Rockets, Donuts, and a Broken Finger = Boy Mom

We had zero plans last weekend.  

Friday night : popcorn and a movie. 

And we decided to have chocolate chip cookies on a Santa plate....why not?!

We went on and put up our Christmas decor.  We had a couple of weekends in a row with nothing on our calendar.  I love putting up Christmas, but I don't like being rushed.  We are going to Oxford the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so we just bit the bullet.  

(We even have a present under the tree!)

Boys Scouts had a Star Wars Rocket Launch event Saturday.  We had never launched rockets before, so we decided to go.  Of course, it finally got a bit cold on us but it wasn't too bad.  

Mason and his best bud.  They are two peas in a pod.  

It was actually pretty cool.  Now we know what we are doing and have two rockets....I see more launches in our future.  

Brody had a birthday party right after the Boy Scouts event. It was at our local donut shop, and I was probably the most excited of them all to go.  We have heard nothing but great things about their parties, and I had been hoping we would get to go to one at some point.  

The owner is extremely energetic and puts on a great show.  They get to go back in the kitchen and make their own donuts.  

And they really do.  

We would eat pizza while the dough was rising, eat cake while it was "resting" in this humidifier.  

Really, the entire process of making a donut is pretty cool.  

Brody really started to get into it.  

After they cooked in the hot oil, the owner dunked them in chocolate and the kids decorated with sprinkles.  They each got a bag with their two donuts in them to take home.  So fun. 

Brody and I got home to this.....

All the neighborhood kids were over playing.  John wanted to watch football, so he brought our extra tv outside in the garage with the heater going.  

Cold weather means soup weather. 

And it was kid approved. 

Brody convinced his big brother to jot down his Santa list for him.  

The kid is demanding I tell ya.  

We did a little shopping Sunday afternoon...

And then had basketball practice.  Check out Mason's new ball shoes....he looks wayyyyyyy too big. 

Brody loves our Christmas tree upstairs.  

It has all of our picture and handmade ornaments.  

Napkin art for last day of school before Thanksgiving break. 

Mason brought home a folder with lots of work and all were 100s.  

We were so proud of his hard work. 

I got a phone call while I was at work the other day from the school.  The nurse was worried Mason had broken his finger.  She said she wouldn't be too concerned except she thought it may be at the growth plate....meaning he needed an X-ray.  Mickey Mouse picked him up for us, and John took him to the doctor (ya know he has an orthopedic doctor because of his collar bone). 

X-rays showed no growth plate involved but that it was broken. So they put a little splint on his finger, and he is good to go.  No big deal.  He even practiced basketball and did great.  

(but the kid has already broken two bones and I have only broken one finger my entire life....)

I worked half a day Wednesday and then took the boys with me to run a few errands.  I can't tell you the last time Brody took a nap, but man did he need one!

We need all the rest we can get now that Thanksgiving is here!  

Basketball, Basketball, and More Basketball

We have been practicing three times a week for basketball.  Yes, you read that right, three times a week.  It's actually pretty fun and I know the kids are loving it.

The Wives' Club had our annual downtown dining week dinner.  It's always at a fun restaurant and of course, only $20.16 since it is 2016.  Such a fun night.

Brody and I liked the new filter on snapchat.

This is what we do on Friday nights now...

But we got our jerseys and the entire team was so happy.  The rec league pics NBA teams to mimic, and we are the Grizzlies.  Woo Hoo.

And Mason is #2 again.  Same number as tball and his Daddy's number in high school.  I promise they just hand us a jersey, but this is what he ends up being.

Watching football Saturday morning with Captain America...

It got a tiny bit cold this week.  Sweater Weather.

The entire first grade sang at the Tara Oaks book fair at the local Barnes and Nobel Tuesday night.  I don't think they were expecting the entire class, but it was close to it.  So many kids and parents.

Mason did so well.  He knew all the words and motions.

We could hardly see, so we watched through one of the phones in front of us.

Mason had to leave immediately and head to Scouts.  Brody walked around looking for Christmas presents (and not understanding we couldn't get them that moment).  But he was so excited to see the Tara Oaks Tiger.

After a few days of no listening....we brought out the Santa card.

This is what Brody and another little brother do during basketball practice.  They play on phones and have their own game of 3-4 year old basketball going.

John was teaching Mason some tricks after a scrimmage.

Mason has written us two letters this week while he should be asleep. John and I were laying in bed and heard it coming under the door.  The first was a letter telling us him and Brody loved us and hoping they had been good that day.  The second was a two page sci-fi story he made up.

We've had to break it to him that although him writing and being creative is good....you just can't do it when you are supposed to be asleep!

Brody had to turn in a turkey disguise.  We chose Olaf because they only had white feathers at the store.  He was pretty proud of our hard work.

Thursday night, while the Dads were bowling, Becca and I took the kids to dinner and ice cream.

These five have a blast together....even if they are loud and crazy while doing it.  =)

Today was Brody's schools Thanksgiving Feast and Native American Day.
He was thrilled.

They love each other.

I was sent this picture and I'm fairly certain Brody is saying to himself, "they actually want me to eat this mess?!"  

Happy Almost Thanksgiving!!!

Red, White, and Blue

We finally got our full cub scouts uniform.  How cute is he?!

I think they both like going together.
So far, this has been a great experience.  They are teaching them very important life lessons each week.  With everything going on in this world, it is just what a 7 year old boy needs.

Last week was their first hike at one of the local parks.  He and his best bud used their tools to find items on their scavenger hunt.

We've gotten into the habit on Thursday nights of crawling into my bed and reading while John is bowling.  Christmas ads came in last week so you can imagine what we read...

Brody, Brody, Brody.
He does not like writing.  He acts like he can't do it alone and needs your help.  This is even with tracing!  It has been a real struggle.

After doing a great job on his homework Thursday night, I decided to have him try to write his name without looking at anything the next morning.  Go figure, he knew exactly how to write it....all by himself.  His teacher said the day before he told her he didn't know how to trace without her help....really?!

(he is now doing pretty well with his work in school after we found out he actually knows what he is doing....)



Friday was western day at Brody's school.
Mason just looks like a big kid.  =(

John and I met Mason for lunch.  The year is just flying by and neither one of us had eaten with him yet.  He said it was the best day ever.

It was also Mem Pop day at school.

This was my Friday afternoon view...

We woke up bright and early Saturday morning.  We went with the boy scouts to place flags on all the 22,000 veterans' graves.  There was a wonderful speaker we were able to hear and Mason really listened.  Again, this cub scouts thing has taught him so much already.

As you can see by our outfits, it was a bit chilly.

It was a wonderful morning.
(We may have not been told to bring a screwdriver and hammer, so I do think John and I got blisters from jamming those wooden sticks into the hard ground!!!)

Sunday afternoon was our first basketball practice.
He had a ton of fun and I hope it continues throughout the season.

Our basketball goal at home has helped him a lot.

This kid yelled the entire practice "Go Mason!"
Thankfully, there was a playground outside so I was able to quiet him a bit. =)

Daylight savings had us all messed up.  We ate dinner at 4pm....

And fell asleep a bit early.

Brody's school has their book fair this week.
Monday was favorite book character day....

Mason's school participated in the mock election.  I wasn't sure how I felt seeing he is 7 and this election has been so dirty.  But he has definitely formed some opinions after talking to friends.  It is interesting to hear what all the kids are saying.  And he constantly asks us who we are voting for, but he is the LAST person I would tell.  #loudmouth

Interesting that the results are pretty accurate.

Brody's school also voted.
I thought this was adorable.

They to voted for either a rocket popsicle or an ice cream sundae.

And they got suckers after the voted.  =)

Today was Patriotic Character Day.
We choose the Statue of Liberty.  Mason was not initially thrilled because he did not want his brother dressing up like a girl.  I had not even thought about it!

But I think he looked adorable either way.  =)
And he was very excited to wear it.

 But very unhappy to take another picture....