Things round here #5- teacher gifts and chickens

Tomorrow will be two weeks since we acquired our Barred Rock girls "Checkers and Chessie". Almost all of the tension in the coop is gone, and everyone is getting along. I think in this picture that the bucket says it all--the new girls learned where the water comes from, and taught themselves how to get a drink. They are adapting well, and also started to pop out eggs.

Today is the last day of school for this year. Which means class Christmas parties. I like doing "gifts in a jar" so I bought dry cookie mixes, added in some more chocolate chips, dressed up mason jars a bit, printed the recipes on decorative card stock and the boys are giving them to their teachers. I do these quite often and its always a hit.

Today is also a Christmas lunch thing at Seniors work, so I made "White Trash Candy" for the occasions. If you have never had any, its like crack, you cant get enough of it. And if you have had it, then you know what I mean. I told Senior that since it is so addicting to please not bring any home. I also put some in quart baggies, and added to the teacher gift bags for the kids. 

If you are looking for a quick snack to make, its really easy, just add dry cereal, such as rice or corn chex, cheerios, salted peanuts, pretzel sticks...coat it all with white chocolate, let it cool...and there ya go!  

In this case I also added in Christmas colored M&Ms, but I don't think you can see them too well. Anyways, if you have questions on making it, just go do a google search, there are tons of recipes for it. 

Well I can not believe that a week from today is Christmas. Is anyone else in shock over that? I have about all my Christmas shopping done, just got little things left to pick up. It has not been a bad year for shopping, Amazon has had amazing deals, and they had a free prime trial, so I had free shipping on everything. Yahoo!  lol . I just keep reminding myself to cancel it in the next few days so I am not charged 99.00 for it. 

So now I am off here to finish things up before kids get out of school. Happy Friday everyone! Stay safe out there...

-JUGM

A Little Delimma

I know that when a issue in life arises that I can sit down and put it out on the table for all you good people. I value your advice and the combined years of knowledge that you offer me.
So, let me start at the beginning with this one...

A husband and wife neighbors and acquaintances of ours,  since we have known the couple,there has been mental abuse, and it has escalated into physical abuse. We, along with other neighbors  have all advised the wife to leave. But, like a lot of abused women with kids, she stays.
Recently, there was another incident and the wife wore dark glasses for a week. From what I understand the police were called. Not sure what happend after that, because they have been quiet.

Since that occurrence, She was  advised by several friends and neighbors that if she takes him back again, she will be on her own.  People are tired of the wife asking for help, only to ignore the help and constantly take him back.  Well, you can guess what happend. After he hit her like that. yup! She took him back,  I keep hoping and praying that nothing tragic happens in the home.

Then yesterday, our boys got an invite from their kids for a Christmas party.  They have two beautiful little girls that I just adore. Our dilemma in this matter is what to do? I do not condone spousal abuse at all, and do not wish to put my kids in an unstable environment where at any point the husband could snap.

On the other hand, I do not like to punish  kids for the actions of their parents. Kids do not understand any of this. And I know how as a kid I would feel if I sent out invites and no one showed up.  Thus the dilemma, just could use some advice from those out there who are wiser... 

-JUGM