Brighton's Class Thanksgiving & Stats

Today was Brighton's class Thanksgiving party.  I have volunteered to be "room parent" so I set up all the tables with the food that the parents brought in and got everything ready to go for the party.  It wasn't too much work and I enjoyed spending the extra time in the classroom.  

Brighton's class sung 6 songs for all the parents and then we had lunch.  Before the party started the kids were on the playground and I had a few minutes to check out the room alone.  I went over to the giant turkey (on the windows, far left) and tried to find Brighton's "thankful feathers" to see what he wrote.  He had written, "I am thankful for my dog."  Well, that was it.  I started to cry.  Obviously he had written this before Katie died, so it just struck me as to all the things Brighton could be thankful for, he had written that.  I quickly had to pull it together before the class came streaming in from outside.  We all miss Katie, but it's the little things like this that remind you.

As promised, here are Brighton's 6-year stats:

Height: 48 1/4" (91%)

Weight: 52 lbs (80 %)

At 6 years old, Brighton is such a joy.  He loves school and loves arts and crafts.  He likes playing outside, but isn't into sports as much as Chandler is.  He will play whatever the group wants to, whether it's football or pretending to go camping/on an adventure.  He is starting to read more and more sight words, and loves for me to read him the Magic Tree House books.  He likes watching Wild Kratts and Word Girl on TV.  He is learning to play chess.  He is a very good eater and will eat more of the "healthy" stuff that I eat like granola, smoothies, and oatmeal.  He also likes hummus and veggies.  Brighton currently sleeps on the top bunk and shares a room with Maverick.  We think that he and Chandler will share next and we'll unbunk the beds.

RIP Katie

We are all heartbroken today as our sweet Katie is gone.  We had 11.5 great years.  Katie was our first baby.  She will be missed.

Katie loved all animals.

Katie and Chandler were buds from the start.

Katie put up with anything.  She loved all our boys.  They were her "pack"

Katie & Jamison

Happy 11th Birthday, Katie!

Bows for my pretty girl

Katie with unhappy Maverick

Pre-kids

Katie was a beauty.  I imagine her like this now, running through a field, playing in the autumn leaves.

Katie was a pleaser.  She'd let you do anything to her and loved to play dress-up.

Sleeping under the curtains.

Yes, we let her on the sofa too.

The Last Battle
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.Author Unknown

Halloween!

 Happy Halloween from our family!

I really wanted to do a family "theme" for our costumes, but with so many different and strong opinions, I was lucky that we matched 50:50.  We had 3 super heroes and 3 pirates!  Maybe one year we'll all be the same thing....I can dream, right?  I guess it was good that we went this way to keep down costs.  I only had to buy my robin shirt/mask and Jamison's outfit.  The rest was from our dress-up bin!

Our cousin, Chloe joined in on the fun and was a pirate too.  Arrgh, mateys!  This was the most trick-or-treating we have done.  We did our street and the cross street, and one more small cul-de-sac.  The boys got entirely too much candy.  I really don't have a set limit of what they can have on Halloween night.  I think it was two pieces (never mind Jamison, who I lost count with)  If he wasn't eating candy, he was whining/crying for it.  He had a LOT of lollipops that night!

When we got home all the loot was dumped out and oohed and ahhhed over before I put it away in the special tin that Daddy takes to work.  I did let the boys each pick out 10 pieces to keep.  The older boys stash was cut in half before they even got to eat any due to behavior issues.  The candy was gone quickly and the rest went to work.  

I just had to get this picture of my two littles.  SO CUTE!  It takes me back to when my other two were little and cute.  I just love this age!

Happy Halloween!

Maverick's Fall Festival

Today was Maverick's Fall Festival at Preschool.  I try to volunteer at least once for each of the boys, so today it was Maverick's turn.  He dressed as Batman, so it was appropriate for me to be Robin.  Maverick liked the fact that I was his assistant!

Usually the games and activities are held inside, but they were outside this year.  Luckily one of the teachers let me borrow a jacket because it was quite chilly this morning (especially in the shade).  I helped out in the pumpkin patch where the children selected a pumpkin to decorate with stickers and markers.  

Next, they could move on to hammering in golf tees into a large pumpkin.

They had other games outside as well.  After the games, the children trick-or-treated to some of the adults that work in the church.  Then they came inside for a Halloween-themed music class.  It was a lot of fun.  I know Maverick enjoyed having me help out his class.  

Maverick's class is ten children: 4 super-hero boys, and 6 girls (one Ana, one Elsa, one ballerina, one kitty, one bunny, and one Little Mermaid)

Brighton is SIX!

My little artist, Brighton turned six today.  We celebrated his birthday on Saturday with an art-themed party.  I had my favorite cookie baker make favors for the party.  Can't beat the price of $1.00 each and no goodie bags.  Win-win!

I made cupcakes (half chocolate for Brighton and half vanilla for an older brother that somehow convinced the birthday boy to ask mom for 1/2 and 1/2) and decorated them to look like paint on an artist's pallet.  

Thank goodness we had good weather and the party could be outside.  We started off by having the kids decorate the table cloth that was filled with various frames by coloring a picture inside them or writing Brighton a Birthday message.  

Next, the real mess fun began.  I had pre-taped small burlap canvasses with designs that the kids could then paint over.  They all had a blast painting and creating their masterpieces.  Luckily there were many adults on hand to help out.  

A big thanks to our neighbor, Gerry, for providing all of the paint, mixing trays, and most of the paint brushes for the party.  Also, thank you to Granddaddy Bob for cleaning up all the paint trays and brushes.  Luckily the party fell during Jamison's nap time, so I was able to focus on the party.  Jamison woke up halfway through and was able to join us for the cupcakes.

Everybody gathered around and sang.  It was a great party.  Fall is definitely a great time to have a birthday.  The celebrations never seem to end.  Brighton definitely lives it up as the only one with a birthday this time of year.  He had a mummy cookie-cake for his real birthday complete with his requested meal of hotdogs, mac-n-cheese, and fruit.  All served on his "Happy Birthday" plate.  

Hmm...that reminds me....it's time for his 6-year checkup at the doctor.  Better get that scheduled and I'll post stats soon.  We love you, Brighton.  Happy Birthday!

Fall Fun

Yesterday I went with Brighton's class to a local pumpkin patch.

Our family had been to this patch 3 years ago when Maverick was a baby.  They certainly have expanded since then.  They now have these cool tube-racers and a jumping pillow.  I've never been on a jumping pillow before, so it didn't take much asking from Brighton for me to hop on up there as well.  The entire class was up there at one point.  So much fun!

The corn pit is always a big hit.  Brighton enjoyed begin buried in it.  

They also had pedal cars to race.  Brighton gave his friend, Cayden, a push around the track.

The entire class posed for a picture before heading home.  It was nice to get to spend time with Brighton and his class.  My group that went through the fun-house got lost in the maze.  We took an emergency exit to get out.  I never did claim to be good with directions.  We still had a good time though.

The Fair!

Ah, the Fair!

My boys and I LOVE the fair.  Chandler said he wished the fair could be every week.  Me too, except I don't think we could afford it more than once a year.  WOW....the fair is expensive!

This year we were SO BLESSED.  We walked into the fair about 3 p.m. and not one, but two families handed us their "extra" tickets as they were leaving.  We've all done it....you have 3-10 tickets left over.  Not really enough to do anything with, especially when all 3-4 kids have to ride one last ride.  So you say, "that's all folks" and head for the car.  You look for a family to give your extra tickets to and God knew my boys were up for riding more than 2-3 rides each (which was about the number of tickets we had).  I was speechless by the number of tickets one family handed us.  I quickly said, "Thank you so much!" as they hurried away toward the gate.  They had handed us about half as many tickets as we had bought for our family.  Such a blessing!

Jamison likes some of the rides.  Not really a fan of the carousel though.  He likes to ride on the bench or be held.  Don't you dare try him on a horse!

This picture cracks me up.  Maverick didn't want to smile before we took off on the swings.  I took a video of us swinging together though.  It was so cute.  He was experiencing pure JOY and so was I.  Priceless.

We tend to eat at the same sit-down place for dinner each year.  Corndogs are a favorite (and hot dogs for the little two).  I bring paper plates because that just makes it easier.  I also brought applesauce for the boys, to make it a balanced meal :)  Jamison even got the last 1/3 of one of Daddy's corndogs.  He didn't want to miss out on food on a stick.  

One of the last rides Maverick selected.  Jamison was not happy at all that he wasn't tall enough to ride.  Maverick can ride almost any of the kiddie rides because he is so tall!  Chandler and Brighton were adventurous and loved riding the kiddy thrill-rides for the tween-set.  It adds up quickly when those type of rides are 5 tickets each!!

What a fun time.  I think this was the latest we've ever stayed out at the fair.  The boys actually got to see the lights come on a night, ha!  They were loving every minute of it.  Can't wait for next year!