Happy 2014! (a month late)

Hi everyone!  If anyone is still out there reading this....  ;)

We've had a happy start to the new year!  It's been very busy around here... Bear Cub stays busy with school and I've been subbing weekly, sometimes multiple days, just about each week.  I love being able to see BC here and there at school and I think he feels good knowing I'm there, too.  I'm not ready to go back full time yet, but it sure feels good to be in the classroom and I love the fact that I know so many of the kids and teachers at BC's school!  It really does feel like home away from home.  I love his school!!!

We did have a wonderful Christmas!  BC was thrilled with all of his fish "stuff" that he got...books, stuffed animals, and he also got a mini trampoline (for inside) with a really fun (and big!) crash pad.  He loves to jump and crash, so now he can do so safely!  It burns some of his CONSTANT energy!  Lots of fun.  :) 

We've had a cold winter...remember, for us here in Florida!  Cold enough to wear socks and closed in shoes and (gasp!) JACKETS!!  We enjoy the change of weather because we have so many warm and hot days the rest of the year.  Yesterday was back to more typical temperatures, so we hit the beach and a fishing pier to enjoy the sunshine.  It was wonderful!

Enjoy the pics from the last month or so!  OH!  Bear Cub lost his first tooth on January 21!! WOOHOO!  He was so excited!  So many of his friends have a mouthful of adult teeth already, so this was a big thing for him.  He looks adorable and has another very wiggly one!

Have a great week!  :)

 BC is VERY into these rubber band bracelets...here's one he made all on his own!  It's a great activity for him...quiet, calm, and takes a lot of concentration.  It is really fun!

 Bye bye first tooth!  I wasn't there to see it come in, but I was right there to see it come out!!  :)

 Cousin sleepover!  So fun!

 A beautiful day for the beach and fishing yesterday! I love Florida!

I never could get a non-goofy pic of him in his xmas eve jammies.  Silly boy!

You'd better watch out...you'd better not pout...

Ho, ho, ho!  Just 5 days away 'til Christmas day!  I can't believe it!
Today is BC's last day of school before winter break...what a week it has been!  His big "country" project was due (holidays around the world...he chose Russia!), yesterday was his class holiday party, and today is pajama day!  The kids are WILD at school...but so cute and fun.  I love that I can be a part of the excitement with him.  Enjoy the pictures and if I don't post again before...have a WONDERFUL Christmas!  Enjoy the time with those you love...that's truly the best gift of all.  xoxo

'Tis the Season (to catch up on the last month!)

Hi and happy December!  Woooo-eeeee!  What happened to November?

We're doing great here!  Bear Cub had a blast on Halloween and you'll be able to see another homemade costume down below!  You know how he loves to challenge me each year...maybe at some point, I'll learn how to sew so I can branch out from my hot glue gun and felt!  In case you can't tell...he was a catfish.  A VUNDU catfish, to be specific.  Oh my...only BC!  :)

He's doing so well in school...we continue to love his school and his teacher!  He went on a field trip to a place called "Cracker Country" last month.  We've been before on our own, but it's a neat place set up like "old Florida" where the kids can learn about how people lived a long time ago...and all the work that went into daily life!  He also celebrated Thanksgiving with the entire first grade at his "Charlie Brown" Thanksgiving feast.  Instead of the traditional foods, the kids got plates of jelly beans, pretzels, potato chips, and buttered toast.  This all goes along with the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving story.  Very cute and the kids LOVED it, as you can imagine!

Last week on our holiday break, we went to LegoLand, had our awesome cousins come over for a sleepover, and had a playdate.  BC and I even got out for a little Black Friday shopping.  I can't stay away from it!  Chippy the elf came back to our house!  Yessss!  I wonder what kind of mischief he'll get into around here this year?!?!  I'll be sure to share!

Enjoy this busy month!  I personally want to take time to enjoy the time together as family and try to disconnect more from all the technology.  Enjoy the pics from Halloween and the last month!

 BC got to dress up as a character from a book, so he chose Feather Fin the eel.

 Feather Fin busy at his desk.

 The Vundu catfish!  He LOVED his costume and was so proud of it.  That made my heart so happy!

 Here he is, making a list of the "must see" fish before heading to the aquarium one day.

 BC saw a coconut at the store and was VERY curious about what it looked like in the center. So...we bought a coconut and cracked that baby open!  He did NOT like the taste of it!

 We had some family pics taken last month...I like this one!

 Zoe turned 11 in November!  She was so excited about her present from Mimi...and BC always helps her open her gifts!

 Doing laundry the hard way at Cracker Country.

 Bear Cub and his wonderful first grade teacher!

 We found a lake nearby (BC will NOT tell anyone where it is...it is top secret!) and this is a bass that I (yes, me!) caught.  BC also caught some bass!

 Happy Thanksgiving!  The hostess with the mostess here...sorry Mama...grabbed the pic with eyes closed...but you still look pretty!

 Mimi and her first grandbaby!  ;)

This morning we found Chippy circling what he wants in a toy magazine.  I wonder if his play money works??