Another Winter Wonderland

The news this morning reported that 1 to 2 inches of snow was headed to Paris some time this afternoon.  I think they said about 1:00 p.m.  I took Jack to school and ran a few errands: recycle center, bank and grocery.  When I began running around there were some pretty big snowflakes coming down.  While I was in the grocery store my phone started ringing off the hook.  School was dismissing at noon.  It rang again.  School was dismissing at 11:00 a.m.  Before I could get home with everyone my car was slipping on the road.  I was glad to be home.  The roads are clearer now and the snow has stopped for the time being, but I hear it's coming again Wednesday.  We'll see.  For now here is a picture of our backyard.  Good times!!

Jack's special night

Having all boys can prove difficult at times.  For example...Jack loves Clayton's friends and thinks of them as his own, but sometimes the "biggest" boys need a moment alone.  Clayton's precious friend asked him to go to Nashville with his family to a hockey game.  What a treat!  The only problem was that it left Jack feeling a bit sad.  What's a mom to do?!?  No fear, Mimi and Tee to the rescue.  They were in town for Clayton's game so they stayed to make Jack feel special.  After an intense wrestling session with Tee Jack was asked where he wanted to eat.  Of course, he picked rice and beans...translation...Mexican.  He was feeling pretty special, but then Mimi and Tee pulled out all the stops and ordered this for dessert...

Before...

 After...

Needless to say as we left the restaurant Jack was grinning from ear to ear.  As a matter of fact he was still grinning when he went to bed.  He looked up at me and said, "Today WAS my special day, mom!" 
*As a side note--Jack did not eat that by himself.  There were four adults that helped him.

Five on Friday

1.  Fred and I both have some injuries that have kept us from running this week.  Fred's knee is hurt and my foot is hurt.  I'm hoping to be back next week.  I'm not sure how long Fred will be out.  :-(
2.  I made homemade brown sugar cinnamon poptarts this week.  They are made with whole wheat flour and no preservatives.  Having said that I must tell you, they are not really healthy.  I call them "healthier".  I also call them GOOD!

3.  Clayton gets to go with his good friend to a hockey game this Saturday.  He is pumped.
4.  Jack had pajama day at school this week.  For a kiddo that doesn't show much emotion he was pretty fired up.

5.  (This is for my college roommates!!)  Clayton has been watching America's Funniest Videos.  Well, Andrew is usually in the room.  He loves it and actually will chuckle when he watches it.  It makes my heart skip a beat that my boys share the same affection for a funny video as I do.

Funny Boys

I asked the boys what they wanted to drink with their breakfast this morning. Clayton picked orange juice.  Jack picked water.  Upon sitting down Jack changed his mind on the water and wanted orange juice.  While Jack was changing his mind Clayton had decided he didn't want orange juice because it had pulp in it.  He made several akward faces and made several comments about his disdain for pulp in orange juice.  So what to do?!?  I poured Jack's water out and then poured Clayton's orange juice into Jack's cup.  Jack didn't seem to mind the pulp.  Jack took a big drink, looked at Clayton and said, "Qua-ton, this orange juice doesn't have poop in it!"  Awww, a morning at the Shackelford house!

Jack the photographer

Jack is always picking up our camera.  You never know what he will capture.  As I was flipping through my camera I noticed he took pictures of me eating a typical Shackelford (adult) breakfast:  boiled egg, toast (this day it was a breakfast cookie), half a grapefruit, oj and coffee.  Notice the use of the zoom in the second photo...nice.  Jack's use of my camera could possibly be the reason it does not work half the time?!?

Five on Friday

1.  Since Fred and I started participating in races (minus my very first race) we have been saving our race t-shirts.  For Christmas we gave each other a quilt made out of our shirts.  It came in this week.  We were both really pleased.  There are a lot of really special memories in that quilt. 

2.  I love a coupon.  Last February I had a ridiculous amount of shampoo that I had accumulated from coupon shopping.  Fred and I made a deal that I would not buy any more shampoo as of February 2010.  I am embarrassed proud to report I still have 10 bottles of shampoo left.  Yes, ten.

Also, my "secret sibling" gave me a $10 gift card to Kroger and some Goldfish crackers...two of my favorites!  I thought about taking the crackers and eating them at Kroger while I used my gift card, but the flu is going around.  I think I'll eat my crackers at home after washing my hands...I digress...I have held on to my card because I just can't  decide what I want to buy.  I'm thinking Starbucks coffee...what a treat!  But first I must find a coupon.  Thanks to my secret sibling! ("Secret siblings" is a new venture on the Shackelford side of the family to help all the Shackelford siblings and their spouses stay connected. At our request, Fred and Renee drew names at Christmas, and assigned each of us a "secret sibling" for the whole year. It's fun.)

3.  Clayton is reading Little House of the Prairie at school.  He is loving it. 

4.  Fred and Renee gave us Netflix for Christmas.  Jack loves it, because we can get movies through the Wii.  This week while the other boys and I were gone Fred and Jack watched a Spider Man movie. Jack loved it.  Fred said it was awesome. 

5.  Andrew is all over the place and continues to L.O.V.E. the slide.  If you haven't seen the video see below.  It is titled "Sliding".  It shouldn't be too hard to find.  :-)  Fred came in from the gym this week.  Andrew toddled over to him and said, "Da", sweetly hugged him around the legs and held up his arms for Fred to pick him up.  I'm pretty sure Fred was a little misty.

Sliding

This slide has been in the corner of our living room since before Andrew was born.  He has never paid it much attention...until today.  We had several friends over from school.  When I looked up Andrew was right in the middle of all of them taking his turn sliding down.  He even climbed up by himself.  I can't watch.  It makes me too nervous!