Christmas ties...

Christmas ties!

 I came across this picture recently and wanted to share with you how much and how little changes over time...  We have been known at times to put on our new Christmas duds and take pictures on Christmas day.  I am guessing Ryan is about 5 and Cordell is about 7 in this picture, which would be about 2006.

Ryan is nearly 12, Cordell is 14.

 Fast forward to 2012, six years later.  New Christmas ties again!

And all of us...

Posted by Pam

Pet / Owner look alikes...

I just came across these pictures on the camera and couldn't resist sharing them...  You know what they say about pets looking like their owners, or is it vice versa???

Jenny and Callie

Callie looking rather stylish!

Posted by Pam

Bacon Pictures

So... Last January, as in nearly a year ago, Fine Linen Drama produced a play called, "You Can't Take It With You", affectionately known to the cast as Bacon.  It was wonderfully done with excellent casting, a phenomenal set, terrifically talented acting, outstanding costuming, cosmic comedy, and I could gush on and on.  Oh, and did I mention that Jenny was in it?  Jenny played the role of Alice Sycamore, who falls in love with her boss's son, but is afraid that their two families are too far different for a marriage between them to ever work.

Here are a few pictures...

Kholenkov greets Tony and Alice as they leave for the Monte  Carlo Ballet.

Alice admits what first attracted her to Tony ...

Donald can't seem to take the hint that three's a crowd!

The hilarious game that gets Mrs. Kirby in trouble. 

The Grand Duchess pays a visit.

The extremely talented cast.

Want to see more?  Go to Fine Linen Drama's website to browse the photo album:

Fine Linen Drama Bacon photo album


Oh, and guess what?  "Oliver! the Musical" is coming in March!

2nd Place in OAC Conference!

This past weekend the OAC basketball conference was held in Rolla. Varsity Boys & Girls teams came from Lebanon, Camdenton, Norwood, Ava, Wright County, and even from Mountain Home in Arkansas. Teams are from Christian schools or homeschool groups. Jenny's team nearly beat the winning team, but was defeated by 1 point by a buzzer beater basket. It was a very thrilling game. Here is the team with their 2nd place trophy.

The Royals had a great season, and really improved as a team. It is such a blessing to be able to participate with RHAA and benefit from not only the emphasis on basketball skills, but Godly character as well. By the way, the Girls varsity team received the best sportsmanship award during the conference which the other teams voted on. Way to go Royals!!

Posted by Pam

Hurrah for Ryan!

The Centre hosted a Chess Tournament on Saturday and Ryan was able to compete in it, along with his cousin, David. Ryan was pretty sure he wouldn't do very well since he hasn't played recently.

To Ryan's surprise, he ended up winning the 1-4th Grade catagory. Now, to David's credit, he probably should have won, but there was a mix up and David ended up competing in the next higher age group.
Good Job!

Posted by his proud mom, Pam

Bald Eagles....

One of the benefits to living next to a lake is being able to see wildlife you don't normally get to see. We have really enjoyed spotting a pair of Bald Eagles who like to perch in a tree just beyond our front yard. They also have a young bird, probably not quite a year old yet, who is all brown and doesn't have the white head and tail yet. They are quite beautiful to watch. When the lake thaws out (which doesn't seem to be any time soon), we are hoping to be able to spot them swooping down and catching a fish out of the lake. Picture taken byJenny.

Posted by Pam

We're Back!

Well, we weren't actually gone, just unconnected! I am pleased to report that we have not only unpacked our computers, but also have our internet connection up and running again. Sorry for leaving you dangling with our progress on getting settled out here. Just to bring you up to speed....

Walter fell during the ice we had the weekend before Christmas while working a house fire at work. X-Rays and an MRI led the doctors to suspect a torn meniscus (cartilage) for the reason why Walter had a swollen knee and pain. The workmans' comp doctor recommended 2 weeks of physical therapy, and Walter was placed on light duty work (M-F, 8-4:00 pm). This really squelched our construction project at home. We had barely finished the tin roof before the injury, and had to get help to get the washer and dryer up and running, and the piano and roll top desk moved, etc.

Work on getting settled creeped along as Walter was only home on weekends, but we are mostly settled now. We abandoned the idea of enclosing the rest of the middle room, but at least it is under roof and keeps most of the snow off.

This morning, Friday, January 21, Walter had arthroscopic surgery to smooth out the tear in the cartilage. We are hoping that in another 4-6 weeks he can return to regular duty again.

In the meantime we are starting to look at house plans again. The kids are back to doing school work and activities again and trying to make up for time lost while moving. I am trying to catch up on everything I let get behind, and we are sure enjoying our new home, despite challenges with frozen water pipes, frozen doors, and a camper sized refridgerator and stove!

Christmas morning in the camper.

Our family at a Christmas gathering.

Posted by Pam

Longing for Warmer Weather....

I miss summer.




Sunny Days

T-Shirts

Flip Flops

Swimming

Smelling Freshly Cut Grass

Open Windows

Popsicles

Heat Lightening

Tent Camping

Campfires

And Flowers.


Don't get me wrong, I like winter too. It has things like:


Snow


Sledding


No Insects

Snowman Building

Singing Christmas Songs

Icicles

and the need for Hot Chocolate.




I just really don't think that 6 more weeks of winter is really necessary. =)




~Jenny~

Winter Snow Storm Arrives!

We were excited by last week's snow - about 4" of beautiful white snow. And the best part was nice cold temperatures to keep the snow from melting! Well, actually the cold temps weren't really all that nice - TOO COLD! Between keeping up with the firewood and feeding the animals we still found a little play time... Front of our house.

Ryan on his snow board. (Confession - my camera takes really bad action pictures, so I had him pose. He is really not quite this good.)

Cordell on his snowboard. It was sooo cold that everyone was really bundled up - hence, you can't really see him. (Apologies here - I can't seem to figure out how to rotate the picture....)

After our pond was frozen solid we had this bad idea that perhaps we could use the snowblower to blow the snow off of the surface of the pond. Walter was willing to try, but it didn't work very well. What we really needed was a Zamboni machine!

This became the goal of each day - keeping a hole broken in the ice for the cows to drink from. The sledge hammer method seemed to work the best.

And this is Jasmine, who didn't seem to mind drinking out of the frozen pond.

A Missouri Flamingo. Chickens apparently don't like stepping in snow, so often stand on only one foot. We currently have 9 Plymoth Barred Rocks, and look forward to them beginning to lay eggs this spring.

Callie, of course, had fun playing in the snow. Callie is Jennifer's 3 year old Golden Retriever.

Jennifer gets a kiss from Senora, our nearly 2 year old Anatolian Shepherd mix.

Ryan worked very hard sweeping off this spot on the pond so he could slide on it.

Cordell and his cousin, David, take a break from their sweeping efforts on the pond.

Don't we have a wonderful God who gives us such a beautiful and fun thing to enjoy as snow!
Hope you enjoyed these pictures. Posted by Pam