Young Jedi...

Cameron was lucky enough to participate in a Jedi Training during Pumpkin Festival.

I now present to you Padawan Cameron Shook...







Jedi training was the perfect thing for our young Star Wars FANATIC. It was a two thumbs up experience!

May The Force Be With You!

Poetry...

I had to share Cameron's poetry that he wrote. He was home from school today and bored so he started writing.

There was a young boy named Cameron and
there was a good princess named Molly.
There was a queen named Beth and
there was an old king named Mike.

There was a clown named Max and an old clown
named Dax. He can climb Max. Max can't come
he has to do balls. Dax had nine balls.
There was a baby named Mya. She went shopping
for some diapers.

We're over our pumpkin hangover...finally...

What an exciting and exhausting 4 days we had with Pumpkin Festival here in town. I might have to break my days in to several posts so I can share all the great photos. Unfortunately, our girl was not Miss Pumpkin Princess but Molly still had a great time with the whole experience. Molly's confidence is so remarkable to me. She isn't afraid of going up on stage in front of a large group of people. I thought I might need to put my head between my knees for her but she did awesome. The biggest treat was that she got her picture on the front page of the Peoria Journal Star the morning after the pageant. It was very exciting and caused quite a cool buzz.

Here is our pumpkin princess...









And then here's our pumpkin princess doing what she really wanted to do...






We love the rides!! (Their Mom, not so much!)

What have you been up to?...

What have you been up to lately? Here's what we've been doing...







Mr. Shook has run a few races, one in Manito, IL and one in Delavan, IL and the kids did a fun run in Delavan. And, Mr. Shook ran his third half marathon this past Sunday in Peoria and finished in under 2 hours, which was his goal. Yea!



We did our annual corn maze here in town and the kids had a blast doing it. I highly recommend it if you want some fun on a beautiful day...




And we figured out all the clues...can you??

Molly is doing a kindergarten aged soccer clinic which she is really enjoying...





Tonight is the beginning of PUMPKIN FESTIVAL!!! Can you feel the excitement?? Molly is performing in the Miss Pumpkin Princess Pageant tonight so that should be cute and fun. Pictures to follow...

More new things...

I can't believe the weekend came and went but it is official that we have lived in Morton, Illinois 2 years. Mr. Shook had his 2 year CAT anniversary back in August so here we are. I have told many people that I really think it takes just about 2 years to get familiar, have an identity and make friends in a new place. It can be a really hard thing to do. You really have to be able to put yourself out there. I can do it, I just don't want to have to do it too many more times. I am pretty happy here.

With that said, our little 3 year old experiences new things all the time. This week was 2 big ones!

Our first day at preschool...




and our first ballet lesson...




Both went well, at both she was slow to warm up and I have faith that at both it will go better next time. Luckily for Amanda she has a nice big sister who held her hand through most of her ballet class and did it with her. My heart was swelling at the sight.

Chicken Sticks? Chicken Sticks!

I have gotten my boy over his anxiousness of buying his lunch at school. He did it 2 times last week and rocked it. He plans on buying about once a week and thought today's menu would suit him. I sent him on his way ready to purchase a yummy school lunch: corn dog, applesauce, oven fries, milk...perfect!

Today was Amanda's first day to be dropped off at preschool and the preschool teachers ask that you leave your cell phone in the car.

Wish everyone at Kohl's thought the same way...

In the time I dropped her off at school dearest husband had received a call at work from the school.

No corn dogs today.

What?? What!!

4 boys, mine included, felt that they just couldn't eat the chicken sticks offered today so they all came to the office and asked for a call home. Mr. Shook told the office that I would come to his rescue.

Does this sound weird, but I am so glad that I was able to do that for Cameron. How fortunate am I, that even in a trivial issue like no corn dogs, I can come through for my son. I really think this is what being a Mom is all about and I am ecstatic that I could do it.

Sounds silly, doesn't it?

I don't care, I'm thrilled!

And...he was so happy to see me!! Double bonus!

Musical chairs

As it goes with the first few days of school you rarely stay in the seat that you were originally assigned. The teacher quickly figures out who can sit by who and who shouldn't sit by who. Talking and whispering are 2 of the things that can get your seat moved. Both Cameron and Molly's teachers did some rearranging after the first few days. Molly told me that the boy next to her got his seat moved because he kept kicking her...

or was it something else??

Today on the playground a new Mom I have met recently says to me I heard why Davey (names changed to protect the not so innocent) got his seat moved away from Molly. I said that I heard it was because he kept kicking her. She says that she heard it different from her son who sits across from Molly. Her son said it was because Davey kept trying to kiss Molly.

EXCUSE ME...IN HEAVEN'S NAME HE WAS DOING WHAT??!!

I then realized that maybe what I thought had been kicking was truly kissing and I had to laugh out loud. Seriously?? In kindergarten??

I asked my girl about it and she got so embarrassed. I'm afraid her reaction (imagine huge big blue eyes) made me realize that this could possibly be true.

Thank you, kind Kindergarten teacher, for protecting my girl. They only boy she better be kissing is her dear old Dad.

Watch it, Mr. 5 year old. I am on to you!