BIG LAST Wednesday

Last week during our Wednesday evening children’s program at church, the kids made rice krispie treats and chex mix to take to First Responders.  It was an interesting evening, since the kitchen was in use so we had to do all the cooking in a Sunday school class, but everyone had great fun.  I do wish my phone took better pictures.

Busy, Fun Saturday Afternoon

June had her first basketball game EVER Saturday at noon, so we headed to the high school to watch that.  Their team lost, but I thought June did really good what with it being her first time on the court in actual competition.  That’s her holding the ball during the team meeting before she headed out to play. 

From there I went straight to Lindee’s house, for her annual cookie party.  Everyone brought ingredients to make a different kind of cookie, and we made them there, as well as decorating ornaments, eating lots of good snacks, and just having a great time talking and laughing.  Here are Mallory and her friend Keira shaping the candy cane cookie dough I took.  Good times.

Making Candy

Tuesday morning Jeff helped me make some French Chew candy for the holidays.  It’s an old recipe of his grandma’s, & it’s actually hard candy – we’re not sure why it’s called any kind of chew.  I got all the ingredients to have the kids help me, but then realized half of them have braces now so probably couldn’t eat the hard candy, so drafted him to help me instead.  It was pretty funny.  And messy.

Then that afternoon Mallory and Clara DID help me make peanut butter fudge.  Here is Clara getting the pan sprayed to get us going.  Such a fun, yummy day.

Smith Family Christmas

Saturday was the annual Smith Family Christmas in Young Harris, Ga – the one Sunday every year when I get to visit with my Smith cousins.  Zollie and I met in Gaffney – not our original plan, but I had given him bad directions, so he missed the Earl exit.  And he got in my car and we headed to Lavonia to meet Sherri – after we were talking and drove right past the exit, and had to turn around.  Sher got in our car, and we only missed one turn on the way to Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church, so we got to drive right straight through Helen.  The day was wonderful.  I got this picture of as much of the group as I could while we were praying before we ate.

As always, we finished up the day making various family group pictures, and I loved the way this one of Aunt Nita with the members of her family that could be there turned out.  Such a special day.  And then we headed home, and ran into crazy snow until we got out of the mountains.  Then it was serious rain, sometimes mixed with snow, until we all got to our respective homes.  But we all arrived home safe and sound, and it was, as always,just such a special time to be together.

Adam’s New School

Adam was actually supposed to move into the new Language Immersion School in Rock Hill at the first of the year, but the building wasn’t finished.  The move is now due to happen over the Christmas holidays.  I had not seen the sign in front of the school until I was in Rock Hill this week.  It’s a beautiful facility, and is right behind Sullivan Middle, where Charlie goes.

BUG!

This week when June and Mason were here they helped us decorate our Christmas tree.  I was trying to get a picture of that, but obviously pushed some serious zoom on my camera, and got this picture of June Bug instead :-).  I thought it was cute, anyway.

Charlie’s Christmas Band Concert

Tonight was Char’s band concert – the first one we’ve ever been to – and we thought they did such a great job.  Alas, we could not see one square inch of Charlie while he was on the stage playing, but I did get this picture of him as he was standing up to leave the stage when the 7th grade band had finished playing.

And this one of him after the concert was over. We were so proud!

VEX Robotics Competition

Yesterday Clover hosted the day-long mid-season robotics competition, and I had promised Lindee long ago that I would help work the concession stand.  Here is Mallory getting a bottle of water to get her through the afternoon. 🙂

Mal and one of her good, good friends, Shayla, after they finished their final preliminary competition and were waiting for the alliance selections. Their team ended up being the grand champions of the entire event, winning the award of excellence. We were proud, for sure.