Early Christmas Present - Zoo pass

Adam gave me an early Christmas present - a year zoo pass.  I had wanted one so we could go see the zoo lights and also the new baby elephant.

Christmas Tea (Cocoa) with neighbors

Our neighbors Tiffany and her daughter Ellie invited Kate and I to a Christmas Lunch at a little tea house

Hunter's Song in church

Hunter played in church today.  This is him practicing in the morning.  I also show our tree at the end so you can see what is poking him in the back while he is trying to practice.  Right before he finished playing the first page his music fell off the piano.  Two pepole jumped up and grabbed the music. Hunter just stopped, waited calmly at the piano and when they had put the music back up began playing again.  Adam said we must both have a recessive gene for calmness because neither of us stay that calm, but somehow Hunter stays calm and collected almost all the time.

Fun December Happenings

Hunter's Birthday with Gr. Grandma Gertsch's chocolate pies

Peter and Kate dressed in black for their band concert

Kate's Birthday cake creation, cake, cream puffs, whip cream, frosting, and chocolate.  She created it all by herself and it was delicious!

Kate modeling some of her birthday gifts

Inside of Kate's cake

Our Christmas Lights

Getting up on the roof is getting a little scarrier each year.  These may have to just
stay up year round until I get a harness

Christmas Duet - Hunter and Kate

Here is Hunter and Kate playing at the stake center - it was a creche and carol event.  Hunter and Kate played at 8 pm.  Each room in the stake center had creches set up and a musical event every 10 minutes.  The chapel had a sing along and the gym had a live nativity.  It was pretty chaotic but good to have them perform.  

State Playoffs - Update 11/4/2012

update - 12/16/2012 - 

Andie's team lost in the next round - Andie had another corner kick that was headed in for a goal.  As the season wrapped up she was named to the 1st team for the Metro League and honorable mention for the all-state team - both in the 6A (largest school) division in Oregon.  It was a fun year.  

Girls soccer: Southridge 4, West Salem 0

Roger Gregory, The Oregonian, November 03, 2012 6:41 p.m.

Sophomore midfielder Andie Giles dished out three assists to lead the visiting Skyhawks of Washington County past the Titans.

Southridge (7-7-2) struck in the seventh minute when Giles passed to Meridith Greer for the first goal. The Skyhawks scored again in the 19th minute, Maddie Misi taking another assist from Giles to give Southridge a 2-0 halftime lead.

Senior Brenna Berry played most of the game in goal for the Skyhawks, and freshman Cassidy Wood substituted late in the second half against West Salem (12-3-1). The shutout was the fourth in a row for Southridge.

Gayna Carlson, assisted by Giles, scored at the 52-minute mark, and seven minutes later Maddie O'Billovich closed out the scoring with an unassisted goal. Southridge travels to Canby for a second-round game Tuesday. 

Halloween Costumes

 Kate is a French Artist

Andie is a burrito - a little random, but Chipotle was selling $2 burritos to anyone in a costume, so Andie and her friends all went.

Jack-o-Lanterns

Peter carving an adidas symbol - all our Nike neighbors commented

Hunter immitating his pumpkin

All the pumpkins - I did feel a little proud when a couple people  stopped and took pictures of their kids in front of our house

Cheering in the Rain

It was so fun having Steven come up to one of Andie's games.  This is a terrible picture because it was dark and very rainy, but we were happy in the downpour

Funny conversation between Andie and Hunter getting ready to go to a home football game in pouring down rain.

Hunter, "Andie I don't think you need to wear make-up to a game in the rain."

Andie, "I don't think you should be wearing rain pants to a high school football game, but there are just some things we both have to let go."

Hunter was dry, Andie wore make-up, they were both happy

Hunter's Harvest

Hunter's garden wasn't quite as successful as we hoped, but we did get this great bowl of beans, and we enjoyed every one.  The greatest thing about this picture,  is that we are wearing shorts in October - the weather has been amazing! 

Aubrey's Bear

While Brian and Alissa were here Kate decided to make Aubrey a bear.  She made up the pattern and figured out how to sew on the button eyes all by her self.  As someone who gets completely stressed out to sew, I was impressed.

Andie's Homecoming Night

I took this picture at Midnight after the dance, she came home glowing and had a great time.  I also liked where she had put her pump

Before the Dance - Hunter was on his way to Priesthood but I liked how they matched

Pictures beforehand with friends, there were 19 girls and one boy in all.  One of the girls turned 16 last week and a date asked her, but they still went with the all girl group

this isn't a great shot of the friends, but I thought it showed Andie's hair nicely

I just thought this was a funny shot the photographer had them do

Andie Goal vs Aloha - Oct 4, 2012

Here is Andie's goal - she gets the ball when the opposing team is trying to clear it and dribbles in and shoots - it was a great shot to the opposite side of the goal from where she was.   They won the game 3-1; Andie also had an assist and was taken down for a penalty kick that her teammate made for a goal.

Andie's Goal vs Westview Oct 1, 2012

Andie scored this first goal making the score 1-0.  Andie has the ball and takes it  in and shoots - it is pretty quick with the goal keeper making a good dive.   The red team then scored making it 1-1.  During the 2nd half, Southridge had plenty of chances.  Then the corner kicks started.  There were a couple close ones and then the clock was really winding down - in high school the clock is on the scoreboard, unlike regular soccer where time is kept by the referee.  So with 35 seconds left, Southridge won a corner kick and Andie has to go get the ball and then run back - clock is running.  I think she kicked the corner kick with about 12 seconds on the clock - here is that clock - afterwards there were 9.9 seconds.   It was a great win.

Kate and Friends

Kate had some friends over to go through the corn maze and back to our house for cider  and treats.  Look how tall Kate is compared to the two friends. 

Hydrangea Project

This was one of my projects this week.  I always hope I haven't killed my flowers.  They were amazing this year!

Hunter's first pep assembly

Hunter is in charge of the Pep assemblies this year.  He and the other VP decided they wanted to make SRHS out of all the student body.  They figured out the space needed and organized the students.  I am taking these pictures with my phone so they aren't the best, but the letters looked great.  

If you look closely you can see Hunter in the middle with the microphone directing the students.

The sophomore class made the "H" Andie is in the front, second one in, in the black coat on the side with the two boys in front

Peter's New Favorite Activity

Peter has discovered the joy of high school football games.  He does not watch the game at all
and instead has been meeting girls. 

Andie in her home jersey before a game

Andie's Goal

Here is Andie's goal from last week - she gets the pass around the top of the penalty box and dribbles past a few people, touching it into the corner of the net.  This was their league opener and cross-town rivals - a great win for the team - this made the score 2-1, which was the final.  It was in the paper the next day.

Kate's haircut

The day before pictures Kate informed me she wanted bangs.  I was very nervous and told her no at first, but then decided if that was what she wanted we should do it, below is a picture of her getting them cut, above is the finished look.  They really weren't "bangs" the way I was imagining, so I guess I should have just trusted Kate that she knew what she was talking about.

Homework

I know this is not a good quality picture, but I had to show you our homework time.  The kids trade off on the computers and the table and if we can keep them from distracting each other, they can actually get a lot done.  I will miss seeing this, although I won't miss the constant reminders to get them to stay on task.

Peter's catching up - he has about 2 1/2 inches to go before he is taller than Andie

First Day of School

Here are all the kids on their first day.  Hunter is wearing a "linked crew" t-shirt that shows he is a senior that can help freshman find their classes.  He went yesterday to the Freshman orientation and lead a group on a tour of the building and in get to know you activities to make the first day a little less daunting.  As I was taking Andie's picture I realized that she and Hunter matched, so I made them take a picture together.