Singing, Crocheting, Baking AND Booing... OH MY!

When everyday life takes hold there isn't much time to muse over the days happenings. So I'm taking this moment to reflect on what has occurred over the last week that I've neglected to talk about.

Kristina spent last Friday evening at the Zoo for "Boo at the Zoo". She was a volunteer with AVID and had a blast.

She worked in the grave yard, working a skeleton that waved at the kids. She was a bit upset
that some of the little ones started crying from her skeleton though. Thursday night, midnight, found her and dad at the Premier Showing of "Cirque de Freak". She has waited for this show for almost a year. The original story is by Darren Shan who is Kristina's absolute favorite author AND whom she was able to meet and interact with almost a year ago. Today she is performing a One Woman Show for Forensic's at St. Mary's H. S. doing "Little Red Riding Hood". We have to be there at 7:45 a.m. and she'll probably get out at about 3 p.m. So another long day for her. This is the novice group and though this is a competition she is some what over relaxed and unconcerned about the whole affair. She didn't particularly want us there and after arriving and seeing all the students being dropped off or driving themselves I guess she won't be the only lone student. But I can't wait to hear how she does!
Olivia is in the Choir this year which meets M,W, and F. mornings before school. She recently tried out for a solo and won it! We are so excited and can't wait to go to the concert and hear our daughter sing to an audience. Next is Baking Club, which meets after school every Wednesday, and it is just what it appears to be, but it also teaches them math with the added bonus of getting to eat what they bake! She is also going to try out for the Missoula Children's Theater production of "Pinocchio".
Jolie just won a spot in the Square Knitting and Crocheting Club. She is so excited. Like Olivia's winning a spot in the Baking Club. Jolie was one of 12 students who's name was, quite literally, picked out of a hat to get to participate in the club. This club meets every Thursday after school and met for the first time this last week. Jolie couldn't wait to tell me that she and another girl were able to help the two teachers work with the other students in making a crochet chain. (FYI! There are two boys in the class.) She came to the car after the club brandishing her crochet hook like a won saber from a duel. She's just a bit proud...
Parker is going to also try out for the Missoula Children's Theater. He is so unafraid of attention and being under the "eye" that I think he'd make a good actor. Hunter was also wanting to try out, but I think we'll wait until next year for him. He can still be a bit giggly in front of an audience.

About this picture. Well...... we were roasting marshmellows for the first time this year and DAD was taking the pictures. All of the pics came out fuzzy/blurry/wobbly, etc. I don't think I'll elaborate further.... ;-)

Kristina's Arena competition and more...

This video is of Kristina's competition yesterday. She did so good. In the 5 areas that she competed in she ribboned in each. 3 - 3rd places, 1 - 4th place and 1 - 5th place. Congratulations Kristina!

Today found us having more thunderstorms in the afternoon. We're getting some really tremendously active storms. Lots of lightening that is striking close to the house and sends everyone scampering for cover. I took this picture prior to the lightening starting. Looks like a turtle head coming out of the clouds.

With the storm today I decided that it was time to paint the kitchen. I've been threatening this paint job for about 2 years now. The kitchen is now just about done and the breakfast room is still left to do, but I'll get it done in the next couple of days for sure.

As usual my pictures don't show the true color. This color is called: Valspar's "Golden Straw".

I actually used this color on one of the walls in the entry hallway. I love it. A beautiful gold. It also coordinates nicely with the border paper that I have.

Snowing Again but I'm going to Ignore it...

What's not to love about Artichoke Dip? Its absolutely fabulous. So I made some for Devonia and I before I headed home to Colorado. I just had to share this pic of it as I'm going to be making some more tomorrow. Yum! Should be a good snack for tomorrow.

As you know Kaitlyn turned 17 while I was away. So when I got home she had a decision to make. A birthday dinner out or a favorite made at home. Well as you can see she picked her favorite at home. Lasagna.
Followed by different kinds of cheesecake.

Notice that the candles do add up to 17.
We couldn't find the #7 candle.




My new project. This pic is from Tuesday (3 days worth of work). You should see it now.

Kristina was one of 5 students from Summit chosen to present to the Board of Education Thursday afternoon on the Pre-school Literacy Program that the students of Summit participate in. They read to and encourage the pre-schoolers to learn to read. We got to see a video of Kristina reading to a small group and then being interviewed by Dist. 20. (We're going to try to get a copy of that video) A lot of these kiddo's are challenged in some way. While presenting to the board they also had to state how the experience had effected them and enhanced their own learning experiences. It was a chance for the

board to meet kids who are working in and with District 20 to better their and others learning. Afterwards they all got to shake hands with the different board members. It was an experience that Kristina won't forget and we won't either.

Darren Shan

How often do you get to meet your very favorite author? That's exactly what Kristina got to do on Thursday evening. All the way from Ireland came Darren Shan.

David picked Kristina up from school at 2:10 and they immediately left for Denver. The book signing and talk was to start at 7 p.m. at The Tattered Cover on East Colfax Ave. David wanted to make sure that they were able to eat dinner prior to the 7 p.m. start time and find the place.


David and Kristina went out to eat and got back to the bookstore around 5:15. They were still the only ones there. There were some comfy chairs and so they grabbed two in a perfect viewing position. The bookstore employees set up a lot of folding chairs in the middle of the room which kind of pushed Kristina and David off to the side. Mr. Shan spoke for over an hour, reading from his recent books and a reading from a yet to be published book series starting in two years. When Shan came to a part in the story where a character said 'My name is Mr. Creapsly', Kristina let out a gasp! She knew exactly where the story was going to go and was very excited.

David told Kristina he would buy her a complete new set for Shan to sign and it would be one of her Christmas presents. This gave her around ten books to get signed. After Shan finished speaking the bookstore representative said 'OK, please line up and come down the center aisle'! So, Kristina and David were now almost at the end of the line instead of the beginning. And Kristina, always thinking of others, said 'Dad, we should move to the end since we have so many to get signed'. So, they did.


When they finally got to the signing table, everyone else was gone and Mr. Shan and Kristina began talking while he signed. She got to have a 10-15 minute discussion with her favorite author. To quote Kristina, 'It was the best fun EVER!'.

Correction!

This picture was actually taken by the budding photographer in our family, Kristina! With her cell phone. Adda Girl, Kristina!!! Wonderful picture, especially with a cell phone.