Dressing Fancy and Parent Conference

William likes clothes.  He doesn't go for trends or flash.  He doesn't insist on bling and sometimes his sense of style is...unique.
We are fortunate enough to get some hand me down clothes from a friend of ours. Going through that bag of clothes is a lot like Christmas for all my boys, but mostly for William.  Irregardless of the weather or season or even occasion, if he finds something that really strikes his fancy, he wears it.
This morning he came down dressed in jeans (hand me down or HMD), and a sweatshirt (HMD).  I could also see the edge of a plaid button down shirt (HMD) peeking over his sweatshirt.  Since he wasn't in danger of either having heat stroke, or frostbite, I ignored the color combination and sent him off on the morning carpool with a kiss and a wave.
I did hear back from my morning mom, Tawna.  The following is a partial transcript:

William: Mrs. Tawna, do you see my tie, I am wearing a tie.
Tawna: That's great, very fancy.
William: When I am older I am always going to dress fancy.  I am going to work.
Conner: Are you going to work for ABC's?
William: No, I am going to work for money.

Tawna managed to get the kids to school without wrecking due to laughter. I had no idea he had a clip on tie (HMD) under the other layers.  He liked it, so he wore it, just like when he used to wear the belt and suspenders "just to be sure". Comfort is important, because he had it clipped below the top button (left open).

I might add that we wore a red and navy striped tie with an orange and mid blue plaid shirt, but, he was decent, clean and very fancy.

On another note, we have been seeing the dentist, one at a time.  Michelle, our hygienist is a gift of patience.  She engages the kids and has them all firming believing that the dentist is the coolest place to go and the "Me first!" rule should be used.  To avoid the "Me First" woes, I simply announced we would all go, in birth order.  That usually heads off all arguments except when James complains about the one measly minute separating him and William.
Our first appointment was on a day when the kids had off from school due to parent teacher conferences.  We went in the morning and Caitlyn got a clean bill of dental health and a new toothbrush.  We learned that Michelle's son was attending school at Dora.
Two days later I take William in.  Does he say "Hi", "Hello" or "Good Morning"?  Nope.  He sits in the chair and as soon as Michelle comes in he says, "So, how was parent conference?"
Michelle was only startled for a micro second before giving William a  run down of the conference.  I told her later he could have given her the lecture on the start and end times of the Civil War (1861-1865) and that while slavery was involved, you just can't decide to leave the nation if you are a state.
It could have been far worse, seeing as his Reading Rocks group is reading a book on Mountain Gorillas (which are big "like Dad").

And how was your day?

Autumn Apples

It is apple season again.  It sends my kids into a frenzy of picking at my parent's house.  They have two young trees that compete to over produce.  The kids have no limits on picking and bring me every apple they pick. 
We discovered that instead of sending the horses into colic by overfeeding them, we make apple betty.  If you click on the link, it takes you to a standard recipe for it.  I substitute the sugar and make half white, half brown.  I also double the batch.  Just a tip, when slicing up that many apples, put them in a bowl of water with some lemon juice to prevent browning while you cut and peel.
The kids enjoy this tasty treat and I don't mind making it.  It is so much easier and faster than a standard apple pie, and can be made in a large casserole dish.

Today marks the third batch I have made in the past month.  The first batch went to Caitlyn's class, where her school mates sang her praises and loved it.  We have to be careful in that class, as one girl has chocolate allergies.  Bummer, since chocolate is my bestie.

Speaking of friends, the kids are having quite the social year.  James and Conner (and sometimes Caitlyn) spend Friday mornings with their friends (Grant, Eli and Sawyer) and then we also have our Ms. Andrea come over, often with Emma and Caden.

Caitlyn certainly enjoys the girl time with Emma and Caden and the boys just roll along. On Mondays, after school, we have Allie and Alex stay for a bit.  My house is filled with squeals, laughter and running little feet.  We have moved well beyond the pitter patter, seeing as how all the boys take after their daddy!

The dogs think this arrangement is fabulous.  They also score extra time with Andrea and Caden on school mornings when we all meet to walk at the Walking Trails, other wise know as Prairie Dog Town.  Every school day, after ms. Tawna picks up the kiddos (God bless you) the dogs know it is walk time.  The whine and fuss, waiting for me to leash them up and go to the car.  We enjoy a one and a quarter mile brisk walk, with time out for "business", watching prairie dogs or the occasional detour from a sunbathing snake.
(Which, honestly Mom, doesn't happen that often, you should join us.)

So now, as the temperature slowly sinks more each week, I await the crisp autumn mornings.  I await the time where I will walk faster to stay warm, and get more exercise.
  So I can eat more apple betty.


So, how was your day?

A moment to reflect....

If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped transform for the better. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better."
— J.K. Rowling

Imagine a better world, and make it so!