Tonite's adventures

 Tonite's adventure: We left the house about noon but didn't appropriately puppy proof. I didn't expect to be gone too long. But we were. I put them in prison. But didn't close kitchen doors nor put all of the crap Kat pulled out and left all over the family room. 

So we come home about 6:30. It's about 15 degrees out. Cold. Dark. I'm backing in and have opened the garage door w/ the remote. As I'm starting to back in, I see done kind of movement between the garage & the car.  Deer?  So I stop. Then I jump out of the car as I realize that the movement is two idiot dogs who had apparently let themselves in the garage (when the door wasn't closed tight?). And then came prancing out when I opened the door!!

And they did get all sorts of crap inside. 

They continue to revel in surprising us w/ the most bizarre circumstances that we could never predict.

Our dogs are arsonists!!

Well. I had frosted the final cookies and left them in the counter to harden. Then we were going to lunch with Joan. After putting the idiots in prison, Dan was very cautious about closing the kitchen doors so they didn't break out and eat the cookies. He even put a table in front of one set of doors. And pulled the carpet up tight to the outward opening doors. I thought he was a little obsessed, but didn't comment.

We came back an hour or so later. They met us at the door. Kitchen doors were wide open. Half the cookies were gone. Trays were pushed way back against the wall. And the gas burner was on high! Clicking away. Holy crap!!! And, just last night, after the xmas party, dan had spread towels all over the stove for dish drying.... Hoy. We dodged a serious bullet today.

That's the most serious prank any of our dogs have pulled yet. I thought they were supposed to alert us to smoke/the detectors, etc. not set them off!!!

Sent from my iPhone

Synchro

A new move for synchronized swimming.

Belt testing

Kat belt tested last week and got her high green stripe belt.

Synchronized swimming 'play day'

The girls' (C,G & K) have been taking synchronized swimming since the beginning of October. They're all doing great and learning the basics of synchro. I don't think there will be any actual synchronized (or asynchronized) swimming till next year. Or later. They do enjoy it and are becoming stronger swimmers by the week.

There was a synchro 'play day' Saturday where our level competed in 7 core skills. They all did great. Kat's 8/under age group had just 7 competitors, so she was destined to get a ribbon as one if the top 8. She did place second, which made her very proud. And she got a candy cane, which she was likely more excited about...

Charlie & Gracie did great too! But they faced more numerous and experienced competition, and thus they didn't place. But now we all know what to expect next time. And they had a lot of fun. Mostly goofing around in the cafeteria.....

Santa!

She asked him for a Barbie house, a rainbow loom (she so wants one) and a monster high Barbie. That one isn't happening!!

Kat's new bracelets

Kat trying out a family member's handcuffs. Hopefully the one/only time she'll ever have them on....

Snow!!!!

Snow the day before thanksgiving!! Awesome. I got my car in the garage just in time! Kat & the dogs are loving it.

Happy thanksgiving!

Pic taken by Kat. John and I walked the 5 mile turkey trot yesterday am. It was fun. Next year we might all do it. If Kat's legs get a whole lot longer...

Snow!!

Well, there's not too much snow, but the very dedicated can make a fair number of snow balls if they work hard....

Snow!

Well, It is barely snowing, but that was enough for Kat to get all bundled up, and head outside! So, well there's not enough snow to actually play in, she decided she could swing in the snow and the wind in all her snow gear! She's having a great time, as are the dogs! I managed to make enough room for my car in the garage, so I'm ready!

Kat's performance

Kat's singing performance

The Macarena

Well, she didn't know this dance at the beginning, but she got much of it by the end.

Party!

The Oral Deaf school celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a party for all of its graduates.

It goes without saying that we had a great time! Some of us danced all night!

Every direction I look is North!!!

This is Chris's email from the South Pole. Not enough to be in Antarctica, but this year the South Pole!! He seems pretty excited about it. 

Hey Gang...

 

I'm writing from the FREAKING SOUTH POLE!!!

 

Got in two days ago...it was minus 49 degrees with a minus 81 deg wind chill!!!

To be fair it only takes a breeze of about 10 or 15 miles an hour to drive that kinda windchill. I really didn't feel it cause I was too stoked on adrenalin. At about 10,000 ft elevation and didn't feel that either... same reason...

 

Yesterday was my first day of work... adrenalin gone, welcome to reality... Damn it's cold and I'm outta breath. Went to wrestle a sled out of a snow bank and within 45 seconds was bent over gasping for breath. Cold isn't so much an issue cause I'm wearing so many layers and so active at my job that I'm staying warm. Just gotta be careful cause this is where people get instant frost bite from exposed skin touching super cooled metals or solvents. (Awe man... I don't wanna have to THINK on the job)

 

Absolutely loving it.

 

Hope you are all well, and I will try to get you all some kinda cool souvenier or send you something from the pole.

 

I have phone and internet in my room, which is a big bonus compared to McMurdo. We don't always have satellite coverage for phone or internet but will try to stay in touch...

 

 

Chris

Trick or treating!!!

We had a lot of fun. It's really great to go out as a pack of crazed munchkins!!

The recording studio

Love the wooden baffles in there! This place was so cool!

Kat's recording debut

Her music school is recording a fundraising cd at Robby Takac's (a Goo Goo Doll) studio. So cool!!