Christmas Tree Fundraiser

We're going to my mom's in Southern Utah for Christmas. We were telling the girls that grandma has a small artificial tree and, well, there was a bit of an uproar. "Christmas isn't a Christmas without a real tree!" "It has to smell like a Christmas tree for it to be Christmas!"

Out of both necessity and principle our girls know that if they want something (from toys to pets) they have to figure out how to pay for it. Without us ever saying a word the girls began conceiving how to earn money for a real tree. Last Friday this sign appeared on the wall near the kitchen. (This is typical around here when there is a long and free afternoon.)


Driving a hard bargain I asked how they were going to pay for the dinner ingredients. Tennie quickly pointed out that I would be making dinner anyway...what is two more people?

Their stage was at the top of the stairs in a very small space near the keyboard which provided music for their dancing. They wanted to try to fit tables in this postage stamp space so we could eat while entertained, but I argued that performers need nourishment, and parents need elbow room. After some eye rolling and huffing they were compelled to agree.

It was a variety show from graceful to silly to international to muscle-showing. Here is a glimpse of our enjoyment...

Complete with homemade costumes

Bet you wish you were here.

The dancers dances posted backstage

A new nephew!

My brother Mitch and his wife Joann had their second baby boy today! No name, yet, but he is healthy and happy and was born at HOME!



Welcome to the world!

Point Reyes - Daddy Daughter Hike

The dad of Tennie's friend has taken his kids on annual backpacking trips for 20 years. Over the years the older kids asked for greater challenges and his youngest, Tennie's friend, Addy, goes with a group of her friends and their dads (because she isn't quite ready for the 70 mile hikes, yet!) This group has been going every year for five years. This year Geoff and Tennie were invited, so last week they went backpacking for three days in Point Reyes and had an incredible time.

Kate, Hannah, McKenna, Tennie, Emmeline, Addy and Brooklyn

They hiked a total of ten miles.

A fall, a trip to the ER for stitches, and then back on the trail...

Tennie showed some real grit. She has a bad back but insisted that she carry her whole pack the whole way. No help.

Looking very tired!

Tennie came home sunburned, exhausted, sore, with a little poison oak on her face, closer to Geoff than ever (if that is possible!) and with that inner satisfaction from doing something that was hard. Great trip. They can't wait until next year!

Emerald Bay - Lake Tahoe

Early this past week we took a day trip to Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe. We hit one of the last days of fall as winter weather and snow came a day or two later!

Behind us is Fanette Island with a little castle structure known as Tea House where a women who lived on the shore (picture later) and her guests would row out to enjoy tea. It is just a shell now.

The mile hike down to the shore was beautiful.

Geoff tried out a wide picture-taking feature on our phone camera

This beautiful home known as Vikingsholm sits right on Emerald Bay. It was built in 1929 using Scandinavian architecture and furnishings. It was closed for the season but even the outside was gorgeous. A Mrs. Knight lived owned this property, as well as Tea Island.

Halloween

I love Halloween. Most of it anyway.

You can look at last year and probably see the same set of photos, but here they are again...

Pumpkin pancakes

Mr. Bones came for lunch

Mr. Bones had candy teeth, courtesy of Adele's pre-Halloween candy collection

I stumbled across a cute little book at the library called Squeals & Squiggles & Ghostly Giggles. During breakfast I read a few of its "spooky" stories (during breakfast was the only time I can attempt such stories since a few of our girls are nightmare prone), and the girls put on a comedy which was provided in the book. There were more fun games and tricks we didn't get to. Maybe next year. Here are a few photos of the comedy, which ended a little prematurely due to some serious off-stage drama...

Tennie played "Dr. Diabolical" and this was her medicine table

Here she is treating some of her patients

Ceci as a ghost patient

Adele: hippy, Tennie: Rock star, Ceci: wicked witch, Geoff: motorcycle Santa, and I'm a gypsy

The Trade

Since our kids can only eat their candy after dinner on Halloween night, and then it goes in the trash, they don't waste time. This year they got early stomach aches and called it quits before too much consumption. But we still had hyper energy to burn off so we finished off the day with the annual Burn-the-Candy Dance Party.



Fun times.