Random happenings

Thought I'd post some random things that have been happening around here! 

This video actually should have gone with the Thanksgiving post, but anyway, Laurisa sang a special the Sunday following Thanksgiving and Timothy accompanied her on the piano! Enjoy!

So as for what's been going on with my parents:

Mom's been visiting a chiropractor every third day since her birthday due to a pinched nerve in the higher back area below the neck. Her pain is now 80% gone! 

After Dad's nice week-long vacation for the Thanksgiving holiday, he's now gotten back into the swing of work and has also been doing more recording lately for VGR! Here he's listening to what he already recorded and also editing.

About a week ago, Gabriel and Esther had sword fight outside!

Contestant #1...

Esther made Gabriel the shield in the bottom right of the picture a few years ago. She spent a long time carefully cutting out the lion and turning the cardboard support for a pizza into a shield.

Contestant #2

And one of the many fights..
Who says he needs a big brother when he has Esther?! 

Sunday after church, we were invited along with everyone else to Matthew and Daniella's house to see their new patio! After supper was cleaned up, Dad, my sisters, and I headed over. :)

It was our first time to see their dog Dixie! She was alot different than I had imagined but actually very pretty.

An adorable picture of my cousins Laura and Lilia!

My cousin Brianna--official owneress of Dixie. ;) 

(Okay, and in case y'all are wondering why the dog is looking dead on its side with it's eyes open in each pic--nearly every time someone walked over to her, she'd get down on her side like that for rub.:P)

Yet another sweet picture of them.

Okay, (so finally), here is what we came over to see--the patio. It was pretty nice!

Then moving on to days following..

Gabriel and I hanging out

Gabriel playing Metal Storm on the iPad...

And Laurisa doing an artwork sketch after work.

Lately we also started to put up some Christmas decorations!

and

Just today Gabriel set up the village Mom bought! She finally got out and found a clearance on village pieces.  Here's the beginning of her collection.

(A closer look...)

Mom is hoping to add more decorations this year if she can just get out and is able to find the sales. :) 

Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I hope you all enjoyed yourselves too! =) Our company arrived Tuesday night. It was so nice to have Ina, Jonathan, and their children here again for the holidays!

Wednesday morning: Mom and Ina fellowshipping in the kitchen over tea and coffee

 This little man is so much fun!! (;

For a few hours that day, some took turns shooting the .22 :)

Late Wednesday night, after we got back from church, Mom and I started preparing one last food dish for the Thanksgiving feast the following day--jalapeno poppers! 

After Mom cut the peppers in half, I filled them with cream cheese!

Thanksgiving morning, Ina and Mom began wrapping the cream cheese-filled jalapenos with bacon! Mmm!! (They. were. awesome!) Thanks for your help, Ina! :)

We rented a different place for our Thanksgiving this year because the other place (super nice) was already rented. :(( This one had a much larger eating area, and we still had a gym (and a volleyball net! :D) so it sufficed just fine!
Hanging out while waiting for the others to arrive

Esther and Emma!

And some more cousins..Brianna and Abby

This gym was very different from the other one, but it served its purpose. :)

Cousins--Kaylee, Laura, and Lilia!

Wednesday I found out that Chantel (ma PA fren!) was coming to visit me over the Thanksgiving holiday! Needless to say, I was tremendously excited that I would get to see her again (it had been over a year and a half since meeting her at SW camp); I was constantly watching the door to the building we rented, awaiting her arrival. :D


My precious friend Chantel and I

Uhmm...Laurisa???

My cousin Laura holding onto my leg to make sure I wouldn't leave her up on the tracks by herself. ;)

Esther usually takes her boomerang with her on Thanksgiving day because the places we rent have large open fields--perfect place to throw a boomerang. ;)

The fun time of playing Apples to Apples!

We teens next played Balderdash!! (We played alot of that over the holiday xD) Most hilarious game to be sure!

Dad and Mom invited everyone over to our house Friday for volleyball, fellowship, and food. While we were waiting for everyone else to arrive, Timothy had us listen through his new headphones, and I must say: the sound quality..is amazing!

Timothy--the guy that adds so much laughter to our Thanksgivings! :)
(Check out his youtube channel to hear some awesome piano playing!
http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicalComputerGeek7?feature=watch
You won't regret subscribing!!!)

We spent most of the day playing numerous games of volleyball!

When it got dark, Dad built a bonfire in the backyard. Laurisa, Esther, and I played two songs on our instruments at the campfire for the family. The adults wanted all those who attended camp to teach them Still Waters campfire songs..we agreed, on one condition: that they participate by doing everything we told them too. ;)

After this, everyone ate hotdogs and ice cream and then gathered back around the campfire..
well..almost everyone. =D We went inside and played more balderdash!

Saturday, we and our other relatives who were down here, went to the Cogdile's for a birthday party, and then afterwards, to just hang out.

Sunday, the Mellemas left (sadly) shortly after service..but they did have a long drive ahead of them. It was so nice to meet your whole family, Chantel; and I'm very glad we got to spend Thanksgiving together--it made it extra memorable! =)


Before they headed out, we got a picture of Chantel and her siblings. The Mellemas are such a sweet family! :)

Friend picture! =)
(Miss you, Chantel!)

Our traditional group picture with our cousins Timothy and Hannah!
(Miss y'all too!!!)

Check back soon for another post! :)