Thanksgiving Trip

We went to Indiana for Thanksgiving to visit Uncle Martin, Aunt Jessica, their kids. It helped that Grandpa and Grandma Madsen came down, too. We did lots -- mostly play Wii, watch movies, be loud, eat, and talk -- but we didn't take many pictures. We did take some when we went out to tromp around Martin and Jessica's land, though...




And we took a couple of pictures of family, too.



It was fun seeing everyone. More pictures up at Flickr.

It's November, but they don't care

We had access to a pool (thanks for getting a hotel with one, Grandpa and Grandma), and the girls wanted to take advantage of it! We went swimming twice: once on Thursday and another time on Friday morning. What fun!

In the Spirit of the Season

I give you Megan's turkey essay.


Salutations, I am Ambrosius (am-bro-O-si-us) Bosschaert (bo-s-chart) the Elder. I was born 1573 in the Netherlands. I have been painting all my life, and have been working on a particular still life painting for a while, and then I saw him:the turkey for my painting. He is perfect in every way. I will have him, I must have him. Prachting (wonderful), I shall rename my painting Still life with Turkey.

My new turkey has a marvelous descriptive quality: I must depict him, make him unblemished in the painting. I will start at the top, and work my way down until I have described every duim (inch) of this magnificent bird. He stares out at you with a beady, black eye, endless as the space between the stars. He also has an elegant, cherry-colored wattle, that beckons the eye to stare. His shoulders curve gracefully down, leading right to his arms rested about his phenomenal waist.

When my turkey announces his presence, he does it by gobbling in a sweet voice not unlike that of a piccolo. After announcing his presence, his skin flushes chocolate-toned, darker than the bronze god he usually is. This makes his shoulders glorious, like a diamond to the eye, because of the way he lifts them when he gobbles. Along with this, when my turkey enters the room I almost laugh with delight at the way the light keenly glints off his satin belt. In his dashing black silk pants, my turkey cuts a striking figure next to the fruit in my Still Life.

However, I have a dilemma. I know I have been calling my turkey "him" the entire time I have been describing him, but the truth is: I do not know if he is a he; it may be a she. So you see my problem in putting my turkey in pants. A girl in pants, even if it is a mere lowly turkey! With a swish of my brush, I would bring shame on my family, to me, my turkey! I would be shunned as an artist; a outcast like the lepers. I shall have to risk it, for he does look splendid.

The turkey is more artistic than the whole Earth together, with his bronze feathers and elegant appearance. However, I must return to my painting. I hope that Weinig Turkije (little turkey) will keep his pose....

Why My Older Girls Love My "Job"

And the reason Alison complains that there's never any mail for her.

The Last Fiddler

Caitlyn took the camera to her last performance and snapped pictures of (almost) the whole cast:

Starting at the top left: Tara (Fruma Sarah), Krystian (Spritze), Michael (Perchik), Meg (Tzeitel), Beth (Mama), Keaton, Hailey, Harmony (Hodel), Marilyn (Yenta), James (Fyedka), Kira, and Jonah (the fiddler, and other assorted parts).

Keaton, Hailey, and Kira were the other Blue cast members; they were mostly extras in certain scenes. Krystian was the other youngest daughter and she and Caitlyn got along wonderfully. Aside from Krystian, Caitlyn talked most about Michael and Tara, but she really enjoyed hanging out with everyone. I don't know why she didn't get a picture of the actor who played Chava, but she didn't get pictures of the actors who played Tevye, or Lazar Wolf or the Rabbi, because, as she said, "They have a lot of parts, and when they're not on stage they're out smoking. And it was dark." There you have it.

If You Can Handle Band Concerts

Megan's right behind the director, Mr. Goter. Sorry.

The first half of Pit and the Pendulum:


The second half of the piece:

Photo Mosaic

Inspired by my friend Cami's post, I give you the pumpkin mosaic:

More Fall Fun

Before the HUGE leaf pile got moved to the backyard...




Alison wasn't interested in jumping as much as being buried. :)

The Hallween Extravaganza

Some random shots from our Halloween-filled day:

Alison with her Preschool class:


Caitlyn and the pumpkin she did at school (named Gorgy Billy Jones; it's a lion):


And all four, decked out and raring to go:


And from the Trunk-or-treat...
Kristen, trying out a Ding Dong (she didn't like it):


Megan, being a grand big sister, and helping the little cat out:


Alison found a broom, and since she was a witch...


Caitlyn, chillin' out with Porter (there in the background):


And, because it's cute:


More over at Flickr, of course.