New Chair

I got a new (used) chair.  I like my new chair.  Harley is not allowed to sit on my new chair because I don't want it to get dirty.  This is how Harley feels about the new rule.

Even the dog tries to split hairs.

Who Knew?

Science knew, that's who!

We discovered it takes just a little drop of olive oil and a little patience to skewer a balloon without popping it.  I thought the science kit was lying and the first balloon did pop.  But the second attempt was successful and strangely satisfying.

Christmas Choral Music

Libby auditioned for the Boise All-City Elementary Honor Choir this school year, was accepted and is loving it!  It is also a big commitment.  She's had three winter concerts, only two of which she was able to make it to.  This one was at South Junior High.

Her second one was at Winter Garden Aglow.  We decided to take the whole family and make an evening of it.

There was singing, hot cocoa, Santa Claus and Prancer.

Grace and Sam loved petting this reindeer.  Sam was completely convinced it was not a real reindeer.  Michael, Ethan, Libby, Grace, Santa, Santa's elf and I all tried to convince Sam it was a real reindeer.  Sam did not believe us.  He figured it was a moose, elk, or deer.  We Googled pictures on our phones and he is still not convinced.  Sam pet a real reindeer.  He still does not believe he did.

Gymnastics

Right in the middle of all the Christmas fun, Grace had her first ever gymnastic competition.  (Why would you not schedule this in early November or late January?  Who thought the middle of December was a good plan?  Who?) Grace was so terrified of competing.  She loves gymnastics, but was not comfortable with being part of a competition.  Thankfully, this was a very small event that only involved other students from Gem State Gymnastics.  Once we got there, the kids were divided into groups and Grace was put in a group with her regular teacher!  Life was now completely manageable.

The pictures are pretty awful.  The kids were far away and my phone's digital-only zoom is a sad excuse for a zoom.

Each event was given a score out of ten.  Grace managed to get 28/10 on the bars because she received an extra point for each chin up she could do.  She cranked out twenty.  I've never successfully done even one.  It must be a genetic mutation. 

She got a seven out of ten for her balance beam routine, which isn't bad considering it was only her second time doing it.

 Medals for all!

Hooray!

Gingerbread Houses

Sometimes I have fabulous ideas.  I just can't even contain the awesome powers of my mind.  This year I realized gingerbread houses are passe.  It's simply too much work to bake, cut, and prep the gingerbread for our houses.  Instead we will do log cabins, constructed from giant pretzels!  Everyone can design their own!  They will look quaint and charming and remind us of the simple joys of the season!

They looked, well...sad. :-(

 It was still fun, but we might stick with traditional gingerbread houses next year. 

State Christmas Tree Lighting

Two days after we set up our own tree, we headed to the Capitol building for the Idaho Capitol Christmas tree lighting.  We started with hot chocolate and cookies.  I think Christmas trees require people to drink hot chocolate.  Maybe it's a plot to make all Americans so fat they can no longer hike into the woods and cut down their brothers in arms. I don't even think I'm making that up.

Yes, I took a picture of the tree from inside.  Michael and the three younger kids braved the cold, but Ethan escaped inside to warm up, mostly because he thinks he can make all through the winter wearing just his hoodie.  My stomach was hurting so I joined him; watching the tree lighting from inside wasn't half bad.

Derpy the Derpy Christmas Tree

For the last several years we have lovingly set up our Christmas tree, El Fako.  This year we decided to branch out a bit.  We drove to Idaho City, bought a permit, drove a little further up the mountain and started searching for the perfect tree. 

We hiked around, lost the dog, Grace fell into hysterics, found the dog, peace resumed, legs began to ache, and then we found it:  the derpiest tree in the forest.  We cut it down and tied it to the car.  We then saw people driving down the road with beautiful trees and realized we hadn't gone far enough up into the mountains.  But we had hot cocoa, which made everything better for the kids.

I feel almost bad for cutting this guy down.

My kids always have a difficult time waiting for their dad to put the lights on the tree.  They find ways to entertain themselves. 

 Let the decorating commence.

It was Libby's turn to put the angel on the tree.  She is still not quite tall enough.  Poor, short little thing.

Dad helped her.  All was right.