Packing it in

Amanda was selected to play her oboe for the western slope select band weekend in Montrose, CO in November.  She did a fabulous job and was thrilled to get first chair among 3 oboes.  Because she is the only oboist in her band, this was a first for her to play her part synchronized with other oboes.  A good experience, even though she said it was really hard.  (Unfortunately these pictures are terrible, but it was all I could get.  The lighting was terrible inside and it was very dark outside.)  We found a yummy place to go for dinner after and I was thrilled that all the kids did really well.  I really dislike taking my whole crew out for dinner, but maybe there is hope as they get older.

Amanda got a head cold for her holiday concert at school, and was not able to participate this year.    I really enjoyed listening to her practice the theme song for the polar express at home though.  She works really hard and has made very nice progress with her instrument.

Jacob and I got to tag along for a fun field trip with Spencers class to the Math and Science center one afternoon.  They first got to explore the different exhibits, which are all super hands on and lots of fun.  Then they did a special class with them about the laws of motion, which they have been learning about at school.  They got to build this marble "roller coaster".

 

 Jacob has been loving the extra time he has at home with me these days.  He even likes to run errands with me most days.  He did a lot of "running" during the month of November as we have three birthdays and Christmas on the horizon to buy for.  The space ship was on a trip to the mall. In his spare time he often makes these "crafts" out of paper.  These were his "noculars".

 Maren had a fall concert at school in November.  It was around Veterans Day and they performed patriotic songs.  It as very well done and Maren loved singing her songs around the house for weeks before hand.  She is really lucky to have such great friends at school for the past few years.

 I have been volunteering in both Spencer and Maren's classrooms this school year doing art heritage.  I have loved this.  I do a short presentation on the artist we are learning about, then we have a project that is centered around that artist for the kids to do.  It is fun to learn with the kids.  Maren really likes art.  She drew this self portrait one day at home the night after art heritage.  I think I need to start having her teach me!

 Dave, Amanda, and I all celebrated birthdays in November.  I was a really nice wife and made
Dave clam chowder for his birthday dinner, one of his favorites.  The kids all had presents for him and helped him unwrap everything.  Maren made me this awesome lemon meringue pie the Sunday before my birthday, because I hinted that it is my favorite, but no one ever makes it for me Thanksgiving week.  There are too many other pie's floating around.  Dave and I both bought skate ski packages for our birthdays.  It was fun to get to do a little shopping ourselves at REI without kids.  I am so excited to get up on the Mesa and try them out.

We spent Thanksgiving week in Utah with Emily, Trevor and their crew.  It was a lot of fun.  The kids loved playing legos and outside with cousins.  We also had a little get together with the Marchant's at a pool followed by pizza and games at Doug's house.  

  

Everet loved Skai, he is like a huge teddy bear when he is tired.

Amanda turned 14 and we surprised her with her first cell phone.  She was thrilled!  Now you can find her busy texting away her spare time.  She had fun opening presents with all the cousins around her.  Little Anna really like being right by her side the entire trip.  

As for Thanksgiving we had a lot of fun cooking and enjoying the day.  It was super low key and the weather was warm enough we spent a lot of time outside. We made these yummy dutch oven sweet potatoes and lots of other delicious food.

  Of course my kids requested the gum drop turkeys again.  

We took the Trax downtown too catch a show at the Hansen planetarium about Panda's.  Everyone loved it, and it was fun to see the place is definitely much improved from when I was teenager.  (Next time I would love to do a light show.)

   Since we were close to where the lights were being turned on we hopped off the train for a short jaunt to see the candy windows at Macey's and another short walk to see the lights.  That was all we could handle with all these kids and the crowds, even though the weather was downright balmy for Thanksgiving weekend.  Temple square is a madhouse on opening night! 

Of course all good things must come to an end, which in this case was more of a screaming halt when 5 out of the 6 of us got hit with a nasty stomach virus.  Kuddo's to Emily and Trevor for cleaning up much of the worst of it before waking us up.  I was speechless.  A few of us made it downstairs for the Gordon family party Emily had planned for Saturday morning. It was a "minute to win it" with a nutcracker theme and it was so much fun.  Those Gordon's have a competitive streak!

I was the sole healthy one to make it to my niece Erika's farewell Sunday morning before we drove home.  She will be an awesome missionary in Spain and I am very much looking forward to hearing about her adventures.