Explaining Winter

Okay, so on the way to school from gymnastics today, while the frigid winter wind was wailing... I was given a horticulture quiz from the 4 year old.

GSS: Why is the grass dead now?
MOM: It's not, really.
GSS: But, it's brown.
MOM: Yes, that is because it is dormant.
GSS: What's dormant?
MOM: It's taking a rest. It won't be green again till spring
GSS: Why are the leaves off the trees and brown, but some trees are green?
MOM: Some trees go dormant because they are deciduous. Can you say deciduous.
GSS: Duchuwas
MOM: Close enough.
GSS: What are the green ones called?
MOM: Evergreens
GSS: Okay. And some bushes, they are all green too.
(Silence, I thought we were done)
GSS: What is the green stuff on the brown tree's bottom part. Why is that green?
MOM: What are you meaning, exactly??
(About 1mile later, I figure it out)
GSS: There, right there, look at that trees bottom. It has green.
MOM: You mean moss? That is moss growing on the trunk.
GSS: That is every-green.
MOM: I suppose it is!

Hope you enjoyed this wonderful lesson in plant life. :-)

4 year old Homework

I think I have talked before about the Pre-K homework, and how Grayce loves to do it- and can hardly wait past Tuesday to get it finished and turned in...well, here are some o's for ya.

Then, on the back of this one- she had this to show me.

Because, she tries hard to know how to spell names. Now, Barrick's mom- aren't you flattered she can spell Barrick all by her lonesome? :-) On another note, here last night, I had the list of everyone's first names in class, so I could work on the stocking project. She picked it up and said- "I know what this says", then proceeded to read every single name off this list correctly-all 18 of them...I think she must be learning something.

Christmas Friday Fill-In

OK, feel free to swipe this and use it- then leave in the comment section that you are going to- so we can all go and read yours too! This was sent to me by my friend Heather :-)


1.) Wrapping paper or gift bag? Both- all paper for kids though, because they are peekers and bags make it too easy

2.) Real tree or artificial? faux, I'm allergic to real

3.) When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving

4.) When do you take the tree down? after 12th night

5.) Do you like eggnog? no

6.) Favorite gift received as a child? Texas Insturments Computer

7.) Hardest person to buy for? my BIL's

8.) Easiest person to buy for? the kids- um their list is like 2 miles long

9.) Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes, it's cute & stuffed and never set-up right because the kids play with it all the time

10.) Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail

11.) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? hey, a gift is a gift but...see number 14

12.) Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Vacation, I guess- because I can't think of anything else and that's what Heather put

13.) When do you start shopping for Christmas? November, sometimes sooner

14.) Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift? Why, yes, I have.

15.) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Stained glass window cookies that my Granny makes

16.) Lights on the tree? All white, I really despise multi colored lights. Now, I'm okay with all red, or all blue, etc., but multi's I am not fond of... (ahem, please note this comment was left by Heather when she sent it to me, and I don't at all think she was meaning me when she said: "All white is for the perfectionists out there. You know who you are. Right Heather? Not me!")

17.) Favorite Christmas song?Ring The Bells by Travis Cottrell w/ Natalie Grant and Carol Of The Bells

18.) Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both

19.) Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, of course.

20.) Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21.) Open presents Christmas morning? Yes.

22.) Most annoying thing about this time of the year? traffic, and dumb people driving

23.) Favorite ornament, theme or color? I always get ornaments from wherever we travel, and I pick them up when I see ones I like...there is not a theme on my tree. But there is a lot of burgandy color to tie everything together

24.) Favorite for Christmas dinner? We have a WIDE variety, depending on where we are. But really, I am not picky -if I didn't have to make it, then it's great!

25.) What do you want for this Christmas? health for all of our friends and family, and of course Peace on Earth- but not in a beauty pageant answer sort of way!

Now, don't be a scrooge and play along!

Don't You Love When You Find Old Pictures?

Well, I do! Today as I was searching random jump drives for my address labels, I found these.

Yes, here we are...the beginning of "Maaaaahhhhhmmmmm, Grayce did this".

So cute, aren't they?

For more blasts from the past, try out Kristen at That Family for Fro' me to You Thursday.

An award, for me? Oh, thank you, thank you to all my fans...

Thank you, thank you Baloney for this fab bloggy honor! But,
being an award recipient means following a few rules...
I must list 5 of my favorite addictions and then pass this along to 5 friends.

1. Computer (blogging, facebook & email, actual working, etc.)
2. Coke
3. TV- I think I watch everything on A&E and TLC. But, only late when no one bothers me.
4. Photography
5. Shopping

Had to pick 5, so I'm tagging the following friends:
1. Mrs.007
2. Momma's Musings
3. Topiary Lady
4. The Fishin' Mama
5. The Whitnall Family
6. YOU! Feel free to tag yourself and leave your blog link in the comments! You are all fabulous (and I totally copied this great idea from Baloney)

Ran.Dom.Ness

This post is very random...first some Thanksgiving shots. This one of Jack, doing his best 'please feed me' impression.
Here are the kids eating their favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Grayce has a popsicle and Gavin has a lot of cherry pie. Very Thanksgiving-ey, eh?

Here are cousin Hayden and Grayce hanging out, wanting to 'eat'. Hayden would not look at me at anytime when I wanted him to...obviously, he is related.

Here's Grayce in her Indian hat, she had to wear it for "Thanksgibing". I had to repair it a lot with scotch tape, but it made it through the day.

Kissy face.

Then, there was shopping. Friday, I left the house at 4:15am, and went to get Dara. We were at Walmart about 4:40am. At the same time my mom and sister were in the Owasso store- while we were in Bixby. They let people get stuff early in Owasso, and my mom did not get what she went for- for Grayce. So, I had to figure out how to get this item...and I did. Then, a brisk run through to the front-picking up other things I needed on the way, and then to self check out (no line- the ONLY place, yah! Wal-mart) We were out of there by 5:39am and then onto Target- which opened at 6AM. Above is the line to get in the store- it went on for like half a mile. The guards were doing their best not to let people cut- and there were some who did- and were actually annoyed that they weren't letting people cut in. Hello rude people! Attention: If you want to get in before others, wait in the line like they did. Don't expect to walk right up, when clearly there is a line and go right on in...ERG! The guard kept saying you will have to go to the end of the line- until finally we told him we would just wait for the end of the line to get to the door- as we were not going to walk half a mile, freezing, to walk half a mile back. C'mon, crazy man. We are smart shoppers, here. After Target, we went to Kohl's, then to Toys R Us, then to Kmart. We got home about 8 hours after we left...12:30pm. Very, very tired. But, alas, I had to wrap because there are snoopy small people who live here.
Then, that brings us to this, which has nothing to do with any of the other. This is the sky last night. This was the brightest that jupiter and venus will be this close to the moon until 2052. So, in case you are not around then, I tried to capture it for you the best I could.

And the winner is....

Drum roll please....and I will let you know the winner of my "how many pictures did I take" contest. Though, your answers were lame, people. Lame-o. BALONEY was closest, though still off by over 20. It was 123 pics! Baloney, contact me and I will get you your books ;-)