MAMMOTH Update

Since my last post was around Halloween and pictured the kids in their costumes, I've got some catching up to do.

For Thanksgiving, we took a roadtrip to Florence, Alabama to see Robert's family. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Robert's grandparents' (the kids' great grandparents') house with them, Robert's mom, sister Candace, brother-in-law Sam, and nephew Caleb.


Kate posing while Garrison and Brennan play with their DS. Grandma (great grandma) is in the background.


Kate and her cousin Caleb playing Ring Around the Rosie...

Christmas pictures are being pared down to just a few for the mammoth update. Here is Kate finally feeling comfortable in Santa's lap - just long enough to tell him what she wants for Christmas.

I monogrammed matching aprons for me and the girls to wear while we do our Christmas baking.

Making the kids' favorite lime sherbet punch...

Kate taking over the punch-stirring...

Look at that devious face! Garrison making off with the Tortuga rum cake...

Garrison HAD to have snow goggles. He can't stand for one speck of anything (in this case snow) to get on his glasses.

Practicing snowboarding in the front yard...

Me and Brennan

Kate sledding on the steep hill at Thornton Park...

I'll never lose track of her while sledding; Kate screams the whole way down.

Brennan with the frozen Shaker Heights pool in the background.

Garrison snowboarding at Thornton...

And now for some shameless bragging about my kids. Stop reading here unless you want to hear me go on and on about my great kids!

Kate
Kate lost her first tooth and had a visit from the tooth fairy!

Here she is in our homeschool classroom surrounded by some of her work. We will finish the kindergarten curriculum in a couple of weeks and end the school year reviewing and working on projects. She is over the moon about her science report on the sunflower seeds she is growing and also making a family tree. The family tree idea was hers. She wanted to make one, complete with photos, after watching Garrison and Brennan make them for their Spanish classes.

History lesson...

Garrison
Garrison was selected to be on the Power of the Pen (a writing contest) team for his school. This picture is of the boys receiving a team award at Hathaway Brown School. Garrison is on the left in the black and grey jacket. From here, he qualified for the regionals in Hudson, OH.

His school recently had their second trimester awards ceremony and Garrison made First Honors (the highest honor). Also, he won the academic award for Latin, Spanish, English, and Social Studies.

Brennan
Brennan's school recently held their 5th and 6th grade spring concert. Brennan played her viola in the school ensemble, and in a quartet, and also in a duet. For the duet, she and her friend played Pachelbel's Canon. She is now rehearsing for her next performance in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She found out last week that she made the math team for the second year. They will compete against other schools at a large math competition next month.

Brennan recently played the role of Jan in Grease in Garrison's school's (boys' school) production. Unfortunately, the school wouldn't allow photography of the play or the costumes. She looked fabulous in her poodle skirt and prom dress!