Christmas

Date: December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!!!

Our kids have proclaimed it the best Christmas ever - and it has been wonderfully calm, peaceful, and full of adventures.

I actually did get the pajamas sewn in time and even found something for everyone to wear to church. Each of the kiddos seemed to enjoy their gifts and we really had a lot of fun opening up Aunt Lisa's many parts to their creative package! A surprising twist was the excitement on Meghan and Anna's part over the game operation - as it was Buzz Lightyear, it was intended for the boys but they were excited and have enjoyed many hours with it already.

We were also able to Skype with one set of grandparents and had a drop-in visit from the other set. Food, presents, laughter, fun, nerf gun wars, science experiments, games, and family - what more could anyone ask for?

Christmas Eve at Bridal Veil

Date: December 24, 2011

With a gorgeous day and no obligations, we took off and met up with my sister's family at Bridal Veil Falls. It was close, fast, good weather, and a great opportunity to really get away in anticipation of the excitement over Santa.

I had actually never hiked Bridal Veil before and really enjoyed the view of another of the Gorge's waterfalls. Since this is winter time, the falls were really going strong - and it was a bit on the chilly side! Still, the kids were able to play in the leaves, skip rocks, throw rocks, climb rocks, drop pooh sticks, chat, and of course geo-cache. Even Sydney (the dog) got into the fun!


We were even able to get in a couple geo-caches! With all 7 of the kids looking, it was comical to note that it was Jayden and Kaylee who found both of them. Great eyes!!


Who knows? Maybe this is the start of a new family Christmas tradition - barring weather of course!

Thanksgiving

Date: Thanksgiving 2011

Oops - guess this is in the wrong order. Oh well....

We decided to mix things up a bit and head out of town for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed staying the weekend with my brother and his family in the tri-city area.

Our boys had a blast with nerf gun wars and some interesting non-lego lego contraption that I couldn't begin to pronounce. Anna and Larissa bonded with some craft projects and Meghan caught up on some sleep. We also took on the proverbial black Friday sales and got most of our Christmas shopping done. On our way home, we were even able to stop by the Columbia River Temple. Krissa baked an amazing dinner and we enjoyed a peaceful and wonderful time away from home with family.


Thank you to our host and hostess for a chance to get away for a few days!

Vancouver Christmas Tree in the Park

Date: December 5, 2011

To usher in the already in progress season, we took the family down to see the City's Christmas Tree and Lights. Surprisingly, there weren't very many other lights up along the park. Budget cuts? Still, we got some cute pictures in the freezing temperatures!

Young Women in Excellence

Date: November 2011


What a treat to attend and celebrate both Meghan and Anna's accomplishments this past year with personal progress. Anna was particularly thrilled to be wearing her first value project which was a dress she made with the assistance of Grandma.

The theme was something to do with princesses and the girls were each escorted in by the young men - ironically, both the girls were escorted in by the same young man!

Robotics

Date: September - December 2011
Competition: December 3

This fall, I entered my second year coaching Lego Robotics. Thankfully, Meghan assisted again as well. Jayden was on our team too.

We had an interesting season. The theme was Food Factor and teams were supposed to research and invent a solution to a problem with our food supply or production. Our 10 member team "invented" a cell phone app and attachment that can be used to irradiate salmonella much like the nano-wands that are on the market today but much more accessible. We also worked on several missions for the robot and successfully completed 5 however only 2 worked during competition. But that is 2 more than last year!

The best part was we actually WON!!!!! Not the entire event, but we won the "Best Project and Presentation" which came with a trophy. This was very exciting for our 4th and 5th graders and for the school. Their project presentation was actually quite incredible and when watching it, all of the parents were impressed.

Next month, our team project has been entered in a global challenge with the winner getting to patent their project. One of the judges was an engineer who strongly encouraged the kids to try and patent their projects - wouldn't that be something!

Meghan's Activities

Date: Fall 2011

Meghan has kept herself very busy this year!

She is still playing trumpet in band. She and her friend Erin switch off first position with Meg usually taking it during symphonic and Erin during Jazz. Because she is in zero hour jazz band, she attends the earliest seminary time in the stake but lucky for her, the time was actually moved back half an hour this year to 6:00. Last year it was 5:30. The upside, though, is that this year the numbers have increased from 3 to 5 students and they expect it to continue to grow next year.



In the fall, Meghan marched with the band for Brush Prairie days. This is a very SHORT parade down old downtown Brush Prairie which is actually where I grew up (note the downpour!). She also participated in their fall concert and had a very nicely performed solo. Recently, she soloed and participated both with the band and a quartet for their Christmas concert - which even included a practical joke on the director! (They surprised him by repeating a song).



Now that Meghan is 16, she has her driver's license as do many of her friends. However, the new law does not allow them to drive anyone else for 6 months which in her case ends on her birthday. Because of this, they still had to be chauffeured for the formal dances this year. Meg went to both Homecoming and Military Ball with a couple of really good friends. We are very proud of Meghan and pleased with her choices of great friends!


For Military Ball, one of her very good friends created a puppet show that he used to ask her to the dance. She was sound asleep when he arrived and really taken off guard. They doubled with another pair of great friends and they had a really good time. She is actually the only one of the four NOT in ROTC.