On a Drum Roll

Yesterday after I picked up Claire from school--all my "Claire-isms" start like this, for she is always so talkative then--she told me she likes that I'm one of the last parents to come for pick-up. She and I have discussed many times how I don't like to sit in the traffic cluster at the school, so I come toward the end of the pick-up time to avoid the jam.

Well, yesterday I didn't think I had come as late as I sometimes do, so I asked Claire why so few kids were left at that earlier time. She replied quickly, "The fifth-graders were on a drum roll--"

"A what?" I interjected.

"A drum roll--they were picked up so fast today!"

Christmas Decorating

We finally brought our Christmas tree into the house and decorated it. It's sat for over a week in the backyard in a bucket of water, and Claire's been asking to decorate the tree for days. She declared decorating the tree is the favorite part of her holiday.

After my requisite, Sunday-afternoon nap, Mr. Morgan put the tree in the stand, and I turned on the Christmas tunes. Quickly Celine Dion wore on Mr. Morgan's ears, but Andrew Peterson revived him along with the homemade hot cocoa and goodies.Since I like natural-looking Christmas trees, our tree tends to look wild and crazy--yes, it's supposed to look like that.

Our stockings are hung by the fireplace with care; I still need to get one for little Hamilton.

The Hearty Whites

Yesterday as Claire and I were coming home from school I told her about our busy upcoming afternoon. We had a few precious minutes once we got home to get dressed in nice clothes and head to our family portrait appointment. Since I wasn't sure how late we'd be getting home, I told Claire she could have a hearty snack. (Usually she gets a small snack, so she's more likely to be really hungry for dinner--no matter what it is.) She then asked if she could have two bagel halves (instead of her usual one), since dinner would be later than normal. "Yes, Claire, that's what 'hearty' means--bigger, more substantial," I said.

After a moment of thinking, she said, "So why do you call them the Hardee-Whites?"

Stifling a small laugh, I replied, "Miss Amanda's last name before she got married was 'Hardee.' So she and Mr. Alex together are the Hardee-Whites. It'd be like people calling us the Taylor-Morgans."

Claire interjected seriously, "But no one would do that because it doesn't sound good."

"Yeah," I agreed, "but we just started calling them the Hardee-Whites as a joke and it kinda stuck."

"Well, I don't get the joke," Claire said, "I mean, Miss Amanda and Mr. Alex aren't big or anything."

Five Months Old

Today is Hamilton's five-month birthday. I just gave him a bath, so he doesn't have any duds on yet. The last month has really flown by, and we've hit some major milestones. He's enjoying solid foods now; he's liked everything I've given him including bananas, prunes, rice cereal, apples, sweet potatoes, and peas. So far I've got him trained not to put his hands in his food or mouth while he's eating, so meal time is not nearly as messy as I'd imagined. We'll see how long that lasts. His neck muscles are getting stronger, so tummy time is not nearly so frightful. He's still making lots of noise, and he always smiles without fail when I sing to him--even silly songs.

Ernie Irvan

Former NASCAR driver Ernie Irvan and his wife live in the Charleston area. I guess this news might be exciting to racing fans, but this latest debacle will not make his wife and him popular with most folks. And, the Irvans won't fare well going against the popular CSA program.

Wake Up Baby!

Claire is part of a gifted-and-talented program at her school called SAIL. Her big project this semester for SAIL is an invention; they're learning about problem-solving and other inventors. She's still working to determine a good idea for an invention, but her imagination came up with this crazy invention that involves having a bucket fall on my head so my scream wakes up the baby.A. Mother walks in room
B. steps on wheel and axle skateboard which has stick on it
C. stick knoks over bucket with bowling ball in it
D. Bowling ball falls on ballon
E. balloon pops
F. causing grape under ballon to hit target
G. Bird on boot flies over to grape
H. string on bird attached to boot, boot kicks egg
I. egg falls on cat
J. cat screams
K. scream scares mouse
L. Mouse bumps into conveyor belt button
M. conveyor belt with golf ball goes really fast
N. Golf ball flies over to bucket
O. Bucket falls on Mother's head
P. Mom screams
Q. baby wakes up ready to be fed.

Picking Our Tree

Our last activity at the farm was picking our Christmas tree. It's a little bittersweet that Dale no longer sells Christmas trees, but a relaxing Thanksgiving is worth it. And, we still get our pick of the farm.This fun, wild tree is still in a bucket of water in our backyard. Claire is hopeful we'll have time for decorating this weekend.