My favorite costume of the day

Can you believe this Christmas Tree costume? It had battery-operated lights and a star on top. Don't you love the Christmas present slippers? Wow. It was really cute.

Halloween Party and Parade

After Marielle's school, I helped with Peter's party. He was so happy to see me, introduce me, show me all the points of interest and take me with him on the "tour every classroom in the school" parade. His teacher is a lot of fun and seems to appreciate Peter for all the right reasons.

This guy is not Peter's teacher--just another teacher
in the grand parade. But I loved his costume--especially for him. It's rare that people find the perfect costume for themselves but Peter and I agreed that this could have been Fred Flintstone himself.

Boo-ography Day

I visited the school today to hear Marielle's boo-ography--an educational twist on Halloween. Marielle made an adorable and very poised Mother Teresa. Classrooms full of students, parents and teachers came through and each fifth-grader rattled off a little spiel about "themselves." I loved how Marielle looked people right in the eye. Mother Teresa herself would have been pleased.

Mother Teresa and Laura Ingalls Wilder (Carrie Attridge) pose for pictures.

Home Teachers

Last night, Brian and Bruce were headed out the door to go home teaching. They were so cute that I made them stop for a picture. Look how tall Brian's getting. And he's also very funny and becoming more responsible by the day. I love young boys in white shirts and ties.

Marielle Presents "Robinson Carusoe"

Carving Pumpkins

Our friends, the Levys grew over 40 pumpkins in their garden. They shared their bountiful harvest with us and it called for a celebration of homemade soup, rolls and cupcakes, games and pumpkin carving. How many people and pumpkins can cram into a small kitchen? Especially when the pumpkins begin to spread out and knives start flying. But it was awesome, truly. Bruce carved our traditional happy pumpking. It's a team effort. I draw the face, he carves. I try to make it very difficult but, year after year, he rises to the challenge.

Later...at the hotel

We really needed this little getaway. It was short and all, but it did the trick. It got us out and away and made us see that this little family, though dwindling, is pretty good. We played keep- away in the pool and worked out together in the fitness room. I think every one of us ran at least a mile on the treadmill. We were tired and happy as we fell into bed and watched football.

Brian made the best of a bad situation...so sick.

The Game

As the stormclouds threatened, the game began. Seth played the whole game, alternating between offense and defense. He was superb. We won...5-2

a throw-in

Brian's freezing campout

One thing that always surprises me about Brian is how brave and tough he is. He went on this October campout knowing that termperatures were likely to be in the low teens. Only a few deacons attended. But then...as if that were not enough...Brian accepted Jim Palmer's challenge to walk alone in the dark at midnight for over a mile, put his name on a sign as proof that he'd done it and return. "Were you scared?" I asked. "Yes". But being brave doesn't mean not being scared. It means doing it anyway. Brian was the only one. What a boy will do to prove he can do it...and the 5 dollar reward didn't hurt, I suppose.

Creating Athens

Seth's English class is studying ancient Greece and the class has been divided into city-states. Seth's group has Athens. They get points for anything they bring in. Every night this week, our kitchen table has become a workshop of intense creativity. We made the flag of Athens, an amazing tablecloth (not pictured) and the following.....

These cookies sport the Greek Alphabet.


The learned Greek philosopher.

and yes, that's right...the Parthenon!

On the Way to the Harvest Party

You know how sometimes, you're in such a hurry to get there on time. You have the chili and the tablecloths and you're late. And your eyes are moving from clock to speedometer to clock and not seeing anything else. Then wahlah! A wake up call. The Lord is so gentle in reminding us to look up and around. A lovely world. A precious car-full. I might have missed it.

Breakfast

I came home from running this morning to find Bruce making homemade pancakes...with a recipe....from scratch. This is not the man I've been married to for 30 years. He's becoming a craftsman in the kitchen! I feel a mixture of admiration and displacement. This is definitely my territory. I think my real fear is that Bruce--my greatest fan when it comes to cooking--is going to realize that there isn't much to it. Notice the homemade syrup...the happy children eating ...the tidy kitchen? I may be out of a job.