Tabitha

Back to school

| Stacy

Christmas break is over and it is back to the books…  Katriel isn’t so keen on sharing her siblings with higher learning.  She comes around for snuggles as often as possible.

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Sogo Hibachi and Color Me Mine

| Stacy

 

My friend, Darci, coordinated a number of December activities.  Some of us went to her house on Monday to do Christmas crafts, and today I took the three older girls, and our friend, to another day of fun.

We had lunch at Sogo Hibachi.  It was a ton of fun.

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Then we headed over to Color Me Mine for some art work.
It was such a fun day!

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Kids’ last CBS concert together (?) and caroling

| Stacy

As my kids prepared for CBS this morning I had to offer my oldest kids a little in the way of a pep talk.  For reasons I can’t quite explain this puts them out of their comfort zone. 

As they climbed out of the van to head in, it dawned on me this was very likely the only time all six of them would be on a stage together, ever.  This is the first year Katriel was up there, and probably the last year Stewart would be.  Frankly, it is a blessing they are even all there together this once.

So yeah. 

A big Christmas blessing for this Mama.

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Later the youngest three and I went to church to go out caroling.

Do you see that look on Katriel’s face? 
Yes… that just about describes how it went, too.

 

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Chase Farms

| Stacy

I got a quick text from my co-worker and friend, Jamie.  She and her husband were bringing their five kids to Chase Farms for a quick fall outing.  The little girls excitedly exchanged their princess dresses for field trip clothes and we scooted down the street for some fun.

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Tab was chilly, not grouchy.  And I only realized after I’d gotten home I hadn’t taken enough photos…

Being Bolt

| Stacy

Found this jewel in my closet. 
She was being Bolt.
In a cage in the pound.
See Mittens by her side on the floor?

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Here is Tabitha in May 2008 also being Bolt.

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Another fun McDonald’s outing.

| Stacy

I don’t know how I get talked into these things.  Well.  Except.  Look at those faces.

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I will long remember this meal, however, for the conversation. 

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Somewhere along the line Johanna became fascinated with the origin of her ranch dressing.  She asked me where it came from.  I explained that the boy at the counter got it for me.  She asked again where it came from.  I explained it came from a box under the counter.  She asked again where it came from.  I asked her, “The box?” 
“Yes!” she responded.
”From a truck.  A truck brought it here.”
”How did they make the dressing?”
”How did they make the dressing?”
”Yes.  How did they make it?”
”Um.  A company made it and sent it here.”
She persisted, “But how did they MAKE it.”
I burst out laughing.
I went back and started to describe what I imagined the factory looked like.  Something about a vat, and big stirrers, and squirting it into small containers and little lids getting sealed on it. 
“Can you get the recipe?”
”What?  Just eat it.”

As we were preparing to leave the husband and wife who had been sitting in a nearby booth told me how precious she had been and how much they’d enjoyed listening to our conversation. 

It was too much.

McDonald’s chicken nugget ranch dip.

Who knew?