Tuesday, November 26, 2013

What a Pretty Picture

The literally begged me to let them rinse the dishes and load the dishwasher.
 

Fingers crossed, this makes me think they might have inherited Jason's "need to organize the dishwasher"genes.
 
Which is a win-win for me!

Monday, November 25, 2013

The Birthday Boy

This is the first birthday Jason has had that we aren't celebrating early, eating birthday cake on Thanksgiving, or driving hundreds of miles across the country.
 
Happy Birthday Jason.  Glad we get to celebrate today!
 
 

Sunday, November 24, 2013

I'm Flying

If you remember in the movie the scene where Charlie and Grandpa Joe drink the fizzy lifting drinks, then you'll totally understand today's clip.
 
They drink the fizzy lifting drinks, "fly" around the room, almost get sucked up in a fan, but then discover burping will get them back down.
 
Both of these songs are so hard.  I'm glad I wasn't the one singing them!
 
 
 

Friday, November 22, 2013

Fashion Fabulous Friday


Kyle and Reed had their big afternoon kindergarten production of 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?"
 
All the moms/dads were supposed to go up and make the hats, but turns out, it was me and two other moms that did all the work.
 
And our hats were awe-some if I do say so myself.
 
I even said to the teacher, "Are our hats the best you've ever had?  And even if they aren't, please just tell me that they are."
 
She assured me they were the best...ever.

 

 

JR worked with them both on their lines, and convinced Kyle to growl as the brown bear.
Reed, ever the rule follower, wouldn't neigh as the blue horse saying "the teacher didn't tell me I could do that".
 
 
JR came back with, "Reed, do you want to be like everybody else? Or do you want to be the best you you can be?"  JR may not follow my advice, but at least he can repeat it!
 
 
The video is only 37 seconds long, but you can hear Kyle growl, and see some of the other hats I made besides Kyle and Reed's
(Yellow Duck, yes it kinda looks like a snake, Green Frog, and Purple Cat)
 
 
I, of course, stopped videoing as soon as my kids were done speaking.
 
 
 
 

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Golden Ticket

We're bringing Act 1 to a close today with JR finally finding the golden ticket.
(He ate about 3 chocolate bars every show!)
 
Happiness, singing, and dancing ensue.
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

What's That Smell?

So, we're taking a break from JR today because I got a huge kick out of this little ditty.
 
Kyle and Reed brought home 5 senses books, and Reed was dying for me to read his
(and by 'read' I  mean compliment his work).

His book started off innocently enough: I can see a dog, I can hear a train.
 
 
But then, all of a sudden, poor Jason got drug into the mix.
 

In Jason's defense, I've never thought he smelled bad.
He doesn't really have a smell at all.
 
 
But I guess I might have to start taking some closer whiffs!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Think Positive

Today the Buckets learn about the Golden Ticket contest and JR has a big song and dance number with "Think Positive". 
 
 
 
At the cast party they gave out fun awards to everyone, and JR got "best jazz hands" because of this song.
 
And really, can you think of a better award than "best jazz hands"...um, I pretty much can't.
 
 
 
I've also included all the links (from yesterday's videos too) because my parents weren't able to see them.
 

Monday, November 18, 2013

The Bucket Shack/The Candy Man

I can promise you you'll be sick of JR, Willy Wonka, and probably me by the time I'm finished reliving/recapping this weekend.
 
 
This is the first scene JR is in.  He's at the Bucket house with his parents and his grandparents.
 
 
 
 
After he goes out to get a newspaper, he runs into the Candy Man and has his first musical number.
 

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Last One

I just dropped JR off for his last performance.
 
Last night was awesome.  Two girls (jr. high age) sitting next to my mom kept talking about how cute "Charlie" was.  We didn't tell them until after the show that he belonged to us.
 
 
JR and I are a little sad that it's coming to an end.  We aren't sure what we're going to do with our free time.  JR even said, "I'm not going to have anything to do but piano!"
 
 
We were so happy all the grandparents could come and see him perform (multiple times).  It meant so much to JR.
 
 
Grandpa Gary and Granny Buffie

Granny Sherry

Maw-Maw
 
and Paw-Paw
 
I'll start posting video of him tomorrow.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

3 Down

I have 30 minutes before we leave for the next show.
 
 
3 shows down, 2 to go.
 
 
His fourth grade class came to see him Friday morning for a field trip, and he did great.
He had a performance last night, and one this afternoon.
 
 
I'm his harshest critic, so of course I have "notes" to give him after ever performance, but his voice is holding out and so far so good.
 
And he's already had quite the fan club come through.
Besides all his grandparents, he's had:
 
 
Joann and Terri (Granny Sherry's sister-in-law and niece from Minnesota)
 
 
The secretary from where he takes piano and voice


His cub scout pack (I couldn't get the full group, so this is one of his friends that's in his class at school too.)


And The Stenger clan
 
(At the end of the show, Charlie comes out dressed as Willy Wonka, so that's why his costume isn't exactly "Charlie Bucket".)


The outpouring of support has been incredible, and I am so appreciative!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Pickin Up the Tab

Kyle and Reed have decided that they like to pick up the check when we are out.
(Future girlfriends, I don't like you. And, you're welcome.)





With JR at Willy Wonka practice until all hours of the night, combined with my love of cooking, I thought it sounded like a great idea when they told me they wanted a Pu-Pu platter for dinner.



Though we might be eating a few less Pu-Pu platters and few more bean burritos if Kyle keeps tipping like he does.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Veterans but not Vegans

When I was breaking the news to Kyle and Reed that they didn't have school today, Reed told me,
"I know. It's Veterans Day.  That's the day for people in the army....and vegetarians."
 
 
And though neither of them are a vegetarian, we want to wish a Happy Veterans Day to our two favorite veterans in the family.

Paw-Paw

and
 
Grandpa

(Leave it to JR to just happen to be in both of the most recent pictures I have of them.)

Friday, November 8, 2013

Fashion Fabulous Friday


 
 
I think we all know who this is.
 
 
The other one wouldn't be caught dead in crocs and JR's long black dress socks.
 
He looks 5 going on 83.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

That's the Way it is

Christmas is officially done!
 
I didn't put up as much as I usually do (JR's play that's in a week and a day...not that I'm counting) has me a little preoccupied.
 
 
And I totally let Kyle and Reed decorate the entire "family tree". 
 
JR didn't swoop in and fix it (he's too busy), and either did I.

 
The tree was decorated by 5 year olds, and it's staying that way.
 
 
Here's some pictures for my mom of the year entry form. 
Yep, I let them stand on ladders ...they didn't fall, so it turned out fine.


 
 
I also found the kids' Nativity scenes like this.



 I did actually move these to another location, so Kyle could sleep and all.
 
 
And I did feel a little sorry for the angel...it's kinda hard to bring Good News in that position.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The Rest of the Story

I forgot to mention that after running a 10K Kyle went straight to his soccer game.
(Cause 6 miles wasn't enough running for one day.)
 
You can see JR in the orange chair looking as enthusiastic as ever to be there.


Although, JR was happy it was their last game of the season.
And Kyle and Reed were happy with their new medals.


And if you're starting to think Reed just sat back and let Kyle steal his thunder on Saturday...
 
 
Reed spent his Saturday morning "making crafts" at Home Depot (it's a boat).
Supposedly there was also hot dog eating at 10:30 in the morning.  I'm starting to think Kyle and I might have gotten the short end of the stick.


Then he went out and scored 3 goals at soccer.

Monday, November 4, 2013

On the Fast Track

After the school's 5K run last month, Kyle has decided he's a "runner".
I asked him if he wanted to do the Rec Center 10th Anniversary 10K and he was all for it.
 
 
I knew he didn't really know how far 10K was, but I figured if he couldn't do it I could piggy-back him a couple of miles.
 
 
The race was only $10 bucks, so we didn't get numbers or timing chips. 
We just stood at the starting line and they said "Go!"



2 miles in =  thumbs up.
 
 
I honestly think Kyle runs these races strictly for the water stations.  He loves them!
 
 
And even more excitement...one of his track coaches from this summer was running the 2nd water station. He recognized Kyle and was excited to see him out running.
After seeing his coach Kyle said, "You just never know who you might see while you're out."  Spoken like a true Reynolds-Ingersoll
 
 
 
I know you can't read the sign, but I promise it says MILE 6.
 
 
He did a great job! He probably walked about a quarter mile total, and we finished in 1:24:36.
He was definitely the youngest (by far) and finished before most of the other kids.
 
 
The blue Gatorade alone made it all worth it.
 
 
 
Poor thing, he got a shirt for paparticipating, but this was the smallest size they had.
He slept in it last night.
 

Friday, November 1, 2013

Fashion Fabulous Friday- Halloween Edition

 
 
One of my hard and fast "mom rules" is to always let the kids be what they want for Halloween.
(Not to make them have matchy costumes for the sake of a picture.)
 
 
But I might have slightly broken my rule this year.
Not for a good picture, of course, but because I saw a giant white hat in our prop closet and thought Reed would look adorable in it.
 
 
I might have suggested being The Lone Ranger, and I might have reminded him how much JR loved the movie. (And Reed thinks anything JR thinks is cool, is super cool.) 
 
 
And then I might have showed him a picture of Armie Hammer in The Lone Ranger, and not the original version. 

Yep, with a picture like that I know I put the hard sell on the poor kid. 
 
 
 But he turned out looking awesome!


As for Kyle, he wanted to be a "karate guy".
I  just couldn't help myself, I told him to say "I'm the Karate Kid".
 
And taught him to say "wax on, wax off".
 
And stand like this.


JR was easy. 
He wanted to be Peeta Mellark from the Hunger Games.
He has read all the books and loves them and the movie. 
 
I saw three Katniss costumes at Trunk-or-Treat, but Peeta costumes are hard to come by. 
 I saw a similar one to this on Pinterest and we ran with it.
 
 
It's not Peeta competing at the Hunger Games, but what we think he would look like working at his parents' bakery. 
 
I made all this with iron-on letters and a stencil. (He even had flour on his cheek and shirt!)
 (They split the bread between 4 friends and ate it at lunch.  Best prop ever!)
 
 
We did add the actual Hunger Games detail that he was the boy tribute to the back of his shirt.






Trick-or-Treating was also a big success.
 
We went with Anna and Emily. (But we saw Sam and Alex long enough for a picture.)
 
 
 And JR went with Sophie and her little sister.


They didn't seem to notice the winds blowing us down, and came home with a big haul.