Science Fair

The kids had their science fair at school. Brandon had to do an earth science project so he chose how oil spills affect the environment. He made an ocean habitat and then spilled oil in it to see how it affected the plants. It didn't work out quite as we hoped because the plants didn't die as fast as we thought they would. He also saw which worked to soak up the oil better. Jessie's class did a project together so she didn't get a board. Her group did which type of soil lets water run through faster. I am proud of both of them.

On a different note, Brandon decided to do the pack test with the other fireman Scott was testing this weekend. The pack test is a 3 mile hike in 45 minutes with a 45 pound pack. Brandon didn't do it with any weight but he did the test twice, once on Sat and again on Sun. He apparently chattered the whole way and wasn't even winded. The other firefighters said he motivated them because they weren't about to be beat by an 11 year old. One of the guys said he was impressed by how Brandon has his whole career planned out.  I am so proud of him, it's like all of a sudden everything is starting to click at least physically now if we can just get his schoolwork under control we will be set.

Chris Birthday and Spring Break

I am a little behind, everything seems like it is moving so fast. We had Chris' 40th birthday party. We decided since he didn't have the best year, we wouldn't do all black especially since we have been joking about it so we surprised him and did everything as bright as we could. We did give him a 40th birthday pin and a black twisty straw with an old man sliding down it. We also gave him a special birthday cup, a giant teenage mutant ninja turtle cup. He was more into GI Joe and transformers but the cup was bright green and it went better with the decorations. I think he was surprised and had a good time. He is so good with the kids and acted like he loved their gifts even the homemade one from Brandon. (Bran tries hard but crafts just aren't his thing).

 Jessie gave him a stepping stone for his garden and a candle and a homemade card, her card she made had a bear and an outhouse on it to go with his outdoor likes

 We gave him this plaque that read "we do not stop having fun because we age, we age because we stop having fun"

 An outhouse toilet brush holder to complete his outhouse bathroom theme

 Decoration from the party, Mom made him a board with pics from his life

More of the decorations, the balloons were supposed to be neon colors

 
Mom said to make his cake colorful so I did, the inside was orange

Brandon's present he made, a vase with flowers, he also made him a card and bought him a clip on flashlight

 

 

The kids were also on spring break this week. On Tuesday we went to the movies to see Frozen which Jessie has been wanting to see forever. Wednesday we took the kids and dogs to the park and had lunch out there. Thursday we bought Jessie new sandals and watched movies at home. and Friday we went to the free day at the airport museum. It wasn't the most exciting week but I think they had fun and it was a break from school. With school only two months more, it is going fast, too fast. I am not ready for Brandon to be in middle school.





Jessie's birthday

We took Jessie out to Country Buffet for her birthday dinner on Thursday because we had coupons and Brandon could eat for 99 cents. On Friday, her actual birthday, she didn't have school so we had girls day and went to the mall to look at the girly stuff. She bought herself a little giraffe keychain, and Mom and I bought her a penguin and dolphin statue. The boys met us for lunch at Subway and then they went to Home Depot. We came home and watched a princess movie and gave Jessie a spa day. On Saturday we had her family birthday party with everyone. She wanted fairies, Antarctica theme, dolphins and mermaids and penguins. She also made herself several birthday signs to hang up. Scott's sisters came over on Sunday to give their gifts. She can really make a birthday last. She had a lot of fun but was worried because one of her friends said that turning eight brought a lot more responsibility and she wasn't going to like it. I think she will live though.

 Jessie wanted me to paint her a picture with whales

 She wanted a porcelain doll of sleeping beauty

Christmas

Christmas has come and gone again. This year was probably the most relaxed that we have had considering the stress everyone is under. No one fought, and everyone was in a good mood. We went to the riverwalk, to the mall to see Santa, and to elictricritters at the zoo. Christmas Eve was spent at Chris' winter wonderland house again. He really outdid himself this year. Check his facebook page if you haven't seen the pictures of his house. I am not sure whether the kids really believe in Santa or they are just pretending to but they aren't ready to give it up yet. In some ways it will be easier when they don't but then that just means they are growing up that much faster. Jessie loves everything about Christmas and I think she is afraid that will take some of the wonder out of it. Brandon worries about too much already and he isn't ready to give up that piece of childhood yet although I am pretty sure he is just going along with it. I made an advent calendar this year with little boxes with items inside that they can use every year and I asked them what each thing made them think of when they saw it and Brandon's answer was Jesus for everything even if it was a snowman. He told me that he didn't need presents this year just being with his family was enough. He still got presents though. It was a little rough without Rachel this year but Chris seemed to get through it fine. This was supposed to be our year and it wasn't but I am grateful that we still have a roof over our heads and were able to give the kids a good Christmas. I know there are many people that couldn't do that. Some day my hope is that we are well enough off that we can do more for the people who don't have much and give more. May next year be blessed and better for everyone.

                                   Jessie got a purple unicorn and a flutterbye fairy from Santa, Brandon has become a master at catching the fairy

                                 Brandon got a rescue helicopter and a antique firetruck

                          The annual Jesus birthday cake

Jessie

Brandon and Jessie were arguing over what the highest mountain in the world was. Brandon thought it was Mt Everest and Jessie thought it was Mt Kilimanjaro. I told Jessie she just likes saying the name and she said no they learned about it school, at least she thought they did. She said, "those darn teachers keep cramming information in my head and I can't keep it all in, I think some is starting to leak out."

Brandon's Scrooge play

Brandon was Marley in their fifth grade Scrooge play. He was very good. He didn't even get flustered when Scrooge forgot her lines. I was very proud of him. I didn't know he could get his voice so low. The only problem was that for almost his whole scene there was a podium in his way and no one could see him until he moved over. I wish the music teacher would think of these kinds of things during plays. Oh well. Here are some pics of him. They has him in black light to make it look more spooky.

 

 

Halloween

Brandon decided to be an Army man this year and Jessie an indian because I found an Indian costume to wear and she said that Scott and I had to dress up also. Scott went as a fireman, big stretch. We took the to the zoo for the boo zoo trick or treating and then the rides that night on Sat. They had their Halloween parties at school which was kind of disappointing because Brandon's class didn't even make a full circle so I didn't get good pictures of him. They still had fun though. That night we went to Chris' for dinner and then to GG's and trick or treating. They had a lot of fun.