Our Christmas Tree

The past few weeks have flown by.  Maybe because Thanksgiving was late this year.  Most year's it seems to take forever for Christmas to get here.  We didn't put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving this year as the kids were at Granddad and Nana's.  We put it up that Sunday but didn't decorate it until Tuesday.

Here the kids are helping Rob get it up.  They were so excited to bring up all the stuff.  

When we decorate the tree, Autumn gets the left side with all her pink decorations and Logan gets the right side with his tractors and such.  In the middle of the tree we put our family decorations of places we have been.

This is from our Cape May, NJ trip that Great-Granddad joined us on.

The Roundhouse Museum in Baltimore that Great-Granddad took us to.

Our Rehoboth Beach vacation in 2012.

Broadkill Beach, DE that we went to this past summer.

On the top of the tree are the ornaments that mean something to me.  They were Grandmom's ornaments and I can still remember placing them on the tree every year and they always went up top as well.

Here is one of Grandmom's handmade egg ornaments.  I have Lucy and Snoopy.  I know there were a couple more with the Peanuts crew but I don't know if someone else has them are they broke over the years.

Here is our tree in all it's glory.  You can tell this is Logan's side.  I've learned not to place any presents under the tree until Christmas Eve.  The dogs in there frenzy to look out the window no matter what is in the way, have destroyed past wrapping efforts.  Sometimes I had to re-wrap a present a couple of times or someone saw a peak of something.  So this takes care of all that.    

Ramblings

The leaves are almost all gone leaving the mountainsides barren.  And animals have found or are getting ready to find their burrows for the cold to come.  Don't get me worn I love the change in seasons, but after awhile winter gets to me and I want to see color again.  So I will treasure the few remaining leaves.

Thanksgiving is 6 days away which is so hard to believe.  Which means 7 days until I can put up decorations.  A week after turkey day is my work's Christmas party.  I kind of like the short time span between the holidays. 

We are not going all out for Christmas this year.  Rob and I decided to just by for the kids this year.  We figured people really don't NEED anything and I really don't want to waste money on something they don't need.  We're not buying for each other either, we don't need anything.    We have financial goals we want to hit so all our focus is on that.  But if a family member wanted us to donate to a reputable charity (not one of the big mainstream ones where most money pays for the exuberant salaries) I'd be happy to do so.  I'd much rather GIVE to someone that NEEDS something then to someone who WANTS something.  The kids and I just might have to make some pay it forward trips.

I am on the final stretch of school at HCC.  This time of every semester I just want it to be over.  I always find myself starting to slack a little but I've been trying to keep myself in check.  I also met with an advisor at UMUC a couple of weeks ago and got my spring semester in order.  I am also taking a class this semester that is required of all new students. The class started this week and is only four weeks long.  I take 3 classes next semester.  The term's are only 8 weeks and they have 4 terms each semester. I'm gonna play it by ear and see how if I could possibly squeeze in fourth class for the fall semester.  I think I will still stick with two for the summer.  

Random pic just because it's cute.  See the squirrel in the corn stalk?

The kids have parent teacher conferences next week.  Hoping I don't get the same response from Autumn's teacher this year as I did last year.  Last year her teacher wasn't even in her room and I met with another teacher.  I ran into her homeroom teacher on the way out and she said "Oh I didn't need to talk to you because she's a good student".  Um ok, I was a little stunned.  Everyone can always strive for improvement in some area or another.  I know she has some weaknesses and I just basically wanted to an overall recap.  Logan's conference can go either way, for me that is.  It can make me blubber or just get determined.  Poor guy is struggling with comprehension, which I warned them they need to focus on.  And while he is graded with his "normal" peers I know how far this kid has come whether the grade reflects that or not.

Off to experiment with some recipes to take on Thanksgiving.  

Birthday Recap

Ugh!  This birthday recap post has been on my to do list but every time I go to sit down I get distracted.  Then I'll think about it a week later and I repeat the process.  Logan had a good birthday, nothing big, just a small and quiet gathering.  But let's rewind a couple of weeks. 

Back in June, Logan declared he wanted to change his birthday to the summer time so that he could do something fun for his birthday since we had taken Autumn to the beach and had a cookout for her's.  We couldn't quite get away with doing that for his in October.  So I racked my brain and their wasn't anything that stood out to me around here.  He loved the go karts this summer so after doing some research the four of us ended up going to Adventure Park USA since he would be able to ride them.  I had taken advantage of a Groupon deal so we were all set. We went 2 weeks before his birthday since the outdoor attraction's would be closed for the season and Dennis aka Granddad also came.

This was their first ride of the day.  Nothing like getting scrambled first thing.

 

Here is Autumn racing around the track.  The first time they went she had a much faster car.  The next time both their cars were painfully slow.

 

We decided to play a round of miniature golf.  I forgot how long playing 18 holes takes.  If I remember correctly Rob won.

 

 The kids really wanted to mine for "treasure" so I got each of them a bag.  They ended up mining pretty rocks which they were very happy with.

 

After lunch the kids decided they wanted to go on this stomach settling ride.  I talked Rob into going with them, but I don't think he was all that appreciative afterwards. 

As I said above we didn't want to do anything big for his birthday, so we just invited family.  Nice and simple. He picked what we were having for lunch which included hamburgers, hot dogs, veggies, fruit and some chips.

 

The anticipated present time.

He picked out his cake.  

 

All in all it was a nice day!  

 

While the kids enjoyed Adventure Park, I don't think I'd be willing to go back.  The roller coaster was scary as heck, not because it was twisty and turny, I was terrified of him and myself coming out of the darn thing.  They need more outside attractions to make it more inviting and worth while.  Especially for the money you have to pay to get in.

Happy 8th!

It's hard to believe that my baby boy is now 8!  Eight years!  Where has the time gone?

It seems just like yesterday I got that horrible news my baby had to come today.  It seems just like yesterday that I had that long ride to Hopkins, doubtful that my baby would survive to even deliver him.  

He's defied all odds laid before him.  No doubt in my mind that he's a fighter.

He accomplishes goals, albeit in his terms, but he does it.  It just wouldn't be Logan if he didn't show his stubborn side.

This is a kid that can argue with the best of lawyers and make you smile with his enthusiasm for life.  

This is a kid that can frustrate himself and I together so that we're both crying over the simple things that can be so complex to him.  

This is a kid that can amaze me.  Yet there are days I want to pack my bags and head to the moon.  

But I wouldn't change it for anything!

So on this day I'm wishing him a Happy Birthday!

The Renaissance & Family

On Labor day weekend the family got together at Granddad's to all get together as well as to see the Sayaka's new bundle of joy.  Since me and the kids were making the trip down we decided to go early and head to the Renaissance Fair since I had never been and I though the kids might like it.  

First stop was face painting.  She would only do it if I did it.

Here they are petting the alligator they thought was soooo cute!  

He insisted I take his picture.

We were able to snag a rid before the line got crazy long since this was one of the free attractions.

Before we ate lunch they wanted to go down the slide.  I said yes and said I would wait right where I was.  I had no idea it cost money.  I figured I'll slip on down to the end and get a picture of them coming down.  Nope, kid after kid went and I started to panic especially when I heard a gentlemen say it cost money.  So I ran back up to the top looking for them.  No kids.  So I was thinking to myself, this can't be happening to me.  I race back down to the end of the slide and much to my relief they were coming my way.  All I can say is that is not a good feeling when you think you have lost your kids.  I almost sat down in the middle of everyone and cried.

After recovering from that, we walked around and stumbled upon the music store.  Logan wanted a harmonica and Autumn got the scarf.  Here he is wanting to show it off.

We were done hot and sweaty and headed out but we stopped to watch this lady.

On to G-dad's we go. The main guest showed up not too much after we did.  

Here Aunt Pat is getting her turn at holding the new bundle.

And Jess.

And Robbie.

I even held the little Sophia. I don't think anyone got a picture of that.  I haven't held a baby in years not because I would think I would want another one.  Just don't ask, it's hard to explain.

Here are Granddad's 3 Great-Grandchildren.  

Logan, Sophia and Autumn.

Front and center Granddad looking spry as ever with Noriko.

Here's Tim.

Here's Robbie trying to cool off my mother.

This is Uncle Mike (aka the man with the drums) who is Sophia's Grandfather.

Her expressions were cracking me up.

This kind of looks serious.

Ok, I'm getting bored.

And here, she's sticking her tongue out at her Mom. 

It was great to see everyone.  We don't get together nearly enough all living our lives in various city and  states.  We all must make the effort to get together as a family.  

That would have made Grandmom happy.

Maryland State Fair

Dennis (Rob's Dad) wanted to take the kids to a fair this year so we ended up going to the Maryland State Fair in Timonium.  It had been years since I was there.  We couldn't have asked for better weather.  Our first stop was the animals and who doesn't love looking at the baby pigs?  They are so
cute!

The kids thought this looked easy and that we would be toting one of those big things around.  It's a lot harder than they thought and luckily we didn't win.

Autumn wanted to go on the swings but Logan did not want to go once he saw how high up they went, so Dennis volunteered to go with her.

Up they went.  Dennis said it was a good view.  I'll take his word.

Logan played it a little safer on the slide instead.

Next up, the pig races.  These guys were so cute.  If only they would stay this small.  They were racing for an oreo cookie.

This little guy stole my heart.  He sat there and danced for a little while before he got the gumption to dive in the water to get his oreo cookie at the other end.

There he goes!  See his oreo sitting on the other end?  He was so happy when he got it.

Of course we had to do the peddle tractors.  

Last stop of the day were these insane people.

This pool was not much wider than what you see here and was not very deep at all considering the heights they were jumping from. 

Then I really though they were crazy when the monkey climbed all the way to the top and jumped in.

All in all it was a fun filled day.  

A Big Thanks to Dennis for taking us!