Thanksgiving and the first activities of the Holiday Season

With the holidays upon us and my boss asking me to train about 6 employees in the coming weeks this is going to be a short post!! But, we are enjoying all the activities that come with the season. Hope all is well with everyone. 

 Thanksgiving day at the Kies house!  Thank you to the Knowles family and Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean for making the trip over for turkey day and for bringing part of the meal. I had a fun time cooking and prepping that week and with Brooke that day.

 Time for a little birthday party for Cashin and Uncle Tyler. Happy 1st birthday Cashin. 

 Kennon 4, Carter 4, Reid 2, Maddox 6 

 'Let me at that cake Mom'!!    Cashin really dove into the cake and enjoyed tasting the frosting. 

 5 happy grandkids, 2  happy grandparents…and a red balloon :) 

 Silly faces…I think Kennon's is the funniest!! 

 The Friday after Thanksgiving we skipped the shopping and hit the dinner theater instead.  The kids, Brooke, and Eric and I (minus Tyler and Cashin at home.. a little young for this type of event yet) drove over to Rock Island to the dinner theater, Circa 21. We had a brunch buffet and then watched The Most Famous Reindeer musical.  The  kids all REALLY enjoyed it and sat through both acts really well. All of them ate a great brunch too, I was so impressed.   I thought the musical was really cute and even had a fair amount of adult humor.  We are planning to keep an eye on future kid productions at Circa as both Maddox and Kennon really enjoyed it. It is a great experience for the whole family. 

 Maddox and Kennon getting an autograph from Evila  (the evil snow witch turned nice near the end of the play)  I think Evila could have used a bit of a wardrobe adjustment for this kiddo friendly production.

 Maddox, Evila and Carter 

 Maddox and Doey (Rudolph's best friend)

 Maddox and Kennon with the misfit elf Ike. Ironically, our church is doing a Christmas Movie series right now and that particular weekend the movie Shawn (our pastor) reviewed was Rudolph. Basically he parallels the movie with a Biblical message. Christians are all misfits and God uses misfits for his purpose.  All of God's disciples were actually 'misfits' placed by God to help spread the word. Last weekend it was A Christmas Story and this weekend it is Elf. I have really enjoyed the series so far and it has opened my eyes to a new way to look at the movies. 

 Maddox and Kennon with Rudolph - the hero of the musical 

I feel like since the kids are getting older the door is opening to many more kid friendly activities in the community. A couple of Sunday's ago we drove over to the Putnam Museum in Davenport and watched Frozen Sing A Long on the big screen. It was a great time.  The kids enjoyed the big screen and super theater seating as well as the popcorn and lemonades.  Prior to the show we toured the museum a bit. They have lots of science type exhibits which both Maddox and Kennon really enjoyed. We are definitely going to have to go back.  Luckily we have a 'Fun Bundle' pass which allows us entrance to the Zoo, Family Museum and the Putnam Museum. I'm certain we have already recouped the cost of the pass.  Next Sunday we are going back to the Putnam for a Polar Express PJ party…crafts, scavenger hunts through the museum ( with the lights off…we are supposed to bring flashlights… ), hot chocolate, and The Polar Express in 3D on the big screen. The kids don't know yet but I am super excited. 

Last weekend we headed out to pick out our Christmas tree.  We went back to the same field as last year and had just as good of an experience. It was super warm out which also helped….!!  We found a beautiful tree.  I really love this one this year…it has a little smaller needles but is still a fir. Beautiful. I love the smell when we first bring her home.  Such a fun tradition. 

Kennon was INSISTENT on helping Eric saw it down.  Normally we have no trouble and even I normally cut it down, but this year with all the rain it was SUPER SAPPY and even Eric had a bit of trouble keeping the saw moving. But with a little extra 'help' from a little person they got er' done.  The thing did not drink a lick of water from the tree stand for at least 48-72 hours… which is so unusual. A sign of the rain we've had this year. 

Last Sunday we went to the Family Museum's Winter Fest!!  It was so nice this year, a little more organized than last. We were almost first in line to see the big guy which proved to set the tone for just an enjoyable afternoon…crafts, rocket building and blasting, dry ice experiments and cookies and milk.  So thankful for a wonderful museum just minutes from our house. 

So Kennon asked Santa for a train with a track…which I certainly didn't have on my list for him but is doable. Maddox is CERTAIN she is getting a puppy from Santa..!! UGH (any suggestions on how to get around this request are much appreciated). About 3 weeks ago she came home insistent on asking Santa and EXPECTING a puppy from Santa. She took a towel up to her room for the dog to sleep on and has been saying she'll just keep the puppy in 'her room' as she knows Eric and Kennon are allergic to dogs. We have been gently reminding her that God only grants requests that are TIMELY for the family…and SAFE for the family. (referencing A Christmas Story and Ralphie with the red rider bee bee Gun)  After we left the museum last week the ride home was quiet as the kids were just tired from the event. All of a sudden Maddox piped up from the backseat and said 'Mom you are going to have to start buying dog food!'.  I honestly didn't say anything and neither did Eric.  Then in the awkward silence Kennon says in this rather diplomatic voice 'Maddox!!! if you get a dog I'm going to be sneezing EVERYDAY!!!'.  Eric and I burst out laughing.  SO so so true buddy…but not everyday…every minute!!   Eric and I are still working on how we are going to manage this request.  Fish??  It is certainly not out of the question for us to get an allergy free dog but not until the children are older.  We have good friends that own a kennel and they say age 12 is the earliest they would recommend getting a dog given the level of responsibility of earlier ages.  We are hoping to take Maddox out and let her play with the dogs in the coming weeks. 

Making an ornament. 

Snowman made of model clay. 

Kennon and fox from Fox Knoll (the little  make believe city the museum is based after)

Kennon got to bring home Cubbie bear from Awana on Tuesday. Cubbie is the mascot for the Awana Cubbie group that Kennon is in (Maddox is in the next group up the Sparks).  So Cubbie got to make cookies with us yesterday and I've been snapping some pictures of him with Kennon at various activities.  The bear will go home with each child in the class this year.  

We received a special package from Aunt Kelly last week.  They were so excited to open it and were happy to find the presents unwrapped  :)   Those little critters they are holding are so adorable and have been quite the rage in the house since they came out of their boxes. I think technically Maddox's is a unicorn and Kennon's is a mix between a cow and a giraffe maybe? Anyhow they are soft and squishy and have magnets in their feet!! So Kennon has been carrying 'Bruce' around sticking him to all sorts of objects around the house. So fun.  I particularly like to stick him to the recess lighting cans… He is rather cute hanging down from the ceiling. Thanks for the special box Aunt Kelly! 

It has been so warm out this past week we've been frequenting parks!!  

Last Thursday it was peek week at Maddox's dance class.  I so love watching her dance. She has really improved since she started last year. She carriers herself quite well in class with her long legs and arms and has really started to develop a good sense of her body in space - proprioception in the therapy world - which allows for an eye pleasing dancer. I am excited to see her continue to develop her skills. 

Thursday night was Eric's annual client open house. The kids enjoy going to Eric's office. They got to play with the other Planning Center kiddos (although I didn't get any pictures of the clan this year).  They watched movies in one of the meeting rooms, while the clients and staff mingled in the common area. Maddox was excited to wear a new Christmas dress from Grandma Jean. So adorable. The basement of The Planning Center is nearing completion just in time for the winter weather ( or rather supposed winter weather…60 degrees this weekend!!) . Last thing to do is clean and polish the floors and then it will be ready for kiddo play this winter and for the staff to use as a workout room in between clients/before and after the workday. It is a great space. 

Yesterday was Maddox's Christmas program at her grade school. She was so excited as she really loves to perform and sign.  Grandma Jean had blessed us with TWO beautiful new dresses so she got all gussied up for this event too.  It is quite the Christmas program. They kids actually do the entire program twice, once in the morning for the parents of children with last names A-J and then the afternoon is K-Z.  The school even provides a shuttle from a distant parking lot to the performance as there is little parking to accommodate all the program goers. She got to sing two songs and did a great job.  She loves music at school. It is definitely one of her favorite classes.  She also likes to perform in front of others and her self confidence has really improved over the least couple of years thanks to ballet and even the tasks she is doing in front off her peers in her Kindergarten room. 

 I just LOVE this dress. So classic.  Thank you Grandma Jean. 

Maddox at peek week. 

Kennon blasting off the rocket he made at the Winter Fest last Sunday at the museum. 

Kennon is doing well in school and is certainly enjoying this warm weather. He will have his skin allergy test next week so we'll hopefully get a better idea of what his true allergies are and can make house adjustments to keep him healthy. Strictly speaking we HAVE been healthy despite lots of sickness around us  (school, church etc).  Maybe FINALLY we have built up enough immunity to the germs??  Kennon continues to bless us with his adorable, loving sense of humor. He is just a funny guy..not without the rather frequent fit though which reminds me he is just NOT ready for Kindergarten and we will be holding him back another year despite his apparent readiness in relationship to the scholarly side. We are hoping to get him in to a Transition to Kindergarten all day preschool program through the Pleasant Valley School district next year which will really prepare him for the Kindergarten experience. Maddox is now reading chapter books!! (way to go Maddox)  and her penmanship has significantly improved since we got her writing grip worked out with help from Mrs. Gaspelin. She is really taking a liking to reading which I am thrilled about.  She has certainly been challenging us this week with her behavior both in and outside of school. But we are trying to give her lots of love and encouragement and get her back on track.  She had her 6 year old well check a couple of weeks ago and was in the 89th percentile for height and 49th for weight.  Dr. Delessio was quite happy with her growth and thinks she is rather healthy little gal. It might be till after Christmas before my next post…just thinking about all the tasks of the season I might not get back to the computer. Merry Christmas to all! 

Operation Santa Shoeboxes, Preschool Thanksgiving Program and First Day in the Snow

A shot from 'the morning after Halloween'!  I'll take any help I can get keeping the floors clean pirate Kennon.  Kennon actually loves to sweep and will quite frequently get the swifter broom out from the closet on his own when he sees me cleaning up the house a bit.  

Maddox and Kennon with their Operation Santa shoeboxes.  It has sort of become that our neighborhood does a group activity each month.  In August it was the block party, September was the first annual Century Heights road race, October was an outdoor movie night  (which we sadly missed as it took place when we were in St. Louis) and November was putting together shoeboxes for Operation Santa.  We, or rather Kim, my good friend who is the creative mastermind behind all of our neighborhood activities, thought that November's group activity should be about giving back and being thankful!! Perfect!! Certainly all the children in our neighborhood are quite blessed and it is nice to give back.  Maddox chose to pick items for a girl aged 5-9 and Kennon for a boy aged 2-4.  We were to get them a WOW gift, such as the doll for Maddox's girl and the deflated soccer ball (with a pump!!) for Kennon's boy.  Then we got them other trinkets based off a list an American compiled who does a lot of missionary trips where these boxes end up. The premise is to actually spread the word of Jesus Christ in addition showering the children with gifts they wouldn't normally receive. In fact it says in the literature that most of the children open the box, take one item, and then hand it back to the adult…not knowing that the ENTIRE box is for them. Wow…!!  The kids both enjoyed packing their boxes and we'll get an email soon as to where they end up!  They are shipped throughout the world. 

In addition to the gifts, the kids get to tell the child receiving the box a little about themselves (there is a translator involved as needed). ….what state they live in, what country they live in, their favorite food, color, what they are thankful for etc.  It was fun! 

The deflated soccer ball was still quite cumbersome in Kennon's box so we had to do some fancy packing to get all of the items to fit. 

Maddox decorating the lid top to her box. 

The finished product! 

The little sign says 'This is my hand. When you place your hand on mine, think about me. I prayed for your to receive this box.' 

Maddox and her finished gift….a doll, jump rope, bandaids, soap with a case, toothbrush with a case (a lot of then live in dirt type homes so you can imagine the little toothbrush cover would come in handy) , pencils, a calculator, hair bows, erasers, socks, etc. 

All of our neighbor friends and their families and all of our boxes!! Last Monday night (when it was still nice and warm!!)  the kids, Eric and I loaded up the boxes and took them to our church, Heritage. Heritage was a drop off site in the Quad Cities for the boxes. From there they were loaded into a big semi truck and, I believe, were delivered to an Operation Santa hub and shipped to the children from that point.  Such a good activity to teach about the Love of Jesus Christ and giving back to the world. 

Mason, our neighbor friend across the street, Maddox and Kennon on one of the warm days we've had this last couple of weeks. 

Selfie as we waited in the drop off line at Kennon's preschool. Kennon has had his food habits turned upside down a bit in the last several weeks. We have decided to do a 'no dairy' diet for KTK to see if it helps with his asthma/respiratory issues.  So far so good…I do think it is helping. Not sure how we are going to work that with Thanksgiving but we'll try. Kennon is really embracing the new routine and basically tells anyone that we meet that he is allergic to 'dairy and grass!'  with this cute little grin on his face. I have no real idea about EITHER of the items…but that's fine for now. I actually have him scheduled to go through an extensive skin allergy test through our ENT on December 11th. I'm excited to get some definitive answers for our happy, comical guy. 

Last weekend Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean took the kids for the entire weekend so Eric and I could could attend the Minnesota:Iowa game and get a little shopping and solo time in. It was a much needed break from the role of being a parent 24:7 and getting to put in some time together as just Eric and I!! A big thank you to Dad and Jean for keeping the kiddos for TWO nights and for embracing Kennon's new 'allergy' and serving only dairy free food. The kids had a ball and Eric and I certainly benefitted from the break from the kids…..AND the Hawks won!!!  What could be better. 

Kinnick stadium before the game. 

The Hawkeyes getting ready to take the field.  

Kennon had his Thanksgiving program at preschool last week. He was very animated during the singing portion….saying all the words and doing all the motions just right!!  Happy kiddo right in the center of this picture.  

Getting ready to have our Thanksgiving feast with Kennon.  Each preschool class prepares a dish for the meal at school. This year Kennon's class got to make the yummy cornbread.  Last year he made the jello.  Never mind the big bowl of dairy filled cheese cubes sitting in front of him. He was a trooper and was not disappointed that he couldn't have one. 

We invited Grandpa Jim over for the event. Kennon was excited to have Grandpa Jim join us at the feast and see him perform. After the 'meal' we grabbed lunch to go from Arby's and went out to Maddox's school to surprise and eat lunch with her.

Kennon- 4 years old. 

Maddox went on her first official field trip on Thursday. It was to the Hauberg Indian museum in Rock Island at Blackhawk State park. Since Eric is quite the history buff in our family….he opted to go with Maddox rather than I :)  They both had a grand time.  She was so excited to have Eric join her.  Eric was one of 5 dads from her classroom and 4 mama's.  Mrs. Gaspelin even had her mother come!!!  Apparently she comes up from Florida every year this week and joins in the fun with her daughter's class. She was a teacher too and Eric said she got right in there with the kids, facilitating and disciplining as needed. Eric got to know Mrs. Gaspelin a little more on the trip…and we sure do LOVE her. 

Maddox wrote the names on the lunch sacks…by herself.  I had her add 'Eric' as I reminded her, her dad wasn't the only dad going. She looked at me kind of funny…like 'oh I hadn't thought of that'.  Almost like…she thought she was only one who called her dad, Dad!!  It was so cute to watch her expression changed from 'what do you mean mom….to …Oh yeah..I get it!'.   

 Maddox really loved the animal presentation part of the field trip.  This fella named Chuck, who is an animal expert (and also does spinning with me a the Y in the morning :)  talked about animals native to the Quad City area. He had several animal skins. This one is a buffalo. Maddox came home proclaiming 'it takes 17 kiddos to make a buffalo!'  She was very interested in the animals and raised her hand to answer most all of the questions. We had Maddox's conference with Mrs. Gaspelin a couple of weeks ago. She is doing quite well and Mrs. Gaspelin really only had good things to say about Maddox. She is doing well with he reading, which is the primary focus in Kindergarten, and is meeting all of the behavior/emotional type markers.  Mrs. Gaspelin only informed us she needs to learn to tie her shoes (which I really did not know was a marker for Kindergarten) and that she is holding her pencil incorrectly… which we are working on and Maddox is improving. We are so happy with Mrs. Gaspelin. Her years of experience with all types of children and all types of behavior and needs has really come in handy with Maddox.  Maddox is enjoying school and is happy to hop on the bus each day. 

Maddox is part of the presentation here.  She and Chuck measured out 15' with a tape measure.  She got to choose whether she wanted to be the skunk, or the fox.  Naturally she chose the fox, not realizing that meant that she was going to be "sprayed" at by the sunk (who was Chuck)!  He was a funny guy, I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, the parents who were laughing at his humor or the kids who were enthralled with the animals

Here is Maddox trying to answer yet another question from Chuck as he gave clues to the kids about what animal (or pelt in this case) he was holding.  The children also learned about the Indians native to this region of the country and their focus during each season in order to survive.  The museum has 4 stations, one for each season and the presenter did a great job of talking about their activities and engaging the kids in a dialogue about the scene and what was going on.

I cut these last two roses from my garden Thursday night at like 11pm!!  I knew the snow was coming Friday so I snatched them up and they have opened up just beautifully and smell just as sweet as summer! Both of these are Grandma Doris'. 

Taken two days after being indoors.  Love love love those ruffly pink petals!  …For those of you thinking 'she puts pictures of roses in every post!'…I have become a bit obsessed with these beauties. I think it's because I never considered myself a rose person but these are just gorgeous and are thriving in the section of my garden Eric picked out for them. Till next spring beauties. Sleep well! 

Friday, Kennon and I made a whirlwind trip up to Aurora to pick up the last of the goodies from Mom and Dicks' house. Dick has the house on the market and it was time to clean out the basement storage. Thanks to Papa Dick for boxing it all up. It has been "fun" unpacking it all. Kennon was a trooper and really enjoyed himself the entire trip despite being in a seated position for 2 hours up and 2 hours back!!  He actually only slept for like 10 minutes of the entire trip. 

We knew the snow was coming so I got out and got the kids some new snow gear…specifically Maddox because she had outgrown all of her gear from last year. At school Maddox will go outside and play in the snow for two recesses per day.  I can't imagine 17 Kindergarteners getting all their gear on and off TWICE in one day…but apparently they do. She'll wear it to and from school too while on the bus….according to the other moms in the neighborhood. And the crazy thing is that she'll wear all of this as she eats her lunch. They go right outside after lunch so the students (rather than going back to their rooms) put all their gear on BEFORE lunch, eat lunch in their coats, hats etc, while managing their lunch trays and goodies and then go right outside.  Seems totally crazy to me…but I guess they do it…! 

A little person got ahold of my phone!

All ready!! The kids went out Friday night the minute it started snowing but then got in two good play sessions on Saturday. Such a nice weekend. We really were home most of the weekend and enjoyed the snow, getting prepped for Thanksgiving, watching football and playing boardgames. 

'King of the snow fort'….that he did NOT make. Maddox and I constructed this smallish fort and then Kennon showed up for the picture!! Hah… never fear though this little guy was scooping snow all day. He loves to just shovel snow from one place to another with no real purpose. Or rather HE has a purpose but I have no idea what he is really doing.  He is actually outside 'scooping' snow right now…all by his lonesome.  Maddox and Eric just came in from another round of playing today but he is still out there.  He is very insistent on 'breaking the ice today mom'. With the cold temps last night the snow sort of froze and he knew that the moment he woke up…he wanted to go out and 'break the ice mom!'. He is a little worker!! 

This is what the kids do most days when Maddox gets off of the bus.  So sweet…totally unsolicited by mama.  I do think he misses her (a bit) now that she is gone all day…  They play pretty well for like 2 minutes and 32 1/2 seconds when she gets home before the arguing starts!! Hah.