A Minor Miracle!

It was a minor miracle.  I took my 14 year old son shopping for dress clothes and came back unscathed with clothes in tow.  He even tried them on in the store!  Then he agreed, with some protestation, to wear them for two hours on graduation day!  (He'll probably have to wear them again at Christmas for two more hours...but he doesn't know that yet!)  He wore Dad's dress shoes (which fit!) and looked quite dashing (if I do say so myself)!  Our young man graduated 8th grade with honors.  He was recognized for his contributions to Scholastic Bowl and the Geography Bee.  We are so proud!  High school awaits with exciting classes and opportunities!  Then...only God knows what the future may hold!

Christmas and New Year's At Home

We did indeed have relaxing Christmas at home.  So relaxing in fact that we spent a couple of days in bed--all day--with the flu.  Just Bret and I, the kids did not catch it, praise God!!!  We managed to enjoy ourselves despite the coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, etc.  Then on New Year's Eve we went to see the Peoria Rivermen vs. the Abbotsford Heat (yes, Abbotsford, B.C. Canada).  Actually a very good hockey game, with the tied score being decided in a post game shoot-off.  I decided I could enjoy the game no matter who won.  :-)

It was great to be home and not have the hassle of traveling!   We blessed our family with some updates to the family room which the kids and we have all enjoyed (new sofa and t.v.).

It's Christmas Eve Day.  We are at home.  The kids and I slept in...dear hubby seems unable to achieve this feat...he watched the weather channel in bed while waiting for me to wake up...lol.  After getting up we enjoyed the breakfast of champions (and our family favorite) pflinzen (aka crepes) with combinations of cinnamon sugar, syrup, and, yes, pb & honey.  Then we read, relaxed, watched tv and played games. Bret made a quick dash to our favorite store, Menards (home improvement) to buy supplies for a new wood rack for the shop.  He came back laden with wood (they had a sale) which he has connived the children into helping him move.  I spent some more time reading and relaxing (in between loads of laundry).  Now I'm gearing up to make lunch/dinner:  kabanade (I realized I don't know how to spell this, but Bret calls it farmer's pork chops), baked potatoes, and steamed broccoli.  Tonight we have a candle light service at church and will open a few presents before turning in for the night.  It looks to be a relaxing and fun Christmas at home this year...

Speech

My daughter memorized a duet with a friend for speech club and performed unflinchingly in public several times. She won a first place ribbon at the state speech competition.

This after about 2 years of insisting she is SHY.

I have never believed my daughter to be shy.  Since she was old enough to sing, she has sung and since she was old enough to dance, she has danced, doing both in the aisles at supermarkets and onstage at ballet recitals, in restaurants and at the park.  Who knows what the future holds for this girl...but at least she is not deathly afraid of public speaking!  :-)

Speechless

Last night my son came into the kitchen after dinner with a pile of money in his hands.  He dumped the money on the table and began looking through a brochure.  After a minute or so he began asking questions like, "what animal should I send money in for?"  I wondered what this line of questioning might mean for me (in terms of work :-) and time)...but then realized it was a Heifer International pamphlet and my kid was looking to spend some of his allowance to buy an animal for a needy family. I'm speechless.

Zoo babies...

My "babies" have loved the zoo (every zoo we came near) for many years, but now that they are growing up those trips to the zoo seemed to be gone forever.  BUT, this summer our zoo had a litter of four baby Siberian Tigers, and this we could not resist!!!  Above, if you look closely, you can see two cubs and the mama taking very good care!  Hard to imagine Siberian tigers as gentle, but I guess we're all a little protective when it comes to our babies!

The clarinet, the clarinet...

 We actually could identify the tune of Jingle Bells the other day!  How exciting! 

There is still the occasional squeak, but what's life without some unexpected surprises.  After all the Christmas concert is still a few weeks away!