Snow!

Started snowing here Friday at 7 pm - I had just arrived at my friend Kerry's house for a candle party. It came down like mad, and was a good 1/2 in deep by the time I got home at 9:30. The boys had all gone with Gary to Dreamsports, which closed early. Most things closed Friday night or Saturday - no rock climbing, no church, no football. By Saturday morning we had a nice 4-5 inches, but it sleeted most of the day, compacting the snow to 2-3 inches. The boys sledded at Kyle's house for most of the day. I made chocolate lemon bars, tacos, and today made lemon/cherry squares and homemade chicken vegetable soup.

Today we went down to the new part of our neighborhood ... and the hill was even bigger than at Kyle's! Gary and the dogs in the back yard. Today is much warmer, about 36 degrees. Yesterday it didn't get above 25 degrees.

Ben and Alek in the front yard ... it's sunny today.

The house in the snow and sun ...

The car is iced in!

Sounds like a Harry Potter marathon is starting in the other room - gotta run! BTW, no school tomorrow! Already cancelled.

ABS Comp Video

Ben's at 4:30: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTXcAOGpMp4

The end of Alek's Gingerbread House

This is almost the last Christmas decoration to go ... still have to put away the winter dishes and take down the Christmas cards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giJzGjvj8ng

ABS Regionals at TRC

Ben climbed in the Regional competition for bouldering at TRC today. Six boys in his division, all had to climb the same four climbs, and they were very difficult. Ben placed 2nd, and he and his two best friend are all going to the finals tonight!!

I'm loading his 4 climbs on You Tube here:

Climb 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvDtur-T8_I
Climb 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TicZqZ_5n0s
Climb 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gpSelPDV9c
Climb 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRr2TdNOO-U

Ben was in 2nd place going into the finals in Male Youth D. The final routes were very difficult, and he placed 4th overall. We're really proud of the way he competed, and the way he handled himself during hours of isolation and on site climbing. He's dissappointed tonight, but I think he'll bounce back by the morning.

I'm tired and off to bed!

New 'Do for the new Decade

Friday afternoon my friend came to cut my hair. It was long enough to donate to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campain which makes wigs out of real hair and donates them to women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. My long hair before we begin.

Nice and long and healthy.

We put the hair into two ponytails to cut off.

In this picture you can see one ponytail above the other.

After the cut!

The other side.

I'm very happy to have shorter hair again, and to be able to donate my hair to such a worthy cause.

This was after the styling - much smoother!

Oh ya, Ben and Alek both had their hair cut, too, and Alek's was so long my friend had to pin it up!

And here's me, today, after washing and styling my new 'do! I think this will be my new profile picture for a while.

New Table Linens

For Christmas, my mother-in-law gave me beautiful french placemats and napkins that perfectly match my kitchen colors.
Above, Gary and Ben prepare for bagels and bacon for breakfast using the new placemats and napkins.
I used the extra napkins on the buffet. The sunflower plates came from my mom a few years ago.

Another shot of the boys ready for a bright cheery breakfast!