Weekend Fun!

It was a busy weekend for the Brunos! Friday was the Hospice party, just a small dinner with the core group of people that Joe works with on a weekly basis. We had an excellent ham dinner, and Xander had fun running around with the only other kid that was there (a nine year old girl).

Saturday was for house cleaning and decorating, followed by dinner at the Hyatt's. We had roast chicken and Xander even ate some veggies! (Donna always was the only one he'd do that for!) Afterwards, Xander got to open his first Christmas present - a Cars art set. He was very excited!

Yesterday was annual Cookie Day. My friend Amy came over and we spent the whole day baking Christmas cookies. We did three different kinds each, and shared what we made. Xander was right in the thick of things, mixing and measuring and eating lots of dough.

We're starting the holiday season off with a bang!

Xander - Art Prodigy!

Okay, so maybe he's not a prodigy. But check out this picture he brought home from school today! Didn't he do a great job drawing Santa and Rudolph? I was so amazed, I had to scrap it last night.

Also, yesterday was Decade Day at school for Spirit Week. Xander was a greaser, and this was his fierce do-you-want-to-rumble pose. Awesome! You can't see it, but he had a pack of gum rolled up in his sleeve. The plastic chain was his idea. What a kid!

Xander - School Boy Genius!

Okay, so I'm probably pretty biased about my son's intelligence. But I tell you, he continues to amaze me! Only three months into Kindergarten, and he's already reading a little, sounding out words, and writing sentences. Check out this scrapbook layout I did to commemorate Xander's first sentence written at home. He wrote that on his own, completely unprompted, and with zero help from me. Wow!

In other school news, it's Spirit Week at Xander's school this week. Monday he got to wear his pajamas, and yesterday was Dress Like A Teacher day. The bow tie is Joe's and I think it totally makes the whole look! At Xander's request we also gelled his hair. Very spiffy.

And then the following conversation took place:

Mommy - If you were a teacher, what would you teach?

Xander - I would teach people to be kind to other people.

Geez. Did your heart just melt? Mine sure did! That boy, you just never know what he's going to say next!

It's A Bruno Thanksgiving!

Well, I'm finally starting to recover from Thanksgiving and Black Friday! I literally shopped till I dropped, both Friday and Sunday. Lots of money spent, but my Christmas shopping is almost done. Woo hoo! I shopped a bit with Krissy on Black Friday, and Amy and I made our yearly pilgrimage to Albany. It was fun, but exhausting.

Thanksgiving Day we spent with my in-laws. Jean cooked up a turkey, stuffing, corn, and mashed potatoes. I brought over green bean casserole and sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Yum! As usual, I ate myself into a stupor. :) After that was the ceremonial watching of March of the Wooden Soldiers, a family tradition since my mom was a kid.

Xander mostly enjoyed the day, though he barely ate anything. The only touchy moment came when he realized that Aunt Tanya wasn't going to be stopping by. There was pouting, crying and general unhappiness. Luckily, he did get to see her on Sunday. Thank goodness!!

I know it's late, but I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!