random, but blog-worthy

it's been a really busy few weeks.  lots of things underway, not to mention Christmas coming very quickly! so, a few quick pics to capture moments i especially loved.  the first, my "know-it-all" youngest three on the day i got in the van with my new phone.  they (even AJ!!) were firing off phone tips left and right, as if they owned one of their own.  "no, try it this way..." or "push that button, Mom" or "hold it down"....sheesh, when did i get so old??  it felt as if they were my own personal Samsung Technical Support team, all under the age of 10, and as if i was doing rocket science.  crazy, and humbling.  so, needless to say, they are my first picture (and wallpaper on my phone...i think it's called wallpaper...) and i felt they deserved to be considering they helped me close all the little start-up windows and tips just to get the clear screen for a camera shot to be taken.  wow.  it's that bad.

 

Last Friday AJ proudly entered the van with last week's spelling test...never disappoints.  "Mom, i only got one wrong!!!"  precious, precious, precious....how i'll miss this.  click on the picture if you need to enlarge it~ that i do know! :)

 

 

first highschool wrestling tourney of the season.  Joelle, Hannah and Adam competed.  this tournament allows bantam level entries, so Adam was allowed to wrestle kids of similar weight even though being in grade seven.  all three had fun and showed character and growth.  great outing and team building time for St. Clair as well. 

 

i feel the need to add here that in all photos the opposing wrestler is not experiencing any pain or shortage of oxygen.  the "head and arm" move below holds both the head and arm which prevents a choke, and at any moment the wrestler could also tap the mat to alert the referee and end the hold if discomfort exists. there, that's clarification for all the non-wrestlers and it's just important to know about the sport as well! :)

 

 

Layla and i enjoyed a half-school-day last week by baking muffins and cheddar biscuits to add to our soup meal that evening.  we figured we'd live on the wild side and cut out some Christmas tree shapes.  aren't we crazy? they were yummy!

 

during the baking session, Hudson and AJ came into the kitchen and announced that AJ now knew how to tie his shoes.  Hudson has taken it upon himself to teach his brother.  it wasn't exactly fully successful, but the basic steps were there with some direction from the "just about ready to burst as i watch" older brother....so sweet!

 

last, but certainly not least~ worthy of mention is the SEMC team that is serving in El Salvador this week.  a team of fifteen people from our church family partnering with God make an eternal difference.  feel free to follow their blog with me.  you don't even have to know them to catch their excitement for what they are seeing and experiencing there this week.  so good....