Ain't I Pretty

It's a communist plot.

I'm taking over.

Don't worry, no

one else is......

Maine in April

Whatever happened to snow on

Christmas????

This is our second snowstorm in April
and we have the possibility of another on Monday.

Hey Ma, Look at me!

ON THE WHOLE JUSTICE THEME......

http://www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolatecampaign/

Please look for the fair trade symbols on things you purchase.

Justin's art

Can you see the resemblance?

Contradance video

Contradance

Do you know what a contradance is? I didn't know until tonight. Renee and the beginner strings played 2 songs at it. It was a blast. If you ever get a chance to go to one I recommend you put aside any aversion you may have to dancing and go for it. Justin even danced with Barbara.

Another snow storm

We had another snowstorm on Friday.
The kids had another day off from school. Saturday was a good day to play and play they did. Justin built a fort. Renee a snowman, and Barbara just played with the dogs.

What have we been up to...

Here is Renee participating in her first recital She played both the piano and the cello. She is sitting next to my cousin Spring who happens to be the teacher. Spring doesn't teach her cello but she thought it would be nice for the other students to hear some different instruments.

Justin is learning the clarinet. He has

had 2 lessons so far. Also taught by

Spring. Hopefully he'll be ready for

high school band next year.

We had our first major snowstorm on Valentines Day. We didn't even start getting truly cold weather until the end of January. (just in time for Curtis' outside job building a garage) Now the weather is sooooo cold. We haven't had this much extended cold weather in while. It's supposed to get in the 30's this week and that almost feels warm! Curtis has been trying to teach Justin how to use the snowblower. I'm not so sure if that's working out for us or not......

If you look hard you can see the snow shooting off to the right. This picture was taken inside the house from my living room window.

our fish tank

After four years in storage our fish tank has been set up.

We are using African fish this time.
Hopefully they will all be here in the mornin'

Curtis as a Sumo wrestler

We had our New Year's Eve Party last night. One of the games we used was Sumo Wrestling.
Here you can see Curtis and one of the teens

trying to "bounce" each other out of the ring.

I think I like the skinnier version of Curtis better..... (and what's the deal with those "underpants"....?)

Justin with his new "lid"

Christmas

We were blessed this Christmas with gifts from friends.
Some gifts from people we know and others left mysteriously on our doorstep.

Thanks to all of you!

Christmas pictures

Renee and Barbara both got a "build a bear" from their dad. Barbara was especially happy to get Sally back, her long lost dog from Christmas past.








Renee and Barbara gave Justin a pillow that you can plug your music into. So now he can listen to his music through his pillow while he sleeps.

A game of LIFE on Christmas....

We had fun playing LIFE with our family.
My dad had a scare a couple of weeks ago and was intensive care. He's okay now but it gives new meaning to these things.....
As you can see by the expression on Barbara's face that it was a little crazy at the beginning. But, apparently Barbara is the business person in this family because her team won. She happened to pick a very lucrative profession, computers. Well, the game ended and Renee and I were the poorest. Curtis and Justin did all right in the entertainment business. Maybe we should think about a career change....

Pictures of Renee's string concert

Renee looking beautiful as always.

There are 3 cello players amongst 60+ violinists all with one teacher. I think Renee picked the right instrument!

Justin and Barbara not so patiently waiting. (I made the hat for Barbara)

Renee's first strings concert

Well, I took many pictures of Renee's first concert. Unfortunately, not one picture was blog worthy. So I am relying on my mom to send me a picture that she took. There were 70 beginner strings, 3 cello's, 3 violas, and the rest violins. Their strings teacher must be a very patient man to deal with all those 4th graders. Renee is now back playing piano again. So, maybe one of my children will be famous and take care of me in my old age. They all seem to have something that they are good at!

Curtis hard at work

Can you guess who Justin is dressed like?

Today Justin went to a 1950's party.
Clue: The girls didn't come running when he snapped his fingers....
(well maybe they did, I'm not sure...) 

Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski (want to be challenged?) A Must Read according to Curtis

"After meals from garbage cans and dumpsters, night after night Mike and Sam found their beds under bridges and on the streets. They were forced to depend on the generosity and kindness of strangers as they panhandled to sustain their existence. For more than five months, the pair experienced firsthand the extreme pains of hunger, the constant uncertainty and danger of living on the streets, exhaustion, depression, and social rejection—and all of this by their own choice. This is their story. Through Mike’s firsthand account, Under the Overpass provides important insight into the truths of the street and calls the younger generation of believers to take great risks of faith to bring Christ’s love to the neediest corners of the world."