Making Buckeyes

While Mom was in town, she, Benjamin, Rosemary, and I made Buckeyes. We mixed up everything after the preschool program then rolled them out the next day. I didn’t get them dipped before they left, but did finish them up a few days later. They are our favorite Christmas treat. If you need the recipe that we use, I posted it last year here.

Ready to roll.

This was Ben’s first year to get in on the rolling action.

Ben liked to crumble his up. At one point he stuck a hunk of the peanut butter mixture on his face. We let him eat that part then finished up his for him.

Rosemary made a buckeye snowman.

Ben’s Preschool Christmas Program

Ben’s preschool Christmas program was last week. My mom and dad came up for the show and spent the next day helping me out so that I could take care of a few things on my own.

Grandma and Grandpa W and Ben

All the kids with Grandma and Grandpa W

Walking up to his spot

Ben was the letter Y, and this was one of the last times we were actually able to see him.

Ben’s friends Eric and Jake. And I love the little boy in the back’s face.

Ben was kind of covered up.

When they got to the letter Y, Ben held up his letter. My picture of this is awful. I had to lean around the guy with the constantly raised phone and zoom way in. Ah, well. You can kind of tell that’s him in the upper right corner.

Towards the end of the program, Charlotte had a mini-fit on the ground. There was a low rumble throughout the room anyway so I don’t think anyone else heard or noticed her. She soon collected herself and was quite merry.

We got a quick picture before he headed off the stage and over to the cookies.

Sweet boy.

Ben and his buddy, Eric. Ben managed to eat 5 cookies while we were there. He had a blast!

A Lazy Morning

One morning, the kids brought out their pillows and blankets and snuggled up on the couches. So sweet.

I need to be okay with more of these kinds of days and try to reduce the number of ones that pass me by at a hectic, breakneck speed. I get so bogged down in running around to get everyone where they need to be on time and do all the stuff on my never-ending to do list, that I too frequently miss these sweet, fleeting moments.

Thanksgiving 2012

I didn’t take a single photo over the Thanksgiving holiday this year.

We spent the weekend with my mom and dad and helped them get settled into their new home. It was busy and Jonathan and I both had colds, but we still had a great time together as family.

Over the weekend we:

Hung 10 sets of curtains and curtain rods

Painted 2 nightstands

Reupholstered a headboard

Steam cleaned two area rugs

Hung pictures and mirrors

Painted a china shelf

Jacksonville Zoo Field Trip

Our November field trip was to the Jacksonville Zoo. It was the one cold day all week, but despite the chillier temperature, we still had a wonderful time and spent the entire day there. We pulled into the driveway just a few minutes before Jonathan got home.

Charlotte enjoyed herself so much that day, especially the train. Whenever she heard its whistle she would say, “Choo choo!”

Rosemary and her friend, Lucy

I thought Ben might want to hang out more with me and Charlotte, but I was wrong. He wanted to be in the thick of it with the big kids.

Thankfully, none of the children fell in.

We checked out the goats.

Later in the day we fed the giraffes.

They’ve got some long tongues.

Ben and the giraffes

Charlotte was not going to look at the camera when she could check out a giraffe.

An ostrich fluffing its feathers

Zebra

Elephant

Preschool Thanksgiving Program

Before Thanksgiving, the girls and I attended Ben’s Thanksgiving program with his class.

All lined up and ready to sing.

Ben was thankful for “no dinosaurs.” Me, too, Ben. Me, too.

Singing, “I am an Indian chief!” He looks so serious.

He really participated and sang. I was so proud of him and he was so cute!

After the program he happily served us pumpkin pie and water.

Ben and his teacher, Mrs. Hoffstedter.

Breaking Dawn Part 2 Girls Weekend

Christmas Tree Decorating 2012

We decorated our tree in mid-November. Although that seems early, it was the only weekend that we were going to have free for awhile so we went ahead and got it up so we could enjoy it.

Hanging up the bride and groom

Yacht club

Minnie Mouse ears

The Jacksonville Zoo

Charlotte hung up a few this year, as well.

All done!