First week of December

We decorated our Christmas tree and put up our other decorations this week.

We have made crystal ornaments with borax solution, inspired by our friend.


We have made little snowmen bell ornaments from a kit. (Too tiny for easy putting together, but we had fun anyway.)


We have more ornaments to paint still!

We have tried papaya and fresh coconut juice (not liked by boys). Green beans steamed in butter were accepted, still to try: artichoke. (Dinoguy chose the produce this week at the store that he wanted to try.)

We went to the park with friends and found a letter box too.

I have substitute taught at local schools 2 days this week and been really bored and wished I was at home playing and learning with my kids instead of watching other kids do worksheets.


We have watched many Christmas movies like Rudolph, Frosty, etc.

Fixitman took the boys today to the play Rudolph the red nosed reindeer and to the botanic gardens afterward for play since it was too much for me last month. I worked on finances and crafts and watched a movie while they are gone. They had a good time from what I hear.

Photo by Trainboy

Tomorrow is Home Depot craft day!

park play after the play

It has gotten kinda chilly here - the high during the day has been around 50 this week and its been in the 30's at night. I think I've acclimated to Texas weather since this feels pretty cold to me. I suspect people farther north have little sympathy though.


Dinoguy continues to be fascinated by all things castle and medieval, (inspired by his play of Age of Empires) in addition to dinosaurs. We have read several books about castles and knights in addition to an episode of Modern Marvels on castles that he watched about 4 times.

Hope you are having a wonderful week too!

The Stinky Cheese Man play + a nature walk with friends

The set of the show before it began (no photos during allowed!)

Waiting for the show

What a pose!

We checked out a children's theatre program last week with friends, going to see "The Stinky Cheese Man". What boy wouldn't be enthralled with that title? Great book, but would it be a fun play? We got there early not realizing that it didn't start right at 10, but seating began at 10. So my mama calm was wearing thin by the time the show started, but we were rewarded with a fast paced, high energy version of the book and its other stories all woven together.While Trainboy kept telling me it wasn't actually the stinky cheese man but a guy in a suit, Dinoguy was laughing hysterically and when it was over proclaimed "That was totally awesome!" I think it was a successful venture into the world of theatre, seeing how the squirminess of my kids wasn't the end of the world since it was a theatre full of children.

That is Trainboy's head popping out of the log

Afterward we had a picnic at a nearby botanical gardens and then went on the nature walk trail. It was an awesome walk, but the combo of the theatre plus walk was too much for me and again I got to learn that when you are halfway thru the third trimester, it's time to start taking it easier. Even after the drive home, I spent the rest of the day parked on the couch, sleeping or resting.Fun times with the hollow log
Looking at the baby animals hidden in the holes

It was a grand time though and I am glad we went.