Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!

Today was Smilie day! We read "Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" The kids, especially Justin loves that book. It is histerical. The busdriver leaves the bus, and asks the readers not to let the pigeon drive the bus. It is very cute. We made little pigeons. I was up until 1:30am getting stuff ready. I like to have all the stuff ready. I had to paint the styrofoam balls and cut a bunch of stuff out. I had to pre-poke holes. I listened to "Delilah" on the radio until it went off, then John Tesh came on...I didn't even know he was on at night. I emailed Tina Cole to let her know what I needed for the morning at 12:59am which she thought was very amusing. She said, "isn't it worth it to see the kids faces!" Oh well, I guess I didn't learn my lesson in college to get things done before the night before. Now, I have to work until 6pm and I am sure when I get home I will have plenty to do. Now, I have to try to figure out what I am doing next week since I won't have the weekend to prepare!

The big "D"

Justin had a game on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. According to his journal entry, they lost both games 5-0. Poor kid. They are really trying, but they are all so new to the travel team that they just can't seem to get it together. I am sure they will all get better and better by the end of the year. Of course, there are a few of them that I may have to kill before the end of the season if they don't stop passing right in front of the net!!!! How many times do I have to yell "TO THE BOARDS!" I practically have a heart failure every time I see it. It really does kill me. Justin played defense this week. He is not too bad at it. He had a few saves. He doesn't like it when he isn't supposed to score. (not that he ever has, but still)

Sunday afternoon Marina had another game against Harford. They won again. And, the "Goon Squad," which is what we so affectionately call Marina's line of 9 year olds, actually scored once during the game. That was very exciting! Marina hit the puck so hard a couple times we could hear the smack! Yeah! Go Girl!

Marina's first U12 game ...Way to Go!

Saturday morning, I ran around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to get Justin ready for religion. We finally got ready and were ten minutes late....again. Anyway, I met Mom, Shelley and Marina at the Park and Ride in Richmond to go to Hartford, VT for Marina's first game this season. She prepared herself by eating a huge bag of Funyuns so as to knock the other team over with her smell. I am not so sure it worked on the opponent but it did work on us! St. Albans showed up with about 22 girls and Hartford had 8. So, I guess you would say they had a bit of an advantage. Harford had a "big one," a girl that was twice the size of Marina and Eva. Their strategy could have been to cut them off at the knees....if they could keep up with her. She was good but tended to play every position out there. That has to tire ya out. Marina played her position really well and they did win something like 10-0 but stopped counting after 7. (They tried not to rub it in too much)

We went to McDonalds with the team after the game....even though the adults had their hearts set on something a bit more substantial. It was fun, and Marina got to be with the team.

We stopped in Lebanon, NH to do a little shopping in preparation for the big shopping trip next weekend. There were some really nice shops in the Powerhouse Mall. On the way home, Shelley and I found everything very, very funny ....I have a feeling we were getting tired. But, it was a blast!

Mirabel's secret life

Friday night I was sooooo pooped from being sick and working that I just fell into bed and fell asleep at like 8pm. I did wake up at like 10pm and Mirabel was sitting in her foam Barney chair next to me in bed watching (Jill will like this) Halloween. What a crazy kid. I heard someone scream, " Michael, don't hurt me" and it woke me up. Since I am so tired all the time and she is NOT I really don't know what she does in the middle of the night!! I am constantly finding her watching TV at like 2am. She is a TV-aholic! So anyway, I turned off the TV and told her that she better get to bed. She wasn't happy, but as far as I know she went to sleep...what do I know.

Duhn Duhn Duhn....Duhn Dah Duhn

I watched the Star Wars movie Episode iii for the first time last night. I didn't think it was as great as everyone hyped it up to be. It was good, but I guess I wanted more. Mirabel and I watched it to the end....Justin didn't make it. He fell asleep, but he had seen it before. "Don't underestimate the Powah of the Dark Side!" Justin has a talking Darth Vader head..and those sayings on there stick in your head after hearing them over and over!

I am having a hard time believing it is November. It is getting really dark at night. It is getting scary to walk Max after I get home with the leaves whirling and the branches creaking. I get a bit nervous and startled. Last week, I heard a snort. I swear it was a snort. I think it was a deer. I don't think it was a bear or moose...but I ran anyway. Max was going just as fast. I think I need a bigger flashlight too because the one I have is so tiny all I can get in the light is Max...and that isn't a very big area!!

CSI with six year olds....the evidence is tainted!

Well, I pulled off another Tuesday morning at the Smilie School. This week it was by the skin of my teeth. I am sick and I just could not think of anything to do with them. So....I thought back to St. Mike's classes and remembered a fun who dunnit game. I had the kids take their finger prints...or should I say, about 20 fingerprints on one peice of tape! Anyway, we made two sets of prints. We lined one set up on the table, and I took one print from the other set and that was going to be the person who stole the cookie from the cookie jar. The kids had to compare the prints and find out who it belonged to. It was fun, but sort of difficult given the quality of the prints to begin with. Lil, an aide, usually comes in half way through to help out and she said, "You always do such good projects with the kids...but I was talking to Carol Mahoney (who I do not know at all) and she said that was because you were a teacher." I guess that was a good compliment, but I did have to tell Lil that I wasn't a teacher.....maybe someday.

I am pooped from Halloween. I guess I am candy hung over. I got the kids at 5:30 and we rushed home from work and got our costumes on and went back down to Richmond for trick or treating, after a quick stop at Madeline's house. (we are their only trick or treaters and they are our only trick or treaters) Richmond was great. They had two ambulances, a firetruck and a police car at the bank parking lot handing out candy and then the road behind the bank, Pleasant St. was closed off to cars. So, the houses on Pleasant St. had great candy for the kids and coffee, cider and cider donuts for the parents. They had a bagpipe player back there that you could hear all the way to Main St., which was very eerie. The businesses all had candy and Bridge St. Cafe was handing out ice-cream cones. We took a trip up the hill to see Aunt Winnie and we headed back home. It was a real blast. It was very nice that the the police, rescue and fire departments created a safe environment for the kids to trick or treat. Of course, when we got home the candy started flowing like water. It has to be done.

I guess Mrs. Cole, Justin's teacher dressed up like a witch yesturday and said she was going to ride around and sleep on her broom last night. So, today at circle she asked if everyone was tired and of course, they were. She said, "well, I got a good night's sleep so I will help you out today if you feel tired." Colby raised his hand and said, "How can you feel rested after riding your broom all night?" I thought that was so funny. He is a cutie.

AAAAAhh...the sugar coma! Gotta love Halloween!

The littlest witch

To the Batcave!

Justin and Marina trick or treating Great Grandma

It was a rough hockey game....Justin lost a tooth!!

Justin had a hockey game this morning. He played well. There were a few times he got the puck up into their zone. They didn't win. They did not even get close. It was actually a shut out against them 6-0. We will see how the next game goes. I told Justin they need to practice going for the puck. They let it come to them....and it doesn't usually just come to them....anyway...they did better than I could have done in a million years.
After the game, Justin took his mouthguard out and OUT CAME HIS TOOTH! He has been waiting for about a year to loose that darn tooth. He actually has a full grown tooth behind it....so you can't even tell he lost one. There is no hole. It is kinda funny. He is very excited. It's the first tooth he lost. I hope the tooth fairy can get her act together tonight.

A play after dinner. The witch scared Derek half to death, and he was in the play!

The big winner! Mirabel won the grand prize drawing.

Pumpkin decorating contest 2005

Spider Woman! Mirabel doing the 'spider walk'

Derek made it through a whole gymnastics class...his mother might actually pay for another month!!

Future Olympian Mirabel Magnolia with her coach Martin Hruska

Judy opening Justin's handmade gift

Birthday cake at 9pm! Woo Hoo!