"Best Night Ever!"

I have to admit, as a mom I am addicted to hearing, "This is the best day/night ever!" from the kids; tonight I got to hear that from them. After taking the annual Christmas pictures at JcPenny's I told the kids we were going to have dinner in the food court. This is something I know they love and we do not do very often. Jack's face lite up with joy, "Oh ya! I love the food court."
On the walk down the boys had to recount all the other times we had eaten there (2) and what they had eaten. Everyone likes the clam strips so we got those again. After dinner we even got mini blizzards.
The whole evening, including pictures and when we came home, the kids were happy, got along and had great attitudes. It was an evening to cherish and remember.
Best Night Ever!

Halloween 2015

This Halloween was great. Amelia was Elsa, again, Jack was the Red Ranger from Power Rangers Dino Charge and Jacob was an alien spaceship. We did our usual walk around the neighborhood for trick or treating. Parker Julson joined us, along with Umma. All of them got way too much candy and had great fun.

Amelia

Amelia and I went to the pumpkin patch today with her preschool class. She had a great time of course! We got her a Cinderella pumpkin, went thru the hay maze, climbed the hay pyramid and petted the animals, the usual stuff.
The notable thing about the pumpkin patch trip was during breakfast. I told her that we were going to the pumpkin patch today. She responded by sticking her lip out and saying "Umma. I want Umma to take me." I said yes of course you do and Umma would want to take you but this year its me. She didn't like the answer but she got over it.

Cub Scouts

Jacob and Jack are about a month into Cub Scouts. Of course with everything their attitudes and aptitudes give each boy's experience different.
Jacob loves going through the list of requirements for each badge. He has already completed two badges because he is driven to finish the list.
Jack likes to do the different activities but slower. Some of the requirements he has jumped at, others he says no thanks. He has started about 4 different badges, completing about half or more of the requirements but not finishing any yet.
The great thing about the badges, for both boys, is that it gives us something to do together. At first I was tempted to sign off on a lot of the badge requirements because they are things we have already done BUT after consideration I didn't. I want to take advantage of the opportunity to spend time doing activities with the boys. Last night, as a family we did a Mario Cart video game family tournament (Tiger-iffic Badge) and the other day we all counted our steps in the backyard to compare step sizes (Code of the Wolf Badge).
I can't wait to see what else Cub Scouts have in store for us!

Amelia

Amelia loves to sing and dance so the Barbie movies are right up her alley.

Jacob

As I was leaving tonight Jacob ran out of the house for a hug. He told me, "You're better than any ipad." That is a HUGE compliment!

Jack

Jack came running in from the bus today.

Jack: Mom I got 2 good news and 1 bad news, what do you want to hear first?
Me: Umm... the good news.
Jack: Well 1 of the good news is there is no bad news. The other is I have a lose tooth! I ate a pear at school, boy are they hard" (then he gives it a significant wiggle).

Geez where he comes up with some of the things he says!


UPDATE:
Jack came home the next day to show me his tooth that he pulled out himself at school. He said he was standing in line when he pulled out his tooth with his bare hand. He then said "My tooth is out!" His teacher gave him a little plastic tooth to take his home in.
I figure the tooth must have been lose for awhile without Jack realizing it because you can see the new tooth coming up already. Anyway tooth fairy comes tonight!!