Football end

I forgot to mention the end of the football season...our high school team played Archbishop Murphy in the Tacoma Dome. Derek was able to go suit up with Varsity and run out onto the field. That's about as much as he saw the field that day. Not too much playing time for the sophomores like him. It was an honor to be invited to dress though. It was quite a pounding that they took, but they did manage to win third place in state (a personal best for our high school). Good memories. Now on to wrestling!

Christmas activities

Katie is in the front row right at her feet.

Alexis and Katie were asked to help with the ward's Christmas program. The primary was in charge and decided to do a musical reading of "The Night Before Christmas." Our Primary President, Sis. Payne, read the story. Katie was one of the children in the choir and Alexis held the storybook pages. They had to wear their pajamas and they thought that was a little weird. It turned out pretty cute though.

Evan and his friend Ethan at Zoo Lights. It was FREEZING. Ethan showed up in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Someone pitied him and finally gave him a coat.

Evan's in the back with the trumpet.

Evan and his middle school band (he plays trumpet) took their annual trip to the Oregon Zoo in Portland for the Zoo Lights event. The zoo is open in the evening and it is decorated with all Christmas lights. Various clubs and groups perform musical numbers. Derek did it when he was in the eighth grade too. JD went as a chaperone this year since I was busy helping Derek's high school wrestling team get ready to host their first wrestling tournament.

Non-wrestler does well

Evan representing his school (Cascade) with second place. Good job!

Evan decided to try wrestling this year and after going undefeated in his first season (and last, he tells us) out, went to the middle school district championships. That stinker won 2nd place! He did great and when he finally met up with someone who really knew wrestling, he did lose. It was a respectable loss though. No 20 second pin or 15 point loss. He gave it his best and still managed to do pretty well for himself. We were so proud of him for trying something new and giving it his all.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Katie and Alexis (aka SCHOOL-SKIPPERS!) with sleepy Santa.

Katie hauling a big one outta the woods.

"Timber!"

The girls thought this was the cutest pony ever. He IS pretty cute!

Alexis fixing to get trampled by the goat herd.

This Christmas, we couldn't find ONE day that all the kids were off from sports, church or other responsibilities or activities. Can you believe that?! I wanted to just get all of us together for one stinkin' day to go cut down the Christmas tree at the local tree farm. It doesn't take long and we always have a good time.

By the second Monday in December, I had had it. I went up to the school, checked out my daughters and took them up to the tree farm. Of course, NO ONE was there, because every other responsible parent had their children in school. I figured it was only elementary school and they're already pretty smart, so I couldn't possibly be damaging them too much. We found a few trees for the house (albeit kind of shabby trees--I didn't have the energy or heart to tell them the trees weren't perfect) and hauled them down the hill. We even found a moment to visit Santa (he's quite old and we actually had to wake him up) as well as his reindeer (okay, they're goats and Shetland ponies)!

All in all, it got me what I wanted: Christmas trees and pictures. SUCCESS!

Time to Update...

Now that the kids are back in school, I have a few minutes to update this blog. I'll try and get this caught up in the next week. I hate getting behind! I still haven't addressed my Christmas cards. Do you think it's too late? Obviously, I've missed Christmas, New Year's and Martin Luther King Day. If I hurry I'll beat Valentine's Day! Hurry!!!!!

Buck the Dog's New Bed

"Hmmh. I really like my new bed, but I GUESS you can lay down with me, Pepper..."

"Umm. I thought you were going to leave, Pepper. Pepper? Pepper? Are you awake?..."

"Well, then I'm just going to have to scootch over this way until you wake up!..."

In an attempt to keep our sweet Labrador/Beagle mix furry child off the furniture, I have purchased him several soft and snuggly beds to place around the house, especially those places that we tend to congregate. I found a perfect red bed to match our red rec room and pulled it out for him. He immediately LOVED it and hunkered down for a little rest. Almost as soon as he did that, he had a bunkmate: His feline sister, Pepper. She squeezed in next to him and made herself at home. He tolerated her for some time before he eventually pushed her to the edge. Our furry children are just as funny as the hairless ones sometimes.

First Snowfall of 2010

Snowing at 8:00 a.m. while the kids get off to school. Yay! Snow!!

3:00 p.m. about 6 inches of snow. Yay...snow.

5:00 p.m. 8 inches of snow. Whoopee. Stuck in snow.

Katie in her new Columbia jacket she just got today and ready to enjoy the snow.

Buck the Dog loving the white stuff while chasing the kids around the yard. Puppy Heaven.

Derek and Alexis enjoying a snowball fight. Buck is right on their heels of fun.

Derek balling up another snow bomb...

HEY! That's coming straight at the unsuspecting camerawoman! Not nice!!

Alexis enjoying her snowball war.

Not backing down from an older brother.

Katie is heading for the hills! (though she maintains she was only getting quickly to her secret snowball stash on the island of the front yard)

Derek slathered a paper towel with petroleum jelly and alcohol and then set Alexis' snowman on fire. It actually burned for sometime. Interesting little experiment.

(clockwise) Evan's friend Grant, other friend Max, Evan, Alexis, Katie and Pyromaniac Derek all warming up to the makeshift snowman fire.

We woke up on Monday to the beginnings of a little bit of snow. It was exciting, but no one thought it would stick so I sent the kids to school and went to Portland with my friend who had a guest pass to the Columbia Sportwear Outlet (OH MY! THAT'S a fun place and it has LOTS of our money...I digress). By the end of the day, my friend and I were getting calls from our husbands in Longview that it was getting bad and we should hurry home. Portland was barely raining, so we thought they were exaggerating. By the time we got back home, we were snowed in at our houses. We had about eight inches dumped on us in that first day. The girls had early release that day at 12:00 p.m. for student/parent conferences, so they were going home early anyway, but their bus home turned sideways coming up our hill and their release was delayed over an hour. All us parents were on pins and needles wondering if our kids were actually ON the stranded bus. They weren't, thank goodness! The boys' after school activities were canceled (except Derek had football practice since they are playing in the semi finals this weekend) and that began our four day snow-in that finally ended on Thursday--Thanksgiving day. The days following the snow were very cold and when it dipped below freezing, we had very thick icy snow. Tough to drive on our hills with that. I shouldn't say we were completed snowed-in because JD did get down to work each day (though his schedule was spotty since people couldn't get into town) and I managed to get to the store to get my Thanksgiving menu items. No school for the kids though. I rather like having them home and who doesn't need a few days to sleep in on a snowy morning? Thanksgiving brought rain, and we now have no more snow.