A Snow Day

 

 

 

School was cancelled one day just before Christmas.  The boys ran out of ways to occupy themselves so I stepped in to help.  I had been stashing cans, cartons and boxes for a while for just such an occasion and it was time to pull them out.  I threw them out of the cupboard right to the middle of the floor which they got a kick out of.   "What is mom DOING?!"  After adding some essential supplies like masking tape, packing tape, scissors, wrapping paper and markers their imaginations took off.

Bud's imagination exercises took place on the computer.  He loves Spore, which allows him to create creatures, planets, universes, communities and the like.  We have to be careful, though.  He can get lost in Spore land for hours!

Games and movie days are other favorite ways for us to spend snow days.  What are some of yours?

Simplicities for October

I realize the month is almost gone, but maybe you can still take advantage of some of these ideas.  Maybe some of them you have already done and can reflect on the joy they brought to you and your family.  Either way, here's to a simple October!

* Plan an outing to a pumpkin patch.  Buy several pumpkins so you can carve, paint and otherwise decorate til your heart's content!  How about buying some little ones to turn into pies?  I cooked several last fall and had baggies of fresh pumpkin in my freezer through the summer. 

* Creat a seasonal table.  And it doesn't have to be the one you eat at!  Maybe use your piano or your mantel or a bookcase.  Angie over at Echoes of Laughter does a BEAUTIFUL job with seasonal decorating.  I get lots of ideas from her.  Thanks Angie!

* Try this fun idea for preserving fall leaves like they did in Victorian times:

                Trim branches from trees when the leaves have just turned and are at their best, before they start to dry.  Split the stems of the branches about 3 inches up from the bottom; stand them in a bucket of warm water for several hours.  If any leaves start to curl, pick them off.  Prepare a solution of glycerine and water by mixing one part glycerine with two parts water.  Glycerine can be found at pharmacies.  Bring the solution to a boil, gently simmer for 10 minutes and then let it cool completely.  Cut the bottom of your stems at a  very sharp angle and smash them with a hammer (wouldn't the kiddos love this part?)  Stand the stems up in the solution and store it in a cool, dark place until all the solution has been absorbed.  About a week to 10 days.  When you first notice tiny beads of glycerine beginning to form on the leaves, they are done!   Take them out of the solution, wipe them down with a damp paper towel and dry thoroughly.  The leaves will stay beautiful and bright for several seasons.  I think this one will have to wait til next season at our house.  Something to look forward to!

 

* Plant bulbs to show off next spring.  Tulips, crocus, daffodils.  How beautiful it will be!

* Mull cider and /or wine on the weekends.  Invite friends to enjoy it with you.  Our family enjoyed this on the first day of Autumn along with some gingerbread cookies.

 

So!

 

Before we get caught up in planning Thanksgiving dinner and all the other events in November, let's remember to enjoy October to its fullest.

 

 



Marching Band

It's football season!  Or more accurately spoken in our house...it's marching band season!

Our highschool had its first home game on the new football field last weekend.  All last season, the team had to borrow the field of another school for home games because our field was being redone.  And a lot of the school was getting remodeled.  So, first game on the new field!  It was a big deal, needless to say.  Very fun to watch.  Louisville Lions are in purple and gold.

 

 

 

But the highlight of the evening for this Mama was halftime!  Bring on the marching band!

 

Jr. High band (which is the one Bud plays in) got to join the Highschool band for this big event.  They played America the Beautiful.

 

 

 

 

Can you spot Bud?  Here, let me point him out for you...

 

 

Best darn trumpeter I ever did hear!

 

 

A very favorite scrapbook sticker I have says this:

 

                     "Hey!  What's the football team doing on the band field?"             LOVE IT!

 

By the way, the team did great.  We won the game although I don't remember the score.  I know.  How sad.  I took the two little ones home just into the third quarter.  Does that get me a pardon for not knowing the final score?  I really do enjoy watching football and am looking forward to the Homecoming game.  The Jr High band plays again! 

 

 



A Fun Day

Today was Fun Day at the Boyos' school.  Some schools might call it Field Day.  It's the same thing.  Lots of runnin' and funnin' out in the sun and fresh air.  In years past, the kids have competed for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place ribbons and such.  The school has also made use of the track and all the space around it.  This year, however, plans were forced to change.  And, if I do say so myself, they changed for the better.  Improvements and additions have been happening to our school the past year and a half, and that includes the track and all fields.  So the elementary Fun Day was relocated to parking lots, the playground and the street in front of the school.  Oh, some of us parents complained.  We fretted about parking and the inconvenience of a two block length of street closing for the day.  But it was so fun!  Truly a FUN day!  The kids had a blast.



Busy playground



What I appreciated most about the forced change was the doing away with the competition aspect.  This year the kids did not compete for first place; no ribbons of different colors were handed out.  The focus was entirely on FUN.  The games were things like Shoe Kick, Tricycle Races, Water Balloon Toss, Scooter Races, Obstacle Course and of course the Dashes.  The kids were just having FUN!  I chatted with the school counselor a while about the change.  Some parents phoned in, very upset that Junior would not be getting a ribbon this year.  She had no sympathy for them, at least not in relating the story to me.  "There is so much competition on that end," she said, motioning to the highschool end of the building.  "They don't need it here." 

I agreed with her.  I mean, really...how often do our kids just get to be KIDS?  How often, in today's society, do they get to have FUN?  With no restrictions, no judgements, no tips on how to "improve their game"?  Today was all about good, ol' fashioned fun. 

Even the teachers got in on the fun!

A Good Laugh

I was going to write about introverts, as I am very much one of them.  But JoJo sat down next to me as I was firing up my computer and we got to looking at my "Ponderings, Smiles & Giggles" board on pinterest.  (Hello, my name is Jenny and I'm a pinterest geek.)  He got the giggles so badly that I decided to post some and save introversion for another day.  I think that's the introvert in me - taking the attention off of myself and passing it on to someone else.  Ya think?

Anyway, here are JoJo's favorites.

"We ride!"

(he thinks this is hysterical!)

"Whaaaaat??"

(this one just produced a good giggle)

"Tickle him!"

(jamming his finger toward the ground, trying to sound tough through the laughter)

Hope you get to enjoy some laughter with your kiddos today.