Happy Friday

Hope you have a fabulous weekend...full of Sonic happy hour, green fun, and lots of laughs!!!!

Confetti Creations LOVES Dodge Elementary {teacher appreication idea}

I got this idea to create a "gourmet cupcake bar" for the teachers and staff at my children's elementary school a few weeks back.  I was doing the same thing for my Scentsy party, so it was easy to create enough frosting for both and freeze it until I needed it.  There are five different types of cupcakes:  Peanut Butter Heaven, Plain Jane, Turtle, Pina Colada, and Strawberries-n-Cream.  Each had a different flavor and each was so yummy!

 I loved the way it turned out and hope the teachers liked it, too.  When I was leaving, there was already a crowd waiting to get some of the sweet treats.  :)

Being a teacher is an amazing thing.  I only taught middle school for one year, but I loved it.  I love teaching my Sunday School class.  I love watching the boys learn new things.  I love teaching cake decorating classes and seeing how different each person decorates their cake, even after being given the same instructions.

I am so grateful to all the teachers my children have who help mold them into the people they will one day be.  I love the challenges they present my boys, their dedication to helping them be the best they can be.  I love their willingness to help them in times of trouble and their patience in times of frustration.  It's not all glitter and rainbows, but the teachers my boys have had have all been amazing.  From para's to "special" teachers to staff, I am very happy with Dodge Elementary!  GEAUX WILDCATS!


 

Following Directions

Anyone who has met a strong willed child (or adult for that matter) knows it can be a challenge at times to get them to follow directions.  Especially when they have their mind set on one thing.
Well, Ethan is a strong willed child...I try very hard to not just give in (to make my life easier in the here and now) but to make sure he follows through with the things I ask him to do.
Here is what happened today.

Ethan:  I want some cherrios.
Jessica:  Okay, but you need to put this jello into the fridge so you can eat it later and bring me a bowl.
E:  Okay.
Takes bowl and goes to kitchen.  I hear door to fridge open, shuffling in fridge, E returning to me.
J (looks at bowl that has blue jello remnants in it):  Ethan, where is the jello?
E:  In the fridge!
J:  Where did you get this bowl?
E:  The kitchen.

 I did not fuss at Ethan, because he DID do what I asked (a miracle, he is so stubborn most times), just not the way I envisioned it.  After I cleaned up the jello, I did have him wipe at the fridge some and we talked about why food stays IN bowls unless we are putting them in the sink.

Proof

Friday was a nice day so the kids and I headed to the park in our neighborhood to meet some friends and burn a little energy.  It was parent/teacher conference day so the kids were out of school.

Brennan rode his bike to the park and was riding around the park, playing under the trees, exploring, etc.  I didn't think anything of it as I could see him the whole time and the street is really slow, so I felt he was very safe.

It wasn't until I got home that I learned there were things for me to worry about.

Here is how the conversation with Brennan went:

B:  Mom, I have PROOF that Spanish Explorers were in Omaha.

J:  Oh, yeah, how do you have proof?
B (Pulls something from his pocket):  Because I found one of their bottles!

And what was that a bottle of?

JOSE CUERVO ESPECIAL in hotel bottle form.

My "gifted and talented" clueless child took a dirty bottle with Spanish words on it and drew the conclusion NOT that some teens were hanging out drinking bottles of alcohol they stole from their old granny, but that the dirty bottle was PROOF of Spanish explorers, or Spanish conquistadors if you will, roamed the park far before we ever did.

I hope he never loses his sense of wonder and thinking outside the box...but I sure as heck hope he breaks the bad habit of being a scavenger...because that is not the only thing he brought home from that park that day...but that is a blog post for another day.




 

We Bought A Zoo (Pass)

We really love the Omaha Zoo. If you are ever in Omaha, you should make it a priority to go there one day!  Just wear comfortable shoes as there is lots of walking.

Last year we didn't buy a season pass, so we only went to the zoo once, with someone who shared her pass.  It is just too expensive to go without a pass...they pay for themselves in two visits!

Well, we bought a pass and we are very excited to be heading out more often. The pass includes free IMAX movies so today we saw the Sharks 3-D movie...I am not a fan of 3-D movies, they look fuzzy to me and don't really POP.  Bart thought the glasses made me look amazing!

I have to say, Bart looks pretty HOT in his glasses as well.

It was very windy, so we ate our lunch in the Desert Dome...I didn't want all of our food blowing away and forcing us to buy zoo food...maybe the wind was generated by the zoo to get people to buy more concessions?  IDK but I think I am on to something...b/c it sure wasn't that windy the rest of our visit, just during lunch.

Either way, we had a great time and can't wait to go back. The boys LOVE exploring the map and plotting out where to go next...I can't wait until all the exhibits are open/finished being re-constructed/etc, and we can actually go to all the things they want.  I am especially excited to see the renovated aquarium. 

Brennan FINALLY learns to ride his bike!

Let it be known that at the age of eight years, eight months of age, Brennan FINALLY learned to ride his bike.

Why?

Because I told him he could not ride his too small scooter which made him look silly or just run behind his friend when A. "does loops" around our street on his bike.  I told B the only way he could participate is if it was on a bike.  And that was motivation enough to get him trying on his own! Bart has worked with him many times in the past with no luck of letting go of the back of the bike.
This is a great thing because I was starting to think I would need to look into special services through the school to help him with this handicap he had.
Good job Brennan! 

P.S.  These pictures were taken on the first day he did it all by himself (Monday).  Since then he's gotten much steadier and confident. 

 

Brennan's Cub Scouts Blue and Gold Banquet

Last night was Brennan's Cub Scouts banquet.  He was so excited for this event and it made me happy to see him anticipate it.  The little boys got into the excitement as well and Ethan kept saying, "Mom, I go to CUB SCOUTS tonight!!!!"

Here are a few pictures of the event.  Brennan helped design the cake (though the main idea to put the scout patches around the side came from Sandi...Brennan still thinks he did it, and he is VERY proud of this fact)

Doing a word find w/ all the kids and leaders names in it, plus Cub Scout words, before dinner.

Brennan was the Assistant Denner and led the flag ceremony.

A SKIT

TWO HOT MAMAS!

Brennan earned a few belt loops

Brennan leading the ending flag ceremony.