Mystery Solved

I swear I've always said that the washer eats socks just to be funny; to explain one of those Bermuda Triangle kind of things that happens all the time. I now have proof that my washer really does eat socks.

I've been getting an error message, on my fairly new high end washer, that said the drain wasn't working properly. It being New Year's Eve, and there being no shops open until next year, I got adventurous and began taking the thing apart. I discovered and internal filter on the drainage system. This is what it looked like. And yes, that is three socks, a dime, and some lint blocking up the works. Kearsyn thought it was funny. I have no idea how this stuff got in there, since the water has to leave the washer via the holes in the side of the stainless steel drum. I guess it just got hungry.

Now I have to go see if this fixed the problem and see if I can re-assemble my very expensive washer.

Happy New Year everybody.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve constructing and decorating our gingerbread house and people. I wish I could say we baked our own gingerbread but the best we could do was to assemble a pre-fab house. I am also ashamed to say that much of the result was consumed before I could get a picture of the finished product.








Kenzie also made her umpteenth batch of cookies, some of which survived beyond the normal cookie lifespan in this house full of sweet-teeth; perhaps because of an epidemic of gingerbread overdose.

Vicki took half the kids to 5 o'clock Mass; Tay, Ty, and Kenzie sang in the choir. This year was Vicki's turn for Midnight mass, but I got to go instead. This was Kenzie's first time as Altar Server for the Midnight Mass. She called the rectory weeks ago to make sure she and her brothers got this Mass. Alex has done it several years, and Connor as well. Last year would have been her first chance to serve this Mass, but someone else got scheduled instead. She was very excited, and a little sleepy.

Brr, again, addenedum

I was going to let the kids have off school for the next two weeks, to follow along with the public school schedule. Now, it seems, the only room in the house with reliable heat (I just jinxed us, didn't I?) is the classroom. Who wants to bet the kids won't mind being a little chilly vs doing school?

Brr, again

At least once a month our furnace breaks down. The technician that comes to fix it always says this'll be the last time he needs to come here for the season. I always tell him that I'll see him soon. I'm always right, at least until April, when I won't see him again until October/November.

This morning (5:00 am) I was dreaming a pleasant dream about moving back to the country where all you need to keep warm is pile of firewood, when Vicki woke me up and told me the furnace is not working, it's 60 degrees in the house, and it's 15 degrees outside. I guess the phone only connects to the furnace emergency repair operator when I am holding it (the phone, no the operator). So, I got up to make the call. To top things off, our backup LP gas stove (for heating, not cooking) is on the fritz, too. So now, all of our electric heaters are plugged in and sucking up the juice like electricity grows on trees, right next to the money.

I just checked on the kids. Now I know what human popsicles, wrapped in blankets, looks like. They're all still asleep, but not looking too happy. Wait 'til they wake up!

Another Zits Cartoon

Alex doesn't bug us to let him drive quite this badly, but I expect it's only a matter of time.

Connor's Poster(s)

Here's Connor's award-winning posters. This year's earned him second place and $25. Last year's earned him third place and $10.

2008 Poster:

2007 Poster:

Another Soccer Trophy

Connor's team took second place in their U13 division of the BBSL. They got their trophies last night at the Baltimore Blast game. Here's Connor with his trophy. We also found out this morning that he took second place in the church "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest. If he'd spent more than a half hour on it, the night before it was due to be turned in, he might've gotten first. He got third last last year, so this is a step up. Next year is the last year he'll be young enough to enter, so he better aim for first. He'll get his cash reward tomorrow morning.

School Board Day

Today's the day we get to go to our Winter meeting with the county school board. It's basically the only legal requirement we have, to be allowed to homeschool here. I still thinks it's too intrusive. I am of the belief that how I raise my kids is my business, not the government's, so I do my part to punish their intrusiveness by overwhelming their system during review time. Here's what the homeschool monitors will have to deal with today. It's what my kids kids have done so far this year:

Now, add to that pile of stuff to be looked through a three month old baby, a two year old toddler, and a four year old ball of energy, and imagine the chaos that will ensue in that meeting room. Oh, and it's pouring down rain today, so everybody, and everything will be soaking wet. When we're done, we'll go visit Poppop, who is the HR Director for the county school system. This usually is good for a bit of disruption in the HR department, but I think he secretly relishes these little visits at his office.

And the fringe benefit for the kids is, I let them sleep in and skip school today. This counts as one of those numerous "Professional Development Days" public schools stack their schedule with.

Christmas Village

Here's this year's version of our village. It's getting too big for it's normal location under the piano.

And here's our new Advent candle holder. We used to have an Advent Wreath, but it was getting old.

Only a Kid

could sleep this way. Wow.

Snowman: Updated

I recently received an accessory for my snowman: another snowkid. My mother gave him to me when we only had five kids, and he only had five snowkids in his arms. I think it was supposed to be a visual aid of what five kids looked like, and that I had my hands full, and we didn't need any more kids. We've just added little snowkids as new ones arrived. Now up to eight, the snowdad's arms do look a little stretched, but he could probably squeeze some more in there; they're all pretty flexible.

The Kid Switch

A ten year old girl has taught me that nothing is permanent. As soon as you think you know where you're going, expect to change direction. Five years ago, Kenzie was going to be a dancer/singer, with a little soccer playing thrown in on the side. Dance classes, a select children's choir, and piano lessons had her well on her way. Four years ago, she was going to be the world's greatest female soccer star. Select soccer and private lessons had her well on her way. Two years ago until two days ago, she was going to college on a softball scholarship (so the plans were). Club level softball on an elite softball team had her well on her way. Two days ago, she told me missed all the stuff she gave up in order to play top level softball. Softball is now in limbo. She's now back in the church choir (not the"select" choir she was previously in), focusing more on her piano (she wants to pass Connor, I think), and hoping to get back into baseball, with the boys, in the Spring, not to mention the travel soccer team she has never completely given up on. I don't know about the baseball, but I hope she doesn't give up on the softball; there are other, less demanding options than the travel ball she was playing.

Anyway, back to the current Life Change, that of leaving the RB Spirit 12U team. I think it's a bigger kicker for me than her. I absolutely love the sport, and the level of competition that these girl play at. I also have to accept the fact that the sport demands way more from us than a family of ten can afford to give: time, money, more time, more time, and more time. After reflecting upon the past two years (really only the past year, which was the most busy), I realized how little time I spent with anyone but Kenzie. I missed most of whatever it was that the other kids were doing: baseball, soccer, football, piano recitals, growing up. And, to be honest, some of the people I met I didn't like; some of them I came to like very much. But none of them were my family. Speaking of family, it occurs to me how little I saw of my own parents and sister over the past year, compared to previous years. Wow, we really did spend an inordinate amount of time at softball fields.

I guess it's nice to be able to use this time of year and make adjustments. Having kids, and their ability to switch directions almost instantaneously, definitely makes life an adventure.

Oh, and did I mention that now Kenzie wants to be a veterinarian? Yeah, she wants to go find some animal shelter or vet that will hire her so she can start getting experience working with animals. Ugh!

Decorating

We finally started decorating for Christmas. We seem to be doing less decorating each year. As the house fills up with people, there's just less space for the decorations; and more hands playing with them once their out. I really am tempted to get one of those upside-down trees to hang from the ceiling. Maybe next year.

At least we got the tree up...


















We also made room for this ceramic Nativity set that my grandmother handpainted 38 years ago. It has been packed away since she passed away fourteen year ago. My grandfather made the stalls and manger, and the whole thing had once set inside a homemade, lighted stable, about the size of the desk we are using now. I've had this for a few years, since no one else had any room to keep it, and have been meaning, for years, to get it set up again. It brings back lots of childhood memories.