Winter may only officially be here today, but it has been cold! We got enough snow last Sunday (the 12th) to spring the kids from school Monday and Tuesday. They returned to school on Wednesday two hours late, and with the threat of freezing rain on the way were released an hour early. This left teachers scrambling to get in their exams before we started our Christmas break.
In spite of the snow we've had a very busy two weeks. Last weekend was Vicki's birthday and we celebrated by going out to eat. That weekend also saw a lot of missions activities at church that our whole family could do. These included a trip to sing Christmas carols at one of the nursing homes in Springfield and delivering care packages to folks in our community.
We were supposed to go to a Cub Scout Christmas party Monday night (the 13th) but the snow cancelled that. Instead we took dinner over to Aunt Mar's and finished watching all the slides I had scanned. I think we've looked at over 1400 pictures from the 1950s to the 1970s. What is staggering to me is that Vicki and have snapped over ten times that number of pictures since purchasing our first digital camera seven years ago.
Last week Vicki and Jenna spent some time making candy to give to teachers at school. Jenna is turning into a candy making machine. I'm loving it, but I sure don't need it. This is one reason why the boys and I have started jogging in the mornings. Of course, the three staff/office parties I've attended are another reason to make me put on my tennis shoes.
Vicki was busy on Friday with parties at the boys' school. This was the last day of school and an abbreviated day at that. To celebrate to arrival of Christmas break we went to watch the latest Narnia flick, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," and then went Christmas shopping.
Saturday was a quiet day, and for once we got all our Christmas cards done in one day -- along with a ton of laundry and wrapping presents.
So now we're on the final stretch to Christmas Day. Being the last minute shopper I am scrambling to get my gifts in place before the big day. Since I won't write again until next week I'd like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.
Joe
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Who's Got Your Back?
Winter is here. The calendar may say we still have two more weeks of autumn, but winter is here. It’s heavy coat weather now and we even had snow flurries on Sunday and yesterday.
UPWARD BASKETBALL. Basketball practice has gotten underway. The kids had their first practice last week. Jenna opted not to play for school this year and returned to the Upward league. She practices on Monday night. Her head coach is a guy Ben has played for before, but the team’s assistant coach is brand new. Vicki is helping to coach Upward ball this year. That’s right, my wife is an assistant coach. It was only a matter of time. Life as a spectator was just too hard for her, so she’s helping out.
The boys have coaches they’ve never played for before. Nate’s coach seems very nice, but the gym was in use for another function when we met him so his first practice was simply an orientation meeting. Nate knows a couple of boys on his team. Ben, on the other hand, doesn’t know anyone on his team. His coach seems like a fellow who wants to push the boys just the right amount to reach their fullest potential out on the court. He even has them running laps after practice. Games start January 8.
CHRISTMAS PARADE. The annual Cross Plains Christmas Parade took place Saturday. It being such a small town it seemed there were more people in the parade than watching it from the side of the road. We were not involved in a float this year, however, we helped set up a hot chocolate/cookie station so we still had to get there early. The parade theme was patriotism and one of our groups from church built an army tank for a float which won third place.
HARRY POTTER. The boys were invited to spend the night with their friends, the Taylor boys, Saturday night so Vicki, Jenna, and I took advantage of the afternoon and went to see the latest installment of the Harry Potter movies. We were really blown away with how good the film was, though it has been so long since Vicki and I have read the book that we’ve forgotten many of the details. Still, we had a great time at the movie and then out to eat afterward.
HOME TOUR. One of Mom’s favorite things to do during the holidays is to go on a tour of homes. I remember going through a lot of of houses during my childhood which turned out to be rather interesting because many times the barns and other buildings on the grounds were open as well. Sunday afternoon I took Mom on the Cross Plains home tour. It was a small tour, but we enjoyed it.
LONG BUS RIDE. My cell phone rang today around 3:15. It was Mom. I could tell she was a little upset. Nate hadn’t gotten off the bus and Ben really wasn’t sure if he even saw Nate get on the bus at school.
I happened to be ending my work day at the boys’ school so I told Mom to let me check his classroom just in case he thought he could ride home with me. I checked. No Nate. I went back up to the office and they radioed Alice, Nate’s bus driver.
It turns out that Nate fell asleep on the bus and slept through his bus stop. He woke up several stops past Aunt Mar’s house. Nate got to ride the rest of Alice’s route and she dropped him off at our house when she was done.
Nate seemed to have a good time seeing Alice’s entire bus route, and more importantly, I’ve had a good time teasing Jenna and Ben for not looking out for their little brother.
Joe
UPWARD BASKETBALL. Basketball practice has gotten underway. The kids had their first practice last week. Jenna opted not to play for school this year and returned to the Upward league. She practices on Monday night. Her head coach is a guy Ben has played for before, but the team’s assistant coach is brand new. Vicki is helping to coach Upward ball this year. That’s right, my wife is an assistant coach. It was only a matter of time. Life as a spectator was just too hard for her, so she’s helping out.
The boys have coaches they’ve never played for before. Nate’s coach seems very nice, but the gym was in use for another function when we met him so his first practice was simply an orientation meeting. Nate knows a couple of boys on his team. Ben, on the other hand, doesn’t know anyone on his team. His coach seems like a fellow who wants to push the boys just the right amount to reach their fullest potential out on the court. He even has them running laps after practice. Games start January 8.
CHRISTMAS PARADE. The annual Cross Plains Christmas Parade took place Saturday. It being such a small town it seemed there were more people in the parade than watching it from the side of the road. We were not involved in a float this year, however, we helped set up a hot chocolate/cookie station so we still had to get there early. The parade theme was patriotism and one of our groups from church built an army tank for a float which won third place.
HARRY POTTER. The boys were invited to spend the night with their friends, the Taylor boys, Saturday night so Vicki, Jenna, and I took advantage of the afternoon and went to see the latest installment of the Harry Potter movies. We were really blown away with how good the film was, though it has been so long since Vicki and I have read the book that we’ve forgotten many of the details. Still, we had a great time at the movie and then out to eat afterward.
HOME TOUR. One of Mom’s favorite things to do during the holidays is to go on a tour of homes. I remember going through a lot of of houses during my childhood which turned out to be rather interesting because many times the barns and other buildings on the grounds were open as well. Sunday afternoon I took Mom on the Cross Plains home tour. It was a small tour, but we enjoyed it.
LONG BUS RIDE. My cell phone rang today around 3:15. It was Mom. I could tell she was a little upset. Nate hadn’t gotten off the bus and Ben really wasn’t sure if he even saw Nate get on the bus at school.
I happened to be ending my work day at the boys’ school so I told Mom to let me check his classroom just in case he thought he could ride home with me. I checked. No Nate. I went back up to the office and they radioed Alice, Nate’s bus driver.
It turns out that Nate fell asleep on the bus and slept through his bus stop. He woke up several stops past Aunt Mar’s house. Nate got to ride the rest of Alice’s route and she dropped him off at our house when she was done.
Nate seemed to have a good time seeing Alice’s entire bus route, and more importantly, I’ve had a good time teasing Jenna and Ben for not looking out for their little brother.
Joe
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