Merry Christmas

After spending a day decorating the "Christmas Tent" . . .

We celebrated Christmas Eve in an actual barn. At the end of message, Elspeth leaned into me and asked when we would get to see baby Jesus. Jeremy had reminded her that this was Christmas Eve, and Jesus wasn't born until Christmas Day. She asked if we could come back tomorrow.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

J Watch Final Interview Update

The final scoop is in. Jeremy will be interviewing in Danville, Tucson, and Austin. So, we will be either where we are today, or somewhere decently warm.

As I watch the snow swirling outside my window, I wonder which I would choose. Luckily for us, we have no choice. Yes, you read that right, we do not have a choice.

Now that Jeremy has landed the interviews, the process goes into a black box and we do not get to choose. On some magic Friday in February, we will find out IF he has an internship (not a guarantee despite being on a facility's list). The next Monday we will find out if we have to move next year. I still think staying put is the most likely option.

This exhausts my knowledge on the subject, further details will have to be wrentched from my husband.

J-Watch

Oh no, she led in with a picture of both girls, must be bad news . . . .

Sorry Mom and Dad, we will not be moving to Tampa next year.

Today is the deadline for Buffalo, Austin but they have alluded that the notification may not actually get sent today (high volumes of applications this year).

My sister, Karin shared this earlier and it has put me at peace with the whole process:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.-Jeremiah 29:11-12

What ever happens now is for the best!

J-Watch Update

San Antonio is Out.

Tucson interview scheduled for January 6th, all prayers appreciated.

Lest you think we despair over losing another, I thought I would share a little photo I like to call "dropped coffee grounds on my toes"

Happy Friday everyone.

J Watch 2008

not good news today. Cincy recorded his application a day after it was received, or past the deadline, so they won't even review it. Jeremy has supplied them with the tracking number so they can see when it was received, but their interview slots are gone at this point.

New Mexico is out too.

Hello Number 2!

Nothing like a girl and her hat. Hands-free lovie in action!

Interview Count

Danville has moved Jeremy into the finalists and has invited him for an interview!

Cincy is still out but we should hear any minute.

It Starts

Many of you have been through our ups and downs of Jeremy's academic career so here is our status report for internship:

applications out: 9
Still active: 8
Interview requests: 1 (Tucson)

He should hear from Danville and Cincinnati by the end of day tomorrow.

Keep prayin!

If everyone would kindly act their age.

I keep wondering when my parents will "act their age"

After running me around the gym for 3 hours. My mother let me pause for lunch before we dug into the "projects" for the day. To be honest, my job was opinion only (she still lets me have a vote in Elspeth's new curtains), mother was doing all the work.

At the end of the day, I dropped her at the house while I went to collect my youngest child from daycare. I came home exhausted, my mom had made two pies in the approximately half hour I was away.

Collapsing in a tired heap, I asked "when will you act your age." Mother calmly replied "60 is the new 50" while she prepared my sewing machine for an evening's work.

Why does 34 feel like the new 90. I thought my kids made me feel tired.

Still, every time I see the soft purple glow of the sunlight filtering through Ella's new curtains (that she thanked God for last night in prayers), and my younger child has warm fingers and toes coming out from under her cozy new blanky, it is hard to feel anything but gratitude.

Maybe I can convince my parents to make this a Thanksgiving tradition . . .

The Blues

Chick Bits

I'm practicing chewing with my mouth closed right now!

- Elspeth Paige

I'm not sure its possible to chew with your mouth closed AND yell down the hall at the same time.

Halloween 2008 - the video

Stray Cats Found

Free to good home??!?

Happy Halloween

Baby got Bling

Addie Kate figured out how to put on necklaces all by herself yesterday. She has been generally decorated since the magical moment that the overhead motion clicked for her . . .

Dimensions

Cowgirl by day

Daddy's girl that night

Discovery

Addie is in love with Keely Mae. This is good. And this is bad. Addie wants to touch Keely. Keely's hair, Keely's face, Keely's eyeballs. Michele is an indulgent aunt, letting Addie have access, but keeping a close eye and, of course, the constant click of the camera shutter as the two girls discovered each other.

I win!

As our pregnant, and not feeling well, friend Bethe graciously posed for this picture. Michele and I popped our flashes and challenged each other to a posting race.

Bethe is still quite beautiful, even if she doesn't feel it all the time these days. And I have now won the weirdest race I have ever entered.

In your face Michele.

Grandpa Dactu's Girls

I drove 8 hours

Just to take this picture. I meant to attend a party, but my girls lasted 20 minutes before meltdown commenced.

I hear it was a great party.

What 700 Billion Dollars Won't Buy

It won't buy the feeling you get when you hold your first born in the hospital. Or, when you meet your beautiful niece for the first time.

It won't buy the feeling you get when your younger child finally sleeps on the way to meet your newest niece.
It won't buy two goofy girls making room for each other on Kiki's piano bench.
It won't buy the realization that spaghetti is not vile poison.
It won't buy the feeling that your friend Emma is coming to play with you at your favorite place.
It won't buy the moment you realize your tom-boy is still a girl. Or the look on her face when she gets to try on her princess dress for the first time.

It won't buy clean lovies (apparently you need a dishwasher for that).
It CAN NOT buy the feeling that comes with watching Michigan lose. To a team you know they didn't fear. On homecoming (GO ILLINI).
It doesn't make you feel the warm glow of trying something for the first time, and being pretty good at it.
Or the feeling of your younger child sleeping on the way home from meeting your newest niece.

And, apparently economic security.

Daddy's Girl

Daddy called to check on the game Saturday. Adwen has already shown signs that she will NOT be like her sister in just about every possible way, including the phone (we can barely get Elspeth to stay in the same room as phone). Daddy was on speaker phone the whole time, she just likes to hold it up to her ear. . .

More Stolen Photos

Dress Up at Ethan's House!
Addie has officially learned to be a ham for the camera. Above photo was taken before she realized the camera was pointed at her.
And this photo was taken the moment she realized that the camera was pointed her way.
The adults loved the juxtaposition of fireman boots and pink shorts.

In the End Ella decided a Tigger's a wonderful thing. She played like this until we left for the night . . .

Catching Up

I haven't downloaded pics in awhile, so I have resorted to stealing pics from our friends who thoughtfully leave their server open to us for picture theft.

Elspeth and Ethan take advantage of his new pool for one final day of summer fun.

Adwen's interest extends as far as sitting poolside, eating veggie chips (yeah, I count it as health food).
Elspeth Shark (who doesn't chomp anyone).

Max finally wakes from a nap.

Henn Family Friday Fun Dance

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In the News - Volcano Threat Neutralized

Famed explore Elspeth "Larry the Cucumber" Paige (photographed here discovering her left foot, which she calls "Town") recently woke from a nap with a volcano in her room. The threatening volcano moved to the living room of Subaru house where she spent much of her day worrying.

Recognizing that nightmares where imminent, Elpeth's right hand man, Mommy, called famed volcano experts (photograph below - press archives) Mamgu and Dactu Henn regarding the best way to eradicate volcanoes from the living room.





Without hesitation, Dactu stepped up to the plate with the little known fact that volcanoes are afraid of chickens and we need only cluck to scare it away. Dactu's intention to make Elspeth and Mommy cluck backfired, however, when Elspeth was convinced (by Mommy) that ONLY Mamgu and Dactu could cluck just the right way. Luckily, we have speakerphone, the clucking commenced and we did not have any more volcano troubles (including no more nightmares).

Mommy and Daddy were impressed by Mamgu and Dactu's quick thinking, and relieved not to spend repeated visits to Explorer Elspeth's room throughout the night. Grandma and Grandpa be warned, this morning I heard noise about a caterpillar ravaging Elspeth's room. If your phone should ring, it may be in the call of duty for your Caterpillar eradication expertise. It's a tough job, but some body's got to do it.

I-L-L I-N-I

Anticipation

Ella With a Camera