. Participating in the parade were the town fire truck and numerous other privately-owned vehicles who had owners who threw out candy from their cars to children lined up along the streets. That about sums up the parade. No bands or floats. No big light shows or loud music. Just some locals who had caught the Christmas bug the day after Thanksgiving, and wanted to share it with the rest of 30A. The candy was the draw for the kids and boy, was it a draw!

When the parade came to an end with Santa and Mrs. Claus pulling up the rear, we walked back over to Watercolor to experience their Christmas market. They had vendors lined up selling Christmas wares, snow machines pumping out snow, horse-drawn sleigh rides, luminaries lining the sidewalks and even bonfires stocked with s'more supplies. All of the night's activities made for a great ending to our Thanksgiving on 30A.

Santa & Mrs. Claus in Alys Beach

In the bright sun of Friday morning, we drove over to Alys Beach to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. The kids were very excited to see them and share with them one item from each of their Christmas lists (E-Taylor Swift CD, H-10 packs of Silly Bandz & Ben-Mickey Mouse games). After talking with Santa and the Mrs., we all decorated some sugar cookies. Obviously, Ben's blood sugar was running low so the cookie was just what the doctor ordered!

Once they inhaled their icing & candy cookies, it was off to play in the park. In the middle of the playground, there was a large, grassy hill. There, Thomas taught the kids the game of "King of the Mountain." Here, Ben begins his march up the mountain, unaware of what he will find in his path slightly higher up. He battles for position at the top . . .
and eventually becomes "king," though his top position is brief. Dad and Hayes battle it out as well . . . while E reaches the top untouched. Once the kids had all pushed each other enough times off of the mountain and then some, Santa and Mrs. Claus decided that it was time for some harmony. They made their way to the top of the mountain with all of the children following suit, and then led the children in singing Christmas songs. Hayes kept trying to get as close to Santa and Mrs. Claus as possible. He was as happy as a clam, and could have stayed there all day if we had let him. Poor Eleanor was stuck controlling Ben so her time on the mountain was not long as she had probably wished.

All in all, it was a great way to kick-start the Christmas season!

30A Adventure

Our first two full days down in Watercolor on the 30A part of the Florida panhandle were filled with warmth and sunshine. We spent as much time as we could outdoors, knowing that rain followed by colder weather were heading our way.

We hit the beach and pool with our friends, the Evans, who were also in Watercolor celebrating their Thanksgiving . . .for some swimming,
boarding and, Ben's preference, playing in the sand. If we were outside, usually a football was in some one's hands. We played on the beach, in the street, in the neighborhood commons area and on a large soccer field.

As parents, our attitude was to wear them out, all the while having fun. I think we succeeded, and wore ourselves out in the process!

Happy Thanksgiving

This year, we decided to take a road trip to Watercolor, Florida where we met Mimi and Papa and spent our Thanksgiving holiday. It was our first time visiting the 30A-part of Florida, and we loved it. On Thanksgiving, we enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving feast at a local restaurant. After that, much of the day was spent outside in the mid-70 degree weather. When inside, you could often find the kids coloring paper plates, as they are often prone to do on trips with Mimi and Papa. Here is one that was appropriate for this day: Yes, we have A LOT to be thankful for!

H's Thanksgiving Program

Yesterday, the kindergartners at H's school put on a Thanksgiving program. It is actually the same one (with a few songs added at the end) that he performed last year in Pre-K at his preschool so he was very familiar with the roles. Unlike last year where he played the role of a pilgrim man, this year he was a turkey with four of his good buddies. They repeated their line, "Gobble, gobble, gobble," throughout the play. At the end, they were, one-by-one, eaten by a pilgrim man. Here is Hayes singing, "One fat turkey am I . . ." before he is "eaten" by his friend Graham (see the spoon on top of his head). It is hard for boys this age to stay well-behaved for long, as you can tell by the pictures I took of them post-performance. Luckily, they were able to calm down for a few seconds to also pose a little more seriously. Gotta love five-year-old boys!

H is Thankful for . . .

Last week, Hayes brought this picture home from school. Crayons were used on the original drawing. Then, after a day (or really when I pointed out that someone was missing from his picture), he made some additions with a green Sharpie. What is Hayes thankful for? His family!

The Austinville News

Over the weekend, Eleanor and her friend Maddy decided that they wanted to create a newspaper. First, they wrote it all out by hand and even included some drawings/pictures. (I still need to get my hands on a copy of that version.) Then, a few pages were typed on an actual typewriter before the girls switched over to the computer. Here is their finished, unedited product, the Austinville News.

EAPUY

Austinville News

Austinville sccored last night to win the championship. They won 100 to 90.Wow, big win! So,that’s all for baseball. Now,on to soccer. The Austinville Titans won for the first time!

Art Today They Say,

Today was a awesome time at art class. Why? Because it was day 25th of December. Nativaty Art was that. Peaple all over the world came to do it! WOW!

School today was a sad one for Austin Ville Eleamentry.

There Princeable was fierd. SAD!

Now to cars.

There is cool cars, Tie-Dy cars, Some with trees, Some Sports cars, Some Peace sign Cars, and One Chesse!

Bday Partys are the best when you are at chuck- e- chesse! OR a sleep over.Or Atlanta Rocks Rock Climing! ZOO-WE-MAMA!

Books with Peaple is a blast!

Here are some cool books:

Ramona and Beezus

Ramona the Pest

Ramona the Brave

Ramona and her Father

Ramona and her Mother

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Ramona Forever

Ramona’s World.

Diary of a wimpy kid:

Rodrick Rules

The Last Straw

Dog Days

Do it your self book(you do it your self)

Movie Diary

The Ugly Truth(newest one)

Thank you, and have a great day!

Printed by Eleanor C. and Maddy D.

Hayes's Blessing

Last night at dinner, Hayes decided to come up with his own blessing, rather than recite one he had learned at school or church. Here is what he said:

Dear God,
Thank you for my family.
Please give Dad breakfast in bed one day, Eleanor breakfast in bed one day, Ben breakfast in bed one day and me breakfast in bed one day.
Please bring Mom breakfast in bed a lot of days.

AMEN

Ben's Two-Word Description of Our Family

The other night, as the five of us sat around the dinner table, Thomas asked each kid to say one word that described our family. Eleanor was first, and she responded with two words, "Awesome and nice." It was then Hayes's turn, and he seemed to follow Eleanor's lead when he said, "Awesome and warm." We all then turned to Ben to see how he would respond. The two words that came out of his mouth? "Awesome and poopy."

That about summarizes Ben's vocabulary right now. If a word describes what happens in the bathroom, he most likely will shout it from the mountaintops or incorporate it into his own version of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Poop." I keep trying to get the older two to stop laughing, knowing that Ben uses his potty mouth because the others find it so entertaining. Much to my chagrin, they continue to crack up each and every time Ben opens his mouth to utter a potty-mouth word. Hopefully, this phase too shall pass!

Student of the Week

Each week in Eleanor's class, her teacher, Mrs. Dennis, randomly selects (via drawing straws) a student to be the Student of the Week. This week, it was Eleanor's turn. She brought this large poster home on Monday and she worked on filling it out and coloring it throughout the week. She returned the finished product to school on Friday, and Mrs. Dennis hung it in the back of the room. Here it is, up close and personal so you can really see what she wrote . . .The life of a second grade girl, summed up in a poster!