Traditions

I love traditions and I love my neighbors. But better than that is I love traditions with neighbors! For about the past 8 or 9 years we have gotten together with our neighbors to decorate gingerbread houses. We started out making our own gingerbread and icing, but since we have graduated to having a really great friend make the gingerbread and icing we we get to enjoy the decorating. Over the years we have had some different families, Martells, Grahams, Buzillinos, Doelmans and Ipsens, but there are always 3 constants--Moss, Johnson & Kartchner. The group has grown over the years, but this year we noticed a bit of a decline-- Danielle, Michelle and Nathan have all moved from home and weren't able to be with us for this fun tradition. We missed you guys.

The gingerbread "Parade of Homes"!

Kelsi...The Novelist

At the end of October Kelsi came home and said that November was National Novelist month and that there was a writing club that she wanted to join so she could write a novel. I said "Great, sign up!" So she did. The goal for 6th graders is to write a 6,000 word novel. I knew it would be a big challenge, they couldn't start writing before November 1 and had to stop writing by midnight November 30. Kelsi & I figured she would have to write 200 words a day to complete her goal. She started out on fire, writing every day. By the last week of November (Thanksgiving week) the excitement had sort of worn off and she was slowing down. But we kept encouraging her. On Saturday at Grandma's she said she had 1,400 words to go and didn't think she could get it done. I told her if she really wanted it to just keep at it and she could do it. Then she asked if she did get it finished by Sunday night, if I would buy her a Build-A-Bear Penguin (her story was about penguins). How could I refuse? As you can see by the picture she finished her novel, got her certificate and her Build-A-Bear penguin. Her novel along with the others who finished will be published and put in her school library. WAY TO GO KESLI!!!

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving, and it isn't just because of all of the yummy food. Although that doesn't hurt! Thanksgiving at my own home is usually pretty quiet with just my immediate family. But the Saturday after Thanksgiving is when all of the fun happens. We all, my sisters their families and my mom, get together in Bancroft, Idaho to have a wondeful post Thanksgiving Dinner. It is really the only time all year we all are together, mom, sisters, husbands, kids, grandkids, neices and nephews. It is amazing to be a part of this wonderful family. There were 48 of us there this year and that wasn't everyone! We missed those who were not able to be there, I especially missed Kevin and Steven. They both had to work. Lava Hot Springs was just not the same without you! Getting ready at Grandma's before packing it all up to take to the church.
Luke, I love your eyes!

Russ, how is Kelsi supposed to hit the pinata?

Hallie and Kelsi

Sisters

Aiden (I hope the spelling is right) and Teresa

Cindy and Mia

The only picture I could get of Matt.

Thanks Mom for putting up with all of us!

We LOVE you!!!