Dining in NYC

I took Lennon to NYC for the first time last week to visit with Uncle Peter. Lukas came along as well.

Of course we had to go to a diner right away, where Lennon tackled his first big bacon burger with fries. It wouldn't be his last..

Outside the diner we snapped the first group picture with Uncle Peter. 

It wouldn't be the last either..

More to come!

Portfolio Pages

Here is some new art from Katharine.

These pieces are part of a portfolio that she is submitting to win a trip to an art convention in California. 

She was a runner up last year, so maybe this year will be her time :)

Happy Birthday, Iria.

Iria completed another trip around the sun today.

We kicked the birthday off last night by attending a great Kacey Musgraves concert.

This morning she got some cards and well wishes from the kids- Keira's was especially thoughtful.

And now she is capping it all off with a viewing of "Royal Wedding".

All in all, a great day (and beautiful Fall-like weather for the first time).

Happy birthday, Liebs!

Art Corner

Night Reading

I'm currently reading 'The Secret Garden' to Kassidy at bedtime, but tonight she wanted to read by herself.

I love how she lined all of her cars up.

The Jersey Jackpot

Every year Lennon and I always have perfect attendance as season ticket holders for FC Dallas, which gets us a free jersey at the start of each season. The person who gets that jersey is the winner of the score guessing game that we play all year.

So at every home game, we assign points for correct guesses of scores, subs, "man of the match", etc. Basically anything that we can predict. Here is the breakdown:

2 points per correct guess - guess a team's exact final score

1 point per correct guess - guess one of the final scores correctly, which doesn't match up to a specific team

1 point - guess the game result (which team will win, or if there will be a tie)

1 point - guess the correct amount of total goals scored by both teams

1 point - guess which team scores first in the 2nd half

1 point - guess the "man of the match"

.5 point per correct guess - guess the amount of extra time for a half (max gain of 1 point)

.5 point per correct guess - guess which FC Dallas player is getting subbed out (max gain of 1.5 points)

The first prediction (amount of extra time for the half) happens at 44:30. Next up at halftime we predict the final score/result and who will score first. Then we predict the substitutions as the 2nd half plays out, and finally extra time as the half comes to a close and then the "man of the match" when the final whistle blows. 

Anyways, it was close this year. I went into the final game with a 3 point lead. and won the jersey with a final season score of 59.5 to Lennon's 58.

Trio

Iria and Keira on recorder..

and Sherman on vocals.

A Birthday Blast

The Frousins blew in for a quick birthday party for Nolan at Pinstack and and a less than quick after-party at Brian and Hayley's house. As always, frousins, fun, and food make for another great night!

Happy Birthday, Keira!

Keira turned 11 today, although ask her and it would just not be accurate enough. 

She was born on September 22nd at 2:39 PM, thank you very much :)

That is our Keira for you.

Keira facts:

Favorite color - purple

Birthday meal - dinner at Chuy's and bundt cakes for desert

Favorite food - Spicy chips, French toast casserole

Favorite fast food - Chick-fil-A

Favorite junk food - Sunkist,gummy owls

Least favorite food - peanut butter

Favorite doll - Elizabeth (American Girl doll)

Favorite video game - Minecraft

Favorite vacation - castles in Germany

Favorite book - Betsy and Tacy

Favorite Harry Potter book - Prisoner of Azkaban

Favorite book you have written - Butterfly Girl

Favorite tv show - Little House on the Prairie

Currently watching - The Dark Crystal

Goal for year - write a book

Best Friends - Emma, Jane, Kaili, Mercy, Scarlett, Giselle

Favorite memory from the last year - Minnesota waterfall on our Prairie road trip

Favorite animal - cheetahs, sloths, penguins

Future job/career - author

Rural suburbs or city? - older suburbs

Dream Nutcracker role - Russian dancer

Birthday presents - writing desk (Mom and Dad), 50 dollar bill (Uncle Peter), journal and writing supplies (Grandma and Grandpa), horse riding lesson (Uncle Craig)

Favorite plant - camellia

Cat or dog - cat

Time travel - Salem witch trials

Favorite school subject - English

Favorite Kassidy toy - Felicity

Least favorite school subject - Botany

Favorite thing to do with Mom - go hiking

Favorite thing to do with Dad - read books at night

Favorite thing to do with Lukas - tell Kassidy that Master Joe is not real

Favorite thing to do with Katharine - look at kittens and draw

Favorite thing to do with Lennon - goofing around

Favorite thing to do with Kassidy - ride bikes

Favorite season - Fall

If the house were burning she would grab - Heart (fav stuffed animal), a writing journal, and her money box

Looking forward to in 2020- going on point at dance/ballet

What scares you - Peter Pettigrew (from the Harry Potter books)

All Dolled Up

This is how Keira arranged all of her dolls on the night before her birthday.

You can tell that something special was brewing!

Penciling in the Pew

Sermon scribbles by Kassidy and Keira.

Kassidy goes for the usual weirdo art splash page (which I love because it is so weird) and Keira starts writing a new story.

Happy Birthday Lennon

Happy 12th birthday to our smart (and smart alek) boy, Lennon.

We really lucked out with yet another one.

Sorry for the sweaty hair pics- have we ever mentioned how hard a worker he is?

Lennon facts:

Favorite color - red
Favorite food - Chinese and Chick-fil-A
Favorite junk food - coke and gum
Least favorite food - peanut butter
Favorite streamers - Chap and Rel_fn
Favorite games - Minecraft, fortnight, over watch, Borderlands, Gloomhaven
Prefers playing on a Switch rather than the big tv
Currently reading (an loving) -  The Giver
Favorite movie - Avengers End Game
Best friends - Nolan, Fox, Santi, Andrew and Pierre
Favorite soccer pro players -  Barrios and Paxton Pomykal
Favorite video game pro -  mr freshasian
Future career - something sports related
Rural, suburbs or city? - city
Vacation dreams - NYC and Germany
Birthday presents - cookies, gum, Mexican coke, Switch Lite, games
Cat or dog? - dog
Where would you go if you could time travel? - Back to 2013/2014 
Favorite school subjects - Science and German
Least favorite school subjects - English
Favorite Mom activities - driving with her and cooking
Favorite Dad activities - going to FC Dallas games
Favorite Lukas activities - playing Borderlands 
Favorite Katharine activities - playing Minecraft
Favorite Keira activites - playing Minecraft
Favorite Kassidy activities - playing Fortnite
Favorite comic book character - Spider-Man
Fav season - Fall
If the house was burning, he would grab the following form his room -  pillow, kindle fire, bucket of clothes/soccer uniforms, blanket
Looking forward to in 2020 - The Summer Olympics
What scares him - Being alone in the dark and on boats

Birthday Meal

The Doescher birthday/holiday season is kicking off this week. 

We ordered in Chinese food for Lennon's birthday meal a few days early, so that we can spread things out a little better.

Lennon asked for dumplings, egg rolls, white rice and a coke.

Morning Recital

Dance class season is in full swing, and the morning recitals have started up again.

And this one came with a playbill!

Marketing Blitz

Keira is trying to drum up some money for a horse riding lesson. 

Those aren't cheep, so she is going all out.

8th Grade Civics Assignment

The boys are studying Civics this year, a subject not many public schools are teaching any more, but it is part of many home school curricula. One of the assignments this past week was to interview a civil servant. My friend Julie's brother Robert is a police officer with the Dallas Pollice Department. Lukas and Lennon came up with a list of questions for him that he graciously aswered:

Questions for Uncle Robert:

1. What's the best part about your job?

2. What's the hardest thing about your job?

3. What did you have to do to become a police officer?

4. What is a typical work day like for you?

5. What do you do as a police officer?

6. What days do you work on?

7. Is it true that police officers drink a lot of coffee and eat doughnuts? That's what you see on TV, we were curious about that.

8. How long is your workday?

9. How long did you have to train for to become a police officer?

10. What gear do you use?

11. How long have you  been a police officer?

12. What kind of car do you drive when you are on the job?

13. Have you ever arrested someone?

Answers from Uncle Robert: 

1.  The comaraderie with the other officers is the best part. It really is a lot like a family. 

2.  The hardest thing is seeing people get hurt, especially children. 

3.  I had to take a written test,  a physical fitness test, and I had to pass a polygraph (lie detector) test. Then I had to turn in a personal history statement, and pass a background check. Next I had to go through a panel interview, and pass a psychological evaluation. 

4.  In a typical workday, we will drive to different locations where people have called 911, to figure out what the problem is, and what we can do to help solve the problem. That may be anything from giving advice to people, taking someone to the hospital for psychological help, or taking someone to jail. 

5.  I’m a Patrol Officer, so I go to the locations where 911 is called, do a traffic stops, and just cruise around trying to prevent crime, or maybe catch someone in the act of committing a crime. 

6. I currently work Monday through Friday. 

7.  Lol!  Police officers don’t drink anymore coffee, or eat anymore donuts than anyone else. 

8.  If I get off on time, it’s an 8hr work day. 

9.  We had to go through an 8 and a half month academy, then 24 weeks of field training. 

10.  On our duty belt, we carry handcuffs, a taser, a pistol, and extra mags. We can also carry OC spray (mase), and a collapsible baton on our belt. Provided we pass the qualifications, we can carry a shotgun, and or a rifle. Fortunately, the tools we use the most are a pen and a piece of paper. 

11.  I’ve been an officer for 5yrs. 

12. I drive a Dodge Charger. 

13.  Yes. I have had to arrest many people.  

Stay safe,

Robert Reeder

Badge 10750

Dallas Police Officer

Flower Preservation

Kassidy and Keira are both studying botany this year in science. They are learning a lot about pollination, flower anatomy, seeds,...One of their projects was to preserve fresh flowers in Borax. This is supposed to preserve the  flowers' color. 

We first poured a layer of Borax at the bottom of a small box. Then we put the flowers in the Borax and completely covered them with more Borax. After two weeks the process should  be done.