The Great Pumpkin Roll of 2014

The Nipomo cousins and our friends from "upstairs" (up the hill) joined us for this 6th annual rolling of the pumpkins! All the photos: http://JF2.com/141129/

Thanksgiving Day 2014

It was just "usins" for Thanksgiving dinner today. The four Bigs paired up with adults to help with every part of the meal. And by golly if we didn't sit down to eat within 15 minutes of the appointed hour! Lynn and I visited Trevor and Jen this morning, too. We introverts give thanks for a wonderful day of "just us" once in a while.

Sam and Matt did the prime rib. Serafina, Matteo, Tracy, and Lynn seemed to be all over the place with Grandma's rolls, rainbow jello, potatoes, etc. And AJ and Jamie did the olive penguins. It was quite a day...

All the photos are here.

A Month of Thanksgivings

Lynn offers these Thanksgivings (in no particular order):

Day 1 - Books

Day 2 - Food and Fellowship

Day 3 - Grandkids

Day 4 Family Fun (Easter...)

Day 5 - Family getting together from a far (more...)

Day 6 - The Gift of Music (more...)

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9 - Beautiful places (more...)

Day 10 - New adventures (more...)

Day 11 - Proud member of the
11 Airborne 511th parachute infantry

Day 12 - Healthy Blessings

Day 13 - Amazing Swim Instructors

Day 14 - Refreshing Rain to Run In

Day 15 - All the Ways to Love Blackberries

Day 16 - Important Causes to Support
#TeamJilly ‪‪#‎epilepsyawareness

Day 17 - Being Free to Let Loose (more...)

Day 21 - Blessed with a beautiful voice, Serafina sang for the residents
of the Manse in SLO - a wonderful way to begin the holiday season!

Day 22 - Sweetest of Grandkids in Nipomo.
Thanks to Jen for the photo, too!

Day 26 - thankful for the freedom to take the dog for a walk on this beautiful sunny morning!
And for friends who understand when I post a picture sideways,
or even just think I post a picture sideways even though the phone did it right.

Day 27: As Tiny AJ observed, "I'm thankful for my family and brothers and sisters."
All the photos: http://JF2.com/141127/

Day 29 - For goofy traditions, like the Great Pumpkin Roll,
that family and friends can enjoy. Photos: http://JF2.com/141129/

Home Classroom

It's fun seeing this SLOCA hybrid school arrangement from the home side (after having seen it from the school side when I taught there a couple years ago). Here are a few shots of the goings on so far...

Carpets can be much fun!

Matteo's Viking ship

Sam's making Latin flashcards.

A timeline is starting to take shape.
Eventually it will be all the way around the ceiling.

You never know when you might need some beads, coins, marbles, or the like.

If anyone needs something cozy.

The "Kids' Cubby Hole" lower right is pretty cool!
That over-stuffed chair gets much use as well, mainly for reading.

Activities do spill out onto the deck.

Halloween costumes drift toward history they're learning.
Serafina is Guinevere, Matteo is King Arthur, and AJ is a Dragonslayer.

Coloring

When AJ asks to color with you, it could mean a myriad of activities: checkers, chess, ball toss, watch TV, and even actual coloring with crayons and paper (outlining feet and hands is really fun!). With the new rug in the new classroom, chess has notched up a bit. Of course, AJ has a very unique style of playing, and a very unique set of "AJ rules" to go with it.

Babies' First Trade Show

It was the twins first trade show with Daddy. And it was the big one - PMA. They were huge fans, particularly of their own badges.

Dracula

10/23/14 - Opening night

October 23 thru November 2, 2014
Produced by the Cuesta College Theatre Department
Role: The Child

October 3, 2014
First crack at make-up! This is a VERY different production for Serafina, and she brought the "audience" to tears on a run-through today. Takin' it to the next level.

October 25, 2014
A Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival representative watched her third show of the run and provided about 45 minutes of feedback to the entire company immediately following. He included Serafina specifically in his comments saying her every word, sound, and movement portrayed the emotion of the moment. Wow.

10/22/14: The hair artist for Dracula
asked if we could bring Serafina with corkscrew curls...

Sam got into it, too!