Christmas in Texas!

We got to spend Christmas with the Ragsdales this year! We got to stay the whole week through New Years in fact. It was so great! The weather was crazy warm, 75 on Christmas Eva and Christmas Day! It was beautiful all week long and we played outside the while time. We did archery, BB guns, disc golfing, Nerf wars, corn hole, fishing, riding the dirt bikes and four wheeler with Grandpa, pickle ball, hot tubbing, played with the digs and had a RAD Christmas Adventure!

 Christmas Stockings!

Scotty and Jacob gave this to Graham and Will, it was a major hit!

Graham: I loved celebrating Jesus and playing with my new presents. The best present I got was a Vex Robotixs set that I could build a crossbow launcher with. I also got the whole set of Harry Potter Books! I had already read #1-3 and I immediately started on the 4th. I just finished it yesterday.

Evelyn: I loved opening presents and my stocking! One of my favorite presents was the Princess in Black series Mimi gave me.  I loved going on the four-wheeler and motorcycles with Grandpa. I really liked the sparkling juice we had on New Years Eve. I liked going in our secret hideout room with Bella and Lauren. We made a club. Then on the last day, we went on this adventure and found candy to teach us about the atonement and Christmas.

William: I love what I got for Christmas, and my favorite present was my pop gun that I got with Graham. It is so much fun playing at Mimi and Grandpa's house. I loved eating the yummy food Mimi made. I love playing with Grandpa. I loved drinking the yummy sparkling drink.

And a Happy New Year!

All hail!!

I didn't write last night, I got distracted by the biggest hail storm I have ever personally seen. I couldn't assess much late last night, other than our shattered car windshields, but with a flashlight this morning we were able to see that the back siding of the house is dented and paint scrapped away, as well as all the window screens torn. The noise was terrible, it sounded like someone was shooting our house. And the kids slept through it!

This little beauty came through the sun roof of the Tahoe. There is glass and water everywhere inside. 

a few choice specimens. We even found a dead bird on the front lawn.

Our dear neighbor, Julio, said it well last night in his simple way, "Well, it could have been worse!"

For that, I am so grateful. Yes we will likely have to replace the roof, the window screens, do something about the house siding, fix the cars, and who know what else. Ironically I just sent the initial contract to our buyers yesterday morning.

But it could have been worse. We heard the storm hit my cousins, Chad and Bethany Packard, pretty bad. He posted a pic of the hail stone on Facebook, it was larger than a grapefruit, only the tips of his fingers showed around the edge as he held it. Their list is damages is staggering.

I am so grateful we are all well and safe. 

Spooky foods

10/16/15

Halloween pancakes molds! 

The really a pain to use, and they rarely stay intact, but the kids love them!

Evelyn eating the head off of her cat before we even got started. 

William and his ghost. I seem to remember him bursting into inconsolable tears last year when I cut up his Halloween pancake for him...he was eager to have it cut this year so he could eat it! 

Few foods are spookier than this - Blood Oranges! 

(Unless Graham's face is creepier, it's a toss up.)

Bread!!

Lee has a fifth child.

It's the sourdough starter. But it does make some dang good bread! This is Lee's attempt with some rye flour and Bon Appetit inspired slashing. 

It's pretty and yummy! 

A good friend

I found this note on my porch along with a huge bag of beautiful oranges! 

Katie has been a true friend to me. We have all enjoyed the friendship of the Walker family! I haven't figure out if we are actually related, but I'll happily claim them as cousins! 

Thankful Hearts FHE

We played a game to help us learn how we can show gratitude, the Thankful ABC Game!

A- Dad - for the Alphabet so we can read the scriptures!
B- Mom - for Books
C- Graham - for Christ!
D- Evelyn - Daddy!
E- William - for Everything!
F- Dad - for Franz the Fancy Fish!
G- Mom - Graham-man!
H- Graham - my Hands!
I- Evelyn - for Icicles!
J- William - for our cousin Jacob!
K- Dad - for my Kids!
L- Mom - for Lee!
M- Graham - for Mom!
N- Evelyn - for Nanna!
O- William - for Olives on my fingers!
P- Dad - for Popsicles and Pizza and Peppercinis and Prosciutto!
Q- Mom - for Quick obedience!
R- Graham - Ragsdale Adventure Days!
S- Evelyn - for the great Sam-bony!
T- William - for Toilets!
U- Dad - for Uncles! (and Underwear)
V- Mom - for Violin lessons!
W- Graham - for Water to make Gatorade.
X- Evelyn - for eXtra treats
Y- William - for Yummy food.
Z- Dad - for Zillow.

Now we are going to take Thankful Notes and Thankful Pumpkin Bread to some neighbors.

Western fun at the Witte

We went to the Witte museum yesterday with a group of friends. I love hanging out with my kids! 

 

There's a big section of old west history stuff. We will difficultly be returning here for our RAD western unit. 

 

The kids are just getting their daily serving of vegetables. 

Lots of vitamin C too. 

The giant Apple was a slippery challenge! But Sam thought it was just perfect for him!