Les Miserables

I love this story. It is one of my very faves which makes the fact that I have never actually read it all the more ironic. I read a kiddie, abridged version once, I saw the movie, I saw the play, twice. At one point a could sing the entire soundtrack, which sounds best driving through the canyon on the way to Fairview with a sister singing along by the way. It has been on my list for many, many years to read the complete, original, non-abridged version. I have started a time or two but haven't made it very far. Then last year it occurred to me that like with most projects and goals in life, especially those that are intimidating or overwhelming (1463 pages!?) it is easier to break them down into manageable chunks. So I broke out the calculator and figured that if I read 4 pages a day, I can finish it in a year. I can handle 4 pages. I did this calculation mid-way through 2009, but you can't start a year long project in the middle of the year, that just makes no sense at all, so I have been patiently waiting until January 1st 2010 to read my first 4 pages. 4 down, 1459 to go.

Quotes of the Day

While looking through pictures from our trip to Fairview 2 1/2 years ago...

Audrey: Mom you were SO skinny back then, that must have been right before Hudson was born, he must have given you some baby fat or something.

Cam: No, that was WAY before Hudson was born, he wasn't even invented yet.

I am Thankful for...

These are a few of the things I am most thankful for:

Eternal Families

Freedom

The Scriptures

One Half of My Big Family

Our Fairview Mountain Spot

The Other Half of My Big Family

Sisters

Jobs

Cute, Healthy Kids

The Savior

Our House

David


Love you all

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Word

Hudson has a new word. Sometimes it is bo, sometimes it is mo, sometimes it is oh or go. Despite the different pronunciations, the message is a loud and clear "NO!" Ahhh, toddlers.

Football

Cam played his first season of flag football this fall. He had a lot of fun and is looking forward to playing again next year. Playing has helped him really start to understand the game and so now he will sit and watch the games with Dave. He seems particularly fond of climbing into our bed to watch the monday night games for some reason. Dave likes having a little football watching buddy.

Go Cam go! He's so fast he's blurry (or, mom can't take a decent picture) One of the boys on the team is in Cam's class this year and they had a bet going to see who could score the most touchdowns. I think it ended up a tie with 5 each. I'm not sure what the winner would have gotten besides first grade bragging rights. Cam's first big run of the season he slowed down to almost a stop and started looking around thinking something must be wrong, that he shouldn't have been able to run clear down the field. But he figured out pretty quickly to not stop until the whistle blew. The first seasons of new sports with little kids are very entertaining.

Lining up at running back

His team after the last game. Cam is #36 if you can't tell, because of all the hair in his face.

He also played baseball this spring at the same time Audrey was playing softball. Dave coached his team so I ended missing most of his games because I was with Audrey. I of course forgot the camera on the games I did go to, so no pictures.

Taekwondo

Braxton got his green belt in Taekwondo, right now he is taking a little break to play basketball this winter and will pick it up again in a few months.

Working on his form

In full battle gear.

Softball

Audrey has been playing softball pretty much non-stop since April. She has had fun, had some really great experiences, had some not so great experiences, gotten a couple of second place trophies, to add to her other second place trophy (still waiting on a first place one), gotten a few bumps and bruises and even a couple of homeruns. Here are some pictures in no particular order because I am not good at that!

Audrey and her team after the tournament championship. Hooray for second place!

Audrey and her spring ball team before the tournament championship game.


Audrey's knee after getting hit by the ball. She thought it was really cool to have softball stitching bruises.

Introductions at the All-star Game

Hitting a triple during the All-star game.

She is practicing through the winter and will be playing for the Westerville travel team in the spring and summer. Should be a fun new adventure.