A Deere Couple

My cousin Jamie was married to her prince charming, Chris late September in northern Ohio. My whole family went and we just had the greatest time. The wedding was quite unique, as you'll see in the photos below. Matthew caught the 'groom bear' (in lieu of the garter, for the younger bachelors, lol). We also went to Cedar Point during this trip, but I'll save those pics for another day.

Matthew's Favorite Animal

Matthew is a special kid. He has a big heart and has always shown great empathy towards others. I have one special memory to share that exemplifies the fact.

One day, about a year ago he received his newest Ranger Rick in the mail (a highly anticipated day once a month). On the cover was a red panda. Matthew said to me, "I can't wait to go to bed tonight so I can read about the cutest animal I have ever seen!" He did indeed go to bed early that night and when I went in to tell him lights out I found him crying. Not just crying, let me rephrase that; weeping. I scooped him up in my arms and asked him what in the world was wrong? He said that he had been reading about how the red panda's habitat is endangered because man is cutting down the trees they live in. He didn't want to see these beautiful creatures that he only just learned existed to disappear! So, I had to do some quick thinking because if there was one thing I knew at that exact moment, it was that this was my opportunity to grow a conservationist. So what I said was that he should hold that passion in his heart and remember it tomorrow when we would Google 'red panda rescue'.

Sure enough, we found The Red Panda Project. They happen to have a children's program and Matthew is well on his way to becoming a Red Panda Ranger.

But there's more to the story! Earlier this year we made a trip to the Nashville zoo. We hadn't been there in awhile because, well, quite honestly we thought the zoo was pretty lame. We were having a wonderful visit this time, however. While on one of our many bathroom visits, we were waiting on some of the rest of our party to finish. Matthew and I were looking around at some of the shadow boxes they had all along the hallway with different animal displays in them. All of a sudden Matthew comes barreling past me, says, "GREAT! Just GREAT! I did NOT need to see that." And begins to sob. I rushed over to where he was looking and found a red panda pelt. Oh dear. I explained to him that they would never have a pelt on display that had come from a red panda that was healthy. The red panda most likely died of natural causes. I explained to him how cool it was that he was able to see the fur so up close. Then we noticed a little sign in the bottom corner of the display that said, "Don't forget to visit our red pandas!" AHHH!! Matthew and I ran to the exhibit. It was awesome. He sat there and stared at those pandas for a good 20 minutes. That very day we purchased a zoo membership. Here's a panda from a recent trip to the zoo:

Let's go Predators!

We had the opportunity to have breakfast with and meet Coach Barry Trotz and Gnash. Matthew was in HEAVEN! We let him be late for school in order to do this, however. We are the coolest parents in the world, mind you. Max fell in love with Gnash and wouldn't leave him alone, it was quite humorous. Steven, Matthew's best friend was with us as well. Coach Trotz asked Matthew, "Who's your favorite player?" And Matthew responded, "Well, you TRADED my favorite player Kimmo Timonen. So now I don't know. I also liked Tomas Vokoun but you traded him, too."

Ahh, out of the mouths of babes.

Check this out!

What's funny is that I've tried to do this with Max's picture 3 times and it locks up everytime on "Comparing faces". I guess that means he's the perfect balance of Mike and me.

First Day of 3rd Grade

And just a cute one of Max

Apple Brickle

New yummy recipe for you to try:

Apple Brickle

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup toffee bits

Mix first 4 ingredients together. Blend in toffee bits. Cut up apples and dip into brickle. Ooooh, Ahhh, Yummity Yum Yum.

Our Summer

We've had a great summer! We've gone to the beach, Top Sail Island, NC to be exact. Shhh, don't tell anyone about that place. We don't want anyone to know. It's our favorite place in the whole world now. And we've gone to Chicago. Both were week long vacations. We've never really taken family vacations before. We've always combined them with going to visit family or what not. So this was a very special summer, and to be able to do TWO vacations was definitely a blessing. I will post a few of my fav pics from each vaca shortly.

Matthew and Max have both become very crazy daredevils in the pool this summer as well. Laurie, my best friend who also watches my kids for me during the day while I'm at work, takes them to the pool almost everyday. I, sadly, do not get to go to the pool that much. But I'm glad my boys do. Matthew relied on his goggles alot in the past couple of years. They are the kind that cover your eyes and your nose. This year his is swimming without goggles, so I'm very pleased. He also jumps in to the deep end without batting an eye.

We went to the county fair recently and had a blast! Max rode rides all night long. His favorite was the motorcycles, which he lowers his voice to say. He sounds like a real Hell's Angel when he says "Motorcycle". Too funny. As it got later, Mike took Max home and Matthew, Steven, Laurie, and I all stayed and rode rides until midnight! I felt like a kid again.

This is Matthew's last week of summer vacation. School starts with a half day on Monday the 13th. Third grade. Wow. We are really excited because Matthew has his good friend Sean in his class this year. They've known each other since they were 4 and in preschool, but they've never been in the same class together. Mrs. Rathbone doesn't know what she's in for, lol. This year is going to be a great year for Matthew. I think he finally has a teacher that will challenge him in the ways he needs to be. He was tested and certified to be gifted at the end of last year, and that will follow him through until the end of 5th grade. Once or twice a week he will go to the gifted class. Last year he went up a grade for math class, but this year the 3rd grade is doing something different. They are basically doing math clubs, so the advanced math kids can all be together. I think it's much better than sending Matthew to 4th grade math, I was a little nervous about that. The difference between a 3rd grader and a 4th grader is huge, I think. It wasn't so bad when he was a 2nd grader going to 3rd grade math. I'm not sure if he'll still go to the advanced reading classes either, because I think our new teacher will handle Matthew's reading level differently than our 2nd grade teacher. I have all the confidence in the world in our new teacher. Last year was a nightmare and if I don't ever see that teacher again, I'll be happy. She has no right teaching children. And I don't say that lightly.

We have one thing left to buy to complete Matthew's school shopping. A lunchbox. Luckily Matthew has one picked out already, we just need to go get it. I went no where near a store during tax-free weekend...no way, not me. I deal with those crowds during Christmas shopping, and that's enough for me. It's only a 9% discount people!!! You'd think the stores were giving away stuff.

Not only was last weekend the tax-free weekend, but it was the 127 Corridor sale. Anyone who hasn't heard of this...watch out. It's a yard sale that spans 5 states and stretches 630 miles all along Highway 127. It goes right through my hometown of Crossville, TN. Traffic is just a gridlock during that week-long sale. Add that traffic to the tax-free-school-shopping traffic, and I'm very glad I decided to not visit the folks last weekend.

Gosh, I think that's enough typing for one day. For not posting in so long, I've really made up for lost time.

WOW. Can you say BUSY?

November? Really? November was my last blog? I'm so sorry dear readers. It was not my intent to ignore you. My life has been simply craziness for as long as I can remember. Well, actually, I guess since November! I will try to think of some way of wrapping it all up in one post sometime soon. But for now, please stay tuned. It won't be long. I promise!