Gradeschool Essentials

Chickadee was making a game for a class assignment.  Big Red and I were giving her suggestions.  I suggested that one of the cards could say, "Give a high five to the person sitting next to you."

Big Red looked at me wide eyed.  "Mom, she'll be playing this game in school."  

I gave her a questioning look, unable to find the horror in a high five.

"With her classmates!" she urged.

 -blank stare- 

"BOYS!" 

I finally got it.  

Laughing, I noted that Chicadee has been dancing with B-O-Y-S's for a month now in gym class. "And the cooties havn't killed her yet..." 

Chicadee looks up with a wry smile and says,  "Hand santizer."

      

Gearing Up For Christmas

After the victorious return of our Hero,
and after the canyon vacation,
we started getting ready for Christmas.

We did the usual things;

We had family visit, and took a family picture.

Chickadee had a Birthday!

We tormented the kids with long drives and shopping excursions. :)


We set up a a Christmas tree.



And took Gram to the shooting range.


Guess what she got for Christmas?

Winter!!!

So, Family was coming down from MO (where they have winter) to visit us here in NM (where they don't).  "What should we pack?" they ask.  Laughing, on a 58 degree November day, we say, "Oh, you'll be fine with a mid-weight jacket and a hat and gloves.  No need for a heavy coat."  As they begin their two day journey toward the balmy southland, we get this: 

Wow, a crazy amount of snow!  Don't worry, it will melt by noon.  WRONG!  It stayed on the ground an entire week, we even had a second storm and two snow days in one week!  The only snow days in the last 15 years.  Don't worry though, we're settled back into our denial of the existence of winter, with our mid-weight jackets.  High of 56 today.  :)