ohhh Finn...

The last few nights we've come up the stairs to find this....

It cracks me up to see how carefully he makes a little bed... laying out his comforter nice and straight. And of course, there is Blankie!

The silly boy... he's been making a bed for himself on the ground and finally falls asleep driving his tractors around on the ground. He fights sleep at bedtime... he's naturally a night-owl. :)

Tree is up!!

Finn picked out another John Deere tractor ornament.
He picked a different tractor model last year. :)

Cullen picked out a Star Wars Lego ornament.

We got the tree up and decorated over the Thanksgiving weekend! The boys enjoy pulling out their collection of ornaments we've collected over the years. :)

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

We brought Finn's hat from his preschool feast.

We had an exciting day here! Cullen had a dress down day AND we were able to join him for his school lunch. :) Both the boys were really excited. As we were leaving, I said to Finn- "Let's go my little Pilgrim." And he said- "I'm not a Pilgrim, I'm a turkey!" Ha ha ha... enough said!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving Feast & Pumpkin Pies

Evan, Cullen, and Chris.

Cullen's group. :)

Since I'm one of the (two) Stewardship parents for both boys' classrooms, I spent the whole day at the school today. Cullen's class made (five) pumpkin pies for the local homeless shelter. As you can tell, Cullen enjoyed it. Each grade does several Stewardship projects during the school year, to teach the children to give back to the community. This was the first one for Cullen's class. As the Stewardship parent, I organize and "run" each one.

my little Pilgrim :)

Today Finn's class had a Thanksgiving Feast. It was a full Thanksgiving meal and delicious! It was catered by a local company (parishioners). The 3 year olds sang a cute song and led us in a blessing. :) It was so sweet. Finn really enjoyed it. Again, as the Stewardship parent, I had to help organize and run this too. Busy day!!

Invasion of Angry Birds!

Cullen's artwork folder from school.
I think it's a good depiction of Angry Birds!

Finn playing Angry Birds.

The boys are fighting for iPad time lately. :) They both have several apps they like. Luckily, I have some educational games they really enjoy too! They have to answer 3 questions correctly to earn a sticker. Cullen is actually learning so much in school he's working on the 1st grade level now... which is good, it's a little more challenging for him. He has to actually spell out words (writing with his fingers) instead of selecting the correct word from a list.

all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

11/10/11

Cullen lost his 2nd tooth Thursday night! If you look close, you can see his first adult tooth peeking through. What a big boy he is becoming!!

Celebrating Veterans Day in Kindergarten

Notice my boys cutting up in the corner!
Sean is showing the class a solar powered, hand cranked
radio they gave out in Africa.

Cullen's class.

Getting ready to march and sing
"God Bless America" They do this
EVERY morning. I love Catholic School.
Then one student wins the "Patriotic
Citizen Award" Cullen suggested to Mrs. Lohr
that Sean gets that special award today.
Isn't that the sweetest?? Sean put it with his
prized Army awards. :)

Sean demonstrating all his gear and showing them
the First Aid kits they carry.

Marching to "God Bless America!"

The whole class marching. :)

Still marching at the end...

Cullen leading the march. :)

Saint Paul

Not sure if you can read this...
My name is Cullen.
The saint is St. Paul.
Fitting, his grandpa's name is Paul. :)

Celebrating All Saints Day

Cullen came home that day and talked a lot about
all the Saints and asked a little about St. Nicholas and
St. Anthony. I told him St. Nicholas is Santa, he got a kick out of that.
Then I taught him the prayer to St. Anthony, when you lose something.
We said it, in hopes he would find Cullen's lost school uniform belt... We'll have to say
it a few more times, it hasn't appeared yet. :)

Mrs. Lohr asked Sean to come in and talk to Cullen's class about his job as a Solider in honor of Veterans Day. Cullen was so excited to have us join him at school. (I was actually there all day. I helped in centers in his classroom in the morning, went to the lunchroom to serve food, then back to the classroom for Sean's presentation.) This morning as I was taking him to school, he said "My whole family is going to be at my school today!!"

Sean went above and beyond during his presentation and show 'n tell! He wore his uniform and put together a slide show of various pictures of jumping out of airplanes and different countries he's been to. He included these two, Cullen felt really special. :)

At Sean's Special Forces graduation. :)

Cullen at 6 months old, in NC. His first time
watching Sean jump from a plane. I told him, I have vivid
memories of him sleeping with his bottom up in the air, on a
blanket in the shade during the whole thing.

Sean did an awesome show 'n tell... bringing in cold weather MRE's (Meal Ready to Eat) for the kids to taste. He showed them medals, equipment, coins, flags, let them wear his kevlar (helmet), it goes on and on.... At the very end he explained the use of Chem-Lights (glow sticks) then he gave them each one. The kids were ecstatic!! Then they all marched around the classroom and sang "God Bless America!". It really warmed my heart.


God Bless America.

nice fall evening

We spent the nice fall evening out in the backyard with a fire and s'mores. :) The boys could do this EVERY night...

Zoo and Preschool

Finn petting a skink.
He did a great job of petting it with 2 fingers,
just like they asked. :)

With a millipede.

Finn petting a hedgehog.

The zoo came to Finn's preschool today! He's been looking forward to this all month! :) My little animal-lover was in his element. He wasn't afraid of touching any of these strange animals. Although I think he was a little disappointed they didn't bring a lion...