SNOW!!! OH NO!!!

 As a teacher I kind of dread snow days.  So much uncertainty--will they cancel, or won't they.  Will it be a late start?  Will activities be cancelled?  How will I redo my schedule?  All the things.  So when it was snowing little flurries on Tuesday--I was actually quite calm.  It was supposed to turn to rain.  And then it didn't.  So--no school Wed.  (I will say, I was fine with Wed.  Okay, one day you can miss.). Then Thursday was a late start.  Best of both worlds.  I don't have to get up for seminary (and they announced Wed. evening--so no uncertainty!).  Thursday the roads were sketch, but school was good.  I had 100% attendance! (Which is saying something during this cold season.). Then Friday, I woke up to another late start announcement.  Okay--I can do this.  But then, at like 8:30--they called off school for a few big flakes falling.  So ANNOYED!  Now we will be finishing school on June 26th.  The roads were FINE!  Then it snowed again on Friday night.  But it was warm and slushy--so despite worrying and losing sleep, the ward breakfast, the drill comp, and the wrestling tournaments all still happened.  Today it was pretty icy.  But church was fine.  There's still quite a bit of snow out there.  I hope they announce a late start tonight (or that we just have normal school!).  And we are done with this round of snow.    

The kids, of course have been delighted to have snow and days off of school.  

Thankfully the ward Christmas breakfast still happened.  Sarah helped plan it, and Ben, Sarah and I sang "What Child is This" (I played guitar--mediocre performance by me, but they sounded great.) And Ben was Joseph in the brief nativity. 

Lots of snow day puppy snuggles. 

Libby taking a photo shoot as the Little Match Girl? 

Disney Princess Night

When our YW wanted to do a Disney Princess night, we decided on making the costumes out of plastic tablecloths.  It was so fun!  We also played a couple of Disney Princess Kahoot! games and sang along with their songs while we created the clothes.  Highly recommended activity! We even went ahead with it even though it had been a snow day...Yeah, princesses are brave :) 

 

Christmas Decor!

 I decided I wanted to switch up my decor this year.  I wanted more outside lights (my word for the year is light--and while I have misplaced my list of 22 for 22--possibly consumed by Buddy? I did remember that part.) And I decided to do less family Christmas cards on the shelves, and more trees.  I choose trees because they are my favorite symbol of Christ.  There are so many different ones, symbolizing to me that Christ loves all of us--as we are.  They are "evergreen" symbolizing the everlasting life he offers.  They symbolize the wood of the cross--the purpose of his life was to live and die for us.  And--also somehow the fact that the wood of a beautiful tree was used to create the cross on which he hung reminds me that I can take up my cross, shoulder the challenges that come my way (with his help).  That life will be full of beauty and pain, and that the pain can lead me to grow in ways that I otherwise couldn't.  Trees point up--reminding me to look to God and my Savior.  Several of the trees light up, or reflect light.  He is the light. 

I put all the family Christmas cards into two float frames and hung them (I'll get another next year for the rest).  I will say decorating with Buddy around was a ROYAL pain.  And we have a gate around the Christmas tree that he's still trying to get in (even as I type I think.) Even though it takes a long time to put up the decor (especially when I'm redoing things)--it's so worth it to have the house feel that special Christmas feeling.  I'm hoping it will go faster next year--I can just look at these pictures and recreate! 

Trying to Buddy proof the tree...

The Nativities worked out perfectly under the stairs where we see them as we come and go all day. 

I also got these little houses (they light up in the evening.). LOVE THEM. 

Thanksgiving!

 We had a lovely Thanksgiving this year.  Maren hosted in her Shoreline house--for the last time as she's moving to Woodinville.  That was a big surprise leading into the weekend (although I guess not surprising considering her new family is centered there....). But we were able to revel in most of the Norton Thanksgiving traditions that I'm sure will continue in her new location.  (Clark was with Anne Marie's family--so no smoked turkey--but Emma did a fab job!) A family photo.  Rolls coming out of the oven as dinner is being served.  Too many pies.  Uncle Davey joining us.  Trish playing (and even winning) Rummikub.  It was fun getting to know Cara's family better.  They're a good fit :). I have so much to be thankful for!  Then I spent the rest of the weekend decorating mostly (see separate post)....although we did get pedicures with Dave.  Being out of my routine isn't very restful for me...but you know.  I had a good weekend.  (Also the Huskies won the Apple Cup--nice bonus finish to the weekend.)

Dave took Sarah & Ben bowling while I shopped for Apple Cup dinner supplies. 

The Play that Goes Wrong--Starring Sarah

Okay--at least for a minute starring Sarah.  They pulled her out of the front row before the show and had her help hold on the mantle and sweep.  It was hilarious.  And Ben also got to throw the glasses back on the stage for one of the actors.  It was a hilarious play.  SW did a great job with it! If you ever get a chance to see this show--GO! You can't GO WRONG...get it?  Haha. 

 

Drill Comp #1

 Last weekend Libby had her first drill comp of the season.  It went--OK.  I guess.  Libby has been having trouble with her hamstring/glute.  She dropped down into her splits too hard and had a hard time finishing the routine.  The team also struggled the whole routine because the captain couldn't get the whistle off (after their march in--which they do with the whistle)--so it was hanging off her ponytail...and it was distracting and distressing for everyone the whole time.  They couldn't really perform their best with that kind of distraction (the girl stopped mid-routine and tried again to pull it off....it was messy). Needless to say, they didn't place in the competition.  But I loved getting to see all the dancing!  So fun. 

So Libby had to sit out basically the whole first week of wrestling--but it seems like her hip/hamstring/glute is feeling better.  She wrestled yesterday.

Selfies of the Month or So

 Ben has gotten into the selfie game--big time! But there's one of me too--new hair! 

Yeah..since Libby was supposed to be cleaning her room.  Way better use of time. 

I am very unsure about this new hair...But I'd been wanting to try something new for awhile.  So I went for it.  

Should I have let Ben get this app?