Big victory

Last night our family played our collective favorite game, Dutch Blitz, for about an hour and kept a cumulative score running.  The competition was getting fierce and loud at times... but guess who emerged as the final winner -- by one point -- at the end......  Rayna!!

This is incredible for many reasons, but primarily because it is a game of speed -- which has never been her forte in the past.  I never, never thought I would see the day when she would be able to beat her very competitive brothers (not to mention her parents, who, I might add, are not too shabby at this game!).

We did realize towards the end that she seemed to be stacking her deck a bit for the beginning of each hand, but even then I was just impressed that she knew how to do that.  We told her to stop, which she did -- and she still won the final round.

Way to go Rayna!

Overheard #happiness

Last night as I was walking past the boys’ bathroom while they were taking a shower, I heard this conversation:

M: Colsen, when was the moment when you were the happiest?

C: I don’t know.  Maybe when we got the dirt bike.

M: Or what about when you got waders?

C: Yeah, that was, too.  And when I got my new yo-yo… and my fishing____ (couldn’t hear all of this)

M: Well when do you think you’re GOING to be the happiest in your life?

C: I don’t know!  We don’t know what’s going to happen.  I might not even live very long.

M: I know. But I know something that’s going to definitely happen no matter what…

C: Oh yeah!!!  HEAVEN!  I can’t believe I forgot about that! That will definitely be the happiest.

M:  Are you sure?

C: Yeah, as long as I’m going to Heaven.  I THINK I am.  No, I know I am. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and He has forgiven my sins, so I’m going to Heaven.

{At this point they come out of the bathroom, having finished their showers, completely dripping because they never remember to take towels in with them.  They see me standing there.}

C: Mom, when was the moment when you were the happiest?

Me:  Right now.

Mor-Mor

Cheerful Adventurer, Traveler of the world and extensive trekker of the nation, Caretaker, Cheerleader, Faithful journaler, Letter-writer, Grand hostess, Handcrafter, Patient teacher of handcrafts to children, Mariner, Giver of gifts, Cookie baker and bringer, Speedy driver -- even in reverse, Ever-ready co-pilot --prepared with flashlights for late-night driving with no headlights, Friend to someone in just about every town in America, Hard-worker, Green-thumb gardener, Always an optimist, Teacher, Swimmer, Camper, Community walker and greeter, Twinkly-eyed laugh-er, Gray-haired babysitter for many decades, Bridge playing champion in several states, Devoted wife to 2 different mighty and lively men (at 2 different times, of course), Beloved mother, Highly involved grandmother, Cherished Mor-Mor

These are just a few of the things my amazing Mor-Mor was.  Her journey on this side of eternity is over….  I love forward to seeing her again someday.

Audrey Mae Nordquist O'Neill Curtis:  2/9/1921 - 1/8/2018

Pete lines

Me:  You don't have to do it all...
Pete:  Don't worry I got it.
Me:  Why do you want to be Superman??
Pete:  Doesn't everybody?

***

Me: You're so good when we're in a group...  You're funny and lively and NICE -- all the things I'm NOT.
Pete:  Oh, that's not true!  You're funny.

Sisterly silliness

These 2 crack me up.  I love hearing them interact with each other all day long.... Usually Rayna is trying to teach Jinna something or help her with some activity, but sometimes we have moments like this:

We were driving away from Pete's office recently and Jinna was upset because she couldn't ride in Pete's car home.  She cried and begged for a good long time, repeating herself over and over and over, "I want to go in Daddy's car!"  After at least about 7 minutes of just this incessant sobbing, Rayna looked over at her and said, "Jinna, what's wrong??"

I'm glad some of us can tune out that noise!

Sometimes I hear them playing a game together, but the one that's the funniest is when they play "Four Corners" -- with just the 2 of them.  One of them counts and the other goes into one of the corners, then the count-er calls out a number and they get so excited when the hide-r gets caught!  "Jinna wins!" I'll hear.  Then there is plenty of jubilant celebrating.... and they start all over again.

New Year's/Boxing Day/Cousins Day

January 1st was a big day here!

The Cousins all come over for a MINI Cousins Day....

...And then the adults came for a Boxing Day/New Year celebration.

For Boxing Day, the kids all assembled snack boxes to give to the homeless...

..And we had one of our Family Charity Auctions.  Everyone brought a few things they no longer wanted and then we auctioned everything off to whomever wanted them.  (In Dad's case, he just re-bought a lot of the things Mom had brought to get rid of!)

We raised $230 for Lifesong for Orphans!

To round out the evening, we had the not-so-traditional New Year's dinner of pizza and salad.  It was fun to see the whole family one more time before we all return to our regularly scheduled programming for the semester!