Jingle Jangle Jingle

It's such a fun time of year with lots of little fun things.

First a Christmas tree, Teresa actually picked our tree this year. Jonathan was very ill, otherwise he would have done it.


Nathan thought he found a good tree too - the branches


This year we added some sparkle to our snowflakes.
This is one of Teresa's

Here is Nathan's. Actually, I cut this one and he decorated it




Saturday we went to Jonathan's work party - He was feeling horrible, but we're glad we went because we had a good time and won $100 and the centerpiece. It's about time, we've been going for 10 or 11 years.

Then Sunday we decorated the tree






I have spent the last 2 months helping prepare for our Santa Secret Shoppe at Teresa's school. And then most of this week working it.

We painted 23 trees, and then had the kids color an ornament to put on their class tree. Then 1 child from each class won money to spend at the shop. (just so happens Teresa won - and no, I didn't judge her class)

We made some snowmen too.

So then we had to set up and display and price all the products for the kids to shop for. It was tiring, and not quite over yet. We have a few hours in the morning and then clean-up. But I can't help with that because Teresa has a band/choir concert at 12:45, and then I'm hosting a reception after for parents and kids, which reminds me I still have a few dozen cookies to make for it - Whew!


Then the weekend will be here and it's pretty much non-stop. So I figured I'd better post something now about this week, so I can post more next week. I love this time of year, I just wish it was a month with 45 days in it. I think it would be slightly more relaxing. Ah, who am I kidding, we'd just pack more events into it.

Locks of Love

Teresa got her haircut this weekend.
It's short and so cute!
AND, she's donating the 10 inches to Locks of Love.

She absolutely LOVES her short hair.

Bugseum!

We went to the grand opening of the Bugseum in Shafter today - just 15 minutes away.
It was pretty cool! They did a great job with the outside.

Here is Destiny, Nathan and Teresa being eaten

They had butterfly cookies for everyone today - YUM!

Here is where they keep the butterflies

A dispay of the different types of butterflies

This one was really impressive. There were bugs of all shapes and sizes


Tarantula


The little boys room... and the little girls room

They have a lot of fun bug and animal products to buy. The company, Insect Lore, has been around for 40 years. Selling products and bugs. But now they are open to the public in a very cute place.

One of the best parts, admission is free - that doesn't mean you'll get away from there without spending any money. But at least you don't have to pay to go in ;)

From Nathan

"Mom, you like my letters?"

This is the way he signs his name (not with pretzels). The "T" was the cutest. We have a notebook we use and we find our ABC's in magazines and cut and glue them to pages, but before we do that he chooses the letter from the refrigerator magnets and then I write it on a paper and he copies it. The T, he did before I showed him how to write it. I was so proud. He won't do the "N" because he can't get it perfect.

(Teresa pointed out that he is using her initials to sign his name)

Skate Night!

Teresa had a good time skating with Reese. They both won a drawing for wearing school shirts

I took Nathan around once and then he was done for awhile, he said it was hurting. They wouldn't lock his skates because they were too big. What's up with that, he's 3, he needs his skates locked. We managed. After the first time he was sure he could do it on his own. So later we went again, but he fought holding my hand the whole time.

Nathan having a churro.

Grandma's birthday

Thursday was my mom's birthday so Nathan and I took our lunch and some birthday balloons along with a birthday bear to her work.

Here he is playing on the computer, one of his favorite activities

Nathan loved all the cool things to play with

Friday they took us all out to dinner for her birthday and then back to my house for Rock Band cake and presents.

We all pitched in and bought her the nativity made by Willow Tree

She was very surprised and loved it

Nathan likes to help blow out candles

And the cake, a sugar- free chocolate cake

Hot Dog!

While out playing today Nathan found a dandelion gone to seed and said he was going to make a wish. So he blew some seeds, then I blew some seeds. Then he made his wish to be a corn dog!

(if I were more skilled I'd post a corn dog with his face on it)

He must have hot dogs on the brain today because we were talking about dinner and he said he wanted hot dog and ice cream. I was silly, and thought he meant a hot dog and then some ice cream. Nope, I was wrong. He said " no, some ice cream and put some hot dog in it, it make hot dog soup - it lummy!"