it's a cool, comfortable 56 degrees

...In this cavern, which is where we went to on Saturday.  This is Bluff Dweller's Cavern, near Noel, Missouri.  Here's our little story of how this road trip came to be.

Seth's parents were going to go to Colorado last week.  Then, their air conditioner broke and alas, they had to cancel their trip.  Sammy still had a few days off from work, however and decided that Tulsa is the place to go! haha  (I really feel bad for them that they couldn't go to Colorado and had to come to one of the hottest spots in the USA right now.) We are really glad they came here though for the weekend because Sammy gave us the idea of going on a road trip.

So Saturday, we loaded up in the pick up and drove to Arkansas.  We were going to go to Old Spanish Treasure Cave near some small town in Northern Arkansas.  I had my trusty map on the iphone and lead us right to...

A hole in the ground, literally.  Seth pulled into the little area of parking and said, "Umm, are you sure you want to go here?"  We got out and Seth said, "This looks just like a scene out of Deliverance.  Well, I hadn't seen that movie, so I told everyone that we just needed to chill and check it out.  Luckily for Seth, the woman running it, who seemed nice enough, told us that a group of 17 children were coming out and we were welcome to join that group.  That scared me, so I said no thank you! While the boys, Sandy and I were in the bathroom, Seth met one of the tour guides who could have been cast for Deliverance and got to hear how at Halloween, he sometimes keeps people in the cave and lost maze for over 2 hours, heh, heh, heh. 

I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when we found out that another cavern was just 15 minutes away in Missouri.  I love how road trips always bring little surprises, don't you? :)

Bluff Dwellers Cave was beautiful on the outside. On privately owned land, the owner found and excavated a part of the cavern himself.  His family still owns it and his youngest daughter (now 81) runs it now.  It was very beautiful inside and the boys and I wore our jackets (I think because we could, you know?).  The cavern was welcome relief from the heat, for sure!

Here everyone is after the tour.  Already feeling hot again...

The boys also panned for gems, which was a lot of fun for them.  They "found" several gemstones from their purchased bag of sand. 

One more picture to help you imagine the coolness of the cavern.  Just two hours away, we might be going back sooner than later!  :) 

Thanks Nana and Pop for the fun weekend!!

my closets are really clean, y'all

Noah is very talented but not at balancing balls on his head.  Someone was behind him, holding it. 

This week's most exciting thing for me so far was cleaning out all of my closets (except one).  Yay, clean closets!!  Yeah, not that exciting.  But, but!, I did have a fun weekend and so did the boys.

I went to Dallas with some of my friends from Edmond and we had fun shopping at Sam Moon and Ikea (Krista, I bought the pillow! and the whole set of dishes!!).  And I know now that every trip to Dallas will include a trip to Sam Moon.  It has accessories and handbags galore!  I bought two purses and could have bought more but reigned myself in. 

While I was having a good ole' time in Texas, the boys went to Relay for Life with Seth.  His company sponsored a team so they went down there and had a great time for a really great cause.  I think they had ice cream around midnight? Then they watched Cars 2 the next day.  By the time I came home, all three were exhausted!!

So we haven't done much this week which is okay. 

I did watch The Kennedys miniseries on Netflix and wondered what exactly was so controversial about it that it was not shown on The History Channel.  It actually painted them in a very sympathetic light and nothing that everyone doesn't already know was in there. 

This being the last day of June and all, I find myself looking forward to July.  Here's what we've got going on:

• Fourth of July Laser Show in Canyon, TX (the boys are more excited about this than they ever were for fireworks)
• Summer Drama Workshop (I can't fathom that I'll be the one watching the plays this time.  I used to be in those plays!! I just hope the boys have as much fun as I did.)
• Seeing good friends (I was going to say 'old friends' but decided that I don't like using that word to describe people my own age anymore.  Ha!)
• Spending time with the families
• Dry heat (You think I'm crazy, but all of us are having such bad allergies, I welcome no humidity for awhile.)
• Harry Potter!!!
• a slow month.  I really hope it doesn't go too fast.

Happy 4th of July, because I know I won't be blogging before then.

some love for my blue-eyed son

Rhett is such a ham in front of the camera, but I did manage to get two good shots of him.

First, his serious side:

Then, my favorite, one of him laughing. He just lights up when he laughs. It is uninhibited and loud and sometimes he just falls down cause he has no control.  That is a good laugh and I really love it!

                    


Christy, you said that Noah looks like me. Well, Rhett looks so much like Seth but the other night, Seth and I looked at Noah and Rhett and for the first time said, "Wow, they really do look related!" I don't know what it was (was it the blue shirts they were wearing, their sun-lightened hair, the way they were eating ice cream?) but we just stared at them for a few minutes.

I wish I could show you a side by side picture of them, but instead, here is something they thought of on their own:

So goofy.  Love it!

 

They are having a blast this week at Tennis Camp. They come home exhausted! I, myself, can't believe how fast this month has flown by but then don't we all say that every year during summer? I know that Seth and I have forgotten a couple of important dates and we are working on making that up to people. I kind of forget to look at a calendar when summer rolls around. Oops.

 

I hope everyone is beating the heat! Yesterday, it was actually pretty nice but the heat is back on today, so I'm sure the pool is in our immediate future.  Have a great day!

 

 



a weekend away with my sister

This past weekend was so much fun!  I loved getting to see Krista and hang out.  It had been too long.  I really didn't take that many pictures but we did a lot. 

The photos we did take are from the Segway Tour of Charlotte.  Segways are the funnest way to travel for sure. 

Here are two beautiful pictures of my sister and me:

But, really, we do look awesome.  These were taken before we were allowed to get on them.  You should have seen us once we were though, zipping along.  I was amazed at the muscles you use in your feet, legs and back.  I don't know how much we learned about Charlotte (the tour guide was fun, but didn't know much) but honestly, I didn't care. 

We went through one of the oldest cemetaries in Charlotte and it was segregated.  Here is a poignant headstone that our guide pointed out:

This one was interesting as well:

The man was killed by a lion! 

We went through beautful parks and greenways and made our way to Uptown (which is Charlotte's Downtown) and I had to take a picture of this for the boys:

The Carolina Panther! This is emabarrassing to admit, but Krista and I couldn't remember the name of the NFL team that plays in Charlotte.  Had no idea.  When the tour guide said something about the Carolina Panthers, we both were like, "Oh yeah!"  So yes, here is the panther.  Looks kind of scary.

We also went to Ikea (spent 3 hours there!), and did some shopping at a mall and basically did things that you don't want to do when your kids are around because it is too much work.  It was great!

Hold On*! We also watched Bridesmaids and laughed and laughed.  So funny. 

I can't forget to say that I also saw Krista's husband.  He was there for a Heroes Comic convention and so I didn't see much of him but it was nice to catch up.  He has a new blog called The Temple of Kemple which showcases his art. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

But it is back to life.  Rhett is at Vacation Bible School (Noah refused to go) this week.  We'll probably go to the pool a lot because its hot, hot, hot.  Rhett also wants to go to church camp this weekend but I think I missed the deadline on that one.  Oops.  He won't be happy with me but I think we may get to go to a baseball game on Saturday, so that will make up for it, hopefully. 

I'll leave you with something that Krista made.  It is my favorite thing ever:

Isn't it adorable? I love it.  And he is waving! Aww... Be still, my heart.  :)

{thanks, sis for a fantastic weekend and my owl.  thanks, chris for getting the boys awesome comic books! they've been busy drawing their own after reading the ones you got for them.}

*a surprise from the movie-one of my favorite (girl) bands from the 90s had a cameo.  Can you guess which one?

this has been a lot of fun

I was thinking this morning about how I would begin my blog post and I thought of That 70's Show episode where the gang goes to Canada to get beer, then Fez loses his Green Card and they get caught by the Canadian border guard.  Leo (who is played by Chong, of Cheech and Chong) answers all the Mounties' questions with the same question, for example: 

Mounty:  What are you doing in Canada?
Leo:  What are you doing in Canada, man?

It is hilarious (and I know I am not doing it justice by writing about it here) and anyway, the reason I thought of it was because I imagined you, my blog reader, saying, "Where have you been lately?" and my immediate response was, "Where have you been lately, man?" 

But to answer your question (that I imagined you asking), I have been reading.  And sewing pillows.  And cleaning carpets.  Some other things too.

Books:

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is such a good memoir. It is a story in the same vein as Angela's Ashes (alcholic father, very poor growing up, ect) but didn't make you feel as sad because of her tone.  This book I read for my book club, which was last night at my house.  I made pinwheel sandwiches and brownies and it was so fun to sit in a group of women and just talk. 

I will admit, I never wanted to read this book.  It looked boring to me.  And then the movie came out and Robert Pattinson stars in it and all of the sudden, it looked a little less boring.  ;)  So I read it and kicked myself that I didn't read it before now.  Love, love, love this book. 

And my new obsession:  The Mortal Instruments series by Cassadra Clare.  These books remind me a little of Harry Potter (in a good way, not a totally copying-sort-of way.)  A science-fiction/fantasy/romance (my favorite combo) story about supernatural beings, both good and evil.  Really love these books.  I think she wrote a trilogy, then decided to write six instead and the fourth book has been just released. She also has written a prequel about The Mortal Instruments so there is that too.  Plenty to keep me busy during the hot summer months.

Today:

Rhett has his graduation ceremony today.  His elementary school only goes through 4th grade.  I do know they are going to show a slideshow and sing a song, a combination that will no doubt make me cry.  I really try not to cry but I can't help it.  Kids singing brings tears to my eyes and I have found it doesn't matter what it is--the kids' choir sang for Easter at our church and tears streamed down my face, when Rhett had his musical and sang about pioneers, I cried at that too.  And slideshows--forget it.  I'll just bring plenty of tissues and try not to embarrass myself. 

A funny: (not meant to embarrass my hubby)

I tried a different recipe for my brownies for the book club meeting last night.  While Rhett was eating one for his dessert last night, he told Seth, "These taste different."  Seth didn't know I made them and he thought for a split second that maybe, just maybe, they were "special" brownies that one of the book club ladies made.  So he tasted it but decided they were fine.  When he told me about it later, I asked if he would have known what "special" brownines tasted like and he said that surely he could have.  Then I asked if he really thought one of the women could have done that!  He said, "I don't know them!"  We had a good laugh.  The more I think about it, the more I laugh.  And, strangely enough, it reminds me of That 70's Show because there is always a point in each episode that they are sitting around a table, getting high and laughing.  Stranger still, I have referenced that show twice and I really never watched it while it was on and hardly watch it now. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

i'm tired of thinking of titles

It's May! Only 18 more days of school for the boys. They are ready! I haven't posted any pictures in awhile, so here is a few for you:

Boo is 6 months old now.  She is a smart, stubborn dog but a great watch dog.  A couple of weeks ago, it was stormy outside, with hail and thunder being the worst of it.  Boo thought the thunder was trying to get us, so she sat down in our entry way, facing the door, fully alert.  We have never seen her sit that long away from any of us before so it was pretty funny. 

I wanted to show Rhett when he was singing with the 4th grade, but had to blur out the other kids so sorry for the weird picture.  I think they were singing, "When I first came to this land" and it was such a cute song. Here is a snippet of the end:

When I first came to this land

I was not a wealthy man

Then I got myself a son

I did what I could

I called my son "My Work's Done"

I called my wife "Joy of My Life"

I called my horse, "Lame of Course"

I called my cow ,"No Milk Now"

I called my shack "Break My Back"

Still the land was sweet and good

I did what I could.

The musical was all about the pioneers of Oklahoma.  They sang the state song at the end and I have to say that Oklahoma has the best state song ever.  It is so joyful and peppy. 

Here is Noah with his class when they were singing a Spanish song about body parts (hands, feet, mouth, nose).  It was cute too.  Again, sorry for the blurs but I always have to show when Noah is smiling like that.  He has blue hair because of his Suessical the Musical.  He wanted to be wild and crazy, like a Who.  :)

We've had  rain (Thank God) and many days of cloudy skies the last two weeks of April.  I love clouds and the promise of rain.  It has rained out a few of Rhett's baseball games, so we are going to have to make those up but sometimes it is nice to be stuck inside doing nothing because of the rain. 

One day, I went out and our sky looked like giant cotton balls.  It was really cool. 

I will leave you with this short quip:

The boys have been busy with school but on Friday, they did get a day off because they went to work with Seth, where they learned about volcanos and earthquakes.  Then I met them for lunch at a great, greasy hamburger joint (seriously, yummy!) and while we were eating Noah was complaining about something that wasn't pleasing him.  Rhett tells his brother, "You know, the sun does not rise and set on you alone."  Before I could tell him I was impressed with that, Rhett's very quick-witted brother fires back, "Rhett, I will rise and sit on you."  We all just burst out laughing.  It was just so funny and just so Noah to say that.  Even Rhett admitted that it was a great comeback.

Have  a great day!

is this normal for a dog?

I'm just wondering...

How's the training going, you ask?

no matter, we are thankful anyway

Today, Noah had a Thanksgiving Play.  He did wonderful on all of his lines, but I don't really think he was listening to the message.  When we were eating our sack lunches together afterward, he looked at one of his classmate's acrostic* for the word "Pilgrams" and saw on the letter 'g' she wrote the word, God.  He looked at me and said, "God?  What does God have to do with Thanksgiving?"

Umm...

I asked if he really listened to the play about why the pilgrims came to America. 

"They wanted to worship God their way, I know."

Well?

"But what does that have to do with Thanksgiving?"

Noah, why do we have Thanksgiving?

Blank look.

Don't we give...

"Thanks?"

to...

"We pray to God.  Yeah, yeah."

Okay.  Good to know he knows.  I guess.  Does this mean, if Noah lived all those years ago, he would not have been a Pilgrim? 

Here is Noah's Pilgrim acrostic:

P lymout
I ndian
L akes
G rowing crops
R owing canoes
I ll
M ayflower
S ail

Have a great Thanksgiving my friends and family. 

An acrostic (Greek: ákros "top"; stíchos "verse") is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message.

no deed goes unpunished; however small

The other day, I walked into the laundry room to put something away and when I turned around, my eye caught this on the wall by my built-in desk:

Someone has been busy. And it sure isn't Rhett.

Immediately, I think about when I did this as a child. I wrote "Casey" on the wall of our bathroom and in a corner by my bedroom door but compared to Noah, I actually got away with it a couple of times before my parents really looked and knew it wasn't my brother's doing. Apparently, he wrote his "s" backwards back then. Small detail I missed.

Anyway, I couldn't help but laugh and then groan. How am I going to punish him for doing the same thing I did?

When confronted, Noah broke down and cried. He then told me, "What am I supposed to do when I'm mad at Rhett? You won't let me hit him!" Then he said, "I tried to erase it!"

Later that day, we went to Wal-mart. Before we went inside, he asked if he could buy a toy with his own money. I told him no. He didn't understand why I was punishing him that way. It was his own money. After 15 minutes of listening to him in Wal-mart go on and on, I wondered why I was punishing myself.

Not remembering what my parents' punishment was for me when they finally caught me as the culprit, I figure I am now square with the universe for my act against my brother.

halloween cometh early at our house

Yesterday evening, the boys are playing in the backyard, enjoying the weather.

Rhett comes in and asks me to help him get his football out from behind the bush because he just can't reach it.

So out I go.

I am looking for this football and after a few minutes, see it so I pull the bushes back with a stick and say to Rhett, "Ok, I'm holding the bushes back so why don't you get in there and get your ball?"

Rhett hesitates.

I tell him, "It's okay. There is nothing behind the bushes.  Go fast!"

Rhett says, "I'm just hoping that spider up there doesn't drop down on me when I go by."

I look up.

Right above me is this huge spider (dime-sized is huge in my book) hanging out on his web. 

Of course I scream and jump a mile away from the bushes.

When questioned about whether or not Rhett knew the spider was there the whole time, the answer was definitely on the yes side.  When told to get his own dumb ball, the answer was "but I'm afraid of spiders."

We were at a standstill.  Both of us, afraid of things of the 8-legged variety, were not going in the bushes.

Noah sighs, gets on the fence, inches his way to the football, grabs it and gets out of there calmly.

His face was priceless. 

something strange is happening around here

Noah loves school. 

Yesterday,  he got off the bus, gave me a hug and said, "I had a really good day today, Mom."

Last night, he had a 'best thing' about his day, but no 'worst thing'.

Ok, will the real Noah please come forward?

On the other hand,

Rhett comes home tired.

Last night, he had a 'worst thing' but NOT a 'best thing'.

I'm gonna call this one a fluke.  I mean, everyone has their bad days.  And really, the older you get, the less fun school gets, am I right?  And he did have homework, which can ruin anyone's mood.  I hope his day is better today.

And this morning, Noah woke up, grumpy, like normal.

I breathed a sigh of relief.  He's still my Noah. 

my dictionary is equally as awesome

I just recently (and by recently, I mean really just now!) found a website and name of a book that I really want to read.  1000 Awesome Things is the name of the website (book is called The Book of Awesome) and I guess everyday it posts something awesome.  I have only read a few but already love it.

Especially because it is so true!

For example:  #523 When you learn a new word and then suddenly start seeing it everywhere. 

Just this week that has happened to me!  I was reading an article in a magazine and came across a word describing an actor who is now deceased (and I wish I could remember who but that isn't important).  The word: mysogynist.  Now I have heard of masochistic from the Twilight books.  Poor vampire Edward likes to inflict pain upon himself by hanging out with human Bella.  But mysogynist was new.  Looking it up I found it meant hatred of women.  (So I do wish I could remember that guy's name).  Now I have been seeing it everywhere this week!  Which is sad in a way.  Is there really a lot of misogamy going on?  Shame. 

Anyway, my point is that is weird.  And awesome in a strange way because now I know how to say it correctly (not miss o gom me its mi saw ga me) and now I can offended when I read it or hear it in discussion.  :)

You want to know something else that is awesome?  Well, I think we found a house in Tulsa!  I'm no misoneist (hatred or fear of change) so I am very excited.  I am already planning on what I want to do to decorate.  Yes, my dictionary is open to the miso- words and I found that one.  Am I misleading you to think I knew that word from the top of my mommy brain?  I think I want to make some miso someday but thinking of miso makes me miss my friend Cathy, who probably would tell me that if I made miso, it would be a misplay. :)  This is fun.  You should try it! It is...awesome.

32 going on 12, maybe 13

Yesterday, my son, Rhett, brought home a surprise for me.  It actually made me laugh at loud and then marvel at how much he must love to make me happy.

It was this. 

He said he won it at his class auction that they have every month.  They use "Buffalo Bucks" that they earn throughout the month for turning in their homework on time or keeping their desk neat, ect. 

He dropped 70 Buffalo Bucks on it.

Of course, my poster is a little worse for wear.  It has creases from being folded into the size of a sheet of paper.  It has pin holes from being hung up on a wall.  There is even a slight tear near the bottom. 

Which makes me wonder:

What girl decided she no longer liked Edward aka Robert Pattinson enough to hang on her wall?
Who took his place?
Was it Jacob?
Or maybe the heartthrob from Dear John or maybe it was Justin Bieber?
Or maybe she just redecorated her room when she decided she was too old to have posters of cute guys on her wall.

I remember who was on my walls when I was younger. 

Mike aka Kirk Cameron
Michael J. Fox in his Back to the Future Days

Sigh

I have strayed from my original thought.  Which is that Rhett beat out a third grade girl for this poster just for me.  I asked him why.  He said, "I knew Twilight makes you happy."

I will keep this poster (not on a wall, darn it) as a reminder that my son will stand teasing from other kids in his class to buy a poster for his mom.  And I won't think too hard about what this actually says about me.  :)

He is going to be a great boyfriend someday.

Fun Question:  If you were in my position, who would you wish were on your poster?

warning: random, mostly useless information ahead

So, I am sitting here in our lovely guest bedroom/office (Hee, I almost spelled out the word "slash" as I was thinking it in my head), freezing.  This room is cold to me.  Even my toes that are in my toasty warm Ugg boots, are cold.  That means my hands are rather cold too.  Hence, I am wearing a pair of gloves.

You know the kind- the cheap $1 pair at the store that supposedly fit any hand? I doubt that but that is not what this post is about.  It is about the things you can't do well while wearing gloves.  (You were warned).

• Type.  Do you know how hard it is to type with gloves on?  You should totally try it sometime.  No telling how long this post will take me to write.  I have to constantly go back and delete mistyped words.  It makes your fingers seem big.  But I have noticed the longer I type, the better it is getting. 
• Blow your nose.  Because, eww.
• Read a book.  It is nearly impossible to turn the pages with gloves on.
• Make a sandwich.  Not that I have ever tried, I am just thinking that it would be difficult.
• Wash dishes.  Your hands would get wet and then wearing gloves would prove pointless.  Unless you wear rubber gloves over your gloves. That almost seems silly.

There you have it.  In case you were wondering, I do have things to do today, but aren't you glad I took the time out to post this blog?  I hope I saved someone who was wearing a pair of $1 gloves that don't quite fit from wondering if they can blow their nose without taking their gloves off. Now they know they could do it, but they could not do it well.

:)

Have a great day!

can you whittle away your dreams?

Tuesday is Cub Scout night.  We went to Rhett's den meeting where he was supposed to work on his whittling badge. 

{Did you know that Whittling has its own webpage?  It says:  Welcome to the World of Whittling.  A hobby for some, an obsession for others, a joy for all.  This is important for later.}

Before we leave the house, I turn to Noah and tell him to bring something to do because he is not to be working with knives. 

Crying and why not?s ensue.

Five minutes later, we are in the car headed toward our first stop for the night.  (I really thought I would be making a stop at the ER tonight too because visions of sliced fingers danced in my head.  Seriously, all I could picture was my brother's hand bleeding when he sliced his hand open with a knife one Christmas morning when we were younger.)  Just so you know,  we did not go to the ER.  Whew.

The poor Den Leader spends 40 minutes talking about knife safety before handing each boy a bar of Ivory soap.  My heart beat fast as I watched Rhett carve a shape out of soap.  I relaxed when I saw that he was being careful.  Then a boy across from him sliced his finger.

Oy.

Just a slight cut.  Nothing a band-aid couldn't fix.

By then I was done.  I was done listening to my youngest son's sighs beside me.  I never did let him near those things.  I was done holding my breath, waiting for an accident that never really happened, thank God.  I was just done.

Noah then gets a bright idea:  Mom, I know!  I can get a bar of soap and carve something out with a butter knife!  See that isn't sharp, right?

In the car, Rhett tells me his bright idea.  Remember when I told you to remember the little blurb about whittling?  This is why:

Rhett:  Mom, I am really good at carving with a knife.  I think after I finish playing pro football, my job will be to carve things with my knife!

me: Uh, no it won't.

(Usually, I let my kids dream.  I let them think they can do whatever with their lives.  But not this.  Oh no.)

Rhett:  Why not?  I am good at it!

me:  Rhett, you can do that as a hobby.  Or when you retire when you are an old man.  This can't be your career.  (Remember, it says hobby.  Even obsession.  But not career!)

Rhett:  Well, I think I can do whatever I want.

Noah:  I want to be an artist.  But I am afraid that after my football career, I'll be too buff.  I don't see many buff artists.

They said more but after that comment, I was laughing too hard.  To myself.  I can't crush all their dreams in one night after all.

PS-I hope I didn't offend anyone saying whittling is not a career.  I am sure people do this as their careers and they are quite good at it.  :)

thanks to all for playing along

I loved all the discussion on the six-word memoirs.  It is funny, Michelle mentioned she couldn't stop thinking about it (in six words mind you!) and I have to say I agree.  All throughout the day, I would try to think of six words for my life:

I'll even iron for my husband.

Chocolate is good for the soul.

Mom-at-home; best job ever.

Laundry is the bane of life.


Thanks for sharing all of yours.  I loved them all-especially Mom is the destroyer of fun.  That makes me laugh everytime I think of it.  If you think of more, feel free to share them.  I enjoy reading them!

Here is something along those same lines:  New Year's Resolutions.  Not mine and I am not asking you to share yours.  Actually, I am sharing one of Rhett's.  He had to write some at school and he was asked, "If you could make one New Year's resolution for our country or the world, what would it be?"

His answer:

To end Gossip and make peace to the world.

Edited to six words, his would be:

Ending gossip would bring world peace.

"Wow" is all I can say.


I can't leave Noah out.  He had to write sentences the other day and my favorite was one that had six words:

Some girls think I am cute.

:)

Laughter really is the best medicine.

impossibly true

Last night, Rhett asked Dad a question. 

Rhett:  Dad, I have a question.
Seth: Okay.
Rhett:  What is a seven letter word that starts with a P and means "impossible, but true"?
Seth: Umm, I don't know.
Rhett:  You don't know?
Seth:  No.  Why do you need to know?
Rhett: It is for enrichment.  Our teacher tells us a story and then asks us a question about it.  Sometimes the word is in the story but sometimes it is not.
...
Rhett:  So you really don't know what the answer is?
Seth: No son, I really don't.   Maybe you should tell me the story.
Rhett:  Well, the story is about a bird named Paradox. This guy sees this bird that looks like it is filled with water and...
Seth:  Wait, wait, wait.  What is the bird's name?
Rhett:  Paradox.
Seth:  Do you know what paradox means?
Rhett:  No.

Seth gets a dictionary and looks it up.  He reads it to him:  A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true. 

Seth:  Don't you think that sounds like your answer?
Rhett: Wait, paradox has 7 letters?!?

thankfully, the time is here

Rhett says, "Gobble Gobble!"

He and his classmates were turkeys trying to convince everyone else not to eat them.  It was cute. 

Today, Noah and his classmates are making a Harvest stew, each bringing their favorite vegetable.  I am sure most of them brought corn.  But that is okay.

Tomorrow there is no school.  We are ready for Thanksgiving!  I love Thanksgiving.  I love the food, the desserts and the time spent with family.  And it also means that it is closer to next month which is full of birthdays and Christmas. Love it.

I hope everyone else has a wonderful holiday.  (And if you eat turkey, don't tell Rhett).*

Oh, and one more thing!  My mom has started a blog.  It is called "Ramblings" and the link is to the right.  Go check it out!  And Welcome to the blogging world Mom!



*Actually, Rhett really doesn't care if you eat turkey or not. He is looking forward to Turkey Day.  And pumpkin pie.  Noah wants turkey too.  As long as it is the drumstick.

already with the Christmas lists?

Hello!  I know it has been a long time.  Last week was...ugg.  Didn't feel well.  But this week is a new week so hopefully I will post more often. 

Rhett and Noah have taken it upon themselves to write their Christmas Lists to Santa.

Rhett:  Mom, do you believe in Santa?
Me: Yes.
Rhett:  Me too.  Do you know some kids in my class say that he isn't real?
Me:  Well, he is as real as you want him to be.
Rhett:  Oh, he is real alright.

At this point in Rhett's childhood, shouldn't he be a little suspicious? He is in 3rd Grade.  I am just afraid that he is going to be crushed, just crushed when he finds out the truth.  So I try to throw in remarks like "he is real as you want him to be" to prepare him.  Subtly.  I don't know what I am doing.

Anyway, with no further ado, here is Rhett's list:

Dear Santa,
I've been trying to be very good this year. My wish list is this.
1 Ipod Nano (Blue)
2 Mind Flex
3.Fossil Fighters
4 Webkins Shark
5 year supply of bacon
5 biggest star wars Lego set ever
6 10 Texas Tech window stickers.
7 2 under-armor shirts
8 Madden 2010 (Wii)
9 Baron Batch's autograph
10 pink and orange Zumbuddy

Ones I'm sure I want  
1
2
3
6
7
9
10

Rhett marked out his "year supply of bacon" because as he put it:  "I don't think I really need that much bacon."  You think?

Here is Noah's list:

Dear Santa
1 Every webkinz ther is.
2 a real webkinz bunny.
3 ipod nano (green).
4 a bird with a Texas Tech sign on it.
5 a owl webinz.
6 a webkinz Dragin.
7 a webkinz geco.
8 a webkinz Husky.
9 a webkinz Pug.
10 Babe Ruths small metal

I think that Noah secretly doesn't believe in Santa and wants to catch us in a lie because how, oh how, are we going to get anything of Babe Ruth's or is there even such a thing as #4?  And I made him mark out #1 and the real in #2.  Because as we all know, real bunnies freak me out.

So there we are.  I wonder how many times this list will change before December 24?