More than our fair share

Sitting in primary (I teach the 5 year olds) I glanced at the little girl in Elijah's class (sunbeams) that was new to our ward. It struck me that she had the same hair color as Elijah. Willow, the other little girl (center) has hair that is pretty red as well. As they were getting up to go to class the primary president said "Did you all notice something about our sunbeams? Everyone has red hair, INCLUDING THE TEACHER!"

I hadn't put two and two together. Mary, their teacher, is our long time friend and it never occurred to me that she also had red hair. I mean, I know she has red hair-- it is VERY red. But I guess I wasn't looking high enough to see it, make that connection. Man, I need a nap. LOL

Anyway, here is the cute bunch of redheads. There are two others in the class and one has brown hair and one black (they weren't there on sunday). But for once the redheads aren't outnumbered. Three cheers for red!!

This is what a new yacht looks like

That would be a new yacht for the orthodontist.

Holiday for Strings

Bless the people who came up with this idea!!

Holiday for Strings is the Christmas concert for the orchestra.  It includes all the orchestra students from beginning 5th grade up until 8th grade.  South Bay Elementary (and another one that I can't remember right now), Chinook Middle School, and North Thurston High School.  350 students (half that of the whole Orchestra programs in North Thurston School District).

Each of the groups gets to play their songs.  They even had the teachers play a song (outstanding!!).  Then they all play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (One of the ones the 5th graders CAN play) as a finale with the older students and the teachers playing a more elaborate version.  Very enjoyable hour and a half!!

All the performers...

 In three...

pictures. 

 I was going to stitch these three together in a panorama, but it is pretty low on my priority list right now.

Jonas- 6th Grade Viola

 Miriam- 5th Grade Violin

 Caleb- 8th Grade Cello

SOMEbody gave Elijah the camera to keep him quiet. 

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

The concert was held in the North Thurston gym (the only place big enough to fit everyone), Home of the Rams (more photos courtesy of Elijah)

There is a rumor started by Caleb that at least some of the concert was put on youtube.  But I can't find it.  If he can produce an address I'll forward it on for you who are interested.

Jonas and Caleb's Birthday

Ok, it is bad enough to admit that a certain firstborn is taller than I, do I really have to admit that he is 14!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Jonas really wanted a army fort cake.  Caleb was ok with sharing a cake.  After an embarassing mishap in which involved the kitchen and some eggs (or lack thereof) that will remain relatively unexplained, we  had precious little time to make a cake.  This is what we came up with: a decorate-it-yourself cake.  Caleb had fun building the walls and drawbridge.  Jonas had a blast putting his army men on them. I think, given the chance, he would have played for hours with those little men and that sweet confection.

The boys both got books for their birthday.  That can be akin to getting underwear for Christmas for some people but it is the bees knees for these two (who through rain, or snow, sleet or hail, homework or chore, eating or sleeping have a book attached to their hand).

Grandma and Grandpa Nielson gave them each a subscription to a magazine (which they LOVE, by the way, Mom).  Grandma and Grandpa J sent cash which was used to buy Yu Gi Oh cards (Caleb) and a Harry Potter Chess Set (Jonas).  But don't tell them I told you, Grandma J.  They wanted to call and tell you themselves.  Shhhhhh.

Now, as is becoming tradition in our house (despite my best efforts) Jonas wants to go without parents and take a friend to the movies.

My babies are growing up.  :'(

Thanksgiving 2010

I think I'm being passively aggressive and denying the fact that I have a camera.  I've not taken any of the "normal" pictures for quite a while.

The kids went to school on the monday before Thanksgiving.  That day there was a big snowstorm (for here at least) and dropped 5 inches of snow. We spent a lot of that evening weatherizing the house.  

Of course the whole place shuts down when it snows and tuesday there was no school.  Then it was below freezing and with the snow/slush/ice on the road they cancelled school again wednesday as well.  Yeah!  A whole week with my kids home AND Keith!!  Talk about spoil me. 

Jonas and Elijah getting warm after a snowball fight.

Anastasia wanted in on it, too.

Luckily, I had shopped the week before and gotten most of the ingredients I needed for thanksgiving and those that I didn't get were easily done without (I didn't have to cook for 3 days, heavenly!).  We just hunkered down, did the token cleaning and played games for most of the week.

Tessa had a friend, Jasmine, come over while her family went on a trip. (Anastasia took these pictures)   EVERYONE had fun with her.  She's never been walked so much in her entire life.

Let me tell you, it was extremely hard to send the kids to school and Keith to work on that next monday!!

Warning:  Food issue topic again. 

As a side note, three of the four girls actually stopped eating with food still left on their plates for the Thanksgiving meal.  Does that mean we are actually getting somewhere???

Halloween 2010

Elijah- AKA Buzz

Ryah- AKA Bird

Alina- AKA Ariel's Sister (because Ariel has red hair)

Miriam- AKA Meow

 

Kristina- AKA Gothic Vampiress

Jonas- AKA the Pilot

You will note that Anastasia and Caleb are missing.  Caleb didn't want to have pictures in his costume (karate outfit)  and Anastasia was throwing a fit when I was taking picture.  I will get her though BaWaaahahahah.  And she'll get her own post.  LOL