Another Christmas on the books!

Paul and Nathan went to the Cops and Rodders car show on 11/3/18 where Nathan participated in the pinewood derby again.

I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens and the Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens on 11/8.

Nathan had a field trip on 11/9 to the Asarco Mine.  I went back to Pima County Cooperative Extension Garden to see the monarch caterpillars and also to Green Things Nursery for my first visit.

On Veteran's Day (11/12), Paul took Nathan to Legoland in Tempe, AZ.

I went to Reid Park and the Reid Park Rose Gardens on 11/13.

Nathan got his picture with Santa on 11/17.  Nathan made his Christmas list:  XBox 360 console, XBox 360 games, Legos, Nintendo Switch games, candy,  Pokemon EX, GX and Break cards, Pokemon Pikachu stuffed animal, etc...

Thanksgiving (11/22) was low key as usual.  Just the 3 of us at home.

We went to Madera Canyon on 11/23.  Not many hummingbirds this trip.  We did see some turkeys that made it through the Thanksgiving holiday, though!

We went to the U of A vs ASU football game on 11/24.  U of A was winning most of the game and then lost it at the end 40-41.

Paul took a vacation day on 11/27 so he and I had a rare day without Nathan and we chose to go to the Desert Museum.

I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens, back to Green Things Nursery and to the Pima County Cooperative Gardens on 11/29.

I went to Tohono Chul Park on 12/10.

I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens and Tohono Chul Park on 12/11.

I went to Reid Park Zoo on 12/13.

12/14, Nathan celebrated his birthday at school.  I brought in Pokemon favor bags.  His teacher thought I should go up to see a drawing that he did on the American Revolution.  She said it was really good, frame worthy.  She said normally she wants them to color them in, but his was too good with just the drawing.  I took a picture of it and I have to agree that he is really talented.

Nathan turned 9 on 12/15!  His birthday theme this year was Pokemon.  He wanted to go to Peter Piper Pizza for his birthday.  Mommy beat him at air hockey and his car racing game, though!  LOL

His birthday questionnaire:
1) Favorite Color - Green/Teal/Aqua

2) Favorite Toy - Legos
3) Favorite Show/Movie - The Grinch
4) Favorite thing to eat for lunch - Peaches 
5) Favorite thing to wear - ?
6) Favorite Game - Pokemon
7) Favorite Snack - Breakfast Bars
8) Favorite Animal - Turkey Vulture
9) Favorite Song - ?
10) Favorite Book - ? 
11) Best Friend - ?
12) Favorite Cereal - Frosted Mini Wheats
13) Favorite thing to do outside/place to go - Kickball, Frisbee w/Dad, Dave & Busters
14) Favorite Drink - ?
15) Favorite Holiday - Easter
16) What do you like to take to bed with you at night - Tons of stuffed animals
17) Favorite thing to eat for breakfast - Frosted Mini Wheats
18) What do you want for dinner on your birthday - Peter Piper Pizza and Birthday Cake
19) What do you want to be when you grow up - Engineer
20) Favorite thing to do at school - Art
21) Food you don't like - Anything that hurts his stomach since his stomach has been hurting this past week
22) What is something you are good at - Kickball
23) Favorite Food - Peanuts
24) Favorite Vegetables - Carrots
25) Favorite Dog - French Bull Dog & Wiener Dog (Dachshund)
26) Favorite Reptile - Sea Turtle
27) Favorite Bird - Turkey Vulture
28) Favorite Pizza Topping - Pepperoni and Green Peppers

On 12/20, we went to see The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Ralph Breaks the Internet.

12/21 was National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.  They also dressed up the day before in their ugly Christmas sweaters at school.  I bought Nathan a cool sweatshirt one that says Dachshund through the snow with a picture of a Dachshund.  We also went to Winterhaven on 12/21 to see the Christmas lights.  Nathan is the only kid who doesn't like to see Christmas lights :(  Paul and I enjoyed it, though.

Paul got the flu right before Christmas that lasted for days.  Nathan also had a cold with a cough and a cold sore on his lip.  I was the only healthy one which was a first.  Nathan opened up all of his gifts on Christmas morning.  He didn't get his XBox, but that is because he just got his Nintendo Switch earlier in the year.  He did get new games for his Nintendo Switch, though, including an Arcade Pac, Pokemon Lets Go Pikachu, Minecraft (not the story mode) and Mario Kingdom Battle.  He got books, drawing paper, cars, Lego sets, a remote control piranha, etc...   I got Paul (and Nathan) the Apollo Shuttle Lego set, a large print Bible, a stuck together cactus ornament, a hand painted ornament with an ocotillo, etc...  He and Nathan made me a wall hanging saying I love you more with the love being a heart full of shells.  They made handmade wall hangings for his teacher, Grandma June and GG this year, too.  

Nathan finished the 2nd quarter on honor roll.  He was SO close to high honor roll.  His average was 95.17 and he needed 95.5 or higher for high honors.  His cumulative GPA for the semester was 94.17.  97 in History/Geography, 91 in Reading, 96 in Recitation,  M for Art, M for P.E., M for Music, 96 for Science, 97 for Math, M for Latin and 94 for English.

It's almost time for New Years Resolutions so I looked at last years:
1) Lose weight.  I need to lose 30-40 lbs.  Cook more at home.  Try new recipes.  Walk 5k-10k steps/day.  Do the elliptical every day.  Walk Tulla when it is nice out.  Drink less Starbucks.  Drink more water.  Eat only one piece of chocolate/day.
2) Start scrapbooking.  Scan/take photos of momentos.  Scan great-grandparents' birth certificates.  Start with Nathan's baby book.
3)  Work on clutter.  Go through papers in office.  Get bookshelves for scrapbook room and organize that room, including going through the travel papers.  Get quilt made from Nathan's baby clothes.  Get custom bookcase in Nathan's room.
4) Clean e-mail
5) Spend more time with Nathan
6) Go to Chicago for GG's 100th birthday
7) Find a new doctor.  Get a skin cancer test.  Go to a vein specialist for my leg.  Get shoulder checked out.  Improve cholesterol and triglycerides.
8)  Go through pictures.  Sell pictures.  Get pictures on walls.
9) Get new furniture.  Patio set, kitchen set, entertainment center and coffee table.  Refurbish hope chest from great-grandparents.  Epoxy garage floor.
10) teach Nathan to swim, ride bike and tie shoes.
11) Give personalized Christmas gifts next year.  Photo books?  Get an outdoor nativity.
12) volunteer
13) Spend less time on computer.  This is a tricky one, though, if I am going to be working on pictures and e-mail.
14) Read the Bible & pray every day
15)  Relax more!
16) Do not complain on Facebook
17) Go to bed by 10

Well, as usual I did not accomplish many of my resolutions.  I did just get bookshelves for my scrapbook room and for Nathan's room.  I didn't do a custom bookcase in his room like I wanted, but at least for now I bought two small bookcases for his books.  I went through a lot of his toys and stuff in his room and got him to agree to donate a lot to our church.  Oh, and Paul is now going to a new church.  He decided he wanted to go to a church closer to where we live.  He is going to Sun & Shield Baptist Church.  Nathan and I still like New Testament Baptist Church so for now we are going there.  I have actually made an effort to try and get to know the members better and feel even more of a pull to stay.  Anyway, back to the resolutions.  We did go to Chicago for GG's for her 100th birthday.  I got my shoulder checked out.  It was frozen shoulder and an inflamed rotator cuff.  After getting a cortisone shot and doing 3 months of physical therapy, it is finally feeling a lot better.  I can't say I have accomplished more than that from last year's resolutions.  I would like to say I will try again this year, but let's be realistic.  That is a lot to accomplish in one year.  I think I am going to start with one thing at a time.  The first thing on last year's list was to lose weight.  That is going to be my main focus this year.  If I can accomplish that, I will move on to my other resolutions.