Age 11

The boy is, um, creative.  Two instances from the past week.

1. Nathan was going to a whisky tasting.  He announced he was leaving so he could get there a little early.  Z's commentary: "Get in early, start drinking early.  Squawkadoodles."

2. Nathan was tucking in the kids.  He noticed that the plastic bag left there a month ago had not left the middle of Z's room.  He picked it up and began teasing Phin with it.  The dog obligingly jumped at it and ripped it in multiple places, virtually tearing it in half.  When Nathan went to throw away the bag, Z ran after him, protesting that it would be wrong to throw away Frederick.  The bag.  Its name is Frederick.  Not only did Z retrieve Frederick from the trash, he set him in the middle of his room and proceeded to perform CPR.  Nathan was told that Frederick was breathing again.

Christmas!

Christmas at Amah's!

Z was trying to figure out his presents by touch and smell.

 Z got Mardi Gras beads and disgusting fake teeth in his stocking.  He couldn't have been happier.

Christmas at home!

Christmas in Kansas!

The traditional trip to the Topeka Zoo.  The masked ones (from left to right) are Z, Faith, Eden, and Katy.

These two parrots were making quite a ruckus!  I love Eden's face!

Z, Charis, and Quentin with the monkey.

This is the note Eden left for me the first night we got home after being in Kansas.  She was quite sad about leaving Kansas and needed a sympathetic ear.

Church Christmas Program

Each year our church does a little kids' Christmas program.  This year Z introduced the whole thing and Eden was the main angel. The whole group sang some songs at the end.  They all did a great job!

Eden and Jada having fun after it was all over.

Being Bad

Eden has a little plastic bird that tweets and whistles and will also record short snippets and play them back in a high pitched voice.  Last night Z was playing with the bird and recording things that sound funny when a little purple bird says them in a high pitched voice.  Things like, "Die" said very low and very slow.  Or "You will fail in life," also said low and slow.  He had one-liner after one-liner, all of which the bird faithfully repeated.  Eden, Z, and I all found it very hilarious.

After a little while Z put the bird down and left the room.  Eden immediately picked it up and said into the recorder, "I'll see you in hell!"  Low and slow, of course.  I was a little shocked and gently reprimanded her, saying we don't really want to see anyone in hell.  She sat silent a moment, and then said in a dejected voice, "I'm bad at being bad."

Hark how the Bells

Christmas is coming!

Reformation Day/Halloween

Every fall on the class day closest to October 31, my Church History students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite person from Church History for Reformation Day.  Each person who dresses up gets extra credit, then everyone gives a short speech (in character) and we vote on the class favorite.  This year five of the students came up with a group costume -- they came as the USF Theology Department!  It was seriously funny, and their speeches (in character) were pretty much dead on!

The Drs Gregg

The Drs Foster

The Drs Hiigel (Once we got class started and I was lecturing about whatever we were talking about, I happened to glance over at Addy (aka Dr. Hiigel), and she was paying very close attention while thoughtfully stroking her mustache.  It was hilarious -- I lost my place in the lecture from laughing so hard.)

The Drs. Hitchcock.  I  have exactly those shoes.

The USF Theology Department (with Dennis on the far right!)

And here's everyone who dressed up!  They are (from left to right): Pope Gregory the Great (he didn't want to be pope so everyone had to look for him! :-)), Eve, Dr. Foster, Dennis Thum, Dr. Hiigel, Dr. Hitchcock, Mother Theresa, Andy Mineo, the apostle Paul, John Knox, Martin Luther, and Dr. Gregg right in the front.

That same day is, of course, Halloween.  It was the first Halloween that Z did not go trick-or-treating!  Instead, he went to youth group at the church and had a super fun time.  Eden did go trick-or-treating -- she was dressed up as a wood elf, complete with ears, flower crown, and bow and arrow.

 

She got SO MUCH candy!!

Amah's Birthday

Yesterday was Amah's birthday.  She, Papa John, Henry, and Joyce (Lisa's friend and neighbor) all came over to our place to celebrate.  She requested apple turnovers instead of a cake, so that is what she got!