Allowance

Ok, we started the kids on an allowance at the beginning of the year. We've taken quite a bit of flak about it, mostly that they are too young, and we expect too much from them. This is the article I was shown and where we got the idea from, and I've got to say, I really like how it's turned out.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/RaiseKids/
ShouldYourKidsGetAnAllowance.aspx

No new pics........:(

Well, I don't have any pics at all this week, I'm going to post anyways.
Last week we took 9 huge bags to the Salvation Army. I am not a fan of clutter and I'm trying really hard to get rid of the kids clothes as they out-grow them. I have a few outfits saved that are special, but the majority of them are outta here! And I have a big bin that is going to the resale shop.
Myles was gone from Monday through Thursday. On Friday night, when he got to see the kids, he took them to open swim at the Y. Double bonus of him getting to spend time with them , and I got an empty, quiet house!
Saturday was family running around day. Myles got 2 new tires, I went to Target, and then we all went to the mall.
This week is more low key. Myles is home all week! But then he has 2 trips almost back to back.
Talk to you all soon!!!!

Lots of pics...

Just a couple of notes about what's been going on with us, or more importantly, with the kids.
Aaron has grown over 2 inches in just a couple of months. Emily is growing, too, but not quite as fast right now. Both kids are still swimming, and Emily just got promoted into a new class. I took the kids to McDonald's with a friend and her son for lunch, and guess what Aaron had?? He started with a cheeseburger, and then 4 chicken nuggets, and then 4 more, and then 4 more, and then finished 2 of his friend nuggets. For a grand total of a cheeseburger, fries, milk, and 14 chicken nuggets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even the people behind the counter were cracking up. That little dude can pack it in when he's growing, I guess. It was incredible to watch. Needless to say, he got his Mickey D's fill for about 2 month, we won't be going back anytime soon, LOL. Myles is traveling a ton, and I'm still knitting whenever I can.


The west-side Dexters at our house after Christmas
Smiley Jim

This is a soap sack I knit for Mary Ellen
Playing in the snow with his new fort builder
14 inches of snow! Dec 15ish
I know, I know, I'm a terrible person, but it's SO damn funny!!!! (it's a booboo)
Bike riding on a January day, I think it was almost 50* that day
A snapshot of our calendar, I'm still amazed how busy we can be. Myles will be traveling every week for the next 4 or 5 weeks.

Happy Holidays!

Well, as always, it's been busy, but this probably be my last post before Christmas, so I wanted to tell everyone (all 4 people who read this, anyways!) Merry Christmas!!











Week of December 9th





Myles was travelling for work, the kids had dance and swim lessons, I finished the Christmas shopping, I had my annual Book Club dinner at the Melting Pot, and I took the kids to see Santa at the mall.









I also finished some knitting. Hats for Myles and Emily.

Week of December 16

We started the week with 10 inches of snow!! It was fun. We shoveled, played, threw snowballs, all the usual 1st snowfall stuff. The kids even got a day off school. Emily had a Christmas Program at school. It was very cute. Short, but cute. Aaron also had a party that I was able to attend for a while. That was fun, too. His teacher is great. She is excellent at keeping an orderly classroom. She's very much like me, in the fact that she likes to have things organized, and to be prepared.

It's almost Christmas!!!

Emily got to be in the Milford Holiday Parade with her dance class. It was really cold, but she loved it.
I knit this baby hat for Baby Rosie (David and Lisa's baby-to-be) It was my 1st baby hat, and my first time doing stripes. I think it looks great, and I made it with a silk yarn, so it's super soft.
Socks that I made for Emily, but they were too small, so I gave them to Lisa for Baby Rosie
Baby booties. They were harder than I thought they'd be. I made these out of Bamboo yarn. It's actually yarn made out of 80% bamboo. It's naturally anti-bacterial.
The day we put the tree up and decorated the house with Christmas decorations. I really like black & white pictures, so I did one with the kids.
A gingerbread Christmas tree. The kids and I made this (from a kit) the other day. It was a lot of fun. Every day the kids ask me when they can eat it. I told them they could eat it on Christmas Day, after we open Santa's presents. I think it won't taste all that good, but hey, whatever floats their boats!!

Catch-Up

Sorry!! Things have been hectic as usual, and we're all adjusting. As you know, I like to plan everything down to the last detail, and I'm having to learn how to go with the flow more.

Since I haven't blogged in forever, I'm going to play catch-up.

The first weekend in October we had our Halloween Outing for our camping club. It's always a good time, especially for the kids.

It was so warm that weekend, that the kids played on a inflatable waterslide that someone had set up.

Next was the Zoo Boo. We've been for the last couple of years and really love it. People kept asking if Emily was an anteater, really, who dresses like an anteater for Halloween??!! She was a horse.

Then, the days after the Zoo Boo, I got really sick. I got the flu and stayed sick for a full week. I was in bed for days! Myles had to take some time off work. Then, when I finally git better, the whole family got their flu shot for the year! lol So, now I'm really set.

Then came the real Halloween.

I gotta say, the time change really messed us up this year. Trick or Treating n the daylight is weird. But the kids loved it! Emily took forever1 At every house she said "trick or treat, thank you, have a happy Halloween!" At EVERY house! It took her forever, but it was really cute.

NOVEMBER

There was a Harvest Fest fundraiser st Aaron's school.

There were games, and a cake walk, and an archery game, a bouncy house, pony rides, lunch, and a game of "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?", which was really fun to watch.

Aaron started gymnastics this month, and while he isn't really good, by any standards, he is really enthusiastic about it. I think we'll continue it, even though he lacks any talent whatsoever, lol!

Aaron also had an asthma flare that led to yet another double ear infection. Poor kid. I also have a conference with his Kindergarten teacher. He is doing well, and he is very close to reading on his own. His phonetic spelling in pretty on target.

Emily is still doing dance,and she started her first non-parent assisted swim class. She also is doing well. She is gaining confidence in the water every week.

As a family, we joined a church recently. Myles and I took a new membership class and will be welcomed into the church officially just before Christmas. I'm very glad to have found a very good m"church family" for us. I have really missed being a part of a church.

Last week, I took the kids to the circus at the Palace. Wow. I haven't been in years, adn I forgot how great it is. I couldn't really get any good pictures, but here are some elephants and the kids once the circus was over. They loved it, and I would love to take them back.

Lastly, I have been knitting my butt off, and loving it! Here is a scarf I recently finished for Aaron's teacher. It's wool and mohair, and it is beautiful. Very soft. I'm hoping to take pics of every project I finish. I'd like to be able to catalog my work.

Pics....