New Year and already behind

 Happy New Year, yes, four days late- that's how I roll. I hope that all y'all had blessed Christmas vacations (or staycations) and New Years celebrations sans drama or police involvement or anything other than the way you had hoped 2023 would go out. I know quite a few of you were more than happy to see the old year out. 

New, fresh beginnings, huzzah!

My parents made it out for a between Christmas and New Years visit and are safely home again. We'd seen Dad in August, and Mom had come out in June to keep an eye on the kids while we were in Scotland but I hadn't seen her in person since April and that's a really long time to go without my Tiny Mommeeeeee! Thank you to any/all of who you have prayed over her and wished her well through her year of health issues. We all are very appreciative.

School started today for the Damonater, to his intense distress. However, he does have Phys Ed and his STEAM class this semester, so it'll be interesting to hear the report of how the first day went down. 

Five more days and we'll have been married for 25 years. He has put up with me for a quarter of a century, people, and most of that was even spent in the same state together. Amazing. That man deserves a medal. Or cookies. Or something. Prayers, probably.

We5 are well, staying warm in the subfreezing temps, prepping for the snow we're supposed to get this weekend. We hope you kicked off 2024 to a great start!

Gandhi

The entire second grade has been working on their biography reports. You may remember when Carrie gave her report on Alexander Graham Bell. Liam chose Gandhi.




Thursday was his day to present, so we dressed him up and sent him in with all his paperwork. We'd talked at length about what prejudice, nonviolence, oppression, hunger strikes, and imprisoned meant. I even learned a thing or three. Liam discovered that what most amazed him about Gandhi's life was not how much time he spent in jail or the fact that he was once thrown off a train. Liam was most surprised that Gandhi had gotten married when he was thirteen.

At any rate, he must have answered all the audience's questions well enough; he earned every possible point for his speech and his book report. He missed a few points on his timeline, but altogether he earned a 94.5 out of 100! Way to go, Liam!


 

Pap's party

Pap had his 70th birthday party at a shelter at the park. The whole family invited friends young and old, and quite a few family members made the trek for cake and ice cream and pie... oh, all right, there was LOTS of real food there too, but we know why everyone really came.


 

You'll see several kids with raincoats on, and plenty who have shucked theirs and ran around in the rain regardless. It was a damp and drizzly day. That didn't seem to affect the cheery partygoers or dampen the birthday boy's spirits.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pictures speak for themselves; everyone enjoyed themselves and there was a LOT of laughter.

I'd never seen this picture before, but it has become one of my favorites. These are Pap's parents, Mona and Charlie. She was a teacher, and therefore not allowed to marry. So they married in secret. I love how romantic that is! They are so incredibly cute. I never got to meet Mona, and only got to spend a brief amount of time w/ Dada's quiet grandfather. I do miss his killer handshake and his twinkly eyes.  
 

 

Neva with Aunt Becky, who is doing what she does best- teaching reading.

And I love how Liam is listening to Michael so raptly. The kids cannot get enough of Michael. Any single ladies out there should seriously snap him up- he is wonderful.
 

 

Hehe, and then there's Zach. He was completely soaked and loving every minute of it. I'm fairly sure that entire puddle is just from him, waterlogged socks and all.
 

Glad you had a great birthday, Pap! Thanks for a fun party!