Last Post of the Year!

Last post of 2011!

Christmas vacation has been a blur. We went to a Spurs game on the 21st, hosted playgroup on the 23rd, and that night Mark took the kids to see the lights down on the Riverwalk while I stayed home and wrapped all the gifts. Nothing like waiting until the last minute! 

We enjoyed brunch with friends on Christmas Eve morning and dinner with our old neighbors on Christmas Eve night. Christmas Day, we were awakened by the big kids telling Lucas to "go wake up mom and dad and ask if we can open presents. DO IT!"

We hosted friends for a delicious prime rib dinner (gonna have to do that again before next Christmas!) and chocolate cake with peppermint buttercream (you know it!)

On the 26th we went to another Spurs game, and on the 29th, Mark brought home our very own popcorn machine (courtesy of NAPA). The kids went crazy for it! 

Yesterday, we spent the day at Sea World courtesy of a friend who works there and gave us five free passes (pictures later)! We closed out the year with one more Spurs game tonight! At least they win all the games we attend. Maybe we need to go to all of them to ensure another championship!

The weather has been terrific the past couple of days - highs in the 70s - and it feels like spring already. Jacob has knocked out his Webelos badge and two activity pins. One more to go before February for the Arrow of Light and bridge to Boy Scouts. 

Sarah starts volleyball next week. That's one thing we did NOT work on this week. Might have to get on that in 2012 ... tomorrow! 

Happy New Year!

Photo Catch Up

Jacob leading the flag ceremony before the PTA meeting last week. 

The cake balls Tori and I made for the PTA board...carrot cake, white cake with yellow coating (represents our hornet mascot), chocolate on chocolate and red velvet! Pretty easy to make but we learned a lot during the process to make them prettier next time.

Sarah's bracelets she made and sold at the Economics Fair.

Lucas and Caitlyn as Joseph and Mary in the KDO Christmas Program. He did great...and got a laugh from the crowd when he race-walked across the stage on his way to the inn, leaving Mary and the donkey in the dust. They caught up with him eventually and thankfully, he didn't drop Baby Jesus. We'll call it a success!

The new blog header photograph was taken by Betsy Herndon. She's an assistant director at Lucas' school and rescues me from the tortured poses of elementary school mass production Picture Day. I love the way they are cracking up in this picture!

The Week Before Christmas

Sarah had her First Reconciliation on Saturday. She had to do her first confession with a priest. She didn't seem nervous at all, although Jacob thought she would have a long list of things to talk about. Maybe it was the promise of frozen yogurt afterwards that pushed her through.

We ALMOST had a visit from Grandpa Nault who would have been in town for a night while on a consulting project. Unfortunately, the trip got canceled at the last minute.

We spent Sunday looking for a sofa to replace the hand-me-down, threadbare one we have in the playroom. In a game of furniture musical chairs, we ended up moving the leather sectional from the TV room to the playroom and got a sofa like this for the TV room. (Mom, I think it's the Alisa by Bernhardt because I know you'd want to know.) The chair and a half and an ottoman should give us enough seating and still enough room to play Just Dance 3 on the Wii. The best part is that it will be here tomorrow!

We have a busy week getting ready for lots of Holiday Parties, the 2nd grade Economics Fair (Sarah is making and selling bracelets), the PTA luncheon (I made Cake Balls for the first time), Lucas' performance as Joseph in his school's Christmas Program, the Cub Scout pack meeting (Jacob is close to earning both his Webelos badge and Arrow of Light badge), a cookie exchange, a white elephant gift exchange and a dinner party! We'll be ready for the relative calmness of next week!

It's A Major Award!

After my wildly successful evening on Saturday when I won a trip to Puerto Vallarta, I was certainly not expecting tonight to be anything special. The PTA President had a procedure done yesterday and wasn't feeling up to leading the meeting tonight, so as runner-up (I mean 1st VP) I was tapped for the job. I wasn't too concerned about leading the meeting...after all, we have a script, and I don't have a problem with public speaking. 

I was more nervous for Jacob who was going to be the speaker from the Cub Scout pack to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. He practiced and was totally ready, until he saw several hundred people in the cafeteria who were ultimately there for the 4th grade choir concert! He did well but was so quiet, Mark couldn't hear him in the back. Oh well. At least he'll earn his Webelos badge now. 

The meeting was short and sweet and we moved into presenting Honorary Life Memberships, "one of the highest honors that can be bestowed in the Texas PTA, awarded to individuals for outstanding service to children and youth.

Donna Allen started to read her speech first. I didn't know she was talking about me until she mentioned Jennifer Massey Designs! And then it just got funnier from there.

Hopefully all the parents and teachers in attendance will forget the part about me not liking kids by the time the election comes around in April. But then again...it might be my only way out of being president! 

So, thank you, thank you to Donna and Evette and anyone else who nominated me. I appreciate being recognized - especially when I least expected it! 

Feeling rather lucky now and might just have to jet off to Vegas! 

Holiday Party

Last night was the Holiday Party for NatureSweet (my tomato job). It was held at the Westin Hotel on the Riverwalk. The company provided car service to the party so we didn't have to drive and it was greatly appreciated! We went with our friends, Tonya and Mike, and got to sit at the Fun Table. 

The hotel even pureed NatureSweet tomatoes for the bloody Mary mix! At the end of the night, they had a drawing for some prizes; gift cards, coffee baskets, etc...and then came the Grand Prize. Guess who won? 

Me! A four-day, three-night stay at an all-inclusive five-star resort in Puerto Vallarta! I don't know any of the details yet, so more to come! Special thanks to Santa and his elf (Bobby and Kathryn, who were the people that interviewed me!)

You have boyfriend?

Why you no have? 

This will make so much more sense after you watch this: Nail Salon by Anjelah Johnson

The best babysitter in the world!

Does your babysitter MAKE crafts like this?

 Or hand painted ornaments like these? 

Or pork tamales (still warm) like these?

And then give them all to you one morning because that's just the kind of sweet, generous person she is? I didn't think so. All that is just a bonus anyway because she loves and takes care of my kids as though they were her own. Peace. Of. Mind. 

We love you, Eva! 

Thankful

This amazing photo of five generations together occurred when my Grandma, Uncle Clete, cousin Candi, Candi's son, Mike, and Mike's son, Gavin, were together at Thanksgiving. 

I had to go here to figure out that Gavin is my first cousin, twice removed. And that Mike is a second cousin of my kids. 

We spent Thanksgiving at the home of our good friends, Robyn and Jon Chappell. With their family, some friends and two airmen from the local base, we enjoyed another lively holiday with our adoptive family! Came home in the nick of time to Skype with some of Mark's family in New Jersey.

Do you Skype? Add us as a contact: shannon.nault

Spent the weekend purging toys and things from the playroom and putting up the Christmas decor. Got the mantle tree done and in a Black Friday luck-bonanza, went to Home Depot hoping to get one of their 7.5' pre-lit trees for $49 for the upstairs playroom. I didn't get there until about 2 pm and was told that the trees had sold out within 30 minutes of them opening the doors in the early morning, BUT... some guy just returned two of them and they are right here on this flatbed!

Then I went to Ross (which is like a discount department store) and snapped a photo of a Steelers lawn gnome and sent it to a friend. Friend doesn't reply until two stores/one hour later but wants me to go back and get the gnome. So I go back and it's GONE! I go up and down the aisles and don't see it anywhere. I text friend who tells me to steal it out of someone's cart or break out the pepper spray! Whatever I have to do! I finally give up looking and ask if the store clerk can check a computer somewhere to see if they have another one. A nearby customer overhears my request and says "Excuse me. What are you looking for?" and when I tell her it's the Steelers lawn gnome, she says "I just put that back on a shelf over here" and goes and gets it for me! We then proceed to have a nice conversation about the Steelers beer mugs and Steelers shower curtain hooks that are still in her cart!

That night, I was able to get two tickets for Laurie and I to the 7:30 showing of Breaking Dawn and got rock star parking at the theater. In hindsight, I should have bought a lottery ticket!

We Party Rock!

Should it bother me that my kids know half of the song "I'm Sexy & I Know It" by LMFAO?

Cub Scout Camping Trip

Jacob and Mark went camping again. This Cub Scout camping trip was just for Webelos Scouts who are about to bridge to Boy Scouts. The local Boy Scout Troops invite prospective members to come along and see how Scouts changes as they get older. For this trip, they camped at Pedernales State Park. I'm not sure if Jacob will want to continue in scouting, but I know he has had a lot of fun camping this year. 

Fall Festival and Other Festivities

Last Friday was the Fall Festival at the kids school. Many months of planning came to fruition with the best festival yet! There were a couple issues though...like the car that was STOLEN from the parking lot during set-up! From an elementary school? Really? Not sure of the details like whether the car was open or not but I did hear it was a brand new Lincoln Continental. And possibly an unethical vendor who turned in three times the amount of tickets any vendor has EVER turned in...after she made a comment like "you guys should really get tickets printed with your school name on them." Why? Because it would stop people like you from robbing a PTA blind by turning in tickets from the festival you did last week?

But for the majority of folks, it was a great event. And drama-free as far as PTA goes which is incredibly comforting for this potential president-elect.

On Sunday, we went to Comanche Park for the NAPA Company picnic. It had just rained and the playground, bounce house and fields were damp, but a fun time was had by all. Mark and I even won the horseshoe competition. Had everyone believing I was an Iowa State Champion (temporarily) and took home gift cards to Texas Roadhouse. Mark and the management also won the softball game. The kids kept busy with sports, face painting and a fishing carnival game with cute prizes.

lifehouse church KDO Holiday Marketplace

In what is likely the end of another one of my jobs*, Lucas' school hosted our 4th Annual Holiday Marketplace on Wednesday. Since Lucas will graduate from preschool in the spring, there was lots of harassment from KDO staff about how I need to adopt a 2-year-old quick so I won't have to leave the school (and leave them to find someone else to plan this event!)

We had about 30 vendors again. Here are the websites of some of my favorites!

Jennifer Massey Designs - of course! (Hi Boss!) Handmade jewelry

My Sassy Pants - embellished clothing, fun tees and jewelry

Vault Denim - cute jeans for all sizes

Dizzy Dazzle Designs - home decor

Dandie Cakes - cookie bouquets

Your Queen Bead - beaded serving pieces

Blessings Unlimited - Christian home decor and kitchenwares

* I hit my five-year anniversary with Bath & Body Works in October, then quit. The late night Floor Sets were getting too late, too often and too painful on my hip.

Halloween 2011

Halloween continues with pre-trick-or-treating tacos and obligatory photos with the Chappells, the Prices and the Lathams.

Front: Sarah, Grace (Hermione), Connor (ummmm....?)

Back: Lucas, Chase (grim reaper), Jacob, Ethan

Under the Frankenstein...

Sarah the Drake cheerleader! Woo Hoo!

Lucas the ninja ... again.

 Ethan as Mario ... again. He was Mario three years ago too but this time I bought the costume, complete with lop-sided, inflatable belly.

Jacob was Ratchet from a video game called Ratchet and Clank. Yeah, I don't know what he is either.

Robyn's nieces, Maddie (an older Hermione) and Finley (watermelon).

With Halloween being on a Monday this year, it made for a tough rest of the week at school. Lots of tired, wired and over-emotional kids! 

Pre-Halloween

Last Thursday, Lucas had his annual Pumpkin Patch Parade at school. After much debate over whether he should be a ninja or Batman, we landed on ninja and he was pretty cute.

With his class, which included Strawberry Shortcake, Prince Charming, three Super Girls (two were twins), two Snow Whites, Spiderman and many more.

Friday, Lucas and I went to a Halloween brunch and he stayed to play Rock Star with Caitlyn while I went to a meeting on elementary school boundaries!

(waiting on pic)

Sunday was the preschool's Fall Festival. It was gorgeous afternoon for games, rides, and food - all free and all lots of fun!

Monday was Halloween. Not so coincidentally, many grades have a costume/presentation due on this same day. Unfortunately, most kids don't want to be an Egyptian pharaoh or a Greek goddess when there are so many other things they'd rather be ... so trying to figure out six costumes this month was not fun! Ethan was a pharaoh with a great hat I found in a costume shop across the street from my hotel during my trip to Boulder.

Sarah was Persephone, the goddess of Spring. She was kidnapped by Hades (her uncle) and while she was in the Underworld, she ate some pomegranate seeds which meant she had to stay in the Underworld forever. Hermes negotiated a deal with Hades that Persephone could spend half the year with her parents (Zeus and Demeter) and half with Hades. When she is with Hades, her mother is so sad that she causes all the plants to die (winter) and when Persephone comes back in the spring, her mother is happy again and everything is given new life.

Anniversary Weekend

Mark and I celebrated our 12th anniversary by heading to Chicago for a long weekend. First stop, visiting my Cuz, Kim, and her fab family. We had a fun dinner at The Brick House sharing buttery pretzels and watching Chris consume a Dirty Dog ... a foot long dog with beef chili, cheddar cheese & onions that was about as big as my forearm.

Cute Cuzzie Kids ... Tyler

Jessie


Jaybird



The next day we drove out to Aurora to see my friend Lindsey, her sister Gretchen and her parents - Lori (who I went to college with) and JP. Lindsey is five and kept saying that I was her friend. Then she said my name was Patrice. Friendship is fleeting when you're five, I guess. We took the girls to Grandma and Grandpa's and headed out to another fun dinner at The Turf Room.

Meanwhile, the kids were having a blast with Miss Eva. She took them to a pumpkin patch (and to two movies and a sleepover at her house). I'm sure the kids were sorry to see the fun end when we got home! Here's the kids with Miss Eva's daughter, Veronica, and her son Ayden who is a good friend of Jacob's.





From Aurora, we drove up to the Lincolnshire Marriott to catch the shuttle to Alison's wedding. Alison is a friend from Drake.

Jeff & Alison


Her wedding was held at the KAM Isaiah Israel synagogue in Hyde Park, a national historic landmark that happens to be across the street from President Obama's Chicago home. There were Secret Service guys all over the place, road blocks and photography restrictions and the President wasn't even in town!



At the wedding reception, we hooked up with another good college friend Laurie and her husband John, laughed with our table at one of the most awkward (but loving) best man speeches ever, and danced the night away while munching beautiful cupcakes and other goodies from the dessert bar. It was a great way to spend our actual anniversary day!

Flew home on Monday, in time to get the kids off the bus! Back to reality.