Day 73ish

Last day of school before Christmas break.

Day 73 Life Lesson: In today's lesson, we learn that just because you open a giant chocolate Santa that you got from school, doesn't mean you need to eat the whole thing nor SHOULD you eat the whole thing, mainly because it freaks out the digestive system.

Lunar Weekend Part Two

Corey put a new countertop in the bathroom. We had promised to do it when we put our house up for sale so we needed to make good on that promise. Good work, honey.

Cooper got out his "Tasty Science" book he got for Christmas last year from Salesa and Jason. The first experiment led to a whole day of baking experiments. In the 10 years we have lived in this house the oven has never been on for that length of time nor has that much baking been done. Ever. It was fun to watch him experiment and the little brothers enjoyed being taste testers. 6 hours of baking meant 6 hours worth of mess that the mom got to clean up. If the size of the mess is proportionate to the talent of the cook then we have the next Iron Chef living in our house.

Lunar Weekend Part One

Cooper: (whispering excitedly and tapping my shoulder) Mom, Mr. Paulsen says the lunar eclipse starts at 5:30.

Me: (sleepily) No Coop, I googled it before I went to bed and it starts at 5:30 Pacific time which means 6:30 Central time. You can go back to bed for an hour.

Cooper: (wide awake) I'll just watch out the window to make sure.

Me: Okay

6:30am

Cooper: Mom, I can't see the moon any more the houses are in the way.

Me: Sorry Coop.

Cooper: Mom, let's go. It's probably starting and we are going to miss it.

Me: (frustrated) It's 4 degrees out and we are going to drive around and it will be below the bluff and we won't be able to see anything.

Cooper: (PERSISTENTLY) Mr. Paulsen says we WILL be able to see it.

Me: (under my breath) Then maybe you should call Mr. Paulsen to take you.

Cooper: What?

Me: FINE, let's go.

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And go we did. Off to McDonalds for a mocha and a hot chocolate and 2 breakfast sandwiches. Then up the hill to the flat land. We drove back and forth and talked about lunar eclipses and solar eclipses and other important things in life. Oh, how I hated getting up so early and going out in the freeeeeeezing cold. But, oh, how I love that my son made me go. It was a morning I will always remember.

Later Saturday morning we had special visitors. 2 month old Brydon and his mom came to visit with grandma Joyce and grandpa Don. Brydon was having a really good hair day. In the afternoon, we went to the annual Christmas party at the legion where Gramsie was leading one of the craft tables. Only at the legion can you find kids visiting with Santa while the adult helpers sip on their beers and mixed drinks. It takes me back to my childhood days when I hung out at Shortys after my dad's softball games. Some things never change.

Day 65

Christmas caroling at Jefferson school meant Coop got to hang with his STEM 4 buds. It was a fun hour of singing led by Amanda Hardy and her sister. Afterwards, the boys had ice cream sundaes.

Day 65 Life Lesson: Ice cream is a treat even when it's below zero outside.

Day 64

One of my favorite events of the Christmas season is the Cotter Choir Concert. I love watching my dear friend, Cathy, direct the young voices. It will be the last time senior JB will sing in the chapel. Boo hoo. It was definitely a Kodak moment when big sis Fallon stood by her little brother for the finale. So cute!

Day 63

It's really not a most wonderful time of the year without helping Gramsie make cookies. The boys delight in not only creating their masterpieces but eating them, as well. There are many jobs but the most favorite is taste tester. We only had one casualty. Cooper grabbed a hot pan. Ouch! It left a pretty nice imprint but he'll be okay.

Day 63 Life Lesson: Too many cooks make the cookies really yummy.

Day 62

Memories. You stumble onto a lot of them when you are packing up your house. Some of the yucky memories of twenty years ago came back to me in the form of photos. In particular, big hair and big glasses. So very painful.

I am a recovering thrower. I am really good at throwing things away. Sometimes too good. So I have transformed myself into a donater because believe it or not people do have a need for other people's crap. It's tough to be a throwing addict when a dumpster has been in your driveway for 3 weeks. I mean that thing has been enabling me in a major way. I get an immense rush from throwing things in it.

Day 62 Life Lesson: Just throw it.