Quick Takes Vol.54

 

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Eleanore lost three teeth in the span of 2 weeks. She lost first big front tooth during on Sunday during Caroline Panther game.

The next one came out the next Sunday right before lunch. The Tooth Fairy didn't make to leave a gift or to take the tooth. On Monday night Ella received a nice note and 2.00 for her tooth.

Eleanore missing teeth

 



Tooth three came out on Tuesday night with no trauma. This time Tooth Fairy stopped the same night and left another $2.00 with a note

 

Eleanore missing three

 

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I got to watch my niece and of course I had to take shot of the cousins on the floor

Micheal 4m and Helen 7m

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I finally purchased some bathroom decor.

Shower curtain

Actually the coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase in Bed and Bath plus 25% of using Cartwheel app narrowed down my choice to Target and the need to buy before the coupons expired.  I liked this rug and picked the other stuff to go with it.

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Finally remembered to grab the DVD and the pictures from the Nutcracker performance.

My two dancers

 

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Laura Jo as a cupid

 

 

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Eleanore Mae as Sugar Plum Fairy Attendant

 

 

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I read two books on organizing kids. Both were geared for middle school and high school age and more for keeping track of papers from school and homework.Both books had very similar ideas and suggestions. I checked the books out from library because the books were just setting out and I was hopping that I would get some ideas for my home.  I learned the following:

- Left handed people may not like writing in binders and spiral notebooks because the hit the spines. Solution is to use legal pads and an accordion style organizer.

- Just cause the kids bedroom is messy doesn't mean they are disorganized and lazy.

- The normal student planner often isn't setup to work with all students. Solution - purchase a teacher planner which gives a look at a week at a time.

 

 

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Quick Takes Vol. 53

Ending 2013

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Mr. Man turned 3 months.

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North Dakota along with the rest of the country experienced cold cold weather from the Polar Vortex or Artic Vortex can't remember what it is called. So we had many days inside or just quick playing outside to burn some energy.

My sister and I taught big girls to play Canasta, a form of rummy. This is the game of choice when the Jiras side of the family gets together it can be played by 2,3,4 or even 6 players.  We have gotten in a few practice hands since learning. The girls like to play and Theresa and Ella have both started to talk a little smack during and before the games. So far their skills have been living up to the hype.

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We had a great New Year's Eve night with the Team.  Theresa had a friend over and watched the ball drop in New York.  None of the kids made it to midnight central time, maybe next year.

Anne and Theresa watching the New Year's Eve show in Time's Square

 

 

Snack time at 10pm ~ both ABC and NBC took a break in coverage from Time Square

 

 

 

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New Year's Day went to my aunt's house to celebrate with soup and chili. I made an angle food cake to share at the party. My sister did the decorating using the leftover frosting from Laura's party.

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We had more time to practice our Canasta skills and even Mr. Man got in on the action.

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We have taken up watching football .  Theresa is quite into the technical part of the game like should you go for touchdown or field goal and when do you go for 2 points.

Theresa and Michael very into Wild Card Saturday football

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I have started taking pictures of Anne at night and napping. She sleeps in the strangest positions, none of the other girls have done this.  I have to organize all the photos I've taken and make post just about Anne sleeping.

 Sleeping on the 29th

 

 

Napping on the 31st

 

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Quick Takes Vol. 52

Christmas Wrap Up

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Laura celebrated her birthday on the 19th with her sisters.

 

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Our awesome aunt had us over for cookie decorating on the Friday night before Christmas! I'm so lucky I didn't have to bake the cookies or clean up the mess.

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On the 22nd I sat the Team down for a picture by the tree.  I think the last few years I took the picture at the last minute before taking the tree down. 

Laura 5, Eleanore 7, Anne 2, Theresa 9, and Micheal 3m

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 On Christmas Eve we headed out to my cousins farm. It was an awesome lunch with lots of great baked goods just like my grandma use to make. The whole day was so relaxing that I could have stayed forever.

We did a white elephant gift exchange with kids the girls had fun stealing gifts. Theresa tried to get Eleanore to steal a gift since it would come to our house so that she could have it but, nope Eleanore opened a new gift. As the girls get older it is fun to see them learn about strategy.

The kids gift exchange table

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We remembered to spread reindeer food on the lawn when we got home Christmas Eve night.  The girls made the bags of food at National Guard Family Readiness Support Christmas Carnival. 

Eleanore spreading food

 Anne with her food bag, I think that Laura or Ella ended up spreading her food out since she wouldn't leave the steps.

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Proof that I followed Eleanore directions for Santa: cookies, milk, letter she wrote thanking him for gifts, Edward the Elf ready to go back home with origami and magic loom necklace.

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Christmas morning was a success - Thanks Santa! Christmas lunch was at my brothers house after mass.

More presents to open

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A Santa Baby

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