Poetry: I am Cole Hubbard.

 

I am Cole Hubbard.

I am awesome, funny, and nice.

I wish I could be a football player.

I wonder why I couldn't.

I hope I can be one someday.

Sometimes I worry that I won't be able to.

But I feel better when I pray.

I know I can be whatever I want to be.

Maybe someday I will be one.

Until then, I'm happy who I am.

Outdoor Firestarters

I wanted to share these amazing firestarters that I make.  They have been so wonderful when we go camping because I keep them in a big bag and have them on hand whenever we need to get a fire going.  Not only are they useful but they are DIRT CHEAP!

All you need are cardboard egg cartons, lint from your dryer and paraffin wax.  I keep a bag in my laundry room and throw the lint and dryer sheet in the bag every time I do a load (which is daily)!

Cardboard egg cartons, paraffin wax and dryer lint

Stuff the lint and dryer sheets in the egg cartons

Melt the wax in a double boiler

"Double Boiler" (wax pan on top of pan of boiling water)

Pour the melted wax over each "egg" of lint

When it cools slightly, cut them apart

I like to cut them apart as soon as they are cool enough to handle so that the wax isn't so hard to cut through.  It is a bugger after it hardens fully.

To start a fire, light the cardboard edge of your firestarter nugget and you'll have a good 15 minutes of fire to kick-start your logs.

Now let's go camping!

House guests!

We had some very special house guests last weekend and it warrants a post.  My Uncle Dick and Aunt Liz arrived Friday and spent the weekend with us.  We spent the majority of our time together eating and playing board games.  It was super special.  Much to Old Uncle Dick's dismay, he could not win a single game but the challenge was worth the disappointment and we hope he'll return for a rematch soon!  

A Battleship challenge with Cooper

One special moment was when he shared his Passport to the National Parks with Cole.  We gave Cole the Passport system last year for his birthday after Uncle Dick told us about it.  He has over 40 passport stamps in his book and Cole was very excited to hear about his travels.  In a previous post, Uncle Dick had sent Cole an enormous collection of brochures about Civil War battle fields.  They both enjoy history and I'm glad they had this opportunity to share these interests face to face.  

 

One of many Rummikub challenges with Carse

Scrabble in which I dominated!  (tee hee)

Uncle Dick and Aunt Liz with the kiddos

Ya'll come back soon now, ya' hear?

Cole's Thanksgiving Journal Entry

 

Given that today was yet another snow day for the Williamson County School System, I was blessed with the gift of unscheduled down-time with the kids.  After a 2-game domination of Rummikub (Mom vs. Cole), I stole a moment to read some recent journal entries in Cole's 4th grade composition book.

His writing made me smile and I quickly found my favorite poem: The Senses of Football.

 

Football is orange.

It tastes like dirt.

It sounds like crowds screaming.

It smells like sweat.

It looks tough.

It makes me feel hard core.

I kept reading the entries and soon came to one he wrote in November.  It made my day because a 9 1/2 year old boy doesn't always say what he thinks.  At least not out-loud.

I have tons of things I am thankful for.  I am thankful for my brother Cooper that is always having fun.  He begs me to play Wii with him even though he is four.  I am also thankful for him telling me jokes like "Why did the apple turn over?"  I have never heard that one before.  He is also the best brother ever.  That's why I am thankful for him.

I am also thankful for my little sister Ivy Mae for being so cute.  I get compliments from people, mostly from Tori Egli.  I am also thankful for her letting me read fairy tales to her at night.  She can be annoying but she can be friendly.  That's why I'm thankful for her.

I am also thankful for my stepdad for helping me make the right decisions and being able to help me through tough times.  I am thankful that he can watch football with me.  I am also thankful for him passing the football and riding bikes with Cooper and me.  I am also thankful for him for going to work and earning money for my new house.  That's why I am thankful for my stepdad.

Page 1

Page 2

And for this, I am thankful!

Love,
Cat

Ivy Mae McAfee turns 2!

Sweet Ivy Mae turned 2 on Friday!

She is so much fun and even blew out the candles

on her cupcake all by herself!  

Ivy Mae McAfee and her new dolly that she named "I-Mae"

Cooper and I baked cupcakes...

 

 

and then added flowers and her name.

Blowing out the candles...

Success!

  

Happy 2nd Birthday, Ivy!

Hallelujia Chorus!

I loved this link so much that I wanted to share it.  There is one woman who was so surprised that she was crying.  If you have 4 1/2 minutes...check this out!  It will pour the Christmas spirit all over you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&vq=medium#t=49

Fabulous Fall Photos!

We had a photo shoot recently with an amazing photographer, Ariel Renae Photography.  She is so talented and, in no time flat, she captured my kids' personalities and left me with so many beautiful choices that I'm having a very difficult time narrowing them down for the walls.  I, of course, was very nervous because Ivy was having a TERRIBLE afternoon since waking up from her nap.  But, somehow, she managed to capture smiles rather than frowns and I am so happy with the results.  Here are a few precious rays of sunshine...