A Young Man

McKay turned 12 last week, so I guess he is officially a "young man." Wow. He is almost taller than me now. His shoe size is just a half-size smaller than Brian's. And he finally got his first suit. So I guess it's true!

He said he didn't have a specific cake design that he wanted this year -- the only request he gave me were that it be chocolate cake with blue frosting. (And there are two shades of blue here -- it's hard to tell in the picture.)

He was very excited to open his presents. He was really hoping he would get a new "trigger trombone," but no such luck for him this year. (He'll have to just keep using the borrowed one from the school for now.)

He got a couple of iPod accessories (like an alarm clock that he can plug his iPod in to) and a couple of games and a new pocketknife (which is missing at the moment so I really hope he hasn't lost it already).

Then it was time for cake and candles.

McKay got to have a little party this year. He invited a few friends to go bowling and then they all came back to our house for cake. They seemed to have a fun time (depsite the fact that McKay cut his finger using his new pocketknife to open a package).

We are glad to have McKay in our family. He is doing well in 7th grade this year -- taking all honors classes and getting straight A's. He enjoys his computer graphics class and has spent lots of time on his own playing around with little videos and all kinds of neat special effects. His favorite teacher is his Reading/Language Arts teacher and he still can get pulled into a good book like the rest of us around here. He is 1st chair trombone in band and he and I have been practicing some trombone pieces together (me accompanying on the piano). While he has to be reminded about some things (like taking showers and using soap!), he is usually a pretty responsible kid and is always willing to help others (except for sometimes when Mom is the one asking, but we're working on that...).

Happy Birthday, McKay! We love you!

Early Snow

We had a bit of a surprise last week with a snowstorm that came barrelling into the Texas panhandle. Since we've lived here, we've never had snow in November, and this was a lot (several inches) of heavy, wet snow.

Thursday night I woke up several times to the sound of thunder and rain hitting our windows. When I got up Friday morning, there was still some thunder and lightning, but when I looked outside to see how wet everything was, I was very surprised to see snow on the ground and falling from the sky.

I got the kids up and was thinking we would have to drive them to meet the bus (the bus doesn't go on our dirt roads when they are wet and muddy) when we got a phone call that school would be starting an hour late. (I wish we would got those messages before we prod the kids out of bed.)

Brian took the kids down to meet the bus, but it didn't come and it didn't come, so he finally just drove them into school. When the kids got home later that day, they couldn't wait to get out in the snow and play. The kids have coats, but not really much else in the way of snow clothes -- no boots, snow pants or very warm (waterproof) gloves. So they layered and layered and still maanged to have a grand time despite getting wet and cold.

The snow has mostly melted now, several days later, except for the giant snowball sitting in the backyard. I wonder if this is a sign for things to come this winter!

School Stuff

Just a quick recap on a few school-related events recently.

Every Friday, the elementary school has a "Fab Friday" assembly. A few weeks ago, the 2nd grade sang a song they had learned during music. Courtney really wanted me to come and watch her sing, so I did. They did a great job.

The next week was the Academic Pep Rally, where they give out awards and such after each grading period. Both Hannah and Courtney made the "All A Honor Roll" and got T-shirts. (This is the first year that 2nd graders received letter grades -- as opposed to just "satisfactory" and such -- and had the chance to be on the honor roll.)

Then McKay really wanted me to come to one of the pep rallies at the middle school that he participates in as part of the band. This was their last pep rally to end the football season. The band plays a few songs, the cheerleaders lead a few cheers and there is lots of yelling going on. It was fun (McKay said it was the best one yet.) He is enjoying playing the trombone in the band. (McKay is in the red jacket 2nd from the end just in front of the drums.)

In other school news, I've been making lots of extra trips to the school for UIL practices. McKay, Hannah & Courtney all qualified to be on UIL teams this year. UIL is University Interscholastic League -- it's basically a regional academic competition in all kinds of subject matters. McKay participated last year in Social Studies (Maps, Charts & Graphs). This is the first year the elementary school is participating (2nd grade & up). All the kids tried out and made the final tema -- 4 kids per grade level are selected. Courtney is doing Storytelling, Hannah is doing Oral Reading and Ready Writing, and McKay is doing Math (Scientific Calculators), and I think he is also doing Science and Social Studies again. The compeition is on December 1st in Childress this year, so the kids are busy getting ready!

Happy Halloween

Halloween has come and gone, so I'd better hurry and get up the pictures before we get into November birthdays and Thanksgiving!

Halloween was pretty low-key this year. The kids pulled out the box of costumes and in the end, kept things very simple. I think Courtney and Hayley changed their minds many times as to which costume they would wear.

We started out the weekend on Saturday morning with frosting sugar cookies (which I have by now eaten WAY more than my share of!).

Saturday evening was our ward's Trunk 'R Treat. Here are the costumes we ended up with.

Hayley as a bumble bee (an old costume I made for Hannah's kindergarten program several years ago):

Courtney as a rabbit (she surprised me with this simple last-minute choice -- she found the ears in the box and just went for the pink clothes to match):

Hannah as a cat (the only thing Halloween-related we bought was the little mask/tail set for her):

And McKay as... hmm... he wasn't even sure how to label himself (initially he said Orville Wright because that what the hat was first used for several years ago, but then he just went with "businessman" I think):

Then it was off to the church for Trunk -R Treat (have to take the truck so we can sit on the tailgate!):

The girls and some friends taking a break in the back of the truck:

And home again to dump out, sort and swap treats!

I thought this was so cute too. The girls decided many weeks ago that their favorite stuffed animals also had to have Halloween costumes so they got out the fabric scraps and made these all by themselves.

Hannah with Fluffy the pumpkin:

Courtney with Buddy the ladybug:

And Hayley with Pandy the ghost:

Halloween Sunday was a great day, not because we did anything Halloween-related, but because it was our ward's Primary Sacrament Meeting Program. I thought it went so well and all the Primary kids did absolutely wonderful. So many kids had parts memorized (especially the little ones!) and the songs were beautiful. I'm always glad when that day is over, but also a bit sad too. It was a wonderful Sunday!

More Pumpkins

Even though we had 4 carved pumpkins after the pumpkin party last weekend, we decided to keep with tradition and carve a family pumpkin for FHE this past week. We had a bit more drama this year with the kids, but we all survived and even managed a family picture at the end.
After scooping out the pumpkin, we kept with our tradition of the last couple of years in having the kids each draw what they think the face should look like.

Then we choose one aspect from each drawing and put it all together -- Courtney's eyes, Hayley's nose, Hannah's mouth, and McKay added the ears.

After the successful pumpkin party, we also let the kids each carve "their" feature on the pumpkin, with some help from Dad when needed for tight corners. Love the concentration!

And finally, a family picture with the 2010 family pumpkin:

BOO!

The Rainbow Connection

I love rainbows.

When I was growing up, I decided that rainbows would be my "thing" -- not that I could really collect rainbows, so to speak, but I loved to find rainbow-themed items. I had rainbow sheets on my bed, rainbow notebooks and one year I even made a giant paper rainbow to hang on the wall over my bed.

So whenever I see an actual rainbow, I have to stop and admire its beauty. And then take a picture if the camera is handy.

Last week we had some rain showers come through and we were treated to two double rainbows. One of them was even a full rainbow, but I couldn't capture the whole thing in one shot. (And of course the colors in the photo never do the actual rainbow justice.)

It's a beautiful world!

And I can't resist including a couple of my favorite sunrise pictures taken from my kitchen patio. One of my absolute favorite things about our house is the view!

Pumpkin Party

Last weekend our neighbors held their anual pumpkin party. They put on a big event every year (I think this is the 21st year) and invite lots of people. They hold it out in their barn (which has been modified to include a living area on one side) and bring in a big truckload of pumpkins. Each kid gets to pick a pumpkin, then sit down on the barn floor and carve it!

We didn't make it last year (because Brian and the kids were picking me up from the airport that evening), so everyone was excited to go this year. Jana, Ashley and their kids also came along this year.

First step is to scoop out the insides.

Then draw on the face and carve it out. I was impressed that each of my kids did all of their own carving!

The finished pumpkins:

Then everybody takes their pumpkins outside and puts in a candle and sets them on a little hill.

Flash on:

Flash off:

Our 4 pumpkins!