SRIS Beginning Band Concert

It's that time of year when parents cringe and students smile.  It is the annual Christmas Concerts.  This is a time honored even around the world.  This is our first venture into the band world.  Ryder had practiced over the Thanksgiving weekend and didn't sound to bad at all.  He was a little loud but not really any sour notes.  I was excited to hear their progress since October.  

We are ready for the big night.

Finding their seats

This is a big group

You can't see Ryder.
You can see the top of his Baritone.
Look at the ponytail and there he is.

Cute kids
I was left to drive home by myself.

Courtesy of Rylee
She wanted me to have one of him
all by himself.

Ryder informed me that the whole band had only practiced one time before all together and not in the gym.  They only restarted the first song and didn't sound half bad.  You could even make out each song.  Let's see how they sound in 5 years.  I'm sure we will all be amazed.

Hello December...

It is time to decorate!!! This holiday season is going to be a short one so we need to get started.  Thanksgiving morning is the time to string the lights outside.  By Saturday all that is left is inside the house.

Passing the torch.
Ryder was eager to climb the ladder and
do it for Dad.
Who wasn't feeling the best.

Another torch was passed on
tree decorating.
How do we get the angel on top?

Lifting Ryder up?

Done!!!
Ryder on Reganne's shoulders
Rylee helping keep his balance.

They succeed with a great looking tree.  However, they left the mess for me to pickup.  I didn't get the rest of the house done until Saturday. 

Who is stealing our lights?

The Grinch!!!

Dave, Reganne, and Ryder created this creature who in turn is stealing from us.  We have had people stop and check him out.  I wish we could take full credit for this idea.  However, we saw this same display a few years ago in another neighborhood.

We are ready to celebrate and have a fun holiday season.

Never Ending November

It has been another busy month around here.  Looking back my picture taking has sadly dwindle but I did find a few that still needed to be shared.

Beautiful roses!!
Happy Anniversary 32 years!!

These girls have grown up.
A former primary teacher shared this from when they were 10.
They are now 17 and seniors.

Flood at work
This large hole  = no water for 2 days.

End of a 153 day drought.
It is rain isn't it?

Practicing!!
A long Thanksgiving weekend.

Working on Talon's fort
They met up at Crimson Elementary and
then rode over to his house for the day.

Fluffy jacket
Just like Dads

Let's keep this moving into December.  Let's see what traditions we can fit in or maybe making new ones.

Thanksgiving Family Traditions

This year planning our Thanksgiving dinner we had all the usual dishes in mind.  However, Dave decided one item was missing the fruit salad.  I have tried a couple times to make it over the years but with not much luck.  Dave's Mom NaDean made it each year for Thanksgiving & New Years.  He wanted to share it with the kids.  I just needed to provide the ingredients and they would do the rest.

Rylee & Ryder were assigned to chopping apples.  Reganne was on whipping cream.  Dave was opening the cans.  

Team work
I was making snicker bars for dessert.

Refusing to let
me take their picture.

They did a great job and it was really good.  Dave was confused about whether she used whipping cream or cool whip.  That is one thing I remember she always used whipping cream for the fruit salad.  Cool Whip was definitely for the Orange Fluff salad.

This is one tradition I want to keep going and hopefully pass onto our grandkids someday.

Trying Something New

Halloween is over and what do you with the pumpkins?  Ryder has tried homemade seasoned pumpkin seeds before.  That is definitely was we need to make with both pumpkins he won from the swim meet.

We had no idea on how to make them or even how to get them started.  Ryder was in charge of the research and I was moral support.  Maybe even a helping hand along the way.

He found the detailed instructions and it was time to get started...  

How do you get the seeds out?
A spoon?

Or your hands?

The gooey messy insides were really hard to separate the seeds from the guts.  Oops!!! half went down the garbage disposal.  Quick thinking we were able to save most of them.  Seasonings just right and then pop them into the oven.

Yummmmm, they smelled really great.  They even tasted better.  Ginger even liked them as much as we did.  The whole bowl full disappeared by the next day.  The girls & Dave were not impressed but they don't like anything to do with pumpkin flavoring or foods.

We can easily add this to next years agenda.

2019 Family Photo Shoot

I have tried to get family pictures done in the different seasons and have failed.  I have failed so miserably that we have missed 2 years of no official photos.  This year was a must and to heck with getting different seasons or scenery.  Most of all making them matchy matchy we need to just go for it.  Thank goodness Blake & Julie are good sports and very accommodating in our silly requests.

It was a perfect Sunday late afternoon and the perfect spot Dixie Rock.  This is where we started the crazy outside tradition so many years ago.

Love this view

Hope he doesn't fall.

Taking a break
from Mom's requests.

We are done!!

Dinner @ Cracker Barrel

Everyone was full and happy.  Hopefully, the pictures will turn out and Blake won't have to work too much photo magic.  Me, I love the memories of all the craziness trying to get that perfect picture.  The lessons I have learned is going candid pictures rather than posed.  No matter how resistant everyone is to have their pictures taken.  Let them pick their own outfits and they will be comfortable during the uncomfortable process.

Thank you Blake, Julie, and Dacoda for putting up with us for the afternoon.

Fall Recital

Reganne has been working hard on her music for the recital.  I believe she has it memorized.  This will be the final recital with Sam's Piano Studio.  Sam is moving to Idaho the next day.

Time to start...

Getting setup
She sounded amazing!!!

The Group
These kids are all amazing and so much talent.
Love all the costumes.

Close Up

This was a great show!!! All of these kids have so much talent.  Reganne has really come a long way in learning how to play.  The sad note is that we now have to find another teacher that clicks with her.  So far not much luck.