Shawnee Christmas Parade

I love making memories with our kids.  Christmastime is the perfect time of year for starting new traditions and keeping the old ones alive.  The Shawnee Christmas Parade is one of the traditions that our family participates in.

This year was Channing's first year to walk in the parade.  She takes dance at Grace Dance Center and they participate in the parade every year. She was so excited to be involved.  She danced and waved to everyone as we walked by.  She's got a little extrovert in her!

Posing, waiting for the parade to start.

Channing's friends: LillyJo, Bree, Cora & ??

Here she comes!

Wave at Daddy, Ladybug! Do you see him?

There she is!

Gus does not have a group that participates, but he was ok with that, as I found out, because he got a light-up sword.  It's the little things for that guy!

He's ready to protect his spot on the route.

Piper rode on her Girl Scout Troop's float.  They were a scene from the Polar Express as the theme this year was a "Storybook Christmas." She wore some pjs and my robe layered over a coat and leggings.  It was a very nice day but turned cool quick as the sun went down and the wind picked up.

Hi Sissy!

Just off the float, waiting for hot cocoa and a cookie!

It's hard to tell now if they care about being in the parade, but I hope that when they're older and it's holiday time, that they'll reminisce about being involved with one of Shawnee's, and their momma's, richest and proudest traditions.  Here's to Christmas being just around the corner!

"Starburst"

Piper is a very talented artist.  It's "her thing."  It's what she does.  It's what she loves.  So, for her birthday she got art lessons- 4 meetings with Leanne Wright followed by an "exhibit" at Sips Cafe in downtown Shawnee.  

The session that Piper participated in, they learned about watercolors.  She had to draw little pictures in her sketch book and practice watercoloring at home.  

Piper is not one to get excited about anything.  When she was doing dance, I never saw her practice a step, but she always knew the routine up on the stage at recital time.  With any sports, she very rarely gets out her ball and glove or basketball to sharpen her skills.  The same is true with this watercolor painting she did- I never heard anything about it.

But, on Tuesday night, when I saw the "starburst" that she had painted, I was so proud.  She is a wonderful artist.  A beautiful artist.  A creative artist.  And, hopefully, will never be a starving artist.

Here is the watercolor flower titled "Starburst," by Piper Goodson, age 7.

It's the most {BUSY} time of the year!

I saw a really great sign the other day that said: 

GOOD MOMS HAVE

STICKY FLOORS,

MESSY KITCHENS,

LAUNDRY PILES,

DIRTY OVENS, 

AND HAPPY KIDS

When you have 3 children who are busy with all sorts of activities, this is such a nice reminder.  

This time of year is such a wonderful time of magic and nostalgia and excitement.  And all of those things are attached to events that this momma has to make sure her 3 little elves are dressed, on time, know their stuff, and smile for the camera for!  Here's our schedule of events for the next 2.5 weeks:

Tuesday, November 29- Piper's Art Exhibit at Sips, downtown Shawnee across from Uncommon Threads and Pot.t Co Books, at 6 pm
Thursday, December 1- Piper and Channing's Downtown Shawnee Christmas Parade.  I believe Piper will be riding with the Girl Scouts and Channing will be with Grace Dance.  Parade starts at 6:30.
Sunday, December 11- All 3 kids' Kids Choir Christmas Program at First Baptist Church in Shawnee, 6 pm.
Monday, December 12- Gus's Christmas Program for PG, at Pleasant Grove during Rise and Shine at 8:30 am.
Tuesday, December 13- Piper's Christmas Program for SRC, at Rock Creek Baptist Church at 6:30.  Remember that it gets very crowded, so to get a seat you'll want to be there early.
Thursday, December 15- Channing's Christmas Program for IBC, at Immanuel Baptist Church at 10:30 am.  

Not to mention the school parties, basketball games and practices, rehearsals, Advent activities, Bedlam, tree decorating, extra Christmas events, and on and on and on...

My point is that I am thankful that I am allowed to have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, and dirty ovens and still have happy kids and be a good mom.  

I always find it amazing that God knows exactly what we need and when we need to see it!  Grace is what I need most of all right now!  "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (NIV) 2 Corinthians 12:9

Here's to the most {BUSY} time of the year! And many many many magical, exciting memories to be made! 

100,000 miles

This week my beloved, or at the very least, needed, "shaggin' wagon" turned 100,000 miles. I foresee that it will pass many more miles with this family and can't wait to see where it takes us!

I have had 3 cars up to now, since I started driving back in 1997- 14 years ago! (I can remember counting down the years to when I finally got to drive and now I'm dreading the countdown to 30!) My first car was a Toyota Celica handed down from Mom. CC Celica was her name. I drove it until I went to college.

In the middle of college I required a vehicle so we found a red Dodge Neon. Her name was Nina. I drove her to school in Boulder and then to OSU. She took shelter in the garage we have now. I still see her zooming around town and imagine that she is winking when the blinker is glowing.

Then it was the Honda Element. Harold. I loved Harold. The suicide doors, floor mats that could be hosed out, different look. We brought Gus home in that car. And, I was very sad to see him go.

Now, we have the Honda Odyssey. I'm not excited that I have to drive a mini-van. But, it drives well- easy to park and scoot around in town. Everyone has their own space. There is a sun roof and video player. And, it has taken us over 60K miles over the last 3 years. I think her name shall be Heloise. Yes, sophistication and function. Heloise.

We've gone to gymnastics and dance, swimming lessons, school pick-up lines, McDonald's drive-thru, museums, Hot Springs, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, the Atlantic Ocean in Delaware, Dallas, Lake Eufaula, Tulsa, OKC, & Stillwater. (I feel like that song by Johnny Cash.) All safely and successfully.

I look forward to passing on Heloise to Piper, Gus & Channing!

It's Turkey Time

Yesterday, at P's school, was her class's turn to put on the Rocket Touchdown. South Rock Creek's school mascot, if you can call it a mascot, is a Rocket. This is the time of the week when the whole school gathers to be entertained by other classes and hear announcements, awards, and things of the like.

Each year, the Kindergarten class, both, prepare for the Thanksgiving edition. P's teacher, Mrs. Merrell, gave us 2 cardboard cutouts of turkey bodies. The assignment was to decorate the turkey, like a sandwich board, in any way that the student wanted.

Well, as you've seen from our adventures in Halloween costume decisions, this was not an easy task. And, I wanted it to be something that she liked and had a say in. After all, she was the one who was going to wear it. She went from a flamingo, to a zebra, to a Miss Thanksgiving 2010. The flamingo had been done before, it was an example that Mrs. M had shown us. And, the zebra, too. So, I conceded to attempt the Miss Thanksgiving 2010 turkey.

We made a trip to Hancock's to gather our materials. Several versions of seafoam green sequin material for the dress, white satin material for the sash, ribbons and feathers and glue, oh my!

After we got home to attempt the turkey, I thought and thought and looked and looked at what we'd bought and the poster sized turkey bodies and got totally overwhelmed with the thought of pulling out the sewing machine to make a one-time, worn-for-an-hour, school project costume.

So, I begged and pleaded that she re-consider her decision. Meanwhile, Red (I'm channeling The Pioneer Woman by calling Josh a different name than his real one, but everyone who reads this won't care. I'm just saying, I may make it famous some day and the alias will be intriguing) and I went to Austin for the weekend and left the Turkeys at home, including the cardboard cutout.

On Monday, when it was due, I made the executive decision to go with an idea I'd thought of in the beginning- a bikini wearing turkey. It was going to be much simpler to construct and, as it turns out, much more original.

I thought it was hilarious.

HELP!

Some days are better than others for me. Usually, the good days involve a full night's sleep the night before, cooperative children, & a visit from the laundry fairy. None of those were the case today.

I woke up looking like this.

I stayed up way too late for a school night. But, those HGTV shows are so addicting.

The laundry is piled high on the couch. I have had to stop the assembly line due to the fact that I can't fit any more on top or it'll all end up on the floor.

And, it seems as though my children can't hear me unless I am yelling. In fact, I don't know who the children are that were here today. Here's some pictures. Let me know if you recognize who they may be and if you see my sweet, easy, clean babies, please send them home.

Maybe they belong to this guy?

Alice in Wonderland's Race Team Halloween 2010

We are at the point in our Growing Goodsons life that Halloween is a really big deal. All three of the kids love dressing up. And, the parents are game, too. Of course, Josh has always loved this holiday and has, in the past, gone all out. I would consider this particular year one of those all out years.

The festivities started on Friday with Piper's class trip to the Mikel's Family Farm for walking circles in the corn maze, picture's with friends on the hay ride, finding the perfect pumpkin n the pumpkin patch, naming our new friends in the petting zoo, and playing till our heart's content on the hay bales & swings.

picture's with friends on the hay ride,

finding the perfect pumpkin in the pumpkin patch,

naming our new friends in the petting zoo,

and playing till our heart's content on the hay bales & swings.

Then we made our way to the park for lunch and a hour of playtime until it was time to head back to school for a movie and even more partying! There were cookies to decorate and goodies to eat! What a fantastic way to start the festivities!

Saturday, the 30th, was Trick-or-Treat night in Shawnee. So, after our day of rest, we started the evening with hair and makeup. Piper got her face on and looked like she'd jumped out of the Tim Burton version of Alice in Wonderland. She could have been Helena Bonham Carter's clone. However, the Queen wasn't happy, and so it was almost off with the make-up artist's head. I gave in and got the cold washcloth out. Hey, if I'm going to spend 30+ minutes putting it on and trying my darndest to make her white make-up even, she's going to have to suffer some head-roll of her own.

So, the make-up came off, and all was well in Wonderland.

We made it over to our friends', The Holters', house to enjoy the festivities with their 3 kiddos and also the Moodys and their 2 kids. The Holters live in a nice, new Shawnee neighborhood with many kids and friendly families. I'm not sure how many trick-or-treaters they actually gave candy to, but the experience reminded me of the old Catholic Ghetto days, minus the tuba playing in the front yard.

But, I do know that we sure got our candy fix! The Queen hit every house with their light on and would make sure to drag Alice to the front door. After awhile, Alice didn't need any more coaxing. Gus, on the other hand was having a great time driving his car all over the place to notice that he was supposed to be gathering goodies. Did I mention we brought his red Ford Mustang Hotwheels? Yes, yes, we did! It was a hit and by far the best accessory of the evening!

After many photo ops requested with the Mad Hatter and Alice, we made it back to count our stash and pass out more candy! Then it was off to Nana and Papa's house to get the good stuff.

The next day we celebrated Josh's Golden Birthday (31st birthday on the 31st) along with his cousin Amber's 24th birthday at John and Linda's, with hors d'oeuvres, homemade lasagna, salad, cinnamon roll bread pudding with rum sauce, & italian cream cake. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, mmmm good!

It was a great Halloween this year. Lots of wonderful memories, fun times, exciting costumes, and cavities!

Now, it's on to Thanksgiving and Turkey costumes! To be continued...

Extra-Extra Curricular

We are a very busy family. We have lots and lots of activities- gymnastics, dance, church, hunting, cows, dishes & laundry, not to mention the occasional bath. Tonight was one of those nights when you wonder what else we can add in to the mix. Well, that extra-extra curricular was dinner.

Rewind. Josh and I have a running monthly massage where we rotate months. This was my month. Josh grabbed the brood after gymnastics and went to the house while I had knots, knots, & more knots mashed out of my shoulder blades. We had decided that dinner would be after I got home and Josh shot his bow (it is time for mistress #2 to rear her ugly mug). It was a gorgeous Oklahoma fall evening and he really wanted to show the minis how to do it.

I rolled up to the house at about 6:45 to sounds of giggles and squeals and bike ridding fun. The whole way home I couldn't talk myself into the dinner that we were supposed to "enjoy." I had planned on having turkey hotdogs, cheetos, & fruit. So, it was decided we'd go out for something, anything other than a turkey hotdog on a whole wheat bun.

Just about the time we were ready to hop in the car, our friends from across the street started our way to play. And, that we did. More bike riding, basketball shooting, sidewalk coloring fun was had by all. So, by the time we got into the car it was about 7:23.

We decided on "Pig in the Sky," aka Vans. Finally! We're ALL starving. Josh is grumpy- no food since noon & a headache, plus the mini me's in the back had their strings pulled and would not stop chattering. Then, the whining began when Channing told Gus to stop doing whatever it was he was doing. Piper, in the back was reading her reader aloud, really loud. It was a long 5 minutes.

When we pulled in, we all jumped out ready to march in, order our chicken strips at the bbq joint, and get an orange soda. NOT. SO. FAST. "Gus, where are your shoes??" "What shoes?" SERIOUSLY! So, we frantically searched the shaggin' wagon for something he could wear. Usually my vehicle is a closet on wheels, as well as a trash can and office. Nothing for the G-Man. But, Piper did make sure to leave a broken pair of Jessica Simpson sandals in the car for herself. So, Gus got the shoes off of Piper's feet- brown ugg-type boots with cheetah lining. Awesome! It goes great with the "Super Hero" shirt and filthy dirty khaki shorts, not to mention that they don't fit, so it's like listening to a hammer walking.

We finally made it in. Dinner was served after the chicken was killed, plucked, battered and fried. And hands were unwashed. And, "Gus's" shoes spent the whole meal off of his feet.

As we were headed out the door, none other than Ladybug decided she needed to pee-pee in the potty and wash her hands. I was frantically searching for my keys, which always seem to fall to the very bottom of the bag no matter what. I located them, tossed them to Josh, and headed back in to catch Bug before she wet down both legholes. Josh then yelled back, "Don't need 'em. Your back hatch is wide open."

Ahhhhhhh, what a wild, crazy circus. It is moments like these that help to keep things in perspective. I'm not perfect, they aren't perfect, but we've got each other and love, and are willing to share the shoes off of our feet for each other. What a blessing this family is.

Homemade Pizza

Josh is gone this weekend in Pittsburgh for a plant tour, Steelers football game, & all in all fun! So, what do we do when Daddy's gone? Make a mess in the kitchen, of course! Last night we made homemade macaroni & cheese, broccoli & cook-n-serve pudding. (Then we watched a newer & much more scary Scooby Doo movie. I had a bed-full at about midnight.) It was delish! Piper is requesting it for her birthday dinner.

Tonight, we made a most excellent homemade pizza. Again, why does homemade make something taste so good? Gus & Channing requested pepperoni & Piper had cheese. You know it's a hit when the comment is "this is better than the pizza ______ makes."

Kimber came to pay us a visit this evening, too! A nice visit with her, and the kids were so excited to see her. Ladybug even ran to her and gave her hugs and kisses! And, I could do the same, too. She likes the same kinds of food I do! So, we had a pesto, chicken, broccoli, & mushroom pie. DELISH! One of my favorite flavor combos.

So, what do we do when Daddy's gone? Eat good food! At home!

When the kitchen looks like this, it's usually a good sign!

The dough resting & rising. And resting & rising. And resting & rising!

Here's the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/white-pizzas-with-arugula-recipe2/index.html

This dough had a longer nap today than I did.

Ready for the oven.

I love mushrooms. I love sauteed mushrooms. I love sauteed mushrooms on a pesto pizza.

Before the assembly.

This is my idea of pizza. So glad there are leftovers!

Good thing that shirt matches.

Cheesy.

What's cheesier? The pizza or the smile?

Mmmmmmm! That's one big bite!

Saucy for the Sassy.

"Piper, don't do that with your eyes."- Me

"Goofy."- Gus

"Yeah, that Sissy is nuts."- Ladybug

One thing I've learned when getting my hands dirty with dough: take off the ring.

It was all beyond worth it.