I knew it was wrong but I did it anyway

Wednesday night was our Thanksgiving meal at church.  Ellen did a little homework when we first arrived (we were early).  While Ellen took a bathroom break, Lilly carefully inspected every inch of her big sister's pencil.  She is detailed like that.  She also made a few stray marks on the table and crinkled up Ellen's paper a bit.  She's not quite ready for kindergarten.

The meal was great (as usual) but I ate the stuffing.  The stuffing contained hard boiled eggs.  I got sick.  Just in case there was any doubt, I am still very much allergic to eggs.  I like to test fate every once in a while.  Until next time...

Me:  Are you still wanting a castle for your princesses for Christmas?

Ellen:  Yes.  I have been wishing for that.

Me:  What else have you been wishing for?

Ellen:  A horse.

I was able to volunteer in Ellen's classroom Thursday morning.  It was the best 2 hours of my week.  We made paper mache Mayflower ships.  It was messy.  It was fun.  It was loud.  At one point I wanted to shout, Could everyone please be quiet for just like 5 minutes?!  I refrained.  The ships (NOT boats!) will be painted and adorned with sails, portholes and pilgrims.  I am looking forward to seeing the finished project.

"Mommy, if you were me and you got this snack, you would love it." - Ellen regarding the 100 calorie package of Chips Ahoy cookies she chose for her afternoon snack at SACC (I picked her up early so she ate them in the car).  She did not, however, offer me one of the cookies she knew I would love.

At the risk of ruining it all, I am going to say something that is long overdue.  Lilly rarely spits up (and when she does it's nothing like it was before).  I would say Lilly never spits up but she had a rough day recently so it is best to stick with rarely.  In other words, no more reflux... just the normal spitting up that these babies tend to do.  Am I still constantly on guard?  Yes.  Do I worry she will revert back to her old ways?  Every second of every day.  When one of us yells out for whatever reason do the other two people in the house (yes, even Ellen) automatically assume spit up is involved?  Of course.  It has been a rough road but I dare say we are are moving on to a newly paved superhighway.

Speaking of newly paved highways, the construction on 65 (south of Franklin) is finally coming together.  So it will probably be another year or so before it's completed, right?  But that is okay.  I see progress.  I see hope.  I see four lanes.  I see tail lights but I don't see break lights.  One day soon peace will be restored to the land.

I am still getting used to the weather pattern at my new desk.  It's very windy.  I didn't think it was possible to be any colder at work than I already was... Brrr!

We have been going through some rough financial times lately.  Kids = expensive.  Everything is expensive.  I almost cried in Publix over the cost of my birth control prescription.  You know how when people are down and out they eventually start to look the part?  That is me.  And I feel worse than I look, which is pretty bad.  I haven't made an official announcement but I am going to cancel Christmas.  We just can't do it this year.  That horse Ellen wants is going to have to wait.

Only time will tell

Election Night 2012

Ellen's class voted yesterday.  She has the coveted I Voted sticker to prove it.  And she made this cool hat.  In addition to the president, they also voted on a special class snack.  The choice was between popsicles and cookies.  Obama and popsicles won.  Ellen voted for Mitt Romney and popsicles.  One of her classmates told her (possibly the whole class?) that Obama kills babies.  Phillip made sure to set the record straight.

I have always enjoyed watching the map of the United States light up red and blue, revealing the results (good and bad) from what seemed like far away places, even when I didn't fully understand what it all meant.  And the excitement and urgency that went along with it.  Tonight is no different.  As we were watching the coverage on ABC and seeing people waiting in lines to cast their ballot, Ellen proudly said, "I already voted."

Happy Election Night!

Don't try this at home

Alternate title for this post:  What happens in the club house stays in the club house

Ellen and I went to Ryan's 6th birthday party Sunday afternoon (I thought the party was on Saturday but thankfully I had emailed his mom and she set me straight).  It was our first "scientist party" - as Ellen called it.  It was different, even for a scientist party, but fun none the less.      

Ellen was a bit timid at first but she eventually volunteered to participate in one of the experiments

Slime!

Everybody knows no birthday is complete without slime.  Preferably slime you make yourself.  And preferably purple slime.  Mr. Bond, the science guy, said "green slime is overdone."  So true.  If he had brought out green slime we would have walked.

Fast Flying Fielders!

Just a quick recap of Boosterthon.  Quick because we weren't there so we don't really know what happened :)  Ellen would not make a good eye witness.  She is spotty with details and she can't be trusted.

Here's what we do know:

1.  Ellen ran all 35 laps!  After I heard the news I immediately felt guilty.  Now our family members owe money and it is a lot more than we were thinking it would be.  Eeeek! 

2.  She said she just kept running and running. 

3.  She had fun.

4.  Her class cheer was "Fast Flying Fielders".

5.  It took the kindergartners a full hour to complete the fun run (the older grades were able to complete it in half the time). 

We are very proud of Ellen and it is exciting to know we helped raise money for her school.

Thanks for your support!  Don't be mad!

A front porch kind of day

Objects in picture may be larger than they appear

We went all out this year.



Who am I kidding?  It was a Halloween to forget.  Not to worry, we are moving right along.

November is here!

It is going to be another busy month.  Starting with this weekend.  Phillip is going to play frisbee golf with a few friends tomorrow morning, dinner with friends Saturday evening, Ellen has a birthday party for a classmate Sunday afternoon and we need to recreate some Halloween/Fall memories that never really happened.  And we have about a million other things to accomplish before it's all said and done.  Fingers crossed the time change doesn't throw us into a tailspin. 

Next week:  Ellen has a mock presidential election on Monday, voting on Tuesday (the real thing), SACC field trip (Ellen will be going to see Wreck-It Ralph on Election Day), I am helping Ellen's class make Mayflower ships out of paper mache Thursday morning (switched my late day), Movie Night at Heritage on Friday (Monsters, Inc.) and I am working Saturday. 

The next week and beyond:  Book Fair, Thanksgiving Feast at school, Thanksgiving (family here!) and Lilly's second flu shot (part 2 of 2).

Thanksgiving alone is huge.  We have a lot to do to get ready.

So thankful to be able to volunteer at school for the Mayflower project, the book fair and Ellen's Thanksgiving Feast.  Maybe I will "be there" after all :)

A few celebrations:  my Grandma turns 94 on the 7th, Caleb will be another year older on the 18th (I don't think he is sensitive about birthdays but just in case I won't disclose his age) and the 50th wedding anniversary of one of the nicest couples I know (reception at church).

Everyone is busy.  That is our family's version.