12/12/12: Party & Christmas with Nee before she heads to NH

What were we doing at 12:12 on 12/12/12?  Loving some doggies...

Later that day at Nee's for a 12/12/12 party and Christmas before she headed up to New Hampshire.

12-12-12

It won't happen again for a century so I hope everyone celebrated today.  We did and I would have an awesome post all about it is I hadn't forgotten my camera at my mom's...So..more on that later.  Hope you had an awesome 12-12-12!

Need craft stuff? Shop at JoAnn's...

The other day I got this in the mail (it wasn't folded like this but you get it) and I wondered why in the world was JoAnn's FedExing me something...

So, I opened it and was so surprised to see the check I got for volunteering at Cub Scout Camp.  I could not believe they would FedEx it to me!!!  I knew it was lost forever.  I have to admit I got a little upset with Jake because he stuffed it in my purse in a pocket that didn't latch...We were both shocked and soooo happy. 

 We are going to use this money as our random act of Christmas kindness since JoAnn's was kind enough to send it back to me.  So if you need anything crafty go to JoAnn's because they ROCK!  People are good and that makes me happy.  I needed a little happy Christmas spirit injected into my life and this did it.

What can you do to make some one's day and pass along some Christmas joy and spirit?...

Christmas Catechesis, Christmas Cookies, and Lego Club....

The batteries in my camera are rechargeable...but I have forgotten, on more than one occasion, to charge them.  Luckily my camera loves me enough to let me quickly eek out one picture before shutting down...

Jake's Christmas Catechesis for Classical Conversations was on Friday.  His class decided to show  their memory work skills dressed up like the 12 tribes of Israel.  We had a reception after (that I helped decorate for and had fun...but no pictures of...another mom is supposed to email them to me but if she is like me she may forget.) and Jake went to a slumber party after at his friend Carter's house.  We don't do sleep overs very often but felt good about this group of boys and the hosting parents.  It ended up being 6 boys having Nerf  gun wars and watching Elf until 1:30 in the morning.  In case you can't tell from the one and only picture that came out before my camera went to sleep...Jake is the 4th from the right.  Just in case we really want to remember everyone in Jake's class in  30 years: Left to right Catherine, Adrienne, Connie, Cloe, Emily, Sara, Jake, Carter, Gabe, and Mr. Mills. 

On Monday night Erin had the great idea of decorating some Christmas cookies.  They were fun to make and to eat!  I took lots of pictures on Erin's phone so I will get them and post more later.  Without charging the batteries (even after they died on Friday night...)  my camera allowed me this one photo of Jake, Nana, and Erin cutting the cookies.  I told you my camera loves me. :)

Today Jake was excited to go to the homeschooling Lego Club at the library.  He of course waited until today to make something for this months theme of Christmas.  He ended up making Santa's sleigh (high tech so no reindeer needed) and our family decorating a very abstract Christmas tree. :)  He had fun trading Lego's and I actually grabbed my battery charger as we were headed out the door and charged it for about 5 minutes in the library so I got a couple of pictures since I haven't been able to for a couple of days.

 Jake's quick Lego build.

 See what I mean by abstract Christmas tree? :)

 These are all the entries for the special Christmas contest.  Jake sadly did not win...

 ...but when you are up against a couple of people who took it a little more seriously than you, you really can't be to disappointed (Jake wasn't).  I think Jake will put a little more effort into it next time. :) Most of them looked like Jake's did.  Let's face it the best part is the trading!  He will probably spend more time getting ready for the trade than the contests!

What 11 looks like...

11 years, 3 months, & 9 days to be exact...But who's counting?  ME!!!  (I just counted actually to see just how late we were taking our 11 year old pictures.)  I can't believe my baby is 11.  He is a Lego maniac, a hugger,  smarty pants,  a dog lover, bike rider, caring,  Ninjago fan, hysterical, Star Wars junky, sensitive, early riser, book worm, multi-talented, awesome young man.

 Love this boy...

Being all sorts of domestic today...Aaron don't look at this because you will see one of your Chirstmas gifts...

 

 First we canned potatoes and now we have moved on to turkey.  It is a greasy mess but so worth it. 

 While the jars of turkey were cooking we did some sewing.  Jake made Aaron some pajama pants for Christmas while I hemmed some of his pants.  Shhhhh! Jake doesn't know it but I am making him some matching PJ pants. :)  While Jake was making the pants I told him I would make him some nice warm PJ pants if he goes on a mission to a cold place.  To this he said: "You?  Sew?  Are you sure you can?"...I don't sew but that doesn't mean I can't!  I guess I will show him on Christmas Eve. :)

I couldn't resist taking pictures of Nee's chandelier.  She has decorated it so lovely for  Christmas.

Jake taking a break and joining Sadie on the floor for a snuggle.  I know it is blurry but it is the best I could get and I love this picture. :)

Some of the turkey is ready to make into soup with carrots and celery in it.  Most are just turkey.  I am sure some of you will think it looks gross but I can't tell you how beautiful it is to us!  It is it a lot of work to can but so worth it to know we have food stored to eat for when we may not be able to buy it.  

At C.C. coop for Essentials on Tuesday we had a party and the kiddos redeemed tickets they had earned the past 12 weeks.  Jake got a matchbox car ("that brings back memories of one he used to have"), bubble gum tape, a little iron man in a ball container ("perfect for storing Lego's), and play dough.  We haven't had play dough for a few years (he kind of grew out of it) and Jake had so much fun with it while trying to get out of doing his math while we were canning. :)

The pants came out AWESOME!  They seem a little large but that will make them extra comfy!  Jake is a natural. :)  The fabric is Star Wars so they will be a definite hit for Daddy.

 My mom has taught my Activity Girls (I am the leader of Wednesday night activities for girls 8-11 years old) to sew the past to Wednesday's.  Thanks mom they came out great!  My mom is wearing the one that Jake made when she gave him his first machine sewing lesson last week. 

Dear Hormones,

Why do you hate me?!?  If only you were where you are supposed to be and in the right amounts.  I could lose weight easier!  I wouldn't be (as) moody.  I wouldn't go 3 months with out a period and then feel completely sick when you decide it is time to release the mother of all periods...You do this to me all the time!  What is your deal?  You could at least warn me a little.  I even thought I had you figured out:  some what regular periods in the Fall/Winter..not so much in the Spring/Summer, but then {BAM!!!}-WRONG!  Let's do it backwards in 2012 and make me think you are "evening out".

You and I have never been friends.  I am not sure why.  I mean, what did  I ever do to you?  From day one of puberty you have been like a plague in my life...I do thank you though for the truce you called long enough for me to fulfill my one true dream in life: to be a mommy.  Thank you for that. (You apparently missed the memo that I would have liked very much for that to have happened again...I thought the prescriptions drugs meant to help with that would have worked again but you were just too stubborn.)  Motherhood has pretty much rocked...except when you make me moody crazy mommy.  Really when I think about it, it is ALL your fault.

So I am coming to you to ask you to make 2013 a little bit easier on me if you could.  Surprise me--no SHOCK me, this coming year by doing what your are supposed to do.  I will be 37 this year.  37.  The way you torture me has gone on long enough.  I don't like the number 37 (not a fan of the odd b-days) so I really need your help as I prep for this birthday (on May 31st...I am giving you more than enough warning).  Don't make me be all hormonal on that day unless it is good for a very good reason.  You got that?!...please I am begging you...

Thanks for almost nothing.  Heheheh... :)  I had to joke a little...it is supposed to lighten the mood of the letter...Did it help?  But seriously-think it over.  We may just make a great team if you would just try a little.  Think it over.  I am sure you will let me know one way or the other.

Sincerely,

Me

A post for me to remember: Jake blowing on my computer...

The other day we were finishing up homeschooling and Jake was very eager to be done.  I said to Jake: "okay get on my computer." (that is what I say when I want him to pull up the Internet on my laptop.  He is getting ready to start a research paper and presentation on Caesar Augustus  and I wanted him to bookmark a couple of sites that might have some information about him.).  I was looking down at something...maybe I was logging a grade or checking math-I can't remember but I hear him blowing...I wait for a minute wondering why he isn't opening up my laptop and pulling up the Internet since he is SO ready to be DONE!  I look up finally and say: "Jake why aren't you getting on my computer?"  (it sounds weird to say it that way now that I type it but that is our computer lingo...).  He looks at me and says: "Oh I thought you said blow on your computer!"  Whaaa???? (You love "Despicable Me" as much as we do if you pictured a minion as you read that whaaa?.  If you didn't catch that go and watch it immediately!!!)   I start laughing and then he starts laughing and we just can't stop.   You had to be there but even as I am typing I am chuckling.  He said he thought maybe I wanted to get the dust off my computer or something.  We remembered to tell Daddy about this funny moment we had...right before we said our evening prayer...Wrong time to tell him because we started laughing all over again and had a hard time stopping for the prayer.  Jake said the prayer and we both had to muffle a few laughs.  You know those things that are only funny to you and that person and that any time you think about it it starts all over again?  It was one of those...Luckily Heavenly Father has a sense of humor and I am sure he was glad our homeschooling day ended in laughter...there are days were it doesn't end on such a high note.

 I wonder if we will read this in 20 years and laugh all over again as we remember it Jake. :)