Raingutter Regata

Jake became a scout in August, so this was his first derby. This year our Pack did the Raingutter Regata. I think we were all a little apprehensive about the experience because we didn't know for sure what to expect. Jake and Dad did a good job getting the boat ready.

Jake liked this video clip the best because he won. It was actually when the derby was over and he was practicing with a friend. Despite the effort to glue it in place, he couldn't keep his sail straight.

This was my favorite clip. He wasn't in first, but a bunch of his friends were chanting his name. I appreciated their support.

Jake's Basketball Season

Jake's basketball season ended the middle of January. While his team didn't see a lot of wins, he sure learned a lot! Jake was fast and you could tell he was always thinking ahead. We're proud of him and the job that he did. He was a good sport and did his best!

Mom, Will You Take a Picture of Me?

Crazy is as Crazy does

Kali and Sabrina were helping me make cookies this week. When the batter was ready I removed the beater and offered it to the girls. Sabrina wanted this…

But Kali wanted this… That’s plain white flour! She eats it straight from cup. She didn’t want any of the dough, just the flour. I even found my ¼ cup later in my room where she’d stashed it to eat it later. Crazy kid!

Here’s Miranda showing us how it’s supposed to be done.

New Year's Eve

We invited the Lamb family over for New Years Eve festivities. We had our traditional “breakfast for dinner” that night. We have a couple of picky eaters between the two families, but breakfast is always a hit. We played a fun new game we got for Christmas called Telestrations. With both adults and kids playing it we were laughing until our cheeks hurt. Before we knew it it was time to watch the ball drop. To our disbelief ten of the 11 kids stayed awake to ring in the New Year (their baby had had enough). We all toasted to a New Year filled with camping trips and time spent together, and then we all headed to bed. Since our kids don’t get sleepovers this was an extra special treat. The Lambs didn’t leave until noon the next day, but the kids still complained that it was too early for them to go.

These were taken just before Midnight. I think they speak for themselves.

Christmas Break

The Christmas break seemed to fly by. Rory was able to take the whole week off. We spent a lot of time in our jammies playing with the Christmas loot. We also were able to squeeze in Miranda’s birthday party, a sleep over with Grandma and Grandpa Farr, and sledding with our good friends. Here are a few pictures of sledding with the Fridals.

Those are Jake's feet up in the air!

Ethan, Kyle and Kali

Julie and Noah

Ari left Miranda on her butt on the hill.

Wow! That's Ari!

Sabrina and Kali - Braver than I thought!

Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve we had a yummy ham dinner and Dad prepared a special Family Home Evening for us. The kids loved their new pjs. They all sleep upstairs in the same room and reported that it was a very restless sleep.

Here are a few pictures of Christmas morning. I think it’s clear that they all made it on the “nice list” again this year.

This was my favorite part of the whole day. Within just a couple of minutes of opening her Zhu Zhu pet, Sabrina had her hair stuck in it. It was even funnier as I turned it over to pull the hair out and found this very bold warning… (Just in case you can’t read it it says: “Caution. To prevent entanglement keep hair away from wheels.”) I guess we’re the reason they put warnings on things!

After lunch were able to go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother and Grandfather’s house for a Christmas hay ride driven by two beautiful Belgium horses. It couldn’t have been more picture perfect going around the field, singing Christmas carols on that cold, sunny Christmas afternoon. We followed it up with hot chocolate and goodies to warm us up. Thanks Grandma Carol, Grandpa Joe and Jason for a memorable afternoon!!!