We made it!

Happy New Year!!

Almost there!

1000th Point

#32 Andrew Fleming, a Senior on our team, earned his 1000th point in his basketball career!

What an incredible milestone!!

More than first meets the eye...

I've shared in past years that it is a family tradition for my brother, sister, and me to pose in front of the Christmas tree every year. This year we added our parents, and as if that wasn't good enough, (Because that certainly did make for an extra special photo this year!) we noticed after the photo was downloaded to the computer that their parents/our grandparents are looking over our shoulders. So, there are actually 3 generations in this group portrait.

How cool is that?!

Another new family member!

She named her Phoebe, of course. 

Santa not only heard me, but he listened!

Meet my Spice Finches, Cinnamon & Cloves!!

More Family!

My Favorite Part of Christmas

Tracking Santa

Go BE swim team!

This evening we are cheering on my niece and nephew as they swim for the Scots!

Doin' what she loves!

My new favorite ornament!

My younger son designed and made this for me from acrylic on the etcher/cutter machine that they use in his pre-engineering class. It's so beautiful!

Old cat vs. new cat

I wonder if there wasn't a hole in the door if either of them would have even known that the other was there! It took them a few minutes of yowling before they realized they could walk in opposite directions to get away from each other. It was quite humorous. (for us humans anyway.)

Yes, they can stop the clock there!

Jack Frost is so creative!

Pretty please?

Dear Santa,

Do you think you could squeeze these wicked cute Spice Finches under our Christmas Tree? After all, I've been a good girl this year. Well, most of the time anyway. And, despite being incredibly busy, (Or maybe because we are so busy all the time?) I've posted to my blog every single day!! 

Love, Me

Bonny Eagle Select Chorus

Selfies or groupies?

My older son and I are involved in a debate: is it still called a 'selfie' if there's more than just myself in the picture? Regardless, we had some fun with them on Sunday. First, we taught Grammie how to be in a selfie/groupie...

Then, when Grampa joined us, we did it again!

  He's feeling so much better these days; it's great!!

At the Old Mill

Christmas Tree Hunters

This calls for the 'good stuff'!

Another game tonight!

She was much more comfortable and less nervous tonight, and it showed! She did a great job!!

Strong Legs

It's a good thing that ski practice makes for strong legs!  That way when the cat doesn't want to get off your lap you can walk across the floor like this... 

Pretty Penny

A few days ago our oldest daughter told us about a cat that she wanted to rescue because it was desperate for a home. We reminded her that there are always pets that need homes; that's why we volunteer and help whenever we can, but that we can't bring them all into our home, due to lack of funding and space in our already full house. We discussed it for a few days though (Without emotion because clear heads are needed for such a big decision!) and she gathered as much information as she could about the situation that the cat was in. She also explained to us how she was going to care for it, and be responsible for it going forward. Cats are a long-term commitment. We decided to go visit her and make a final decision at that point.

Poor Penelope had been dreadfully neglected, although not abused, so she is very friendly and cuddly. Although she is less than a year old, she has already had kittens! She is a bit thin - you can see signs of her being malnourished, and her growth may be stunted as she is quite small. Our neighbor had heard about the cat a few months ago, and was finally able to get the owner to release her into foster care because he just couldn't give her what she needs. While in the foster home it was arranged for her to be spayed and vaccinated, and then they started looking for a better home for her.

Once we saw how sweet she is, how could we say, "No"?

1st Game as Varsity Cheerleader

Tonight she cheered as a Varsity Cheerleader for the first time! What an experience that was for all of us. Her father had never watched a basketball game before, and it was a great game. We have an really good team this year, and saw some awesome plays on the court. She was exhausted afterwards from nerves and performing the routines - it's all so new to her. But, she did a fantastic job and smiled through the whole evening!

She gave hers to Lizzy!

Lizzy thought it looked tasty. But, she hung it up on the barn wall where it was safe from cows with the munchies! It make the barn look so festive!!

Our kind of swag!

We made these during the Christmas in Harrison event. Aren't they beautiful?

Christmas in Harrison Parade

Happy birthday Aly Cat!

Preparing for National Cookie Day Tomorrow

He's not much on sharing!

Even if it's HER bed, for goodness sake!! Oh well, she was able to squeeze her way into the corner. Can you guess that it's chilly here this morning?

Beginner's Luck

Maxx was in the Oxford Hills Christmas Parade again this year! We are always so happy to see that old-fashioned Oakhurst wagon coming up the street!!

Under the Table

I'd like to say that I drank her under the table...but no, she was looking to see who crafted the table because her father-in-law built some of the tables in this bar! Unfortunately, it was gross under there!! Ugh.

Marching!

Today she joined her fellow OHCHS Varsity cheerleaders and marched in the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade down the Main Streets of Norway and South Paris.

Lazy Dayz

Thanksgiving Treats

Puppy Love

Another Fantastic Rock Show

2 of my favorite rock bands played in Portland last night. First up was Breaking Benjamin. They put on a great performance, including pulling some kids out of the crowd and giving them the opportunity to sing a song with them. It was so cool for them to be able to do that!

Next was Shinedown. This was my second time watching them perform, and I do not regret going to see them again. They were just as awesome in concert last night as they were 5 years ago! One of my friends and I chose not to fight for a spot in the front row so that we could find space to sing and dance to our hearts' content further back in the crowd. It was a great decision! We had a blast!!

We got our first 'dusting' this morning!

Sent to me by a friend...

Her Idea of Heaven

This morning we started helping out at our local animal shelter, Responsible Pet Care. The work may have been hard, and sometimes quite yucky, but she did all of it without a single complaint because she loves every single one of those fur-babies!

For Deb

Surveyor in Training

Yesterday our youngest son did a job shadow with Matt Burke of Riverside Survey in Bolsters Mills. He brought home a copy of the deed that he was working from, and a map of the plot points that he had helped to locate. He's quite proud of his work! It was a great day, and he is hopeful that he will be able to help again in the future!

Good morning!

My oldest step-daughter shared this amazing photo! She's developing quite the eye for photography. We have lots of colorful skies over our way, but for a good photo you need to wait for the right moment - those dramatic clouds and that fog hanging down low over the trees made it the perfect time for this shot!!

As easy as...

Well, pie would have been good, but we decided to make a cake with our apples instead...

Here's the wicked easy recipe:

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup oil

Mix together and then add:

2 heaping teaspoons cinnamon

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

6 medium apples (peeled, cored and cut in chunks)

Blend all ingredients well. It seems too dry at first, but keep mixing and it will come together. Pour batter into a greased 9x9" pan, and bake in a 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven for around an hour.

Stitching Time