Disney Vacation

One of the things Coker wanted to do during his sabbatical is to take a family vacation.  Where better to go than Walt Disney World?  We stayed at a Disney hotel for the first time.  The Contemporary is across the street from Magic Kingdom.  We could see it from our balcony and even walked to the park. Cinderella's castle is behind Paul to the left and Space Mountain is to the right.

 TJ holds the castle in his hand.

 Epcot was our first park to explore.

 Coker loved Captain EO.  The boys aren't embarrassed by Coker's dancing.

 The French gargoyle seemed to understand Paul and TJ.

 We stopped in Morocco

 Picture in front of the tree

 Magic Kingdom took our second day.

 TJ got a cookie for breakfast.  Is it any worse than eating a donut?

 Jungle Cruise

 Swiss Family Treehouse

 Paul in the stocks

 Haunted Mansion

 Dumbo

 Here's lookin' at you!

You'll Never Guess

Jangle the elf shared this story...
I decided to take selfies with everyone two nights ago.  You were sleeping, but I didn't mind.  Coker and Paul's passwords are common knowledge, but I wasn't sure of TJ's.  I got TJ's ipod and when Coker's and Paul's passwords didn't work, I stopped to think for a minute.  What would TJ use?  What is on his mind?  Poop.  Yep, that worked.

Frogs Basketball Game 1

Coker is the coach of the Upward Frogs, grade 1-3.  TJ is the star player.  Well, he did score in the first game!

Running out

He shoots

Coker coaches

 

dribbling

dribbling

passing

dribbling

passing

passed

dribbling

defense

defense

defense

defense

TJ talks strategy with Coach Coker

and talks

and talks

and talks!

Our Elf Jangle

For someone who is supposed to be watching the boys' behavior for Santa, Jangle has created a lot of mischief in our house.  Well, he's been pretty good so far THIS year.

So, he showed up in the car, ready to ride to school on December 1.

He got caught with his head and hands in the chocolate chip bag.

The Lego guys captured Jangle and taped him up.  I guess they fell asleep, because he got away the next night.

Jangle tangled with the tooth fairy and managed to get Paul $5 for his tooth, but wound up tied in floss.

He played some one-person (or one-elf) Scrabble.  The boys liked the letters on his block.

Jangle appears to have ridden down the stairs in a roll of TP.

What's next?

Honeymoon Pictures

I came across these and couldn't resist posting.  I think Coker looks the same, but I don't!

If You Had $194 Million

Paul would buy more washi tape and "Wubbles."

TJ would save most of it for college and a house and spend a little on candy now.

Fire Safety Poster Winner

Every year, the Hurst Fire Department holds a poster contest.  The kids in Hurst create posters at school  with fire safety in mind.  TJ won first place in his grade at Porter Elementary and third place for second graders in Hurst.  The Fire Department held a ceremony at the mall, where TJ received a t-shirt, a smoke detector, and a $25 gift card to Toys R Us!

TJ and his poster at the mall

Hurst second grade winners

TJ and friends from school

Proud Porter Panther TJ

TJ's second grade teacher, Mrs. Hutto selected him to be Proud Porter Panther for responsibility.  I'm so proud of him!

The program

"TJ Roswell was chosen as my Proud Porter Panther for this six weeks for being a consistent role model for responsibility.  He puts forth 110% effort in everything he does including listening, completing work tasks, following directions and being a good friend.  TJ is so deserving of this honor because others look to him as a leader and I know that he will always be accountable for his actions and words.  Congratulations TJ for being an amazing example of a very RESPONSIBLE Porter Panther. - Mrs. Hutto"

TJ's best bud, Parker was chosen for this award in his class.  The best part for each of them was eating breakfast together!

TJ receives his award from the school counselor, Mrs. Bruce and the principal, Mr. Bicknell

What Is That?

TJ and I are watching Family Feud.  It's not the new Family Feud with Steve Harvey, who is hilarious, nor is it the old Family Feud, but a version I've never watched with one of the other hosts.  The question is: What is a subject that would be tough to teach if you homeschool your child?  One guess was "Sex Ed."  So TJ asks, "what's that?"  I laugh, but he really wants to know.  The best answer I could come up with is "making babies."  He accepts that with no question, but later comments that subject would not be a problem for us because he's not a girl.  Boys don't have babies.

A Recipe for Bicycle Riding

Coker and I have said to one another repeatedly, "We've got to get TJ riding a bike."  Or, "Let's take the training wheels off TJ's bike."  TJ just didn't have any interest and that made it difficult for us to be interested.  We knew one method for bicycle riding: hold the bike up and run along side of the kid until he "gets the hang of it."

Thank you, Cousin Scott!  He knows a better recipe for teaching a kid to ride a bike.  Here it is:

3 shiny new bicycles
large muddy water holes on a country lane
1 big brother who can ride
1 cousin of the same age who can ride

Mix and let rise.

Scott and Aunt Sharon went around back to the barn for the hot wheel four wheeler when TJ admitted he couldn't ride a bicycle.  When they looked up, he had grabbed the third bike off the porch and was splashing through the puddles on it!  Aunt Sharon was kind enough to make a video for me to watch.

When we got home, Coker took the training wheels off TJ's bike and he's ridden it several times.

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up

TJ and I discussed what profession he might choose.  He has a list of possibilities.
1. Teacher
2. Author
3. Illustrator

Pine Cove Spring 2014

Paul and I went to Pine Cove for mother-son weekend.  A few of Paul's friends and their mothers shared our cabin.

I took most of my pictures during free time on Saturday.  

Paul fished with leftover sausage from breakfast.

He and his buddies shot BB guns and bows and arrows.

I got in a picture with him after archery.

 Paul and his friend, Reese pose with the bows

The boys are dressed for Pitch Black Attack, during which we find our way around camp in the dark.

There are great swings

Paul sticks his tongue out again as we prepare for a horse ride.

 Paul on horseback.  He rode Alma Mae, and I rode Pittsburg.

The boys are ready for PBA.

The Gauntlet

We played Minute to Win It.  Paul beat me, but only because our game involved making a mess.  He pulled all the tissues out before I did.