We just got home from seeing "WICKED" at the Keller Auditorium. It was 'wicked' cool! Jennifer and I both had seen it in Chicago, but Edward and my good friend Ingela had not. It was a treat to be able to share such a wonderful evening with them. Our seats were front row of the first balcony, off to the side. There was some restricted views, but it was still amazing.

I took Edward and Andrew to a Coin Collecting Merit Badge fair yesterday at the Oregon Convention Center. The boys were excited by all the free coins they were given. I also purchased each of the children a United States Proof Set for their birth years. For the first time in her life, Jennifer was less expensive than her brothers. Her set only cost me $5 while each of the boys were at least $22, with Aaron's coming in at a whopping $33!

The Young Men were supposed to do lawn aerations yesterday for their camp fund raiser, but neither the weather nor a couple of the stores we were getting the machines from cooperated. Once again it is raining. It worked out in Edward's favor though for it allowed him the time to go to the merit badge fair.

The weather can't seem to make up its mind these days here in the great northwest. The other day it was sunny and 60 degrees one minute and the next it was snowing again! Today we have seen some sun, but mostly it is grey clouds and sprinkles (with an occasional down pour). Ed and Edward flew back east Tuesday morning and encountered more snow. Edward said that Providence, RI was a "winter wonderland." Today they were going to drive over to Boston and see Fenway Park before they drive down to Philidelphia. Aaron told me that since today was the 100th day of school there are only 80 days left before summer break! He is counting down the days. He has tested for the excel program in the Evergreen School District, but is leaning toward going back to homeschooling. (Just when I thought I had them all back in public school next year.)

Jennifer celebrated her 17th birthday this week. Her friends from school brought her 6 mylar balloons which she insisted on carrying around with her to her classes all day. (Nothing like wanting to be the center of attention.) For her birthday we upgraded her cell phone and she now has unlimited texting. She is probably going to get carpal tunnel due to all the repetitive movement she is doing now.

Happy New Year! Well, we did end up with a white Christmas after all. We experienced the most snow the area had seen in 40 years. I was surprised that the children weren't out playing in it as much as I did when I was their age. I don't think we even had a snowman in our yard. We did lose Dapple's favorite toy in all that snow and had to wait for it to melt before we could find it again. Today the temp got as high as 47, but had dropped as low as 28 last night. Ed and Jennifer are out camping (or yurtzing) with the Laurel class tonight. Still a bit cold for me.

It's Freezing out there!!!!

We just might end up with a white Christmas after all. All last week the weather men had been predicting a huge snow storm to roll through. Last Monday, Edward's school districts both closed in anticipation. (Nothing ever came.) On Wednesday, church cancelled mutual for fear of the youth driving on ice (that never came). It did snow some on Thursday, but Jennifer, Andrew, and Aaron all had school (Edward still did not). Friday morning we woke up to about an inch of snow and all the schools closed. The temperatures had dropped last week causing the top of the pool to freeze. There was about an inch of ice on most of the pool. Edward took his life in his hands as he set up the camera to catch this shot of him "walking on water."

Yesterday the snow came down in earnest. We had about 5 inches which the kids enjoyed playing in. Dapple loves the snow as well. Last night the freezing rain rolled in and dropped about an inch on top of the snow, causing Bishop to call off church this morning. The snow is once again falling. I'm so glad that we have followed the counsel given to have food storage. We might need it.

Ed got home last night from his 9,000 miles of traveling this week in time to get us all to the mall to have our family photo taken. It had been a few years since we had done that (2004 I think). I hope everyone is doing well as we count down the days to 1) Aaron's 9th birthday, and 2) Christmas.

Time to Celebrate

Well, we finally got around to putting up the Christmas tree and for family home evening last night we decorated Gingerbread House Cookies. Ed has to be out of town again all this week, so we did our FHE as soon as he got home from all of his church meetings (around 7pm). He is heading off to warmer weather, as the temp here this morning was only 23 degrees. The high is supposed to reach a whopping 26. Edward just told me that with the wind-chill factor figured in, it feels like -4 out there. School is still on for the Evergreen School District, so all the kids are at school today with the exception of Edward. Since he is home schooled through the Battleground School District and housed out in Camas he gets to do whatever either one of those districts are doing. Much to his delight, Camas closed school today.

I never got back on to let you know how the Union Titans did in the playoffs. Well, we drove up to the Tacoma Dome on the Friday following Thanksgiving to play the Lakes which was the #2 team in the state. Jennifer decorated up the car and helped drive us north. The Lakes scored first and Jennifer was worried, but no fear the Titans came back to shut them down, and won the game 28 to 7. The #1 Bellevue Wolverines had had a bus accident on the way to their game on Friday, and thus it was postponed until the following Monday. This pushed the championship game to Saturday, December 6th. Once again we drove up to Tacoma, but this time we were not as happy as we drove home. Bellevue proved why they were rated #1. They had mastered the art of deception. I was having a hard time following which player had the football. We are still very proud of the Titan football players. They did well to make it to state. There's always next year.