Grammar Matters!

You will see in the next post why this note was written. What my English degree will tell you now is that it's written incorrectly. His intent was to ask Santa for help. What he has done is ask if we can help Santa. Commas matter, people! (Let's eat Grandma. Let's eat, Grandma.)

Santa, Please Help!

The conversation went like this:
King: Do you think Santa will bring me some new socks this year? (He often does.)
Me: No, I don't think so, why?
King: Because this one has a hole in it.
Me: Maybe you could ask Santa to darn your sock.
King: Santa darns socks????

Next thing I know the hole is significantly bigger, he's added a hole to the second sock, hung them by his stocking, and left a note for Santa.

I hope Santa brings him some socks!

The Holiday Musical Feast

Last night we attended the Holiday Musical Feast put on by the prince's choir. Our thanks to Grandma, Kathi, and Leann for attending with us. It was a great night of music and excellent food (we weren't sure how the mass serving of food would go, but it was great!). The kids were our servers, and the prince was assigned to our table. He did a good job, in between singing, to fill our cups and plates. My photos aren't all that great this time. I don't know if it was the lighting, where we were sitting, the camera, or me, but they are mostly going to be deleted. I don't have any of the larger groups that were worth putting on here. Bummer. There was music from all the choirs as well as solos, duets, and small groups. There were two MCs. There was a number that only the seniors sing that had almost everyone in tears. And there was the tip jar on each table. The choirs choose 3 charities to donate to, and all tips go to those charities. Friday night they made $800, and I'm sure they did equally well last night. It was an awesome holiday cheer starter!

The prince was asked (at the last minute), to help bring the MC (kid with the mic) onto stage at the show. They had to sing a harmony part, and he was quite flattered that they asked him to help because, "There are way better singers in the choir than me." Silly boy!

This is one of my favorites of him singing ever.

I don't know why, but I really like it!

At one point, several of them wear ugly sweaters...

I got this beauty at Good Will. He added the tie.

Yep, that's a good one.

And scratchy too!

For Our Mormon Family Members...

Every once in awhile the prince needs to wear a tie. He counts on his dad to tie it for him. When his dad isn't around, he goes to youtube for help. He needed to tie his tie the other night and gave it a shot on his own. His dad was at work, and he felt confident he could do it w/o the aid of youtube. He came out of his bedroom and asked me how it looked. I thought it was a little long so he went back and tried again. He came out looking like this, which I thought was fine. He told me, "If it's not, one of the Mormons in choir will fix it." So true! :)

This is his outfit for the Musical Feast. I told him all he needed was a fedora and then he could be one of the Godfathers...or change the tie to black and be Johnny Cash. Lookin' Good!

It's Hard

Sometimes it's hard to be a cheerleader when you really want to watch the game!
Skyview boys are 4 and 0!
Go Falcons!

Hoss-tastic

Here's that hoss-tastic beard mentioned in a previous post!

Christmas Concerts

The kids both had Christmas concerts this week. The prince's concert featured several of the choirs, bands and orchestras and was great! The princess' concert was yesterday and featured all the middle school choirs. It was wonderful. Thanks to Grandma for being able to attend both! (We love that she's retired!)

The prince is back row, right, 4th in.

At the end of the show they combined all choirs, band, and orchestra for a medley.

It was amazing.

The princess is middle row, right, 3rd in.

At the end they combined all 3 choirs.

Their director is leading us all in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

And don't they all look awesome in their tie-dye t's?

So Proud

I have been waiting not-so-patiently for several days to make this post. In the fall the princess (and her classmates) entered an essay contest with the local VFW. It's actually a national competition. It's called The Patriot's Pen, and they had to write a 500 word essay on pride of country. She has been anxiously waiting since then for the results (not gonna lie, because there was a cash prize involved). Late last week we learned that she won 1st place at our local level, while her classmate took 2nd. Their essays were sent to the county level where she took 2nd place, and her classmate took 3rd. Unfortunately, their journeys ended there as only the 1st place winner got to go to state. Still she was very happy with her results, and we are so proud. For her efforts she got a nice, framed award, a medal, and $175 (which she can use to pay off her portion of her upcoming Washington DC trip and still have money left over for savings and for her!) Additionally, she and her classmate were honored at the school board meeting last night. We are so proud of her!

Look who came to cheer her!

The Zig Kicks

The prince custom-ordered these shoes last summer to have for cheer this year. Given the price, they'd better last through next year too! If you click on the photo you'll be able to see where he had SHS Cheer embroidered on them. Cool! He customized the colors as well. The reflector light is an added bonus, I guess, in case he ever has to cheer in the dark!

I had to add this photo because here it looks like he's checking out Ashley's shoes and wondering:

1. Why aren't your shoes as cool as mine? OR

2. Why are you standing like that????

Cheer 12-10

Our boys are up 3-0.

Girls are 1-2.

Go Falcons!

The prince and Ashley should not be allowed to cheer near each other.

They can't stop talking.

But then they have known each other since grade school!

The girls do this cool cheer that has a lot of arm flapping.
The boys aren't coordinated (or cool enough) to learn it.
So the prince does this when they flap!

Then he cracks up when he gets busted!

Hey, look! My mom is here and is taking pictures...again!

I need to get a picture of the king on here. When we left the game, the cheer leaders called him over to tell him that his beard is Hoss-tastic, and he is allowed to call himself a Hoss until he shaves it!

I'm a lot like Maxine

We Will Rock You

Sometimes at work I let my itunes play random songs. I have stuff on my work computer from each decade, starting with the 1950's. I try to only download kid-friendly songs. As we were listening to an "oldie" the other day, the boy working at my desk asks, "Have you ever heard that song 'We Will Rock You' by Queen?"

Seriously? He was totally clueless. I had to not-so-gently (it's not my style) tell him it was a hit WHEN I WAS HIS AGE, and that it was then and is still played at EVERY BASKETBALL/FOOTBALL game I've ever been to.

Kids!

Dear Santa

December 7

Today is always special to our family as my grandpa fought in WWII. He was very young when he left his wife and kids at home and joined the Navy. He was a cook on one of the big carriers. I don't remember many of the details he shared over the years when I was growing up, probably because he didn't share too many, but I know he learned to type, compliments of the Navy. Most importantly for us he came home safely to his family (and a daughter who didn't know who he was), and did what so many others of that generation did: he got on with the business of working, raising his family, and reclaiming our country's greatness. We are so lucky he came back to us. He passed away several years ago, and we still miss him greatly.

On a related note, this year the princess will dance with her competition group to a modern dance that will be set not to music, but to FDR's request to congress that he gave on December 7 to declare war on Japan: "A day which will live in infamy... " I am looking forward to seeing that.

The Hoss Jug

Can you see what he wrote on this jug of water? He fancies himself a "Hoss". (At least he spelled it right--there have been times...) He hasn't worked out since he broke his arm last summer so he really doesn't quality as a Hoss anymore, but the legend remains. Anyway, when he was at the state volleyball tournament last month, he accidentally left his "Hoss Jug" at the venue. One of the cheerleaders from a high school across town thought it was hilarious so took a photo of it. Apparently that photo of the "Hoss Jug" is now making the rounds on Facebook. I guess technically this is "Hoss Jug II"!

Woot Woot!

Our boys basketball team won their first game of the season last night! We went for the first half, and it was a good game--very back and forth. I am amazed at how those high school guys can hit the 3-pointers time and again.

Here's what it takes to be a cheerleader...as near as I can figure (well, this and getting up at 5am for the 6am practices all year):

There's a lot of this before the game.

Followed by some of this when the game first starts.

And a lot of this during the game.

Given my new found basketball skills, it looks like the ref is traveling to me!

Still getting the hang of this camera. I like some features, but not nuts about the action shots so far.

Don't Worry

If you're missing the prince, don't worry. He'll be back in the blog shortly in full color. He's got an up-coming choir concert, an up-coming choir feast, and lots of basketball this month. You'll see him soon. :)

A Kickline

I hope this works. This was taken a couple of weeks ago on my old camera. I ran out of battery at the end. Glad I got this on video since it's being retired.

"You wouldn't make a good jumper."

Last night the 4 of us sat around visiting when the princess mentioned that she might go out for track this spring. She asked her older--track experienced--brother what events he thought she might be good at. As he paused to think, she asked, "What about long jump. I think I'd be good at that." He quickly said, "You wouldn't make a good jumper. You can't jump." I had to laugh at that. Where has he been for the last few years??? I think she might just excel at long jump, high jump, triple jump...

Silly brother!

For Wendy

Look at your beautiful niece! I love this shot. My camera has an 8X zoom, but in digital it can go to 25X though the 25X is a little grainy. This photo is at 25X. She was across the gym and diagonal from where I was sitting. My action shots didn't turn out very good at today's game, but I really liked this one. And she looks SOOOO beautiful here! Just like she always does.

Today's Dance Performance

The princess had another dance performance today. I got a chance to play with my camera. It's a work in progress, but the good news is I'm now 1/2 through the 200 page instruction booklet. I have no idea what I'm reading most of the time, but sometimes it's helpful. :) As always, the girls (and a few boys) did a great job, and it was a fun show, especially the little girl who couldn't stop picking her nose through her whole dance. Too funny!

The princess with her "littles". Look at how enamored they seem to be with her!

Beautiful.

The kickline. I'm pretty sure I should be able to take this photo w/o the blur, but at least their faces are clear. (For my family, that's Christian--who is now taller than her--on her left.)

Today was the last day for the kickline.

It's being retired, and we are sad.

Final Basketball Game

The princess played in her final game of the season today. They have one more game tomorrow, but she has to miss it for a dance performance. They didn't win, but they played a great game.

Pregame advice from the coach.

Waiting her turn to play.

She's not the only one doing the fouling.

Sometimes she gets fouled.

In fact, she only got called for one call today, though it might have been warranted.

She did make the girl cry--accidentally.

Taking a shot.

Today she got to guard someone her own size!

ACTION!
Or..."I whip my hair back and forth, I whip my hair back and forth!"


Post game huddle.

These photos came from our new camera. I didn't even have to clean them up. Tomorrow I'll take some dance photos and try the video function. So far I like this little camera. Merry Christmas to me!

About "George Clooney The Last Great Movie Star"

It's no secret that I love George. He's soooooo pretty. So when I was at the library the other day and saw this bio on him, I decided I must check it out. What a disappointment. This was actually a revised and updated edition, but it was really just the author quoting other people who have interviewed him. I don't think she ever did! What's worse is that there were typos on about every 1oth page. You'd think, the second time around, those would have been fixed! It was interesting to see how he steered his career with integrity (he signed a 5 year contract to do ER but was doing movies by the end of the first year; he was offered an out of that contract but stayed because he gave his word that he would, plus he was having fun and making good money), but aside from that it was BORING. On the plus side, it was a quick read with lots of big print and white space. And the only reason it got one star is because it had lots of pictures! But really, all I needed to do was read the back pages where she lists all his movies (most of which I've never seen...and I call myself a fan!!!) and the awards they've won, lists the highlights of his life (basically a recap of the first 3/4 of the book), lists 28 pages of sources for all her information, and maybe most interestingly, lists the 100 movies he thinks were most influential in the 1950s-1970s. He gave the 100 movie set to friends for Christmas one year. You all can pass on this one. I've got ya covered!