Thanksgiving highlights

Time seems to be advancing faster than I can keep up. Our Thanksgiving weekend is a mere memory and everyone here is in the final weeks of school before Christmas vacation.

Here is the Readers' Digest version of our holiday. First, Uncle BoBo took a break from the giant retailer he works for and made us a very tasty turkey (or two).After devouring turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, more gravy, fresh homemade rolls and more gravy, Rikard enjoyed a piece of apple pie.
Keeli prefers her pie without pie and heavy on the whipped cream.
Before hitting the shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving, we all relaxed in the hotel's hot tub. Nana and Keeli kept to the warm water.
After driving one way in the dark of night, the scenery on the way home was welcomed and enjoyable. There were about six inches of snow at the top of the pass and the kids had a good time tromping around in it a bit.

Sir Loin

He has been dubbed 'Sir Loin of Holestine" and he rules our little pasture.This happy guy is our beef steer. He is well fed, pampered and mostly just loves to keep you alert with his little horns. The kids have kept their distance from the pasture since he's moved in. They are used to their goats, but this guy is quite a bit more intimidating.

The goats like to pester him at feeding time because his feed is a bit richer than what they typically get. He gently nudges them away from his feed with his horns, but they aren't easily deterred when there is food involved.

Obviously he won't be staying to live out his years as a pet, but he is entertaining and has proven to be friendly and rambunctious

Karate Kids

Both our little Kali JuKune Do martial artists now have belts to illustrate their level of achievement.

This is Rikard's second year in martial arts and he earned a yellow belt. Tatum began taking lessons with Rikard over the summer and earned a white belt.

They enjoy karate and it keeps them busy three evenings a week.

SLAMming Good Time

Fran, a friend and coworker recently displayed his artwork at a local art museum.

Fran's imagination and creativity are wonderful. In addition to being an artist, he is a pretty good musician. I snapped a few photos as Fran and his fellow bandmembers played for an intimate crowd which had gathered at the opening event. Fran, the artist featured at the art museum that particular evening, played both an electric and acoustic guitar. He also performed the vocals.
This is my favorite photo of Russ. He is such a subdued guy during the day, that I had to capture the spirit of his musical passion and I think it is in the movement in the photo.

Halloween Fun

Trick - or - Treat. It was mostly treats this year and they are stowed safely away to be dealt out sparingly by the parents.

Rick and the kids had to recycle costumes this year as there was no time in our busy schedule for creation, design and stitching of new costumes.

Rikard was a red Ninja warrior, complete with his own signature moves and intimidating sounds.

Tatum is sporting a relatively new-to-her witch costume stitched by the loving hands of her Nana Joyce. We found a witch hat with moons and stars that matches the cape that came with the costume.

Rick dug to the bottom of her dresser drawer for his who-knows-how-old $5 discount store holiday t-shirt and decided a new 'do was needed this year. We tried to talk him into the black wig, but he was adamant that blondes have more fun!

Once at school, the kids enjoyed a day of trick-or-treating classroom to classroom, sharing holiday treats and games. They have the next few days off for parent teacher conferences. We will learn how good or bad they've been on Tuesday.

Keeli was Champ Bear. He's a next generation Care Bear who teaches good sportsmanship isn't always about winning. Rikard made a cute Champ Bear too, too bad I couldn't get him into the Tenderheart Bear costume that was Tatum's in 1st grade.

This is the first year Keeli has embraced the holiday activities and she L-O-V-E-D it. She put that costume on when we left for the morning and didn't even take it off for her nap.

Rick and the kids went trick-or-treating around the block and then to a church harvest party. Rikard won a cake and wanted tried to eat the entire thing for breakfast the following morning. Everyone agreed it was a great day.

Carving the Jack-o-Lanterns was probably the most fun for everyone. With a pile of pumpkins from the neighbor, the kids had dozens of shapes, sizes and hues of orange to pick from. Tatum and Rikard weren't afraid to dig in with their hands and get the dirty work done.

Keeli's approach was a bit more dignified, more fitting for the princess she believes she is. Her fingers never touched pumpkin seeds or flesh and she spent about two hours cleaning the inside of her pumpkin one seed at a time.