Random things from this past week or so

Scott and Jenny moved into their first house!  it is beautiful!  They live so close... I love it!
Jenny in her great room.... kitchen opening up to the living room.  She has nice hardwood floors...

Scott and Jenny at dinner for my moms birthday.

My parents left today.. this morning... the above picture is at her birthday dinner.  When they arrived, it was the day after her birthday so we went to dinner to celebrate it with her.

Jonah was a huge papa fan this week.  He followed papa everywhere!  Papa.... Joe misses you already!

Time flies

I cant believe it is almost Christmas. 

Sorry I havent blogged in a while... to be honest... it doesnt feel that long ago.  

My parents and grandparents got here on Wednesday, the 17th. 

Hunter started preschool!!!  He got into a Georgia Pre-K program.  That means he goes for free.  The Georgia lottery pays for preschool here.  He REALLY likes it, but it doesnt compare to Mrs. Jones.  :).  She still wins our hearts.... (Mrs. Jones was his first preschool teacher in California).  Hunter really is a social kid.  He NEEDS to be around peers... I dont know how to explain it... but he just needs that contact with kids.  He needs to play and get that socialization we cant offer at home.  Does that make sense?  

The kids last day of school for Winter Break was Thursday and they dont go back to school until the Tuesday after New Years... Kinda cool.  

I am going to start subbing in January.  Only at Haley's school.... :)   I am excited :)

Scott and Jenny moved into their house yesterday.  It was great to have my dad here to help them.  Their house is three minutes from our home.  Their house is beautiful and I am so happy for them!!!  It is a split foyer like our home.  (That is pretty popular here in Georgia).  They have a privacy fence :)  which is NOT common here.  I am a little jealous of their fence.... :)  not really, but I would love to have one for our dogs.  

Our plans for Christmas...

Christmas eve we plan to have dinner at Scott and Jenny's.  On Christmas day we are having everyone here for breakfast and gifts and then at 3pm we are having a big meal thing at my aunt pam's.  

One funny story... 

i took jonah to a library craft thing last tuesday.  there... there was a fifteen year old helper who just fell in love with joe.  after about an hour there, the girl turns to me and says, "are you married to a skater?"  not knowing where she was going with this.... i answered, "no.... why do you ask?"  she nervously giggled then answered, "you talk like a skater."

Our Tree...

So we got a fake tree this year.... we thought we were getting something bigger... but once we brought it home and set it up... it wasnt quite what we had in mind.  First.... branches fell off :).  Second... I had to use the phrase... "See that wire sticking out, be careful).  
On top of the tree looking so.... Charlie Brownish.... my back was SCREAMING!  SO I wasnt having fun.  (Look at the stocking holders.... they are trains).  
The kids.. however, had a BLAST and love our tree!!!  Which totally makes it all worth it!

Jonah loved to take the ornaments down once we got them up!  Fun.  He also loved to put them in his mouth.  We got Hunt's Thomas the train table out and set the fake tree up on it.  That way it isnt right on the floor within Joe's reach.  He can still touch it... but it is at least not too easily accessible.  

Believe it or not the tree is 6 ft.  We have tall ceilings.... The tree is a bit thin :)  and have WAY to many ornaments and lights on it... but you know what... my kids love it anyways!

Merry Christmas!

When it is cold outside...

Jonah loves to help with laundry...  he also LOVES this blanket Jane made him.  LOVES it.... he carries it around with him.....  His second favorite is the blanket Deanne gave him.... :)  they are both silky and small.

Playing trains :) with polly pockets and Littlest Pet Shop

Painting

And the kids love to put on shows.... This particular evening Haley sang songs from High School Musical.  EVERY doll in the house came out for the show.

Jumping for Joy

At the mall of Georgia they have a place called, Jumping For Joy.  It is like Jumping Jacks in Rancho... but they have this one section where you ride these --- things.. Jonah just liked pushing them around.  I didnt get any pictures of Jumping.... I dont know why.  The places heater was broken so it was FREEZING there!  So maybe I forgot.... maybe my brain froze... 

Family lunch at Haley's school

Haley with her teacher...  I love her teacher...

Hunter got to come to lunch.  They invited all families for lunch with their kids.... It was fun (hectic, but fun).  

Hunter loved seeing her sisters classroom.  Next year it could be his class...

The OTHER teacher in haley's class.... She held Jonah for me.  Yes it was me and the two boys at Haley's lunch.

Yummy Henrietta

I am going to attempt youTube soon so hopefully I can download video to my blog.  This was a comical event, tons of fun!  And the Turkey even turned out EXCELLENT

We found the neck!

Both Jenny and I were new to this.  We have never seen the inside of a Turkey.  It was gross.  
We cooked a 20 pound turkey!  Yes... that is a LOT.  The advice we were given at the store was to buy a turkey  where you calculate how many people were eating.... then you get a 1/2 a pound for each person.... so we counted all three kids as one adult (if that) and us four = 5 which = a 2 and 1/2 pound turkey.... 

Scott played Go Fish with the kids.  It was really cute!

Jenny and Scott brought the kids balloon ball things and Jonah had a blast with them.

Family pictures in our backyard

It was a beautiful day!!!

After over FOUR hours of cooking the Turkey... we finally brought it out of the oven... it was beautiful :).  

Really... I think Jenny and I were surprised at how easy it was to cook Henrietta.  The picture below, I am pointing to the popper thing that pops up when it is done.

All our food.... We made it all!!!

Even Hunter ate Henrietta

After dinner.... we cleaned up and packed up all our left overs.  We played games and ate dessert (Pumpkin pie, Cheese cake, rice crisspy treats, and chocolate pudding).  

This is a picture of how much turkey was left over on the plater AFTER we ate.  Plus there was more in the kitchen.... 

Not Henrietta

Today Jenny and I went out and bought our Thanksgiving turkey.  This will be the first time either of us has had the opportunity to cook a turkey.... let alone a whole Thanksgiving meal.  Thankfully we have each other to help out.  That way if it doesnt turn out good... we have each other to lean on :).  

Anyways... Jenny thought it would be fun to name our turkey and for some reason Henrietta came to mind first so that is what we named our Turkey.  

Hunter just told me, "mom, I dont want to eat Henrietta for Thanksgiving.  I love her"  how sad huh?  He has checked on her through out the evening... opening the fridge... "Hi Henrietta"  then he closes it so sweetly.  

This Thanksgiving could be a tear jerker.... too bad he doesnt realize Henrietta is ALREADY DEAD.

ShiT

Before you report me for bad language :) (Jimmy told me that I could be reported heeheehee) Here is the story....

Today Haley and Hunter put on a show for Jenny, Jim and I.  They got all their dolls out and had them sitting on our entry stairway using the foyer as a stage.  Haley made name tags for her dolls.  This is what Haley wrote as a name tag for one of her dolls....ShiT.  Later, when Jenny was helping her clean up her mess (thanks Jenny) she couldnt figure out what it said and Jenny, Jim and I couldn't figure out what she was trying to spell either... Any thoughts? 

Jenny took pictures of this very exciting performance... maybe I will let her blog about the performance... It was something special. :)

Hunter, Haley and Jonah... and I guess Jim and I too

Haley is just blossoming here.  She loves school and is non stop talking from the moment I pick her up from school (this is something she didnt do back in California - first grade)  I really think placing her in kindergarten here has been the best choice!  She even got in trouble for talking at school.  This made me smile.  She told me RIGHT AWAY when she got in the car....  Her dresses are currently in time out for giving me attitude when I told her she could not wear a sun dress to school... it was in the forties outside....  Her attitude has improved since.

A conversation Haley and I had the other day:

H: Everyone at school says ma'am

Me: Really?

H: Yeah... 

me: do you?

H: No. I told my teacher that I dont say that

me: Oh... what did she say?

H: That I didnt have to but that she likes it when kids say it

Me: In Georgia kids say yes ma'am as a way of being polite.

H: Well, in California we didn't

Me: I know.  

H: mom... I think I am going to try to say ma'am.

Me: ok.

H: I have to go to the bathroom ma'am (and then she proceeded to get up and go to the bathroom... with a smile)  

when she came back... she used ma'am over and over again, never in the way they use it here.  "The dogs need to go outside ma'am" "Ma'am I love you" "Ma'am can I have some milk please ma'am?"

Hunter is still at home.  We are still in the process of finding the right school for him.  Mean while, he is going on "field trips" with mom or dad threw out the week to help keep him socialized.  He has a new friend, Grady, who he enjoys when he sees him.  He is getting along with Jonah much more... which we wasnt a few months ago.  Him and Joe are sharing a room and doing fabulous with that!   (Thanks Mrs. Jones for the social story that helped make this process easier... it really helped!)  Hunter and I are focusing on learning sign language while he is not in school.  He already knows how to sound words out and all.... he lacks the motor skills to write.... but we are working on that.  I mean, seriously, he is only 4! 

Conversation with Hunter:

H: mom... I miss Tennessee

 Me: You do huh?  What do you miss about Tennessee?

H: Nate

Me: Nate doesnt live in Tennessee

H: Where does Nate live?

Me: Where do you think Nate lives?

H: By our old home.... I miss our old home in Tennessee

me: We never lived in Tennessee.

H: Why... I like Tennessee... I want to live there.

seeing that this conversation was going no where... I informed Hunter that we lived in California (which he knows) and that we have never lived in Tennessee.... This is a conversation we have a lot.... sometimes it ends in tears about how he loves Tennessee.... sometimes he just moves on.... silly man.  Personally I think he just likes to say the word Tennessee.

Jonah has been struggling with his molars... a few weeks ago got his bottom two... runny nose.... FUSSY!!!  This week he got two top molars.... runny nose.... FUSSY!!!!  YUCK..... He loves to explore our new home.  He loves to get into Haley's littlest pet shop stuff, which of course makes her totally upset!  He thinks all animals say woof.... You know... basic one year old stuff.... into everything... wants to do everything by himself and what Haley and Hunter are doing.....

Jim and I...

I am sick with a head cold... yuck! And it is REALLY cold here!!!  At night the temps are in the 20's.  Jenny had left a cup of water in her car over night and in the morning it was ice.  I cant find any of the scarfs I made back in California.... and I could really use some snow gear... i think i might invent a nose warmer because my nose is what freezes the most outside.  When we take the dogs out to pee in the morning... they run out... pee and dash back inside.  (Except for when they see a squirrel.... then they chase it) 

Both Jim and I are on Facebook and are enjoying catching up with friends, both old and new on there.  If you arent on Facebook, you really need to join.  It isnt as time consuming as people may tell you it is.  It is only if you let it be.  It is connected to your email account so really, you have no need to go on unless you get an email that someone has contacted you.  I like being able to send video messages to friends and family.  Hunter and Haley have made some videos and sent them to friends via Facebook.  I am trying to figure out how they can send video messages to friends via email. 

Jim had a final interview with a jail job.  He walked away from it uncertain.  He knew he was very indecisive with some of the questions they asked him.  Mostly because he didnt know how he would respond when put in the situation given.  Would he shoot a 12 year old boy if he was aiming a gun at him?  One question that bothered me was how he would handle a situation in which a fellow employee was attacked by a riot in the prison he would be stationed at.  Oh and in the scenario it is only him and his co-worker and about 60 inmates.  The job was a position in the prison... as a guard.  He has gotten a job as a secret shopper where stores hire him to come in and shop and rates them.  It sounds fun.  His first assignment came and he is just waiting for one thing to arrive in the mail (the money to do the shopping).  It is like mission impossible.  They tell him who he is to interact with (hostess, or check out clerk, or a sales associate) and what he is to buy.... at times he may even be asked to be a disgruntled costumer.  He is excited!  

That is it for now... I know... long and boring.. :)  

I just want to say thanks to those who have been so encouraging and supportive.  I know it can be tough to keep up a relationship or friendship so far away.... I appreciate the efforts.  I know relationships take on new forms... mostly online.... :) but it still is nice to know you all are there!  

Good ol' waffle house

Here is Georgia (and I know other states as well) the Waffle House is a staple.  You find them EVERYWHERE!

They are small, rectangular buildings.... not a whole lot of seating.

Your server is also your cook. And cooks in front of you.... with a TON of grease

Scott, Jenny, Deron, Prestin, Steve, us and Pam and Rodger ate here one night this past week.  Deron, Prestin and Steve came out here to visit us and explore Georgia as a possible next step for them in their journey.  They left this morning.... It was GREAT having them here!!!