More November Highlights

Fun with dew...

So cute.

Natalie and Sarah have really enjoyed participating in Chess Club at school. Unlike the days I remember (when being on the chess club was kind of nerdy) it is quite a popular club at Patterson - around 100 kids. I think it's a great way for the kids to learn sportsmanship and strategy. I played with a little 1st grader next to Natalie and Lydia and got "schooled" by the adorable boy in glasses who luckily didn't have time to finish a game and kick my behind.

Piano recital. (Heidi I have video of my song that I've thought about posting mostly for your entertainment, but don't have time at the moment to figure it out.)

Sarah and I had our piano recital the Saturday before Thanksgiving - Sarah's first and my second. Sarah was excited and showed no signs of nervousness. Me, on the other hand? I was terrified and I don't know if it was good or bad that I was first. There were a LOT of people there. I did okay, but my legs were shaking sooo bad. I could hardly use my right foot to push the pedal - it was a little pathetic. I was happy when it was over with. Sarah is very lucky to gain so much confidence while she is young. I don't know if I will ever overcome my fear of audiences, I sure hope so. I do have to say, however, that looking back on my song last year - I have improved significantly in my ability to play the piano and that makes me happy. So even though I looked a little dorky as the only adult playing along with several kids who could play better than me, I am still proud of myself.

Thanksgiving - we enjoyed a wonderful meal with Shannan and her family and another great family in our ward that I just love. We had a great time together and I learned to like brussel sprouts. Actually it was my first time trying them! Yum!

Natalie's teacher held a cute little feast between the pilgrims and Indians with her class. Angela and I joined and helped with the festivities.

What is this you ask? Well I wish I had my video camera this night so you could appreciate how hilarious this was. These guys are young men in our ward (16-18 year olds) who put on some very entertaining entertainment for our Senior Dinner. They did a synchronized swimming number that had us all in tears. The Andrea Boceli song they danced to (one of my favorites) made it even funnier - must be the stark contrast of the beauty of the music compared to the silliness of this group of teenage boys attempting to be graceful.

Just a funny random activity I caught Angela and Natalie playing. They dressed up our plastic bowling pins and I think pretended they were babies.

Sarah and Natalie participated in a cute "Reading to the Dogs" program at our local library. Robert, the dog, was very sweet and especially helpful for Natalie to practice her reading without judging if she messed up. Cute idea, I thought.

Quick November "Scrapbook"

Angela and mommy playing at "Out of This World" for a preschool field trip. This was a fun outing for both of us! These bikes were a hoot! Some of us moms rode around for a while on them even without the kids. We had fun visiting, the kids had fun running around on the inflatables and we enjoyed good food too.

Oh boy. This kitty is a handful! This was right after she fell in the tub with the girls! She loves to walk around the edge when someone is taking a bath. She didn't learn from her mistake and fell again the next week. What a stinker. Trouble with a capital "T".

Even though this is kind of sad, I thought it was a very good way for Natalie to express herself. I don't remember what the sadness was about (it's always something). I think this work of art really exhibits so much emotion, it is stirring, don't you think? Too bad it's on a magna doodle, it reminds me a lot of Van Gogh's "The Scream"

This is most of our "Twilight" movie group at 3:00 a.m. - do we look a little tired? This was a fun night and I think the movie was a lot of fun - I loved seeing it on the big screen. Some people were disappointed, as we often are when people attempt to change a story from a book to movie form. I thought it was fun and probably didn't notice as many differences because it's been a while since I read the first book in the series. I do have to say that Bella, or the actress that played Bella, overdid her scene when Edward tells her in the hospital that he has to go. That's probably more the director's fault than hers. It's not good when the audience (especially a die hard Twilight fan audience) laughs at a scene that is supposed to be heart-wrenching. "No, don't go, no, no... no... no... nooooooo." Those probably aren't the exact words, but it is not much more creative than that.

I love this picture of my little "LooLee" as we affectionately call Angela around here. She got pretty fast on her little tricycle this past summer.

Conversations with my angel...

Angela: Mommy where Santa live?

Me: The north pole.

Angela: Hey, dat where Jesus live too.

Me: Oh, really? I thought he lived in heaven.

Angela: Hey, I from heaven too!

Me: Yep, you're my little angel from heaven.

Angela: Yeah, I an angel from heaven. And I be a cat for Halloween!

Me: smiling and a pause in conversation . . .

Angela: Hey, I up in heaven with Jesus and Santa! He cute when him a baby. (Jesus)

Hello from Sarah

Okay, I guess since I am such a slacker lately on the blog, it is necessary to turn over the responsibility to my eight year old. Just kidding, but Sarah does have something to say. I'm not sure what, but I am interested to find out what she wants to launch out into cyberspace...

It's very , very cold outside wouldn't you say so? If you don't think it's freezing, you're defenently crazy. It is so cold that it's snowing!Even though I tried making a snowman, but my snowman head fell apart. It is so snowy that I don't have to go to school tomorrow! Sincerely,
Sarah.