Archery Tournament--Ottumwa

January 9 found us in Ottumwa at a newer elementary for an archery tournament. 

It was a smaller gym and there was barely enough room for the spectators.  Ephraim is 2nd from left.  Emmet is third from the right. 

Emmet's final stats:

Score: 145

Tens: 0

Elementary Boys Rank: 31 out of 46

4th Grade Boys Rank: 15 out of 26

Overall Boys Rank: 120 out of 139

 

Ephraim's final stats:

Score: 237

Tens: 3

Middle School Boys Rank: 26 out of 59

6th Grade Boys Rank: 10 out of 22

Overall Boys Rank: 53 out of 139

Fabric Flowers

On Wednesday, February 3, the girls and I had girl time while the boys were gone with Seth to the Farm Power Show in Des Moines.  The girls and I found a sewing project on Pinterest to tackle--Fabric Flowers.  They each picked a fabric: pink for Eden and yellow for Eliza. 

 

The first step was to cut long strips.  We folded them in half, sewed them together and sewed a basting stitch down the middle.  We pulled the basting stitch to gather the flower.  Then we glued it to a skewer. 

These are Eden's flowers. 

We tied green ribbon around the skewer for the leaves. 

Both girls did all their own sewing and I didn't even have to be hovering over them.  They're doing well with the sewing machine.   

These are Eliza's flowers. 

Nice job girls!  If you're looking for a project, check out the pattern at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AZTGmg8ya3fIO3tlM-jxuhopOTqzAGGm3Xgkf-UDpQA1q08HxtAygHc/

 

Happy 66th Birthday!

January 31st was my dad's 66th birthday.  With that day landing on a Sunday, mom had us over for lunch and then invited Dad's siblings over cake.

Sixty-sixth birthday with 6 grandkids!

The grandkids are carrying their present to Grandpa. 

It was a gift basket that said "Happy Birthday to a terrific Grand-pop" and the basket items included Pop-Tarts, Blow-pop suckers, Corn Pop cereal and Sprite pop. 

A few aunts and uncles were able to come.  I don't get the chance to see them often, so it was great to visit with Ralph & Ruby and Bernard & Lavonne.  We all enjoyed cake and ice cream with them. 

Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa!

 

And when we left, the male peacock was showing off a bit . . .

Pork Congress/Iowa Museum

The kids and I took a day in January to attend the Iowa Pork Congress.  Thanks to a voucher from a complete stranger, I was able to get in free and the children were already free.

After walking around there getting various information and freebies, we went next door to the Iowa Hall of Fame Museum.  Kids get in free, thanks to Musco, so that was a bonus, or else we may not have gone in.

 

The place is full of hands-on, interactive exhibits. 

A lot of it is sports related, and since we're not big into sports, we didn't really read much of the exhibits.  The girls did watch a video on gymnast Shawn Johnson. 

This was a computer that showed the decline of school districts, by county and decade.  Very interesting!

A virtual realty hockey game. That is Eliza and Eden guarding the goal. 

Some sort of jump rope game that we never did figure out.  The kids all got free tokens to do these or we wouldn't have done them.

Emmet trying the computer-generated soccer game.

A mural of a one-room schoolhouse scene. 

Our buckets from the Pork Congress.  It was a good time and we're glad we went. Many of the freebies we received will be in our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes this winter, but that's not why we go, it's merely a bonus.  The boys enjoy going to pick up brochures about the industry.  On our way out, we had to dodge all the traffic because the Republican debate would take place here later that evening.  As my kids would say, it's time to leave, we have "Des-pneumonia", their own made up version Des Moines and pneumonia--meaning, let's get out of here, I'm sick of it. 

Regardless, it was a good time. 

Our Christmas

I think this is my last Christmas post and I can move on to our January happenings.   

We enjoyed a yummy meal of ham loaf after we got home from Christmas Eve services at church. 

The kids wanted to get each other something with their own money, so they exchanged names and are showing off their sibling gifts. 

Eliza went to a lot of work to draw multiple pictures for each family member.  They were all individually, carefully wrapped.

They each got three gifts--something to wear, something to read and something to play with.  I wrapped them in their own wrapping paper and for a while they didn't know whose paper was whose, but they eventually figured it out.

Eliza made some wire art for Daddy. 

It is a cursive "Eliza"  in wire.  She worked really hard on it and did a nice job.

Most of their gifts were wrapped in non-identifying boxes, such as cereal and cracker boxes. 

Eden was a "mildly excited" about her new cattle gates. 

A little Christmas love among sisters. 

Eliza also made a wire heart for Daddy.

Eden can be a little dramatic sometimes. 

Eden with her books, toy gates and shirts. 

Eliza with her books, toy and shirts. 

Emmet with his toy trailer, shirt and books. 

Ephraim with his books, toy tractor and new high visibility hat. 

Together the girls got a quilting book and a Full House DVD I found at a thrift store.  Several of their other gifts came from consignment and that is just fine with me and them. 

 

Our Christmas morning breakfast:

 

Another year of Christmas memories are made.  Between gatherings, games, a few presents, it was an enjoyable, memory-making time.