Hit the Road, Jack...(and Gracie and Pete)

My family has cabin fever. The weather has been in the 60s the last couple of afternoons and will be nice again tomorrow. So Pete loaded up the kids and they are off to Mount Magazine for the night - hiking, lodge, indoor swimming pool. You can check it out on the web at http://www.mountmagazinestatepark.com/. They will be back in time tomorrow to ring in the new year with me, although I will be working up until midnight, making sure all of D&B's revenue can be recognized for 2008. So what will I be doing tonight? Cleaning out and reorganizing my kitchen cabinets. Hold on to your hats, it's going to get wild in Westin Park tonight! D

Got Your Tickets Yet?...

...to the Gun Show! There is certainly something to be said for swimming 5,000+ yards a week. This week Gracie can either be found working out daily at the pool, or staring at, calling someone, or taking pictures on her new cell phone, courtesy of Santa. She has slept with it in her hand every night since Christmas. We love you Gray!

Dear Mom and Dad,

Pete said you called earlier and got home safely! Thank you for celebrating Christmas with us again. Thank you for driving down to Conway. Thank you for making Gracie and Jackson feel like they are the MOST important people in your world while you are here. Thank you for sharing with them the real meaning of Christmas. Thank you for enthusiastically applauding our show. Thank you for loving Pete and enjoying his 'humor', even if it does involve driving across our front lawn and getting stuck in the mud. Thank you for all of the special gifts, those under the tree and those that are becoming tradition - cookies, singing, praying, cooking turkey and dressing, cleaning out the garage. Thank you for playing the Wii. Thank you for being my mom and dad, and teaching me what family is all about. Much love always...Denise

Merry Christmas to All!

Christmas Eve, 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...and feel like it around Arkansas! The weather is certainly a 'real' winter feel this year. We are having a little freezing rain this morning, but should warm up by this afternoon in the mid 40s. Mom and Dad are waiting until noon to leave from Cape for Conway. Pete is home with the kids and is heading over to the pool with Gracie in a few minutes for her practice.

For those of you who have not yet been to visit us, I wanted to show you our home for Christmas. We have a fairly tall ceiling in our living room, and the best space for our tree is near the opening to our eating area. I have been wanting a tall, skinny, prelit tree for a while, and Pete came through this year! I think it is perfect for the space and I love how it looks, all sparkly and BURIED in ornaments. I have always loved ornaments and the memories that they conjure up each year, from vacations, school pictures, pets, homemade creations, etc. Some of our favorites this year are the kids school pictures, Kruse's paw print from the vet clinic, a globe of shredded up money from our trip to DC, a star made of all seashells from our trip to FL last year, and a fish from Cape Cod, where Pete caught his famous bluefish.

So...what to do with our old tree? Gracie and I have been collecting snowmen for a few years, so we decided to decorate our second tree all in snowmen and snowflakes and make our library nice and Christmasey-cozy. I found some great additions at the Dollar Tree ( I love dollar stores), including some pairs of tiny mittens meant for babies that we turned into ornaments.

BINGO!

Highlights from our day in Conway...

1. Nate had high score in bowling- 94.

2. The team of Gracie, Nate and Matt beat the team of Jack, John, and Pete - two games out of two.

3. Gracie lost her tooth in the 4th frame of the second game.

4. Chocolate chip pizza at Pizza Inn is the best.

5. University of Central Arkanasa men's basketball game had Toys for Tots night - bring a toy and get in free. Thank goodness for the dollar store.

6. Half time game was Bingo! MATT HARTMANN won the third round. He yelled out BINGO and ran across the court to the scorer's table, tripping and nearly taking out a rack of basketballs. After he was announced a winner, he got a UCA t-shirt and ran back across the court to us with both arms raised in the air! Got a good laugh from the crowd!

7. Johnny got a bloody nose on the moon bounce in the kids area.

8. Drove to a neighborhood with MEGA-lights on their culdesac. Santa was handing out candy canes to each car and checking his list for all names of kids in the car. All 7 of ours were on the NICE list, much to their excitement!

9. Finishing up with Wii night.

10. Pete is drinking a scotch.

Have you seen Pete?

Update: He has landed in Memphis and is renting a car to drive to the LR airport to pick up his truck!

Pete is Somewhere in Charlotte

Well...guess who is still not home? All flights out of Charlotte were cancelled last night due to flog. Pete is in some random Mariott on standby for a flight, hopefully today! The kids are NOT happy. Jack had a breakdown last night at New China when he choked on his rice, got scared, and then burst into tears with "I miiiiissss Daddy!" At least he was pacified with another slumber party night in Mommy's bed.

Looking forward to a visit from the Jackson 5 tomorrow! Dennis, Deidre, and boys should be getting to Conway around noonish. Drive safely!

Here is a picture of a happier Jack!

D

Weather Station White...Part II

Here is a lovely picture that Gracie took of herself in the men's departement of Belk.

Schools are closed again today! The low temperatures are really not allowing anything to melt. Pete's flights were finally all cancelled yesterday, but they are trying again for today, so prayers again for safe travel please.

For those of you on the Karl side who might be reading this and are wondering why I am mentioning "Weather Station White?"...since my dad was a principal, he was in charge of calling the local Cape Girardeau TV station to report if school was out due to snow/ice. Every year they gave him a passphrase to use when he called in, so they would know that it was him. I am sure he had several different codes over the years, but we always remembered this one for some reason.

D

Weather Station White

This just in...ice storm in Arkansas! Conway schools let out early yesterday afternoon and are closed today! I am working from home today with the two kiddos. Pete's flight to Ann Arbor is STILL ON for this afternoon - please say a quick prayer that he travels safely, against his wife's wishes. $30 million dollars on the line, evidently.
Love to all...D

Over What Hill?!?

I successfully made it through my first day as a 40 year old. I was able to shop with the kids without tripping or spilling my purse, I could clearly hear what every salesperson said to me, and I negotiated a stroll to one of my favorite restaurants without throwing out my back. Pretty good for an 'ol lady! :) Pete and I had some shopping to do in the afternoon for the kids, so our awesome friends and next door neighbors, Will and Toni, offered to let Gray and Jack come over for a playdate while we shopped and had dinner. We came back home around 7:45pm and ran next door to grab the kids to go and rent a movie. We got to Will and Toni's front door and I was greeted with horns, decorations, and "Surprise!" ALL of our closest Conway friends were there to help me celebrate. They all parked their cars waaayyy down the street so I had no idea: Will and Toni, Chad and April (softball and dance), Derek and Sharon (basketball, softball, dance), Josh and Heather (Derek and Sharon's son and daughter-in-law), Tammie and Aaron (church), George and Andrea (church), Todd and Heather (church), and Scott and Mandy (neighbors, and swimming). Thanks to my wonderful husband for proposing the idea, and UNENDING thanks to Toni for putting the ideas into perfect action! I felt like a queen! Thanks also to Nanas and Papas Brown and Beach for the birthday phone calls!

Watch D.O.G.S.

Yesterday was Pete's first day as a Watch D.O.G. at Gray's school - Dad's of Great Students. This is a district-wide program that allows dads to spend the day at school doing various assignments, mentoring, etc. He began the day as greeter at the dropoff lane, opening doors for students, helping with backpacks, etc. Sooo...I got to hear YET AGAIN about the positive virtues of the minivan, with it's cool automatically opening doors, the mom doesn't even need to move, yada yada...I am pretty sure I will be driving my 4X4 Yukon with big Sport King mud tires until it dies, thank you very much. (no offense to you minivan moms!) Now, on to the rest of his day. He was prompted (by Mrs. Lawrence) to lecture Gracie's 4th grade class on the importance of mastering the art of long division, because you WILL use it in everyday life. What I would have paid to hear that infomercial!? He did small group flashcards, monitored 3 lunch periods, broke up a dirt clod fight on the playground, monitored the computer lab during recess, and guest-read for 4 sittings of "The Polar Express" in the media center for PreK and Kindergarten. I am very concerned that he didn't read with expression, but he claimed it was all good! And the best part??? (drumroll please)...he HAD to leave his BlackBerry in the car!!!!!

Results of last night's WiiFest...
Bowling
Gracie - 124
Jackson - 131
Denise - 144 - victory dance
Pete - at church council meeting

Wii Age
Gracie - 54
Denise - 60
Pete - 45
Jackson - couldn't be bothered, he was doing pushups and lifting soup can weights (evidently, this is what Ms. Kay did yesterday)

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's...

...hey, that's not until tomorrow! However, I walked into work yesterday with a work space decorated with all things old - megaphone hearing aid, Old Geezer joke book, denture bath, etc. Travis, my favorite who I have worked with for 3 years, took it upon himself to address me as "Old Fart" all day. They took me out to lunch and gave me a $40.00 gift card to a new restaurant in Conway, as well as this awesome cake! Like Mom said, "Life begins at 40!"

Christmas Party at Preschool

I just came from Jackson's Christmas Party at preschool. The class did 3 fingerplay poems for the parents and devoured cookies, fruit and cheese dip. Jack was quick to point out to me all of the kids who are not good listeners, and even did the 'crazy sign' (twirling your index finger around your ear) when Ira, the girl from the Ukraine, tried to pound a staple through her shoe while they were putting up cots. He was so pleased to present Ms. Cindy with her present - he picked out a gold and silver sparkly angel Christmas tree topper. Ms. Cindy's church puts on a live, walk through nativity every year. We are heading to that tonight, as long as it doesn't rain. She will be dressed up as a pregnant Elizabeth in long johns and tunic!

I am eager to get home and find out how Gracie did on her math test. On the mornings that she has tests, she will not get out of the car in the dropoff lane until we say a prayer for focus and wisdom. Then Jackson usually has to follow up with "Make good choices!" (see "Freaky Friday" with Lyndsey Lohan) out the window in front of all the kids, which she hates!

Tonight we will also pack up Pete for his whirlwind trip to Atlanta tomorrow.

Love to all...D

What are we doing this instant?

8:35 pm
Tuesday night
12/9/2008

Jackson - taking a shower in mommy and daddy's shower. He is rejoicing because I just allowed him to pee in the shower instead of getting out and walking across a slippery floor.

Gracie and Pete - studying for Gracie's math test tomorrow - division, multiplication, special quotients, etc. We found out earlier in the school year that Pete must have been absent all of the days they taught rounding in his elementary school.

Denise - updating this blog and watching the clock, The Real Housewives of the OC is on in 17 minutes.

Current books we are reading:
Jackson - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Gracie - The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever
Pete - too busy to read
Denise - Water for Elephants

SnapGrades

Hi family! Ever heard of SnapGrades? Maybe we down here in Arkeehaw are behind the times, but Gracie's new elementary school is using it this year. It is an online grade book. Her teacher posts all grades into the website, and each of us parents has a logon and password to check it each day. It lists overall grades, as well as detailed grades about each assignment in each subject. It is awesome! I received an email every afternoon at 3:30 when new grades have been posted. Pete and I are enjoying watching her terrific progress this year, and she loves to get that immediate vision of job well done! Gracie is really working hard this year and seeing awesome results. She is currently most proud of her A- in math (yes you read that correctly) and her Advanced in writing, her all time favorite subject. We are so blessed to have been given Mrs. Lawrence this year. She is tough but very fair and very positive, and calls Gracie 'sweetie' and plays with Gracie's hair during lectures - apparently one of the perks of sitting in the front row. :)

The other night, Jackson was telling us about all of his classmates at preschool. He has several from different countries - Ira is from the Ukraine, Samir is from India, Wei-Jin in from China. Then he mentioned Kahlil. Pete said, "Oh, is Kahlil Chinese?" Jackson said, "No, he is Conway."

'Homemade' Peanut Butter Crackers

Welcome to the first entry of many more to come! I am tackling one of my New Year's resolutions early - to find a way to share our lives in Conway, Arkansas with all family - Oregon, North Carolina, Missouri, Minnesota, and Connecticut. Phone calls and emails are great, and I love my mom's Saturday letter in the mail. But I want to paint a picture - a picture of what happens in this busy, energized, always entertaining house of ours on a daily basis. It is my intent to update this daily so please mark it as a "Favorite" in your internet sites and visit often.

As I am typing this, Jackson is enjoying one of his favorite snacks - peanut butter crackers. But these are not just any old peanut butter crackers. He discovered, by checking the snack cabinet, that we are out of his usual pre-packaged peanut butter crackers, much to his dislike. I grabbed the peanut butter jar from the pantry, TownHouse crackers, and a little appetizer spreader. I spread the peanut butter on the crackers and handed them to him to try. He took one bite and loudly announced to Gracie and Pete that "Mommy just cooked the best homemade peanut butter crackers ever!" I bet it will go good with the grape jelly they make in Cape Girardeau, huh Mom and Dad?!? What a kid...

Talk to you tomorrow, we're 'thinkin' outside the bun' for dinner tonight (Taco Bell)...
D

In the beginning...

...I created a blog.