Halloween 2016

My little Ninja's had a great time trick-or-treating in the neighborhood tonight. Their sneaky stealth moves got them lots of candy!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

This weekend, my parents came into town to catch some soccer games of all their grandchildren and just spend some time with everyone. Unfortunately, Mason's soccer game got cancelled, so they were not able to watch him, however they were able to see Braden, Camden and Casen play.

Today after Camden's game, we headed to the pumpkin patch for our annual pictures. I must say, I find that the picture taking process is not getting any easier. In past years Camden was posing Casen for cute pictures and everyone seemed to have decent smiles. This year, however, getting either one of them to act thrilled about taking pictures was quiet the task . . .  fortunately, I believe we got a few decent ones.

Casen's Fall Festival

One thing I love about this time of year are all of the fall festivals that are taking place. Tonight, Casen's school had its Fall Festival and of course we could not pass up an opportunity to dress up and go play some games and get a start on the candy collecting process.

Both the boys decided to be Ninjas this year. Well, let me rephrase that, Camden decided to be a ninja this year, so Casen just followed suit. (We are in the stage of doing everything that Camden does.) I must say, I forgot how much I love the costumes that cover up their faces. This picture taking momma doesn't have to worry if they are smiling or not, I can just snap away! :)

The fall festival was a hit, especially the cake walk!!! We have been so fortunate to be part of a school where the teachers truly invest a lot of their time and talents into the kids!

 

Ninja Batman - a.k.a Casen

Camden Batman

Casen got to help his teacher, Mrs. Diane
call out numbers for the cake walk - the
highlight of his evening.

Casen with two of his lifelong friends, Chelsea and Kelly.

Camden's First REAL Report Card

Today Camden received what I would consider his first 'real' report card. I say 'real' because he actually has numerical grades instead of 'S's or 'E's. We are very proud of how well he is doing in school this year. I have said it before and I will say it again - it makes all the difference in the world as to what kind of teacher a child has. Camden LOVES Mrs. Martinez and is ready to go to school everyday, which was not our experience last year in Kindergarten. We are so blessed to have a teacher who has made learning fun!

Our First Jack-O-Lantern

There are certain things I have waited on until I felt both of the boys were old enough to enjoy before we did them. Carving pumpkins would be one of those things I have waited on until this year. The boys have been asking me for weeks when we could carve our pumpkin, but I have been holding them off in hopes that our pumpkin would make it to Halloween. Knowing that next weekend is a busy weekend with no time for pumpkin carving, we chose to go ahead and try to create a masterpiece out of a pumpkin this weekend.

We started the process yesterday afternoon, however had to finish it up this afternoon after school. Camden drew a picture of exactly what he wanted his pumpkin to look like, despite all the cool patterns we had with our pumpkin carving kit. I love that he has an idea in his head and does not stray from it.

We, of course, cut the top off and I encouraged the boys to get the guts out. Only one of the two would even remotely stick their hand in the pumpkin. Camden loved touching it, however Casen would not even dream of sticking his hand in that yucky mess.

I love the look on Casen's face!

After we go the guts cleaned out, Camden proceeded with drawing his design on the pumpkin. While he did that I cleaned the pumpkin seeds really well so we could make some roasted seeds. He and I both (and Casen long enough for me to get a picture) did some carving on the pumpkin until it was time for us to leave home to go to our Lifegroup.

Casen's carving was very short lived

Camden did an awesome job carving.

Our pumpkin until tomorrow . . . 

We resumed the pumpkin carving festivities after school today, or should I say 'I' resumed the festivities. Camden was done carving and Casen had very little interest in the whole pumpkin carving process. They apparently found playing soccer on the Playstation more entertaining than the pumpkin carving. So, following Camden's pattern, 'we' had a finished product in no time.

Our jack-o-lantern looked a lot like Camden's drawing

The end result

The pumpkin seeds were yummy!

I do believe our first year carving pumpkins was a success. Maybe next year, Casen will be a little more interested in the process, but in the meantime it was really fun to watch Camden and his creative side!

A Long Weekend

This weekend, Casen and I had a long three day weekend while Shane and Camden had to return to school on Monday. (They have a three day weekend next week.) My 98 1/2 year old grandmother is not doing too well right now due to temporal arteritis, so I decided that Casen and I would go to Kerrville this weekend and do some visiting. But first, Casen had a soccer game to play! He had a nice cheering section this morning since my sister, Mason and Braden all came to watch.

After his game, we headed to grandma and grandpas in Kerrville. We got there mid afternoon, so enjoyed just hanging out with my parents as well as my Uncle John (dad's brother), my Aunt Sue (dad's sister) and her husband, Jim.

Casen just chilling on the porch playing games on his phone

On Sunday, we went to church and then Casen did some fishing in the ponds with grandpa, catching 18 perch (with many more left to catch).

First catch of the day - proud fisherman.

Reeling it in

The biggest fish of the day - Casen was
a bit scared of it.

Later that day Aunt Sue brought Grandma Key out to my parents to enjoy the beautiful day and also for us to look at old pictures from my grandmother's child hood as well as young adult hood. It was really neat to see that, despite her having dementia, she still could identify most people in the pictures as well as where they took place, even though they were from the early 1900's.

John, Sue, Grandma Key, Dad

Casen had to get in the picture as well

Grandpa's buddy

On Monday before we headed back home, Casen and I stopped by Grandma Key's to visit a bit before Uncle John took her to church (the Lutheran church comes there one Monday a month and brings communion). Casen and Uncle John did a lot of laughing and talking while we were there. Casen really took a liking to Uncle John, which was fun to watch.

Casen LOVED playing with Uncle John

Grandma Key and Casen - poor Grandma just
didn't really look nor feel herself since she was having
horrible headaches from the temporal arteritis.

I was glad that we had time off to be able to go and visit with family.  I learned a lot about my grandmother's past this weekend that I otherwise may never have known. The older I get the more I realize how fast time flies and if we don't take time to stop and enjoy those that are around us now, we might just miss the opportunity. 

Busy Times and Daddy's Birthday

Things have been pretty busy in the Hood household. I guess I should update you about my change in schools. As you may recall, last year I moved from Hamilton Middle School to Windfern High School. The main reason I left Hamilton was that I thought I wanted to move towards working in administration. Taking the position at Windfern also meant that I would become the District CPR Coordinator, which would open doors for me to meet more people throughout the district which would hopefully put me where I needed to be to take the next step into administration. I did not at all mind the paperwork and administrative tasks that came with the position, and things were happening as they should have been, however after only seeing 5 - 10 students a day it made me realize that my heart truly is with the kids, and I missed that. I was seeing that administration is not where I wanted nor needed to be.

Well, luckily for me, the nurse that replaced me at Hamilton was not working out well there. I had made my feelings about my decision to not go the administrative route to my supervisor last school year so that she was aware if something changed at Hamilton that I would be interested in going back.  Several weeks into this school year the nurse that replace me resigned and my supervisor contacted me regarding the position and asked if I truly wanted to return to Hamilton. Without hesitation, yes!!! She told me not to get my hopes up as it is NOT district policy to allow a lateral move in the middle of the school year. After a week with much prayer, my supervisor fighting for me with HR and (later I found out) the principal at Hamilton also fighting for me, I received word that I would be returning on September 19th. YEA!!!! I honestly felt like I was back home and received a huge welcome back from my coworkers as well as students. It is amazing how God worked that whole situation out for me!!!

We have been busy with soccer, soccer and more soccer. The boys both have practice on Thursday evenings, so Shane and I tag team that job. Games of course are on Saturdays, however we were not lucky enough to get a schedule which allowed their games to be close to the same time. So we generally have a morning game and then an afternoon game. Camden's first love is soccer and we don't feel like he is being able to play at his potential with where he currently is practicing. Shane has been in contact with the gentleman over the Dynamos club and he invited Camden to come out and see what their practice was like. On Monday we took him out and it was the world of difference. While he started out timid since he did not know anyone and it was all new to him, by the end of practice he was doing a great job. The guy over the club mentioned that Camden could come out on Wednesday as well so that he could practice with kids that are on the same level as he is. So we also went on Wednesday and then of course had our Thursday practice yesterday with his Madrid team, so to say the least - we were all worn out. The head of the club invited Camden to practice with them weekly until we join their club in the Spring. After the week we had, we decided three nights a week of practice is too much at Camden's age, so we have decided we will just go on Wednesdays so he can continue to practice with them.

With soccer practice falling on Shane's birthday, we did not do cake last night, however we did do presents real fast. And tonight, we had cake and sang 'happy birthday', because according to the boys, you haven't had a birthday until someone sings 'Happy Birthday' to you.

I love the candles Camden chose - a '4' and then
two single candles. LOL. 

Happy Birthday Shane