Doubletake ---

I was walking through the house the other day and noticed this! My preschooler had placed them on the piano! I had to run grab my camera and take a picture of them before he returned!

Thanksgiving Tradition

One of our favorite things to do at Thanksgiving (and Christmas) is to make teacakes via cookie cutters. It's something that takes hours (probably because we make a mega-recipe!) I have enjoyed doing this since I was a child and have passed on our holiday tradition to my kiddos. BTW, I totally forgot to invite my brother to our cookie-making evening (and am again apologizing in case he's reading this!) I have accumulated many cookie cutters throughout my life and we probably have several for every occasion possible (including many Texas ones!)


Notice the 'diaper' still taped to the edge of the cabinet that's been there for a few years. My relatives try to take it down sometimes but it prevents accidents with my kiddos bonking their heads! My kids and hubby are making their favorites. As they use up the dough, the left-overs go in a bowl to use after the first batch is used up. With this recipe, the more you use the dough, the better the images are from the cookie cutters. So, we use simple ones at the beginning and ones with more ornate detailing near the end.


My preschooler got out some raisins to add to the 'gingerbread men.' He kept saying he needed to put the buttons on (and I didn't understand him) until I just said 'ok.' Then, I realized he meant he wanted to put the raisins on those kind of cookies and also added eyes. He did many like that!


Some of our cookies!


We celebrated our Thanksgiving early. My hubby would be at work the week of it so we enjoyed it the weekend before. All my kids and both my brothers were there with their families (my other brother is overseas in Navy.) We even had friends there this year! It was a wonderful stress-free day with lots of great food and wonderful company! I'm blessed to have such loving people around me!!

Demon bug?!? Really!!?!

So, at my kiddos's school, you have to behave well to come home with a 'green' color, meaning everything went well. If something happens, you act up or not mind, you get 'yellow.' If you've been told something and continue to not listen (or do something unkind), you get 'red.' Finally, for those really bad actions, there's the ultimate bad, 'purple.' Of course, I love hearing (and seeing the color on the daily sheet) of 'green!'

Recently, my kiddo (and some others) learned how to make loud burp noises. Of course, one burp means that several kids will giggle afterwards, making huge disruptions in class. Not good. He's been warned not to do it (again.)

However, last week, an incident happened. He came home with a 'red' color! I asked him what happened. He replies, "There's a demon bug that flies around and chews on your sock that leaves out a poison that makes you burp." I am stunned. I grab a paper and pen and ask him to repeat that!! He repeats the exact same thing. Then he shows me his sock, where the upper part has been torn (chewed!) a little. I thought to myself, this excuse took lots of time and creativity! I smile to myself and go along with it. Of course, he then proceeded to tell me that he helped destroy this bug and it won't ever be returning. When we get home, I have to naturally take a picture of the evidence, of this amazing rare occurance.

A little later, we go to dinner (hubby returns from work after being gone two weeks and we usually go to our nearby Mexican restaurant.) The subject gets brought up about his behavior that day and I take out my camera to show him the chewed up sock. I stare at my kiddo to see his reaction as he has that embarrassing smile you get when you're trying not to laugh and be serious as he's lowering his head, almost looking away. Hubby goes along with the story too.

Of course, before dinner (and afterwards,) he is cleaning whatever it is I ask him to clean because that's his consequence for getting a 'red,' bug or not. But as we return from dinner, I mention to him that if his sock ever gets ruined by any other demon bug, he'll be buying new socks with his own money! Just as he starts to try to continue the story, I give him the look in which he 'knows' I'm serious and that I clearly know the truth. He nods his head in compliance.

The evidence!


A couple days ago, he turned 7. He requested a cake with zombies on it. Second choice were to have vehicles on it. And if that wasn't possible, tractors. I bought a plain cake and then provided all the vehicles and 'dirt.' He helped me crunch up oreos for dirt and we put little m&ms in the buckets! He loved it!

First Cub Scout Campout

Last weekend, my new Cub Scout went on his first campout. While we love camping, especially when it's cold, it was out first with other people around (who are not family.) In addition, while most participants were dads and sons (with the exception of one kiddo who had both mom and dad,) my kiddo was had just me (hubby was at work.) I had been kinda feeling anxious about it but knew that it'd work out ok. Our first cold front of the season had come in that weekend and it got into the lower 40s. For some, it was just too cold! We were seasoned veterans in that department and loved it! I overpacked with practically everything...but forgot my camera! Luckily, thanks to my older brother, I had my camera from my phone for a few pictures and grabbed another picture from a friend's FB page. We saw armadillo and deer all over the place. The tent neighbor's food box had a raccoon breakin and lost their hot dog buns. We were so tired (from all that fresh air) that we didn't hear a thing! All in all, we had an excellent time and my kiddo can't wait to go again!

My 'lil Tiger Cub.


Sunset at the State Park.


Fishing of the pier was a big hit! Nothing was ever caught but they enjoyed trying. My kiddo with his two friends.