Christmas Trees at Honey Hill

Today was Christmas Tree cutting day at Honey Hill. It's become an annual tradition that our good friends, Kim and Rod started quite a few years ago. It's a great time to see friends we don't get to see as much as we used to, eat, fellowship and of course cut trees! Most of these friends have also homeschooled their children, and as our kids have gotten older some are still being homeschooled and some have gone on to other schools, but we have all remained friends. Homeschooling brought us together, but it's our Christian friendship that keep us together.

On the way up the hill

Arriving at Honey Hill

The girls....

The boys....

Kelly and Shaela

Watching Randy and Nick cut trees

It was nice to have Josh with us this year. It gave him a chance to catch up with friends who have been praying for him these past 6 months. Pat, Robynn and me! Can you tell I am holding the camera to take this picture?

Tying the pine boughs on the van for a wreath for the front door.

Harold cutting down their tree.....
...Christina holding their tree

Kendra and Kevin on the way down with their tree.

Timber!! Action photo even!

Doddie Dot and Booty Head (these are names the boys gave each other when they were little) with Tim the tool man in the background

John, warming up for chapel

Gathering to eat

Praying over the food

After we took this picture, we realized that we both wore brown and green today! It's funny because neither of us saw each other this morning before arriving.

John leading us in some worship songs

Kaylee and Lori, mom and daughter singing and probably making beautiful harmony - they both have great voices!

Together in the chapel

Having fun with friends

On the way home

Thanksgiving...Italian style

We took our time getting up yesterday, which was really nice, for a change. Usually we make a big dinner, which we love to do, but it was a nice change just to bring a couple of dishes this year. If I were a really good blogger I would have gotten pictures of the whole day, start to finish, like watching the Macy's parade and cooking biscuits and gravy for breakfast. But I am a so-so blogger and really wanted to enjoy the day without thinking about what pictures I hadn't shot yet, so here is what I have.

Josh just had to see how Dad would look with his head shaved...all the way.

Gabe, just "chillin" before going to Nick's

My menu contributions were green beans, deviled eggs and apple pie. Here are the trimmings from the pie. We put them in a pot with cloves, cinnamon and a little bit of water and let it simmer. Makes the whole kitchen smell really good.

Baking the pie....and the finished product. I do say it tasted very yummy!
Deviled Eggs...a Teter child favorite
It has been foggy here since it rained a couple of days ago. This was the view out the window as we drove to the Rocca's. Our fog is kind of like other people's snow. It's just not the holiday season without some fog!
It is a Rocca tradition to make homemade ravioli and serve them with the Thanksgiving dinner. Here they are going into the pot...

...all ready to eat. They were wonderful!
Fun pictures of the kids
Cousins :)

That was then...this is now....Josh and Gabe

Josh just arrived home today for a two week stay before he ships out to Okinawa for a two year stay. With him came Gabe, his best bud/cousin from Colorado. Josh flew into Denver from St. Louis and they came in together from there. We are so glad he gets to spend Thanksgiving with us and especially with Josh. Here is a little walk down memory lane of the two boys together...affectionately, Doodie Dot and Booty Head.

New Hair for Reg

Today, I finally gave in to my family's pleading and had some highlights put back in my hair. Not that they thought I was UGLY, but having been blond, or a form of it for so long, this dark hair has taken some getting used to. I have gone without the highlights for a couple of years now and really didn't mind the color so much, but a little "damage", as the hairdresser put it, helps me manage my very fine hair better. I didn't go heavy on the highlights, so I don't even know if you can really see them here, but it's enough to make me happy. Tina, this is for you...I figured it would make you laugh! I can hear my nieces and nephew now..."She changed her hair again?" :)

Powder Puff

Yesterday was Powder Puff Football Day at Fresno Christian and Nacoya was not bashful about participating. She played a line"woman" and from what she tells me loved it! Spoken like a real football player.

The teams praying before the game.

The GameHigh Fives!!
I think the t-shirt says it all.

PSCA Community Choir and Command Performance

Tonight was the concert for the PSCA Community Choir that I am currently singing with. We are small, but mighty in spirit and laughter. It's a great group of people. We get to sing great music and have a lot of fun.

Licia - our director

Tonight was also a Command Performance for students of PSCA who did an outstanding job in recitals over the past three months.
This little gal was amazing...she hasn't even been playing a year yet and did this piece call "The Bee" by F. Schubert. It was full of runs; her fingers never stopped moving...imagine "Flight of the Bumble Bee" and that's kind of what it was like. (A sidenote: I thought of my mom while she was playing, she was a violinist too and a very good one! - Love you, Mom!)
These are my students, (l-r) Maci, Chauncy and Addison. I was turning pages while they were singing tonight and forgot to ask Dave to take some pictures, but they each did beautifully and made their teacher proud!