Henry loves to help cook. He is regularly at the counter helping Peter with our Saturday night pizza and was very eager to help with the hamburger rolls I was making for dinner the other night. There is something about the dough that is very enticing. I highly recommend making bread/rolls with your kids for many reasons. I found a very easy recipe and we used drinking glasses to cut our rolls. (I would pick something larger next time.) It is certainly not much more complicated than play-dough, and you get to eat at the end!

Henry brought "GG's table" and their noodles over to the window so they could see Peter outside (stacking wood, I think) while they were eating. I think she would have liked that.

Pinewood Derby Day

Today was Pinewood Derby day for Noah's cub scout troop, very exciting. He has been looking forward to this day since he signed up for Scouts in the fall. He and Peter worked together to build his car, Noah worked very hard on the project. Stayed up late last night with Peter in the workshop putting on the finishing touches to get ready. The races were held this morning at our elementary school and I am so proud to announce that it was a success.

I think 60 or so boys participated, maybe more. No, we didn't win, I don't mean that kind of success. Noah's car did place third in his pac, he was very excited about that. He then, however, went on to compete against much older boys and came in last- many times. Noah cared a lot about this event, and he participated beautifully throughout. Not perfectly, but that's never what we look for in a person. He tried his best. He (mostly) held himself together when his car lost, over and over again. He congratulated his friend when his car won, over and over again. That's not easy for many adults to do, let alone a first grader.

He is learning, brick by brick, through metaphorical sweat and tears, how to do things that are hard, and how to enjoy them. How to be a good sport, how to be proud of trying your hardest even when you can't measure it by being better than everyone. How to rise above your envy, impatience, over stimulation, and disappointment and just enjoy the experience. This takes a huge amount of discipline and practice and I am so proud of his accomplishment. Way to go, buddy!

I took these back to back. This beautiful boy of mine, sometimes almost stranger like big, and sometimes still so very small. Whew.

Snow Day,

finally!!

Read this today on testosterhome.net and loved it. Be well everyone--

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;

Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely
through all things;

And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you
in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

The same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you today and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering or will give you
unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and
imaginations.
St. Francis de Sales

Big boy dreams

Noah walks over, paper and pencil in hand, and gives me a kiss. I look at the paper and see various numbers, letters, and symbols.

"Whach ya working on?"

"Oh, Astrophysics."

Well. Okay then.

Wrapped up our vacation with a fun visit to the USS Albacore in Portsmouth today. Made me feel a bit of vertigo and claustrophobia but both passed pretty quickly and we all had a good time. I recommned the trip if you're in the area.

Celebrating New Year's Eve with some good friends, Chinese food, and movies.

Boys getting ready for a New Year's "brothers sleepover" with their new sleeping bags from Uncle Shep and Aunt Patty. Thank you!

Blessings to family near and far for a happy and healthy 2012.