Church Christmas Program

We had our Christmas program at church this past Sunday.  Z was Joseph and Eden was an angel.  They both did a great job speaking their lines.  I could hear Eden clear as a bell say, "Glory to God in the highest!" and she led all the children in singing "Joy to the World."  They're the sweetest!

The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg

Z was in another play this year.  He was the king in The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg.  The video has all three plays from his class, but Z's is the first one.

Overheard

We had a movie night tonight.  Eden wanted to watch the most recent version of Cinderella and Z wanted to watch The Empire Strikes Back.  We put the names in a bowl and Nathan drew one out -- Cinderella!  Z wasn't very happy about it, but was a good sport overall and watched the movie with Eden and me.  At one point the prince's father is dying, and the prince is by his side.  As they have a heartfelt and loving last conversation Z says, "Great.  We should have watched The Empire Strikes Back because now I'm crying.  Thanks a lot, movie!"

As Z and Eden were getting ready for bed tonight Z was talking about the Hulk.
Eden:  Z, you should think about real life!
Z:  Real life is boring.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the best mom and yaya around!

Here she is with all the grandchildren, aged 20 down to 4, blowing out the candles on her fruit birthday cake at her surprise birthday party.  A wonderful time was had by all!

 

Nathan, Spokesman for the Heavy Games

From the Aberdeen Heavy Games, Sep 19, 2015

Feminism Fail

This evening at dinner we were discussing the merits of various superheroes.  Z asked me who my favorite superhero is, and we had the following conversation:

Me: My favorite superhero is Buffy.
Z:  Who's Buffy?
Me: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  She fights vampires.
Z:  What are her super powers?
Me:  She has super human strength and super human healing powers.
Z:  What are her weaknesses?
Me: Hmmm . . . I think the fact that she's in love with a vampire is her weakness.
Z: Yeah, that's a good weakness.  But her super powers aren't very good.  I bet Max Steele could beat her.  I bet the Hulk could beat her.
Me: No they couldn't.
Z:  Yes they could.  They have the same powers she has plus more.
Me:  She has other powers, too.  She's smart and funny and loyal and brave and kind and she takes her responsibilities seriously and -- 
Eden (interrupting calmly): And she's skinny.

What the what??

Good Times with Grandma and Grandpa

Last month Grandpa Lee and Grandma Cindy drove up from Texas to see us at the round house.  How much fun we had, watching a polo match across the street at Windrows, checking out the tractor parade at the Granite Threshing Bee, and gobbling up delicious meals left and right.  Most of all, it was just good to be with each other!

Can one eat his weight in pancakes?  Let us try.

Hiding under the cover of the trees we watched Sioux Falls polo club take down a Minneapolis squad.

The Granite Threshing Bee included a tractor pedal-pull for the kids.  Eden eagerly signed up.  Z was reluctant.  But then, spurred on by the excitement and the provision of sugary beverages by Grandpa, he signed up too.

Eden is clearly from the city.  She got clobbered by the farm girls - but was blissed out the whole time and didn't seem to notice.

Z also had a good ol' time, but didn't fare any better against the John Deere-capped youths of Iowa.  What do they feed those rural scions?

And walks by the river were enjoyed by all.