Family Picture Time...

Here they are, this year's edition of family portraits that happen after most of the leaves have fallen.  At this point, I've decided that we will never, ever get a nice, full colored, fall picture.  Whatever.  At least I love the people in these shots!

L.

Quizfest 2014...

I'm going to be honest.  When I saw the list of teams, I thought, "Wow!  This is going to be a tough tournament!"  And, it was, because many of the best quiz teams across the country were represented.  I thought, "Wow!  I just hope they have fun and, maybe, place a little higher that last year (8th)."  I shouldn't have shortchanged them...

Individual Results:

Samantha, 8th place Novice:

Seth, 9th Place Experienced and Grace, 1st Place Experienced:

Durand A entered the tournament seeded 2nd.  Semi-finals with Olathe and Blanchester was tough, but they pulled it out:

"We haven't won anything, yet..."  Gearing up for finals and trying not to get too excited, because a semi-finals win can do that to you, which can be a real danger:

Finals with Blanchester and Avon Parkside (always nice to have friends on the other seats):

Last Question:

And, here are your Quizfest 2014 Champions!!!

So... How about dinner? 

L.

PS  As a side note, the scholarships earned, this weekend, took Grace over the $10,000.00 mark!  Sweet!

Birthday Parties...

... are so much fun!  Grace had a spa themed sleepover to celebrate her arrival to the teenage years!  What a great group of girls!  They had a lot of fun with manicures, pedicures, and facials, and we had a pretty steady flow of food all night long...  Chinese... chocolate fountain... cake pops...  In addition to her new laptop, Grace also got lots of fun presents, including all kinds of spa stuff, socks, a neck warmer, a video game, a bracelet, and two new fish (they came home with us on Wednesday, see earlier post)!  A late night movie and these girls were off to sleep...  quietest sleepover I have ever experienced...   

L.

Welcome...

Vivian and Amadeus...  Our new fishy friends...  They are so funny!  For the first several hours that we had them, they must have still thought they were in the bags from the store, because they wouldn't swim very far.  Thank you Leara, Angel, and Kelsay!  They were the perfect birthday gift for Grace!

L.

Happy 13th Birthday, Grace...

Well, she's finally a teenager (even though it seems like she's been one for years)!!! 

Thirteen is a party year at our house, so Grace's birthday was pretty subdued.  She did pick out donuts for breakfast, after her guitar lesson, and she chose to have Gus' breadsticks and Wendy's Frosties for dinner, because she has wanted to dip a Gus' breadstick in a Frosty her "whole life"...

A few presents, although there's still one more for her party...

Couldn't be more proud of the person she is.. and is becoming... if I tried...

I love you, Grace!  Happy Birthday!  Love, Mama.

Miah Doesn't...

... make it back to hug the lions very often anymore.  So, I thought I'd better snap some pictures while I could:

L.