Coffee Table 1, Rachael 0

Friday night the girls were running around inside the house, yes literally running around, when Grace decided to throw a blanket over Rachael's head. Within seconds Rachael tripped on something she couldn't see and hit her face on the coffee table. Of course we had an appointment to take a picture for Christmas cards today (Sunday.) We are not making that appointment and can not get one before Christmas. I am putting my thinking cap on for Christmas cards but you may see Chinese New Year cards instead. Yes Rachael is going to be fine, (and fortunate for her so is Grace.) The attached pictures were taken two days after the initial accident. I did try my hand at covering the cut and bruises up with make-up but I never was skilled in that area.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving started for the Kelly family the week before the official day. Rosa Parks Elementary, Grace and Hannah's school, held Thanksgiving lunch for parents to attend with their children. Because this is such a popular event it is held over two days. Each class is assigned a day and the day they don't have Thanksgiving lunch the kids eat lunch in their classroom. Lucky for me Hannah and Grace were each assigned a different day. I had my fill of turkey before the official date. Thank you Janice for the ham!

On the day of Hannah's lunch her class also put on a Thanksgiving program. The kids sang two songs and told the Thanksgiving story. They told the story by each taking a turn standing in front of the parents by themselves and reading a few sentences. Several of the kids read to fast and some spoke so softly you couldn't hear them. When Hannah's turn came she read slowly, clearly, and at the right volume. It was amazing to see my very shy child shine. I was so proud of her.
This year we spent Thanksgiving and the following day in Cincinnati. We ate a lot of good good and enjoyed spending time with my parents, my Uncle Dick, my brother Drew and niece Emily. By Friday we were hearing, "I'm bored" a lot from the girls. Mom and Dad have enough toys, crafts and other activities to entertain ten girls but cabin fever set in. Although cold my father took Grace, Emily and Rachael out on a bike ride on Friday. I was sure he would come back quickly with a story of carrying Rachael while dragging a bike. I was wrong. They rode 4 miles and Rachael rode the entire time and mostly kept up with the older girls. At one point Dad asked if the girls were ready to turn back and Rachael was the one to encourage everyone to keep going.

On Saturday we returned to Lexington to have some time with Craig's parents, his brother Sean, Sean's wife Huong and our nephews and niece Cam, Kess, and Caden. We had more great food and the kids had fun together. After we recovered from the food handover the kids decorated Nana and Papa's tree and decorated gingerbread houses. This is a yearly tradition that Janice started with the kids. They love it and look forward to it every year. Janice makes the base houses (that is homemade gingerbread and one house for each child - a lot of work!) and the kids go to town decorating. Each house is different and shows the child's creativity and personality. Over all we had a great four days of family and food and fun.

UK Women's Volleyball Game

Grace's Brownie Troop recently attended a University of Kentucky Women's Volleyball game. Hannah and I tagged along. University of Kentucky played University of Georgia and won with ease. The only volleyball that I had been exposed to prior to this game was college intramural and at church. I was surprised by how tall and athletic the girls were. Only one player on the Kentucky team was under six foot tall. It was great for the girls to be exposed to college women playing sports. Following the game the players conducted a clinic for the kids. The women were great with the girls. Grace was a natural. She got each skill on the first try.

Rachael's Yellow Room

The first color that Rachael could identify was yellow. Yellow has always been her favorite color. When she was three she said that she wanted her room to be yellow. I told her that if she still liked yellow when she turned four we would paint her room yellow as part of her birthday present. Well it still is yellow. Finding the right shade of yellow turned out to be harder than I thought. It took three paint stores and of course expensive paint but we found Rachael's ideal yellow. For some people it may be bright but to Rachael "it is perfect" (her actual words.) Her room is full of odd angles. When we bought the house it was a dark blue and cave like. The yellow really brightens up the room. In fact for me it would keep me from going to sleep.

In July we painted the room with a little help from the girls. I have found with every project we take on we learn an important lesson. The lesson on this project is primer is important no matter what the paint store guy says and no matter how light you think the color is that you are painting over. Primer is your friend, eight coats of paint is the enemy. Also, brown tinted caulk can help with edge problems.

When we went to put it the room back together I found out I was like Bambam from the Flintstones - stronger than I thought. I put a hole in the wall while trying to put up a shelf. Fast forward four months and the hole is fixed and the room is finally picture worthy. Note the curtains and bed skirt. Nana worked her magic when I couldn't find anything pre-made.

Halloween/Soccer Pictures

September 15-16 Part II - Finally

Overnight at the Cincinnati Zoo

Grace’s brownie troop voted to use some of the cookie money they earned last year to attend one of the overnight programs at the Cincinnati Zoo. Twenty two girls and mothers attended the Wolf Woods Overnight – one of three programs the zoo offers. What a great program! We had two Zoo employees with us the entire time and we learned more during that trip than all the other times I have been to the zoo – combined. We had the zoo to ourselves!! We went on a night hike – no flashlights and spent a lot of time in the Wolf exhibit, reptile house and cat house. The focus was on predator vs. prey and animal adaptations. Some of the many things we learned:

• How to tell an Alligator from a Crocodile - the Alligator’s snout is shaped like a C – more rounded while a Crocodile is shaped like an A – more pointed.

• Alligators and Crocodile's have a third transparent eyelid allowing them to see under water without hurting their eyes.

• The special adaptation of a fishing cat – paws are somewhat webbed so they can catch fish out of a stream or lake – this cat likes the water.

We also spent some time in the education center getting hands on experience with several animals. We slept in the Wolf Woods Education Center on the floor in sleeping bags. In the morning we had a light breakfast and toured the zoo in the daylight. The zoo opens at 9:00. When visitors started to slowly arrive it was a little sad to know we had to share the zoo again. I highly recommend this program, the girls all loved it. Craig, Hannah, Rachael, my parents, Emily and Drew joined us once the zoo opened to the public and we had a great day together. The next week at school Grace had to write about two animals and one of their structures and purpose. She was well prepared!