Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to our dear family and friends!

How is it possible that another year – actually another decade - is coming to an end?  In spite of our best efforts to slow down time, our kids continue to grow older, more independent and are in constant motion with all of their activities.

 

Spencer is now a third of his way through his SENIOR year!  He is still undecided about a career path and will most likely follow in his parent’s footsteps and attend MCC after he graduates.

He is still very active in the theatre scene at school and in civic productions.  He was excited about his group act and solo in the Singing Christmas Tree this year and looks forward to a fun role in Matilda in the spring.

In July, just shy of his eighteenth birthday, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  It was a process for sure, but worth all the effort.  He spends his spare time gaming on the computer or playing D & D in our basement with a group of friends.

Evan also enjoys choir, theatre and is involved in the HS Players group.  He was thrilled to be cast in the ensemble of Matilda. 

He played JV tennis this year and enjoyed getting some time on the court.   Evan has an Eagle project in the planning stages so he will join his brother as an Eagle Scout in the near future.

Besides lots of studying for his tough classes, he has an active social life and is always planning events with his friend groups.  He took drivers training over the summer so we will soon have another driver in the house.

Hailey is having a great seventh grade year.    She auditioned and got a part in the MS production of Guys and Dolls. 

She recently joined the scout troop the boys are in as one of the members of the inaugural girl’s troop.  She enjoys the meetings and is looking forward to a winter campout.

She will be thirteen in a few weeks (how are our babies all teenagers?) and enjoys typical teen things like YouTube channels and texting with her friends.   Hailey is happiest when she has an art or craft project to work on or is baking a creation in the kitchen - she is extremely creative.

Trent is still at RPHS – though he is feeling it may be time to retire and start his second act.  He is ready to begin  rehearsals for Newsies  that will open in March.  Jen left her part time job at Lincoln Park to begin a new challenge with substitute teaching.

Over the summer we took the kids to one of our favorite cities – Toronto, Canada.   We spent days seeing the sights and enjoying the hospitality of Canadians.  We saw Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away while we were there – amazing shows that became instant favorites.   On our way home we stopped at Niagara Falls for the 4^th of July. It was beautiful to see the fireworks over the falls.   We took another mini vacay to the Wisconsin Dells with Jen’s sister and family.  The kids enjoyed a couple days of water slides and wave pools.   In August, Trent and the boys went to Canada fishing with his brother and nephew and cousins.

We wish you all the best in 2020.  May the New Year and new decade find your lives filled with health, happiness, peace and love.

                                                                                               

It's getting festive around here!

I have probably said this before, but the Singing Christmas Tree is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.  It has been around since I was in high school.  I remember seeing it one time long ago but it is totally different when your own kids are in it.  

This post is very picture heavy.  Some photos are mine and some are hijacked from the local online news site. 

Spencer had a solo in the tree this year.  He was so thrilled when he was chosen to sing the part of "Heatmiser" in the Cartoon Christmas song.   A good friend of his that graduated last year sang the part in Spencer's first Tree and it always stood out to him.

The boys also had a song/skit that they performed while the students were loading into the tree.  I love seeing my boys on stage together doing what they love.

A picture from the news photographer.  Spencer is in the right corner.

The whole thing is just breathtaking.  Every year I am just amazed by it.

Evan is the middle of my shot.

Almost the same photo but Spencer is above and to the left - almost cut out. Oops.

Spencer's row is the next one that gets to leave.

I love these guys!  And I love that through singing and theatre they have become so much closer.

Spencer gazes up toward the tree.  Lots of great memories.  I can't even think about the fact that this year was his last time in it.

A side view from backstage.  A view that many don't get to see.

Once again they live streamed the Saturday night performance so Hailey and I got to watch it at home.   We snapped some pictures off the TV screen.

I was just in the nick of time to grab the shot announcing his solo.

All the seniors.  Ready for their final tree performance.

The boys sextet group not only performed before the tree, but they also did a couple other "gigs" around town at churches and even got paid to perform at a law firm's Christmas party.  On the day before Christmas break they performed at a couple of the district elementary schools.  I snuck in to my kids former elementary to see them perform.  They look so huge in the tiny hallways.

So many memories and moments this year.  Just another reminder how fast these years fly by.

November

Fall is flying by!  I know I sound like a broken record, but it seems the years just go by faster and faster the older and busier my kids get. 

We started off November with Spencer being inducted into the Tri M Music Society for the second year.  Tri M is like an honor society for students with a high GPA that are also involved in the arts. 

A couple of years ago Spencer decided he wanted to participate in the school blood drive.   After his first donation the Red Cross sent us a letter thanking him and letting him know that his blood type was O negative.  He is a universal donor so his blood is highly sought after.  We get a least one call a week asking him to donate when he can.  After he donated this fall he received a thank you letter telling him where some of his donation went to help.  It could just be all bunk to get him to donate more, but I couldn't be prouder of him either way.

The boys had roles in Agatha Christies's "And Then There Were None".  They were both awesome.

I brought my big camera to take a few pics of them during the show, but the "click" on my camera seemed so loud in the not full theatre during the quite quiet show.  I took one or two and was then embarrassed when I saw people turning around to look at me.  Oops.

Their proud family came out to support them.

Evan also had a big group of friends cheering him on.

I updated my frames with the yearly school pictures and one is now full.  How can that even be?

I took advantage of a warm fall day to get out my Christmas trees for the yard and porch.  The house looked kind of like it didn't know what season to be in.  Early Fall?  Late Fall?  Winter?

On Thanksgiving morning Hailey, Trent and I did the Turkey Trot to earn our pie.

Then came home and started to make our turkey dinner.

And decorate our Christmas Tree.

I am so thankful for these three turkeys!

Our Thanksgiving feast! I got to use my Christmas plates for the first time ever!

Hailey and her turkey cupcake creation.

Our annual shot of the kids decorating the tree.  They just keep growing and getting taller.

It was a good November ending with a great Thanksgiving.  We are definitely blessed!