I think this video was inspired by my Grandma Ketcham.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We headed to Shawn's folks for the holidays, where we did a whole lot of nothing, and in fact we are STILL doing a whole lot of nothing.

Corbin's Lesson

The other day I was teaching a lesson in a fourth grade classroom on finding area and perimeter of irregular polygons. The teacher and I had the kids use toothpicks to create a floor plan of their "dream bedrooms." They could put anything in their dream rooms they wished, and unsurprisingly, they did. Swimming pools, hot tubs, roller rinks, skate parks, baseball diamonds, trap doors, art studios, recording studios, game rooms, ice cream counters, ornate hamster labyrinths, personal libraries: they were all there.

While the other kids filled their 12 x 18 inch papers with elaborate wishes and nooked and crannied floor plans, Corbin had just one small rectangle in the middle of his paper, with the words "My Bed" in one corner, "My Brother's Crib" in another corner, and "Our Dresser" and "Closet" in the remaining corners. We thought maybe he had misunderstood the directions and didn't know he could make up anything he wanted, so his teacher asked him about it.

Corbin explained, "Well, everyone wants these really cool things in their rooms, but I just want what I already have. Sometimes people don't even realize that the things they want most are the things they already have! It's like in the movie The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy tapped her shoes together at the end of the movie and said, "There's no place like home." She was right! There is really no place like home!"

Sometimes I teach kids. Other times, they teach me.

Pals

Kellie was 4th in the Freshman race at Districts last weekend, and because she's previously beaten one (or two? I can't remember these things) of the three girls who were ahead of her, she needed a little cheering up. Molly, in her afro (a gift from Kellie), did a great job helping Kellie out of her little slump. I love these pictures. Girlfriends are priceless.

Even though I link to my nephew's blog, I still occasionally lift a video here or there that makes me smile. This one stars Jonas, describing either some bizarre dream, or an idea for a screenplay or novel that he's maybe trying to pitch to his dad. Considering the quality of some movies and books out there, this one could have potential.

Re-try

I'm going to try publishing this video in the blogger format instead of from YouTube to see if it's less grainy and fuzzy. This was Kellie's first XC win. We were pretty excited for her!

This and that...just to say I've posted recently.

Cody brought Hayden over for a little target shooting practice in our back "yard" the other day. He's a great shot and he makes the cutest faces trying to look down the scope! Shawn took a lot of pictures and video that I'll post as soon as I get them downloaded. This little guy is about as cute as they come. Hayden, I mean.

Aaack. Kellie's first Homecoming dance was last weekend! Here she is with her good friend Molly waiting for the boys to arrive to pick them up. As soon as we get the dance picture scanned in, we'll post it.

Summer is, obviously, over.

I heard someone say once that blogs are often like painfully bad Christmas letters that go on and on...and on...year round. Ours could be one of those. Fortunately for our three readers, school has started again so I have very, very little time to work on our blog. But I do know that my friend Jenny actually checks and reads our Perpetual Christmas Letter. I know this because she has begun sending me decidedly UNfriendly emails asking when I am going to remove the (what I believe is HILARIOUS) video of the ass-kicking child and put up a REAL post. So here you go, Jenny. Just be glad that I spared you a detailed account of Shawn's colonoscopy. I'm saving that for the real Christmas letter.

Below: Shawn and Kellie, first day of High School. For Kellie, I mean.

Kellie and me. Obviously.

Kellie, SpiderFreshman, slings her web before heading off to school. Turn your hand over, dingus. Arrgh...you'll never Defeat any Evil Doers that way.

Kellie lives and breathes for Cross Country. Here are a few pics from the season so far.Kellie's first XC trip of Highschool was to Boise, Idaho. The top 8 runners on her team went, and since Kellie is number 8, that included her. They flew down. I don't remember traveling by plane to any sporting events in HS. Then again, I don't remember traveling to any sporting events in HS, period. Except to watch.Kellie came home on cloud nine, with a medal for placing 7th (out of 140ish girls, I think), and muddy spikes to verify the significance of her accomplishment.

Most recently, MSHS competed at Seimers Orchard on Greenbluff. It was a stunning fall day and the girls were psyched. Kellie leaves it all out there every race.

We're over-the-top proud of her.

Ok, one final note. This turkey was challenging his reflection at our basement slider door this afternoon. I'm sure there is something more clever to say about this picture, but I'm only just a little smarter than the turkey so it's not coming to me at the moment. Funny though, isn't it? This is actually the second time we've had a turkey visit our basement door and try to kick his own ass.

The Omak Stampede, 2008

Shawn's parents treated the family to the Omak Stampede last weekend. These photos are mostly ours but there are some of the Suicide Race that we simply couldn't have taken...you will know which ones they are. Thanks, Mom and Dad! We had a great time.

Just in Time for High School...

Kellie just got her braces off! THREEE LONGGG YEARSSS. A LOTTT OF MONEYYY. So we worked up a routine to celebrate and share with our friends and family. Enjoy.

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A Day at the Laundromat

Summer is for doing all of the chores that get neglected during the school year. Kellie and I lugged the comforters to the laundromat this week. I remember the laundromat being kind of a boring and depressing place, back when I had to use one, in my pre-washing machine days. But Kellie pointed out that there is actually a lot to do at the laundromat besides wash and dry and wait.

You can get your sticker shopping done.

You can play in the play area with the three toys that have not been stolen yet. Or washed, ever.

You can read all of the ridiculous signs that hve been posted, such as this one, which points out that the machine is out of order. Really? I wouldn't have known, from the gaping hole where the coin slot is supposed to be.
You can look for things stuck to the ceiling. Mostly little sticky hand toys. Maybe you can try to get them down.
You can make funny faces for the security camera. From the looks of the laundromat, the guy who is supposed to monitoring the camera is asleep in the back.
You can plan your next vacation.
You can relax in the lounge, and watch the flat screen TV. It's Michael Scott's dream. He could just stand there and watch TV for hours.

You can wash your low meat. Low meat?
You can brush up on your spelling skills. Oh, Low HEAT. Permanetly, apparetly.
You can smoke a few cigs, and then drop them for someone to pick up later. Some might call you rude and inconsiderate, but you would really be philanthropic. You would help to stimulate the economy by giving people jobs to do, like pick up your garbage for you.And finally, you can get career ideas. At least you would only have one color group to deal with at the laundromat: camo.

MSHS XC

Kellie and her team met for a run in 7-Mile followed by a barbecue at Coach Linder's house. Here they come. There they go. XC isn't always all that eXCiting to watch.
Why are you walking, Kellie?
Kellie and Johanna.

Here's Linder with Caleb, and below that, Amanda with Hailey (just peeking in from the corner). Thanks for the hospitality and the burgers.

The Way, Way Back

This is the best documentary ever made. It's a year old but it was just posted on my nephew's blog. So I tried to lift it, like the birthday movie from earlier this month, but no go. It was filmed and edited by Jonas' dad, Laurence Gonzales. Check it out: The Way, Way Back

They're back!

Shawn's little brother Clint and his wife Kris have returned from Baltimore, Maryland. Clint is able to work from home and Kris can be a stay-at-home mom. Lucky duck. They spent the weekend with us before Clint left for San Jose on business (how is that working from home?). Here's a quick video of our time together. Kris and I opted for a pedicure while the kids arched. Archered. Archeried. While the kids shot their bow and arrows.

More Robin Hood in the backyard

This is me, Maid Marion.I am shooting at one of these targets. Hmmmm....which one should I get? My husband is so dreamy...he keeps many animals behind the house so whenever I need something to cook for dinner, he just goes out back and gets me a delicious rack of foam venison ribs. Dad shows Mom how it's done...
And mom does it. Good form.