Who dealt this mess?

We're sitting here playing 7-up and someone (which may or may not have been me) was hogging the seven of diamonds which meant no one could play diamonds until I did. Sneaky, huh? Anyway, Josie continues to ask where the diamonds are. As I finally play the seven of diamonds Josie exclaims "Yeah! Diamonds!". Then, since she's on my left she gets the next turn. What does she play? 

If you guessed a club you might be right. 

Ancient history

We were driving past a high school this morning and Josie asked where the kids have recess. She was rather disappointed when I explained that recess as she knows it stops after elementary school. She said something about how she can't wait for college then. Apparently she knows something about  "college recess"- uh oh! 

I tried to regain some of her enthusiasm for post elementary school by pointing out that the kids get to switch classrooms and teachers for each class. I was explaining that she'd have one teacher in one room for math and another teacher in another room for history and so on. She quickly interjected that she knows all about history because it's something that happened "a long, long, long time ago.....like your birthday". Hmmmm......is 1978 considered ancient history these days? 

Someone is getting awfully close to a last minute switch to the naughty list! 

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

The Vey-ber Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with the "Vey-ber's" this weekend. 

Somehow Siri can pronounce Fairclough correctly but can't quite give up the German pronunciation of Weber. 

We enjoyed conversation, food (Krumkake anyone?) and gifts. And would you believe that I had my camera out and never took a single picture. Not.a.one.

We looked a little like this....

(I may or may not have added in a Christmas theme to some birthday pictures- you be the judge)

More elf antics

He trapped Josie in her room! 

And what did he wrap???? 

Her lunch! Imagine her surprise when she open her lunch bag that day. 

Proof!

You may or may not know this about me....

I was very happy as an only child. You could say that my little world was perfect. Then mom and dad had to go off and give me a sibling. And to make matters worse, his birthday falls 2 weeks before mine and that was (is) totally unacceptable! Never mind that I had 5 more birthdays before he showed up. Never mind that I was the older sibling and got to do everything first. Never mind that I sorta kinda like the guy now.

Finally, at 35 years old I got the proof that I've been waiting for- they like me better. Sorry Ted.

J-I-N-G-L-E-Bells

Round two of belling ringing happened on Tuesday night. Josie was a lot more interested in singing with her friends this time!

It turned out that the girls knew approximately 3 songs (and I use that approximation loosely) and kept repeating whatever portion of each song they happened to know. We were through their whole songbook after 14 minutes and they continued to repeat said songbook for another 46 minutes. I think we owed the store workers some sedative after listening to it for a whole hour!

In the end the girls did a fabulous job of helping raise money for a great organization. I'm so proud of them!

Lydia, Reese, Julia and Josie

Blake

And if you haven't heard this version of Jingle Bells....check it out!

More elf sightings

And a funny little link about the craziness of the households that host an Elf on the Shelf and how not everyone appreciates our hospitality. (Thanks Jill!) 

The most wonderful time of the year

As Josie always reminds me- its better to give than to receive. I think she mostly wants to be on the receiving end of my giving but I'll give her credit for the sentiment.

Over the past several weeks my life has been deeply touched by the giving of others. As a result of this giving, the children and families of Kari's House Child Care Program were able to present Kari with the gift of a lifetime- the realization that her belief in the importance of literacy has made an impression on others and the ability to share that message with many more kids and families through her stewardship of two Little Free Libraries.

It all began with an idea and a phone call. What happened from there turned out to be amazing!

It goes a little something like this:

We really like books

It’s all been agreed

Better take a look

Please take it from me

Little Free Library is coming to town

He’s making a cut

And measuring it twice

Gar’s work turned out really, really nice

Little Free Library is coming to town

Home Depot gave supplies

The children used their hands

It all turned out so very cute

We hope you like our plans!

O! We really like books

It’s all been agreed

Better take a look

Please take it from me

Little Free Library is coming to town

Little Free Library is coming to town

And it looked a little something like this:

Home Depot....giver of the goods

Gar, woodworking savior

And it was presented like this:

Santa giving Kari a gift. She wondered why it had a Home Depot ad. 

Santa asked for the Home Depot elf....and in he came! 

What could these big orange packages be???

The realization

Kari's House kids, Santa and Tyler (the Home Depot elf)

So many elves came together to make this possible….

Gar Pronk

        Time, talent and workshop to build the libraries

Kari’s House Kids and Families

        Hand prints (of course!)

        Time, talent and support

Home Depot

        Tyler Lindhart, Lanny Tippetts, Rick Johson, and more!

        All supplies for 4 Little Free Libraries

        Employee book drive (to fill the libraries with books)

        Private tour and building workshop for Kari’s House Kids

That silly elf!

Christopher Pop-in-kins has been making his way around the house this December. 

Josie is so glad to have him back! 

Love note from Josie

Hanging in the stocking

A winter display for Heather's birthday

Reading with Kate

Chilling with Josie's lunch

Catching a ride with Rudolph