Living Nativities

A local church put on a live nativity this weekend.  They had real animals in the stable outside, and inside they had hundreds of Creches from all over the world. They had choirs performing and also put on a large drama production.  The production was mostly teenagers and Kaitlin was friends with most of them.  The even gave us a cookie.  Kaitlin and Ruth also went to another live nativity with their youth group. This one was a well done recreation of Bethlehem, with animals and beggars and everything.  It was a great way to bring in the Christmas season.

Deck the Halls

After much insistence from the children, Chuck dug out the Christmas decorations this weekend and we got to work.  Chuck climbed up on the roof and Ruth started putting up all the lights on the front yard.  Jared put lights on the tree and hung the stockings.  Kaitlin cut out snowflakes to put on the wall.  Everything goes so much faster when everyone helps.

The Amazing Appearing Switch

The first Christmas we put up lights at this house we learned that the outlets up in the eaves didn't work.  Chuck looked all over the house trying to figure out how to get power to those outlets without success.  This year (six years later) Chuck grabbed a flashlight and decided he would try one more time to see if he could find how to connect those outlets.  Amazingly, a rift opened in the space and time continuum and a magic switch appeared in our coat closet.  In the seven years we have lived here, we've never seen that switch before. But like some Christmas miracle, there it was. Now our outdoor light turn on and off with a flick of a switch.

Jared's Reflections Win

Jared entered a video (the stop motion lego video I posted a few months ago) into his school's Reflections contest and this week he was surprised with a pizza party because his video is advancing to the council level.  We also got word that Ruth has both an original song and a literature entry that have also won at the middle school and will be going on to regionals. We'll keep you posted on how they do.

Our Thanksgiving

My Mom participating in the annual snowflake cutting.

I got a call a couple weeks ago from my Mom confirming with me that I was hosting Thanksgiving.  "Well, sure!" I said.   And let me tell you, hosting Thanksgiving is hard work. Now, I've cooked a few turkeys before and they've been fine, but it had been years. So I hit the Google, posted on facebook and even struck up a conversation with an old lady at the grocery store to learn how to cook the best possible turkey.  Then there was the matter of the things I didn't own.  I didn't own a roaster pan. I didn't own a gravy boat. I didn't own a platter. I didn't own enough plates.   But the family all chipped in, and we got the shopping done, the house cleaned, the rolls made, Ruth made the pie crust and Jared cubed the dried bread. Chuck helped me brine the turkey and I learned how to use my convection oven.  We borrowed a table from my neighbor (thanks Julia) and moved the couches and it all worked out.

Ruth, Matt and Mary are snowflake cutting. I'm cleaning up. I think Stacy is getting more food.

 The family came; the turkey was perfect; there was plenty of food; everyone ate; there were lots of helpers and it was all good.  We had a lovely time visiting and the kids had fun playing with cousins and it was a wonderful day. So when people ask me how my Thanksgiving was I reply, "It was a success."

For those interested here is the brineing recipe and instructions I used.

Ruth singing during her SBO skit (Ruth in the middle)

Ruth's Election

We are sad to report that Ruth didn't win her SBO election.  Last Wednesday she and 8 other students put on skits for the entire 7th grade to try to earn 4 spots.  Ruth wrote new words to a popular song and sang while her friends danced.  She did a great job.  I was so proud of her.   She was sad, but not to discouraged about the loss. Even Lincoln had his setbacks, right?  She is looking forward to running again in the fall.

Kaitlin's Wings

Kaitlin reached a new milestone this weekend. She drove the hour and a half to her Dad's house all by herself. She reports that she only got lost once.  She loved the new freedom of being able to come and go as she pleased and it only gave me a little heart attack and only makes me feel a little ill (even now as I type this) to think of her driving that far alone. But imagine what it must mean to a girl who has been shuffled back and forth between parents her whole life.  Now she is free.

Ruth's "airplane" resembled the golden snitch.

Jared's Paper Airplane Contest

Last week for Family Home Evening Jared sponsored a paper airplane contest. He made a large target and put it up on the wall. The task was to hit the target with an airplane.  Ruth's creative paper-wad airplane with wings was the easy winner.

Vote for Ruth, Like a Boss

Ruth has made it past the primaries and is making her final run this week for 7th grade student body officer.  55 kids participated in the first round which was whittled down to eight.  Winning the first election last Wednesday meant a late night run for more posterboard to make a second huge sign (46"x46") for her campaign.   Ruth's slogan is: Vote for Ruth, Like a Boss!  She will be putting on a skit for the entire grade on Wednesday. She's written a song and has recruited a bunch of friends to sing and dance.  The elections are after the skits.

I mentioned back in September that Ruth has had a goal of running for SBO since the first day of school, so she's been going out of her way all year to meet and befriend as many kids as she can.  If you ask her in public  why she wants to run, she'll tell you something about representing her peers and helping to serve her school. If you ask her in private why she wants to run she'll say, "I want to rule the world. Bwah-ha-ha" in her best evil voice.  I am so proud that Ruth is brave enough to try; brave enough to talk to and meet many new people; brave enough to put herself out there and brave enough to perform and sing in front of her peers.  Even if Ruth doesn't get elected this week, she's a winner in my book.

Another Week in Pictures

I know we just had a week in pictures last week, but sometimes pictures say it all. So here is another edition of Our Week in Pictures.

The day before Halloween, Ruth and Kaitlin did a service project with their youth group in costumes.

Jared went to school on Halloween morning dressed as the Grim Reaper.

Jared's class put on a cute Halloween program.

Here we are as the Avengers

Yes, Avengers again.

Hawkeye

American Dream

Thor

Nicola Fury

Black Widdow

As part of the anual "Mom and Kaitlin Halloween Party" we judged those that knocked on our door Halloween night: Chocolate for adorable kids and homemade costumes, Starbursts for average costumes, bubble gum for Teenagers. We also watched a movie and did some line dancing.

Ruth and Jared had fun smashing the pumpkins after Halloween.

Jared used his pumpkin for target practice.

Fall Fun

We got all dressed up for our church's Halloween party on Saturday.

Chuck was in charge of the fishing booth for the kids.  He had a fun time making and running the game. Jared served as the one putting on the prizes in the back.

Kaitlin made an adorable pirate.

Jared was especially proud of winning 2nd prize with his Perry Platypus pumpkin.

Kaitlin carved Phineas, and Ruth carved Isabella - both characters from Phineas and Ferb.

My pumpkin.  There is also a skeleton on the top and one escaping out the back.

Last week we went to the new Sheels, a super mega super sporting goods store.

I spent a lot of the week making costumes.

A cappella Choir 

Kaitlin's first choir concert of the year was this week.  She's really enjoying singing with the more advanced singers. And it doesn't hurt that she sits right next to the tenor section either.  We were lucky enough to have a graduate pass on their choir dress to us, and a friend helped hem it in time for the concert this week.  Kaitlin will have several more concerts, including a benefit concert to help pay for their big trip to New York City in the spring. 


Bear Scout

Jared earned his Bear badge this week, and five arrow points.  He did a lot of extra work on scouts over the summer, which is why he has finished a little early. It also helps a lot to have a mom that knows to check the book and sign off all the things he is already doing.  Jared also dug out the old Lite-Brite this week.  How he sorted the colored pegs may give you some insight into his character.

Pumpkin Walk

Tumble weed jack-o-lanterns.

On Saturday we visited my folks and went to their small town pumpkin walk.  Unfortunately it was cold and windy; not a good day to linger. Still, the mountains we in fall colors and the clouds were hanging low around the peeks.  After the walk we spent some time at the farm visiting with family and once the weather warmed a bit we went out to take some family photos.

How Many People Does it Take to Replace the Mother?

Today I went off to practice with the church choir, which had changed its rehearsal time to Sunday afternoon, almost to our dinner time.  When I came home I found the whole family working away in the kitchen. Jared was grating huge piles of cheese and weighing it on our postal scale. Ruth was making the sauce.  Kaitlin was just finishing up some cornbread and Chuck was trying to do damage control.   It was a wonderful surprise and I enjoyed watching as they all worked away in the kitchen.  The result was a very tasty dinner of homemade macaroni and cheese.