Menu Plan Monday

Monday
Taco Soup, corn chips, cheese, sour cream

Tuesday
Chicken tenders, rice, gravy, green beans

Wednesday
Meatball Calzones and Salad

Thursday
Ham steak, biscuits, eggs, cheese, grits

Friday
Shrimp, hushpuppies, slaw

Saturday
Tater Tot Casserole

Christmas Lights

Last night, after Mass, we rode over to the Roper Mountain Holiday Lights. All monies collected go to children’s charities and educational programs for the Upstate of SC. And, we are all about charities and education!! The boys really enjoyed the time spent there. They got a balloon animal/hat, cotton candy (which I NEVER let them have), and most importantly they got to stay up past their bedtime! I am sure they felt naughty about that one. But, having cotton candy (which their daddy bought for them) and a regular bedtime do not go hand in hand. It was a good time and one of our Christmas traditions.

Thankful

I am thankful for a good doctor and medicine. Deniska slept with me last night so I could keep an eye on him. I think he finally fell asleep after midnight. I did not sleep very much at all. This morning, Deniska told me, "It's a miracle! One dose of medicine and I'm cured!" He's so funny. I suspect he will try to sleep with me again tonight. That's OK too! I am very thankful that he is doing better.

And, I am thankful for Nicholas, who sleeps with me every night (on top of my face and pillow). He has been with me for 13 years. I hope he is with me for a long, long time!

Oh my throat!

Does this look like a child running a 100+ degree temp and was diagnosed with strep throat today? No, I say. But it is. Poor little Deniska quit eating yesterday morning. He said his throat hurt last night. Dennis and I knew it was strep throat. The child gets strep throat at a drop of a hat. A throat culture was done and sure enough, he has strep throat.

What are the symptoms of strep throat? The most common symptoms of strep throat are:
A sudden, severe sore throat. (No, he did not have that.)
Pain when you swallow. (No, he did not have that.)
Fever over 101F. (yes, he did have that)
Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes. (the doctor said it was slightly swollen on one side)
White or yellow spots on the back of a bright red throat. (the doctor said he did not have that)
You may also have a headache and belly pain. (he said his stomach felt funny)

Less common symptoms are a red skin rash, vomiting, not feeling hungry, and body aches. (no,no, yes, no)

So, we are hoping that we caught it in the early stages and the medicine will do the trick.

sniff, sniff

A new box of tissues, a swig of dayquil, anda comfy bed, all equals.......
a day home from work with a cold. Yuck!

Project post

The boys both had projects due at school this past week. I thought I would share these with you!

Deniska's Desert project looked a lot better when it went out the door Wednesday morning. He told me that he had given everyone on the bus one of the animals. One of his classmates told him there were too many animals. Deniska told him it was a family meeting and everyone came! Quick thinking on Deniska's part! He worked really hard on this project and did it all by himself (with a little help from Mom!)

Nikolai had a brown bag book report. He drew this picture all by himself! He's a good artist to just be 8 years old. He wants an art kit for Christmas and art lessons this summer.

I am proud of both boys!

This week

Monday - work

Tuesday - work

Wednesday - work

Thursday - work

Friday - work

Saturday - work

Sunday - REST!

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th and boy has it been a day! I'm so glad today and this week is over, not that I am wishing my life away.

My sweet husband bought me new tires for my car! It is such a delight to drive the car with new tires and no noise. My other tires made a sound (much like when you go over a bridge!) These tires came in very handy with all the rain Hurricane Ida decided to dump on us - 4 or 5 inches in one day. We actually had a bright, sunny day today.

Sunday Joy

"Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." ~3 John 4

I just had to snap a picture of my boys as we were headed out to church this morning. They looked so grown up and handsome in their Sunday clothes. They are growing up way too fast! Dennis and I are truly blessed.

My Son and Bennie Cunningham

Bennie Cunningham...Pittsburgh Steelers....my friend!

If you grew up in Oconee County in the 70s, you know Bennie Cunningham from high school football.

If you went to Clemson University in the mid-70s, you know Bennie Cunningham from college football.

If you are a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, you know Bennie Cunningham from 1976-1985 as he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And, you know he played in two Super Bowl victories in 1979 and 1980. (He wears his Super Bowl ring every day!)

If you work at West-Oak High School, you know Bennie Cunningham as your co-worker and friend who is the nicest person in the world.

And, if you are 8 years old, and your mom knows Bennie Cunningham personally, you can get your shirt signed for free!

And that is what heroes are made of! Thank you Bennie for making his day!!

He wore his shirt backwards for the rest of the day!

Like Father, Like Sons

My handsome husband when he was about the age of the boys. Are they all just the cutest boys you have ever seen?? The three great loves of my life!

See things from the boy's point of view.

See this picture of this perfectly innocent radio. Sitting there not disturbing anyone. Just doing it's job. While I was at a Faculty meeting this afternoon, Nikolai decides that the antenna would make a good pointer. (Alright, granted the child is creative - still.) So, he twists it off the radio, breaking it off in the process. His reasoning was that he wanted it and didn't think it was that big of a deal. What to do? What to do? I decided on the drive home, after I had delivered my "destroying property", "Jesus isn't happy with you" and the famous "what were you thinking?" speeches, that he needed more physical activity. If he wants to be physical, then I will give him physical. Right now, he is outside moving concrete blocks (they are small ones) from one location to another. Then, when he gets finished, I might just let him move them back. I might also mention that this is after he dumped Deniska's candy out of Deniska's box yesterday just so he could use the box for something. I suspect he dumped the candy in the trash can. It magically all disappeared. His story is that the cat probably took it off. He had to give Deniska all of his candy for that one. (Deniska came out on the good side of that deal.)

Lessons

While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt

We could all learn a lesson or two about what is really important from our children. Nothing beats drawing and coloring in the middle of the floor!!

Boys' Halloween 2009

Here they are - my little Harry Potter and the Grim Reaper right before they left for Trick or Treating! Nikolai (aka Harry Potter) is actually smiling in this photo. Both of them were put out with me for making them stop and have their picture made. They were ready to hit the road!

For whom does the Grim Reaper wait? He waits for you! Did you notice the gigantic pumpkin he is sitting on? It's a beautiful pumpkin, although my family thinks it's ugly because it's misshaped and has bumps on it! The index box (located by his left foot) was home to a baby lizard that they captured. But, they have released the little lizard to go on his merry way! And, here's Harry! Not a smile to be had because his daddy was starting the engine and he was ready to go! I'm lucky I got these few shots!

Halloween 2009

The Great and Mighty Oz The cast of characters! Dennis and his co-workers are having way too much fun dressing up!!