Fast & Furious, Short & Sweet

There has been a lot going on around here!  Instead of diving deep into each one, I'll just briefly share via pictures.  Enjoy!


When someone offered us 4 tickets to a Husker game, we knew we had to say yes!  Lige and I decided it would be a good opportunity to spend some special time with our "middles" (well, 2 of them anyway!).  Anlynn and Harrison really enjoyed their first Husker game.  Although to hear them tell it, the shuttle ride on the city bus was the highlight of their night!

Amana's dance studio presented the students with a unique opportunity this past Sunday.  Interested students were invited to audition for a role in Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker.  My often fearful girl REALLY wanted to do this.  After talking it over, as well as discussing her previous experiences of overcoming fear to get to joy, we allowed her to audition.  It was a very formal and intimidating process.  It was nearly two hours long.  The Russian Ballerina in charge was professional, strict, and commanded the students' attention and silence as she worked with each group of dancers.  In the end, Amana left with a role of a Snowflake in the December 2nd show!  I am so very proud of her. When hesitating about letting her audition, she interrupted me to say, "When the teachers first brought it up I was like 'No way, I'd be too nervous,' but then I remembered that God will be with me so I do not have to be afraid."  How could I argue with that?

 

I shared before about Amana's 4H dress qualifying for State Fair.  Now for the update: I was able to take Amana to the fair and meet up with my parents and their friends. It was a treat to be able to check out her Blue Ribbon dress with my parents. We are so proud of Amana and the skills she learned through this project and the fair process.  :)

 Kearney offered tickets for a free ride on a Union Pacific train last week.  The catch?  You had to sit through a talk about train safety.  That sounds like a field trip to me!  We loaded up all the kids and headed off on a morning adventure.

 At the end, Lige took the 4 big kids in for a quick tour of the engine.  While in there, each child got to toot the train's horn!  Perhaps it's just the kid in me, but I think that is SO COOL.  What kid wouldn't think that was totally awesome?!

We have a new pet.  Actually, 4 new pets, but first things first.  Coming out of a meeting one night, Lige spotted a Praying Mantis on someone's car.  He captured it in an old fast food cup and brought it home.  Lige spent a good 30 minutes online finding info sheets and kids' handouts to print for "school".  The kids have had fun with poor Monte.  We (okay, the kids and Lige, and in no way, shape or form am I included in this!)  Trying this again...THEY catch grasshoppers to feed it.  He stalks them and then devours them.  It's great fun.  For them.  Not me.  At all.  :)

And I don't have a picture yet, but our farm cat Skippy Jon Jones decided that last week would be a great time to have kittens.  We were pretty certain we'd have a litter soon, but still managed to be surprised to find Skippy hanging out in her cat carrier out in the garage with 3 tiny kittens. She never goes into the carrier on her own, only when we lock her in there to save her from our dogs running loose.  Perhaps she understood the safety it provided, and so chose it to birth her babes in. 

One of these days I'll get some pictures of Lucy posted.  She is doing all sorts of fun new toddlery things.  Until then...