Thanksgiving Play Date

We decided to have a play date for all our friends at church.  We made Pilgrim and Indian hats, colored, played, and of course had lots of yummy food.

Shane's Veterans Day Program

    Veterans Day, or Armistice Day, is a day a lot of people ignore. They are aggravated because they can't go to the bank, or get their mail.  Some may think of it only because they get the day off of work or school.  I am so thankful I am not I am not among those people, nor is my family or my community. 
    Living on a Marine Corps base we constantly come face to face with the sacrifice that our service members and their families make everyday.  Our children are learning at a very young age to honor and respect those who have served, and I thank God for that.  Most people just go through there everyday lives not thinking about who or what has been sacrificed for their freedoms. The quote that comes to mind is by Zell Miller, “For it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom to protest. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom to abuse and burn that flag.”

    Shane's class put together a special song to sing at a flag ceremony.  We talked to him the night before to make sure he knew what a veteran is and why we must honor them.  He was very excited to get to wear one of Daddy's covers while singing.

  We were so very proud of him and his class, they did a great job!  I am so glad that the schools are teaching patriotism at such a young age.  Below is the video of their performance.

 

Colts Football 2010

   McKinley has wanted to play football for a couple of years, but me, being the over protective mom that I am refused.  This year after many fights discussions, Jeremy forced talked me into it.  But the deal was Jeremy had to help coach so he could keep a constant eye on him!! 
    It was a little rocky at first.  We dealt with asthma flair ups, the heat, his listening skills, but in the end he learned a ton, and is hungry for more next year.  His team ended up in 2nd place overall, and McKinley got a pretty nice trophy to add to his growing collection. 

The first practice

His first game.

Sign for the last game of the season.

action shot

Getting his trophy from Coach Green.

He is so proud of himself, and so are we!!!

A Blog a Day

If you are visiting this blog then you know I have been a big slacker!!  I have a ton of excuses like, 4 kids, church, classes, Jeremy's surgery.second surgery in four months.  But the truth is I have just been lazy.  I log on everyday to look at every one's  post but never take the time to blog.  Now I have 11, yes 11, posts that I need to do, some dating back to July!!  So I decided to do a post a day until I am completely caught up.  Here is a preview of posts to come, and by all means call me out!!  If you don't see a post a day from me "remind" me.  Next Wednesday I am starting a new weekly post that is really outside of my comfort zone, so stay tuned!!

Post to come......

Paramore Concert
1st Day of School
Bella's B-day
Fun With Grandparents
The Perfect Apple Pie
Mike's Farm
VIP
Colts Football 2010
Family Pizza Night
Fall Crafts
Sunday School Playdate

Pizza Pie Night

    I can remember making my very own personal size pizza when I was little, and I loved it!  So when our weekly menus are feeling a little old and boring we like to jazz it up with a all you can eat, make you own pizza night.  The kids love it and it saves me from spending forever in the kitchen.

Bella likes cheese, can you tell.

Adding the ham and pineapple.

Shane likes to play it safe with a little peperoni

McKinley and Noah fighting over the cheese.

Noah and his ham pizza.

McKinley looking a little scary with his pizza.

The finished products.  Just add a great movie, some popcorn, and you have family memories that last forever!!

The family that cooks together, stays together!!!

Halloween Play Date

    One of the things we love most about Jacksonville is our church.  And one of the things I love about the church is our awesome Sunday School class. We are more like a family than a class, we are always getting together, and doing different activities.  So I thought it would be a good idea if we had a monthly playgroup for the kids, plus it gives us adults some time for conversations with someone who is not asking for a sippy cup!
    Since Halloween is just around the corner we decided to let the kids wear their costumes, and had lots of fun fall activities for them.  The is the first of many play dates to come.  The kids had a blast, and I think the adults did too!  Enjoy the pics of all the cuties in their costumes!!

Bella and Annsley

Summer making a call.

Aunna and Bella, our party fairies.

JonJon, Tristan, and Noah at the play dough table.

Avery coloring

Beth and Benjamin

Ethan protecting the party.

Candy playing with the kids.

Annsley, our little USMC cheerleader.

David and a very prego Parie.

 

My VIP's!

    At both JPS, and Bitz, every week the highlight a student.  This week McKinley, and Noah were chosen. 

      McKinley  had a special ceremony and other activities throughout the week, and I got to come eat lunch with him on Friday. 

McKinley with his award.

Bella and McKinley enjoying a special VIP lunch.

Noah got to be line leader, and got to bring home a very special puppy on Friday to have some fun with the Mace family.  We also wrote about how much fun we had in the puppy journal (Noah is on the Puppy Team.)

He was very excited!

The pumpkin he carved with the puppy that got to spend the weekend with us!!