Cooper and School

Found out today, Cooper probably won't be starting Pre-K, afterall. Which is fine. But I was surprised how the county/NC runs the Pre-K program. Apparently the 3 year old Pre-K spots in our county are reserved for low income and/or developmentally neediest children; Cooper fits neither criteria. He'll be on the rolls for August for the 4 year old class, which also has restrictions, but less stringent. However no matter what, all children are guaranteed Kindergarten at 5. I find it interesting that the No Child Left Behind accounts for Kindergarten, but if a public school system offers Pre-Kindergarten, they are not under the same obligations to offer this to all children. The program paperwork indicated of those who apply, roughly 50% actually get into a Pre-K program, which means the first time they'll see a school is at 5ish at Kindergarten.

Thirty-four

What is thirty-four?

Not Heidi's age, though close and a good guess...

That's the cumulative number of teeth Cooper and Ava have! Out of curiosity, we counted them today. We were surprised that Cooper has 20, and Ava has 14! Wow!

Birthdays

We have a rash of birthdays at the end of November; Mommymom, Tracy, and Joey all share the same day, Joe Rawson and Chad are shortly after!
Happy Birthday to everyone!

Joey got presents at Thanksgiving and another present he'd been waiting for at home, Guitar Hero III for PS2.

Thanksgiving Photos

Most of these photos are courtesy of Chad:

• Return to the kids table; grown up table
• After Thanksgiving walk (and run)
• Ari & Jeff; Ride em’ up Cooper; and Papa & Coopie
• Birthday Gifts; Riding Uncle Jeff’s Tractor
• Wearing Daddy’s Jersey; riding the lawnmower (it seems like a tractor riding backwards)
  

Thanksgiving is here!

It's Thanksgiving and this year, there is lot that's changed, but a lot to be thankful for.

This year, we're thankful for:

• Our children, the awesomest!
• I'm thankful for Joey, who's doing such a good job supporting us right now
• Our new home in Maysville
• My former employer, 1st MLG, for all they did for me when I was there
• My sister and her husband for host Thanksgiving so everyone could be together
  
• All my in-laws for travelling so we could be together
• My parents, I'm thankful they're enjoying their retirement together
• My grandparents, I'm thankful they are still together, sometimes bickering but loving each other all the same
• Karen for coming home at Christmas
• My new cousin Danny

Pumpkin Bread

Today the kids "helped" make Pumpkin Bread and Gingerbread cake to freeze and bring to Thanksgiving. Tonight we'll be making the Spritz cookies!! Mmmmm.

Start Cooking!

Next week is Thanksgiving! We're starting to get everything ready to bring down to my sister's house in VA for the holiday. It's going to be a full house, with 4 adult couples and 3 small kids in the house, but it will be lots of fun!

Chef Boyardee, the Next Food Network Star

I don't know if Food Network would consider Chef Boyardee a candidate for the Next Food Network Star, but I witnessed an amazing thing; when trying to come up with lunch today, I resorted to a single can of CB Ravioli we had. When I put them in front of the kids, they seemed indifferent, but once they started eating, it was another story!
Ava started saying "Mmm, mmm, mmmmmmmm!!" while shaking her head up and down. Cooper, on the other hand didn't say a thing for the first half dozen bites, before he looked up at me and said, "Mommy, this is so good, so good. This is veerry good!"
In my opinion, CB is one of the worst, most unpalatable foods known. How CB has been able to create a food so universally gross, while at the same time delicious to kids, is pure genius!

Preschool at 3?

We've found out in our County, Cooper is eligible to attend Pre-K at 3 years old. It is 5 days a week, 8-3pm. We were a little apprehensive at first, Cooper, already in school? Time flys. But we're going to register him and see what happens.

Mommy Group

I've joined a meetup/playgroup here, and the kids have lots of fun. I get to meet grownups, and the kids get out, get fresh air, and play with other kids. It's a win-win!

Click here to check out
The Mamas & Munchkins of Camp Lejeune and Jacksonville!

Great Fast Food

Here in Jacksonville we have a couple Sonic Drive-In's. I really like them; not for the fast food, but because Sonic has gated in, clean, outdoor playgrounds, where ordering is extremely easy. And everyday in November from 2-4pm drinks are half price, and according to them they have 168,894 drink combinations. Like a chocolate, blue coconut diet Dr. Pepper. Or the kids love the Apple Slushie or Orange Cream Slush. So I can take them there for a drink and to play, and they have a great time!

Our Son is Eastern European

Cooper has started telling us when he's hungry, "Mom, I'm Hung-ary."

Playground Time

Mom vs. Mommy

An interesting thing happened in our house this week. Cooper changed from "Mommy" to "Mom." I thought I had at least until 7 years old for that change. And maybe he'll transition back. But for now, I'm "Mom." How strange. It was only 3 years ago that I became "Mommy," moving out coupledom and alientating my single, childless friends with babytalk. Now I'm graduating from Mommy to Mom, and so soon. I noticed the first time Cooper said it early in the week and thought, that's odd. By the third day I was wondering where he had picked it up, and how could I change things back. By the end of the week, I was down right perplexed. But I have to be patient, and hope my little boy goes back to Mommy, and if not, be satisfied with Mom. (By the way, Joey is now Dad, no longer Daddy.)

Visitors

We had a great visit from Auntie Ari and "Uncle" Keenan this weekend. We went to Mike's Farm for dinner (recommend to anyone) and hung around the house. Ari and Keenan got to see our new house for the first time and the kids got to play with someone new besides Mommy and Daddy!

Sunday in Maysville

Here in Maysville, North Carolina, the First Baptist Church posted the below sign on their church; pretty creative, especially since there isn't a Baskin-Robbins for more than 20 miles!