Thanksgiving Feast at school

November 18, 2009 was the big Thanksgiving Feast at Z’s school. It was a big Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family during lunchtime. There were tons of parents and grandparents at the school to spend lunchtime with the kids. It was so sweet. The kids had made head dresses and pilgrim outfits. Z had on a head dress that he made and it had a really pretty black feather in it. It gave me chills to see the kids wearing their art. He kept it a secret from me too. Once we connected with Z, we went through the lunch line together as a family. It was Z’s first time to purchase his lunch at school. He was thrilled! He couldn’t wait to try all the foods. (He hates Thanksgiving dinner normally but wanted to bad to like it this time.) Well, this occasion was no different. He tried everything and was excited to but in the end didn’t eat his lunch. But he does want to buy his lunch again another day.

Thank you for having a nice lunch with us Z! Mom and Dad had a great time with you today! We love you very much!

Mom and Dad waiting on Z to get to the cafeterria.

Z and his Daddy!

Mom and Z!

I don't know who is more excited to go through the lunch line for the first time.....me or Z.

YEAH!!!! I can't wait to try all this yummy looking stuff.

One of the teacher assistants took this picture for us. Turned out really nice.

Halloween 2009

YEAH!!! Time for trick or treating with friends! We went out with T and her family around the neighborhood. We joined up with N from Z’s school and then joined up with A and A from school too. We even walked all the way over to K’s house from school. It was a fun night and we all got a lot of exercise to say the least.

Z was Optimus Prime the Transformer.

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We went to Walgreens to get our picture taken.

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Here are some pirates. M and her family.

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M and M!

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Picture time before trick or treating.

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That is my transformer!

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Z and Dad.

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Z, B and N from school.

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Trick or treat!

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Trick or treating is fun with friends.

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The gang is all here.

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What a fun pumpkin at A's house.

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What a haul!

Playgroup’s halloween party

October 30 was a super fun day for all the kids in our playgroup. D and I really planned a great event and had many many moms help us out to make this years party even better than last year. We had a face painting table, cupcake decorating table, marble painting table, popcorn glove table, make a ghost table, bean bag throw, touchy feely boxes, mummy wrap, costume contest, costume fashion show, trick or treating, a trick and treat game, and a fishing booth. We even had pizza and drinks for everyone. Those kids played and ran around having a blast. I even dressed up as a ghost and took pictures with the kids. Each kid left the party with a bag full of prizes from all the games and a bunch of candy from all the moms. The moms left with very tired kids!

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Cupcake decorating.

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Making a popcorn filled glove.

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Friends playing the trick and treat game.

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Ms. M painting the kids faces.

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I was 'ghosty' and posed with M in this picture.

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Z helped me work the fishing game.

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Z fishing for prizes.

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Ms. M wrapping M in a mummy outfit with toilet paper.

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Three boys working the fishing game.......this can't be good.

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Z marble painting.

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Z was a transformer and walking the red carpet for the costume fashion show.

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Trick or treating time.

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I was one happy mom!

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I got a lot of hugs from the kids when they left. This is little Miss M.

Carving pumpkins

Sunday, October 18, 2009 was such a beautiful day outside. Hubby got up and mowed the yard while I did a few chores inside. Then I took my car for an oil change and got both our cars washed. Z played with the neighbor boys down the street and hubby worked on our Halloween decorations. It was such a great day! While I was at the grocery store, Z and hubby carved our pumpkins. Hubby took some great pictures for me and the pumpkins turned out great!

After we ate dinner and while Z was getting his shower, I packed a big boo bag for him and left it on the front porch. So just before bed, I asked the guys to show me their pumpkins. When Z opened the door his eyes lit up! He was thrilled that he got booed and with such a big bag! I had some magnetic monsters for him, some reflectors for Halloween night, a cool cup, tattoos, his favorite full sized candy, his own gum, and some cookies. He was on cloud 9. It was such a great day! And we are so ready for Halloween! (Of course I didn’t get a picture of the boo bag. Hey I had to rush….)

Starting out small......

Starting out small......

It is the headless Z! Cool pumpkin dude!

It is the headless Z! Cool pumpkin dude!

Our scarecrow after a few additions.

Our scarecrow after a few additions.

Scooping out the pumpkin.

Scooping out the pumpkin.

EEWWW.....that's a lot of GOOOOO!

EEWWW.....that's a lot of GOOOOO!

Carving time.

Carving time.

Z looks so proud showing off his work!

Z looks so proud showing off his work!

What great looking pumpkins!

What great looking pumpkins!

Hugs from the scarecrow.

Hugs from the scarecrow.

Happy 4th of July 2009

Z and I got home from our Indiana trip just in time to enjoy some fireworks with some friends! We started the evening with dinner at home and then to a friend’s house for some dessert. Then we all headed to Milburn park for some fireworks. What a fabulous display this year!

Family pose on the 4th.

Family pose on the 4th.

Z and A really missed each other while we were gone.

Z and A really missed each other while we were gone.

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Happy Father’s Day!

June 21 2009, was Father’s Day! Z and I got up really early and went to Shipley donuts and picked out hubby’s favorite things, and a few extras, and came home and set the table with all the gifts and a cup of coffee. Z woke up his Daddy and led him into the kitchen. Z and I had decorated the kitchen table with streamers, a t-shirt/hat gift, and crafts Z made for his Daddy. We had a nice breakfast! Later that day, hubby had to get some work done, so Z and I went out to run some errands. Hubby needed the quiet time and since it was Father’s Day, we gave in. I hate that he had to work on Father’s Day but I am so grateful to have him in my life and that he is a WONDERFUL Daddy! I love you honey!

Table all ready for Daddy to get up.

Table all ready for Daddy to get up.

The tool box Z made at playgroup.

The tool box Z made at playgroup.

Card from Z.

Card from Z.

The tie Z made at Lakeshore Learning.

The tie Z made at Lakeshore Learning.

The puppet Z made at Lakeshore Learning.

The puppet Z made at Lakeshore Learning.

Giant cookie! Z and his Daddy love to fish together.

Giant cookie! Z and his Daddy love to fish together.

All the goodies hubby got.

All the goodies hubby got.

Memorial Day at the ice cream shop

The guy who runs the ice cream shop near our house is very good to our playgroup! He has done many things for us in the past and wanted to do something again for us this year. So he called me and asked me if we wanted to come in for some free ice cream. YAHOO!!! So of course I put it on our playgroup’s calendar and scheduled it for Monday, May 25. We had a small turnout at the shop but it was a fun and yummy treat for us all. Thanks Rafiq!

Later the night for dinner, Z asked me if I could make his meal like a smiley face. Of course I did. Anything for you honey! Besides, hubby was mowing the yard so let’s have some fun.

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Mother’s Day 2009

What a perfect day! I got to sleep in. Z and hubby made a wonderful pancake breakfast! I also had a bunch of goodies waiting for me to open. What could be better you ask? Well, the handmade crafts that Z did was just priceless! He and daddy had been working on a few things for days. I got a beautiful wheel barrow basket for a flower pot that Z made at Home Depot with hubby. Z painted it at home without me even knowing about it. They also went to Lakeshore Learning and did a ton of crafts. There was a hand-print picture, a flower frame, a purse and a stick person puppet. Z even had picked out a beautiful picture for my craft room. And I also got an hour facial and an hour massage gift certificate from hubby and Z. How shocked was I?????

after breakfast, hubby put Z’s new bike together and Z even helped. We got him a new big boy bike now that he can ride without training wheels. YEP, you read that right! He isn’t using training wheels any more! I taught him how to do it last week! YEAH FOR MOM!

Later in the afternoon, we joined the rest of the family for a lovely lunch. We met my mother in law and my brother in law and his family. It was a very good lunch. We sat on the patio and it was really nice! After lunch hubby, Z and I went out for ice cream and checked out half price books. Then we did some more errands and headed home so Z could ride his new bike and hubby could mow the yard. He also had to get ready for a week of business travel.

I had the best Mother’s Day! Thank you to the 2 men who mean the world to me! I love you both very much!

What a super surprise!!! Look at all the gifts!

What a super surprise!!! Look at all the gifts!

After opening my gifts.

After opening my gifts.

Heart shaped pancakes.

Heart shaped pancakes.

Helping Dad with the new bike!

Helping Dad with the new bike!

Putting on the pedal.

Putting on the pedal.

Now the hand brake.

Now the hand brake.

Family lunch at Abuelos Mexican Restaurant.

Family lunch at Abuelos Mexican Restaurant.

Family picture.

Family picture.

Hubby, his mother, and his brother.

Hubby, his mother, and his brother.

My brother in laws family.

My brother in laws family.

I just love this picture. You can see the water splashing in the background.

I just love this picture. You can see the water splashing in the background.

Mother and son!

Mother and son!

Let’s get caught up ….

I just realized it has been a while since I have posted to the blog. So here is a quick update on what we have been doing.

April 20, 2009 (Monday) hubby started a new job. Z and I miss having him home but it has given Z and me some one on one time together that I just treasure!

April 27, 2009 (Monday) was a hard day for me. That was the day my mother passed away 20 years ago. I stayed to myself and very quiet all day and stayed on the verge of crying. I sure miss her so!

April 29 and May 1, 2009 (Wednesday and Friday) was a regular school day for Z but it was also teacher appreciation week. So he made each of his teachers a card and his two room teachers a bouquet of construction paper flowers made with Z’s hand-prints. I also went back to the allergy doctor on Friday, May 1, after taking 4 months off since we didn’t have insurance while hubby was in between jobs.

May 2, 2009 (Saturday) hubby took Z to Home Depot for their monthly craft. They kept it a secret from me. Wonder if it has to do with Mother’s Day. Then in the afternoon, I took Z over to his friend M’s house for a playdate. I really enjoyed getting to visit with M while the kids played. Later in the evening I had a scrapbook marathon with my friend D and T. D and I stayed until 5:30 in the morning. Only got 40 pages scraped. I had hoped to get more done.

Being sneaky!

Being sneaky!

May 3, 2009 (Sunday) we spent the day doing chores as we were having dinner guests. I cooked a big pot of spaghetti and made a big salad and served brownies for dessert. We had a really nice time visiting with C and D!

May 4, 2009 (Monday) was a rough day for me. I had the worst headache from a busy weekend and was running on very little sleep. The Elementary school where Z will be going next year had a “meet the teachers” event so I went to that and got to meet all the Kindergarten teachers. I am so glad I went!

May 5, 2009 (Tuesday) Z and I babysat for a couple friends all day. It was nice having someone at the house to play with Z. We took R with us to the dentist since Z had his 6 month cleaning appointment. Then once we got home, I was able to get caught up on laundry and it just felt good to be home. Later in the evening I took Z to Gattiland since hubby had a late night work meeting. We had fun!

Open wide!

Open wide!

Time for a cleaning!

Time for a cleaning!

Dr. Freeze checking things out.

Dr. Freeze checking things out.

Looks great!

Looks great!

May 6, 2009 (Wednesday) was Kindergarten registration at the Elementary where Z will go next year. So after Z got out of school I took him to the new school to get him registered. We went with my friend T and her girls. The kids go a tour of the school and was able to meet the Kinder teachers. After registration, I took Z to Toys R Us to pick out a toy since he was a big guy and was registered for Kindergarten. I was really trying to play up the new school since he is very apprehensive about going. He went up and down every isle until he picked out the perfect toy. While we were there I asked him to try out a bigger bike. He loved doing that! He tried out tons of  big bikes and rode around the store for about 30 minutes. I called hubby to meet us up there so he could look at the bike I wanted to get Z. Turns out it was/is too big but I still insisted. So we decided to tell Z that he had to learn to ride his current bike WITHOUT the training wheels in order to even get a new bike. After going out to dinner, we came home and took the training wheels of his current bike and he actually rode it some without my helping him. We were amazed because we had tried to work with him in the past but he didn’t want anything to do with riding without training wheels. I guess you will do anything when you want something bad enough (hence the new bike sitting in my living room.)

This one is nice but I want to try some more.

This one is nice but I want to try some more.

This is the one I want to get.

This is the one I want to get.

May 7, 2009 (Thursday) was a regular day at home. I took Z out to practice riding his bike without the training wheels. Then my friend M came over with C for a little while. It was so great to visit with her! She brought me a gift that her and Z made together for me for Mother’s Day. It was a beautiful apron with Z’s hand-prints as a giant sunflower. Apparently it was his idea! Thanks M and Z and hubby for arranging it all. After M and C left, we had lunch and went to art class.  Z drew a boy on a bike in art class. What a great picture! Then after art class we went to playgroup. We had to bring Z’s bike with us so he could show his friends that he could ride it without training wheels. He is doing really well and is so proud!

My Mothers Day gift from Z that he and M made.

My Mothers Day gift from Z that he and M made.

May 8, 2009 (Friday) after school I surprised Z and took him to the pool for our first time to go swimming this season. We had a blast! He did really well in the area where he could touch the ground. He didn’t use his life vest at all. We played and had a blast. Then when I pressed him to put his face underwater he had a fit. Once he calmed down I put his life vest on him and we went in the deeper part of the pool. That was when he decided to practice blowing bubbles in the water and stuff. Baby steps here :-) Then back to the shallower area and he took off the vest. It was so fun! After we got home he rode his bike some more and even after dinner we went to the high school parking lot to ride some more. He loved it and is really doing GREAT! When we started to leave, my car battery was dead so Mr R came to help us out. When we got home hubby went to the store for some ice cream and we had a nice treat before bed.

Having some fun in the sun!

Having some fun in the sun!

Yippee!

Yippee!

I am such a cool dude!

I am such a cool dude!

Kicking in the water.

Kicking in the water.

Easter Sunday!

April 12, 2009 was Easter Sunday. We got up early to find a huge Easter Basket left behind and tons of eggs hidden inside and outside. Man that bunny does a great job! After the hunt, we got all cleaned up and did a few chores before our company arrived. We had hubbies mom, brother and his kids, and sister over for dinner out on the patio and some fun. I bought a craft for the kids to put together and Aunt K and Grandma C bought all the kids Easter Baskets. After dinner, the kids got to go on an egg hunt in the front yard just before dark. It was a nice day getting to see everyone. We even got to see Grandma C’s dogs. Z and his cousins had a BLAST with those dogs!

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