Emmalee's Family Project--Nov. 2012

This month's family project (from the 2nd grade teacher) was to disguise a turkey and write/tell why he/she was NOT a turkey (and try to convince everyone that he is not a turkey).

 I think Emmalee did a great job!  She did most of the disguise except for the bag of "gifts".

 She sure is proud of her project!

 Her "Santa Claus" turkey with it's story.

This is what it says:  "I am Santa Claus.  I bring presents to children.  The North Pole is my home.  I only like Thanksgiving because my favorite holiday comes next.  I was checking the list yesterday.  As you can see, I am NOT a turkey!  I am Santa Claus."

She is taking it to school tomorrow.

Veteran's Day Program & Dinner Nov. 2012

Callum & our Boy Scout troop presented the flag at our Veteran's Day program today.

This is our elementary school (K-5).  Emmalee is in the middle.

Here is a close-up of Emmalee with all the other kids.

Rusty sitting with the other veterans.  (Connie Barg & Julie Baker are the other 2)

The elementary kids singing one of their songs.  Here is a copy of their program.

Our Boy Scout troop watching the program.

The elementary children singing 2 patriotic songs.

Emmalee--our 2nd grader!

Rusty shaking people's hands afterwards.

All the vets stand at the front so the kids can go through shaking their hands and thanking them.

 And then this evening, the 4-H council & National Honor Society host a veteran's dinner.  They had ham, turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, dressing, squash, cranberries, rolls, veggies & dessert.  It was very, very delicious!

 The NHS presentation.

3 of the Stewart veterans--Rusty, Keith (his Dad), and Reed (his Uncle & Keith's brother).

Callum stayed home with Ben and Emmalee so we weren't just "babysitting" at the dinner (families were invited).  But Callum made mac & cheese & chili for the kids.  And then they unloaded the dishwasher & watched "Open Season" while we were gone.  (Zane has basketball practice at 6:30 every night).

Snowmen Nov. 2012

 Ben "sleeping" by the cat.

 After school each day, he likes to play with the cats in the house.  and then he insists on me taking pictures of him with the cats.

 Emmalee's penguin made out of play dough (the play dough that Ben got on his birthday)

 Friday, Nov. 9th, we woke up to about 4 inches of wet, good snowman-making snow.  It had been raining Thursday afternoon/evening/night, so we knew snow was coming.

 Emmalee's cute little snowman.

 It sure looks pretty with all the snow on the trees.

 The snowmen family.

 Ta-da!  I love the leaves-eyes!

 Ben's facial expression is priceless!

Bunny ears!

Daylight Savings

Ben used to sleep until 8 or 8:30 before the time change.  And in fact, on some days I would have to wake him up so by 8:30 so he'd have time to eat and get dressed before pre-school at 9.

But now since the time change, no matter what time Ben goes to bed/sleep, he is up at the very latest by 7:30.  This morning he was up at 7--and there is no school!  (we are on a 4 day school week).  So on the day I don't have to set my alarm, Benjamin decides he is going to be my alarm :P

Clark Co. Band & Outside Fun

 Zane was taking pictures on our birthdays and I guess he decided to take a picture of his eye :)

 Our Clark Co. Band--and one more girl on the piano (not in picture)

 This was at Clark Co. Idol--Brienna is on the left playing the flute & Zane is the 4th from the left (plays trumpet).

 On Ben's birthday, he decided he was big enough to climb the tree by himself...

 And get down by himself also.

 Emmalee's turn.

 Looks like we might have some monkeys in our trees!

 He is counting down his dismount--but it sounded like this:  8, 7, 9, 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, GO!

 Emmalee giving Ben a push on the swing in our yard (Callum's there to  make sure he doesn't hit the tree).

 Ready---Swing!

And then Ben grabs onto the rope they tied to help them swing higher on their own.

I told them to enjoy playing outside before it gets too cold and snowy--then they'll have to bundle up into their snow-clothes.  And it sounds like we might be getting snow this weekend (or at least the cold!).

November Birthdays

 My birthday is Nov. 3rd--opening some presents

 Ben helped me blow out the candle on my mini-sugar/free banana muffin.

Me at 42 :)

 Then Ben's birthday is Nov. 5th & Rusty's is Nov. 6th.  Ben watching Dad unwrap his presents.

 Ben thought it was awesome that Dad was "4" also--4 on each hand (44).

 Callum watching Zane light 4 and 4 candles on his pineapple-upside down cakes.

 Singing to Rusty.

 I missed him blowing the candles out--so all I got was a bunch of smoke :)