Build and Grow at LOWE'S

Another reason to visit Lowe's even more than we already do!!!! Today Ted and I took the kids to a FREE craft class at Lowe's. I thought it was really cute. They get to keep the apron (which Keegan refused to wear) and safety goggles. And they even get the cutest badge to add to their aprons. Today was a cute Frankenstein head. It was a magic trick box that had a red string and a green string. When the red string is out you pull on the opposite side magically making the red string turn green as it goes through Frankensteins head. Keegan didn't like all the hammering at first. Ted had Keegans nearly done before he decided he wanted to help. We had to help Daesha figure out the right way to hammer. Like keeping the wood on the table to hammer is alot easier than holding it. And holding the hammer at the end will give you a better swing... After a few instructions Daesha was a pro. She hammered those little nails in really fast. The kids had such a great time I quickly scheduled them for the next 2 classes next month. If you are interested in this fun FREE activity check out lowes.com

Too Smart to Start!

This week was red ribbon week at Daesha's elementary school. Each day Daesha would bring something home from drug awareness day. Things like pencils, book marks, toothbrushes, and lotion that had "Drug Free" written all over them. Those things didn't matter much to Daesha. Infact she has no clue what drugs are. I decided to ask her at the end of the week what drugs are just to see what her little brain retained. She had no clue. So either the teacher's don't stress too much about the little Kindergarteners or Daesha didn't listen to a word the police officer said.

The fun part about the week was each day the kids got to dress up.

Monday was "Dream of your Tomorrow" The coloring contest was judged that day. Daesha was very excited as soon as she came in the door. She had a bag of candy and drug free stuff she had won. Apparently she and another girl had both won!

Tuesday was "Believe in your Dreams" wear RED day.




Wednesday was "Achieve your Dreams-Achieve Great Heights" Crazy hair day.

Thursday was "Succeed in your Dreams-Dress for Success"

Dress in what you want to be when you grow up.

If you were to ask Daesha what she wants to be when she grows up she would say, and I quote..

"I want to be a Scientist! So that I can make a medicine that will make Tiffany walk."

Last year she came up with that all by herself. It's so cute I can't tell her that the people who are certified in the science and study of medicine is actually called a Pharmacologist not a Scientist.

Friday was "Dream Dance" wear your PJ's day.

Daesha Looses Her 1st Tooth!!

Two weeks ago Daesha told me that there was a bump behind her tooth that was hurting. It looked like a canker sore. The next day Ted saw that a permanent tooth had popped up behind the baby tooth. Ted told Daesha that it will soon loosen her other tooth and that was exciting for Daesha. The next few days Daesha could be found wiggling that baby tooth. And each day the other tooth would pop up more and more. After a week of getting it nice and loose she tried to eat an apple. But it didn't do the trick. Finally she lost patience and asked me to pull it out. I thought this would be kinda fun. So I grabbed the dental floss and tied it to her tooth.

At the moment I was about to pull I flashed back to the memory of myself in this exact perdicament. My Mom had tied a string to my tooth and was just about to pull when I lost my nerve and started to freek out. I exclaimed, "Stop Mom! I decided I don't want you to pull it out" She said, "OK, Let me untie it then" I relaxed, and opened wide. And POW! My mom pulled. I threw my hand up to my mouth but it was done. It happened so fast I couldn't even react with a scream.

So here I was in the role of my Mother. I started to laugh and Daesha had a look like, why are you laughing.

I began. Are you ready?

Yes. Will it hurt?

Nope.

I did a quick yank.

OW! THAT HURT!!!! (holding her hand to her mouth)

Sorry. It didn't come out. Let me try again.

With all the trust in the world she opened wide. This time I pulled hard and fast.

Daesha's tooth went flying and somehow the knot wasn't the best knot And I heard the tooth hit the wall. Daesha didn't yell or cry. I got on all fours and found the tooth as Daesha held a ball of toilet paper to her gum.

Keegan saw the blood and said, "Daesha hurt?" Daesha said not really and took out the toilet paper to show him the blood and he said, "EW gross"

I felt the toothfairy was going to have a hard time with this one. Because I heard we have a new toothfairy who hasn't had too much experience. But really how hard could it be?

Ted was out of town hunting, Daesha already knew she would be sleeping in our bed with me. And Daesha sleeps on her tummy with her arms UNDER the pillow.

So we discussed that the toothfairy would find her and the tooth which we put in a ziplock bag just fine.

The next morning the toothfairy left me a note saying that it was VERY difficult to get the

ziplock bag out of the tight clutched fist UNDER the pillow. At first she had to feel around under the pillow before lifting half the pillow up to see it was tightly rolled up in Daesha's hand. She pulled softly as not to wake Daesha. Then just yanked on the bag. Daesha's head popped up and the toothfairy dived to the floor. Once it was quiet again the toothfairy tried again. Luckily Daesha had rolled over and loosened her grib and the tooth was much easier to get out of her hand. Because Daesha was brave and let her Mom pull out the tooth the toothfairy left a dollar bill.

Please Adopt Me..

Ted and I are used to the fact that in our neighborhood and also church members know us as the ones with the black kids. I don't mind. There are far worst things to be tagged with.
Today a mother in our church congregation came to me laughing. She said, "I have got to tell you what my daughter said about your family".
Let me just say that I do know who this woman is but her kids have never been to our house. Infact, I couldn't even tell you who her kids are.
She continued telling me that her 6 year old daughter had gotten in trouble and after being repremanded and then grounded for the day her daughter sobbed "I AM RUNNING AWAY".
Like every mother's reply... "really, where would you go?"
"I am going to live with the family that adopts kids. The ones who have the two blacks kids.. and they wanted to get another one and couldn't, so I bet they would be happy to have me!"
(OK so she was aware of the benefit yard sale we had)
Mother says, "Do you even know how to get there?"
"Yes you go to the church and turn like you are going to Owen's house and they are right there"
(pretty accurate)
Mother. "Do you think that they are a perfect family and never get upset with their kids?"
"No they don't get mad at their kids because they wanted their kids"

I was seriously laughing the whole time she was telling me this story. I thought that it was so cute that she thinks our family doesn't fight. And the fact that she felt we would welcome any and all kids in our home. Although, there is some truth to that.

After this little discussion the mother decided that she had better explain that they wanted her too. And that God puts children with certain families.... And so in the end she decided to stay with her family.
whew, the world is right again.

Daesha and Brittany

A fun day for Daesha. And a fun time to remember...

I remember taking my neices (Amanda and Kerra) to my child development class at this very school. I remember Kerra being the center of attention. She wanted everyone to know that she could do a cart wheel! And demanded everyone watch her. She did a forward roll.

Amanda always sat intently listening and doing the little projects we made with real seriousness. Such different personalities and so fun to watch them grow up and have children of their own. Funny that neither personalities have changed since they were 5.

I never thought my own child would be going here too with my other niece Brittany.

Before I know it they will be grown and have families of their own. Time flies!!!

O' as if I wasn't already feeling the weight of mother time I came home and got a message from Daesha's school saying she had an unexcused absence in 1st period! 1st period??? She's only in Kindergarten!!! Stop! Stop getting older!!!

OK, I am over it. I can't stop these cute kids from growing up.

The whole point was to just say thanks to Brit.

Even if Daesha's face doesn't look totally thrilled.. she actually was! She had a great time.

Thanks Brit for wanting to take her.

Wee Witches

(Daesha with the famous witches of Gardner Village)

Daesha and I always look forward to our Mom and Daughter dates. October is our most favorite!! We dress up as witches and go to dinner at Spagetti Factory. After dinner we go to a bewitching event at historic Gardner Village. Money was tight this year so we wore the same stuff as last year. This was our 3rd straight year in going. There were a few changes this year, which was a real bummer. Like the original Witches Night is now for 18 years and older. So to involve the little ones they have a weekend just for them, called Wee Witches Weekend.
When we arrived we were sad to see very few had dressed up as witches! But the ones who did dress up were veterans like us and gave us smiles and greetings in their best witch accents. Every activity had a fee. Including parking!!! The only thing that was free was a scavenger hunt that was actually pretty lame. Once you found all the witches decorated around the village you could take your list to the bakery and receive a chocolate chip cookie. And then you still had to buy the cookie for .25 cents! We didn't even bother with the hunt. Other activities they had were tractor pulled wagon rides, a corn maze, face-painting, and crafts. (which we never saw) After letting Daesha dance on the stage and walk around a bit we went to the petting zoo. (cost was $2) And then we got our usual... a delicious carmel apple at Sweet Afton's candy shop.
The group we usually went with in the past years didn't end up getting together this year. Daesha and I were not about to miss it! So I decided to start up a new group. Unfortunatley, not too many were able to make it except my neice Amanda and her daughter Maddie. As well as my other neice Brit. We had a great time. Maddie loved dancing and running away from her mom the whole night. It was perfect weather and even though we had to deal with a few changes we still had a great time dressing up and acting silly and practicing our witch cackles throughout the night. I am hoping that Amanda will come again next year. Thanks for going Mandy!

Yes... we need help. Not scary or silly or cute. Just FUN!

Check out Daesha's witch face.

Here we are laughing at Maddie, who would not stand still for the pictures. That's her head in the bottom left corner.

Here's Maddie practicing her witch cackle! She was actually growling like a tiger.


Love Spagetti Factory!! Mmmmm.

The decor is very witchy with cobwebs and spiders at this time of year.

This is one of the witches that was on the scavenger hunt.

They all have big butts and huge tracks of land!

This was taken right after Maddie grabbed the witches huge tracks of land.

The orange balloon Daesha is holding had a tootsie roll and a spider made of pipe cleaner tied on the bottom.... it cost a dollar!!!! I felt bad for not letting her do any of the other activities so I agreed to this overly priced balloon. grrrr