Welcome back

Well I finally have found time to blog again.  We had an awesome summer filled with t-ball, Branson vacation, swimming, fishing, trips to the zoo, icecream, and peaches.  Too much to fit into one post so I'll catch you up on this past week.

Both my babies started school on Wednesday and they love it!  We started the week with "New Student Dinner" on Sunday at ICD, met up with some old friends and met new ones.  Monday was open house for both Megan at FBCA and Jack at ICD.  We were able to meet both teachers and see the kids classrooms.  Jack has Ms. Staab(who I'm told is the hard ass of the 3 Kindergarten teachers at ICD) and Megan has Mrs. Toulou (she was Jack's preschool teacher so we are very familiar with her).  Both kids were so excited to start school on Wednesday they didn't actually go to sleep until 9:00 on Tuesday night.  So come Wednesday morning we hurried to get uniforms on and teethbrushed so we could drop off both kids on time.  We dropped Megan off first and with about 20 hugs and kisses she seemed to be good to go. (only 10 hugs and kissese were mommy induced) Only to find out at pick up that my baby started to cry 20 minutes after we left and wanted another kiss and hug.  God Bless Miss Patti for comforting Megan and letting her take a little morning cat nap to feel better!
Darrell and I both walked Jack into his first day at school and helped him get settled then joined the rest of the kidergarten parents for the "boo-hoo" breakfast.  Mjsr. Ted game a very comforting speech and reassured all of us that our babies/bigkids were going to be in good hands. I'm not one of the moms that cry one my babies start school.  I was more excited for them!   I did great until I read the sweet little card they gave to all the parents after breakfast...
"I wonder what you are doing right now,
And if everyone is treating you kind.
I hope there is a special person,
A nice friend that you can find.
I wonder if the teacher know
just how special you are to me.
And if the brightness of you heart
is something she can see.
I wonder if you are thinking about me,
And if you need a hug.
I already miss the sound of your voice
And how you give my leg a tug.
I wonder if you can possibly understand
How hard it is for me to let you grow.
On this day know that my heart breaks,
For this is the forst step in letting my baby go."

(Just to let you knwo I had to stop 4 times while typing this to wipe my eyes.)

So put the kleenexes down and enjoy pictures of the first day of school..

Grandma Thompson's dumplings

I know it's been forever since I posted.  No Christmas pics for 2012...we got busy and well life happens.  So to new things.  Since Mother Nature has blessed us with a wonderful winter week. I was looking for yummy cold weather food to make.  Today I attempted to make Grandmas Thompson's FAMOUS Chicken and dumplings.  This recipe was never officially written down, it was in Grandmas head.  You could ask her a million times how to make it and she would tell you, " a pinch of this, a cup of that".So all we really have to go by is what we "saw" her make.  So after a phone call and text to Darrell's mom and aunt I felt up to the task at hand.  I boiled the chicken, made the dumpling dough, put it all together and waited.  I have to say, it turned out pretty good.  Darrell hand seconds so that's a good sign!  However I have to say no one will ever be able to make chicken and dumplings like Grandma Thompson.

Stolen from Facebook...

TWENTY THINGS A MOM SHOULD TELL HER SON

1. Play a sport.
It will teach you how to win honorably,
lose gracefully, respect authority,
...

work with others, manage your time
and stay out of trouble.
And maybe even throw or catch.

2. You will set the tone
for the sexual relationship,
so don't take something away from her
that you can't give back.

3. Use careful aim when you pee.
Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young
because you're going to need it someday.

5. Allow me to introduce you
to the dishwasher, oven,
washing machine, iron,
vacuum, mop and broom.
Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully
and don't ever start a fight,
but if some idiot clocks you,
please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something
that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly.
Forever is a long time to live alone
and it's even longer to live with somebody
who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do.
This includes her having a successful career
and you changing diapers at 3 A.M.
Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir"
still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts"
is because they're "private".
Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing.
Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason
is always a good idea.

17. It is better to be kind
than to be right.

18. A sense of humor
goes a long way
in the healing process.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely.
My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me
spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother
because I might be missing you.

Fall Fun

Jack's 5th Birthday

So I'm just now getting to posting pictures.  We celebrated Jack's 5th birthday with a big group of family and friends with the O'Fallon Fire Dept. at their firehouse near our house.  We were able to tour the firehouse, learn about being a firefighter, and then the big suprise..they brought out the ladder truck!  The firemen showed us all the gear and gadgets that belong on the truck and even raised the ladder for all the boys.  It was awesome!  Even as the mom I was totally into it.
A huge thank you to O'Fallon Fire Station #4 for everything you do and for making Jack's birthday a day he'll remember forever.

After the firehouse we headed back for cake and ice cream.   A big thank you to all who help celebrate Jack's birthday!  I cannot believe I have a 5 yr old! 

 

Butterfly House 2012

Last weekend I took the kids to the Butterfly House and the Faust Park Carousel.  I've never been on the carousel and it was very cool.  The carousel's story is a good one.

The St. Louis Carousel is home to an original carousel created by the Dentzel Company of Philadelphia in the 1920’s. The Carousel was installed in 1929 at the Forest Park Highlands. When the Highlands burned to the ground in 1963, the carousel was the only thing left standing. Howard C. Ohlendorf purchased the carousel to prevent it from being dismantled and donated it to St. Louis County Parks in 1965. The department operated it during the summer months at Sylvan Springs Park until 1980. The St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission and Faust Cultural Heritage Foundation raised enough money to restore the carousel to its original beauty and installed it in a climate controlled building in Faust Park in 1987.

Halloween 2012

Another wonderful, candy-filled, pumpkin carved Halloween has come and gone!  We had our own little pumpkin and Spiderman to Trick or Treat with.  Megan was very into carving the pumpkins this year.  Jack not so much.  But it was still a great day!  Now I'm off to raid the kids stash!