For the rest of the post, I'll just go ahead and recap the last couple of weeks while checking in on all the members of the family. I know everyone's dying to hear what we've been up to. ;)
- Cross Country
Poor Ethan -- last season's cross country career ended in a stress fracture and this season's cross country career has started off with a rolled ankle. :( As a result, he has yet to race this year. However, I think he's finally feeling back to normal-ish and should be able to run this Saturday in their big, home meet. Meanwhile, Grace has been my sidekick on the sidelines for the past couple of weeks, cheering our cross country boys on and has now attended more meets this year than she has in all of Ethan's previous cross-country running years combined. Hahaha. If only she could get rid of her own ankle problem (and absolute aversion to training), maybe she'd have her own fan club on the sidelines as well.
Danny did awesome in the first meet! He was the first to finish for the team and came in 8th overall.
(David apparently medaled as well, but we had left before they got to his division. Danny was happy to oblige with a photo op before we went, though.)
- Shouting for Joy
Our school year theme of "Shout for Joy" is off to a great start -- if by great start, you mean everyone is finally mostly cooperative-ish for shouting "huzzah!" after family prayers each night. Hahaha. J/K. It IS off to a great start, and we've decided to focus this month on Gratitude to help us increase our Joy and spread Joy to others. I thought it was also past time for my children to learn the art of sending Thank You cards, so our weekly activity this month has been to send notes of gratitude to people who have touched our lives. Some are more enthusiastic and prolific than others, but everyone has joined in the fun. Grace in particular has taken it upon herself to write "notes of positivity" to people in her Sunday School class to help spread joy and happiness. I don't know that Ethan is as enthused to receive some of those notes as Grace is to write them, but that certainly isn't stopping Grace. Hahaha.
Sophie surprised me with the first thank you card she created. :)
Dear Mom,
Thank you for taking care of us. You are very nice to all of us, even though we are super annoying. THANK YOU, MOM! From: Anonymous
The girls were busy as bees tonight writing fresh Thank You notes for Family Home Evening.
- Tailgate Party
The elementary school had their fundraiser last Friday in the form of a Tailgate Party, and everyone (minus Ethan) joined in the fun! It was fun to see the kids playing with new friends they've made at school this year and having such a blast.
Bounce Houses are always a hit!
One of Jane's best friends here is Annie -- Annie and Grace are also kindred spirits. There's just something about those second born daughters. Hahaha.
Rainbow face paint for my Rainbow Brite.
Grace and Annie being goofballs.
Grace and Gianna with one of the mascots.
And with another.
- Cutthroat Kitchen
Last night, we had so much fun competing in a "Cutthroat Kitchen" competition with some family friends from church. I've never seen the TV show, so I didn't really know what to expect, but it was such a blast! Poor Scott had to miss out because he wasn't feeling well, but the kids and I did our best to represent. Hahaha. None off us ended up being on the winning team, but it didn't really matter, because because having fun with friends is a win for everyone all around, right??? ;)
Our task was to create a pancake dish.
There were 4 teams and 5 different sabotages that were doled out. We were saddled with only being able to use whole wheat versus regular flour (good thing I have my whole wheat blender pancake mix memorized -- mwahahaha), another team was only able to use aluminum foil for utensils, another team had to have a hot dog in their final presentation, and I can't remember what the other ones were.
My team -- Sophie, Gianna, Grace, and David. (And Jane who snuck on because she wanted to be with me.)
Our finished product was a "breakfast sandwich" -- made with pancakes, a hamburger patty (don't ask), and two fried eggs. Plus syrup all around the plate for garnish. We did not win -- in case you were wondering. Hahahaha.
Aunt Polly was the judge.
Grace and her Bestie.
- Odds and Ends
Other than all that jazz, we've been getting into the swing of things with school and carpool and everything else daily life related. I think I spend more time in my car here than I have anywhere else we've ever lived -- mostly because I'm doing a morning drop off of kids from Grace on down and then an afternoon pick up of Grace on up (Ethan and Danny have cross country after school) -- but you know what? I really don't mind it all that much. The kids seem to be chattier in the car than anywhere else, and it's nice getting an inside scoop on their lives. All-in-all, life is good. :)
Life is Good.
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