Christmas and Beyond

If you ask JD what his favorite holiday is he will say Halloween --- BUT --- Christmas is also a big hit.
We spend Christmas Eve with Grandma. JD and his cousin Kayla examine all the gifts. "I hope there is something good there for me."

Aunt Laura is impressed with JD's lego skills.

On Christmas morning JD finds an angry bird in his stocking.

WOW - Skylanders is exactly what JD wanted. That Santa must be a really smart guy.

Even Lulu gets a new toy for Christmas.

This is our second year to take a little mini vacation on the 26th. This year we stayed at the hotel that is connected to the Galleria Mall in Houston. Look at those crowds of people. We weren't the only ones who thought the Galleria would be fun.

This was our main reason for going to Houston. JD saw that they had an exhibit with relics from King Tut and HAD to go. It was interesting but we were not allowed to take pictures inside the exhibit. JD makes a handsome mummy.

The downtown aquarium was full of atmosphere, fish and PEOPLE.

This fish themed merry go round was a treat.

We can't drive by a Bass Pro Shop without stopping. JD has some imagination. This ATV provided a stationary adventure.

Hangin with the Chipmunks and Santa

It has been rainy and cold (well, cold for Texas anyway) so we have been indoors for several weekends now. Movies with popcorn keep us warm and indoors.

JD saw Santa at the Christmas party at church. When we left he said, "that wasn't really Santa. That was a Melgosa." (the dad of one of JD's friends) I thought he made an excellent Santa but none of the kids at the party were fooled.

Let Christmas Begin

After a shopping trip Pat and I decided we needed to be naughty and nice for the holidays.
Maybe next time we need to switch shirts.

JD has been dieing to open his lego advent calendar. Every day you open a door and build a lego character. At the end of December you have a whole winter scene.

Thanksgiving With Uncle Keith

JD enjoyed his visit with Uncle Keith. Uncle Keith plays all his favorite games for a few days while he is here. JD invented a new game where he pulls things out of his "magic hat." I don't quite understand the "rules" but I could hear JD laughing in the other room. At one point he came in and had changed his clothes. When I asked about it he said, "Uncle Keith made me laugh so had I peed my pants. WOW - now that is a great game!
We visited the dinosaur museum. It was our first visit in months since the museum has been closed for renovation.

The boys played with their electronic devices. Keith's is a new black Friday find. JD just borrowed Dad's.

After all that excitement JD couldn't take it anymore. He fell asleep at dinner. Even the mariachis playing couldn't keep him awake.

Science Day

JD came to science day today. Ashley helped escort him around. I'm not sure how he sweet talked her into carrying him.

This experiment involved chemicals that changed colors. It was dangerous enough to require protective eye wear.

Candy DNA is always fun -- AND YUMMY!

We've Been Busy

JD spent some time at school with me during teacher work day.
He created this behavior chart just like the one his teacher uses. I guess he thinks my students need some behavior modification.

He also labeled all my desks so we would know who to put on the chart when they misbehaved.

Austin truly is weird. This is the car that was stopped in front of me at the light yesterday. I've always wondered where I could go to learn how to throw knives. Sign me up!

Candy Bar

After the long day at cub world (see previous post) we went to a wedding. An open bar at a wedding is nothing new -- BUT -- how about this -- A CANDY BAR!!! JD thought this was FABULOUS.

Cub World

George and JD had a boys day at Cub World. There was a whole days worth of fun.
JD panned for gold --- well colored rocks actually.

They climbed through a mine shaft. George was a really good sport for crawling through that. I'm not sure I would have.

There was a fort to explore.

JD's favorite was the BB guns. He came home asking for a BB gun for Christmas. I said, "NO! You'll shoot your eye out." (Remember A Christmas Story?!) He insisted that these special glasses protected your eyes. "They are like armor for your eyes."

They boys enjoyed fishing. JD was disgusted that the fish kept eating the buts of his worms but didn't bite the hook. They boys came home hungry and tired.

The Pointer

JD and I went to the book fair at his school yesterday and he insisted that I needed this pointer. He says when you point it at things it makes your students look at what you are pointing at and they will pay attention. He demonstrated how it worked. I decided I couldn't go wrong with such excellent classroom management advice. When I brought it back to school one of my illustrious colleagues commented that she thought the wrong finger was pointing.

Super Heroes

My friends and I decided to dress as super heroes for Halloween. My new partner in Government is dressed like Chewbaca. He isn't standing on a box -- Chewy is really that tall.

Howl-O-Scream

We went to Sea World this weekend to see what all the spookiness was about. There were skeleton pirates everywhere.

The park is supposed to get really scary after 6 in the evening. We were there in the morning when most of the costumes were fun and sparkly.

We've never been there when you could actually feed the dolphins.

JD fed them but they moved away too quickly to really get a good picture of them.

Here we are as cowboys.

If you have girls you might be making butterfly wings for magic wands for Halloween. Not JD - we made brains in a jar to give to some of our favorite teacher friends.

Trunk or Treat

Jack Sparrow loved the trunk or treat party at church. He got a chance to play with friends and pass out candy to all the little goblins.

Camping

Our family spent the weekend camping with Cub Pack 535

We went out and set up our campsite on Friday night.

There is a burn ban in effect which meant no open fires. That didn't stop JD from trying to make his favorite camp food.

Saturday's activities included bird watching.

Scouts also made a biodegradable bird feeder.

We hiked to the falls but I think a better name right now would be "ROCKS." Our record drought means there just isn't much water in the river.

Sunday morning's outdoor worship service was our last activity. We should have church in a lawn chair every Sunday. When we made it home Sunday afternoon George and I both decided our entire bodies hurt. Camping is a lot of work! The next campout isn't until April. Maybe I will be rested by then.

Fire Truck

These Tiger Scouts had a great time visiting the fire station. JD got to "drive" the truck and turn the flashing lights on and off.

Football Friends

It has FINALLY cooled down enough for JD and I to brave another football game.
JD had his picture taken with some of his high school buddies Buster the Bulldog and Noah.

Ahhhh, you've got to love Texas in the fall.