Almost an Angel (just not in the morning)

Kassidy played an angel in the church nativity pageant.

I am sure that Iria will send out notices when it is available to stream.

 

 

 

 

Scrimmage

Lennon's team scrimmaged today. 

He got one nice shot on goal, and a bit of exercise before returning home and starting up on the computer again. 

Despite all of the activity he is still pretty skinny, even though he had a quadruple decker waffle nutella sandwich before the game and then asked fro Chick-fil-A right afterwards. 

Where does it all go?

 

 

Ho Ho Ha!

 Lennon requested a blow-up Santa this year and Iria actually got one.

 

First box

 Are we moving this Spring? 

Most likely, but it is still not definite.

But in the meantime, we are starting to pack as if we are. 

Here is the first box!

Sneak Peek

 Yesterday Katharine and Keira were rehearsing a Christmas dance that both their groups will be partnering in. They took turns running out on the dance floor, and can both be seen front right and in the background when the other was front and (off) center.

 I took these pictures behind both my car windshield and the studio window, so not the greatest quality. I'm sure the dance will be great to see without all of the windows when they are done.

 

Isis and Osiris

Kassidy is working on stories from Ancient Egypt in school.

 

 

 

And Meanwhile..

 Our lazy dog lounges on the couch while our cat gets into all kinds of trouble.

Trees and Fleas

 We started to put up our Christmas decorations yesterday and Sophie was about as troublesome as expected, climbing the tree and pulling down ornaments.

We tried to block that off, but that didn't work. Now our only hope is for her to get bored of the tree. Not much chance of that!

And no, Sophie doesn't have fleas. It just rhymed well :)

 

 

Thanksgiving

 Our annual Thanksgiving tradition with the Martels survived another year, although most of them have now moved away. But Ray and Millie are still around, and with Covid curtailing all travel plans we had the pleasure of having the fr'andparents over.

 

 

 

 

New T-shirts

 Kassidy and Keira asked for a trailblazer shirt. Kassdiy asked for a Ruth Bader Ginsburg shirt and Keira wanted one to commemorate the women's vote 100 years ago. Her shirt features 5 trailblazing women in the fight for the vote: Amelia Jenkins Bloomer, Marie Luise Bottineau Baldwin, Sojourner Truth, Alice Paul and Frances Harper

Fall Garden

 

The monarchs kept me company while gardening last weekend.

Our fall garden looks lovely. The roses are still in bloom. The mums are in their second year now. We have white, bronze, purple and yellow.

Baby Bunting Doll Making

Keira learned how make a Waldorf baby bunting doll the last two weeks. She made one for herself and one for Kassidy. She cut, traced, embroidered, hand sewed, etc with just a little help from me. She asked for supplies to make a doll with limbs and hair next. These are soft dolls stuffed with sheets wool.

 

Science Class

Keira had to find iron in her cereal. Smashing cereal with a meat tenderizer is fun!

 

The boys also had to do a fun experiment for their biology class: extracting DNA from split peas.

Setting things up: water, salt, lemon juice, rubbing alcohol, spelt peas and clear hand soap.

We mashed the split peas in a blender with water and salt, strained them so we would only have the split pea "soup."

Next we added rubbing alcohol and liquid hand soap, stirred and waited for a few moments.

The streaks you see you see are strings of DNA. The longer we waited the longer they got. We were able to twist them around a toothpick. A cool experiment with things you have at home. 

Sun and Sophie

 Sophie is a sunshine girl, in rest and play.

Bunhead

 Keira has her ballet RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) exams today, which were delayed in the Spring due to Covid. 

The bun had to be perfect, and I am sure she will do pretty well with the dancing part as well :)

Happy Birthday, Keira!

 Keira turned 12 today. 

 She has one of the biggest hearts in the family, but also one of the biggest tempers. So stay on her good side if you want one of those amazing craft items that she is always working on :)

 

 

Favorite time of day - 10:30 AM (the weather is best)

Birthday meal(s) - Cracklin' Oat bran for breakfast and home made apple pancakes for lunch

Favorite food - pizza

Favorite restaurant - Paneras

Favorite junk food - spicy chips

Least favorite food - peanut butter

Favorite gadgets - iPad

Favorite video game - Animal Crossing

Favorite style of music - musicals

Favorite song - clap your hands

Favorite style of dance - modern

Dream vacation - Germany

Favorite book series - Harry Potter and Little House

Keira is in 6th grade

Current dance levels - level 6 for ballet/jazz/tap/modern and junior elites for PACE

Favorite TV show - Little House on the Prairie, Anne with an E, Little Women

Goal for year - get published in a magazine

Best Friends - Jane, Mercy, Kaili, Giselle, Emmal Maggy, Hayley

Favorite memory from the last year - Bendy Awards

Favorite animal - cheetahs

Future job/career - author or newspaper editor/journalist

Rural / suburbs / city - rural

Birthday presents - IPad 8th generation (everybody) + keyboard (Craig) + fav snack pack (Mom and Dad) + lots of cool cards (family) + a spinning chair from Hayley and Brian

Favorite weather - 60's and sunshine

Time travel - Little House on the Prairie (late 1800's)

Favorite school subject - English

Least favorite school subject - Math

Favorite thing to do with Mom - go on walks

Favorite thing to do with Dad - read together

Favorite thing to do with Lukas - play elf game

Favorite thing to do with Katharine - watch movies

Favorite thing to do with Kassidy - play animals and write books

Favorite thing to do with Lennon - joke around

Favorite season - Autumn

If the house were burning she would grab these three objects (people and animals not included) - iPad, money, cheetahs

What scares you - the dark
 

Happy Birthday, Lennon!

 Our sweet, intelligent, inquisitive, and funny Lennon became a teenager today. 

It's all angst from here on out!

Lennon Facts

Favorite time of day - 3;00 PM

Birthday meal(s) - bacon for breakfast, Jersey Mike's roast beef sub for lunch, Tika Masala for dinner, mint chocolate chip ice cream for desert

Favorite food - lambsicles

Favorite restaurant - Chicl Fil-A

Favorite junk food - coke

Least favorite food - peanut butter

Favorite gadgets - Nintendo Switch

Favorite video game - Animal Crossing and Overwatch

Dream vacation - Snow pports destination

Favorite book series - Percy Jackson

Lennon is in 9th grade

Current Overwatch rank - Tanks (diamond/top 500) Support (diamond/top 500) DPS (Platinum)

Favorite TV show - Avatar, Mandalorian, The Legend of Kora

Lennon doesn't  listen to music

Goal for year - reach Top 500 in DPS

Best Friends - Nolan

Favorite memory from the last year - first soccer team travel trip to Houston

Favorite animal - dogs, cats, pigs

Future job/career - physical therapist / sports medecine

Rural / suburbs / city - city

Favorite position in soccer - right wing

Birthday presents - IPad 8th generation (everybody) + keyboard (Craig) + fav snack pack (Mom and Dad) + lots of cool cards (family) and a book of hand made comic strips (Kassidy)

Favorite weather - cold

Time travel - Ancient Rome

Favorite school subject - Geography

Least favorite school subject - Latin

Favorite thing to do with Mom - watch TV

Favorite thing to do with Dad - soccer games

Favorite thing to do with Lukas - video games

Favorite thing to do with Katharine - play Overwatch

Favorite thing to do with Kassidy - play video games

Favorite thing to do with Keira - playtime

Favorite season - Winter

If the house were burning he would grab these three objects (people and animals not included) - Switch, iPad, his stuffed bear

Looking forward to in 2020/2021- future potential soccer trips and maybe moving

What scares you -death

Summer Garden

 Iria's wildflower garden at the front of the house.

Form Drawing

 The girls took advantage of the pleasant weather and filled our driveway with form drawings, which is part of their school curriculum.

Bobcat in the Backyard

 We had a surprise visit from a bobcat today. 

Luckily for the dog, Sherman happened to be between bathroom breaks at the time.